Fall Favorites

With my limited computer time and so much to do, I sometimes don't get to process batches of pictures until much after the fact, particularly if they're not pics of people! So here's some shots I enjoy from last Autumn.
I Love Autumn. :)
I love this gnarled old tree:
Here's a "spooky" tree. It reminds me of Sleepy Hollow:I love how the outline of these trees is somehow so fiery:

March, oh March

I used to like March. My Birthday month and all. Now that I have a toddler I rather think otherwise. Avery can be so delightful and then turn so wickedly awful right now. I think it has a lot to do with cabin fever; by March we're just all so sick of winter and the decreased accessibility of the outdoors that attitudes get a little manic. And doesn't his attitude just make my own sense of cabin fever even worse... Argh. I try and play with him a lot more which does help, but in the end there's just no substitute for getting out. These are definitely very difficult moments to be a Mom. *sigh* Spring, please come out and play...

Baby Blessings

Today was one of those wonderful days when a baby was blessed. Our friends beautiful new girl, Kieley, received hers today and although she didn't think it was so great to begin with, it was a really beautiful blessing. I hope someone was able to write down the points (holding onto Avery and Carson while Travis was up there makes that a little difficult) because I know how nice it's been to have that written for each of my boys. Blessing are definitely a beautiful time to reflect on the miracle of creation, the responsibilities involved and the silent prayer for yourself that you can do justice by your beautiful, innocent child. Thanks for letting us be a part today, Kieley! :)

Rounds Presentation

Once a semester Travis has to do a presentation for his rounds group at dental school. They can throw in pictures of family or whatever in with their presentations. This time Travis is going to include a dental related clip from a Simpson's episode (if any of you are Simpson watchers, it's the one with the Big Book of British Smiles) and some pictures from his crew days; I thought I'd share here likewise. Travis was on the rowing team at Oregon State and these are pictures from the Spring of 2002. I might point out how very average Travis' 6'5" height is amongst this crowd! Travis also pointed out that in the picture with the boat you can see it's a 2 lane race, yet the other boat is quite absent. Another shot later shows OSU with a handy lead :) Travis' oar is the second one back on the left side of the pic.

Valentine Cards

I new I would be a bad blogger, but oh well, I'm trying.

Here's the boys' Valentine's cards quite after the fact. Gotta love the laziness of only making one template and using it for both. :)

Carson's First Steps

In the week or two prior to this, Carson would attempt 1 or 2 steps, but nothing spectacular. Tonight we decided to bribe him (that's right, pop cans, just like we used on Avery!) Here's some video of Carson's success:

Happy Valentine's!

Hope everyone had a happy Valentine's Day! Unfortunately I neglected to take pictures before a few roses in the bouquet started wilting, but happily most still looked good and afforded some nice close-ups. :)

Our Christmas Card

Family pictures are a nightmare, as I'm sure many would agree, so for the last 3 years I've waited until we got to my parents house in the week before Christmas and forced my family to let my Mom attempt to take a few pics (a lot, actually, to try and manage a decent one - and for the last 2 years I've had to photoshop a better Avery head into each anyway!). Then I throw together a card last minute before Christmas and email it out. I don't get a letter together, or take care of this ahead of time so I could actually mail the cards, but I tell you it just gives me nightmares thinking about getting the family to take pictures. I think the only pictures we have of our family posed together are the ones that get forced at Christmas and the one for the annual Parkway Ward picture directory. Very pathetic... and rather sad really... Anyway, here's this years:

New Wall Hangings

Well, soon I hope. I've got to get a mix up in picture frames fixed, but the pictures are ready to go in. I'll have two frames which each hold 4 pictures - one frame for each kid. Here are the shots I'm going to use:
Avery's:



Carson's:

Here we are

Well, I guess this will be the new family blog. Let's see if I can give this any little attention before sharing it.

Blogging...

Ugh. Blogging. So Travis kept saying "Wait, we can host our own now with Windows Home Server!" Great, big deal. When's he gonna set that up? Do I really want to give up my 1-2 hours (maybe) of free time a day to figure that out on my own? Obviously not. So, what am I going to do with this blog? Just start making it a family blog and later have to switch? Maybe actually do the digi scrapping thing with it (probably not - that's not really my favorite, I much prefer to just Photoshop pictures)...
So, I suppose if you (friends and family) stumble upon this, it's probably not going to become the family blog. I think. :)
I guess if I'm already sharing pictures thru Win. Home Server, I may as well do the rest of it.
Congrats, or I'm sorry, to those who actually made it thru that little ramble.

Shooting

Dec 29th we went shooting with the family. Ben, Travis and Kevin each got an AK-47 for Christmas and of course they wanted to try them out.
Travis with his new AK the day before when we scouted out a good spot for everyone.




This was also Avery's first time to shoot


Once Avery had the experience, all he really wanted to do was go sledding, but the place didn't work out to be any good for that. Plus, the snow was pretty slushy and getting more so as it rained, or rather misted, on us. It was really hard to keep my lens clean and fog free!


We did have a hot lunch though!


Someone thinks they're cool.


Since DeAnna has bad reactions to the cold, she mostly stayed in the truck with Carson and occasionally Avery. I jumped in for a bit so she could have a turn to shoot.






Avery liked shooting:

Avery On His First Shooting Trip from Laurie H on Vimeo.

The shooting finale!

Shooting Finale from Laurie H on Vimeo.

While I was up on the hill videoing the finale, I also saw some sort of plant peeking out of the snow and had to photograph it.

2 Years Later

It's been two years since we last made it to Ohio to visit my uncle, aunt and family, so we went again for Thanksgiving this year. At an adorable eight months (okay, he's a few days shy of that), Carson was a big hit during his first visit with the Cabe's

MaKenna and Sarah "fight" over Carson

Avery loves their spa tub!

Ivy was actually afraid of Carson!

Avery had way too much fun with Julia

Darla and Carson

I think it's funny to find Carson is wearing the same
clothes as Avery was in our last Thanksgiving in Ohio.

Ivy, Cameron, Jenna, Carson, Sarah, Julia, Del, MaKenna, Avery

Jenna, Carson and Sarah

Our last pictures on our last morning got a little silly

Thank you Cabe's for another great visit!

Desitin

Say it with me now: UGH!




Some also got on the carpet and it does not come out!

Reading

Quick comment on book club.

So Twilight was great - I'm a total addict now. I'm definitely looking forward to book 4 next fall.

Eats, Shoots and Leaves is a great book. I couldn't agree with the author more; although I don't know what we'll talk about at book club... It really doesn't seem like much of a conversation carrier.