My pictures arrived!

Not only did they arrive in record time - just a few days after I ordered them - but they are so awesome! Really, really great.

And it isn't just me that thinks so.

I had planned on putting them in the entry wall to the Master Suite. AB has nixed that because they aren't center enough there. If we are going to have such cool neat pictures then we should at least put them somewhere where people will see them.

He is right.

But herein lies the problem with open floor plan houses. The number of walls. Not only that, but the number of walls without big picture windows and built ins. All things I love and want in any house I own from now on. But what this means is that my wall display square footage is small.

Something will have to be moved.

So here is Leif holding his picture:

Oh and you want to know where I got my big pictures? Mpix.com

The details - they are 16"x20" mounted on foam core with the special coating (which I forget what they call - but it makes them look and feel like professional pictures). They are printed on Professional Photo Paper - so now my prints look like *I* am the pro! I retouched them myself using PhotoShop (which came out great enlarged to this size - I seriously wiped a lot of snot off Skadi's face). Let them play with the color too, I am quite happy with the way they came out!

I made the eyes pop using the Pioneer Woman's Instructions. (<--Rachel see here! And if you want to play with it with me, let me know!)

The 16x20's came out to about $30 a piece. Then I ordered some 5x7's and wallets. The wallets are die-cut. Love that. No sitting there with scissors hoping you see the lines correctly and shaving off edges where you strayed. I will order more wallets for putting in Christmas cards and handing out to teachers.

Because the pictures I did? So much better than what we got from the school. Even Leif's - which turned out good. The company that did the school pictures did a good job and put up with a lot from my lovely daughter, but I was unimpressed with the little things in the backgrounds - like the chain link fence. Just details.

I ordered huge pictures of my kids.

I have been wanting big huge pictures of my kids for a long time. I mean, if you aren't going to at least print up big pictures, why have an SLR? Ok, don't answer that. Because there are LOTS of reasons to have a digital SLR. But this was one of the many reasons I wanted a digital SLR. I love photographing my kids. Granted I am not a professional, but I still manage to eek out a few good ones every now and then. Helps with being able to just hold down the shutter button and get 5 or more shots at once, especially for those turkey times.

My son is in THAT stage now.

If *I* want to take a picture of him he either runs, glares at me and says, "no pictures" or makes some ridiculous face. Ha. I will show him. I can snap two pictures straight after the ridiculous face that he can't hold forever and catch a smile. Sometimes.

Then there are the times, like this morning when he decalres picture time.

It was 8am and I was struggling to get us out of the house when Leif yells, "let's take a picture now!"

Skadi was looking her cutest in her HA skirt with striped tights, so I grabbed her and stood them next to the door (the one spot in my house where no one can see all the clutter) and started snapping.




(See he *CAN* smile for a picture... when he wants.)

Then Leif declared his need to use my camera to take a picture.

I must have been in a good mood when I agreed putting the strap securely around his little pencil neck and showing him which button to push.

I was so impressed with his picture that you get a view of the clutter here. (Quick someone post indicating that their house looks *just* as bad.)



Anyways... back to the point of the post. My huge pictures.





I took these pictures and cleaned them up with Photoshop. All the stuff that you can't really see here... unless you click on them and they get a little better. Then you might see the crud I am talking about.

Wiped the snot from Skadi's nose and cheeks, the particles of breakfast from her chin and shipped off the huge image. Then I cleaned breakfast off Leif's face and the syrup off his shirt and shipped it off. Oh and I also did the whole "make the eyes pop" thing on both of them. The available standard sizes were cropping them funny and so when I finally found a size that cropped in a way I was happy with I hit order.

Then I layed in bed last night wondering what in the world I am going to do with two 16"x20" photos of my kids mounted on foam core.

I need more walls.

Leif and Skadi

Christmas day and beyond!

This year was a first for us, Christmas here at home and by ourselves. It was our intention to have Christmas in our own home for the first time, however, it wasn't our intention to have Christmas without our families. Afterall, Christmas IS about family.

It is difficult living away from our families. But circumstances are what they are. And this is our home, even though it is not our extended family's home. But the reverse is also true... Colorado is no longer MY home, nor AB's. I look forward to visiting my family in Colorado sometime soon, but the holidays weren't it this year.

We have had a fantastic holiday so far. So the Polar Express wasn't all I built it up to be in my head, but since returning, we couldn't have asked for a happier, better Christmas.

Christmas Eve was spent with friends. They are our family here. We went to Christmas Eve service where Skadi entertained the entire congregation by giggling at the most inopportune times (or the best times). Leif enjoyed the lighting of the candles and the procession. We headed out to celebrate Jesus' birthday with the other children (and M and N) complete with bounce houses and treats. M and I decided we would haul the kids back into the congregation hopefully in time for the singing of Silent Night and lighting of the candles. We succeeded and the kids were wide eyed and quiet at the beauty. We were leaving and one of my favorite moments was when A asked Leif what day was tomorrow? Tuesday, he replied.

I really do love Christmas Eve services. Almost enough to make me want to consider going to church regularly...

After the service we all headed to our K&V's house for appetizers (including sushi), wine and the kid's gift exchange. Leif was lucky enough to find himself sandwiched between the girls for a group hug. I am sure someday he will look back fondly... though he did seem to be enjoying it at the time too. It was a lot of fun and a great Christmas eve.

Christmas morning we got up to much excitement. Rudolph had eaten the carrot we left out, only the stump remained. And Santa had enjoyed his cookies, chocolate covered pretzels and milk. (Note next time to not leave out quite so much food for Santa... his sleigh gets weighted down.)

Leif pulled everything out of his overloaded stocking and then opened his present from Santa. The one, the only and highly coveted... Buzz Lightyear of Star Command.

We pried him from Buzz long enough to remind him of the other presents under the tree. It took two sittings, a long break for breakfast in between helped to rejuvenate us. Leif is still at that point where he didn't easily dive from one gift to the next. It was nice to see him stop and enjoy each gift and with all heartfelt desire, ask to open it and play with it now. We had time and nowhere to be, so we abided his request.

Skadi? Indifferent to it all.

Me? AB did extremely well with me. Extremely. There were a few surprises I wasn't expecting, like the Turkish bath sheets. Pure luxury. Then there were the ones that weren't real big surprises, but much appreciated; the Ginger bath candy (from Leif since he begs and begs to use them when he bathes... sometimes I give in), the earrings (AB always gets me earrings, these were aquamarines - Skadi's birthstone - from Sundance... woohoo!). Then there were the things I actually asked for and got! (AB doesn't like buying things I ask for... he finds them boring.) Adobe PhotoShop is my biggy... and I have had A LOT of fun playing with it today. I told AB it is better than playing Civilization (sshhh... I didn't admit to that)... so if you wonder why my blog goes on neglected after today, you know where to find me... I am doing things like this:




And well, this one didn't need editing, but I had to include it...

We had a great day playing with our gifts. AB loved his carabiner watch from Leif... maybe as much as Leif loves it.

AB smoked a good sized prime rib. I made mashed potatoes and gravy and a salad for dinner and we ate well. (CR Sandridge's Tri*umph accompanied) We topped it off with a nectarine pie I made and froze earlier this fall and Sonoran's Full Moon Kerner Ice Wine. Mmmm. (Excuse me while I go get a glass...)

Today Leif told me he is ready to go back to school tomorrow. So his lunch is packed and Skadi and I have plans to hit the after Christmas sales.

Looking ahead we have New Years Eve to be excited for. Yes... it's true... AB and NM are going out for New Years Eve! I wondered for a moment if we should decline the invitation out of politeness to the hosts since everywhere we go on New Years Eve we bring hmmm... what do we bring? Well not much good. As recanted here... I keep telling myself the hosts don't know us THAT well yet.

Though I do see where it could at least get a little weird... Their best friend is my ob/gyn. I know, I am weird. AB and I have even talked after he delivered both of our kids that we really like him and he is the type of guy (and presumably his wife too) that we would get along well with. And he even gave us his home e-mail address after the birth of both kiddos. But then I get weird... my ob/gyn!! Apparently this may come to pass and I will learn to get past the whole "he has seen me there" thing since we have become decent enough friends with his and his wife's best friends.

But back to the point... will we break the curse that is sub-par New Years celebrations? Stay tuned to fine out!