Our First Trip to Opryland

On Christmas Eve (yes Iʻm posting about Christmas again) we decided to drive into Nashville to check out Opryland at the Gaylord Hotel.  We had debated seeing one of the shows with all of the kids but they are sooooo expensive!  Instead, we walked the grounds to check out the beautiful lights, the huge nativity scene and all the decorations inside and around the hotel.  It was so beautiful - pictures just do not do it justice.  Inside there was a Christmas tree that stood at least 35 feet high!  Santa was there too!  The kids were a little worried that Santa was out taking pictures when he should have been preparing to fly the globe and deliver gifts.  (So perceptive) After our little tour we decided to take a horse drawn carriage ride with the kids.  It was just around the grounds of the hotel, but nothing screams Christmas and winter more than a quaint little carriage and horse!  All that was missing was snow!  The kids loved it.  Saige was especially enamored because the horsesʻ name was Cinderella!  Besides wanting to start some Christmas Eve family traditions we really wanted to make sure the kids were exhausted so they didnʻt stay up all night.  Scott and I are not the best at staying awake late.  Our plan worked perfectly and the kids were snug in their beds fast asleep by about 9:30pm!  We will definitely go back next year.

Christmas Snapshots and Mardi Gras

I know it is Valentines Day and I am about to post Christmas pictures.  If I actually posted something new and up to date youʻd all think Iʻm sitting around with nothing else to do.  I can post recent news and old photos canʻt I?  We leave in 3 days to head back home for Mardi Gras.  The kids and I are beyond excited. Weʻve been reading Mardi Gras stories and listening to Mardi Gras Music and decorating with Mardi Gras colors.  YaYa has a fun filled jam packed weekend for us downtown New Orleans, and then we have a few quiet rest days at Grandpas house before we make the drive back home.  You can expect lots of photos months after the actual event!  In the meantime, enjoy a few snapshots from Christmas...oh, and Happy Valentines Day.  Much Love....

Before and After Pictures Using Textures

I really have no idea what Iʻm doing in Photoshop, but since today it is below freezing I really donʻt feel much like leaving the house.  A perfect day to park myself in front of the computer and play.  The top picture is a BEFORE and the bottom picture is the AFTER.  I texturized the background and sharpened the eyes.

A Year of Learning and Growing

I am determined to learn Photoshop in the year 2012!  A daunting task if youʻve ever sat down and opened the program.  Incredibly complex and yet so amazing.  While I am a huge believer that some photos are best "au natural", I also think that your photos can become unique pieces of art with a little post processing know how.  So here is my first practice run using some frames.  The vintage frames are made by Paint The Moon.  An incredibly talented and inspirational website for just about anyone who loves taking pictures.  These would be great for digital scrapbooking too!

Cows and Donkeys

Iʻve never owned a cow or donkey but somehow have become attached to this random field of cows with two donkeys.  I drive past this farm 4x a day during school drop off/pick ups and thus it has become a habit of mine to take an interest in this particular field of farm animals.  Does anyone know why donkeys are always paired with cows?  Iʻve often wondered.  Iʻve also always wondered whether donkeys actually lie down to sleep - I have only ever seen them sleeping whilst standing up!  That is until today - I saw the dark grey donkey lying down in the middle of a field all by itself.  It would have made for a funny picture.  This particular field of cows has one cute little baby cow - every morning the kids and I play this game...who can find the baby cow first?  Addley seems to think that this baby cow could come home with her and sleep in her bed.  Saige seems to think that donkeys drink orange juice and cows drink milk.  Dayton always spots the donkeys first.  Anyhow, I know nothing about these animals or their behaviors but somehow they have just become a part of my daily life here in Tennessee.  This whole post was inspired by this one single black cow today that was hiding behind a tree.  I say hiding because there were no other cows in the field with it and it was standing behind a tree with its head poking out.  Almost as if to say, no mister farmer, I do not wish to follow the herd.  I shall stand here all day today and enjoy the sunshine.

4 Year Old Friends

Sometimes (okay a lot of the time) I forget to post about the little things that I find amusing. Almost always it is something one of the kids has done or said and I think at the time, should be recorded so that one day they can look back and laugh. Eventually this blog will become a book and I will have it printed for each of the kids. Anyhow, Saige had her BFF come over on Saturday afternoon and before she arrived Saige sat down to draw her a picture. One day she will think this is as funny as I do. For those that can't decipher- From Saige To Julia 4 (she's four - hence the 4 hearts). The circles on the bottom left are chocolate chip cookies. I love the makeup. Eyeshadow, eyeliner, blush and lipstick.



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How Did I Forget Halloween?

When we left Hawaii I was torn as to whether I should pack my camera or have my camera packed.  Normally this would be a no brainer but seeing as we had 3 kids, 2 dogs, 2 kennels, 3 car seats and more than 10 suitcases, somehow there was just no way I could also manage a camera bag.  In retrospect I wish I had tried harder or grown an extra arm or something.  I have nothing documenting our trans-pacific move except one lengthy bill that is hard to look at and my semi functioning memory.  I managed to find my camera a few days before Halloween - we went to our first pick your own pumpkin patch (in Hawaii they pick the pumpkins for you and you walk through the patch and "choose" them).  Here you actually trudge threw a viney mess and have to dig for ones that are actually ripe (orange not green).  I was re-thinking those perfect looking ones up by the cash.  Needless to say, the kids found some they wanted and fun was had by all.  Costumes were exciting for us this year since the kids could finally wear something suited for the cold weather.  Saige was a ballerina (costume from her ballet recital), Dayton was a skeleton and Addley was a witch.  For the first time the kids got to "trick or treat" door to door!  We only went to about 10 houses because we all got a little cold!  The kids were more than satisfed - one neighbor actually handed out full sized chocolate bars!  In case you are wondering...yes I confiscated and consumed those.  For those of you that know me, my kids donʻt get much candy and I am sometimes referred to as the candy nazi, but they were more than satisfied with their loot.  End of ramble - my point is that somehow I forgot to take pictures of the kids in their costumes on Halloween.  Iʻll blame it on the fact that Halloween fell on a school night and with homework and dinner to squeeze in before dusk, I just plain ole forgot.  But here are some of our pictures from the pumpkin patch.  There are also a few snapshots of the kids playing out in the backyard.  Our new house came with a wooden playset - the kids have wanted one FOREVER and Hawaii living just couldnʻt accommodate.  They love playing on it, even in the 40 degree weather (which I am NOT a fan of).

More Road Trip Memories from Thanksgiving

We also had a chance to spend a little bit of time (though not as much as we would have liked) with YaYa, Sir, Auntie Jess Jess, Great Aunt Diane and even Great Grammie.  Sir got a new hip so our rowdy family had to let him get better.  Saige was a little bit upset with her beloved Sir because she couldnʻt sit with him but he still managed to aggravate her enough that now, over a month later, she is holding a grudge.  Any of you that know Saige, know that her favorite baby is "baby boy" and Sir decided to take baby boy and not give him back.  This resulted in tears.    Thatʻs okay though, she had plenty of fun with Auntie Jess Jess, as did Dayton and Addley.  In fact, Addley learned a new cheer and lately has been walking around singing it "rah rah rie, kick him in the knee".  They all got to spend an entire day together at the New Orleans Zoo on Black Friday so I had the whole day to shop!

Addley is quite fond of Great Grammie and likes to follow her around.  I think itʻs because she likes to give her the things she wants.  Iʻve decided that Addley has inherited Great Grammieʻs eyes.

I was hoping to get a picture of the kids with their beautiful Auntie Jess Jess but Addley was refusing to go near her.  I think Addley might have been scared of how tall Jess Jess was in her boots.  At least I managed to get a cute picture of the older two.  I wished she lived closer, sheʻs the best Aunt ever (you are too Aunt Sannie, but you live even further!)

Hereʻs YaYa, Dayton, Saige and new hip Sir starting to decorate the fabulous Novosel fiber optic tree!

Auntie Jess Jess and Saige making it look beautiful.  

Oh, and I did manage to get a picture of new hip Sir admiring his most fabulous tree.  Donʻt you think he should have decorated his walker?