Some Christmas Fun...Phase 2 (First Christmas in our New Home)

On Christmas Eve, we came to our home and got ready for church. I put supper in the oven (Valentine's Chicken) and we went to Mass. Supper was ready when we got home. My parents stopped over and had a bite to eat with us and watched us open presents and brought me my camera battery that I forgot at their house so I could take pictures!:)!

Casey was so enthralled with this "big" present that it was the first one he chose to open...an extra large dry erase board and markers.

Emily's favorite present was this blanket; zebra on one side and soft fuzzy turquoise on the other. I admit I knew she had to have it when I saw it, but her favorite gift?/ Who knew?

Carter wanted only one thing really: Skylanders for wii and of course we got it for him! Stump Smash is his favorite guy to play with and he got that one too. (pictured with my happy boy!)

Our family picture was a hurry so we could open presents and we are never really still anyway....

I love my crazy happy family!!! I ended up converting these to black and white because my face was red like I'd run a marathon or something...Beth says she'll teach me to fix this yet this week...

Coincidentally, I received a couple pairs of really awesome shoes...I think I am developing a shoe addiction...and Al's present was yet to come....

A New Year's Resolution

For New Year's this year I thought I'd try a Resolution. I'm not very good at keeping them, but I thought I'd try something I've wanted to do and make it very doable. Hopefully. Anyway, I wanted to learn something new. At first, I thought of an instrument, but at this point in my life I think that is beyond me. So, I thought, I have a new camera and I always complain I don't know much Photoshop, so there you go. That's what I need to learn more of...My friend Beth volunteered to help me every Friday with editing a photo since I thought I'd do one a week. She talked to me about a couple of things in Photoshop on Friday and then said I should put up a before and after ala Beth and Stacey!

Basically, I've adjusted levels, sharpness, and some color correction along with cropping. This eagle was outside my parents big windows on Christmas Eve. Carter is totally happy opening a present on Christmas Eve. The Kitty in the barn door was at a nearby farm that my dad was caring for the animals. So, tell me what you think...Too much of something? Too little? Maybe it's not a great crop?? Please give any suggestions so that I can improve!

The real question I have is...Why do you edit? Do you edit because you are going to hang the picture on your wall? Do you edit because you are making a book? Do you edit just for fun? What do you intend with the pictures?
I'm not a very good printer of pictures and I am wondering if I should be printing all of these I'm trying to edit...Also, I am wondering how to know what size to crop to when I don't know what I am doing with the picture in the end?
Just questions and ideas I have....

Some Christmas Fun...Phase I

Our first Christmas was at my Mom and Dad's house. We started by actually going to a movie together, technically for Al's birthday, but the start of Christmas just the same...Carter was sure he could get Grandma to let him open presents early, she always does he said.  We held him off a little while, but we did eventually open a little early...

I do believe he and Casey stayed in their pjs the whole time!! How perfect!

Don't know why Ems has her head down...probably tired from all the opening :)...I actually got to go on a hunt this year!! I never get to...I am always the one giving the hunts...My Dad made this bird feeder for my deck and the hunt was for a garbage can and bird seed!!Fun!

We made grasshoppers this year for something different. Yummy.

My aunt and uncle always come and spend Christmas Eve time with us and this year wasn't any different. It just wouldn't be the same without them...

Christmas Dress Up Week

Middle school has been such fun for Emily. Just before Christmas break they had a Christmas dress up week! Emily really gets into these days....

Ugly Sweater day...

Favorite Christmas Character day and my personal fav...

Red and green day...

There was also a Hawaiian day where she wore a very colorful Hawaiian shirt of Grandpa's and pajama day where she wore my new kitty footy pjs!! I missed those pics because there just isn't time in the morning and she takes it off as soon as she gets home!! Do you think she'll put the outfit back on and let me take a pic later?? No Way!!! Geez Mom!! How could you even ask??

What a fun way to get more in the spirit while at the same time making school more fun for the last few days!  We had a lot of fun with it!!

I always seem to be a day late and a dollar short....

and today is no different...

Al's birthday was December 18th and the kids and I tried to make it fun....it's hard having a birthday so close to Christmas and of course when you have a wife who turns 40 the same year....well, you know what I mean...

Casey is convinced that birthdays mean hunts (although I think his opinion is changing to all presents...)so anyway, we did a scavenger birthday hunt for Daddy. Casey probably loved it more than Daddy! Casey actually got his first hunt last February on his 5th birthday and I remember him opening that present and saying, " But Mom. It's just a piece of paper." Emily heard that and she perked right up and the hunt was on. When they finally found his present, Casey handed it to me and said, "Again!" At my birthday this year, he insisted that Al help him hide a picture that he drew for me because it was my birthday and birthdays mean hunts after all.

So, on Al's birthday, while he was outside working, the kids and I planned a hunt, each of us picking hiding places. When it came time to open presents, we couldn't find that one...Casey pipes up, "Daddy, we have to find that one so we can send you on your hunt!" Eventually, we all remembered that Casey had wanted to hide that present too and we found it in the refrigerator!!

We had a steak lunch and watched the latest Pirate's of the Caribbean movie that we gave Daddy for his birthday in our "movie theater." We even drug it out to birthday week and all went to the theater this last week to see Sherlock Holmes 2 for his birthday!! Hope it was fun turning 39 Al!! We love you!!

Photography

I worked last Saturday and when I got home I noticed how cool the moon was lighting the river so I went home and talked Emily into going and taking pictures with me. We grabbed one of Al's neon shirts and hats and gloves. I parked off of the bridge and put my flashers on....a nice policeman stopped and talked to me. And then we went out to the bridge which incidentally is on a highway and took some pics. Emily used my old camera and I used my new one!! Hers needed some settings adjusted, but she was cold and worried about being on the bridge and cold so we headed home, but I did get a couple of interesting shots...

This reminds me of some artwork hanging in my sister and brother in law's house. It looks like not much of anything until you get up close to it and can pick out the objects in the landscape. I lightened it just a little. I don't edit much so I'm not sure, perhaps it needs something a bit more?? What do you think? Beth???

On another not, I'm still not done Christmas shopping and sending cards, etc. but as of today closer than I was yesterday which is always a big plus!!!

My 40th birthday....

My wonderful hubby got me a new camera for my 40th birthday WOW!!! ( He says he knew that I'd never buy it for myself...and he's right)...The camera took this picture at the birthday party he had for me, I obviously didn't take it, not sure who did, but I'm glad someone picked up my camera and took pictures! It's always fun to look at what other people take with your camera....

My parents gave me my grandmother's wedding ring made into a necklace! WOW!!! I really miss my grandma....

Emily, Carter and Casey gave me footy pajamas that look like a big leopard kitty cuz I'm always cold...Love them!!!

I got a box full of 40 suckers with the tag "40 sucks!"

I got a lot of other really fun gifts and had the opportunity to spend time with lots of my favorite people!!

And Just so you all know,

Turning 40 isn't all that bad...it's actually kinda great!! Going to be my best year yet!!!