Happy 4th of July

For one of my photo challenges, I was supposed to take a picture of a long exposure.  I was talking to my sister about it.  She said she had a long exposure setting on her camera.  After seeing my friend Kim's post, Brit and I decided we were going to have to get sparklers and mess with her camera this time.  While we were waiting for fireworks in Rockville to begin, this is what we came up with!

The next day, Kim came across a website that actually gave directions on how to set your camera to take pictures of sparkles.  This will have to be on the list of pictures to take for next year!  You can check out Kim's post here. ;)

Hope you had a fun and safe holiday weekend!!

Photo Challenge....Day 20

{ Bokeh }

What is bokeh you ask (don't worry I had to look it up too)....according to the encyclopedia, bokeh is the blur or the way the lens renders out-of-focus points of light.  I struggled finding a subject to photograph that had the points of light in the blur so I cheated (on top of being a day late).  Last winter, I took a photography class with a friend of mine just after I got my camera.  We were practicing with the depth of field and aperture, so I stole my picture from a previous photo session of mine.  I look forward to trying to get a good picture of bokeh.

Hogg Family Reunion

{ 5 days of fun, laughter, food, reminiscing, marble games, tubing, more food, early mornings,  egg throwing, races, family initiations, Archway tour, golfing, shopping, visiting the home place, Pirates Dice, picnic, late nights, hugs, wedding planning, bus rides, airport taxi  }

Drew, Marquette, and Katie participating in Larry's family initiation.  They had to pass three questions to be able to join the family ;)  Fortunately, they all passed!

Kyle, Marquette, Danielle, Kory

*Sisters*

Kory, Ethan, Kyle

Kory & I

Kyle & Marquette

 {In Law Great Grandkids}  Jen, Marquette, Drew, Danielle, Katie

{ Great & Great-Great Grandkids }

{ Back Row: Grandkids  Front Row: Spouses of Grandkids }n

{ Nebraska family minus many who didn't attend :)  }

{ Montana Family }

Some of the family with the great caterers!

{ California Family }

{ Uncle Dan from Washington }

{ Idaho Family }

{ Grandma & Grandpa }

Bus trip to the Calamus River for tubing

loading the bus

Kory spinning five times with the bat on his forehead then racing to the other side....this wasn't as easy as you'd think!

Andy & Brian....Egg toss winners

Egg toss cheering section

"Don't drop it Marquette" Seth

the newly ENGAGED!  Congrats guys!

Kory, Uncle Marion, Neil

Marquette & I modeling the extra extra extra large reunion shirt

 

 I took a lot of pictures, but wish I would of gotten more!  It was a fabulous week with family!  Thanks to all of the family who travels hundreds of miles to come to Nebraska!  We look forward to having you all back in two summers!!  Let the planning begin!

Photo Challenge....Day 19

{ something ORANGE }

After church, Kory and I spent the day with my family at our reunion and had a BBQ at my parents house and river in the evening.  My brother and cousins light fireworks at dusk.  As I was looking for something orange, I realized this wasn't a common color...within my family at least.  I recruited my sister for this post.  :) Thanks Brit!

[ I honestly would of had this posted last night when we got home but we had no electricity!! ]

 

Photo Challenge....Day 18

{ MY SHOES }

.....or should i say......cowgirl boots.....

 

These are typically the first shoes I pull out of my closet....maybe not so much during the summer, but they are my first choice when i wear jeans!

These boots fall into the 'work' category!  I typically wear these are on the farm.  I'm sure people wouldn't appreciate being with me if I took part of the farm with me everywhere I go.  ;)

I also love wearing flats and flip flops!  However, I am going out of my box in October for my brother-in-laws wedding and wearing 4 1/2 in (yes we measured!) wedges!!  With that...I'm off to practice walking in them  :)