Say Cheese?

I love pictures...always have, always will.  Not only do I love being in pictures ;)  but, I love taking them and seeing all the memories they capture.  My pictures however have always been amateur at best.  While my pictures served their purpose to capture the moment, they was certainly room for improvement.  After moving to Perth, I quickly started looking for photography classes.  Just as quick, I realized how expensive classes could be. So being the avid couponer that I am, I was super pumped when I found a Groupon for a photography course.  "Protrack 1 and 2"  was being held at the Freemantle Prison and promised an interesting background to learn basics of my SLR camera.  

Of course I hate doing things by myself, so I was even more excited to find out that my friend, Marie, was also interested in taking a class.  So the two of us signed up and were surely on our way to becoming the "next big thing" in photography!  

After several attempts and scheduling mishaps the day had finally arrived to attend our class.  This Friday I packed my bag with everything I thought I would need and was ready to go.  Did I mention I forgot to charge my battery?  Yeah that would have been a good choice do to the night before.  Hmmm, now some of you might be worried at this point that the class would be ruined for me because I would not get to use my camera due to no battery.  HOWEVER, I once again lucked out and was able to charge my battery onsite before we started shooting some pictures. And since we did not even start taking pictures until FIVE hours after the class started, my camera battery was plenty charged.   

Yes, you read that correctly....a photography class that boasted an interactive site with excellent photo opportunities gave us a total of 60 minutes of practical hands on picture taking time.   Hmmm...not what I was expecting.

Now don't get me wrong, I really did learn more about my camera than I would have on my own.  And I know I need to understand the theory behind taking pictures before I can become good at taking pictures...but really FIVE hours?????  One thing I did discover is that I am not cut out to be a student that has to listen to lectures.  My ADD kicked in big time and I had to work really hard at not talking to Maria the whole time.  I suppose I should understand where Addie gets it from huh?

Back to the topic at hand however.  So when we finally did start taking pictures, they were of this 20 year old model whose dress would probably have been too big on Addison.  I felt like the paparazzi, and it was a bit uncomfortable to be honest.  

What did I get out of the course?  Well it did make me want to be a better photographer and figure out how to "design" a better picture.  But I can assure you I will not be attending Protrack 3 - 6 at a cost of $1500.  Instead I signed up (with Marie) for a 6 week CREATIVE photography course with a local art center for $187.  I do think this will be a better fit and I cannot wait to see the pictures that Marie and I learn to take.  Thanks Marie for "giving it a go" with me again =)

Hopefully this time I will actually have pictures worth posting on Facebook and my blog!  

XOXOX

Amy

Has it really been a month????

So in my last post, I said I was going to write every Friday about what that week.  Welllllll, as you can clearly see from the date of this post, that DID NOT happen.  I honestly did not realize how busy we have become.  On a normal week for us goes like this:

Monday- Swim for Addie at 4:10
Tuesday - Swim for Morgan t 5:00
Wednesday - Netball for Morgan until 4:30
Thursday - play dates with the girls friends
Friday - Garage and outside time
Saturday - 8:00 am Netball, and more outside time with the girls
Sunday - whatever floats our boat for the day =)

It does not seem like a lot of things, but it certainly does add up!  Dustin's group moved to a new building, still downtown but it now affects his commute.  He used to be able to catch the bus about 50 yards from our house and it would drop him off right in front of his office.  Now he can still catch the same bus and then get on another bus to his office.  Not too bad, but does add considerable amount of time.  PLUS the other issue is that he can not get home the same way because the downtown bus only runs one way....uh, that makes sense????  He tried taking the train home one day and that worked really well, as did riding the train into work.  So I can drop him off on the way to taking the girls to school...  If he does not like any of those options, then he runs home from work now.  It is 6 or 7 miles and since it gets darker right now he gets his run for the day.  He bought a special backpack just to run with =)

Both girls were assessed with their swimming and have been moved up to the next level of instruction.  Addie is SO proud that she can swim and no longer has to use floats.  She can really swim!  Morgan was told that her freestyle and backstroke are perfect, but she does need to work on her breaststroke kick.  They will not move her up if that is not down.  They do not want her DQing when she competes.   Both girls have asked to continue with swim, so I signed them up for two days a week both.  Hopefully we can coordinate so they can swim at the same time both days....otherwise that will be a no go!

Morgan received the Coach's award this past netball game for her defense and leading skills.  She is doing awesome and really is becoming a great athlete.  She can anticipate what is going to happen on the court as well as realizing what is going on at the moment.  Her reactions are getting great! Best of all, she is LOVING the game and wants to continue.  She has made really good friends who are also on the team...several have been over to the house and they are just as crazy as Mo.  Secret handshakes and all ;)

Addie continues to entertain her class and I am constantly being told the American sayings that other children are coming home with.  Ya'll seems to be a popular one.  It is funny to hear an Australian say ya'll =)

As for me, I am still trying to go to my Body Pump class on Mondays and Wednesdays.  Two out of the other three days of the week, I try to walk the beach with a friend.  We usually do about 4 or 5 miles a day.  For someone that really never worked out, I am pretty proud that I am doing this much!  I also found an Art Center that offers classes for things like drawing, painting, jewelry making, and photography.  I am hoping to find something to sign up for.

Slowly but surely we are staring to get the hang of their "language", but every once in a while they change it up and I get confused all over again.  For instance they call cookie a biscuit...okay got that, but then someone asked if I wanted a bickey, and I had that blank look.  I have made an art of that quizzical "huh?" look.  It's ok, I just smile and tell them I am American ;)

Still trying to plan our family vacation somewhere within Australia, and our trip back home.  Hopefully we can figure something out soon!  Time and money....both factors (aren't they always?)

HUGS to all!
XOXOX