New Camera

Todd got "us" a new camera (Canon DSLR - EOS500 t1i) for Christmas and told me that I "need to figure it all out and use it." Okay! I even got "us" a cute bag. :)

It's going to take me a while to figure it all out though! There are so many functionalities for still shots and video. I've already downloaded some tutorial books, asked lots of questions to people who know, and started trying out different shots. Here are my first few shots:

Pippin looking pretty on her new doggie bed.

Stevie giving me sad eyes and wrinkle head.

Time for some morning dog wrestling and head-chewing!


New sign for the laundry room that Todd gave me for Christmas. The "Do It Yourself" part is my favorite. :)

I'll be firing up our photo blog after the new year begins, but you'll still see plenty of photos here too!

Christmas 2009

We had a wonderful Christmas this year, and I have many photos and memories to share. The first thing I would like to share is a video I compiled from Christmas Celebration #1. It's a classic view of my Dad in action!

Progress!

Our home renovations are still a work in progress. Weather in the Dallas area has been strange with temps during Thanksgiving week in the 70s to highs in the 40s the weeks after. Between freezing temps, and rain, the work isn't quite finished. While I want it to be DONE, I want it to be done RIGHT. As with all work, patience is a virtue. Overall, we are thrilled so far!

Work completed so far:

- all windows replaced

- new windows that I wanted replaced were installed (new ones were solid pane that didn't open, so I wanted ones that did open)

- new sliding glass door installed

- repair to sliding glass door (and now I want them to redo it again)

- paint around door frame

- all siding removed

- new siding installed

- all gutters removed

- old, rotting columns removed

- old, rotting columns put back since the wrong ones were delivered

- shutters painted (1st coat)

- siding, doors, and rest of house painted (1st coat)

Still to do:

- touch up work that I want done

- interior framing around new sliding glass door repaired/redone/touched up

- paint

- complete painting of siding, house, and doors (2nd coat)

- gutters installed

- columns replaced and painted

Here is a before and after shot of the front of the house so far. I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE my black shutters. If you've seen our house before, you may notice the landscaping beds that Todd set this summer. We also have a new storm door.

Before (taking on a misty, foggy morning):

After (forgive the sago palms covered in pillowcases!):


The painters began stripping and puttying the columns before they found out we are replacing them.

Also, you may or may not be able to tell that almost all of the leaves on the large maple tree behind the house are gone. Leaves are everywhere but on the tree!

And I leave you with a pic of the small sign I made that hangs by the front door. (Idea from Laurie!) :)

Black Friday

As you know, we've been doing (well, hired people to do) some home renovations lately. And yes, there are photos coming after the project is finished. With all of the racket that went on around here Thanksgiving week, there really wasn't much rest. One of my favorite pasttimes, sleeping in, was not to be found.

Enter Black Friday - the day after Thanksgiving Day here in the States. For those of you not in the US, Black Friday is the day when retailers across the country offer amazing deals on typically higher-dollar products in order to help the consumer get their books back in the black before year's end. I think it's probably a fabulous idea, but being that one of my favorite pasttimes is sleeping in, I have no desire to get up before dawn to join the bajillion people fighting for this year's latest product craze. Until this year . . .


Todd leaves at 4:30am with his circulars and list in hand, ready to get some of the great deals that Black Friday has to offer. Since I can't sleep, I head out just a little after 5:00am with no make up on and my hair barely pulled up in a ponytail. (For those of you who know me personally, you know I don't leave the house without makeup.) I leave in the dark before dawn with one stop in mind. Conn's Appliance & Electronics Center is the only place I want to go. As I pull into the parking lot, I notice a (thankfully) short line and figure out that they don't open until 6:00.

Being one to help our lagging economy (and being one who did not want to wait outside in the cold), I decide to head across the street to Wal-Mart. Lord have mercy, I have never seen such chaos in my life. TONS of shopping carts, people, TVs, skateboards, crock pots . . . you name it . . . they were all moving. And quickly. I walked around in amazement. This was my first Black Friday experience. And possibly my last. That was just crazy.

I leave and decide that waiting in line outside in the freezing cold was a much better idea. I head back across the street to Conn's and wait. And wait. In a light jacket. I'm cold. When the doors open at 6:00am, the smart people of Conn's decide that they'll only let small groups in at a time. I made it in safely with the third group because I attached myself to a group of youngsters and told them that I was with them if I got cut off at the line's end. Then I -- you guessed it -- waited in line some more. I finally sat down with a sales rep and he got me all hooked up. I completed the sale for my first - and possibly last - Black Friday experience. I present you . . . .



(Using my best Price is Right voice)


My NNNNNNEEWWWW LG Front-Loading High-Efficiency Washer and Dryer with Pedestals!!! Don't they look pretty in my lovely, recently redone Laundry Room?




Todd thinks they look HUGE - which I suppose they do. He said, "It looks like we have a time machine in there." Guess it'll take some getting used to, huh? I love them! I just wished I loved doing laundry, too. I will say that they do make the experience more enjoyable.


So, what about you? Did you score any Black Friday deals?

Thanksgiving

We had a great Thanksgiving at my mom's. There were about 15 (or so) of us and enough food to feed at least 30! I really need to get better at taking photos. I took three but only got one good shot the entire day. Now that I think of it, my brother took this pic after I asked. Does that count?

It's hard to tell here, but Aeva (6) and Will (2) were holding hands like sweet sister and brother. Aeva was taking Will around showing him all the desserts. After a couple bites of Aunt Kristin's (very first) chocolate bundt cake, his favorite new work became "chocky" for chocolate. He was so excited! Will also enjoyed Mimi's homemade whipped cream. And lots of it. :)

I swear that Aeva ate for at least three hours straight! She would eat a little of something and take a short break. A few minutes later, we'd hear, "I'm still hungry. I'd like some _____ now." She eats like a bird but for a really long time. She's such a sweet girl. As we sat down to dinner, Aeva let the group know that we needed to go around and say what we're thankful for. The hearts of children always show us the wonderful things in life.

There was the lingering thoughts of Mary in the back of all of our minds, but we all did really well and enjoyed ourselves because that is what Mary would want. I hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving and were able to find the wonderful things in life for which you can be thankful this year.