A Bit of a Non-sequitur

While downloading my memory card yesterday I found some random photos I thought I'd post.  I love my camera, but I'm still trying to get used to the idea of taking it with me when I go places where there might be photo opportunities.  

 Riley loves Link from The Legend of Zelda games.  He made his own Link out of Jenga blocks.  Love his creativity!

 We got up bright and early on a Saturday back in December to see a lunar eclipse.  It was really neat, and even though we were all bundled up and standing out in the freezing morning cold, the kids loved it!  I don't know why my camera captured the eclipse this interesting way.

 It was so cool to watch the eclipse.  It is almost gone here.

 Here is Melanie playing piano with the Jazz Band!  I love the fact that she is playing piano!  Hopefully we'll be getting our own piano in the near future.  She sure misses playing at home every day.

 As you can see, Melanie was just a teensy bit excited to be getting Crossed for Christmas.

 And Riley was also slightly excited to get Heroica: Castle Fortaan.

 Riley with his loot.  Melanie was very thoughtful and made both Riley and Carter a foot pillow for Christmas.  They both sleep with them every night.  Riley also got a race car track, which didn't work very well, but he didn't really  care.  

 Carter got Alien Conquest Legos and a lot of things to build.  He really does enjoy Legos, and likes to make his own amazing creations.

 Melanie is so easy to shop for.  Sure, she'd love an iPod, a cell phone, her own laptop, etc., but she asked for moccasins and clothes.  I can deal with that.  She really is the most awesome teenager ever.

Poor Pumpkin didn't get anything for Christmas.  She's spoiled as it is.  Both she and Freckles love sleeping under the Christmas tree, as well as playing under the tree and knocking ornaments around.  I'm just waiting for the time when they eventually knock it down.

I hope you enjoyed the random, and somewhat late, photos.  It was a fun surprise to find them on my memory card!

What I Learned, Besides High School Kids Are Loud.

Wednesday night was kind of like one of those you-don't-know-what-you've-got-til-it's-gone moments.  Ben and I went to the Canyon View vs. Cedar High basketball game, and boy, let me tell you, it was so nostalgic.  

It has been over 15 years since I've been to a high school basketball game.  I realized how much I miss that energetic atmosphere.  I've played a lot of pickleball and tennis since I graduated, but those sports don't have that pumped-up, fan-screaming, ambiance.  

And it was louder than a usual high school ball game because it was a town rival game.  The place was p-a-c-k-e-d.  I loved it!  Granted, Ben and I have a 13-year-old daughter, who is an amazing babysitter for her brothers when we go out, so we didn't have the stress of keeping the kids entertained.  But I really did love the energy at that place!

Ben serves in the Young Men's organization with some of the boys on the team, so we were supposed to cheer for Canyon View, since that's who those boys play for.  However, it was really difficult to cheer for them and not Cedar!  We were also supposed to wear black to the game.  You know, Canyon View colors. I was torn!  I wanted to wear red for Cedar and black for Canyon View.  I ended up going neutral with green.  

While watching the game I had one of those moments when I realize I've changed and grown up a little bit.  There were things I've learned that had I known then would have made me a better ball player.  

The biggest thing is patience.  It is so crucial to sports, and life in general for that matter.  Sadly, Canyon View did not possess this virtue on Wednesday night, but Cedar had it in abundance.  Neither team was at their best making shots, but Canyon View kept rushing the ball.  They would rush through play after play.  They could not keep a hold of the ball either.  18 years ago (Yikes!  That's a long time ago!) I would never have noticed that.  

I've always been a competitive person, and I still am, but now my competitive side has lost the anger that usually accompanied it.  And I'm a better player because of it.  Those young boys out there would get hot-headed and lose their focus so easily.  I did the same thing when I was in high school.  I'd let my temper get the better of me and whoosh!  Explosion!  I still have moments when I explode, but they cause less damage and are few and far between.  

I really miss playing basketball.  Not finishing out my junior and senior year with basketball is one of my biggest regrets.  At the same time, though, I don't know how involved I would have been in the band program.  And that experience is definitely one that has shaped me into the person I am today.  

Oh, and seriously, high school students are loud!  I should have brought ear plugs with me!  I can't believe I used to make that much noise...wait, that's not true.  I still make that much noise.  When I laugh.   

Attempting Family Pictures

It's been over 10 years since we've done family pictures! Several years ago, when all of Ben's family was in town, we took some pictures, but they were with the big group, and we didn't get a chance to take individual family pictures because Riley was sick and not happy.

It's hard to get three kids to look at the camera at the same time without making crazy faces or closing their eyes or putting their hands near their face!

Since the weather was so nice on Saturday I figured I had better take advantage of it and get out and get some photos. My niece, Kira, took all of these pictures and I took them home and did some editing. Be advised, I'm still learning.

I really like this picture by the big tree. I love Melanie's smirk. I do not love

Riley's crazy face or Carter's attempt at pantomime. (Again, this is not

a hyperlink! I must be pressing some button that is a shortcut. Hopefully

I can either figure out what I'm doing or how to undo what I did!)

This one is definitely in my choices for our family picture. Although Riley isn't smiling, he's not

making too crazy of a face either. Carter is smiling so cute, but he's not looking at the camera.

I love the black-and-white. And I love Riley grabbing his shoe. Just a smidge of personality coming through. There is light on Ben's face and Riley's face, but I think I could look past that.

Here's another one where I'd like to mash Carter! It's so cute...except who knows

what caught Carter's attention?! It's kind of creepy, because I usually can't see

how much Melanie looks like me. But in this picture I really can. Poor kid.

This one isn't my favorite because of the lighting, but most of us are making nice faces. And

everyone is looking at the same spot...mostly.

This one turned out really cute. They really are sneaky sometimes so I thought it was fitting. Especially Riley. His game every morning is to wake up and not make any noise. Then he tries to sneak up on me like a ninja. It's great. I'd like this one on the wall as a 5x7.

I really like this one as well. I wish the kids were more in focus and my hair didn't look so stringy. But I think the reflection in the granite it cool.

Love this one. It will definitely go up on the wall as a 5x7.

This one we're all looking at the camera and smiling...or at least making appropriate faces. Carter looks like he's holding something heavy. Hmmm...maybe it's his brick of a brother?

This was fun and I think it turned out cute. Of course, I wish

everyone was looking in the same direction. I wanted to post one where we

are all turned around, but no way am I posting it. My rear end next to Melanie's tiny one?

I. Don't. Think. So.

This is probably my favorite picture. I love the light and the colors. I love the berries on the vines. I love how my hair looks. I love Riley's face and Carter's giggle and Melanie's "get-over-it" face.

There you go. Please help me out and tell me which one you would choose for a family picture!

Random Fun With My Camera

I've been playing around with my camera again. It's fun to see what it can do, even though I'm still learning and I know I'm still not even remotely close to using all the tools. But I'm learning, and that's important, right?

I loved the way this leaf was lit up by the sun. It was like

the leaf was a little touch of gold.

I really hate being in pictures, and my face proves it in this

one. I much prefer sticking out my tongue to smiling.

Looks like someone else does as well.

It's been fun to try and bring one thing into focus while

the rest of the background is blurred. I'm still learning

how to best accomplish this. I love seeing the color

yellow so vibrant in nature.

This is Jasper, a.k.a. "The Moose." I used the green intensifier

and I love how it made his eyes and the grass stand out.

Melanie was the one who actually took this picture, and she took

it through the screen on my parents' window, which I thought

was a neat effect.

This is my "button." Actually, she's my niece, but I call

her my button. She's small and round, so button makes sense.

I adore her because she's, well, adorable. I meant to crop this one

as I don't really want Ben's ear in the photo (no offense to Ben's ear).

I think Melanie also took this one.

I really love this photo. My kids actually get along this well

most of the time, so it seemed natural to put them all on

the bench. I then used a light sepia and softened the picture.

This picture is so my daughter. I've seen that sassy eyebrow

on many occasions. I love her spunky side, especially when

she and I gang up on Ben and drive him crazy! (I don't know why

in the world this one is underlined, but I could not get it to go away!

This is not a hyperlink!)

I love this picture! It helps that Melanie is photogenic

and not camera shy. I just lightly softened this picture.

So there you have it. Random fun with my camera. I hope you enjoyed!

A Short Update on My Busy Life

I really hate that I haven't been posting on my blog like I used to. I don't know why I haven't. My first guess would be that I've been too busy, but I don't really think that's it. Sometimes I think it's because I don't think I have anything exciting or meaningful to share. But I don't think that's it either because I love reading friends' blogs who simply update what their lives are like.

In an effort to combat this lack-of-postingness, I am posting. Clever, huh?

Admittedly, life has been really busy. I started school again this semester, which I really love. I'm taking four classes: Educational Decision Making, Principles of Learning & Teaching, Trigonometry, and Math for Elementary Education Teachers I.

The Educational Decision Making class is interesting. There are four professors teaching the class and each one teaches a different section/aspect of teaching. The first section was not my favorite. The teacher was nice, but did too much lecturing on what he did with technology, and not enough showing us options for what we could do. However, the second section started this past week and the teacher's style is much more dynamic. It's a good change. And this professor is teaching about what we teach, how we teach, etc., rather than teaching us different technology things. I know I need to embrace the technology that's out there, but I'm going to stomp my foot and say, "I don't want to!" for just a little bit longer.

The Principles of Learning & Teaching is super easy. It's also superfluous. The professor is really nice, but I do feel that most of it is a waste of time. Not that what we're learning in there isn't important, but more that it will be learned through other classes as well.

I never took Trig in high school, so this is all new for me. The professor is a total nut. She tells crazy stories, makes us stand up and move around if we're not responding to her as much as she'd like, and is generally sarcastic. She's also crazy strict on test day. As in taking a student's test away because they had out their cell phone. It was kind of scary. I haven't witnessed that kind of stuff since high school.

My last class is Math for Elementary Ed Teachers. I'm really enjoying it, although it is a bit of a challenge. Mostly because I've been used to doing math one way for so long, that to practice thinking in other ways is difficult. I suppose that's how the students feel when they're first learning. Knowing that I know a little bit how they feel is comforting. The professor is very good. She's open to all kinds of questions and exploring ideas. She also likes for us to teach each other.

All in all, life is busy but good. Now, if I could just kick this cold and get rid of my stiff neck I'd be ready for my all-day practicum at CVMS tomorrow!

Fighting the Last Days of Summer Boredom

Summer is winding down and school is just around the corner. Do you know what that means? Very. Bored. Children. Riley was especially bored today because Carter was at a friend's house and Melanie was babysitting, so Riley was stuck with Mom and Dad.

I've been wanting to get to know my camera a little better, so I bribed Riley with Tootsie Rolls to let me take his picture.

I love these photos, especially where he starts to get a little bored with me and he hides behind the Zelda strategy guide. He's always been so expressive with his face and emotions, and I love how he's still that way. He really is a funny kid.

Riley quickly tired of taking photos inside, and since I'd promised him a ride in the car we headed over to SUU. They have such pretty leaves and tress and a nice area with rocks and a couple of little waterfalls.

I love this picture. It really shows his sweet side.

Riley doesn't like to be called nicknames, with the exception of "cool." Couldn't tell that by this photo, could you?

I had fun messing around with the B&W setting on my camera. I loved his expression here. I'm pretty sure he was dropping rocks or leaves or something in the water.

Same picture, but in color this time. I like both.

These last two are my favorites!

p.s. This was an impromptu photo shoot. His hair wasn't combed, his shirt has paint stains from preschool on it, and those white socks stick out like a sore thumb. But we had fun, and he brought home two handfuls of pine needles - one for himself and one for Carter.

p.p.s. Sorry if the formatting is weird with the small photos.

Update #1: Concerts

Disclaimer: I am a novice photographer. Keep in mind the word "photographer" is used very loosely when it comes to my picture-taking skills.

Last week was a whirlwind of a week. Monday: FHE; Tuesday: Melanie's Orchestra Concert; Wednesday: Melanie's Band Concert; Thursday: Melanie's Jazz Band Concert; Friday: Arts Night at Carter's school; Saturday: Scout Expo; Sunday: Ward Council, Church, Choir Practice, Home Teaching with Ben. Needless to say when I finally climbed into bed on Sunday night I was exhausted.

You get to enjoy my sad attempts at taking pictures. I apologize in advance.

This is Melanie with her amazing friend, Lindsey (Melanie is on the right). They're both in percussion together, and both are two of the four 7th graders who were chosen to play with the orchestra this year. They're really good little percussionists. They just need a little more confidence. Especially my Melanie. She's had fun playing with the orchestra and hearing the difference between an orchestral setting and a band setting, instruments as well as students and the director.

Here is Melanie playing with the band. She's sporting her very serious face. I'm usually terrible and stick out my tongue at her or do something else to make her smile and relax a bit, but I couldn't stick out my tongue because my camera was in the way. There is a myriad of percussion instruments to play, but this year she played a lot of bells and marimba and vibraphone and occasionally she played the snare drum. She really enjoyed band and the band director this year.

She's playing the bass with the jazz band right here, and by "bass" I mean setting the keyboard to sound like a bass. She's got this crazy drive to learn how to play the bass now, which would be awesome, but she's still working on her drumming and just started piano lessons, so the bass playing will have to wait. There are just a handful of percussionists in jazz band, and the students rotate between bass, piano (those who can play), and drumset.

Melanie has really had to come out of her shell to play well on drumset. It's been so rewarding and fun to see her talents develop. She has a lot of musical talent, and I'm so glad she's thankful for that blessing in her life.

Carter's elementary school has a school fundraiser at the end of each year. Each grade performs a couple of stereotypical cute songs. I can't remember what Carter's class sang because I was so enthralled watching him interact with his really good friend (good friend is wearing the glasses, and Carter is on the right of him). They were absolute GOOFBALLS singing with their class, but really cute at the same time. They're like two peas in a pod, those boys. Scary. ;)

There are more pictures and more stories about the rest of the week, but I didn't want to cram it all into one post. So you'll just have to settle down and be patient for the rest of the updates!