"Reach for the sky!" We're finally getting there in JAN 2012!!!TR LINK PG 69!

[Twoboysnmygirl]

Awesome fireworks pic!!!

Thanks! I actually have to thank Wishes (and Disney) for making me a photographer! When we went in 2008, I was interested in taking photos, but was SO frustrated with my Point and shoot and especially the fireworks pictures. When I got home, I started researching DSLR's and that is why I bought my camera, which has now brought me so much joy! Ok, here's an example of the two different trips:

2008 trip: I shudder just posting it, horrible shots!

2009 trip with my camera now:

What's funny is that I still didn't get shots of Wishes, only Hallowishes! The night we went to Wishes on this last trip, was the night my camera ran out of batteries and I only got the shot of Rey & Savannah. So, I still have something to look forward to when it comes to fireworks, I can't wait to get some Wishes shots this trip!

 

[Stringbean&Wingnut]

WOW the difference is amazing!! Did you use a tripod for the DSLR shot? I just have a point and shoot, as much as I'd LOVE to take photos like that, I can't imagine lugging around all of the equipment while touring the parks!

 

[Twoboysnmygirl]

WOW the difference is amazing!! Did you use a tripod for the DSLR shot? I just have a point and shoot, as much as I'd LOVE to take photos like that, I can't imagine lugging around all of the equipment while touring the parks!

I lugged the tripod the first night (for Wishes, when my battery died) but I found it to be in the way, so for the Hallowishes, I actually used a TRASHCAN! Worked perfectly and gave me the stabilization I needed!

 

[mousescrapper]

I am loving your phots Karen, they are always so wonderful! I think Disney has made my husband enjoy photography so much more as well...he loved taking pictures during hallo-wishes too in oct.

I too will greatly miss BTMRR in jan and not being able to ride it several times w/ Bekah and of course, Rachel and NR never riding the orginal Dumbo

oh well we'll have new fun memories to make this trip


the shirts/sweatshirts ARE AWESOME! I love having new themed shirts each trip too we have quite the stock pile too...for our Jan trip I don't really have anything new, my Matt and i are going to make something fun for the 6 of us to wear stay tuned to my PTR

I love the 2012 design, did you make it or another DISER...would love to borrow it

keep the awesome photos coming!

 

[Tink-erin-belle]

Karen, I am loving your Disney pictures, but I absolutely adore the portraits of your kids! You are so talented! I hadn't realized - until I read one of your comments above - that you just started with your DSLR a couple of years ago! I thought you were a long time pro! You must really have an artistic eye because your photos are fantastic.

 

[Colleen27]

Wow, that is an incredible pic of Hallowishes! Do you take a tripod to the park or just improvise?

The pics of the kids are great. They do grow up so fast, don't they? DD10 is jealous of Savannah's purple streaks. Our school recently (this year) amended the elem dress code to prohibit "unnatural" hair colors so she's stuck waiting one more year to do anything unusual with hers.

 

[Twoboysnmygirl]

I am loving your phots Karen, they are always so wonderful! I think Disney has made my husband enjoy photography so much more as well...he loved taking pictures during hallo-wishes too in oct.

I too will greatly miss BTMRR in jan and not being able to ride it several times w/ Bekah and of course, Rachel and NR never riding the orginal Dumbo

oh well we'll have new fun memories to make this trip


the shirts/sweatshirts ARE AWESOME! I love having new themed shirts each trip too we have quite the stock pile too...for our Jan trip I don't really have anything new, my Matt and i are going to make something fun for the 6 of us to wear stay tuned to my PTR

I love the 2012 design, did you make it or another DISER...would love to borrow it

keep the awesome photos coming!

ooooh, can't wait to see your shirts! Yes, the 2012 design was made on the DISboards. Her name is Milliepie, but I don't think she's DISigning right now, so you will have to go find her thread and go to her shared files and see if you can pull it from there!

Karen, I am loving your Disney pictures, but I absolutely adore the portraits of your kids! You are so talented! I hadn't realized - until I read one of your comments above - that you just started with your DSLR a couple of years ago! I thought you were a long time pro! You must really have an artistic eye because your photos are fantastic.

Thanks! Yep, I'm going into year 3 of having it, but I was interested in photography long ago, just didn't have the means to get a better camera and practice! And, I will say that I've learned so much b/c I can take a good picture with a crappy camera now as well, so there's definitely a learning curve, I love it!

Wow, that is an incredible pic of Hallowishes! Do you take a tripod to the park or just improvise?

The pics of the kids are great. They do grow up so fast, don't they? DD10 is jealous of Savannah's purple streaks. Our school recently (this year) amended the elem dress code to prohibit "unnatural" hair colors so she's stuck waiting one more year to do anything unusual with hers.

I used a trash can as a tripod that night b/c I didn't want to lug around my tripod, it was in the way the first night I took it!

Oh I'm glad we homeschool in this instance, Savannah loves to have color in her hair and I've never understood why red, brown, and yellow hair was ok, but not other colors! She loves expressing herself through her hair! You could always get your dd those clip on hair color strands, some of Savannah's friends wear those and they are fun and you can just take them right off when needed!

 

[Twoboysnmygirl]

30 day Disney Photo Challenge
Day. Day 15: A picture of what you do when it rains in the park.

DUH! Throw on the ponchos and keep going! This pic is from our 2008 trip b/c it didn't rain at all on our family trip in 2009! Hoping for no rain on this trip b/c it will be COLD rain and b/c I don't think the guys will wear ponchos...their loss!

 

[Twoboysnmygirl]

30 Day Disney Photo Challenge. Day 16: A picture of your favorite place to shop!

You can't make me choose just one! I choose Downtown Disney!!!!!!!! I seriously can't pick one store. I love the Christmas store and the kitchen store with a passion, love Once Upon a Toy and World of Disney. Yep, love to shop, too bad I never have enough money, but I'm thinking no amount would suffice.

Savannah loves dodging Stitch-spit!

 

[mousescrapper]

ooooh, can't wait to see your shirts! Yes, the 2012 design was made on the DISboards. Her name is Milliepie, but I don't think she's DISigning right now, so you will have to go find her thread and go to her shared files and see if you can pull it from there!

thanks I will search for it...and I didn't say shirts

love the poncho picture, we have many of those pixs too

 

[Twoboysnmygirl]

thanks I will search for it...and I didn't say shirts

love the poncho picture, we have many of those pixs too

Ooooh, I didn't catch that! NOW you really have me intrigued! Can't wait to see!

 

[Tink-erin-belle]

Our favorite thing to do in the rain is go shopping! That poncho picture is too cute! I'm hoping for no rain for you guys, but if it does rain I'm sure you'll be nice and cozy with the sweatshirts and ponchos because those ponchos retain a lot of body heat! Have you thought about personalizing the ponchos? I started thinking about doing that when I read somewhere that someone got some from Wal-Mart for like a buck each and decorated them with transfers. Maybe that would make the boys want to wear them? Or would that discourage them even more from wearing them?

 

[Twoboysnmygirl]

Our favorite thing to do in the rain is go shopping! That poncho picture is too cute! I'm hoping for no rain for you guys, but if it does rain I'm sure you'll be nice and cozy with the sweatshirts and ponchos because those ponchos retain a lot of body heat! Have you thought about personalizing the ponchos? I started thinking about doing that when I read somewhere that someone got some from Wal-Mart for like a buck each and decorated them with transfers. Maybe that would make the boys want to wear them? Or would that discourage them even more from wearing them?

I'm thinking that would discourage them even more! They already are in eye-rolling mode that I put a transfer on the hoodies, but at least they wear the tshirts when they are there, I'm sure that is rare for most teenage boys!

 

[Tink-erin-belle]

yeah, I thought about it after I posted and realized that even my 12 y.o. boy wouldn't be too excited about wearing a poncho with Disney stuff emblazoned all over it! Don't you wish sometimes that they'd still let you dress them? Coy hasn't let me pick out his clothes in about 4 years!

 

[Twoboysnmygirl]

Wow, my ticker says 1 month and 10 days! That sounds like tomorrow!!!!!!

30 Day Disney Photo Challenge Day 17: A picture of your favorite Disney character.

I really don't have a favorite! I love Minnie though, so one of my favorite shots of Minnie and Savannah from 2008. Minnie noticed that she was wearing a Minnie shirt, it was so cute!

 

[Twoboysnmygirl]

30 Day Disney Photo Challenge
Day 18: A picture of your favorite guilty Disney pleasure. I don't really HAVE guilt about anything Disney, but when I saw this, I thought there could only be one picture to use here and I think there's no need for explanation!

Those are margaritas, if you couldn't tell by the look on my face, the spill on the front of my shirt, and that sombrero on my head!

 

[Twoboysnmygirl]

AND, last, but not least, I have a Disney Countdown App on my phone and here's my notification this morning!!!

 

[Twoboysnmygirl]

30 Day Disney Photo Challenge, sneaking it in there before the day is over! We went to the city today to see the Nutcracker, we go every December with our homeschool group, so I was up and out of the house early and just now catching up after a long, fun day!

Day 19: A picture of something in the park that deserves more attention.

Ok, here I go interpreting it in my own way! They may have meant something that isn't that great but needs attention, but I'm going to just see it as something that most people don't talk about or spend time doing...There are lots of hidden gems at WDW that aren't headliner attractions, I chose the Boardwalk area b/c it has great nightlife and is just a fun place to explore outside of the parks! Rey & I had a wonderful dinner sitting outside and strolling along the Boardwalk last trip!

 

[Stringbean&Wingnut]

Yay for 40 days left!!! Your countdown app looks awesome!

 

[Twoboysnmygirl]

Yay for 40 days left!!! Your countdown app looks awesome!

Thanks and it's 39 today!!!! It changes the picture every day, randomly, so that's pretty fun as well!