Theme Thursday: Hearts

Madeline started this water color painting yesterday.  She wanted a heart that looked like it was part of a stained glass window.  I'm looking forward to seeing the finished project.

I drew this sidewalk chalk Sacred Heart many years ago when I was doing chalk drawings in the driveway with Ellie.  I liked the way it turned out so I snapped a picture and it's been the background on my past three phones.  I imagine most people have no idea what it is since it's covered with apps, but it's there.

I asked Ellie to take a picture for me and then I noticed that she had a heart on her shirt so I figured I needed a picture of her to include in this post.

I'm totally copycatting a friend of mine who is about nine weeks ahead of me.  She posted some pictures last night and I loved that she made a little heart with her hands over the baby.  I'm 27 weeks 6 days along today.  I feel like I'm getting closer to the end.  It's crazy to think that in 12 weeks or so I'm going to have a baby boy in the house.  I have no idea what to do with a little boy.  I guess I'll be doing a lot of learning on the job!

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Theme Thursday: Text

Since today we celebrate The Most Holy Name of Mary, I decided that I'd use some Marian prayers from Mother Love as my subject for Theme Thursday.  Look at me getting all fancy with coordinating my Theme Thursday post to the liturgical year.

f/16, 1/60, ISO-800

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Theme Thursday: Self Portrait

I wasn't sure if I was going to have anything current for this week when I saw the theme.  The house is a mess and I was hesitant to attempt a self portrait.  I contemplated using my iPhone to snap a picture but I'm so awful at using that camera that I decided against it.  So I dug out my cool remoteso I could snap a picture of my "I just went for a long walk out in the way-too-hot heat" self.   Katie decided to get in the picture, too.  I have to say I think the picture turned out pretty good considering I took it by tossing the camera on my purse and sticking my Magnificat under the lens to prop it up a smidge. I fully expected the camera to fall.

Visit Clan Donaldson for more Theme Thursday self-portraits.

Theme Thursday: Bodies

Forgive me for saying this but I found this week's theme to be a bit odd.  My first thought when I saw this theme was "Dead bodies?"  Nice, I know.  That's just where my mind went.  But I don't have any bodies hidden in a basement or storage locker so you'll just have to deal with pictures of live bodies this week.  Besides, you don't really want pictures of corpses, do you?  I hope not.

So I thought about what kinds of pictures I could post.  Temper tantrum bodies, grumpy I didn't do it bodies, getting into trouble bodies, bodies sitting around doing nothing, and active bodies.  So I decided  to go with active bodies.  Might as well since they're a bit more fun to capture.

Visit Clan Donaldson for more Theme Thursday pictures.

{Pretty, Happy, Funny, Real}

Capturing the context of contentment in everyday life...

{pretty}

After a morning nap and a yummy PB&J sandwich this pretty girl is on a mission.

{happy}

Katie is always happy when she has a book.  Here she is checking out the cool new bookshe got on her baptism anniversary.

Could she be any happier?  She spent several minutes running around in the family room moving as fast as she could because she knew I was trying to take pictures.

{funny}

A certain little miss thought she was a riot when she started to throw her stacking cups at me.  I didn't find it funny when she winged a cup at my favorite lensseconds after I snapped this picture.

{real}

Throwing your toys at Mommy means there are consequences.  She was not happy that I took away the  cups and made her sit down.  Despite the fact that Katie is wailing in this picture, I'm happy with how it turned out.  I'm enjoying the new camera.

A minute after I made her sit down for throwing her toys Katie was once again happily playing with her toys while I played with my camera.

Visit Like Mother, Like Daughter for more pictures of contentment.

{this moment}

{this moment} - A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember. Visit Soule Mama to see more moments.

Photography Gateway Drug

So last Thursday my new camera lens arrived and in the few days I've been using this lens I've become hooked.  I'm convinced that an inexpensive*, but decent prime lens is a photography gateway drug.

I'm still playing with the settings on the camera to see just what I can do with the new lens.  I have captured several pictures of the girls that make me want to squeal with delight. (I'll be sharing pictures, soon.)  I was even inspired enough to pick up a photography book I recently reviewed to find some inspiration only to discover that I NEED want a wide angle lens.

It's funny how this one lens has me hooked.  I am, however, disappointed that the cheapest wide angle lens I have come across is over $400.  I'm wondering if it's possible to test drive a lens to see if it's worth buying.  Somehow I don't think Bryan is going to like my new addiction.

*Inexpensive when compared to the much pricier versions of the same focal length.  I still don't think $100 is cheap.

Katie's Birth Announcement

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Product Review: Easy Canvas Prints

A couple of months ago I was provided with the opportunity to turn one of my photos in to a canvas print by EasyCanvasPrints.com.  I spent nearly two months procrastinating on ordering the print in hopes that I could get a nice picture of the new baby with Madeline and Ellie.  Katie, of course, had other plans and decided that she wasn't going to make her entrance until the day after I had to place my order.  That left me with the agonizing task of picking just the right picture for this canvas print.  Choosing what picture to use was certainly the most difficult part of the entire process.  When you have thousands of pictures to choose from, it's never an easy task.

After spending a couple hours in the wee hours of a Saturday morning I decided that the picture which was our Christmas card photo last year, would be the one I'd use for the canvas.  Once I had picked the photo ordering my canvas print was relatively easy.  To order a canvas you simply pick your size, upload your picture, choose how you want it laid out and how you'd like the wrapped edges to look and you're done.

I did have a slight issue with sizing my photo just right and choosing my wrapped edge.  I would have been spared a little bit of frustration if there was a button that allowed you to reset the photo.  That small issue was my only gripe about the entire ordering process.

My canvas had an estimated arrival date of November 2nd which would have put the processing and shipping time at around a 2 1/2 week wait.  I was pleasantly surprised when the canvas arrived on my doorstep in well under a week's time.  Having a newborn in the house made last week a bit of a blur and I had actually forgotten that I ordered a canvas print.  I was rather surprised to open my front door on Friday and find the canvas I ordered on October 15th sitting there.

I'm very pleased with the quality of the print.  The colors are exactly as they are on the 8X10 prints I had made last year.  I particularly like the wrap around edge since I can hang this canvas on a wall or display it on a shelf with out having to frame it.

EasyCanvasPrints.com provided me with the 8X10 canvas print you see pictured in this review free of charge in exchange for my honest review.  Having seen a sample of their canvas prints, I would certainly recommend giving them a try if you are looking to turn a photo into a canvas print.  I'm sure I'll be ordering a few more canvas prints in the future.

It's a Hanukkah miracle!

Did my title catch your attention? Some of you are probably scratching you heads trying to figure out why this crazy Catholic woman is talking about a Hanukkah miracle, right? Well, I kind of like to celebrate lots of holidays.

As a teen, I used to like watching reruns of old Saturday Night Live episodes. Besides the Land Shark and the Choppin' Broccoli song, Hanukkah Harry really stuck with me. So while I don't actually celebrate Hanukkah, I do jokingly tell my kids that if they're good Hanukkah Harry will leave them socks or underwear or some other very practical item. My brother, Mark, and I usually give each other a present from Hanukkah Harry on Christmas. We even use Hanukkah wrap. And, I have to admit that I love the dreidel song. It's just so catchy.

So what's the Hanukkah miracle? Bryan sent me a text telling me to order the speed light for my camera. I've been wanting to buy one for nearly two years, but have found the $250 price tag for a camera accessory to be too rich for my blood. After Madeline's first communion I was really disappointed in how my indoor shots came out and Bryan offered to buy me the speed light for my birthday and Mother's Day (the Sunday and Monday directly following Madeline's first communion). Of course, we suddenly needed to get Bryan's car repaired and let's just say the speed light never got ordered. (Such is life!) So the simple fact that Bryan got an unexpected bonus that will bring me my much wanted speed light and him his much coveted office TV is something that I'm going to refer to as the Hanukkah miracle of 2009. Kind of makes you wonder what Festivus will bring!

Like portraits of your kiddies and blog contests?

If you do, then head on over to The Meanest Mom (Don't you just love that blog name? I love the header picture she has.) and enter her $260 Sears Portrait Studio giveaway.  I personally haven't tried Sears Portrait studio since early 2002, but I could be tempted to try them again if they're footing the bill.  

Whew! I've been busy!

We spent the weekend hanging out with our neighbors and getting a few minor things done around the house.  By Sunday night I was totally wiped out.  Who knew socializing could be so exhausting?  The good news in we had a great time with our neighbors.  Bryan and I are just so happy that we have friends that we can hang out with in our neighborhood.  It's been a while since we've had people to hang out with on the weekends. (We're really not as pathetic as I just made us sound.)  The bottom line is we had a great time.  And since I haven't mentioned it lately, I just love my neighbors.  I don't have a single one that I dislike.  That's pretty cool in my book.

Today I took Ellie to get her birthday pictures done.  She acted like a goofball the entire time Erin (our super cool photographer) was shooting her.  Sadly, I only managed to get 4 shots that I liked.  Then the girls decided to fight in the store (FUN!) and totally irritate me.  Ellie made me totally regret buying her the matching purse for her birthday dress.  She fooled around with it for the pictures and then started using it as a weapon against Madeline.  She'll make a mean old lady with a purse some day.  Watch out muggers!  Ellie will take you out before you can blink.

Then, I made a scary decision to take the kids to Wal-Mart.  I don't like to go to Wal-Mart, ever.  I go in the store only when I'm desperate or need to find something that no one else sells.  That said, I probably wind up in that store 2-3 times a year.  I was in there to look at Corelle dishes (I'm tired of the pattern on my current set.  I think it's to be expected with Corelle that you tire of the pattern before the dishes actually need to be replaced--those things last FOREVER!) and I also wanted to see if I could find a palm tree tooth brush holder.  I didn't get new dishes (wasn't planning on making that final decision today), but I did get a toothbrush holder.  I went to a lot of stores over the past two weeks looking for one.

I also managed to get my huge backload of laundry washed and folded.  I had ten loads of wash.  I'm now down to half a load of stragglers.  I'm pretty happy with that.

I even found the time to read some of the book I'll be reviewing soon for The Catholic Company, too.  I'm going to be burnt out by tomorrow after all that I've done over the past few days!

I either don't exist or I've abandoned my family.

That's what one might think if they go through my vast collection of pictures.  Sure, I show up in the odd picture here and there with the family, but pictures of me alone are almost non-existent.   It looks like I abandoned Bryan and the girls right around the time that Ellie learned how to walk.  I must have become unnecessary around that time.

 The pictures of me that do exist are usually pretty awful.  Bryan has a knack for taking the absolute most unflattering pictures of me and he thinks it's pretty funny.  He captures expressions that I wish I didn't know were possible.  I've never met anyone in my life who could capture such awful images of me.  I wonder sometimes if those photos show me the way he sees me.  If that's the case there's only one word that will suffice. Scary.  

The best pictures that get taken of me are those done by my girls.  Madeline loves to take pictures and she's responsible for my current profile picture.  Ellie has taken a few decent pictures of me as well, but they're all from weird angles because she's short.  

Perhaps someday in the future a good picture of me alone will be taken. But, I'm not going to hold my breath waiting for that to happen.

I spent a good portion of today getting all of my photos to successfully transfer into my new laptop.  I'm happy to say that I now have all of my pictures at my fingertips once again.  Of course, because I spent so much time with the pictures, I've become acutely aware of my absence in the family photo album.  I guess that's the pitfall of being the family photographer.