Playing with my new camera

My new Nikon D5000.
I like it but - I have to learn how to use it. I was not pleased with how yellow my pics were turning out so I got out the instruction book. Man - those instruction manuals do teach you a lot....I guess I should read mine.
I think I fixed the yellow problem by adjusting the white balance. (I hope anyway.) I learned that I can shoot in black and white.

Mike and I got this X shot extention thing for the camera. It is to replace trying to get photos of yourself by stretching your arm out like Toby and Tammy always do. My arms aren't long enough... Anyway, it is made for lighter cameras so it doesn't work great with heavy SLRs.

But I cropped out Mike's hand....not too bad.

I'll have to learn more about the settings on my camera. The real motivation was I was coming up on the 90 day return limit from Costco and I have to decide - am I keeping this camera or cleaning my old one??

Megan's Hot Sauce

So typical of the crazy creativity that goes on in our house...

Megan put a little bit of every hot sauce in this one.

Only Mike was brave enough to try it.

Mike likes things hot and the kids are amazed. One Christmas - Tammy gave him "hot sauce from *^%&@" The kids got a kick out of that. Thanks Megan - but I think I'll save my "toung."

Happy Birthday Tammy!

It's been 9 years since Tammy's been home on her birthday. Ever since she went away to BYU - Idaho for college. We felt so lucky to be able to celebrate it with her on the actual day! She has changed a lot since those childhood days of birthday parties.

She said to me - "You did all the work Mom!"

(Spoken like a daughter with a 6 week old baby!!!) A yummy chocolate cake - we love this cake from Costco! We even put 27 candles on it.

"Dark the room and fire the cake!"

...the infamous statement from Tammy as a little girl - and we say it every birthday!

We made some homemade soft serve ice cream.

Dallas was interested.

"Hey what is that spinning in there?"

He liked the cake and ice cream!

The Walkers and Gradys came over for the celebration too.

Ryan - you are the best!

These boys are driving their mothers crazy. Sometimes we joke about switching for a few days because I love Ryan and can only see his good and Carol loves Andrew and has complete faith in him. So instead we cheer each other on in our "teenage son trials...."

We love these girls!

Chelsea had a "baby" for the weekend as part of her Child Development class.

We were asking her how it was to have to take it everywhere and listen to it cry.
She was only too happy to give it back on Monday morning.

Tammy doesn't have that option.....

Toby made Tammy this cute candy heart Vale-gram to tell her how much he loved her.

He got her 2 cards - one from the boys and one from him.

She has him well trained - Good Job Toby!
I'm always glad to hear one of the girls say "I am going to marry someone just like Toby!"

I love you Tammy - thanks for being such a great daughter, sister, mother and friend. You have brought so much happiness into our lives.

Happy Celebration of all things Tammy!

Katie - Disney Princess Stake Dance

What a cute idea for a stake dance. The theme was disney princesses. I guess the guys just had to figure out how to be a good prince charming and take their pick of all the many princesses that showed up. Katie had a great time getting ready with the girls. Julie came over in the morning to visit and hold Wesley, and Katie mentioned to her that she needed a princess dress. Julie had a perfect solution! She loaned Katie this fabulous and fun gown. Melissa did her hair and Tammy and Megan and I sat on the bed and watched. (Okay and we ate M&M's - tough job, but someone has to do it...)

I'm sure this was just a preview of all the dances and "getting ready sessions" that are surely coming our way with 3 teenage girls. It was a fun night for everyone. Not just Katie!

A Much Anticipated Visit!

Welcome Tammy, Toby, Dallas

and.......Wesley!

We have all been looking forward to the Thorntons coming to visit. The kids were so excited to meet little Wesley. The first morning, Megan and Melissa went downstairs and their was a baby for each of them to cuddle - in matching pajamas too.

Finally - there are enough babies to go around!

Well, kinda - Mom and Katie have to be patient so can you have 2 more pretty soon please???
Dallas loves to play cars - all day long! He loves Andrew's old matchbox car collection.

And the Barbie Van! Oh this is one cool vehicle. He loads the smaller cars in and pushed it around. "Mom - you've got to look for one in Boise okay?"

And Dallas loves fresh tomatoes! Pickiest of eaters but loves tomatoes!

Oh my sweet Wesley!

Love saying that from the "Princess Bride."

He'll probably hear it the rest of his life.....

This little boy looks just like his Mom!

I should have taken more pictures. Toby had a great time playing the Wii. Tammy got several naps. I had fun giving Wes his first bath and then bathing the boys together for the first time. Now I wish I had taken the time to grab a few more pictures!

Out of a Job

Having 4 girls, I have been "doing hair" for many years. But I am suddenly out of a job. All my girls are now totally independant in doing their hair. Complete with the ability to use flat irons and curing irons and blow dryers. Melissa has started curling her hair for school. Is she not cute???

I used a cool sketch function on my camera to do this. Fun...

Steeler Boys

Football!

Well, we are dressed up for the last game of the season.

Our boys won but now we are waiting for other teams to win or lose
so that we can go to the playoffs....

Bathtime for the Boys

Before I left for the airport to go home, we grabbed some bathtime photos. Tammy has her hands full! She will be a busy mom! But someday these little guys will be spashing in the tub together and they will be perfect playmates.