Independence Day

       Mom and I spent the fourth of July in Estacada with some dear friends of ours. We had a great time, and I had fun photographing their adorableness. ;)

This sweet thing stole a piece of my heart. I can't get enough of that smile.

          After dinner, my fiance came over to hangout and have dessert, then we drove a few miles down the road to watch the fireworks! 

White Christmas {Eve}

          Merry Christmas Eve, everyone! 
          It's white outside! Which is rather exciting, since this is the first good snow we've had in years. Finally starting to feel a bit like Christmas!
          Just as a disclaimer, I am feeling rather lazy at the moment and have not edited these pictures. So the color / lighting isn't fabulous in a number of these, but I don't particularly care. :P
          Anywho, enough with the excuses - I hope that you enjoy!

Tadashi was admiring the birds as the flitted about in the snow. 

I wasn't able to get a good picture through the smudge-covered window, but they were so picturesque against the snow! 

Tianna took Fiona out to play in the snow, and they came by the house to say hello. Fiona walked through the door and immediately wrapped her arms around my legs and held on for a good five minutes. Made me happy. I love that sweet girl. ^_^ 

I'm not sure that "snow ball fight" would be an appropriate term; they were more like lumpy handfuls of snow rather than balls. But the boys had a grand time. 

This kid knows how to smile for the camera. 

                  

I adore these little men so incredibly much. 

No photo could do the mountains justice... They were simply breathtaking. 

The boys and I built a snowman (ignore the nasty muddy ground). 

Merry Christmas, everyone!

Autumn Leaves

          I adore autumn. I really do. There is something about it that I find simply intoxicating. There is a noticeable shift in the air; it's fresh, crisp, invigorating. The leaves in the trees start changing color, taking your breath away, and then after a couple of weeks, if you look outside on a windy day, you will see hundreds of them swirling through the air. It's amazing. 

          The leaves are my favorite part of autumn. The turning of color into brilliant oranges, vibrant reds, cheery yellows... I can't describe how these colors speak to me. 

           Sadly, we don't have too many trees that drastically turn color on our property, and I didn't have the opportunity to take pictures at a park or anything, but here are some late-autumn shots I took recently.

           Don't go away so soon, Autumn, I love you. 

Abandoned Dollhouse

The sole occupant of this lonesome, empty house.

Change of focus.