Photography Post

There are lots of pictures on this blog, but not so many photography posts, I dare say. Today I'm breaking that trend.

I don't often shoot in Manual mode, primarily because I'm usually trying to capture little people who move too fast to mess around with different settings. It's also because I'm an amateur and don't know which settings to put the camera on to get the best results...yet. 

But today I was feeling inspired by the awesome light coming in the east-facing windows. It was a result of the snow-reflections, and I had some fun clicking away. The baby was mostly cooperative, and so were the big kids when I asked them to pose. 

Manual mode went well today, so maybe next time I pick up the camera I'll give it a try again. Of course, that'll depend on how cooperative the munchkins are! 

Enjoying the phone as much as she enjoyed breakfast

I'm kind of a nut about eyelashes...probably because mine are pathetic. But my husband has fabulous lashes, and he kindly passed them on to our children. See for yourself...

Elsa hasn't played with her baby dolls much in recent months, but for some reason this week she has been enjoying them again. I keep having to swaddle Baby Heidi for her.

Here's my original Mr. Blue-Eyes...

 And Boo-Boo...

 And the girlie who has broken the blue-eyed mold...

She seemed to have forgotten about her thumb for a few weeks, but now she has found it again...and she's in love!

January in Pictures

Too tired to keep playing. PS - Those are her
doll's feet, not her sister's.

Happy birthday to Cade! He's
getting so big!

Sisters!

I think 50% of the pictures I've
taken of her have her tongue
sticking out. She's just
like Cade!!

There it is again!

And again...

Yup, she did that all by herself.
She is crawling now and pulling up
on the furniture. Yikes!!

Playing under the highchair

Showing off her teeth!

Cade the creator often brings me
his creations asking me to
take a picture of the to send
to the Lego magazine. 

 Because this deserves more than just a picture... Luke has been very reluctant to try things containing milk after avoiding them for his whole life. But I recently added milk to the frosting on Cade's birthday cake, and he was fine with that. So we talked him into trying a real-deal Wendy's frosty on Sunday. He was eager and hopeful, yet a little reticent. 

But he was fine! He tried a few bites and waited a while before having anymore. But he really enjoyed it, and ate the rest later. We are so excited for him!

Luke and his first Frosty!

Happy baby!

My lovey-girl

She got the lashes, too, just like the rest of them.
Thanks, Daddy!

On the move!

Might as well climb something...

Up she goes...

Wowee, just one hand!

The best part is that she got
back down without falling!

And she's still happy...which makes
me happy. :-)

Happy New Year!

It's a new year! God has blessed us with another year of life, and we are thankful. 

I've been reading an online daily devotional called Solid Joys by Desiring God Ministries, and a day or two ago there was a reflection on the end of the year as a mini-death in which we should all take time to consider how we will face our coming death. Will it be with fear and despair? Or with grace and hope - hope in the Lord Jesus? 

Do we face this new year with hope? Hope of victory over sin because of Jesus? Or do we make resolutions expecting to despair when we can't follow through?

Well, we won't follow through with them perfectly. We won't live out our Christian life sinlessly. But by God's grace and the help of the Holy Spirit, we can have victory over the sin that still lives in us because of JESUS. He is our warrior king. He has conquered sin and death on our behalf, and now we can live in His righteousness. Praise God!

We started the new year with some Cherry Almond Scones - YUM!

We began this tradition last year, and it sure is a yummy one! It seems that so many of our traditions revolve around food here, but...what can I say? We like good food!! 

Christmas was a fun day with family visiting. Lots of presents, lots of food, lots of fun!

Grandma rolled out the dough for Christmas
Eve stromboli.

The kids were checking out the stockings.

Cousin!

Cousin!

Trying out the new mini-air hockey table

Sweet Potato Casserole - my favorite!

Chef Elsa

Grandma with Cousin C

The poor sick baby

She wasn't such a happy girl on Christmas (or the rest of the week).

Later this week we had a lovely tea hosted by Lady Bowes-Lyon (Grandma). We all dressed up a little and enjoyed a fun time of fake names (Lord L. Jackson, Baron David Cade, Princess Elsa-Stephen, and Countess von DeSha), "grown-up" conversation topics, and tasty treats.

Crackers w/ cheese and Cranberry Macaroons

Caroline learned to clap this week. And she has slept through the whole night several times giving us hope of undisturbed nights in our future. She is also now on the move, though not exactly crawling. It's more like crawling backwards. But either way, the Legos and Playmobils that dominated the Christmas gifts this year are no longer safe on the floor!