A trip down memory lane and through my harddrive

Emily being an angel at church. She got to carry Baby Jesus to the manager during church service. She is about five.

Here's the kids and me just before we left for the hospital to have Casey. And yes, I am pulling my shirt tighter so that I actually look pg enough to be delivering!!!

Carter just born...3-13-02. Gosh Al looks young!
Emily about 2ish in one of my favorite outfits, the bug dress.
Casey - yes it really is Casey and not Carter.

This one's Carter even though my Mom tells me she is sure it is Emily. I am sure. I have it labeled on my harddrive. He was unrolling all of the tp!


A really fun haircut for Ems.
Baby Carter again.
Carter's baptism outfit.
I really love old pics. I seem to have a terrible memory and these help remind me. What sweet babies I have.
This walk down memory lane through my harddrive was inspired by a friend at work. Her older brother sends her a picture from their childhood, or their parents, etc. every Friday.

Hope you enjoyed my glimpse back in time.

More Winter Wonderland

I tried to overexpose a little bit to make some of these better, but they still seem to be grayish to me and now a little bright. It was a gray day. I think we need some sun for some great pics and then the frost will likely go away....

Some days I think Photography is just hard.

Animals make the pics better than by themselves I think.


Casey trying to carry Billy the cat.
Al dubbed these "Winter's Fireworks"

I startled this deer as I walked out the house of Al's parents...

All of these pics are SOC so maybe with some editing...I don't know. I need practice at that too!!

Winter Wonderland

I told Casey we would go out and make a snowman, but I guess I missed the perfect snowman weather yet again! I actually haven't seen any yet this winter, but I've been told there were a couple of days...Oh well, we stacked ice chunks and Casey was happy.
Emily playing with an icicle...
Carter taking a break from working in their "Ice Chunk Fort". He has worked really hard, creating paths, rooms, and unearthing ice chunks...
He're are some attempts of photography with all of this fog and hoar frost. I need to probably edit a bit, but here's SOC.





Wouldn't this have been perfect with a cow??? I played with the White Balance to make it look all golden... What do you think?

I took some more today....a friend suggested that I try and overexpose a little bit to make the white whiter, etc. I'll upload those and you can see what you think!!

Tomorrow - freezing rain!

Happy Winter!!

2nd Grade Boys Basketball

Friday night at half time of the varsity girls basketball game Carter and his team got to scrimmage for all to see.
Watching them, the court sure seemed long for them to run up and down! But they had fun and even made a couple baskets!
Their favorite move had to be the double dribble!

After they played they got a free pop and a ring pop or popcorn! I think everyone chose the ring pop! They looked yummy, so the kids and I had to get one too! It was a fun evening for all of us.

Gingerbread House

Emily had been asking to do a gingerbread house since way before Christmas and we just couldn't do it all. So, I dug out the mold on snow day #2 and we finally made one! This time, Carter and Casey helped too!

When Casey put these animals on the chocolate bars I asked him if they were taking a nap and he said, "No they're dead."
"They're mummies, you know all wrapped up in white stuff. They're dead."
Here's the aerial view...Emily likes her heart shaped pond and flower/vegetable garden.
Carter added a nice skittles path around the back of the house to his animal pen and other stuff. The kids each had their own area to decorate. That way no one "wrecked" anyone else's masterpiece.

It's no fun to move pics around, so here's the beginning. Al always jumps in and saves me when it comes to actually making the house stay together. Although, I must say, I did a much better job on the frosting this year. It was so stiff, it was hard to squeeze out, so that baby's not going anywhere.
This picture I accidentally moved the camera right when I was taking the picture. Like I changed my mind mid click or something. Anyway I thought it was kind of cool. People spend time trying to acheive this affect you know?
Funny, I finally printed my blog after 2 years, it's been 2 whole years already!! I've never kept a journal this long before!! Wow! Anyway, a gingerbread house was how I started it. In January too.

Finger Painting

When I told Casey we could do some finger painting....


he thought I meant "finger painting!"

Emily and Carter branched out and showed him what it was all about!! And I have the artwork to prove it!


Fun things to do on a snow day!

Impromptu Photo Shoot

One day this week, I decided to brave the elements and go take some pictures outside of the river. It is very, very cold, but that makes for some great pictures if you are willing to be outside. So, on the way to work I went to the bridge in town and bundled up to take some pictures of the steam rising off of the river. Hindsight tells me that I needed a hat along with my snow boots, scarf and extra warm mittens, but that is for another day I guess.
I forgot to charge my battery and had to stop part way through to change it, but that allowed me to warm up a bit and change my perspective. I was only out for about a 1/2 hour, but I had fun and got some neat shots. I was amazed at the ducks IN the water, but that is their lot in life I guess. If you live in Iowa....

When I finally decided that I was cold enough and in my car heading to work, I took a little detour and drove by a little park right along the river not far from the bridge. As I was driving, I noticed something BIG on the river and stopped to see what it was. As I soon realized, there was a pair of bald eagles munching on breakfast. I threw my lens cap in the seat, crossed my fingers and chanted under my breath, "Please don't fly away, please don't fly away.." as I headed across the road. I am sure they saw me and heard me tromping through the snow, but I was blessed to capture a few neat shots and then watch the majestic flight of the bald eagle on a clear, cold wintry day. I am so glad I went that morning to take pictures...

In no particular order...I know I type this alot, but I don't like to deal with moving pics around in Blogger and I never take time to upload them correctly. I think of it too late. So my theory is that at least you get to see the pics and I'll explain...

Here you go.

I took this because of the reflection of the house on the river. It seems a little crooked, but...
This one was because that tree seemed to create a natural frame for the river and snowy landscape.
Here is the eagle flying away and bubbles on the river and steam...OOOOhhhhh how cool is that?!
Here's steam, what I was going for in the first place, coming off of the dam.
A wider shot of the dam, steam river, ducks, Christmas decorations on the bridge....
Here one of the eagles is taking off with his food in his talons.
Here is one eating something furry....I cropped in closer. I had my telephoto extended all the way to 200, but eagles are a little frighty so this is the best I could get.
Here is the original. I like the river and weeds included for perspective, but I wanted you to KNOW I saw a bald eagle, hence the crop.

Have you taken anything cool lately? Have I inspired you to create some art of your own? Go forth and create!!