Photos, photos and more photos

I visit a wonderful website/blog called "we picture this" Mamarazzi Site.  You can find the link on the side of my blog.  It's a great place to catch beautiful photos.  They pick a new theme each month and the contributors post photos that relate to that theme.

This month is "Eyes" and since I cannot yet contribute to the actual site, I'm able to post my interpretation of "eyes" on my blog. 

I took this photo of my dear daughter this summer as she was holding a caterpillar in her hand.  

The camera I shot this photo with is a basic Sony Cyber-Shot (nothing fancy).

I just love this photo b/c her eyes are so big and blue and honest.  She loves bugs and loved looking for caterpillars this summer.

Thanksgiving at Grandma & Grandpa's

 

So, I got a new camera this weekend and am so excited to play with it!  The first thing i noticed in the difference of my pictures was the color.  The colors seem so much richer!  I'm hoping to learn a lot from this camera and try to capture the best pictures i possibly can!  These are the first pictures I took on Saturday at my niece's Birthday party.  

It was amazing the difference a year makes.  K has been with us a little over a year and she has opened up to everyone!  As soon as we arrived at the party, she was off!  She let everyone and anyone hold her-so loving, so fun and not shy at all!  Very different a year ago when she wouldn't leave my side!

Aunt B & K

Cousins O & E (who turned 8!)

Cousin E was reading to K-it was sooo cute!

G w/ a blue frosting! Mmmmmmmm!

We kicked off the Christmas Season this weekend by watching "Charlie Browns Christmas" A favorite!  O drew the picture below after the movie was over. I thought the similarity was striking! :)  Notice Snoopy saying "woof!"

We took our annual Christmas photo today-took lots of shots w/ the new camera!  I will post the official Christmas card shot on Christmas Day, so as not to spoil to those receiving a card. :)  But, these below were a few fun shots as they started to get giddy.  The best feature on this camera is rapid shooting-so i can hold the button down and it shoots and shoots and shoots-never missing a good shot! 

I thought these two pictures were fun!

A Haircut and American Girl Doll!

Yes, she finally got her hair cut.  It turned out great and you can barely see the missing patch on the back of her head!  She's loving her new due too!  I have to say though, she looks so much older to me now.  She's no longer my little baby. :(

O was invited to a birthday party in the city yesterday.  We had so much fun!  We took the train down and went to lunch at the "American Girl Place."  I had never been to the "AGP" before and let me tell you . . . it was FUN! 

O doesn't have an AG doll . . . but after this trip, Santa may be bringing her one.

At lunch, you can bring your doll with you and they have little chairs they can sit in-very cute! Anyhow, since O didn't have her own doll (yet), she was able to borrow one-she picked the American Indian girl-very pretty!

The entire city is decorated for Christmas, so it was so much fun to be down there and see all the lights! Michigan Avenue was "lit up" the night before so it was a perfect time for the party.  We walked over to the John Hancock and took some great pictures in front of this massive Christmas tree.

Unfortunately my camera kept taking blurry shots (UGH!), so i apologize for the blurriness.   I'm hoping to get a new camera very soon! :)

My GREAT friend B who hosted the Birthday party!

The 3 girls were having so much fun walking down Michigan Avenue w/ all the pretty lights- i couldn't help but snap some more photos of them.

6th Birthday, Haircut, potty training and some silly dancing!

So, I think i can officially say K is potty trained.  Well, almost!  She's been doing beautifully-in fact yesterday she went to the potty all by herself without telling me!  We're still working on #2's, but she's getting there!  I think she could have been potty trained a long time ago, but mommy was just too lazy to do so.  It's hard to find the time to stay home and do it when you have 3 children with different schedules.  Luckily, she was pretty easy to train.  Way to go K!!!

I snapped these 2 photos the other day before going to church.  I thought they looked so cute matching together.

G and his best friend W.  I just love these guys-they are the best of buds!  They're even in the same class together at Preschool.  Many people say they look like brothers, i tend to agree.

O on her 6th Birthday! She was so excited to go to school that day and receive her free pencil from the Principal.  He announces everyone's names on the intercom in the morning announcements to wish them "Happy Birthday!" and then they get to walk to the Principals office and receive their very own pencil! :)

Yes, O wanted to celebrate her 6th Birthday at Chuck-E-Cheese's . . . not my FAVorite place, but the kids just had so much fun!  I can't believe my little girl is 6 already! Such the big girl!!!

This is what I saw when i walked into our kitchen the other day as I was saying goodbye to the babysitter.  Graham and Kaiya were busy playing barber!  At first i thought it was Willow (our dogs) hair . . . but as soon as I saw Kaiya . . . I knew I was wrong!  She has a nice bald spot on the back of her head! UGH!

When I told Graham he wasn't a barber, he replied, "But, I AM a Barber!"

So . . . she needs to get a haircut-now i know it'll take a lonnnngg time for the back of her hair to grow back-but i feel the rest is looking a little shaggy lately.  I'd like to eventually grow it long, but for right now it needs a cut! So, if anyone has any suggestions . . . love to hear from you! :)  

Here are a few videos of the kids goofing off after dinner.  They love to run around the kitchen island while i play fun music.  So, since i'm on a Katy Perry kick, we thought we'd jam a little to some Katy Perry!

The Last Days of Fall . . .

It has been an absolutely gorgeous fall w/ the warm temperatures and leaves slowly changing yellow, orange and red.  So, we raked a huge pile last week and had some fun! The kids loved being buried as you can tell by the pictures and video.

The Giggle Monster . . . 

The GREAT Pumpkin has arrived!

Willow & K

K just loves Willow as you can tell-she loves to give her hugs all the time.  Willow is THE Best dog ever! She's 6 years old and the biggest lover!  Bernese Mountain Dogs are very big, but as i always say-Gentle Giants!

We love you Willow!!!

My friend, Rachel from Dan & Rachel's Blog shared a GREAT idea on how to get rid of ALL that Halloween Candy.  Basically, we told the children that they could each pick out 5 pieces of candy to keep . . . and the rest would be set in a bowl and left on the front doorstep for . . . . the GREAT PUMPKIN!  The Great Pumpkin would take it with him and leave little presents for each child.

Well, let me tell you-it was a GREAT idea-thanks Rachel!  The kids were so excited for the Great Pumpkin to come.  The next morning, O was the first one up to see what the Pumpkin left her!  Now, Daddy and I have to toss it all away so i don't gain another 5 lbs! :)

Each little gift.

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

Happy Halloween!

Scary Uncle M w/ the kids on Halloween night.

Our little ladybug

This Halloween we've had 4 parties to attend.  School parties, playgroup parties, club parties . . .you name it!  So, we have a few pics from the parties.

G and his best friend W at their school party!

Back to Halloween night.

Our good friends daughter, L, walking w/ K door to door.  So sweet!

Our 3 trick-or-treaters!

A witch!

A Jedi!

And, a Ladybug who wants to be a witch! :)