Photoshop Fun

Update: I got it to load today.

Well, I was going to post a picture I edited on photoshop, but I'm having technical difficulties loading it. Just imagine, a black n' white photo of Noah in blue shorts. I've been playing with the smart brush tool.

I'm having fun learning the program. Although, I'm getting sleep deprived. Last night I stayed up until 1 a.m. Scott came home from work to find me glued to the computer tweaking old photographs.

I'm just scratching the surface of what this program can do and that's very exciting.

Merry Christmas

I've tried five times to write something about Christmas. I don't know why I'm finding it so hard. It was a great day and the magic was very much alive. Grace believes and it was so much fun. Noah wasn't interested in much else besides the candy.

The kids both got bikes from Santa this year. However, Grace ran into our bedroom and said, "Santa brought you a bike, Mom!"

"Me, are you sure? Maybe we need to go check."

She thought her bike was for me. Maybe Santa went a little too big. I guess he thought she could have it longer.

I got photoshop for Christmas! I've been playing with it and learning all kinds of fun tricks with the healing brush tool. We can all have flawless skin with a little retouching. I went and bought the book "Photoshop Elements 7" yesterday to go along with the program. There is just so much to learn, but I have my highlighter and post-it notes ready. If that doesn't help, I'm gonna sign-up for a class.

Do you think I'll ever remember to ask Scott to take a picture of me and the kids on holidays? Probably not.

Winter Show

Last night was Grace's Kindergarten Winter Presentation. It was so sweet. She was excited to have Nana, Papa and Tutu come and see her sing. They sang Frosty The Snowman and afterwards we ate cookies.

Here she is with Scott.

Grace and I.

Nana, Papa and Grace.

Tutu and Grace.

Kid Photo Shoot

Grace loves this little suitcase. It's usually on top of my mantel but when I took it down for the Nutcracker display she discovered it and has been packing it around ever since so we brought it along.
I wasn't going to send out Christmas cards this year. I've been lazy, but my sister-in-law Nickie called yesterday afternoon and asked if I would take a few pictures of her girls for their card. And they were so cute. My whole problem is this, I loath picking out out-fits. Especially all coordinating ones. I can barely get myself dressed in the morning much-less my whole family in something that's cohesive. Plus, I'm having issues with my hair. I want it longer and it just isn't.

Anyway, so I took the girl's pictures and was inspired enough to take my kids out today and try to do a little shoot with them. Now you might ask, why don't I just call my good friend Sarah and have her do them? For two reasons, first she's taking December off and second, because it's kinda fun for me to see what I can do. Maybe when my ugly hair is longer I'll set-up a session with Sarah and I will have awesome pictures that I will treasure for a lifetime. Until then, it's me on a busy street with my kids.

Noah didn't cooperate at all and my 50mm lens is no good for action shots. I got maybe two semi-okay shots of him. I tried, it just didn't work out. Plus, I was alone on a busy street with the kids. Therefore, some shots you may think, she should have gotten down lower, well I couldn't, I had Noah on my hip so he wouldn't run into the on coming traffic on the street behind us.

We were going to go to another location but Noah fell and cracked his lip open. And that was the end of our little session because we had to race to the car to find something to stop the bleeding. Good times!

Another Day

My friend Jess, posted on her blog about holding back when posting. I admit I do. Many times I have posted something and gone back ten minutes later to take it down, in hopes no one read it. So, I’m going to blog what I’ve did today with as much frankness as possible.

Today was hair color day. My gray hairs were showing and that’s never cute. Dropped Grace off at school and Noah and I drove to Sally Beauty Supply to pick-out my color. I went with dark brown this time instead of medium. I’ve been feeling a little mousey. Had to go to the store a little further away since I told the lady off at the other store a few months back. Hey, you want the truth or not? Well, I did. It’s usually not in my character to do such things but I was so offended that I told her she was an old hag and left. Never in my life have I done that. I was shocked with myself and a little proud that I had really said what I thought. She was rude to me and more importantly to my kids and I told her so. I even went so far as to call the corporate office and left a complaint. Well, now I have to get my hair color at a different store. Lucky me, for finally opening my mouth after 32 years, huh?

Came home and dyed, showered and styled my hair. Dressed in time to pick Grace back up from school. While Noah ate crackers and juice from his sippy cup.

Scott worked at the Shrine today which means he worked semi normal hours and was home tonight. Always a nice change. One of his patients was an eighteen year old from Hawaii. His family is back in Hawaii and he was complaining that he couldn’t get any rice to eat. So, after dinner I made another pot of rice and Scott cooked some spam to bring him tomorrow. Scott usually gets him as a patient when he’s at the hospital. He’s not very nice to the nurses, he’s angry and who can blame him. We all deserve to be a little angry.

If it’s not the rude lady at the Sally Beauty Supply store then it’s having to spend the rest of your life in a wheelchair. I can’t imagine my life changing so drastically. He has a lot of time to think about his choices and mistakes. He has long road ahead of him.

There ya go, was that a little more candid? Probably not, but it’s better than another nutcracker post, right?

Great Scott!

Every year I try to come up with a good gift for Scott’s birthday. Then fifteen days later I try to have something just as good for Christmas. This year he found a wrist watch he wanted at one of the jewelry stores going out of business at the mall. It’s going to be a birthday/Christmas combo. December babies always get the short end of the stick.

Happy Birthday Scott!

Rockin' The Relay

I ran the CIM Relay with three lovely ladies yesterday! It was great fun. Albeit, a little cold. All week I'd been fighting an oncoming cold. I pushed the Zicam, Uri and rubbed myself down with essential oils in an attempt to fend it off. I had to run on Sunday, I couldn't be sick! It didn't work. So, Sunday morning I took two Tylenol, drank a Pepsi on the way to Jill's house and then took a Benadryl. The combination seemed to work.

It's always exciting for me to experience the energy from other runners. I felt a little intimidated running next to the marathoners, knowing I only had my little seven mile stretch. I ran the third leg. It was gratifying to be out with fellow runners. It makes me want to dig in and run more. However, I need to kick this cold first.

My friend, Jill organized and planned everything, I just had to show-up with my running shoes on. Thanks so much for including me Jill, I had a great time!

Nutcrackers

A few days ago, I called in the professionals to help me decorate my house in it’s Christmas glory. I tried to arrange the nutcrackers on the mantel and it wasn’t working, I don’t have the nack. When I really want my house to look good I call my Mom and sister Mindy.

Last year we hit a 90% off sale after Christmas. I bought some awesome garlands, wreaths, huge pine cones and some glass star ornaments. I also acquired a true nutcracker collection this year. All year, my mom has been giving me nutcrackers. Every time I saw her, she’d have another one or three. The total came to thirty, a nice round number. I didn’t count the three mini nutcrackers because technically they are ornaments. Robin McGraw (Dr. Phil’s wife) has nothin’ on me! She was my inspiration for having a nutcracker collection. I’d love to see hers, wouldn’t that be fun?

Okay, I'm going to apologize beforehand about the pictures. There is no rhyme or reason to how I loaded them. I forgot to post my Mom's handpainted nutcracker. It was late. I'll add it later.

This was my first Nutcracker.Bought these star ornaments at the 90% off sale. They were originally $19.99

I have pictures of my grandparents in frames. This is my Grandma Erickson, isn't she pretty? Noah points to this picture and says baby.

I made this heart ornament for Scott when we were dating. It took forever to sow all those buttons on. Bought these trees at Goodwill and one at a garage sale for 50 cents.

Frosting Anyone?

We have some bad habits developing here at our house. If Scott can't find something chocolate in the house he'll crack open a frosting container. Noah is following in his foot steps. I was sitting at the table working on something and turned around to find this. I know, nobody loves a messy faced baby as much as their own mama but I had to share.