More Practice

I'm definitely on a photography practice kick right now. Thankfully, I have several willing posers. When I asked Karis (the only one who got dressed today) if she would pose for me, she excitedly said, "YES! And it's perfect since I either want to be a model or a vet when I grow up!" Perfect. These are in the garage again and then I followed some of Mindy's tutorials for a little photoshop editing. Poor Mindy will be glad when I am off the kick so I can quit asking her questions. I did notice in 2008 I asked the same exact question that I had this time around too! I've been saying it for years and think now I really need to actually do it: take a class!!! I no longer have a nursing baby, a newly adopted child I can't leave, or any other excuse. I should just do it but I'm afraid I know so little that I will look really dumb and get nothing out of the class. Perhaps I need a one on one tutor. I keep seeing groupons for a class, so next time I do, I am going to look into it more! Anyway....here's my pictures. All with natural light in the garage. OH if you don't mind...which one is your favorite and why?

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I tried lightening this one but I don't think it looks very good.

Shoot! I thought I could go back and see what I did in Photoshop but I can't! All of them I sharpened and a couple I added like soft light or hard light. And maybe a black background isn't the best for Karis?

Boy Hat

I finally knitted something for a boy! Much to Alex's delight! Blue and brown....not pink, purple, or bright green. I tried to get a picture of just him but he is so silly lately that it is impossible!

Winter in Idaho

So for the past three winters we have lived here, it seems we hardly get any snow. Apparently years ago it snowed much more and stuck. Fine with me, as I do not love the snow at all. Unless the kids get a snow day! So on Wednesday it snowed and snowed. But by evening it was all melting. To the point that this was behind our back yard! The kids were thrilled to have a "lake" in the back yard! They begged to go play in it and I was like, "NO! It is freezing!" But then I thought to myself how fun it would be to run through a lake in a grassy area that you normally just play on. So I said sure and off they went. It was cold and didn't last long, but they had a ball! When they were done they took off their clothes, put on warm jammies, and stood by the fire. Childhood is calling!

And one morning I was baking something chocolatey and the twins just had to have a taste.
I told them to share....so they did!

Photography Practice

Every once in awhile I decide to try and improve my skills a little bit. I read blogs and get info and try things out. Right now I have set up a little studio in the garage to get some good lighting on these cold winter days. I know these look a little posed but I am more interested in getting good lighting and focus and such. So what do you all think? I know the only way to improve is get constructive criticism. I am using my only good lens which is a Canon macro 60mm.

 

Home Schooling

Marshmallow shooters! They LOVED these. I think I will
be finding mini marshmallows all over our house for the next year!

Yesterday, much to my dismay, Preschool was cancelled due to weather. (Now if you just happened to see this post titled Homeschooling and thought  I had transferred all of my kids out of public school to home school, after reading the first sentence you realize you were mistaken. I just don't have that in me.) Anyway, I texted Hannah to tell her the preschool was closed because the police had blocked the road because their were already 6 accidents there. You would think the Police would have realized how desperate mothers are to get their children to school by the afternoon of the first big snow of the year! 

 I then texted Hannah to bring Emmett over and said we could do our own preschool with Pinterest ideas. To which she replied, "Are you serious?" Apparently she got over the shock and dismay of school being cancelled and came on over! We did several activities....here is the link to my Pinterest board where we got most of the ideas. So if you want to try them with your little ones you can!

The Happy Little Homeschoolers!

Making Bouncy Balls...I wouldn't say it actually made
Bouncy Balls, however it did make for a fun sensory activity!

Volcanoes. This was really fun!

After watching the volcanoes, they had a great time playing in it!

Hannah also made straw shooters with them which they loved. And we also made little melted multi-colored crayons by melting lots of crayons together in mini muffin tins. They loved watching the process and coloring with their new crayons! All in all, it was a fun afternoon. And God bless Preschool teachers!!

Oh and by the way....as I was editing these pictures I realized only Alex isn't wearing a bandaid on an odd spot for a bandaid. Too funny!

Craftiness

I was reading my blog from years back and noticed #1, I used to post a lot more and #2 if Avery and Alex ever count how many fun things I did with them, versus the big girls, they will think I did more with the big girls. So here's to posting a little more of little kid activities!

This was also the day Avery brought her lizard to school. The entire lizard cage had to go to. It was quite the endeavor, but she was thrilled. Poor Alex though, he said he just sat there with his sharing and no one even looked at it. So he gets to bring Tucker next time! Even the other class came in to see the famous lizard!

For snack this month for Preschool I made jello aquariums, because the class is  going to the aquarium and studying fish and ocean creatures this month. They of course didn't turn out nearly as cute as they looked online but oh well, the kiddos were thrilled. We had Emmett with us that morning, he wasn't quite as impressed. "Why do you never bring gooder snacks?" He asked. "What do you mean?" I said. "Well, last time you brought ice cream and that melts in the summer." We had brought Snowmen ice cream sundaes in December. Next month I will consult with Mr. E first about bringing a gooder snack. Love that boy!

Different girl, different hat. I made this one slightly smaller for Karis.

And another Pinterest project. Bitty Baby diapers. I even made dinosaur ones for Alex's baby. Once again, not nearly as cute as online, but all the kids love them so they are fine I guess!

To BED!

The new way the twins like to be taken to bed. No more being carried by their jammies....that is so a four year old way to go...this is how 5 year olds go to bed!!

Knitting

I made this hat over Christmas Break. This one was my 2nd attempt. The first was huge. I am now working on one that fits a little better, but at least she can wear this one. Just trying to document all my knitting projects in case I ever actually figure out how to get them on Ravelry!!

New Years Eve

Rachael and Kyle came for a few days after Christmas and stayed through New Years Day. It was sooo much fun to have them here. Both are great with kids and don't seem to mind the chaos or the endless requests for help with their DS games......since Mommy and Daddy are no help at all! The precious Sevilla also came and had a wonderful time running around with Gracie and Tucker...although it was clear she was more accustomed to a more..... shall we say pampered..... dog life.

Rach, Hannah, and I got some much needed girl time at the mall and Starbucks and Cheesecake Factory. Kyle and Scott didn't seem to mind hanging out with the kiddos, so it was great!

We had fondue for dinner on New Years and then Rachael led them in some singing and dancing. It was thrilling! Thanks for coming Rach and Kyle. We miss you!!