Jenna loves snow days, too....

I mentioned that I took Jenna outside for a few snow photos yesterday. It was bitter cold, so we had to work fast. It was one of those times when I had an image in my mind and wanted to see if I could recreate it using my camera. AND...I love the results!! The last photo was shot as we were walking to Chris' parents' house (yes...I take my camera EVERYWHERE).

I love snow days...

One of the reasons I love snow days is because I get so much done. I look at it as having a bonus day to get things done that I normally would not.

Yesterday was a good bonus day. I......

-slept in
-put chili in the crock pot for supper
-called the tax man and made an appointment to have our taxes done
-updated my photo of the day
-looked at all the other photo of the day blogs and left comments
-took photos of Jenna in the snow (real quick...it was freezing)
-read this week's lesson for my photography class
-took more photos of Jenna inside to practice for this week's lesson
-walked with Jenna to Chris' parents to help his mom pick out paint colors and carpet
-caught up on all the other blogs I visit
-watched "Devil Wears Prada"...which made me wish I had stylish clothes and high heel shoes...and got me excited about our trip to NYC in March
-drank hot chocolate
-folded laundry left over from the weekend
-paid bills
-got caught up on some emails
-put laundry away
-added wedding photos (from the wedding I took photos at in June) to my photo gallery on line
-watched "Three Amigos" with Chris, Jacob, and Jenna
-ate chili
-returned a call to a potential photo "client" and gave her my gallery website address to check out wedding photos
-watched "American Idol"
-went to bed :)

YAHOO!!!

NO SCHOOL.....SNOW DAY!!!!!!!

Basketball

Jacob is playing basketball again this year through the YMCA.This year the teams are no longer co-ed, so he plays on a team of 3rd and 4th grade boys. In this league they have the follow the rules more closely (which means they actually have to dribble the ball instead of run with it!), fouls are called, and they try to run plays. Jacob's position has primarily been point guard this season and he's done a great job of bringing the ball up the court (WOW - are you impressed by my basektball jargon?) He has scored in almost every game, and has even shot a few foul shots. The season has been a learning experience for all us: Jacob is learning more about the game and how to play with teammates who haven't been around bb as much as he has. Chris is learning to try to switch roles every Saturday morning from coach to parent. I am learning to be very patient trying to remember he's only in 3rd grade (it's hard to switch from HS games on Friday night to 3rd grade games on Sat. morning!) I have also been trying to perfect my basketball photography skills. Taking bb photos in a poorly lit gym with little boys running everywhere is not easy...but I'm trying. Hopefully I'll have it figured out by the time he's in high school. Here are just a few of the photos I haven't deleted. Yes, I know some are blurry or have a yellowish cast to them...but at least you get an idea of what Jacob looks like in action.

Random Update

I haven't had much time or energy to update lately...so I thought I'd post a random update on life around our house.

• We FINALLY got a 2 hour delay on Monday for snow. YAHOO! It was a nice way to start the week.
• School has been crazy busy! I have a student teacher in my classroom for 8 weeks. She started last week and is a great fit in my classroom. I love having her in my room....but so far it's been a lot of work. I'm really enjoying it though.
• Jacob got his report card for the 2nd nine weeks - all A's. He even got an "H" (high) in gym...I'm sure he gets that from me. :) His new ZPD (reading level) is 5.2-7.2 (that's grade levels). WOW!!!
• I went to a piano concert in Van Wert on Monday with Becca and Chris' parents. The pianist was named Alpin Hong and he was amazing!! It made me wish (just for a moment) that I had taken Mrs. Glauser a little more seriously. :)
• I am having so much fun with my "photo a day" challenge I'm participating in. I originally planned to try to take a photo a week, but so far I've been taking 3-5 photos each week. Each week is a different theme. So far we've done getting to know you, your hometown, and water. It's been fun trying to think of different photos to take and looking at things differently. You can see the photos here if you're interested.
• I started a new photography class (on line) this week. It's called "Photographing the Everyday". I'm really excited to see what I learn!
• Van Wert basketball is having a great season. Our varsity team is undefeated and the JV (Chris' team) is 10-2. GO COUGARS!!
• We will be in NYC in less than 2 months with the journalism students. I am so excited to go....especially since I am finally going to see WICKED!! Can't wait!!
• I'm excited that some of my shows are back on....Grey's Anatomy, American Idol, and....as I was flipping channels this weekend I noticed that The Hills has new episodes. Brenda or Lori....are you watching?

SNOW!!!

FINALLY.....we finally have snow! I can't remember ever waiting until mid-January for snow before. We woke up with about an inch on the ground and it continued to snow for part of the morning. We only have a couple inches, but it was enough for the kids to play in this afternoon. Unfortunately, it won't be enough to delay or cancel school tomorrow though. I figured I'd better get out and take photos just in case it's the only snow we get this winter (you just never know)...plus I wanted to practice taking snow pictures (which are actually pretty tricky because of the white, white snow). Here are just a few of my favorites...

20 minutes and counting....

....until American Idol starts! Jacob, Jenna and I have a date on the couch at 8:00pm to watch Americal Idol and make fun of all the people who can't sing but think they are really, really good! Can't wait!!!

Scrapping Cousins

Jenna and I went to Urbana on Saturday for our annual cousins scrapbook get together. We all met at Lori's and uloaded all our stuff (and boy do we have a lot of STUFF!). Kara, Lori, Lisa, Deb and I scrapped until 2:00am and finally crashed. Of course we woke up Sunday morning and started right back at it until we quit around 3:00pm. We had a great time scrapping, eating, and just hanging out. Jenna ended up leaving after supper and spending the night at Tom and Barb's with Rylee (THANKS!!) .

The photo was taken by Joe late Saturday night....in our pjs....on the bird couch at Lori's (even Cissy made it in the photo). It's a lovely photo - isn't it?!?! And I had to include a photo of our creativity in process!

THANKS for the great time girls....can't wait to do it again!!

Another great quote....

Jenna just came in as I was catching up on blogs and email and proceeded to provide this insightful quote:

"Mommy, I'm not gonna burp or toot any more because I'm gonna be a lady now."

I may just have to add it to my quote collection.



















photos taken Monday night...that's why she has the "O" tatoo on her cheek

photo challenge and a new class

One of my goals for 2007 is to improve my photography skills. I have decided to jump in feet first starting in January. One thing I have decided to do is to participate in a photo challenge through 2 Peas (a scrapbooking/photography website). The challenge is actually to take a photo a day in 2007, but I have decided to modify it (and keep my sanity) by doing a photo a week. I set up a new blog just for my photo a week photos throughout 2007. You can visit it here or click on the link on the right side of my blog. Be sure to check in each week...and leave me constructive criticism. My week one photo is already posted. It will be interesting to look back at my photos in January 2008 and see what I've learned.

In addition to the photo challenge, I am taking another on line photo class. I am really excited about this one. It is really more like a mentoring session rather than an actual class. The mentor/teacher is Amber Ludlow - someone whose photography I have admired for a long time. I am anxious to see what I learn and what she has in store for us as well as hopefully pick up a lot of helpful hints along the way! I'll be sure to post my photos here.

baby Kade

I think I mentioned that I was asked to do my first photo session for a total stranger. My friend Tami (baby Meah's mom...I've taken her photos several times during the past 8 months) showed Meah's photos to her family and her sister in law asked if I would take photos of her 6 month old son, Kade. We made the arrangements and I headed to their house during Christmas break. I was totally nervous about these photos - but it ended up going great! Kade was such a happy little boy and his mom was very laid back. She asked if I would take photos of him in the bathtub....and of course I agreed. It was my first bathtub shoot, but it was tons of fun. Here are a few of my favorites. To see the rest you can go here and click on Kade's album. '

PS He really is cute in color, too...I just loved the black and white ones though.

"quote"

I really like quotes - especially inspirational ones. I have been collecting them on scraps of paper and post it notes for a while and plan to make a mini scrapbook of all the inspiring quotes I've collected. We watched "Akeelah and the Bee" over Christmas vacation (great movie!) and in one scene in the movie Akeelah's spelling bee coach has her read the following quote. Just thought I'd share a little inspiration on this dreary, January day.

“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It is not just in some of us; it is in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.” – by Marianne Williamson

Sweet Girl

Yes, it's New Year's Day and I'm still posting Christmas photos. These were too cute not to share though!! I had this idea for a photo using candy canes to make a heart....and of course Jenna was more than willing to be my little model. So, while Chris and Jacob were at basketball practice the day after Christmas, Jenna and I had a photo shoot. Sometimes I get an idea, try to duplicate it in a photo, and it just doesn't turn out like I had imagined. But this time, the photos turned exactly like I had imagined...maybe even better! I even got my white background to look white instead of gray! I'm definitely stashing this idea away until next Christmas so I can hopefully use it again on some new little models. The second photo is definitely one of my new favorite photos. I think it looks like a Christmas card photo! :)

HAPPY 2007

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!

We spent New Year's Eve with our friends, the Chiles', and their 3 boys. We went to dinner at Uno Chicago Grill (kids pay what they weigh on Sunday nights, which means Jacob and Jenna's meals cost 97 cents total!!) and then we were off to the Coliseum to see a Komets hockey game. We've never been to one before, but had a really good time. Afterwards we went to the Chiles' to ring in the new year.

No resolutions for me this year...I never manage to keep them anyhow! :) HAPPY 2007!!