And following the wedding, I got a shortened week due to another snow day.  Can you say bliss???

Spence, as always, wanted to go outside....who cares about rain or snow?  He wasn't too sure about walking on the snow, but was more than content to sit in his stroller and watch the excitement of the other kids and the fact that mom and dad were taking him for a walk before dinner.

So fun.  What a great year to get so much snow.

Well, it's Friday night, or it was a few minutes ago.

Took on more work at work.....worn out, but, when you are crazy busy all day, it goes by fast and then I am back home with the peanut.

Two weekends ago, I took my first overnight away from my boys since the peanut came home from the hospital.  Headed north for my sister's wedding, and while my trip was super fast and rushed, it was otherwise uneventful. Wish I could say the same for Mike's first overnight....So it's taken me a few weeks to pick a few of my favorite pics from the wedding and of course edit them.  I should narrow it down and just put a few up, but it's late, I'm tired and if I don't get this up now, I probably never will.  So, sorry, just a link :)

https://www.photoshop.com/?user=erikafallas&galleryid=52477f13be094a03824b16abf5587797&wf=share&trackingid=BTAGC

I am sad.  Can't say much else right now about what is happening, but times they are a changing at our house.  Everyone's fine, no emergencies, just changes coming fast in my little world.  Whatever happens will have very little effect on anyone but me :) I guess things just happen, not always for a reason, but just because that's life.  We have so much to be thankful for, especially as people are searching for loved ones in Haiti, struggling with diseases, and or just struggling to get through life.  I know I am strong and there is little that I will let ruin my family or me.  But tonight just sucks.  So I drink a couple of glasses of champagne, and post my very late Christmas pics and fun stuff.

December was EVENTFUL.  I guess that's always the case with a toddler around.  Started early in the month with Christmas planning and an oh so lovely dishwasher leak AGAIN!  Had a couple things fixed over the summer, new lower rack basket, you know, pretty much everything we could to avoid buying a new one. Well, this one was the end of the old GE Profile that came standard with our Huntington home circa 2003.  Even consumer reports advised against repairs....so we have a new one.  Which happened to be on sale 20% off (small blessing).  Oh wait, I spent the 20% savings on a new lower basket because we hated the one that came with it.  Back to square one.

Being the handy and crafty bee-yatch that I am (oh yeah, I said it), I also decided that our garbage disposal switch was way to far away from the sink....you shouldn't have to walk to turn it on and stand there waiting for all to be processed before walking back.....so, I installed a sink top disposal switch, yes, all by myself.  While it was a tiny project, it is oh so rewarding.  Is it possible that dishwashing is 100% faster?  Probably not, but it sure feels that way.

Mike's Christmas present this year was a rework of the media systems in our family room.  I had our tv mounted, new blu ray which connects to the internet and downloads direct from blockbuster, netflix, and pandora (aaaaaaahhhhh, halo here please - see previous "geek" entry on my love for pandora), and connecting all blu ray and directv (on demand's free, sweet) to internet.  Installer was great (thanks to Handy Andy for the rec), but I just couldn't leave well enough alone dang it!  I had to make sure our RF remotes were working (look it up if you don't know what I'm referring to, or ask Handy Andy...you know if you know him).  So I spent the better part of a WEEK NIGHT evening (by better, I mean until 1:00am) untangling wires, cleaning out unused cables and digging out our RF transmitters (look that up too) while wedged between the media cabinet and wall.  Those cabinets are crazy heavy, so I could only move them so far on my own.  Ouch my back, and my hammies???  Guess all of that straight leg bending did a number on me (out of shape, but skinny!  Look out!).  Completed that task too.

Did I mention that we have professional grade home theater RF remotes?  Nice purchase babe, but the dude wasn't kidding when he said they would have to come out and reprogram them if we ever changed equipment.  Toot, toot (my horn)!  I found the software, downloaded it, bought special connector for pc, and after a minimum of 12 hours of frustration (who here thinks I'm impatient, suck it - oh wait, I think that!), I managed to program them, including creating little steps within the software so that they can turn everything off and on with one button.  So, we had and used these remotes since a year after we moved in (2004?) but they became obsolete when our old DVD player died, we got a new tv, and a new directv receiver.  However, hubby and I BOTH knew how to use them.....now for some reason, I am the only one.  One day training to be held later this month on how to use them.  BYO lunch, seating limited.  HA!

And then came Christmas....major cold, the most debilitating I've ever had, but I digress and more on the joy of Christmas with kiddos later :)  Loved the snow, the ice, but not being able to get up to make my peanut breakfast?  a little too much for me, thanks again to the hubby for getting up and taking over :)  Have I ever mentioned that when the going gets tough, hubby always steps up to the plate?  <3  Sorry, feeling sentimental.

And so, Christmas ended with a clogged toilet and four rebuilt toilets.  I guess they were just ready for some work.  All at once, all the Tuesday following Christmas.  Cha-ching.

Okay, done complaining.  Happy thoughts, happy thoughts, happy thoughts......sorry, doing a lot of thinking out loud tonight.

Christmas morning was FANTASTIC!!!  (ok, other than me not being able to get up bc I thought I might hurl or pass out).  First of all, my dad drove in to be here with us on Christmas morning, how spectacular.  To see an almost 17 year old get excited about home made bo staffs (from Dad and Uncle D, not the most handy) was pretty cool.  We went simple this year, and the kids were no more excited or upset. Makes you realize that it really is the thought that counts and the attention you pay to them that they value most, even when all they ask for is video games.  Now, since Spence doesn't know what it's like to be spoiled, we spoiled him rotten!  I had to sell his gifts to Mimi so that I could give him a little ride in / push car. It just seemed silly to give him a bunch of stuff he'll never remember and rarely play with all from us, so some were from Mimi and Opa, some from Grandpa and Peg, and some from Grammy and Papaw, but he got everything he (I for him) wanted!  Now, he was spoiled, but really it was the rest of us that had the biggest treat when he saw his car from two rooms away and was running and pushing through everyone to get to it knowing it was for him.  That joy is so undeniable, so simple, and so genuine.  <3 that little booger.  A day spent in your jammies can be like a week of vacation.

Again, toot toot, I forgot to mention I made my first prime rib Christmas eve.  It was so good, no leftovers, and I made another one two days later to go with all of the sides!  Yummy!  I think we'll have to do that again soon in celebration of thankfulness (and gluttony).

So, thanks for listening, whoever sees this.  My fingers are tired, but I am again feeling grateful and less sad for remembering all of the recent events that we have to celebrate.  More than anything in the world, I love my family....all of them.....flaws (mostly mine) and all.

Alrighty enough pity partying again, here's some fun pics from Christmas.  I'll try to add more later this week when I download pics from the New Year.  Xoxoxoxo, E

PS - Dear Santa, I love my new camera, flash and tripod.  I can't think of a better gift or a better way to remember this Christmas.

New Camera, New Adventures

Got my Christmas present early....after lots of shopping around, I found the camera and bundle that I wanted and the sale was supposed to be ending (it actually got cheaper, and yes, I got the price adjustment, but I digress) so I told Mike we shouldn't wait.  This way I also will (hopefully) have a basic understanding of how to use it for Christmas.  I thought taking my point and shoot to manual was no biggie and SLR would be just as easy.  Needless to say, I still have a lot to learn (starting with buying an extra battery and remembering to turn the damn thing off, it doesn't do that on it's own), and will be mostly sticking with the programmed modes for a while....but I am having fun learning, which I guess is what happens when you get out of school for good and "learning" becomes something you enjoy instead of dread.  Can you tell we have a teenager in the house that isn't really in to school?  Ahhh, takes me back to the good ole days.  There's me digressing again.

So, right before the new camera, my sweet friend Kendra and family came down to the creek by our house hoping to get a free pic they could use on the old holiday card.  (Maybe this post should be adventures with the G boys, but it's not).  I think we got lucky, but more than that is the pic we got below.  Pretty sure no one in her family pops over here, but if you're reading this and you are related to Kendra in anyway shape or form, CLICK CLOSE IMMEDIATELY :-)  Don't want to ruin the unwrapping of the presents.  So, meet Red...

 Because I know you're all wondering (in case it's not obvious), YES, I tweaked it in Photoshop....not as much as you might think though.  Red's hair is really that bright, his eyes are really that blue and the grass was really that green!  I have been trying to getting something close of my own Spence, with no such luck...maybe he just needs a wig???

While we're on the subject of the old camera and grass (not that kind - you should be ashamed of yourself for thinking it), I have had this vision of having Spence lay on our bright green grass (yes, we have grass in the winter, husband - landscaper - you do the math) and using it as the background.  Small problem.  Spence lays down happily when and only when you put him in bed at the appropriate sleeping time.  Here's what happened.  It's awful I know, but stuff like this just makes me laugh so I am sharing.  No photoshop on this lovely piece of artwork.

So many other cute pics, had to add at least a couple of not crying ones :)

Okay, so I tortured all of the boys and tried to get a cute pic for the G-parents since the wagon was a gift from them.  I got a couple of cute ones and then realized I was too close for anyone to see the wagon.  DUH!!!  By this point, the excitement was done.

Now, onto my new fun.  Took this one of Josh last weekend (no the pool wasn't heated and he was out faster than he went in).  It's a good thing we live in Texas because our boys love to jump in the pool year round!  When it comes to the action photo, love what the camera did.  This is one of 4/5 that I got from him preparing to leap to a couple in the air and one going in.  When I clicked through quickly in the slideshow mode, it was almost animated.  Fun!  LOVE the frozen water drops, and of course the look on his face.  Josh has to be one of the sweetest kids I have ever met.  He truly understands simple pleasure, how sad to think our time with sweet Joshy is running out as teenagerdom approaches.

Okay, clearly need to work on the whole focus thing, but love this happiness...I just wish he understood why sometimes it's too cold, rainy, etc to go outside or to swim.  We also discovered tonight, that he ONLY likes to swim with Dad.  We thought it was just people he didn't know as well that he didn't like to swim with, but when I tried to give Mike's neck a break, he wanted no part of it.  Guess he thinks it's their deal.

And here, we are showing a new trick and why he can't play in the dishwasher (his favorite toy) anymore.  I'm pretty sure he's not the only kid that does this, but I just don't get it.  How does he already know that dishes in our house are Man Work???

Now that I have bored you all with my knowledge (or lack thereof) in the photography department.  I am vowing to get to bed early tonight....Guess I should stop drinking the Coke Zero now then, huh?

Hope everyone had a Happy Thanksgiving.  Ours was so laid back and uneventful, I couldn't have asked for more.

E

Now that my Photoshop Addiction has reached a high level, I decided it would probably help all involved parties if I also tried to actually learn how to work my camera other than in auto mode.  Wish I had done it sooner.  Had a blast of a walk with Spence today (and Hubby for part too) playing with the settings and going all out manual and no flash!  Pics of our adventure below :)  happy weekend...

I actually resisted the temptation to "improve" this one.

So one important thing I learned most noticeably in this one, is to make sure you change the quality back to high after you experiment with lowering.  wish the resolution was better...

The end of the walk, knocked out...like I am about to be.  This addiction really is keeping me up way too late at night...But the geek in me loves it!

Oh yeah, and another geek thing I'm having a blast with is the Pandora app on the blackberry.  I have it set up to stream through my car audio system when I'm driving.  So great.  If you don't know what Pandora is, check it out www.pandora.com.

Photoshop Addict

Quickly becoming addicted to Photoshop.  Who knew it could be so fun.  Here's some before and after samples.  I get that they aren't "professional", but I've only had it for two days :-)

So, I like this picture, but it all started because I wanted to see Spence's face and he just wanted to look down.  This is the first before shot.

This is the after.  I changed Spence's fast, added some tilt and glow and toned down my sweater....there's more that I am sure I forgot, but those are the biggies.

Before - I decided to try to fix this one and get a cute one of her without the stroller ruining the pretty background.  I did it in color, but then I couldn't stop....

If you look closely, not only do her jacket and flower have color, but her eyes are blue too :-)

Okay the next changes aren't my best, but hey, still learning.

And the changes below....

Fun times, but it's keeping me up way too late at night...

I can hardly believe it, but our kiddo is 1 today! I made this super hokey video for our family if you want to watch...there's music with it.