So I've been playing a lot with my new camera and today we took advantage of what is probably the last "nice" day of the season. We're anticipating strong winds and heavy snow tomorrow so today we ran around the yard. It was a great opportunity to try my different lenses and practice with manual focus. We took a couple of indoor shots too. The first pictures are of Bennett - we went outside while Lettie was sleeping and then out again when she woke up. (In between B and I made Rice Krispie Treats!)

I love Lettie's glance at B. It's like, "yeah, I know! I can't believe this story has this twist!"

(They are reading "Personal Penguin" by Sandra Boynton)

Happy to have a book.

Because of our internet speed these pictures aren't showing up as clearly as they actually are. I had to reduce the file size just to get them on the blog! But they turned out very clear and I can't wait to print some 8x10 and 11x14 for the wall!

In the driveway, I like how the sun is back lighting his hat.

Peek! Through the playhouse ladder

This picture is cute but feels too posed. I like to catch them in action.

Like here. Bennett leaned on the tree without my direction. I'm just so happy that I have a camera fast enough to capture this moment! I particularly like how the tree is in focus and the pines in the back are just a blur.

Then we he saw the camera he gave me a smile. :)

B wanted to sit up in a tree. None of the shots really turned out but I thought this one was funny. It looks like he's deep in thought and posing. However he's really just.....

.....bored. Love it.

Of course, this might be the last jumping until spring so we had to get up there.

I increased the shutter speed to 1/1000 to get these clear action shots. I really like the shadow on the trampoline too.

Taking a walk in the woods before heading inside. B: "Come! on! Mom!"

Behind the camera!

Back out once Lettie woke up.

Also made a bee-line for the trampoline.

Since they can't play together on the trampoline (we only allow one at a time) B found a way to play with L under the trampoline.

In the driveway returning from the mailbox.

"In!" "Doors!" Lettie wanted to get out the riding toys that have been put away until spring.

Lettie watching B walk further down the path into the woods. She wanted to go too but was waiting for me to hold her hand. I like that she is in focus and Bennett is not.

I am having a great time using the camera - being digital you can't waste anything so I take 10+ shots of the same scene and hope one will turn out. I get a little out of control sometimes though. In december alone I have taken 1,700 pictures. I'd venture to guess that 100 are decent and maybe 30 will end up in the December section of our family yearbook. But for the pictures that have turned out, the camera is priceless. Thank you again to the most wonderful husband for my Birthday/Christmas gift!

HALLOWEEN 2011

Not too much narrative at this point but I wanted to get these pictures posted....

Jax (ninja), Addi (bat), Lettie (duck), Bennett (cowboy)

Ready for "trick or treating!"

Running from door to door

Papa and Gibi stayed back at the house to hand out the candy

The loot!

L looking inside her treat box - she got to sample a KitKat bar!

B chose a MilkyWay as his treat

So terrible to hug your family! Ewww!

A great success this year! Thank you again to the Tober family for having us over!

Fall Fun

Some pictures of the kids playing in the backyard. One of the last days for a "Fall" picture because between the frost and wind all the leaves are falling off quickly. It was a bit cold out today but we ran around for 1/2 an hour playing in the treehouse and romping around the yard. Lettie is able to climb the ladder to the treehouse but it drives me crazy with worry that she is going to fall through the rungs and clip her chin -- she is a brave girl and wants to do everything herself!

Being silly in the "tree house"

Crunching through the leaves

Clear skys with the sun helped us to not be quite so cold

I blew this picture up and framed it in the living room - what a face!

Bennett still loves his construction trucks - everywhere we drive when he sees a machine he yells (literally YELLS) from the back of the van, "TRACTOR TRAILER!" or "EXCAVATOR!" He also shouts, "AMBULANCE!" every time he sees any type of van - including plumbers, contractors, midwestern families....I've tried to explain that ambulances are larger and more square with lights but he still asks "Is that an ambulance mom?" and I say, "nope. See the ladders on the top...or...nope, see how it says 'pool cleaning' on the side" He gets so excited to hear sirens and equally disappointed if he can't see the truck/police car.

B also loves his music and lately we've been teaching him the lyrics to his favorite songs (including Tears for Fears, Tangled, and Pink Floyd). I love listening to him sing and mumble/glaze over words he doesn't know, or hum to skip to the parts he does know. I hope with all my hope that he continues to have a love for music and instruments.

The last big update for B is that he can read all of the "sight words" that are presented in kindergarten. He is such an avid reader and it is really exciting to watch him begin to sound out words he's never seen.

Lettie is now 21 months. Holy Moly. Her ability to communicate with us is improving everyday. Yesterday while eating lunch she held out her milk cup and said:

L: "mo" (more)

Me: "would you like some more milk Lettie?'

L: "Pees" (please)

(I filled her cup and gave it to her)

L: "ank oo" (thank you).

She also tells you when she's done eating by saying "done" and handing you her plate. But before you take her plate away completely she likes to pick up all the crumbs off her tray and put them on her plate - so particular.

A month ago she might have just banged her cup on her tray wanting more milk and I might have just taken her cup away to stop the racket not understanding she was trying to get more milk. It is awesome to be able to understand most of her needs!

She loves to read books (animals, flap books, cars) LOVES movies (Tangled, Cars and reading videos) and stacking blocks. Words she can read: Banana, apple, car, eyes, ears, hair, red, blue, green, yellow, orange, pink, brown, black, white, sit, play, flower, sun, baby, ball, book, house, horse, cow, dog, cat, turtle, tractor... She is beginning to recognize letters and numbers as well.

Just recently her hair is long enough to put in two small pigtails on the top of her head - so darn cute!

Both kids are loving - we are always getting/giving hugs and kisses, bedtime rituals and reading at night - things I want to hold on to as long as possible because all too soon they won't need me to help go to sleep or get them dressed. I just adore my children as I'm sure mother's across the world do - I would and will do anything to help guide to be the best they can be. I love you B and L!

Picking Apples in the Front Yard

A beautiful day to pick apples in the front yard. Both Bennett and Lettie enjoyed picking and eating the apples - Lettie especially liked to taste one bite from each apple - a true sampler! I have yet to figure out what variety we have but we definitely have two distinct types of apples: smaller red apples that are sweet and larger green apples that are much more tart but turn red as the weather cools and become sweeter. Also an interesting note, the smaller apples maintain the white color of the flesh when peeled and sliced where the green apples brown almost immediately upon removing the skin. We were able to collect one paper bag full and peeled/sliced the apples for the freezer. Later, we will make apple sauce and apple bread. The tree in the front lawn was so heavy with apples a main branch snapped and crashed down by the trampoline. We will probably have to trim the apple trees next year so that all the branches don't break. I'd also like to try growing other fruit trees: plum, cherry and pear. Speaking of growing....

My garden was a total loser this year (except the grape tomatoes which I bought as a plant and put in the garden) and I can only blame myself. I didn't spend as much time as I needed to keep the weeds at bay and they completely took over. I take that back....the radishes grew but also bloomed flowers before I harvested them and by that time the root was dehydrated. Also, the peas and beans flowered and started to grow but I think the deer/rabbits ate them all because I didn't spray my "Deer Fence" often enough. I just stunk at gardening this year. Next year I need to move the garden closer to the house. This way I can be weeding while Lettie and Bennett play in the sandbox/tree house and I can keep an eye on them. I originally put the garden at the front of the property on the other side of the pine trees thinking this would keep it from being an eyesore during the off months. Which is true...I can't see all the weeds growing/decaying....but, 'out of sight out of mind' is the truest phrase in town! I never went out there! All that time/energy/money and I am doing it a dishonor. I pledge to do better next year.

Happy Halloween

We had fun out at Aunt Paige and Uncle Rich's house for Trick-or-treating. Jaxson was a Ninja warrior, Addi was Hannah Montanna, Bennett was a Zoo Keeper and Lettie was a (fat) cat. They all looked great! B followed his cousins around the neighborhood and they were much faster than last year - they scored some major candy!!



I painted a mustache and eyebrows - very safari/back-country.


He looks continually surprised.


Addi had tons of sparkles that reflected everywhere in the sunlight


Lettie the Kitty


B got to take Leopard along.






This outfit was so fluffy - it made her look so pleasantly plump!


All the cousins together


Taking off down the street - their neighborhood is great because the adults are everywhere and there is no traffic.


He was ready to take off!


Lettie filled in as the Zookeeper and monitored Leopard while Bennett gathered the goods.


B: "Happy trick-or-treating!"


Next!


What a difference a year makes - last year he would hardly walk to the door with me beside him!


He had to contemplate this house for a minute before deciding if it was worth a candy bar.


Anything is worth a candy bar! Then he played with the giant bugs that had been placed along the sidewalk.




All that candy!


Looking for more


Holy moly! Look at all the loot!! B got to choose two pieces to eat - he picked the biggest pieces - a Snickers and a MilkyWay bar. (That's what I would have chosen too).


Thanks for the pumpkins Nana - we scooped the guts and baked the seeds!