4 by '11 [February] and Joy of Love: Day 28

Something I wanted to try to do for 2011, was take a self-timer family picture at least once per month. I didn't do one for January, which wasn't a great start. Instead of being disappointed, I realized if I took 11 picture, for 11 months, for 2011, it would still work out!

This picture also is the final picture for the Joy of Love project I did through the month of February.

Day 28 Prompt: the future

I don't know what the future holds. My hope is to raise tow wonderful, happy, well adjusted, successful children. My hope is to grow old with this guy. My hope is that my kids will never be made fun of or bullied. My hope is we will always be able to talk to one another.

Joy of Love: Days 24, 25 & 27

Day 24 Prompt: Where

This is the church we got married in. It has since changed names. I wish I would have taken a picture of it before that happened... [Though the plaque still reads the original name] It was kind of an odd church, there were 2 center aisles, with pews in the middle and on either side. It was a church we felt comfortable in. The minister was excellent. We continued going to the church until the minister left.

Day 25 Prompt: When you love them the most...

That was easy. When Barry was eating these dreadful candies [that him and the kids love] he gave this one to me. Of course, I said "Hold that thought", and quickly grabbed my camera. The fact that he still loves me, and would offer me this particular candy after we've been married for 12 1/2 years makes me love him even more!

Day 27 Prompt: What they say

Madelyn is ALWAYS on the search for a sweet treat of some sort. Her favourite is chocolate. She constantly tells us how her "dinner or lunch tummy is full, but her dessert tummy has lots of room". Last night she was in luck, our dessert was strawberries dipped in milk chocolate.

Sometimes she can say something without using any words at all.

Day 23 Update * * *

Day 23 Prompt UPDATE: Facebook Picture


There WAS a picture of my sweetheart and I posted on facebook! Imagine that! This was taken on New Year's Eve, so it's even kind of recent! This was taken by friends of ours... I guess she doesn't feel quite the same way about facebook as I do! LOL.

Joy of Love: Day 23

Day 23 Prompt: Facebook [picture]

I don't post pictures on facebook. It's kind of funny really, because I post all sorts of pictures on my blog... I'm simply not comfortable posting personal stuff on my facebook page that fans out to everyone I'm "friends" with.

That being said, no one else has posted pictures of me and my honey either.

We had some pictures taken a few years ago, by this photographer. This is one of the pictures she took of us, I really like it. It's candid and natural. It's something I could obviously never take myself... Well, maybe if I set it up on a tripod with a timer... But it's different when someone else takes the picture.

New Before and Afters

I'm having trouble sleeping again... Have I blogged about that before? I don't know if I have, but periodically I have trouble sleeping. It's because I have so many things swirling around in my mind... And no, I don't have a high pressure job. I don't have deadlines to meet [well, that's not completely accurate, because if you miss Gymnastics or soccer registration, you're in big trouble] I don't have to worry about meetings or clients... But I definitely am affected by things. I'm affected by way of not being able to sleep.

-Right now, what's troubling me... Well, we've had some changes at school; Madelyn's Kindergarten teacher is leaving. [Sooner than anticipated, due to medical reasons coinciding with her pregnancy] We hoped to have to have her until Spring Break, so we're all in a state of mourning.

- I can't stop thinking about altering pictures. It's from the class I'm taking with Kim Klassen Cafe, [see the badge on the side of my blog for details]

The pictures she's been focusing on have mostly been scenic pictures. I fall into the category of taking pictures of people, not things. Then I remembered that when Barry and I went to Greece in 2008, I took a lot of pictures of things there. I opened up some pictures and got to work. And I just LOVE how they've turned out... So here are some before and after pictures, I had to force myself to stop. I'm trying to figure out where I could put some of these pictures in our house...

Before: [famous image in Mykonos]
After: [this one is my very favourite]

Before: [windmill in Mykonos]
After:
Before: [Hadrian's Arch in Athens]
After:
Before: [the Acropolis in Athens]
After:
Before: [another windmill shot in Mykonos]
After:

Joy of Love: Days 20, 21 and 22

I'm doing my best to keep up! It's been a bit of a challenge. I didn't get a picture for day 19, and I'm okay with that.

Day 20 Prompt: When they're home:

When they're home, there is stuff everywhere... Madelyn is a bit like the Tasmanian Devil, you just can't keep up with her and her path of destruction. [It's a good thing she goes to bed every night, or I'd never get things tidied up] I wonder if I'll ever look back at these days fondly...
If I'll ever say, I used to hardly be able to keep up. They never cleaned up after themselves... I hate that my house looks like a dozen kids live here all the time... Time will tell I guess.

Day 21 Prompt: hands

I tried to get the kids to put their hands together to make a heart. It's not exactly heart shaped, but I love that I used the macro on their hands, and those little eyes are blurry in the background.

Day 22 Prompt: Portrait

He'd had a hard day at work, I couldn't even coax a smile out of him. He did agree to sit for a picture though, thanks Hun. I think I've got the 'catch lights' figured out. It makes such a difference to the photos.

Joy of Love: Days 16, 17 and 18

Prompt Day 16: Together

I love this picture of us together. If I had seen this in a magazine, I would have loved it. If I'd seen it on someone's blog, I would have loved it. If I'd seen it in someone's portfolio, I would have loved it. So, I set up this shot, and guess what, I love it. Barry seemed a little concerned about it at first, but it doesn't matter. I love it.

Prompt for Day 17: Staying in

Us staying in, sometimes when the kids are in bed, finally. We sit and share a glass or two of wine.

Prompt for Day 18: Going Out

I called our sitter 4 hours before this shot was taken. Thank goodness she was available, because suddenly getting out of the house was critical. We went out for dinner, and enjoyed each others company. It's been a long time since the 2 of us went out on a date... I'm not exaggerating, it was some time well before Christmas.

Spot the Difference!

I'm taking another little freebie course on line, it's called the Photoshop Skinny Mini [and no, I didn't decide to take it because I liked the name, though I really do] I added her badge on the side of my blog, click on it for more info. This class started on Monday, and I've learned more in the past 4 days, than I have learned in 1 1/2 years of fiddling with pse myself. This new information will definitely change the way I work with my pictures once they come out of the camera. Check these before and afters out...

Before

After
Before
After
Before
After

Man, I LOVE how they look after!! It just adds such an intensity to the picture. I can hardly wait until we tinker with texture!

Joy of Love: Days 14 & 15 and Heart Day Stuff

Day 14 Prompt: wedding band/jewelery

I think this photo is self explanatory. I LOVE how it turned out though... I think I might even put this picture in a frame.

Day 15 Prompt: kisses

I took this photo a couple of weeks ago [kind of a cheat] But I just love it so much. These two are so affectionate with each other, I'm so darn lucky. I love how she's making a kind of grimacing face, but I know she loves the attention her big brother gives her.

Yesterday of course was Valentine's Day. I made brunch on Sunday morning and made these little gems. The first batch turned out horrendous, but then I got into the groove. [During that first batch there might have been a few cuss words used, along the lines of how much work I was going to for less than stellar results] But once everything came together, it was totally worth the effort. Plus the squeal of delight when the kids got heart pancakes put in front of them.

There was a Valentine's Party in Mad's Kindergarten class so I made these.

For lunch we had heart inspired things.


For dinner we made our annual trip to Boston Pizza for heart shaped pizza. This year marked our 9th year having heart shaped pizza. The first year we went, Mason was only 8 months old. It's crazy busy, and there are long silly line ups, but the kids are pumped and excited to go. They wouldn't have it any other way. [Because believe me, I've tried to do it another way...]

Joy of Love: Day 13

Day 13 Prompt: routines

It just so happens that today is Sunday. And every Sunday the kids have a shower to start off the week. I've kinda lucked out, because we've really gotten away from the baths [which the kids love, but they are so time consuming for the Mummy] Tonight when I said, "It's shower time." Madelyn asked if she could have a bath instead. She loves the tub, she sings and plays and splashes. So tonight, she enjoyed a tub.

She also insisted on going to bed early tonight, because Mason told her, if she went to bed and fell asleep faster, then morning would come faster, and she is VERY excited about tomorrow being Valentine's Day.

Joy of Love: Days 11 & 12

Day 12 Prompt: the eyes

I love black and white pictures. I love how you are drawn to the catch lights in his eyes. But it makes one wonder, what color are his eyes? So, I had to add the color picture too! He's got the same color eyes as his Mummy!! And he was so patient while I snapped shot after shot.


Prompt for Day 11: dreams...


This little one, is dreaming of tap dancing being over for the year. She HATES it. She detests it. She fights me about going once a week. There are almost always tears. I had to bribe her with gymnastics. Thankfully it has worked somewhat... She goes to gymnastics [which she loves] and doesn't tries not to, complain about going to dance class [which she hates] June is a long way off... [We've already paid for her recital costume, so I'm afraid she's stuck dancing until the season is over] We'll definitely re-think our extra curricular activities next year.

11 on the 11th, February 2011

• My little girl started our morning off, with a fever of 103°. It seems the bugs have been hitting us hard ever since December. I’ve noticed as well, these days always happen, when I have specific list of ‘things to do while she’s at school’. Today was running errands, to 3 different places, all in the span of 2 hours and 45 minutes. You just can’t be as efficient when a little someone is with you. [She finally came downstairs at about 10 am, and had a bowl of cereal. I loved that she looked at the comics while she ate... Maybe she can actually read better than we give her credit for.

• So, with a sick kid at home, I had to switch gears. That means today I’ll make cookies. Chocolate chip cookies for Barry, Peanut Butter Blossom cookies for my brother and sugar cookies for the kids. All for Valentine’s Day of course. [Well 2 out of 3 ain't bad. I got Barry's and Chris' done]

Chocolate Chunk Cookies

Peanut Butter Blossom Cookies w/Kisses.

• Speaking of Valentine’s Day, I’ve got a ton of things to create in the next few days. I’d better get to work!

• I am just about ready for my laundry room reveal… It hasn’t actually taken this long, I’m just waiting for one more picture to be hung up [and you’re right, I could do it, but a heavy frame and a pocket door wall are involved. That means, no stud. So… I’m kinda waiting for Barry to come to the rescue] Oh, and a quick trip to the dollar store, and I should be good to go! [btw – the dollar store was supposed to be one of my stops today]

• I have a LOT of favourites on my computer. In fact, I’ve set up folders for them all. I would be bummed out to lose all these… Seriously. One of my favourite folders is the one I labelled FOOD… I’m thinking I should change the label to DELICIOUS THINGS because out of about 95 entries, they’re mostly dessert/cookie/cake/bars/sweets/treats… Check this one out…. Mmmmmmm. And then of course there are these…. Seriously, Brookies? Half Brownie and half cookie... It’s just too much. It’s amazing I’m not morbidly obese…

• I can’t seem to catch a break at the library… Seriously, I just paid off my fine, 2 weeks ago when I renewed my card. Within days, I had a late charge... Then Thursday, I completely forgot to drop off my movies... I’m 3 weeks in, and already a delinquent. Those darn 1 week movie rentals get me every time.
  

• Last night I filled up these little baggies, with these candies. It’s the Valentine’s Day treats the kids are giving out to their classmates. I’m so excited that Mason is still ‘into’ doing this stuff. He’s told me how many kids are in his class, and let me know that if someone is away, he’s planning on leaving a Valentine for them any way. I'll be lucky if I get another year... Oh my, it's gone too fast.

• We went to Family Literacy Night at the school on Wednesday. We all gathered in the gymnasium to hear a story. The story was read by 22 different students at the school. Madelyn got to say the title of the Story and the authors name… The Quilt Maker’s Gift by Jeff Brumbeau… I get to hear her little voice, all the time, but to hear it over the speaker system… It made her Dad and I swell with pride.

• At the literacy night, we had to go to each child's class, there was something set up for the kids/parents to do. The kids were to be the 'teachers'. Mason explained to us how we were to go about creating a “Six Room Poem”. A what… You say? [Me too]… Six rooms [image,light,sound, similes/metaphors, feelings and questions] you are to fill each room with descriptive words/phrases that will help you create a poem… Right… So, Barry and I tried our hardest to answer Mason’s questions. He kept shaking his head and rolling his eyes at us, and he finally blurted out “Look, turn off your actual brain, and turn on your imagining brain” But not before he got mad at me and said, “Look Mum, write it down with poetic words, not regular words…” I’m sure glad I never have to do grade 3 again. It’s scary…

• My kids have both mastered eating popcorn with chopsticks. Love it…

• We had a quiet Friday night home [like most Friday nights I suppose] Little Miss spent the entire day on the couch. I kept supplying her with children's Motrin to break the fever. She still can't explain what's the matter, just that she doesn't feel well... Hope tomorrow is better!