I am just in love with this photo...but I don't care for the crop (in camera) but I can't figure out how to crop it so I'm leaving it as is....anyways- it was raining all day today- this is Boy #2 in our living room staring down at the rain.
I broke out the 50mm today....it hasn't been on my camera since April I think, so never on the new one. I wanted to try it out and told the kids, so Boy #1 ran off- came back with 3 suckers and said "okay- we'll let you take pictures if we can have these when we're done!" :)
The Girl is very into mini skirts and tights this Fall....which I have to admit I find adorable :)
It's that time of year! Our big maple is dropping it's leaves and The Girl loves to collect them and make bouquets...this one, according to her- is for Thanksgiving to use as a centerpiece :)
The boys were busy "raking" and were annoyed when she would start to scavenge their piles :)
A&J our friends who you've seen before on my blog- we see them weekly at our playgroup. A&J are only 3days younger then The Trio. How cute are they??!!
The Girl has started up tap/ballet class again- which means the boys and I head next door to the library :)
Today's story they listened to- "Kiss the Cow"- if you haven't ever read it you MUST- sooooooo sweet and the best descriptive words :)
Rainy day activities :) For all my non-photo geek friends you can ignore the next sentences. :D
So- I decided to test out some higher ISOs on my new camera, as with the XT I was always afraid to go past 400 because of the noise- but holy smokes does the 40D handle it SO much better! These were all shot at 800. No noise removal. Wahoo! Next rainy day I'll have to try 1600 and see how it does :)
This pic makes me laugh- when Boy #1 saw it he said "that's my mean tough Vikings face" :D
You know a little boys dad is a hunter when he FREAKS out with excitement over a toy shotgun ("I'm going to hunt deer like daddy!") and an Elmer Fud hat that once on, he wouldn't take off :) Happy 3rd Birthday A! :)
Today was the kids 1st ever large event...we went and saw "My Little Pony Live- The World's Largest Tea Party!" at the Target Center, with our friends A&J. I wish I could have taken a photo of The Girl's face.....she was in heaven. When Pinkie Pie came out on stage...... pure joy. :)
2hrs is a little long for this type of thing.....but I did entertain myself with taking lots of photos of the show and playing with camera settings. So I have like 50 photos of the show, which are of course reallly boring to look at (IMO) but The Girl love them and wants a little photobook :)
He's obsessed :) But it's SO awesome how hard he works at it. He's getting pretty good! Our next door neighbor, who's 11, is the sweetest, nicest boy....my boys think he's just the coolest guy ever- and he's so nice to them, shows them tricks and gives them lessons. He'll even take out the skate ramp for them to practice on. I'm so thankful that they have such a great kid and role model living right next door! Very few 11yr olds would give 5yr olds the time of day- he's a gem!
This is the look he gives me whenever I say the name "Earl" who's the dog of my g/f. He *loves* Earl, and just the mention of his name makes his ears perk up and his head tilt :) Earl is like his big brother- they play and fight and general cause havok together....and he just loves him!
Today Boy #2 had a Dr. appt. Nothing wrong, just his annual visit for his asthma work-up. 2 wks ago he had his 5yr shots, so he was a little nervous about going, but I PROMISED him there'd be no shots. You see where this is going, yes?
So...he gets the whole work-up, and after 90min in the Ped office the kids are literally bouncing off the walls, esp Boy #2 since part of the work-up is a breathing test where they check lung capacity normally, then drug him and test again. And the drugs always make him a little extra spazzy. SO...as we're about to leave the Ped gives me some lab work to bring downstairs....it turns out the boy needs to get blood drawn. Given the drama of 2wks ago I knew this wasn't going to go well. I waited until about 5min before to warn him...apologizing for telling him there'd be no shots, etc. He gets nervous but tells me he's going to be okay and "be a big boy"
After the 1st couple of pokes in his right arm with me holding him in my lap failed (grrrrrrr)....we had to go to another room so they could prod the other arm. At this point he is besides himself hysterical....and it took 4 nurses AND me to hold him down. I have never felt worse as a mother in my entire life- he was screaming, I was bawling because I just couldn't stand it as he BEGGED me to make them stop and BEGGED me to stop holding him so tight. It was the longest 5minutes ever.
It. Was. Awful. He recovered almost immediately once it was over, well by the time we got to the car anyway, but I cried the whole way home...most of the time in Target....and again when hubby came home and I retold him the story. So...this is as he calls it- "The Guilt Gift"
I swear I would have given the boy a fricking car if he wanted it I felt so guilty. But he picked this instead.
If it saves him from being permantly emotionally scarred it will be the best $9.99 I ever spent.
My g/f's adorable yellow lab Lindy :) How cute is he?! This morning he was watching me very carefully as I packed up to go home :D
My g/f's and I have a monthly cooking club, and tonight we started up season....4? Anyhoo- the 5 of us get together, cook new recipes, chat, laugh and drink some wine :) One of our goals for this year is to keep better track of the recipes we make..and take more photos :) This month the theme was kinda of a mish-mash..as we cooked a lot of what was left over from everyones harvested gardens. So...here are some photos from this month. Bacon wrapped chicken breasts stuffed with cream cheese stuffed jalepenos; wild mushroom risotto; Provencal stuffed tomatoes; sauteed zucchini and onions with parmesan. Not pictured....apple crisp, freeezer salsa and freezer pesto :) It was a busy night!
Oh- and the 1st photo...S's perfect pepper from her garden :)
And yes- product/food photography is not my thing..so this will be a good challenge each month to try to get creative!
One advantage of cooler weather, the bees don't move much, enabling this close up (taken with my 28-75 so yes I was REALLY close! :)
We spent the day at the apple orchard/pumpkin farm- a favorite of my kids, and their fellow playdate friends :)
The dog spends most of his time lounging on the furniture in our family room....and now we have new furniture down here and he's enjoying his new places to crash :)
The trio started back at preschool today. They are going 3 mornings a week this year. Same school as last year, but a new teacher and all new friends. They were a little disappointed that noone from last year was in their class, and it was one of those times I was happy they had each other :)
I can't tell you how many times we get this look from him. Makes me laugh everytime :)
Today I had the honor of being the 2nd shooter for my friend Peggy who's a wedding photographer. I've never taken photos at a wedding before, and was excited to try something new. It was SO much fun! Matt & Ginny were very relaxed, laid back people, and their wedding reflected just that. It was outdoors at a park on a lake, with their friends and family. After the ceremony guests played lawn games and table games, danced and drank....so relaxed and fun. I had a blast as the 2nd shooter, mostly taking photos of all the incidental stuff. So- here are a few of my photos from the day. 2 of the lovely couple of course...them during their 1st dance, I love this one...the flowers were created at the rehearsal dinner and on them is written either memories from Ginny and Matt about each other, or wishes, tips and hopes from their family and friends to them. They were used as the table centerpieces. SO sweet. They specially grew the grass in those jars a few weeks before. The rocks...were their guest books. Instead of a book, guests signed a rock, which went around a planted tree that they will keep in their home. Cool huh?
Doncha love the pained look on Boy #1's face?! The kids were picking flowers this afternoon and placing them in water glasses all over the house. "To decorate" :D
My first shots with the new camera.....I am in LOVE with the faster focus. It has a learning curve for me- new bells and whistles I have to figure out what to do with- but I'm figured out the basics and for those so far it's been fabulous! The only bummer is that I prefer to shoot in RAW, and the 40Ds RAW is so new that Photoshop ACR/CS3, doesn't recognize the RAW format yet (neither does iPhoto- which I use to import) ....WAHHH... it's putting a huge dent in my PPing process! So these were done with the supplied Canon software...which makes no sense to me after being use to PS. Hopefully Adobe (and Apple) will release an update soon so I can go back to what I know and love! So ignore the wonky WB issues please... If I can't get a grasp on it I may have to, gasp, go back to shooting jpeg ;) Well...at least until it's PS compatible :)
Oh- and The Girl is excited- because now she thinks she gets my old camera. HA! Of course so does DH. Also HA! :)
I told him I have to give him lessons- because shooting in Auto is just unacceptable ;)
They crack me up sometimes- although their idea was cute :)
Sadly the UPS man was not my friend today....we missed him by 5min, so my much anticipated new camera didn't land in my hands until after dark...so I couldn't play with it! Can't wait to try it out tomorrow! The sucker sure is a lot heavier than my XT though....better start doing some hand weights :D
I attempted the kids 5yr photoshoot.....with horrible results....I should know by now that when I WANT good photos of them, I fail..as they decide to be crabby or fill my camera with fake smiles. Drives me crazy! Sigh...oh well...I'll try again in a few days with perhaps better success...this one of The Girl was pretty cute though...so not a total loss.
My YAY excited news is that my new camera is scheduled to arrive tomorrow...I can't WAIT! :D
New tune to match my mood :)
The hubby starts a new job in 2days, so tomorrow at his last day of work as his current job, he'll be turning in his work car. SO before turning it in- he allowed the kids to wash it...entirely by themselves :) lol
They had a blast and were a little drunk with the power of such an important job. They did a GREAT job! Well...at least all parts of the car that are 4' and under :D
Started the morning at the Farmers Market where we picked up 30# of tomatoes and a bushel of basil :)
Then home to 10hrs straight of pesto making and roasted tomato sauce...to last us all winter. I *LOVE* this spaghetti sauce, you roast the tomatoes for 2hours...sooooooo yummy! It's best with fresh homegrown tomatoes- so this way we can enjoy that awesome summer tomato taste all year long!
