Camera Hints

Learned something new today!

(thank you pinterest!)

I love taking pictures,

but obviously haven't learned alot.

And still own a camera that costs

an average price,

instead of putting up my first born child

to buy a really nice one.

Found a blog that told me how to

edit the skin color from yellow tones

to normal tones when taking

an indoor photo without

using editing tools afterwards.

below:

with no change in "white balance" on camera

or editing.

(no flash)

below:

with changing the "white balance"

on my camera before taking the picture,

no editing after.

(no flash)

Real skin tone color!!

I can't wait for better pictures.

Pet Commercial

Sydney is in the advanced learning group at school

called the GATE program.

This year they are doing a "Pet Parade".

That has so much involved that I 

wouldn't bore you with the details,

but she had to make a commercial

about the pet she chose.

So here it is.

Bedtime

Around 615pm Larry and I are usually

wearing thin on our patience

and high levels of noise. 

It's usually the time we send the older

kids to the shower and gather

the youngest for a group bath.

By 630pm we are wrestling Dan into his pj's

and then starting the process of reading

books to kids, brushing teeth and

singing songs to lull them off to dream land.

Keira is usually done with her process by 

7pm,

Ben by 730pm,

and then Sydney & Emma are sent upstairs

to go to bed by 8pm.

It was at this time in the evening last night 

Larry came up the stairs and found the toy room

looking like this.

Looks normal right?

Notice anything strange?

If you know our kids,

you know they would never, ever,

not have their special blankets with them

when they go to bed.

Maybe a closer shot.

I spy a little red riding hood.

Fast asleep.

Someones little piggies

didn't stay in their bed.

Daddy graciously carried

the sly fox back to their room.

And took a billion pictures

of sleeping Keira.

She's one cute curly haired monster!

HP Touch Screen Computer

Wanna chance to win a free HP touch screen computer?  I do!!

So click on the link, HERE, and leave a comment!

Autumn Time

What do you do after you've scrubbed 

the kids teeth clean

and soothed their hyper, sugar high,

nerves to bed?

Take down all the Halloween

decorations of course.

And then dream of all the crafts

you can make to decorate

for Thanksgiving! 

It always starts with something

cute on the front,

for me, at least.

So I came up with this

little ditty from

scraps around the house.

It took all day while 

entertaining 3 kids,

but it was worth it.

Knock Knock

Geared up and ready to go! 

We had wonderful weather this year.

A warm 78 degree day,

lead to a perfect evening with a slight

breeze.

A great combination so that we

weren't too cold and avoided

covering the costumes with coats.

Inspecting the goods.

Very very excited.

Love our little neighborhood

and all the wonderful people

who hand out treats

and decorate their homes.

Daniel was completely in his element.

He is the happiest roaming

the streets meeting neighbors.

Trick or Treating is

right up his alley.

Keira is in shock of all the

candy mom let her eat.

Emma's favorite candy.

But honestly,

she isn't very picky.

Loved meeting up with

the Brown's and the Goellner's

to terrorize the streets together.

Dan's first experience going

up to people and getting candy.

Hopefully next year,

he will actually say something.

But he loved the decorations.

HAPPY HALLOWEEN

Dress-up Time

The Fabulous Five

 Keira: Ballerina 

 I know I am cheesy but

I just had to make leg warmers

for her to wear.

We also have to thank Larry's coworker

who purchased the cute crowns.

She insisted that every girl needs one.

Keira wasn't so happy to sit still to pull

up her short curly hair into a bun,

but she decided it was worth the

wait so she could put on mom's

make-up!

Daniel:  Monkey

This costume just fits him.

As in, he is a monkey.

He acts like a monkey.

He loves bananas like a monkey.

And he even smells like one

sometimes, too!

Dan was so good about keeping

his hood on and holding on

to his plastic banana.

 Sydney:  Cat

But not just any old cat.

A cool cat.

One so cool,

she was inspired to walk

around the house singing

a blue-jazzy Elvis rendition of...

"I am a singing kitty witty,

meeeeoooowww."

Into her tail like a microphone.

It was hysterical.

She is getting too cool for most costumes

but was very happy with this

simple ears, nose/whiskers, tie

and tail.

All grown up!

 Emma:  Ballerina

This costume included Emma's

favorite things:

pink, skirt, crown and mom's make up.

She's not hard to please.

But you know it's the missing

front teeth

that are so darling.

Ballerina Twins

 Benjamin:  Optimus Prime

Transformer

This very very BOY

of ours was just happy

to have anything that involved

superhuman powers

and beating down the bad guys.

He really wanted to be a Power Ranger

but I am happy to say

we couldn't find that costume.

Ben in his fighting stance.

Halloween Preparations

Normally we would let each child

pick a pumpkin,

bring it home,

dig out the guts

and have them select

a scene to carve in it.

But have you ever done

that for 5 pumpkins? 

After some compromising

the kids agreed on these

2 designs and daddy

put his skills to good use.

And with the finishing touches

and a trial run,

our pumpkins are ready for

the grand reveal.

Now those are perfect!!

Who Me?

 Who empties my cupboards 10 times a day?

Who pulled my curtains off the wall?

Who pushed the baby gate down?

It's our own personal

"Little Terror".

Also known as...

Destruct-O-Dan

Dan The Destroyer

Demolition Dan

He takes his job very personally.

I wonder who taught him?

Maybe from his older brother

the "Big Terror"!

It's a good thing I like him A LOT.

Roof Repair

Keira proudly presents:

"Her Dad On A Roof"!!

Our very kind neighbor, Scott,

came over and helped Larry

fix some roofing tiles

that had flipped up

and torn.

Larry is not too keen about climbing up 

on to our 2nd story,

but Scott was there for moral support.

(hee, hee)

We are very lucky to have such great 

neighbors!

We would be lost with out them.

Peace out!