Christmas Card Pictures

Sunday we scheduled a day with all of our kids to take our Christmas card pictures (they even brought their girlfriends and boyfriend for a couple of pictures).

The little guys making fun of the couples

This is quite a task, having teenagers means BUSY schedules. We had my two sister-in-laws and their kids meet us down at the beach and we took some pictures of their kids too. As you can see...LOTS of boys!

(The boys & the cousins)

It was very hectic, not to mention crowded with other people coming up with the same idea. This meant trying to find a spot that random people wouldn't be in the background, roaming around. Between finding the perfect area and avoiding the direct sunlight of the day (1:00 p.m.), there was a lot of shadows that I've been trying to correct with Photoshop. I don't know what I'm doing yet, so I'm trying to wing it! I hate reading directions, but I think I'm going to have to break down and do it.

Me & My Honey

My boys

My second group of amazing kids

We also decided to bring our husky, Allie. I left her treats in the car so of course she wouldn't listen. During the family picture we were all trying to hold her and make her look towards the camera, while we tried to pose and smile. We came up with only 1 picture that everyone looks somewhat normal, even though Elijah is choking the dog. Let's just say it was comedy...(picture the Brady Bunch vacation episode!) Never a dull moment in our family.

(Our family-Anthony punching, the boys struggling with Allie-Tasha was ready...LOL!)

After we finished, Allie decided to go chase after and stalk a little poodle. Dillon went to try to get her away, she slipped out of her collar, while my husband ran over to help. They were running around yelling at the dog and Allie took off straight towards a family and pooped right next to the mom's chair. Then I had to listen to everyone saying, "Why did we have to bring her!"

You would think since the kids are older it would be easier to get them to pose. Nope...now they think they are so funny, making faces, wrestling, pushing and shoving. I would say, "1,2,3!" Right when I was ready to snap...I would get some crazy pose...I yigh yigh!!" I screamed, "KNOCK IT OFF! I have a lot of pictures to take and I don't want to be here all day!" They just laughed at me and wondered off to explore on the rocks...getting in the background as I was taking my sister-in-laws pictures. I think people just stood there staring at us thinking, "They're all crazy." It's like a three ring circus when we all get together!

1...2...3....WHAT?!


1...2...3...tough guys

1...2...3...Real cute guys!

1...2...3...EWE STOP IT...not you too...LOL!

Finally...the one and only decent family shot...

I guess I would have to say...Christmas card pictures=lots of drama!

Giving Away Photoshop Elements! FREE!

I thought everyone should know about the free giveaway over at my favorite blog site The Secret is in the Sauce. I have been taking pictures for a while now and trying to adjust the color with my I-Photo computer program (haven't been able to afford Photoshop). I clicked on to check into my fav site...and they are giving away the new Photoshop Elements! Yes...FREE! FREE! FREE! No strings attached, just visit the link above and you could be the lucky winner (sorry but I'm rooting for me.)

My mind has been racing at all of the things that I could do with this. I have a bunch of raw unretouched pics just waiting to be fixed!! Oh, not to mention all the pics I take for the church. I wouldn't have to doubt my ability if I had this. I could fix any flaws...OH MY DREAM...to be flawless.

So hurry over and leave a comment.....

Taking The Step

I finally decided on Sunday to take my first little baby steps, took a few deep breathes, put the pen to the paper, stopped, thought about it again, then I did it! After I wrote it down I turned to my husband and held it up for him to read. He smiled, held his hand up to give me a high five, luckily they were singing so it didn't look too weird. I was still a little leery about what I had just done...but his reaction made me feel better.

It all started after I went to an art showing for one of the investors at my work. He is also friends with the owner's so he comes in quite a bit. He has been doing photography for a while (he is retired, has tons of money and time.) Every time he comes in I pick his brain...I don't have the money or time to take a class so I just bug anybody who has any knowledge!LOL!

He had his photography pictures on display at an art show and me and my boss Marsha went to check it out. It was amazing the way he "painted" the pictures to look like a real painting. I just walked around and got tons of ideas. We talked to him and he said most of the pictures that everyone liked were the one's that he just "winged" it. He said he had no idea what he was doing...he just did it! This really inspired me...I never have any idea what I'm doing either!LOL!

Every Sunday in the announcements they keep asking for photographers, and videographers to volunteer because they need help. Every week I think, "I could do that, I have a pretty good eye, a good camera and I love doing it." Then that old familiar voice, "What are you talking about? You don't know what you're doing...you never took any classes...you'll mess up on something really important and look like an idiot...you can't do that!" That is basically the conversation that goes on in my head, not only in regards to photography, but writing too. The end result is always the same...I do NOTHING!

After the art showing and reading that Ansel Adams never took a photography class...I was truly inspired...I did it!! I wrote my name on that card and put, "I am interested in volunteering as a photographer." Then after church as we were leaving, the Pastor stopped to talk to us and I told him, "If you still need help with photographer's, I can do it." Then I began to explain that I didn't have any training...blah blah blah...went through the whole knocking myself down thing! Why do I do that?! Well we'll see if they actually call, the important thing was I took the first steps to pursue an interest. Next I'll just have to retrain my mouth to stop blabbing about how inadequate and untrained I am!

But back to the positive...I TOOK THE STEP!!WooHoo!!

Senior Pictures...WHAT?

Where have the years gone? I can't believe I had to take Jullien for his Senior pictures today!! It was just yesterday when he was crawling after me, screaming outside the bathroom door because I was out of his sight. My sister would say, "How can you stand it?" He wont let you even go to the bathroom!" But...I loved the feeling of being loved so completely and unconditionally. He was always a clinger and even now that he is older, I love the fact that he likes to hang out here with his girlfriend. Never having girls made me wonder if someday I would be all alone in my old age. Well...having a clinger as a son gives me hope!! He talks to me about his relationship, listens to my advice (doesn't always take it) and is always affectionate, giving me a hug goodbye, even if his friends are around.

Today he was all dressed up after his pictures, so I told him I want to take a few of my own, (that way I can send out invitations with some of mine and hopefully save on the portrait package, which costs a FORTUNE!!!) He wasn't too happy about it, complained and said how much I embarrass him, because I always want to take pictures. I just ignored him and made him pose. Okay, I had to bribe him with some ice cream, still works at 16 years old! LOL! I got some pretty good shots, just wish I could afford Photoshop to touch up a bit. I still think they came out okay though...what do you think? Don't worry, give me your honest opinion, you wont hurt my feelings, I take tons of pics so I can get better, any tips would be great.