not much to talk about

There isn't really a lot to update on. The girls and I have had colds for the last week and a half, but I think there's finally some light at the end of that tunnel. Kelsie and I are feeling a lot better (Ashlin, too, but she's still a bit sicker than us). Daniel managed to avoid a cold this time around, which is great, especially since he worked overtime this week. He was scheduled for this Friday, Saturday, and Sunday (today), but he got a call last Thursday asking if he could cover someone so he went. It's tough on him to work three days in a row, so it's worse to work four. He works twelve hour night shifts...it's a pretty tough schedule.

I've had an interest in making bows (for the girls, not to sell) for a while, but I'm not great at it. I got some ribbon and some alligator clips the other day and I made several that I really like. I think I'm addicted now...lol. Oh! Kelsie's been completely addicted to dress up lately. She's dressed up every single day this week...I'm talking dress, shoes, sometimes tights, and yesterday she wanted a skirt on, too...under her dress. She has fashion sense, let me tell you! She's even wanted to sleep in her dress up dress at night. Guess who's getting more dress up as soon as we can...lol.

As far as photography goes, I haven't done much picture taking. It's been really cold out and with colds, I don't want to get the kids out to play. I've been playing in PSE, though. I figured out clipping masks and I'm thrilled! I bought my very first set of actions yesterday!!! My Four Hens released her newest actions yesterday and they rock! Anyway, I don't know what I want to tackle next in PSE. I need suggestions for what to learn. Ok, well I guess this is all for now. I'll post a couple of pics, too.


Kelsie, Ashlin, Daniel, and I went to the park a week ago since it was so pretty out.http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4051/4395949424_4bb3e1f349_b.jpg


Ashlin sized hair clippies!

One of M4H's new actions. Part of the "Little Yummies" collection, this is "celery sticks"

Don't forget...if you have any ideas for what I should tackle next, leave me a comment and let me know :o)

my first portraiture session of 2010

The sun is actually out today! Hard to believe, I know! Since it was sunny today, I decided to open my new backdrop stand and do a little portraiture session. I originally wasn't going to take Kelsie's pictures because she's sick, so I didn't think she'd be in the mood, but she asked to be so I couldn't tell her no. Before she asked to be in the pictures, I told her that Ashlin was going to be our model and she was going to be my photography assistant. She wanted to be my student, though...lol (she's so cute!)! I know it's only in the low 40's outside, so it's definitely not spring, but I wanted to put bright springy clothes on the girls, so I did just that. I'm really happy with how the pictures turned out. Let me know what you think! (Don't mind the scratch on Kelsie's face. The cat scratched her. I cloned it out of the others, but left it in one.) The links directly above each picture are the links to the larger versions.

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4065/4368054843_479ca990fa_b.jpg


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Enjoying my new camera

So I'd been waiting as patiently as I could for our tax return. I did really well for about a week and a half, but I was getting really excited and impatient for it towards the end. Finally, February 5th arrived and our money was deposited! Why was I so excited for this return? Well there were several reasons, but one of the most important to me was that I could finally order my new camera! It feels like I've wanted a DSLR forever, but I think it's actually been a year and a half or so. My dreams of owning one were finally coming to fruition and it felt so surreal! I ordered my Nikon D5000 on Friday, February 5th and it arrived in the mail on Monday morning. Holy cow, that was fast! Definitely didn't expect that! I love this camera even though it's a lot to learn. I'll get it one day, but it may take a little while before I venture out of auto...lol. Even in auto, it's a million trillion times better than my p&s. I also got PSE 8, so I've been having fun learning that. I was introduced to the world of actions and I'm in love! You'll see some of my camera and PSE fun below. Another reason I was so excited for our return was we could put a down payment on a car. We've been driving a 1987 Toyota Camry for over a year now and it's definitely seen better days. Before the Camry, we had 3 other cars in our 4 and a half year relationship...almost a car every year. We were so ready to get a nice car that will last us a loooong time! We went to Carmax and found a 2007 Dodge Caliber. It's really nice and I'm so excited to be able to say it's ours (even though we'll be paying on it for a while).

Picture time again! As always, click on the link to see the picture bigger or just click on the picture to see the whole thing.

Our new car!http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4071/4366256632_874753114f_b.jpg

Little baby pine coneshttp://farm5.static.flickr.com/4021/4365524271_9069d82983_b.jpg

My first time using an action!
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4018/4352859674_8498cccae1_b.jpg

Ashlin eating snow...that's all she was interested in doing...lol.http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2774/4346584207_70717fe865_b.jpg

This was my first attempt at using a texture like this in a fantasy type picture
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4037/4347291320_0014f1e901_b.jpg

Kelsie, Ashlin, and Daniel posing for a picture
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2701/4343999978_12b4af7d0e_b.jpg

My wonderful hubby, Daniel
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2803/4343262277_3b0c327730_b.jpg

Insert creative title here...

I'm clearly not in a very creative mood...at least not creative enough to come up with a nice title...lol. So I finally have something new to post about! I went to the doctor on the 4th to see if my broken foot was better. It's not healed, but it's healed enough to wear a normal shoe again. I have to wait to start running, but I think I can live with that :o). Daniel and I got our tax return yesterday and he bought me my Nikon D5000!!! We bought it online, so I still have to wait to get it, but it should be here in less than a week. I haven't been taking many pictures at all lately. This winter has been so dreary/cloudy/rainy/sometimes snowy. I miss the sun. I may have forgotten what it looks like :o(. I hope the sun comes out when I get my camera so I can play around and learn it (I heart natural light). Daniel also bought me my macro filters and uv filter, a 62" tripod, the D5000 field guide, Understanding Exposure, a Lowepro camera bag, SD card, a backdrop stand, and Photoshop Elements 8. I was going to get a black and a white muslin backdrop, but they're expensive so I'll make due with sheets. I don't do portraiture much, so I suppose it's not necessary right now. We're going car shopping tomorrow, so hopefully we'll have a new car by tomorrow night. I'm excited, but surprisingly also a little nervous. I'm just ready to get it over with. Oh! We also bought Kelsie a booster seat yesterday! It won't be here for 6-8 weeks cause we ordered it from Daniel's work website, but we got it for half the price we would have paid in stores so I'm happy. Here's what it looks like...it's so cute!
http://www.amazon.com/Graco-High-Back-TurboBooster-Seat/dp/images/B00190G874/ref=dp_image_text_z_4_0?ie=UTF8&s=baby-products&img=0&color_name=4

Ok, now for a few pictures. They aren't great, but my babies are cute so I have to share! The links under the pictures are the links to see the pictures bigger.

Super baby Ashlin! She kept wanting her blanket around her so I clipped it to her shoulders with her paci clip.
Kelsie rarely takes naps anymore, but she just got sleepy.
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4052/4268818267_cdcb8277e4_b.jpg

One of the decent January days...we went to the park and here's Kelsie being a ham!http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4037/4291235571_71c5d2ea9f_b.jpg

Kelsie and Ashlin watching the Charlie boy and his brother on youtube ("Charlie bit my finger!").

Ashlin chewing on her straw...she likes straws...
Kelsie wanted her hair put up like mommy's after a shower. She's so cute!