Manual Mode

Ok, finally getting it. Here are a few from this week in manual, and one of my darling hubby from a couple weeks ago when I was playing with my reflector. Can you tell I had it on the gold side??

One of Julia looks over exposed, but it's coming together slowly.

Visit With Santa and the Ninja Elves

On a spur of the moment we hijacked the kids after karate (their first "leadership" class - they started to learn how to use numchuks, they're thrilled!) and took them to the mall. We ate at Pizzaria Uno (and saw Jenny H.!) and then went to see Santa.

We talked about how this wasn't the REAL Santa, but since we think this might be the last year of true believers, we wanted one more crack at it. This is the first picture of Julia with Santa where she isn't crying. Hmmmmm....

The kids were thrilled and thanked us over and over. This is one of those things I still remember as a kid, so hopefully they will too.

The theme at our mall is "Fred Claus" so we got one with Santa, and one with the "ninja elves" as Devin called them. I tried to call them the E.I.B. (Elves in Black) but they didn't get it.

Snowbound

We've had a couple days of being snowbound this week, which I actually kind of enjoy, but today our kids are snowbound in another town! They are at my mother in law's house and we're wondering when and how we'll get them (or not...:) )

I had another photo assignment this week and got some snow pix in the mix. The red house is our neighbors house in the middle of last Thursday's storm. Taken on full manual!!


Here is one of Julia taken on Aperature priority.

Perfect Kiss

I don't think I've ever seen a perfectly formed Hershey's Kiss right out of the wrapper in my life. And now I've seen 2 in one week! I had to take a picture. But, the best part is that I'm now on FULL MANUAL with my camera. That means I'm adjusting the aperature, shutter speed and ISO all myself. This was one of my goals for the class, so I'm thrilled.

To give you a perspective, I took this in my basement, no flash, no natural light and it kind of looks ok. A small victory. And, once I took this picture, I ate it, so that was even better!!

Homework After An Ice Storm

Here are a couple additions to the homework list for the week. Finally got a reflector - hoorah!! We had a little ice storm this week that made outdoor photographs a bit of a challenge, but we got through it. Finally got Devin to look natural in a few - yeah!!! Then he got a haircut (so long overdue) and without realizing I'd said "OK" he ate a blue Push Pop - thus the blue lips.

Julia's eye is recovering nicely. I suspect there may be a hint of a scar there, but I think it will be fairly unnoticable.

Got a call at 3:05 on Friday afternoon from school. (Never a good sign.) The "vice principle" was calling (again, not looking too good here) but said he was in the nurse's office (oh crap). He had Devin with him (think think think, did he seem like he was coughing, getting a fever?? OH GOD, NOT THE LICE THAT ARE GOING AROUND SCHOOL?????) and he'd gotten his finger pinched in his desk (oh thank God that was it). He was a trooper. Got a pretty good black and blue but he's fine today. His teacher (LOVE this man) called today to see how he was doing.

Decorated the tree tonight and added our humble decorations to the gorgeous ones my Aunt put up for us as a surprise this week (will post them soon). Sneaky Auntie!!!!

LOVE Billy Joel!!

http://yeli.us/Flash/Fire.html

Friend of mine sent me this link. Loved this song in college. When I went to my 2nd or 3rd Billy Joel concert when he was about to sing this song he asked the audience for help with the words, "Because when I screw it up, it's a train wreck..."

So, enjoy.

More Cute Midnight Conversations with Julia

So, our latest installment in "midnight in the bathroom with Julia" found me in there and I heard a little person approach the door. She came in (we're pretty loose on bathroom door rules here) and was half asleep, as usual. I finished up and said, "I'm hurrying, honey, your turn."

She just kind of smiled with her eyes closed and waited. When she got on the seat she opens her eyes and says, "Thanks for making the seat warm for me, Mommy."

I don't know why I find these bathroom moments so precious, but she just kills me. Brings me back to when they were babies and you'd get them out of their cribs and they'd smell so good and look half asleep.

I get some of my best compliments from her at night in the potty. Think that will still work in high school???

Karate Kids

The kids did such an amazing job yesterday at their yellow belt test. Master Dickman asks lots of questions through the test and Devin put his hand up this time! We were so proud of him for giving it a shot.

Julia, typically always puts her hand up (something I hope never goes away) and demonstrated both her push ups (very good for a 6 year old) and her "Five Combination". We were bursting with pride, as always! Julia tends to get called on a lot b/c she's almost always the "littlest" one in the room. Gotta love her spunk! Top pic is her doing her best "ki-yah".

So, after all that hard work, they are both now yellow belts! Yeah!!

Good One of Dev

I did get some good ones of Devin this week, so here's one for the blog...