more Christmas?!

And more from James' camera of Christmas...


Pre-Christmas baking.




John and back of Ethan's head at Christmas


Katie Pie! Yep, just gave you that nickname for the minute.


He was into taking CLOSE ups I guess!


Bob.


Opening gifts.


Adorable hat made by Aunt Erin.


Izzie and Papa.


Tree. Someday all the ornaments will go on...but we will wait until kids are a little older.


Eli opening stocking.


New robe.


opening an awesome journal... i had picked it out but totally forgot about it. I was excited all over again!


Hannah Montana!

More Thanksgiving?!

Yeah, behind on posting some of the photos that we took because they have been sitting on James' camera. I have a list of to do's that I'm really hoping to get to this week! Every time I think I'm going to have time... I end up with something getting added that needs to take precedence. 'tis life. I did manage to cross something off my list though....getting the pictures off of James' camera. Really, my motivation for that is that I am super paranoid that we are going to lose all of the video that we have taken of the kids. I wanted it backed up. I have video from when Elijah was born that I really wanted saved. So I have quite a few on DVD now and on the backup hard drive. I ran into a little hiccup because my iMac doesn't support the firewire cable that I already have for video transfer so in a few more evenings it should be all done once I picked that up. It is sort of nice because it doesn't take up all that much time since I just plug it in, record, and walk away... add a title page and burn. I'm not fancy about it.

Anyway, below are some photos from Thanksgiving at my mom's house.




Izzie, Matt, and Chrissy.


Sarah, Ryan, and Steve watching the game.


Uncle Bruce, Alissa, and Aunt Barb.

Randoms from his camera and my phone (i apologize for the blurry, dark mess that are most of these images...my fault)


Isadora and daddy.


Pudding face! Are we bad parents that we laugh?!




looking good in his winter scarf...


out to dinner with my parents


this is just gross. Berlin added shrimp tails, crab ragoons, and fortune cookie to her ice cream.


He sat there like this just so serious. What a silly kid!


One of the MANY self portraits that Berlin takes.

TwentySeven!

I had a great birthday! My mom came and watched the kids for James and I to have a date day. It was really nice to spend some with James without the kids, especially since it has been 24-7 kids without a break of work or anything lately. We went to the ice skating rink by us, to the DIA, and then to eat some mexican food.


After a wonderful breakfast prepared by James, he brought out my gifts. A tri/monopod! I haven't had a tripod in a couple of years... and have been wanting one to do some long exposures.


Camera was out...so of course she had to pose. She says she learned this pose from Hannah Montana.


Eli too!


Berlin helping open my presents.


Yep, I read kid books.

woo, weird to see pictures of me without makeup on. don't worry, there aren't anymore! lol.


Here I am after my triple axel. That James just couldn't catch me in action, I'm too fast for him. :)


James

One of those days.

It has just been one of those days... among other things, cake baking was a mess....

First cake... burned on bottom, not right on top. Maybe the butter recipe was messed up because of the butter I used? Not sure... but a mess.


Treats that did turn out. Silly things.


The last straw... 3rd cake. I'm done.

Isadora. 23 weeks.

Isadora army crawled out of her room and into the kitchen while I was making dinner. I just had to take a picture. :D

Playing in her room, I just liked the drool and the angle of this one.

Mom, mom! Look, I'm strong!

We had a pretty long day today. I kept thinking all day of what I was going to do for my project 365 and ended up doing none of my ideas. I did try to jump out of the car to get a picture of James pumping gas...but ended up getting out too late and he just stared at me like I was an idiot. I am a little bummed because I'm finding that my focus is off again! I have had this issue several times for several different reasons...and now after a focus test AGAIN, I'm thinking that there is something up with my newest lens. It keeps front focusing so it will have to be sent in for repairs. It is my fave all around lens though so I'm not looking forward to being without it. At least it is under warranty and will be covered for repair!

Anyway, the second picture needs an explanation...or should have one. I told Berlin that if she ate all of her dinner that she could have some of my soda. I poured her some Virgil's Root Beer--but only a little bit. I explained that it was a strong pop so I wasn't giving her a whole bunch. (it is kind of like dessert in drink form with all the flavor and sugar). So she drinks it and then comes running into the living room holding Elijah's toy lawn mower over her head. "Mom, mom! Look, I'm STRONG! I had strong pop!" This girl says the funniest things all the time!

Even with the 'amanda you are an idiot' look on his face, i wish the darn picture was sharp. grr.

De.ve.lop.

I am currently participating in another project called Develop on Fridays. Taking time to develop myself personally is really feeling great. Anyway, here are a couple of shots from that lesson. To view the fave shot go to my other blog here! Also, there is a description of the lesson too. Also, just a couple of random shots from the day.

Coffee Beans. Lesson ONE.



VIEW my fave shot.


Berlin was dancing and singing while watching herself in the tv.


Eli watching her from the couch with a bowl of crackers.


Baked these yummy Wild Blueberry Muffins for breakfast. They are so good. The recipe has sour cream in it and I think that just makes them special.


A quick blackmail shot of Eli. Berlin started running around in her bathing suit and she put one of her other ones on Eli. He was so excited...had to take a picture!