Day 243

Asher was a cuddler today. I loved it :) He didn't have any good naps, so he would wake up and just want me to cuddle with him. This is why I love my job so much. :)

Although, with all the cuddling he did leak both poop and pee onto my clothes at two different times today. 

I also got to spend some time with Caden - who I hardly ever see. He is so cute :) 

(f/4.5; 1/160s; ISO 400; 18mm)

* with the flip out screen, I forget to look at the lens.... not the screen. ha. But it does help to get better focus*

Day 242

I know, I know! I have a ton of pictures of Asher... but he's growing up so fast! Plus, he lets me take pictures of him... unlike his other brothers who I have to bribe. And he's so cute... in my opinion :)

(f/4.5;1/125s; ISO 1600; 18mm) 

Day 241

we're moved into the basement now, so this doesn't really affect us, but our kitchen counters were redone today upstairs. This is how it looks now. 

You can compare it to the picture below:

I personally thought the pink counter tops were great... but apparently no one else did ;) just kidding. 

I'm thinking our house is looking super new now. Too bad we don't get to use the new counters.

Day 240

I've got nothing for ya :)

Day 239

today we went to denver. after 12 weeks of working hard, my brother finally had his local bible bee competition. over the past twelve weeks my brother has memorized 500 verses. he also studied at least one book of the bible in depth. when he went to denver today he had to take a 200 question test (i think it was 200 questions) and he also had to say 25 random passages (usually about 3-10 verses in each passage, i believe)  to a couple of judges. after all of this (which the family and friends were all quarantined in another room so that they couldn't try to help, or cheat for someone etc...) there was a public contest (one that we could watch). it was like a spelling bee except for it was verses... aka the bible bee. There were three groups... younger kids, middle aged kids (12- 15 or so, which is the one Jonathan was in) and seniors (15- 18 or so?) There were about 30 kids in each group... for the bible bee part only the top five scorers on the written and oral test (which was earlier today) in each group would compete in the bible bee. to my family's amazement, Jonathan made the top 5. this was amazing, especially considering that he made it even while he was competing with other kids who had family who would sit with them and help them 3 hours a day.... while Jonathan did it all completely on his own. since my dad was gone for 2 months over the summer, and my mom has been busy packing and getting ready to move, they had no time to help him. overall he got fifth place in his group, and we are so proud of him! he is such a brilliant child! he may or may not make it to the national competition. if he does make it he has to learn 200 more verses and he has to remember the 500 that he learned this summer. if he does make it my parents will be making a trip with him to tennessee in november if he wants to compete.

this picture isn't the best. but i'll blame it on the lighting, and me still getting used to a new camera :) 

on another note, i found this kid here last night. 

anything is a toy to him :)

Day 238

(f/4.5; 1/125s; ISO 3200; 25mm)

With my remote, my new camera (with the screen that flips out towards me), and lightroom, there may be a lot more pictures of me. ha. :)

I like the dramatic lighting.

Day 237

this little guy loves swings.

(f/5.6; 1/1000s; ISO 200; 50mm)

Right now Asher is at such a fun stage. I love how curious he is, and I love how content he can be with just a car to play with. He'll push it around all day. He also has an attitude. If he doesn't get what he wants.... then the whole world knows it.

Day 236

I got my camera today. it's beautiful. :) I love how the screen flips out!

(f/3.5; 1/10s; ISO 1600; 18mm)
*wow, the shutter speed was SLOW.*

my pretty sister... taken with my pretty camera. She's my bffl.

and concerning the camera, i have stuff to learn :)

Oh, and I do apologize if I'm not around much. With school started and mono still making me tired, I may have a hard time keeping up with everything. Also, with the move everything is slightly crazy. Micah used my toothbrush tonight because he didn't know where his was... if only it was a good reason. But I think you may get the gist ;)

Day 234

Routine has arrived once again. I started my regular work schedule today, and it feels pretty good. Plus, now that Caden is back in school I feel like my job is super easy with only two kids. I'm just so used to taking care of three boys.

(f/5.0; 1/60s; ISO 800; 39mm)

*this was one of the last pictures I took on my camera*

Day 233

I think I'm on Day 233? I know I missed a couple of days, but here's a picture for Sunday, August 21, 2011.

(f/22; 1/40s; ISO 800; 20mm)

*no clue what was up with my settings*

Sunday I decided to move... well, move the stuff I wouldn't need for the next month. The friends I'm going to be living with said it was fine to move whatever I wanted over whenever. So instead of moving everything to the basement when my family moves down there (which is tomorrow) I moved it over to my new room. I have more than I thought I did... and I even downsized this summer. The majority of the boxes were filled with books though, and I have a desk and a bookshelf in there.

Oh and thank you David for helping me move all of this :) You're wonderful!

MIA

Sorry you guys! I've been somewhat out of it these past few days. I just sold my camera. I'm gonna miss the little guy... but I do have my new canon rebel t3i coming from amazon... and it should be here by wednesday. Although, I don't know if I will have much time to use it since school is starting this week. We'll see.

I'll post a few pictures for you soon!

Happy Monday! :)

Here's a little laughter for your day.

You probably won't think it's funny. But in my opinion it is. and I laugh hard when I watch it.

im here too - julz

haahaha, okay, I just watched this... and the actions are way off from the words. haha

Day 230

Today we went to the zoo.

meet mr. giraffe. 

this kid found out how to get down one step. so he kept crawling up and then down the step. he was so proud of himself. 

 this is our pathetic attempt at trying to get all the kids in one picture. asher is crawling off and grady is nowhere to be found (i think he was behind the bear)

 

another attempt at getting a picture with the kiddos together.

of course we had to take a picture in the BIG chair.

poor caden had school to go to :( 

chicken pettin' time. 

looking at the hippos

sweet sleepin' babe

hippos have HUGE mouths

the boys slept the whole way home :) 

Happy Thursday, ya'll!

Day 229

Today I took a picture that's going to be in a magazine. Yeah. I'm cool. ;) Actually, my neighbor asked me if I would take a picture of her mom for her business (it's a fitness/diet type business). She had to send a picture in of herself for a magazine that will be sent out.

(f/2.0; 1/500s; ISO 100; 50mm lens)

This one was my personal favorite.

He Must be Greater

One thing that has been on my mind a lot these past couple weeks is how people view me, and how I treat others. I've always felt that it is very important the way that people view me. No, not in the way that I want to be of this world, but in the way that I want them to see Christ shining through me. I want everyone around me to see me as pure, and striving to be Christ-like. This can happen in so many different ways. One verse that I have been very focused on these last few days is: "He must become greater and greater, and I must become less and less." John 3:30 If I could only lose my selfish ways, and if I could only think of what God wants, and what God's will is, then this could be so easy. If people saw me consistently serving others, and loving them, and caring for them... then maybe that would make them want to change.

The thing that I struggle with is that when I have something like this on my mind a lot, I notice how much I seem to fail at it. This also makes me realize how people can be so turned off by Christians.

Day 228

Today I spent the majority of the day getting ready for our garage sale this weekend. (if you're in the springs, then you should definitely stop by!)

(f/4.0; 1/160s; ISO 800; 27 mm) 

We're selling lots of clothes, books, games, furniture, and other household items.

Also, I think I may have sold my camera. Now that I know more of what I want in a camera, I decided an upgrade would be nice. If I do sell my camera, then I'll be able to by the Canon Rebel t3i (I'm pretty sure that's what I want). I really would like the higher ISO, and the hd movie that's on there! (also, it should have a remote that works with it, because mine doesn't... and I think I can do the tethered capture in lightroom with it) But if you have another camera you like, let me know and I'll research it! :)

Day 227

I took no pictures today.

But here's one from last week :)

(f/2.0; 1/200s; ISO 200; 50 mm lens)

I know, the fire hydrant is slightly distracting. I wish I had noticed that before I took the picture.

Day 226

Sunday I went to water world. It was pretty fun :) One of the best days this summer :) Before going to water world I went to Boulder to pick up Daniel. This is the only picture that I got with my cell phone.

The dorms at CU Boulder.

Day 225

Today I wanted to capture some dramatic lighting. I actually got this idea from another blog post... which I can't find. Lame.

(f/ 3.5; 1/20s; ISO 800; 18mm)

This was actually really last minute... I was planning on skipping taking a picture today, but this worked just as well :)

Oh and, I just got glasses. Apparently I can't see or something. Who knows.

Day 224

I did a photo shoot of my little nephew today. He didn't last long... actually the weather didn't last long. It started raining. But I got some cute ones :)

(f/2.0; 1/200s; ISO 200; 50mm lens)

(f/2.0; 1/250s; ISO 200; 50mm lens)

(f/2.0; 1/200s; ISO 200; 50mm lens)

Day 223

(f/1.8; 1/400s; ISO 100; 50mm lens)

(f/8.0; 1/15s; ISO 800; 50mm lens)

Someone gave my dad a gift to do something fun with the family. So, last week my dad took the boys to a sky sox game. Tonight, with the rest of the gift, he took us out to cici's pizza. Good stuff, yo!

Happy Thursday, ya'll!

P.S. my nephew is a cutie, huh?

Embrace the Camera

Today I am joining Embrace the Camera.
So pretty much, my nephew is really cute. And I want to show him off.

Someday I'll show this to him, and he'll know I'm his favorite aunt for sure! :)

Day 222

So, first... I'm done with math! and I got a good grade too :) This definitely feels good.

Second, it's been great, albeit a bit crowded, having my sister and nephew here. This week I'm sleeping in the garage, because there's not really any room anywhere else. I could have slept in the living room, but I sleep in longer with a door that separates me from the noise of my house. I almost just feel like I'm having a sleep over with myself.

(f/ 4.5; 1/320s; ISO 800; 50 mm lens)

(f/3.5; 1/500s; ISO 800; 50mm lens)

Now that I am done with math, I feel like I have more time to focus on my new lightroom program. I feel as though I'm pretty decent at it so far, but my biggest issue is that I don't know how to duplicate my photos. For example, I'd like to have these two in B&W AND color, but I don't know how to have both at the same time. Any tips?

Also, does lightroom make collages? Cause that would be neat.

Day 221

(f/10; 1/80s; ISO 1600; 18-55mm lens; 30 mm)

This is our entire immediate family. All together. No in-laws, or nephews. This is probably the last family picture that we'll have with all the kids together.

Day 220

Again, there is nothing for today. Part of the problem is that I am soo busy I don't have time to think about it. Another thing is that I'm so busy with a lot of dull stuff... math, unpacking, cleaning... etc, that I don't think the pictures would interest you anyway. Also, it seems somewhat daunting to try to learn lightroom now, but I want to learn it. I'm  just avoiding it at the moment. Maybe in a few days, when I'm done with math, I'll want to do it!

In other news, my sister decided this morning that she wanted to come visit us all the way from Chicago. She comes tomorrow. So, soon, I will have my favorite nephew to snap some photos of. So I think there should be more excitement on this blog very soon. Hopefully. :)

Day 219

Nothing for today, folks! Although if I had taken a picture it would have looked a little like this. Yes, I did the incline again. I'm pretty sure it's because I like torturing myself. yup. This time I made it up in an hour exactly. That's ten minutes better than last week. :) Also, unlike last week, I'm not sore at all! Thanks goodness. I was sore for probably 4 days last week, and it hurt a lot!

Day 218

I got lightroom on Friday. Yeah, I have a lot to learn.

Here's my first edit! ah!
Crazy.

(f/4.5; 1/320s; ISO 200; 18-55mm lens)

Okay, this is crazy. I've been watermarking my images just to try to keep them safe. Now I really have the desire to do it after watching this.

Change

Wow... these past few weeks have been crazy. There have been so many different emotions. I know it's because change is about to happen, and that really makes me go crazy. I love change to a certain extent, but when it's a lot of change I usually just get nervous.

Here are the plans for these next two months.

I finish math... this week :) Hallelujah.
My family continues to furiously go through all of the boxes/ all of the junk we own.
We get ready for a garage sale. So. Much. Work.
We sell as much as we can, and then take the rest to goodwill.
We are doing the BIG move the weekend of August 26th.
The family living in the basement moves upstairs while my family moves downstairs. I think we may go crazy during that one.
My brother has the bible bee that weekend. I'm sure he'll be going over and over the 500 verses he had to memorize this summer.
Then, my family heads off to illinois/ michigan area to visit their supporting churches, family, and friends.
I have to stay here during that time, because school starts the 22nd for me :( bummer.
So I'll live in the basement for about two weeks on my own again. Weird.
They come back.
We all live in the basement for another week or so.
Then my family leaves for Ecuador -I'm not even sure if I can handle it. This time feels so much worse than last time because I know now how lonely I can get without them. But it also makes me appreciate them all so much more too.
They plan on leaving around September 18-20 (somewhere in there). They wanted to leave the 17th, but they decided it would be too cruel to leave on my birthday.
I then move in with some friends of mine to help with their kids especially when her husband is deployed.
Yes, it's official. And weird. But it's such an answer to prayer. For the next year I know I'll be living with people I like, and I know I will be busy, and not as lonely.
Me moving in with them had been mentioned a couple of times, and I had prayed about it, but I knew that they had to ask me before I had a roommate, and it had to be a reasonable amount of time so that we could do something about the basement. So I didn't really expect it to happen. Then, out of the blue, they asked if I would move in for a year.
It's so neat how things work out.


Wow, I don't even know what to say. This whole post makes me pretty sad. Mostly just my family leaving. I'm sad, but I'm also really excited to see what God's plans are for me. I'm excited to grow, and learn, and get my degree and certificate.

That's pretty much my life right now. It's crazy, and busy, and full of so many different emotions.

P.S. I'm sorry it's so random, and probably badly written. I really just threw it together in a few minutes. I thought it was time to update ya'll on my life.

Day 217

Today my brothers played Rokenbok with thier friend/ neighbor. It's such a fun thing. I LOVED playing this when I was little... and we just found it in storage, so the boys are having a blast.

(f/3.2; 1/500s; ISO 800; 50mm lens)

Day 216

Today I babysat these boys:

(f/ 4.0; 1/25s; ISO 800; 18-55mm lens) 

They seriously make my heart melt. And yes, they are in diapers. They wanted to be babies... I didn't want to destroy thier dreams.

After that I left and I came to this:

(f/ 5.6; 1/25s; ISO 1600; 18-55mm lens) 

How cute is she??? She's showing me her painted nails.

Sincerely,
embracing the noise.

Day 215

I'm not doing so great at keeping up with my project this week.
Here's a picture from a couple of weeks ago.
Enjoy.

Day 214

It's supposed to rain a lot tonight.

(f/3.5; 1/40s; ISO 1600; 18-55mm lens) 

These past couple of days I haven't been very creative... I'm pretty sure it's cause I'm too busy to even think about taking pictures... much less be creative about it.

Day 213

I have nothing for ya. Sorry. So far this week has been CRAZY. I don't know how much I'll be able to keep up.

Basically, math is killing me. 

Only two more weeks. Hopefully I can make it. 

yep.