I'm not Telling...

Yesterday Dave and I had the best photo shoot since we have started our business. Mostly because I actually have been listening to what Dave has been saying about the camera and have been practicing on Photoshop. So, when it came time to take the photos, I knew what I wanted to do stylistically. I helped Dave more since I knew that he could get the shot I wanted because I understood the technical side of his job.

Then, when Ethan went down for bed, I couldn't wait to play! So, I did a bunch of editing. I tried new things that I had seen on my favorite photo blog. You can see some of my favorites here. When I showed Dave he couldn't believe it and asked me how I did some of them. Guess what my answer was?

I'm not telling...

Auntie Love

Dave and I had a photo shoot last night at Willamette University. Becca and Josh were kind enough to meet us there and take Ethan for a few hours to play. We got there early to check out the site and Ethan just ran... and ran. Then, in a booming voice we heard, "E-than!" Ethan turned around and saw Josh and Becca and ran to them. This is what Dave captured.

This photo shoot was the first that I really understood the camera and Photoshop. It really helped when setting up the shots. I couldn't wait to get home and edit some of them. I did this one first though. Do you like it? Hope to show more soon!

Garden Update...

Here is a few pictures of the garden that we took this week...

All Under Control

I was watering the garden Saturday and came across this little bird nesting in some plastic packaging I was going to re-use as planting filler. It was so cute. I was sad thinking that it might suffocate in plastic I left at my back door. So, I went to the garage, pulled out a saved robin's nest, and placed the nest in a safe place. I then caught the chick and put it in the nest. I was so proud of myself in helping save an animal.

About ten minutes later, I grabbed the camera to take a picture of the little guy in the nest and there he was - hopping across my yard! The father came down, fed it, flew away, and the little chick hopped to a covered area in the garden.


Isn't it funny how we try and help nature along when God created it to take care of itself. I felt terrible trying to put my two cents in, when God has had everything under control since the beginning of time...

Playing with Auntie Deb

I just couldn't help taking this picture last week when Auntie Deb called via Skype. It was so great. Now that we have a working laptop we were able to take Deb everywhere Ethan wanted to play. He had some water play with her on the floor with the fish in the picture. Then, he wanted to take the fish to the table and the two of them played a color game with them. After the game, Ethan wanted to play with Auntie Deb in his room. He showed her how he can dump all of his toys into his ball pit (wading pool with balls).

I am so grateful that we have this kind of communication. Ethan loves his Auntie and knows who she is even though she is on the other side of the world. Although, he didn't recognize Uncle Matt without his hat. ;)

I Wouldn't Have It Any Other Way...

I took this picture of couple of weeks ago. It just makes me laugh! What kind of smile is that? That's about all I can get out of him if you tell him to say "cheese." Oh well...

The little man has been sick all week and we have been super busy at home. Now that it is nice outside we should be out enjoying it... but I think it is better that the little man stays home. He has had to have breathing treatments and medication for hives. That's what happens to Ethan when he gets a cold. I was just telling Becca and Sarah that he is quite a unique child... and I wouldn't have it any other way.

Precious Times...

Here are a few more pictures from earlier in the week. I edited them today and had to share. I love the look Ethan has for his Mom and Dad. It's when I look at these photos that I realize that these are precious times...

Boys Will Be Boys...

When we were at the park on Monday, Dave took these pictures of Ethan. Ethan was dumping bark chips in the huge puddle at the end of the slide. Then... well, he couldn't help being a boy!

Good thing we had a towel in the car...

It's lovely...

The family went out on a walk for about fifteen minutes before dinner. It was a refreshing evening with that country smell and a look of rain... it's these times I don't mine living out here. It's lovely...

Favorites From Today...

Today we had a blast! Who wants to sit at home doing housework all day when it was so beautiful outside? I am glad Becca and Sarah invited us to go to the Riverfront with them for a picnic lunch. I brought the camera for some practice and glad I did! I got some of my new favorite pictures of Becca. After lunch we played on the playground (or should I say Ethan played). I made sure he was well behaved and the girls sun bathed. Then we took a walk on the new bridge over the river. After a trip to Target we went back to Becca's for the best smoothies I have ever had in my life! Sarah and Becca took turns reading to Ethan (the same book of course) and I am so glad I captured that on camera. It was precious. Here are my favorites from the day...

I am so glad that I get a chance to do it all again tomorrow! The Grinders invited me over for Mother's Day tomorrow!

Take Two...

After nap time, Ethan played in the sand box in our backyard for about fifteen minutes until he said he wanted to go inside. After his bath (he always dumps sand in his hair) I asked him if he wanted to go to the park. Of course! I figured since we had a great morning taking pictures, I thought I would try and bring the camera along for a few more.

We noticed next to the playground two Canada Geese had just hatched some little ones... the babies were so cute and Ethan really wanted a closer look. After talking with him, he did a good job of leaving them alone.

I am practicing my editing skills and I am finally loving the look of my own photos. It's nice not to depend on my husband when I need photos edited and put on a disc so that I can get them printed. It was hard at first, but I am getting it!

Out Exploring!

We went out for a walk today. It was the first time I have been able to take pictures of Ethan and got anything worth keeping! Ethan has a hard time standing still and looking at the camera. He is such a boy! But I was thankful to get these photos that really capture who he is! I have also been learning a lot on Photoshop! All of these photos have been edited. What do you think?

Today's Excitement

Check out what happened today here! So much fun and so exciting!

Sunday Blessings

Today begins Teacher's Appreciation Week. I had a CV Kidz meeting today and one of the women on our Dream Team bought me this hanging basket to tell me that I was doing a good job and that she appreciated me. Boy was I surprised! It really made my day. The two humming birds that live in our front yard will love it too!

The front yard is filling in nicely. I already see many buds forming and can't wait for the next two weeks. Usually a lot begins to bloom by Mother's Day where we live.

This basket will be beautiful all season long. I am so grateful to have loads of color right by the window to keep me company.

My Smile for the Day

A Really Good Cry

How do I even begin to explain this week?! We had a blessing happen on Sunday! We were given a love offering to help pay for our new lap top! I was able to get back online, working again, and it also began "catch up."

By Thursday, I finally was able to get to the store to get a few groceries before getting home to continue the mound of laundry that piles up when you are sick. I finished it all! Can you believe it? I couldn't. I also finished all the housework!

Friday came and Dave woke up with hives all over his body. He was miserable at work and asked me if I had done anything different with the laundry. Dave has sensitive skin and so we usually use Dreft. This time I tried to save money by buying Target's brand of baby detergent. Well... needless to say that I am now emptying out drawers and rewashing all the clothes.

This morning, while I was on the phone with the on call nurse for Dave (who by the way is now swollen and having cold chills while working) I opened the mail from yesterday. I found our water bill and it was six times higher than usual. Of course all I could do was leave a message on the company's answering service. But, what if we have a water leak? There would be no way that Dave could crawl under the house to see since he is so sick with allergies as it is!

So, when Becca and I came back from Craft Warehouse (read about that adventure here - unless you are MOM) and I got changed to go into the crawl space. Becca held the lamp. I opened the door. I realized I was going to have to get on my stomach to even get in there. I admitted that I was scared and so Becca humored me and prayed a prayer that went something like this, "Dear God, give Jen strength to go under the house because... well, were girls... help her be brave. Amen." I brushed the gigantic cop webs from the entrance and when I peered inside I saw something on the ground that looked similar to a mouse shaped body. I cried out and took the broom to see if it was such. We both began to laugh so hard that Sarah yelled from inside the house if we were OK. I then realized that I really had to do this and in my hysteria began crying. I crawled under the house and slowly went as far as I could before the pipes began to cross each other and I couldn't go any farther. I didn't see any leaks (that's good right?) and began back. It is amazing how being under the house can cause asthma. I am just beginning to feel better.

Dave was given a steroid at the Urgent Care after work hours and now is asleep. I guess the moral of the story is ladies, let someone else do the job of crawling in small spaces with creepy crawling things, with poor air supply. Unless you need a really good cry...