This is why I've been busy...

Okay... it's one of the reasons! To watch the video, be sure to silence the song off the right right-hand-side, by clicking on the blue, round button.



Our church is a relay station for Operation Christmas Child this year, for the first time. I've been coordinating volunteers, and getting things ready for the shoe boxes to come. Now, come on shoe boxes!

Have you packed a shoe box this year? We're on the 2nd day of collection, and if you wish, you have until the 19th to drop your shoe box at any collection center in your area. Go to OCC to read more, and find a close drop off place. You can find out what kind of items you should put in, and what you cannot. You can also watch videos HERE, to see videos of families just like yours packing shoe boxes, and teaching their children that Christmas is about giving.

If you cannot put together a shoe box, you can make a donation online to help with the expense of this major undertaking.

Can't I just take a 5 minute shower???

I'm the Mom of a toddler & two naughty pups. What does this mean? This means I take a FAST shower. FAST. Get wet, shampoo hair quickly. Wring out hair, and apply conditioner. While conditioner is setting for a minute or two (according to the bottle's instructions) I lather myself up with soap, and then rise hair and body - CLEAN. I'm in there 5 minutes tops. Who has time to shave legs?

So, yesterday was a usual day. The pups were sleeping on my bed, and I put on an episode of Little Bear for Sophia. "I'm going to take a quick shower," I told her. "Okay Mummy," she replied. She was focused on the show.

Here was my chance. Took quick shower as usual, and stepped out, wrapped smaller towel on head, bigger towel on body. Stepped out of the steamy room to check on the pups and kiddo. What I found wasn't a pretty sight.



Pups - no, one pup (the bigger, dumber one) had gotten one of DH's nice, leather, super comfy sandals, and chewed it up. Great. I look up at the television in the bedroom, and something doesn't look quite right. It's kind of messy.

Turns out Miss Sophie opened the bottle of LIQUID EYE MAKEUP that Paige had given her, click here. Paige was SURE Sophia couldn't open it, so there was no harm. Yeah, there was NO HARM all over the TV screen and the TV itself! But then I looked closer and it was all over her arms, too.


This all happened as we had just about enough time to get dressed and out the door for a dentist appointment...

Noah started Basketball today!

Awaiting instruction from the coach


Sophia and Minnie watch with interest



Noah shoots - he scores!


Bleachers can be fun!


My handsome boy


Sophie being a ham - as usual!


Noah dribbles and runs down the court


Sophia puts Minnie to bed


They played dribble tag



Noah is 7, and in the 2nd grade. He's never expressed much interest in sports, but this year he was on fire to play basketball. I signed him up at the school, and today was the first day. The group of boys above are 1st and 2nd grade boys.

I was a bit concerned that Noah would be frustrated that the other boys knew how to play, and he didn't. We just got him a basketball a few weeks ago, and we don't have a hoop here at home (yet). Since he got the ball, he's been dribbling on the porch (not in the house, thank you!) He's been playing with the boys at recess in school, but I didn't know how much like the game that would be.

Well, he did great! About 1/2 way through I mentioned to the coach that was working with him that he'd never played until recently, and he looked shocked and commented that he never would have guessed that. I wanted the coach to know that Noah might not understand 'offense' and 'defense' or the terminology he might use with the more experienced players. Honestly, Noah was pretty up to speed skill wise with most of the boys. There were a couple 'pros' in the group, but Noah certainly wasn't in the bottom 1/2 of the group, either.

The coaches worked them hard, and I'll bet Noah will sleep well tonight. He loved it. I'm so proud of him for trying, and working so hard at it.

Out of the Mouths of Babes...

Just a few moments ago, I said to Sophia: "You have cute buns." (well, she does!)

She responded, "No, you have cute buns, Mama!"

I laughed.

"No I don't... you do!" I responded.

"Yes you do, you have cute OLD buns!"

Oh man. :)

Retro!

So... I was over at 5 Minutes for Mom, when I saw this giveaway. Oh my, can't you just see Sophia cruising around in it? So I've entered. You can enter too. You can choose the car or other items, if you're the winner. If you're into retro stuff... you'll be like a kid in a candy store here.

So check them both out, and I'll post pics of Sophia in the car when if I win it!

You know you're a redneck when...

This lil news story was in the local paper today. Wow.

"SWANVILLE, Maine - Police say it's case closed on a sibling spat over the shaving of a pet cat in Swanville.

State police launched a search last week using tracking dogs for 22-year-old Nicholas Palmer after his 18-year-old sister claimed he choked and struck her. He fled after she called 911 and was located several days later.

State Trooper Luke Cunningham says Palmer is now back home, and the trooper says the sister has recanted her story.

Cunningham says the sibling altercation began when Palmer attempted to stop his sister from shaving the family cat to help control fleas and ticks. He says the family has since decided to use insect powder."

Ain't country life grand????

I need your help! Please?

I took these pictures last week, for a friend from church. Please check them out, and read the text below... I need your help!


This is my favorite!


Isn't she a doll? I did not edit the color of her eyes, I just made the rest of the picture black & white.


The whole family


Awwww...





I've been taking pictures for awhile now. No professional training, (unless you want to consider one adult-ed class professional training, ha!) just a hobby. I love taking pictures of my family, and have close to a dozen scrapbooks on the shelf, showcasing our memories.

I've been asked many times to take pictures for friends and other family members. I've done a couple weddings, some senior portraits, and a family reunion. I've never charged for this, as I'm certainly not a professional, and have done it as a favor to whoever has asked. Over time, my pictures have improved. I'm at the point where I think I want to turn my hobby into a bit more. Am I ready to get a degree in photography? - Nah... While I'd love to learn more and take better pictures, I don't have the time or desire to make it a full-blown career, at least not right now.

What I'd like to do is create a brochure with a sampling of my work, and promote it locally. Not a big expense or a big deal, but to start charging something. Obviously, I could not and would not charge what the pros are getting, their work is in a different class. I don't have a studio set up, I take all my pictures outside and use natural lighting. I'd like to get some lights and filters like a studio would have, and play around to figure out how to set them for the best results. Good thing I've got some models around here to be my guinea pigs!

I went to Barnes & Noble the other night, and looked at some photography books. 'How to take Senior Pictures', 'How to photograph children'... as I browsed through them I suddenly got intimidated. All the tricks for lighting (which I know NOTHING about), and the pictures were so gorgeous in the book! 'What am I thinking?' I totally doubted myself. Then I realized, that there is a market for a 'good' photographer, that is reasonably priced. Not to mention that if you look at my pictures (and you're not a trained professional - ha ha!) you'll likely think it's a 'good' picture. No one is going to be putting my pictures right next to a professional's pictures, and picking them apart.

I want to make a little something, but I also want to provide a good picture at a reasonable price for people that can't afford to hire the professionals in the area. Not every family has $800 or more to spend on Senior Portraits. I know I need to really check out the prices in the area, and go from there.

I also want to offer something different. Whoever I take pictures for will get the CD of all the pictures taken, to do what they want to with. They can take it to Walmart (or hopefully a better photo printing place,) and can print their own 8 x 10's for $2 rather than paying one of the pros $50 for the same picture. I guess I would also offer to print the photos for people (at a more reasonable price) if they would like that option. Photo editing would be additional too, as it can be time consuming. Can you tell I'm having such a hard time trying to figure out what my services are worth??? Any comments, suggestions or advice would be appreciated! Let me ask you this: What would you expect to pay, or be willing to pay (realistically) for a sitting with your family, if you could take the cd of edited pictures when it's all done? What about 'senior pictures' for your teen?