I am Me (everyone else is taken): January 2012

Monday, January 23, 2012

bark bark bark bark bark

Meet Kodak Jepperson...

the eight week old Labradoodle who is the newest member of our family.

We are all so THRILLED to have her in our home!

...well, MOST of us are thrilled...

(That's Koconut's favorite feather by the way)

Let's hope these two learn to get along. Lately they've been fighting like...well...cats and dogs!

(The girls in the chicken coop aren't too sure about her either)

(The fish actually seem to like her better than they like the cat :)

(Yes, we live in a zoo...)

It's not easy photographing a slobbery, clumsy animal

who wants to snuggle whenever you get on the floor!!

But the good news is that she tires out easily.

...It's probably because she wakes up at 5:30am...

Don't you just love her!?

Wednesday, January 18, 2012

Project 52: Week 1

I'm starting up late on this, but I want to try taking at least one photo a week this year, trying out some kind of a new technique or set up. (Or maybe I'll just take a shot of something fun.) Here's one I took of Kaden this week. (But don't tell Kenyon...because that's Kenyon's guitar :)

This is a lighting technique I've been studying called "Rembrandt lighting," where one side of the subject is in shadow. Very moody and thoughtful.

And here's a set up the kids wanted to try tonight...making the studio look like a bed. They were having too much fun. I'll miss this some day...

(Note to self: use a bigger backdrop)

Having fun can be so exhausting.

Monday, January 9, 2012

Best Face of 2011 Photo

I am entering this photo in the Iheartfaces weekly photo challenge: Best Face of 2011."

It's one of my favorite pictures from this last year. Love this little cutie!

Sunday, January 1, 2012

Our December...

Kaden completely blew me away at his Christmas violin concert.

When the orchestra started playing, I expected a horrible screeching noise to issue forth.

Isn't that what 6th grade orchestras sound like? Nope. The sound was absolutely beautiful.

I cried through the whole concert. I'm so proud of Kaden for learning to play the violin.

I think it's pretty cool.

***

Kenyon, #24, has been a force on the Springville Jr High team.

We've had so much fun watching him, even if the team has yet to attain their first victory...

I'm the mom...win or lose, I love watching them play.

Only 12 guys made the team this year. Kenyon tried out with confidence and made it.

We were all so excited for him.

Go Springville Red Devils!

Kenyon's adoring fans (Thank you Larissa, Davis, Mom, Dad, Lance, and everyone who

travels the distance to watch Kenyon play.) You sure make great athletic supporters...er...

***

We took our annual overnight trip to Salt Lake to eat at the Lion House, (the long line is worth it to us - sorry Camie and Jeff!) see the beautiful lights at Temple Square, stay overnight at the Marriott, and ice skate at the Gallivan Center. Fun times.

***

Now that it's time to put it all away, I thought I'd post some pics of how it all looked this Christmas.

At the rate I'm going, it may not get put away until Valentines Day, so let's keep the sparkle going, what do you say!?

***

We had a yummy Christmas Eve dinner, followed by scripture reading

and a (very) late night showing of the latest Harry Potter movie.

Sometimes when I read blogs of other people, I feel like maybe we're missing something.

Everyone's families seem perfect yet at our house, there is still a whole lot of sibling rivalry going on. But Christmas Eve is my favorite night of the whole year.

I think it's pretty much as close to perfect as our family ever gets.

***

And then there are the wonderful early morning hours of Christmas...the magical moment when everything that was supposed to get done has somehow gotten done.

The house is lit, clean, wrapped, and silent...