I am a high energy person. I have two high energy kids. I also have a high energy dog. Rainy days are like purgatory to me. Seriously.
A friend of mine (Hi Patti!) recommended I take everyone to the local (empty!) tennis courts on rainy days to let the kids and puppy run their little hearts out in a contained space (fenced in!) while staying clean (no mud!). Genius. PURE genius.
We've done this now a handful of times and it works out beautifully. I bring tennis balls and we are all good to go!
So when it was raining yesterday afternoon when I picked up the kiddos from school they were actually EXCITED because they knew that it meant we'd be hitting the tennis courts! HA!
I brought my camera and tried to juggle holding the umbrella over myself with my left hand (I refuse to risk letting my camera get wet even though they are supposed to be weather sealed, I'm not gonna chance it) and holding my camera with my right hand. I had my 24-105mm f4 lens on but an even longer lens would have probably been even better for this activity.
It was REALLY raining and we were only able to hang out there about 20-30 minutes because everyone (except me and my little umbrella!) got drenched. The kids didn't want to be encumbered with umbrellas. I should mention that it was not raining when I sent Gavin to school that morning and he insisted on wearing shorts. Don't revoke my mommy badge ok?! :)
The good news about the rain? We still need it. The bad news? My shoot tomorrow had to be postponed..... Sigh. I am really looking forward to this shoot (adorable twins!!!) so I cannot wait to have clear skies again soon! :)
Here are a few of the shots I got. Nothing spectacular but just fun for the kids to look back on and remember how we got our "crazies" out on rainy days... :)
I only did basic quick RAW edits on these. All that fuzz in the background of the shot that looks like digital noise is actually rain! (you probably can't even see it in this small format but on my computer screen it actually looks really cool. I was shooting at 1/1250 and it froze every little drop as it was falling around them)
He is all happy here because he found the ONE weed growing through the cracks and grabbed it. Of course, I told him "LEAVE IT!" which in Kooper-speak means "run away as quickly as I can while holding the forbidden item in my mouth and look back periodically to laugh at the old lady futilely trying to catch me."
Running away (still has the weed in his mouth) thinking this is the BEST GAME EVER!
He may be huge but he is still just a pup at not even 6 months old so he has a pretty clumsy gait at times. Not sure WHAT was happening here other than him trying to go several different directions all at once...
This is his "come hither" look.
I swear it looks like he is sticking out his tongue at the kids and taunting them.... :)
When everyone starts slowing down, that's my cue. Mission accomplished.
And here is my guy running towards me when I called him to get his leash back on. He looks so dopey with his ears flying like this.
Everyone was tuckered out when we got home and enjoyed some hot cocoa, warm baths and then they did their homework at the kitchen table while I cooked dinner. I didn't hear a PEEP out of anyone for a solid hour. Priceless.





