Nine years old

Yay, Elora is nine years old! And we took some pretty pictures too, while we were on our hike last weekend. I feel like I took a bunch of pictures that I didn't use; mostly because of the reflections in Elora's glasses that completely obscured here eyes. In this group, for example, I spent ages just trying to erase as many refections as I could, but they're still there. The only one that's not too reflective is the top left, where I told her to put down her glasses, but I know she doesn't like pictures like that. I like the background in the top right, and the face in the top left one.
(I took a bunch at the top right location, but her brothers kept getting in the shot and I didn't feel like editing them out multiple times.)
A

 
This spot had the coolest light. I love the way the trees are, the way her shirt hangs, and the light on her head. Her hair is hanging weird and her smile isn't the best, but this is still one of my favorites! We actually took a few shots here, but there were people waiting for us to move...and they were partially in the picture, so this is the only one I wouldn't radically have to edit to use.
B.























This was a really cool spot too, but there were tons of bugs flying around being highlighted by the sunlight.

C

















On our way back to our car, Elora kept running ahead and pretending she was just 'resting' in spots, but really she was posing for me. A few of them were actually pretty good spots. This was a pretty bright area, but when she turned this direction, it wasn't too bad. I like how you can see her cool shoes in these! The top left is my favorite, although I wish there was a little more space at the bottom of the frame, below her shoes. The top right has a good expression, but her back is too close to the side for comfort.

D























This was the final group of the evening. The sun had gone behind the tall cliffs but this spot was really pretty! When she's looking at the leaf, she was pretending to observe it as I came up to her (posing, totally) but once I found a spot to stand where the branches weren't obscuring her face, it actually looked pretty neat.
I really like all of these for various reasons.

E.
 





















So, I'm trying to figure out my wall. As my 5x7 I'm pretty sure I want this one, mostly because out of my favorites it fits the 5x7 size the best (it just shaves off a sliver on each side of the frame).

But I'm not sure about my big 8x10, which takes off quite a bit more from the top and/or bottom of the picture. Which of these two do you like best?

Or, I don't know. Maybe one of these? :

Thanks!

Fall Leaves

Last weekend we were so excited that we got to go see some fall leaves in Spearfish canyon! Last year the weekend we planned to go turned out to be the horrible snow storm that killed thousands of cows and buried the state in snow, so we missed it entirely. This year, we had several errands to run in the morning so we made it up the canyon in late afternoon.
















The weather was perfect- high sixties, no wind and sunny! It was a lovely afternoon.























 Usually when we go on hikes or walks, Joshua complains the whole time and lags behind, but this time he was walking ahead with Jonah without a frown in sight.













































I had Elora wear a pretty shirt so we could take her birthday pictures somewhere different than our usual grassland background or interior, but I was worried that it would be freezing like it's been in years past and we'd just have our coats on the whole time. I'm so glad it was not only warm, but we weren't there right at midday so we got some pretty light too! Yay! Of course there were the other issues of reflective glasses and a weird hair day, but as you can guess, that will be our next blog post.























It was funny because Jonah kept climbing on rocks and posing, asking me to take his picture. I think he was jealous that Elora was getting all the attention this time. I wish he'd been so keen on posing when I was actually taking his pictures a few months ago!













































This hike in Spearfish canyon is the perfect length and difficulty for kids: about one mile, just a few inclines, and it ends in some pretty waterfalls! (If you think Jonah and Eli look like they're grimacing in this picture, you should've seen their smiles in the other photo.) Sheesh.






















Halfway down the trail is a little dam with a walkway, where you can go out and see fish swimming in the deeper water. We were all enjoying the view when Joseph and I turned around to find Eli with his pants off, practicing his long-distance peeing off the other side of the walkway. Three-year-olds. At least no other people came right then!























 I was happy that we had such a nice walk, and got some nice pictures- even of Joseph! But I was sad that I forgot to have anyone take a picture of me. Not that I don't have enough already, ha.























We were hoping to go to a cornmaze/ pumpkin patch after our hike, but we weren't able to find anyone who knew where it was. It was probably for the best though, as it was about dinner time by then, and everyone was already worn out. It was a fun day!