Basketball....

It's basketball season again for Jacob. He is playing Upward basketball this year (he's played at the Y the past several years) and so far he really likes it. He has had two games and scored in both games. They don't technically keep score (which drives Jacob nuts), so we keep score ourselves. His team won the first game and lost the second game. Basketball photos are one of the biggest headaches for me. The lighting is always terrible, the players are in constant motion, the referees are always in the way....I just haven't been able to get good basketball photos. This year I did some research on what lens and settings to use, and my photos turned out a little better. I still need more practice though. Here are just a few from last Saturday's game.

He got fouled and got to shoot 2 foul shots...

Pop star!

Here are photos from Jenna's make over at Libby Lu's yesterday. She chose the pop star look. She loved her hair style and now wants me to do her hair like that. Hmmm....I may need some practice!



The BEFORE photo (taken in the mall parking lot - nice!)...

First stop....nails (pink and glittery) and makeup (eyeshadow, lip gloss, and some glitter)...

And then hair..... LOTS of bobby pins...LOTS of hairspray...and LOTS of glitter....

Waiting for her pop star head set...
The finished look....she was obviously VERY pleased with her makeover....(love this photo!)And the AFTER photos (in the parking lot again...she said we had to take them at the same place as the BEFORE photos)...

Thanks again Uncle Bob and Aunt Celesta for the Libby Lu's gift card. It was a HUGE hit!!

Old School....

I saw this link on someone else's blog (see...it really does pay to be a blog stalker!)....and had to share it. When I saw the photos and read the descriptions I was laughing out loud...partly because I know enough about photography to just roll my eyes at these photos (I'm a photo snob, right Lori???)...and partly because I have first hand experience with family photos like these. If I get adventurous, I may even dig up some FABULOUS 1970s Davis family photos to share. Click HERE for a walk down memory lane with some amazing Olan Mills portraits.

PS I apologize in advance if you are offended at all by the comments or some of the language....but I just had to share the photos!!

Mommy...it was a good day, wasn't it??

Yes, Jenna..it was a good day! I love Saturdays like this. This morning I slept in and then took my time getting ready before going to Jacob's basketball game at noon. Chris' parents, Becca, and his uncle Bob and aunt Celesta also came to Jacob's game, so it was fun to sit and visit with everyone and cheer Jacob on. (I took some photos but haven't uploaded them yet...be looking for them in the next couple days.) Then Jenna and I headed to Ft Wayne to spend her gift card at Libby Lu's. She had decided to get a make-over at Libby Lu's rather than just buy things. She chose the pop star makeover. - complete with a headset microphone..and loved every second of it! They did her makeup, nails, and hair and then she got a cute drawstring backpack and got to pick out 5 things to go in her backpack. (I took photos of her make-over too and will share them soon!) Then we went to Macy's where I tried on a billion pair of jeans and actually found a brand that wasn't too long on me (so sad when even petite jeans are too long!)....so I bought 2 pair. I also found a cute brown jacket that Jenna insisted looked good on me, so I had to get it! No trip to Ft Wayne would be complete without a trip to Target...and today we went to 2 different Target stores! YIKES! We hit the dollar spot in Target #1 and found some cute Valentine's day things, including an adorable brown/white polka dot apron with white ball fringe. I'll look so cute in my brown kitchen (again...Jenna insisted that I had to get it. I just couldn't pass it up for $2.50!). After picking up a few more things , I went to get another stool for our kitchen counter...but they were out. So...it was off to Target #2! At Target #2 we bought the stool and also found a few more goodies - like new rubbermaid type containers for leftovers (Brenda I got the salad one...I love it!), and cropped sweats for me and Jenna. Then we hit McDonald's drive thru (a happy meal for Jenna and sweet tea for me!) before driving home. When we got back to VW we stopped by Chris' parents' so Jenna could show off her makeover and then went to show Ryan, Becca, and Debby (Ryan's mom). While we were there they let Jenna play Hannah Montana game on their Wii (Brenda - Carsyn would LOVE it!). Finally it was time to come home...where I'm about to go curl up on the couch and watch a Lifetime movie. Yes Jenna, it was a good day!

PS Just so you don't think we purposely left Chris and Jacob out of our good day.....they are at Bryan tonite for a basketball game. Jenna and I just didn't feel like going to an away game. :)

Please sit back and enjoy the music....

HOW FUN! Thanks Kara for the info on how to add music to my blog. I just wish I would have known about it at Christmas. How fun would Christmas music be? I can't wait to see if everyone else tries and what they add!

The Elliott's

Ooops - I forgot I had one more set of Texas photos. Brenda wanted an updated family photo and we decided to be different and try family photos on their bed. They have an awesome bed with a really neat piece of unique artwork above the bed....and their room has lots of space and great natural light - so it just seemed like the perfect place. Family photos with a 14 year old, 4 year old, and 2 year old aren't the easiest. Luckily everyone was pretty cooperative. Payton wanted to be on the move and didn't want to sit still and pose. I wasn't sure if I would get any good shots where Payton wasn't a blur...but somehow I managed to get a few fun photos.

Mia...

This is the last of my Texas photos....pictures of Mia! I had plans while I was there to take her outside or into her room and snap a bunch of 9 month photos for her...and then I totally forgot. What is wrong with me?? Actually, the goal of my trip to Texas was to not walk around with my camera attached to me constantly and to take time to actually relax, visit, and enjoy my trip. I did manage to sneak in a few fun photos here and there though (and Jill...I am totally available to come do her 1 year photos!!).

Just a few of my favorites of Miss Mia..

Love those big blue eyes, little front teeth, and the yucky nose (she was getting her top teeth in while we were there)...


One of my favorites....
She sat like this all the time while we were there - feet crossed and her big toes sticking up....it was too cute!

Hanging out with Jacob and Jenna....

Cuddle time with Jacob (who had been crying because he didn't want to leave everyone!)...
Standing with Aunt Brenda ...

LOVE this one! All the granddaughters have gotten a doll like this from Grandpa and Grandma on their first Christmas. Mia loved her new baby!

More favorites....Mia was just sitting and playing, and I was snapping photos...and then she got upset and wanted picked up. I love her long eyelashes and little nose! The second one is another favorite....

Cousins

Probably one of my most favorite parts about visiting Texas is the cousin time. I love watching the kids interact. No matter how much time has passed, they always pick up right where they left off...and this time was no exception.

*Learning all Luke's new "catch phrases", which they proudly now repeat over and over in their daily conversations - things like "knuckle head", "booty", "nunu head", "word up", "whatever", and the ever popular "chicken nugget head".
*Repeating one of Payton's cutest phrases "I do-ed (pronounced dude) it!"
*They loved telling Chris all kinds of cousin stories and laughed out loud as they told some of them.
*Jacob and Marcus had lots of fun babysitting Luke and Mia while Jill and I went to see a movie (27 Dresses ....we loved it! If you've ever been a bridesmaid and had to wear a not so appealing dress, you need to see this movie!)
*Ice skating (enough said!)
*Shopping at IKEA
*Cousin sleep overs
*Going to see the Christmas lights at BLORA
*Playing with and feeding Mia
*Just being able to spend time with each other!

Here are just a few of my favorite cousin photos from our visit....

All the cousins (not an easy task to get them all cooperating and looking at the camera...but I did it!)...

Marcus and Jacob playing with Jenna and Luke's leapsters...


Luke and Jenna teaching Marcus the rules of Leapster....
Love these photos of Carsyn and Mia...especially the second one ....


Ready for the hot tub....

As I went through my photos I noticed how many I had of Jenna and Carsyn. They have so much fun together...and it really, really makes me wish we lived closer. I just can't talk Chris into it though. :)

And my favorite....