Experimenting

I have been experimenting with my new camera, what settings in what light. Here are a few of my shots from the last two days. I have a ton more, but will spare the audience. The only one that I did point and shoot was the one of Ben in the grocery cart. I can't wait to learn more. When Christmas is over, I'll actually read my entire manual.

Ben just got up from his nap. Crazy hair.

Yummy chocolate candy. (Don't worry, Jennifer, I am bringing some of it to Lexington.)

Grocery shopping while Jack is at school.

Leggo creation, exclusively by "Jack".

My New Camera!

Just showing off how well my new camera takes pictures. LOVE IT!!! I'm still experimenting and figuring out what settings to use in different situations.

Good Times!

A couple of weeks ago, we had our neighbors, Mary and Peter and their boys, for dinner. All four boys squeezed in the little picnic table and there was no relaxation for the moms and dads. Ben was trying to steal food, as was Tommy. Tommy and Andrew were fighting over who sat next to Jack, and on and on. But, it was a fun night and boys will be boys.

I love this one.

After the dinner, our little picnice table stayed in the kitchen for several days and it became a toy for the boys. Here they are just sitting together and being silly. I love these two pictures.

Bad Santa!

Not really. He was actually great. He took his time getting to know the kids and was very, very kind. This is just the classic, younger brother can't hang. Jack was very shy and made a point to tell Santa what Ben wanted for Christmas (not sure how he knows, but I suspect there are ulterior motives). Mrs. Claus was there and she was very sweet. The photographer was great. It was all good . . . other than Ben's face in the picture. Good times!

Jack and all his glory...

I'm always amazed at the imagination of a five-year-old boy. Jack is all boy and he's hilarious. Nothing surprises me; i.e., when he walks in the kitchen and he's completely naked with only his shirt on his head, draped down like a nuns habit, and he loudly exclaims, "Look! I've got hair like a girl!". Below are some miscellaneous pictures of Jack.

Trimming the Tree . . . not so easy

Sunday night we decorated the tree. It was so much harder than I thought it'd be because of one small, blonde-headed, mischievous toddler named Ben. He wouldn't part with the red garland beads, he ate a fake berry, he smacked the branches, ornaments were laid on the branches in piles. It was exhausting.

I don't remember Jack being difficult with tree-trimming at that age.

The garland in question.
These berries on the candles apparently looked appetizing. By the time we hinged open his mouth, it was too late.

Jack earned his Lightsaber from filling up his "eating healthy" chart with stickers.

Maybe next year putting the tree up will be less stressful.

My Trip to Virginia!

Thanks to my wonderful mom and husband, I was able to fly to DC to see Jennifer, Mike and the girls. The Fall Foliage in Virginia where Jennifer lives was unbelievable. I couldn't stop carrying on about the beautiful trees and the colors. We live in a former corn field in Illinois and it would be an understatement to say I've been a bit deprived. I also had the opportunity to see Madison play alot of Volleyball. She is a great player and she looks SO tall on the court. Madison and I did a hair clinic to bring out the most of her natural curly hair. Lauren and I made homemade spaghetti and meatballs. Jennifer picked up the bill for the groceries for the meal. Jennifer and I had a wonderful visit and Mike tolerated all the girly stuff.


These pictures don't do the real thing justice.

The back of Jennifer's house. Looking from "Keightley Park".

Madison, Me, Keightley, Jen and Lauren. Playing fetch in Keightley Park.

See Jennifer thinks that she is in charge, but Keightley and everyone else know...Keightley has her number. :)

A bridge behind their house. The girls are so grown up and sweet and beautiful.

Keightley is so funny. When he's greeting the family, he'll grab the kitchen towel with his mouth and bring it over to you. By the end of my visit, I was included in the kitchen towel ritual. Here he is just relaxing with his toy in his mouth.

Madison's curly hair.

It's volleyball time. Mike was refereeing and was all serious and in..to...it!

Hustlin'.

Since I used Jennifer's camera, I took some photos off of her camera from this summer that I didn't have. These are of the boys from August.

This sums up Ben Pruden - so lovey.

This makes me laugh. Jack and Ben look like they just broke out in a big wrestling match.

Memom's grandchildren (well, half of them).