A game.

Miles & I have a favorite game. Back when he was in Speech Therapy (didn't I tell you he graduated!?), our speech therapist recommended getting or buying a picture book for Miles to point to things and name. We never did buy a book. Instead, I turned to the Internets.

Introducing:
Google Image Search

So, a couple of times per week, Miles would climb up on my lap while I sat diddling away the hours at the computer. And to humor him, I would start an image search: Dora, Diego, Elmo, Big Bird, shark, lion, elephant, tiger, apples, carrots, etc etc etc. For awhile, I would simply type in simple words for him to name. But after awhile, I wasn't inventive enough.

We still play almost every day. But now, Miles supplies the searchword. "How 'bout candy?", "How 'bout daddy?", "How 'bout books?" as fast as I can input them... and then we're on to the next word. It really has been a fabulous tool for teaching him a lot of words.

Yesterday, I spontaneously input the word "blue." We got the following image:
And Miles, not knowing which word I was going for, said simply, "SCARY!" Yes son, they are indeed.

A little PS Magic version 2.0

I did a post like this quite a while ago and promised more. So, to finally make good on my promise.

(Note: If Photoshop mumbo-jumbo bores you, skip this post. Go read something more entertaining.)

I decided to entertain you all with an example of how much I Photoshop on a picture of me. Yeah, bravery at its finest.

So, to begin. Here is the picture (as taken by Abbie) straight out of my camera. Not a bad picture, overall.
Looks a little dim... kinda boring... needs some pop.
Here's where I confess my love for all things NicholeV. I use her ACR presets and shoot exclusively in RAW. She has made my job infinitely easier.

However! If I wasn't using her presets, I would probably do a curves and contrast boost and a soft light layer. Speaking Greek yet?

And voila! Don't I look so much cuter?! Now comes the super-secretive part... which I'm making not a secret anymore, I guess. Doh! #1 That bit of hair hanging down has GOT TO GO. Thank you, clone tool! Also, my eyes need to stand out just a bit more. I was directed to a fantastic video tutorial online the other day which has caused me to bow and worship at this man's feet. The effect he uses is extremely dramatic on that picture, but I just used it a little tiny bit.

And suddenly, I'm gorgeous!
What's that? You can't tell the difference? Try this...
(Click to make it much larger!)
If you have any questions, feel free to ask!

A Secular vs. Religious kind of confusion...

As many of you know, I'm LDS. That is, I'm a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. As a church we received some sad news that our dear prophet, President Gordon B. Hinckley passed away last night. There is joy and comfort in knowing that he has been reunited with his wife who passed away in 2004. And for church members there is peace in knowing that the Lord is preparing a new prophet.

At any rate, I told Abbie and Anna about the prophet's passing on the way to drop Abbie at school today. They were a bit sad but comforted by knowing that we would have a new prophet very soon. Anna brought the subject up a couple of times today, and we talked about it.

Well, upon Abbie's arrival at home, she says to me, "Mommy, Mrs. Cooper (her teacher) said that President Hinckley shot someone!" HUH?! Mrs. Cooper is obviously not a member of our church and has no idea who Gordon B. Hinckley is. Pretty sure she's referring to this guy.

No, I'm sure that's not confusing for my kid.

Posts & Pictures coming... but in the meantime.

A lot of people have asked to see pictures of my hair. Don't ask me why. Well, perhaps it's because it used to look like this. But it's certainly not because it's even remotely entertaining. It's boring. Mouse-poop brown and devoid of any natural highlights. So, I present the following:
This was taken by Abbie this morning. Okay, not a full picture of what my hair really looks like, I guess, but you can see the boring color and lame bob-style cut. It is stacked in the back which, in theory, gives it more character, but really, it's just a mom-do. I do have to add that I really like this picture of me... You know how you rarely get a picture of yourself where you say, "Hey, that's what I really look like!" Well, this is one of those occasions. Thanks Abbie!

Now, I've had other requests for um, belly pictures. And truly, I'm all for them. But getting Matt to take some that I like has been a less than popular pursuit. So, finally. I have something to show. 29 weeks tomorrow, folks.
I've got a couple more, but really, I look about the same... and often more pissed. Eh, whatever. There's my belly. Just 11ish weeks left. Still no name leads... got suggestions?

Too much. Excess. A lot.

So, in preparation for this NKOTB, I'm trying to organize my massive amounts of baby clothes.

I can admit that I don't know if this is the last baby. This necessitates that we (I, Matt couldn't care less) hold on to every single piece of adorably precious baby girl clothing. And holy cow, there's a lot of it. I can't bring myself to get rid of hardly any of it. I seriously have 4 VERY LARGE Rubbermaid tubs in my garage with ages 0 to 2T in them. I need help.

I also have a very large basket of clothes that needs to be gone through and sorted into keeping, donating and tossing piles. This will require the purchase of AT LEAST 2 more Rubbermaid tubs.

Additionally, I have a special Rubbermaid filled to the brim with clothes for the kids to grow into. And where did I find myself this morning? At Target, purchasing size 4/5/6 pants for little girls who refuse to stop growing. Good thing they were 75% off. $3.74/pair? Venture a guess how many pairs of pants I came home with?

Updated:
I have whittled it down to 3 large Rubbermaids of girl stuff, and 8 bags of clothes to give away. Boy stuff: a mere 3 "small" Rubbermaids.

And the answer, Sheri, is 7. Keep in mind that Abbie & Anna wear the same size. They're set for pants for the rest of the year.

I've got a disease.

I am afflicted, people. Don't worry, it's not contagious. Well, not really. But I suspect that most of you are already infected.

The symptoms:
Memory loss
Uncontrollable rage
Exhaustion
Insomnia
Inability to stay on task
Paranoia
Unexplained snorting
Hearing voices constantly
Talking to said voices

Yes, my friends. We're talking about Parenthood. Some days it truly feels like a terrible burden to place upon any one person. Fortunately, I'm not alone in my debilitating illness. I've got him and (insert unexplained snort) ALL OF YOU!

What are your symptoms?

In other news...I got pulled over for speeding today. The first time I've EVER been pulled over. Fortunately, I was just given a warning. The officer said it was because of my clean record, but I suspect it was the sight of my three kids in the back in their carseats and my enormous obviously pregnant belly that deterred him from giving me the $185 ticket (that I totally deserved). Thank you, officer!

Sidetracked!

Obviously, one day blends into the next over here! Sorry!

And I've got a friend on her way over here to scrapbook the night away... Woot! So. I'll make this quick!

ARCHIVING SPECIAL!
Runs from Today, January 17th, 2008 until Valentine's Day 2008.

If you had a session with me anytime before June 1, 2007...
Data DVD of all full-resolution images from your session - $200
(with print rights)

THE REASON WHY:
I think it stands to reason that I can't keep all of my clients files FOREVER. For that, I apologize. I need to clear off my hard drive and purge my expansive CD/DVD collection of client files.

Also, at the time of your session, I didn't have anything in my policies stating how long I would be keeping client files. I am adding the following verbage to my policies: "All unordered files will be purged (deleted) 90 days following your session. All ordered files (files you ordered a print of) will be kept on file for one year following your session."

I think it's unfair to purge anyone's files without first allowing them the option to purchase them from me. So, I put it to you. If you had a session with me before June 1, 2007 and are interested in purchasing the digital and print rights to your images, let me know!

Any questions, feel free to contact me!

And for the new picture I promised:
Miles, at almost 2.5 still loves to be in the sling.

Stay Tuned...

After I throw my kids at their beds (yes, AT) I've got a fun Archiving Special I'm planning and some new pictures!

2007 Favorites Contest is CLOSED!

I had over 250 VOTES!!! Thank you to everyone who visited and voted!

And a big congratulations to our winners! I was amazed by how close the voting was!

First Place!
Second Place:

Third Place:
Congratulations! I'll be contacting the winners by email shortly.

Also, after alot of hemming and hawing over it, I've decided to offer some digital packages! You'll have to go over to my website to see the new pricing, but I really think it'll offer a good amount of flexibility for my clients! (If you don't see the new pricing, be patient... it'll be up soon!)

And finally, I just wanted to add that because it is becoming increasingly difficult for me to move (STOP LAUGHING), I'm going to be severely limiting the number of sessions I take. And after March 15th, I won't be doing any more sessions, possibly until the end of the year, depending on the baby. Yes, I'm a wimp about leaving my kids. I hope you'll understand.

Only four more days!

To vote in the Favorites Of 2007 Contest! If you haven't voted already, hurry and go pick one!

So unbelievably lucky!

1. I have only 100 days-ish left until baby day! Yahoo! And Oh Crap! at the same time. I have a hard time remembering that I'm even pregnant until I try to oh, I don't know, jump rope or tie my shoes, for example. When people ask me how far along I am, I've been telling them about 4 months for oh, 3 months? I'm almost 26 weeks, which I *think* puts me in my 6th month? Is that right? At any rate, I'm feeling great. For a little while longer...

2.Not only are the "curlies" back, but they're "piggy-tails" now too! I've dubbed 2008, "The Year of HAIR!" Let's hope, eh? And omygosh, isn't she so cute?!

3. Yes, yes. Abbie too.
She does this SUPER annoying thing lately where every time I want to take her picture, she draws her shoulders together and tips her head to the side just slightly and gives me this demure smile. Like she thinks she's a model. It's not cute. And she's way too young to be starting that garbage. Not quite 6. Please 6, stay away longer...

4. And yes, of course... they're cute together too.
Abbie absolutely had to have pigtails too... hers are more like stiff paintbrushes. Cute, nonetheless.

5. And finally. No post would be complete with one of these future blackmail shots, right?
Matt'll kill me for putting this up. Miles brought me the dress and begged for "Cinda-weh-wah." We're not terribly concerned about (eye roll) making him gay, so I went ahead and let him. He spun around the room like a little ballerina for about 5 minutes. He was so happy. The fact that he's brought me a different "princess dress" every day for the last 3 days... it's getting old. But he cries... so I relent. I figure it can't hurt any more than having me for a mother.

More of what you like...

Pictures!

Ok, really just one. Shooting weddings are a ton of work, or so I'm learning. It's not just the time spent the day of the wedding. That represents maybe 1/2 of your time. In the end, there are ALOT of pictures to go through. And a lot of editing to be done. Fortunately, tweaking in Photoshop is one of my favorite pastimes.