tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33971958151529133962024-03-12T20:59:45.492-07:00Parry Family ChroniclesCooking with Big Ehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07022582208907832592noreply@blogger.comBlogger510125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3397195815152913396.post-16156557800609314642012-09-06T10:33:00.000-07:002012-09-06T10:33:17.708-07:00I Heart Faces: Summer FunHere's my entry for the I Heart Faces "Summer Fun" Challenge this month. I figure nothing says summer fun like climbing trees!<br />
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For more Summer Fun images click on the link below:<br />
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<a href="http://www.iheartfaces.com/"><img alt="Photo Challenge Submission" src="http://www.iheartfaces.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/I-Heart-Faces-button.jpg" title="I Heart Faces Photo Challenge Submission" /></a>Cooking with Big Ehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07022582208907832592noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3397195815152913396.post-13944918970124627192012-06-23T14:26:00.000-07:002012-06-23T14:41:36.643-07:00Saying Goodbye to BooThis morning we made the difficult decision to put our cat Boo to sleep. It wasn't an easy decision, but it was the right one. I posted about Boo back in <a href="http://parryfamilychronicles.blogspot.com/2008/05/meet-parry-family-boo.html">2008</a> when I first started this blog but she totally deserves her own post today as well.<br />
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Boo found us in October 2002 just after our first wedding anniversary while we were still poor college students living in married student housing. Technically we weren't allowed to have pets other than fish, so we considered giving her the name Fish so we wouldn't be breaking the rules. After some more consideration we arrived on the name Boo due to the time of year and also because of her Halloween coloring. I didn't want a long haired cat but from the get go Boo had such a great personality that we just couldn't see not keeping her. Our parents weren't very impressed with the first photos we emailed them of her, she wasn't exactly a pretty cat in the beginning. We had to cut out a lot of burrs and mats in her long hair so she had large missing chunks of fur, was super scrawny, and then was shaved from her armpits down on her stomach when we had her fixed. Let's just say she got prettier :)<br />
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She's been a part of our lives for the past decade and has been a part of a lot of big events in our lives. I remember the morning of David's college undergrad graduation in December 2002 when we woke to the sound of her vomiting up worms which caused my sympathetic puker husband to sympathetically puke along with her. Thank God the vet was open that Saturday morning for an early morning call! I'm glad to say that after that incident she was done with worms, though she kept her big appetite. She moved with us from Idaho to Salem where she learned the joys of large second story apartment windows. A year after she adopted us we brought home our dog Zoe and she quickly showed the puppy who is boss. In fact Boo will show every animal alive who is boss and has reigned Queen Bee in our household for the past decade. She was there when we brought home Grace from the hospital and took to the baby quicker than poor Zoe. She's willing allowed our children to chew on her tail, sit on her, haul her around, and generally manhandle her for the past seven years without a single bite/scratch/hiss. For that reason alone she should be up for sainthood!<br />
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Boo loved popcorn and licking the insides of yogurt cups (or the kids' breakfast bowls if I didn't get them in the sink quick enough). Her favorite napping spots were behind the sliding glass door curtain, the dining room chairs next to the sliding glass door, my lap, and inside boxes/paper bags. She had the cutest paws with fur that stuck out between her toes and hated being in the car and other cats. She put up with Dexter when we brought him home a little over a year ago though she grumpily put him in his place and let him know where he fell in the animal hierarchy of our house. Most nights she would sleep near us in our bed, either on the windowsill above our bed or on my pillow. A couple of mornings I even found her snuggled under the covers with me. <br />
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Boo was a good cat and will be sorely missed. Grace especially was fond of her and took the news pretty hard when we told the kids last night that Boo was very sick and would most likely not be around much longer. I'm so thankful that David volunteered to take her in to the vet this morning because we both knew that she probably wouldn't be coming back and I don't think I would have handled it very well. Looking back through the photos of her this afternoon has been very therapeutic, and I'm glad I have so many. I'm not even sharing half of what I have, but I did realize I haven't taken many of her recently. Probably because she's been so tired and withdrawn the last few months. As it is this is the last photo I have of her and it was taken in January.<br />
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Just for fun David found some old photos from when we first got her in October 2002. Wow we all three looks so young! Boo was approximately one years old when we found her...we know she had kittens at least once.<br />
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And here are a few collages since I didn't want to bog down this post down too bad! I didn't bother to scan in the photos from when we first got her, so these are all taken from 2005 and after.<br />
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<br />Cooking with Big Ehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07022582208907832592noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3397195815152913396.post-47826584488326999712012-03-03T15:46:00.000-08:002012-03-03T15:46:34.798-08:00David and Kellie's London AdventureDavid had the unfortunate assignment to travel to London for the week for work and we took the opportunity to extend the work trip a bit for a personal holiday. We decided to arrive early and enjoy ourselves for a few days before David got sucked into the work week. My mom was able to secure some days off from work which took care of the kids and so away we went!<br />
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We left the kids with my mom Wednesday evening and flew out from Portland at 8am Thursday morning. We had a short layover in Chicago before taking the 8 hour "overnight" flight arriving in London at 5:30am local time. London is 8 hours ahead of us so it's not too surprising that neither of were able to sleep on the flight since we arrived at 10:30pm our time! After sleepily purchasing week long Tube passes we figured out how to get to the stop nearest our hotel. Three stops and an hour later we arrived at our hotel, tired but determined not to nap and waste our valuable London time. Instead of sleeping we took a shower, changed clothes, and found Starbucks for some coffee and a quick breakfast.<br />
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Our first stop was to Shakespeare's Globe Theater which was one of the highlights of the trip. For those who don't know, we attend the Oregon Shakespeare Festival every year (11 years running!) and enjoy theater. While it was disappointing that photography inside the theater was not allowed it was because we had the privilege to observe a rehearsal of Midsummer's Night Dream which was a more than acceptable substitute. We watched a scene from the lower seating level and again from the upper level. It was surprising how close to the stage the seating was, and I can't imagine standing through one of Shakespeare's long historical dramas. <br />
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After Shakespeare's Globe Theater (and the lengthy walking tour we took to find it!) we had lunch and hit up The Tower of London which was at the top of my list of Must See places. The Tower didn't disappoint. We arrived just in time for a Yeoman tour which I highly entertain. Our Yeoman guide was quite the comedian and had a lot of great information. We spent quite a bit of time touring several of the towers (there are quite a few!) and of course we saw the Crown Jewels. Pretty amazing to see jewels that large and sparkly, but the ginormous gold punch bowl took the cake. The royal armor collection is pretty cool as was the graffiti on the stone walls left by prisoners. Graffiti certainly has changed in the past few hundred years, I haven't seen any modern graffiti quite so neatly inscribed.<br />
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We both fell asleep as soon as our heads hit the pillow before 8pm. Staying up for over 24 hours will do that to a person. Saturday we were better rested and we set out to visit Westminster Abbey, Parliament, and the Churchill War Rooms. Westminster Abbey was pretty awesome, the architecture of the cathedral is beautiful but it's the sense of history that is most striking. Everywhere you step, turn, or look there's a monument or grave marker. I still can't get over the fact that I stepped on King George II's grave. Heady stuff. We were able to sign up for a tour of Parliament which was really interesting. The tour lasted about an hour at took us through Westminster Hall as well as the Commons and Lords Chambers. The Churchill War Rooms was also really interesting. I didn't know a lot about Churchill but the exhibit and museum was very informational. There was a museum dedicated to Churchill the man in addition to the tour through the war rooms. The map room had been perfectly preserved as they had simply turned the lights off and closed the door at the end of the war and the room was left undisturbed for decades. You could see the millions of pin hole dots in the maps marking troop movements over the course of the war.<br />
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Sunday we hit up the British Museum and National Gallery. The British Museum has an overwhelming amount of historical objects on display. Of course we saw the Rosetta Stone right off the bat and toured the incredible Ancient Egyptian, Greek, and Roman sculptures. There were thousands of pieces of pottery, jewelry, coins, and more ancient objects than you can shake a stick at. Remember the long lines of people at OMSI's mummy exhibit last year? Well I saw more mummies than I can count including a few mummified cats in about 10 minutes. Pretty incredible.<br />
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The National Gallery is home to several pieces of art that I was very excited to see. I've taken enough History of Art classes and studied artwork in college to be pretty excited to see some of those paintings in person. I am partial to the Monets and was stoked to find Van Eyck's Marriage of Arnolfini just before the museum closed. It was also pretty humbling to see a few Van Gogh's that are pretty well known. David was much more excited about the Rembrandts and Dutch painters but to each their own.<br />
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Monday morning I made my way to see Buckingham Palace and the London Museum while David was working and got a pretty comprehensive education of the town from pre-historic times to modern day. The information on Roman London and the Great Fire of London were both pretty interesting. There were several school tours at the museum that day and I kept getting caught up in groups of exuberant elementary school students. I met up with David and his work colleagues in the afternoon and we toured the Victoria and Albert Museum until they kicked us out to close. The V&A museum holds tons of historical treasures like gorgeous textiles from the Middle East and one of Mick Jagger's velvet jumpers.<br />
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I took off for home Tuesday morning after breakfast and traveled 22 hours and spent time in 3 different time zones to get from the hotel home. In those 22 hours I took the Tube, airplane, a shuttle, and finally drove home via Sherwood to switch vehicles and pick up my kids. I left London at 12:05pm local time and reached home a little after 10pm our time. The jet lag is definitely harder going to London then coming home, but the long trip is definitely worth it. We had a great time!<br />
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And now for some pictures...<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-1wWel2sJKPg/T1KsDRDnRfI/AAAAAAAABXM/8_CQ7zo1z8s/s1600/bigben.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-1wWel2sJKPg/T1KsDRDnRfI/AAAAAAAABXM/8_CQ7zo1z8s/s640/bigben.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Big Ben and Parliament </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WMMc5W-fejA/T1KsD4cC3zI/AAAAAAAABXU/bVKm1kU3IWk/s1600/buckinghampalace.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WMMc5W-fejA/T1KsD4cC3zI/AAAAAAAABXU/bVKm1kU3IWk/s640/buckinghampalace.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Buckingham Palace</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-NpcHCvCket8/T1KsEBspnyI/AAAAAAAABXc/KfTCwplDzG8/s1600/davidlondon.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-NpcHCvCket8/T1KsEBspnyI/AAAAAAAABXc/KfTCwplDzG8/s640/davidlondon.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> David in front of Westminster Abbey</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-zLMSu8PQYLg/T1KsEkVagWI/AAAAAAAABXk/2xJ1gc7nqzI/s1600/doubledeckerbus.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-zLMSu8PQYLg/T1KsEkVagWI/AAAAAAAABXk/2xJ1gc7nqzI/s640/doubledeckerbus.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> One of the zillions of doubledecker buses in London...and yes we road a couple!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-h_si-GWIB7A/T1KsFEz6puI/AAAAAAAABXs/Ig3BtQmhzoU/s1600/kellietower.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-h_si-GWIB7A/T1KsFEz6puI/AAAAAAAABXs/Ig3BtQmhzoU/s640/kellietower.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Me in front of The London Tower</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-o_Tqm00UzTo/T1KsFRem4sI/AAAAAAAABX0/Z8hq0Y7lieE/s1600/londonbridge.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-o_Tqm00UzTo/T1KsFRem4sI/AAAAAAAABX0/Z8hq0Y7lieE/s640/londonbridge.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> London Bridge</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HTn130og2zM/T1KsF3nGhnI/AAAAAAAABX8/rh9G_gi1g_c/s1600/pretmanger.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HTn130og2zM/T1KsF3nGhnI/AAAAAAAABX8/rh9G_gi1g_c/s640/pretmanger.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> One of the many Pret a Mangers in London...they have free wi-fi!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-npIJ3NtyuU0/T1KsGNZEeXI/AAAAAAAABYE/3-CW1Aobikg/s1600/telephonebooth.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-npIJ3NtyuU0/T1KsGNZEeXI/AAAAAAAABYE/3-CW1Aobikg/s640/telephonebooth.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Obligatory red telephone booth photo</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JmT6Kzqv0dI/T1KsHOjB72I/AAAAAAAABYU/BcyDBD6QSo4/s1600/westminsterabbey.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JmT6Kzqv0dI/T1KsHOjB72I/AAAAAAAABYU/BcyDBD6QSo4/s640/westminsterabbey.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Westminster Abbey</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-mUIEo16yTGU/T1KsHUZ8vVI/AAAAAAAABYc/NLZyUqoXkVk/s1600/yeoman.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-mUIEo16yTGU/T1KsHUZ8vVI/AAAAAAAABYc/NLZyUqoXkVk/s640/yeoman.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Our fabulous Yeoman Warder tour guide</div>Cooking with Big Ehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07022582208907832592noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3397195815152913396.post-68273763649895614252012-02-02T13:16:00.000-08:002012-02-02T13:17:07.550-08:00Christmas 2011I realize I'm posting about Christmas on Ground Hogs Day but hey, at least I'm attempting to catch up! The holidays are a blur for me anyways so any attempt at keeping up with this blog is futile so I don't even try. Keeping up three blogs, one of which requires a daily photo is a lot of work!<br />
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This year we managed to get a Christmas tree (last year we didn't...so this is an improvement!) and it was lovely. We enjoyed it for a good two weeks before we took down all the ornaments and passed it on to our neighbors before we left for Idaho. Seriously, we unplugged the lights, threw the cord over the top, and our neighbor's hauled it out the front door stand/lights and all and brought it in their back door and plugged it in. Instant Christmas Tree, just add ornaments.<br />
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We spent the weekend before Christmas in Sherwood visiting my Mom and doing our Christmas together. Grace, Mom, and I got all dressed up and went downtown to see The Nutcracker which was a lot of fun. This was the first time we've taken Grace to see the Oregon Ballet version and I think she really enjoyed it. <br />
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After a super busy day of cleaning the house and packing we made the long trek to Idaho to visit David's family for 10 days. David and I snuck out a few times to see a movie or two (wahoo!) and even got to go on a coffee date at our favorite coffeeshop The Flying M in Nampa. This was the first year that Christmas Eve was celebrated somewhere other than Opa and Oma's house in Caldwell, and instead we all gathered in Weiser at David's Oom Ray's house. Ethan had an absolute blast following David's youngest cousin Rein around with a Nerf gun. It's a good thing he found one under the tree for him the next day! <br />
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The Parry family had the distinct honor of lighting the Advent candle at Christmas morning service at 11am which meant we had to plan out our morning fairly strategically. Concerned about getting five adults and two small children fed/dressed/and ready to leave by 10:30am we arranged a shower schedule to have us all dressed and ready by 7am when we woke the kids up to start opening the pile of presents. Miraculously we managed to be completely done with Christmas, including a sit down breakfast by 9:18am. Next year I'm hoping we don't have to set alarms or shower before 7am!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-fJppkybOofE/Tyr8GPLTbtI/AAAAAAAABPw/vau69TsUcvY/s1600/christmastree.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-fJppkybOofE/Tyr8GPLTbtI/AAAAAAAABPw/vau69TsUcvY/s1600/christmastree.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-NxRgr-jjWFM/Tyr8FqpPAbI/AAAAAAAABPo/5k4qvhkQamo/s1600/christmassmiles.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-NxRgr-jjWFM/Tyr8FqpPAbI/AAAAAAAABPo/5k4qvhkQamo/s1600/christmassmiles.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Y6v5UsPgxUk/Tyr8FbWZN8I/AAAAAAAABPg/rCUU9_UQA78/s1600/christmasinidaho.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Y6v5UsPgxUk/Tyr8FbWZN8I/AAAAAAAABPg/rCUU9_UQA78/s1600/christmasinidaho.jpg" /></a></div>Cooking with Big Ehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07022582208907832592noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3397195815152913396.post-3258188212763845502011-11-29T12:23:00.000-08:002011-11-29T12:23:20.271-08:00Bowl of ThankfulnessSorry for the late Thanksgiving post, but better late then never right? Just as we have done in years past (<a href="http://parryfamilychronicles.blogspot.com/2008/11/counting-our-blessings.html">2008</a> and <a href="http://parryfamilychronicles.blogspot.com/2009/11/parry-family-gives-thanks.html">2009</a>) our family spent the month of November filling our bowl of thankfulness. Every night at dinner we each write down what we are thankful for that day (no repeating!) and read them aloud on Thanksgiving day. Every year the kids understand the concept a little more and I'm so proud that they really thought about what they are thankful for. They came up with things much more meaningful then basketballs (what Ethan was thankful for 99% of the time last year).<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7144/6425706397_a9a66b1699_z.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7144/6425706397_a9a66b1699_z.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div>Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday and I'm so glad we started our bowl of thankfulness tradition. We have so many things to be thankful for that dedicating one day to thank God for all our blessings just isn't enough. And hopefully as the Christmas season begins my children will understand that they are already blessed with so many things that giving to others shouldn't be a big stretch. Of course they are six and four so I know that we have awhile before the idea of giving gifts is more appealing then receiving them.</div><div><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7030/6425706475_d0ce3e84b9_z.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7030/6425706475_d0ce3e84b9_z.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">This was my first year officially hosting Thanksgiving. I think we may have had it at our house in 2007 but I have no photographic proof nor do I really remember it (I had a two year old and one month old...cut me some slack!). This <i style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">was</i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="text-align: -webkit-auto;"> my first time roasting the turkey, that I am sure of. It turned out just lovely, as did the rest of the dinner that everybody contributed to. It's not Thanksgiving without a mound of mashed potatoes, the disgusting sweet potato casserole everbody but me and Brian loves, my favorite cran-raspberry salad with the marshmallow cream topping, and of course plenty of pie. I'm a firm believer in high pie to person ratios, this year we scaled back to four pies to 7 adults and 2 kids. If cherries weren't so expensive I would have added a cherry pie too.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7017/6425706313_713fa5d1d8_z.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7017/6425706313_713fa5d1d8_z.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">And this year's sampling of thankfulness:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">* Paper and Crayons -Ethan</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">* Rain -Kellie</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">* Having Friends -Grace</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">* Lazy Saturdays with Football -David</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">* "Golden Hour" Sunlight -Kellie</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">* The Bathroom -Grace</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">* My Bride finding and doing something she loves -David</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">* Eating Breakfast -Ethan</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">* David's Dungeons and Dragons Group -Kellie</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">* The Earth -Grace</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">* Chicken Noodle Soup -Ethan</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">* Mrs. Wagner -Kellie</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">* Pajamas -Grace</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">* Good Beer -David</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">* Quiet -Kellie</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">* Doughnuts -Ethan</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">* Summer -Grace</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">* Netflix Instant Watch on Sick Days -Kellie</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">* Visiting Friends -David</div>Cooking with Big Ehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07022582208907832592noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3397195815152913396.post-2705100000671119212011-11-01T13:01:00.000-07:002011-11-01T13:01:33.056-07:00Christmas Gift Ideas for PhotographersI'm a part of a women's photography group and we we met this morning and the topic of reasonably priced photography accessories to add to the Christmas list came up. Most of us don't have families who are able or willing to plunk down large chunks of money for dream lenses (wishful thinking!) but there are plenty of budget friendly photography accessories and gear that you have a chance of finding under your Christmas tree! Here's a list of ideas that won't give your husband a heart attack when they see the price:<br />
<br />
1. <b>Wireless Remote</b><br />
Useful for self portraits, or even low light photography when you're using a tripod and slow shutter speed to reduce camera shake. You can also get the wired variety, which I own, just know that wireless would be much easier and you're not tethered to your camera! Make sure to get one that works for your camera make and model. Here is one for the <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Canon-RC-6-Wireless-Controller-Digital/dp/B0037NX6JY/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1320174934&sr=8-1">Canon Rebel series</a>.<br />
<br />
<b>2. Gray Card</b><br />
You want your gray card to be 18% gray, you can find it for $5 at Focal Point (our local photography store). Useful for setting custom white balance, and since they're cheap there's really no excuse not to have one!<br />
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<b>3. Reflector</b><br />
I use mine a TON. It's really a staple and something I bring to every photo session I have. I even have a "low tech" one that stays in my kitchen just for on the cuff shots of my kids! You can totally go low tech with this and use a white poster board or silver auto windshade, but having a real reflector is pretty nice. You can find a bazillion of these on Amazon, they come in every size and shape under the sun. I'd stick with a reasonable size to start out with, probably 32" or so. Here's a link to just <a href="http://www.amazon.com/ePhoto-Collapsible-Reflector-Translucent-Reflectors/dp/B003B5S328/ref=sr_1_15?ie=UTF8&qid=1320175747&sr=8-15">one</a> of the zillions of options on Amazon.<br />
<br />
<b>4. Pop Up Flash Diffuser</b><br />
There are several low budget alternatives to purchasing a pop up flash diffuser, but there's something to be said for easy and durable! The <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Professor-Lightscoop-Standard-Universal-American/dp/B0017LNHY2/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1320175823&sr=8-4">Lightscoop</a>, <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Gary-Fong-Puffer-Flash-Diffuser/dp/B0011000R6/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1320175834&sr=8-1">Gary Fong</a>, and <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Lumiquest-LQ-051D-Screen-Digital-Diffuser/dp/B000B5H2BE/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&qid=1320175834&sr=8-5">Lumiquest</a> are all good affordable options.<br />
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</b><br />
<b>5. The Lens Pen</b><br />
Have you noticed any dust or smudges on your lens? Funny spots in the same spot of every photo? Then it may be time to clean your lens. The <a href="http://www.amazon.com/LensPEN-LP-1-Lens-Cleaning-System/dp/B000KO0GY6/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1320175969&sr=8-1">Lens Pen</a> (or similar knock off) is a good way to do it yourself that's not completely scary.<br />
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<b>6. Camera Strap Cover</b><br />
Sure you can use the functional but not very aesthetically pleasing camera strap that came with your camera and it won't affect the quality of your images one iota. However there's something to be said about using pretty things, so a camera strap cover isn't very necessary but it sure can be fun! They are also fairly easy to make, so you could even make them as Christmas presents to give yourself :) My husband bought me mine from <a href="http://www.etsy.com/search/handmade?search_submit=&q=camera+strap+cover&view_type=gallery&ship_to=US">Etsy</a> for my birthday and I love it!<br />
<br />
<b>7. Extension Tubes</b><br />
If you'd love to experiment with macro but a macro lens isn't in the budget (darn!) then add a set of inexpensive extension tubes to your wishlist! I've never experimented with extension tubes but they are similar to my ghetto macro technique, they just allow you to use one lens instead of two lenses with one held backwards. The cheap ones will require manual focus (just like the ghetto macro technique) or you can buy the expensive ones with built in auto focus. Of course if you're going to spend that kind of money you can probably go ahead and just buy a macro lens! Here's a link to an inexpensive set of extension tubes for <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Fotodiox-Extension-Extreme-Close-up-Digital/dp/B003Y60DZO/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1320176413&sr=8-1">Canon</a> and <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Fotodiox-Nikon-Extension-Extreme-Close-up/dp/B003Y5T464/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1320176670&sr=8-1">Nikon</a> cameras.<br />
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<b>8. Filters</b><br />
There are a lot of different kinds of filters, some that do fun effects (starbursts etc) and others that simply protect your expensive lens! Make sure when you add these to your list to specify the size filter you need (check the back of your lens cap to find the size).<br />
<br />
<b>9. Memory Cards</b><br />
Who doesn't need more CF cards (or whatever memory card your camera takes)? I prefer to use several smaller ones then one or two big ones so that if something happens to my card I still have some images to work with. My preferred card size is 4gb which are pretty cheap!<br />
<b><br />
</b><br />
<b>10. Card Reader</b><br />
I'm ashamed to say I only recently bought one of these handy devices and it is a lifesaver! It zips the photos off my CF card in no time flat and is soooooo much faster then just plugging my camera in to my computer. Seriously, if you dread pulling images off your camera because it takes forever you will want one of these! I think <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Kingston-Flash-Memory-Reader-FCR-HS219/dp/B00109Y2DQ/ref=sr_1_1?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1320177174&sr=1-1">this</a> is the one I have, it's currently $10.54 which is so worth it.<br />
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<b>11. Bokeh Kit</b><br />
Want to play around with fun shaped bokeh? Sure you can do it yourself by cutting out the shapes in perfectly cut out cardboard circles, or you can ask for this <a href="http://photojojo.com/store/awesomeness/bokeh-Kit/">bokeh kit</a> and get started playing right away!Cooking with Big Ehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07022582208907832592noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3397195815152913396.post-85763692443596799702011-10-07T08:54:00.000-07:002011-10-07T08:54:38.275-07:00My Baby is FOUR!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-0kqVf33NbDM/To8e53XG9sI/AAAAAAAAA8k/zA9h9eU3bVY/s1600/day20.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-0kqVf33NbDM/To8e53XG9sI/AAAAAAAAA8k/zA9h9eU3bVY/s1600/day20.jpg" /></a></div>I really can't believe that my baby is turning four today. In fact he turns four in just under two hours...at 10:25 this morning. I remember his birth very well, mostly just how utterly exhausted I was from laboring all night and how much energy I felt the moment I gave birth to him. He was definitely not the cutest baby immediately after birth, he looked pretty beat up and had the scrunchiest old man face but we loved him anyways. Still do in fact. I never knew just how special the mother son relationship could be before I gave birth to my son but I have to say that it's taken me by surprise. I love this boy more than words can say!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-eK6hyZAW3tA/To8e5qGDqbI/AAAAAAAAA8g/E7PDBjlTS5k/s1600/coolethan.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-eK6hyZAW3tA/To8e5qGDqbI/AAAAAAAAA8g/E7PDBjlTS5k/s640/coolethan.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>It's not a post from me without a thousand pictures, and I tried my darndest to keep it to a minimum but I had a really hard time choosing my favorite photos of Ethan from the past year. I tried to choose some of my favorites that show his personality and some that I haven't shared here before. He's such a boy!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-w0h9vThI5Tg/To8e9oad19I/AAAAAAAAA9M/hrg9bBQdYwE/s1600/sweetboy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-w0h9vThI5Tg/To8e9oad19I/AAAAAAAAA9M/hrg9bBQdYwE/s640/sweetboy.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-s-3fzEUXmYw/To8e6HLyKfI/AAAAAAAAA8o/S3mVkSuB6ek/s1600/drummerboy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-s-3fzEUXmYw/To8e6HLyKfI/AAAAAAAAA8o/S3mVkSuB6ek/s640/drummerboy.jpg" width="640" /></a><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-leJ-h2ft_KE/To8e8gNLnLI/AAAAAAAAA9E/EorBpDsDaZU/s1600/IMG_4454bw+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-leJ-h2ft_KE/To8e8gNLnLI/AAAAAAAAA9E/EorBpDsDaZU/s640/IMG_4454bw+copy.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-tLuS7LiD8y4/To8e6gBxgSI/AAAAAAAAA8s/wLFkNVwF_FM/s1600/ethan1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-tLuS7LiD8y4/To8e6gBxgSI/AAAAAAAAA8s/wLFkNVwF_FM/s640/ethan1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BmVuDkugkf8/To8e8TOd8WI/AAAAAAAAA9A/LcSpI4CgmJs/s1600/IMG_3839-2+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BmVuDkugkf8/To8e8TOd8WI/AAAAAAAAA9A/LcSpI4CgmJs/s640/IMG_3839-2+copy.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Things Ethan is totally into right now:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Golf</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Basketball</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Spiderman</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Batman</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Baseball</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Football</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Soccer</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The Flash</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Iron Man</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Any sport</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Any super hero</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Preschool</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Cubbies</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Dress up</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Coloring/Painting</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Eating whole apples</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Tools</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Super Hero capes</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Swords</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Snuggling with Mommy and Daddy</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-RA79OAycYRc/To8e8ATBNrI/AAAAAAAAA88/r2MsJrieLxY/s640/IMG_3209+copy.jpg" width="640" /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-FL6VAl34h34/To8e7TIE21I/AAAAAAAAA80/Shzv44mroF8/s1600/ethanrodeo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-FL6VAl34h34/To8e7TIE21I/AAAAAAAAA80/Shzv44mroF8/s640/ethanrodeo.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-P27ICB3Km1A/To8e9E4YsnI/AAAAAAAAA9I/yDI25BgDU_0/s1600/IMG_6900+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-P27ICB3Km1A/To8e9E4YsnI/AAAAAAAAA9I/yDI25BgDU_0/s640/IMG_6900+copy.jpg" width="640" /></a><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-GRjUXj4KW5s/To8e5Q8cuwI/AAAAAAAAA8c/HzrWOdHczpc/s1600/bige.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-GRjUXj4KW5s/To8e5Q8cuwI/AAAAAAAAA8c/HzrWOdHczpc/s640/bige.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-i7Il-2stqf0/To8e61NsfUI/AAAAAAAAA8w/PdTrzM_hvPY/s1600/ethanboy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-i7Il-2stqf0/To8e61NsfUI/AAAAAAAAA8w/PdTrzM_hvPY/s640/ethanboy.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jbC0fWhDuYk/To8e7rk5I9I/AAAAAAAAA84/PMSah46ZxN0/s1600/IMG_1711+web.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jbC0fWhDuYk/To8e7rk5I9I/AAAAAAAAA84/PMSah46ZxN0/s640/IMG_1711+web.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>Cooking with Big Ehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07022582208907832592noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3397195815152913396.post-90577781495754147322011-10-03T12:55:00.000-07:002011-10-03T13:16:10.288-07:00A Day in the Life: October 1, 2011The Momtographers group I am a part of had a "Day in the Life" challenge this week where we photographed an entire day start to finish. I had great intentions to do it all week and kept forgetting until three hours into the day but finally remembered to do it Saturday morning while camping at the coast. So not a regular day, but at least I did it! I'll try again to capture a regular day this week maybe.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6142/6208715182_d1e213372a_z.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6142/6208715182_d1e213372a_z.jpg" /></a></div>7:14am First thing I see waking up in the yurt...the skylight. And then Ethan dropped a pillow on my head.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6064/6208715272_3bdc2cfe47_z.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6064/6208715272_3bdc2cfe47_z.jpg" /></a></div>7:20am Back from the bathroom with the kids and reading a chapter of Feast of Crows on the Kindle while the kids played. Dreaming of hot coffee.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6132/6208715476_f891d630c3_z.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6132/6208715476_f891d630c3_z.jpg" /></a></div>8:06am James and Jessi are on a walk with Vinnie. The kids are still playing and David is up and starting the morning fire. Feels awesome!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6092/6208199619_b2075c299b_z.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6092/6208199619_b2075c299b_z.jpg" /></a></div>8:43am Coffee is finally ready. Rejoice.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6022/6208199967_d4673940cf_z.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6022/6208199967_d4673940cf_z.jpg" /></a></div>9:53am On our way to the beach<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6175/6208200679_e24e3644e5_z.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6175/6208200679_e24e3644e5_z.jpg" /></a></div> 10:31am Found a way cool chunk of barnacles that washed up on the beach. The barnacle creatures were still alive and moving and we watched them for quite awhile.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6044/6208716340_83b04b9d29_z.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6044/6208716340_83b04b9d29_z.jpg" /></a></div>10:51am Still playing on the beach...barely any wind and gorgeous beach weather! (Photo by David Parry who wants you all to know that he can take pretty pictures too)<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6131/6208201149_99a0806913_z.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6131/6208201149_99a0806913_z.jpg" /></a></div>12:12pm Back to the campsite.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6008/6208717256_1b05b8eb0c_z.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6008/6208717256_1b05b8eb0c_z.jpg" /></a></div>12:23pm Lunch!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6008/6208717676_2b4aab01b1_z.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6008/6208717676_2b4aab01b1_z.jpg" /></a></div>1:31pm The girls and Vinnie went on a walk while the boys napped in the yurt.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6004/6208204717_500b6e7fc3_z.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6004/6208204717_500b6e7fc3_z.jpg" /></a></div>2:14pm Decision time...which way to go? We chose right because who can say no to a hiker-biker camp?<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6030/6208202167_ba36bfc685_z.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6030/6208202167_ba36bfc685_z.jpg" /></a></div>2:21pm Still walking...this time north along the beach and treeline. Great view.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6203/6208718508_aecd9d4ef5_z.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6203/6208718508_aecd9d4ef5_z.jpg" /></a></div>3:17pm Back to the campsite and Ethan is up from his nap.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6027/6208202759_9bb65d75da_z.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6027/6208202759_9bb65d75da_z.jpg" /></a></div>3:51pm Hot Chocolate and Apple Cider late afternoon pick me up.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6230/6208203057_fb139bbf18_z.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6230/6208203057_fb139bbf18_z.jpg" /></a></div>4:48pm Just started the evening fire and hanging out<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6084/6208203315_0b3fd5ab51_z.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6084/6208203315_0b3fd5ab51_z.jpg" /></a></div>5:41pm Dinnertime. Turkey hot dog roasted over the fire...hit the spot!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6007/6208203649_2f3ff2a417_z.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6007/6208203649_2f3ff2a417_z.jpg" /></a></div>6:32pm The bazillionth bathroom trip of the day. Be glad I spared you the trip with the poopy underwear.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6139/6208203821_f761b7b21c_z.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6139/6208203821_f761b7b21c_z.jpg" /></a></div>6:36pm Self portrait in the bathroom mirror. Not too bad for no shower all day.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6005/6208719946_e8a48ca4c9_z.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6005/6208719946_e8a48ca4c9_z.jpg" /></a></div>6:45pm S'mores time!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6121/6208204273_7946dc03a5_z.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6121/6208204273_7946dc03a5_z.jpg" /></a></div>7:55pm The kids played Headbanz with Daddy and James in the yurt. This was the last shot I got for the day because afterwards there wasn't enough light for photos. Mostly we just sat by the fire until we went to bed early :)Cooking with Big Ehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07022582208907832592noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3397195815152913396.post-91813894967808246522011-09-22T17:26:00.000-07:002011-09-22T17:26:44.717-07:00August in PhotosI know I'll never get around to writing everything down that we did this past August but since I finally got the majority of our family photos edited I thought I'd share some favorites. Since I doubt most of you want to peruse all 572 personal pics (that's just the ones that I edited as jpg's and doesn't count client sessions!) I condensed it to a few collages. I can hear all the sighs of relief.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-yL8V5guUExk/TnvQm5NSBoI/AAAAAAAAA5Q/5KzITQfh1YY/s1600/beachfun.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-yL8V5guUExk/TnvQm5NSBoI/AAAAAAAAA5Q/5KzITQfh1YY/s640/beachfun.jpg" width="441" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-nBfaXXe_TyY/TnvQp529kgI/AAAAAAAAA5Y/5dnou0eaAQg/s1600/sillyfaces.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-nBfaXXe_TyY/TnvQp529kgI/AAAAAAAAA5Y/5dnou0eaAQg/s640/sillyfaces.jpg" width="588" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-3w8Suh4DoEg/TnvQlEnXELI/AAAAAAAAA5M/uBaaQZO8iGw/s1600/backyardfun.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-3w8Suh4DoEg/TnvQlEnXELI/AAAAAAAAA5M/uBaaQZO8iGw/s640/backyardfun.jpg" width="440" /></a> <a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-LhHFyOJvXNo/TnvQqZuJT7I/AAAAAAAAA5c/aEBCHd3K9_0/s1600/summerfun.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="510" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-LhHFyOJvXNo/TnvQqZuJT7I/AAAAAAAAA5c/aEBCHd3K9_0/s640/summerfun.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-73V807kwJtE/TnvQsCdYZbI/AAAAAAAAA5g/ftsEbiXDEYw/s1600/summerfun2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-73V807kwJtE/TnvQsCdYZbI/AAAAAAAAA5g/ftsEbiXDEYw/s640/summerfun2.jpg" width="440" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-QheHqxJ3qjQ/TnvQpfifpvI/AAAAAAAAA5U/PJibQ076EZA/s1600/playinfield.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-QheHqxJ3qjQ/TnvQpfifpvI/AAAAAAAAA5U/PJibQ076EZA/s640/playinfield.jpg" width="588" /></a></div>Cooking with Big Ehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07022582208907832592noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3397195815152913396.post-77777137337967493522011-09-21T13:00:00.000-07:002011-09-21T13:00:59.341-07:00Gracie: Soccer Star?Grace's first soccer game was last Saturday and we had typical soccer weather: cool and gray clouds. I was expecting a game similar to last year's hilarious start to the season where the kids had no idea what they were doing and the coaches were on the field telling them what to do the entire time. Not this year! This year we watched a soccer <i>game</i>. As in, the kids knew how to kick off, throw the ball in from out of bounds, how to do a corner or goal kick, etc. What a world of difference. The one thing that stayed the same from last year was the herd mentality where there was no real teamwork in passing the ball but just a big group of kids following the ball around the field. They did try to differentiate between defense and offense by having two kids hang back a little which sort of worked. Grace didn't understand the defense concept at all and kept trying to run after the ball. This year she is a go-getter!<br />
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I am so proud of Gracie this year, she really stepped up to the plate and is a fully participating member of the team. Last year she took on the role of looking cute and staying out of everyone else's way as they played the game. This year she is running hard and getting into the action. I could hardly believe my eyes when I saw her getting into the middle of the action time after time. She never stopped running and never hung back. She may be the smallest on the field but she is determined not to be the slowest!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-VxjzXDvPaMM/TnpBeE70MvI/AAAAAAAAA4g/2ld24dzWSDc/s1600/soccer1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="510" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-VxjzXDvPaMM/TnpBeE70MvI/AAAAAAAAA4g/2ld24dzWSDc/s640/soccer1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-tJ3KFa3A498/TnpBelxEmvI/AAAAAAAAA4k/YTiS84lES-8/s1600/soccer2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-tJ3KFa3A498/TnpBelxEmvI/AAAAAAAAA4k/YTiS84lES-8/s640/soccer2.jpg" width="588" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-aPVN7av_jjw/TnpBfDPaW0I/AAAAAAAAA4o/PvmOj1CRApw/s1600/soccer3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="510" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-aPVN7av_jjw/TnpBfDPaW0I/AAAAAAAAA4o/PvmOj1CRApw/s640/soccer3.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I did get Grace to soccer pictures by 8am on Saturday morning, but since I didn't buy anything apart from a team photo I took one quick "nice" photo after her game. Her "small" uniform swims on her and she had to wear last year's shorts because this year's won't stay up even when we cinch them as far as they go. At least the socks aren't as ginormous as last year and fit much better!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RFoMgL56OP0/TnpBfaubZnI/AAAAAAAAA4s/EY69g3wl4NE/s1600/soccergirl.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RFoMgL56OP0/TnpBfaubZnI/AAAAAAAAA4s/EY69g3wl4NE/s1600/soccergirl.jpg" /></a></div>Cooking with Big Ehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07022582208907832592noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3397195815152913396.post-78871870084822958452011-09-13T13:12:00.000-07:002011-09-13T13:22:52.783-07:00Back to School!Back to School season is in full swing at our house. Last Tuesday Grace started first grade and today Ethan started preschool. It's a big year of firsts for us, the first year Grace is in school all day and the first year Ethan is enrolled in preschool. For Grace the big deal is eating lunch at school and for Ethan it's the fact that he has a can of crayons with his name on it in his classroom. This year I got smart and took both kids' back to school pictures separately and before the big day. Less stress for Mommy and allows for more creativity! I didn't forget my camera for the actual first day of school either, but I just went with the flow and concentrated more on documenting the experience.<br />
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We did Grace's back to school photos the Friday before school started after we dropped off her school supplies in her classroom. She picked out five apples in Safeway before our photo session, one for everybody in our family and one for her teacher. On her first day of school we all walked to school together and got a few snaps of her in her new classroom. She was so excited! <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-aP-XtK5h9gY/Tm7ExlwqwpI/AAAAAAAAA2E/bagfg7V0o1s/s1600/school2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-aP-XtK5h9gY/Tm7ExlwqwpI/AAAAAAAAA2E/bagfg7V0o1s/s640/school2.jpg" width="426" /></a><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JLF1FIi9lrg/Tm7EzhfKgnI/AAAAAAAAA2c/wQtDgsGz0Wk/s1600/schoolgirl.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JLF1FIi9lrg/Tm7EzhfKgnI/AAAAAAAAA2c/wQtDgsGz0Wk/s640/schoolgirl.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uHcwRDam4vY/Tm7Eyvq8wXI/AAAAAAAAA2Q/Q0p4VkaXkmo/s1600/school5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uHcwRDam4vY/Tm7Eyvq8wXI/AAAAAAAAA2Q/Q0p4VkaXkmo/s640/school5.jpg" width="640" /></a><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-BoS-vOtH6Sg/Tm7E0IUXvdI/AAAAAAAAA2g/n5qTCAcvLsA/s1600/schoolhall.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-BoS-vOtH6Sg/Tm7E0IUXvdI/AAAAAAAAA2g/n5qTCAcvLsA/s640/schoolhall.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-xWbq5x58X-0/Tm7EzB7xDII/AAAAAAAAA2U/YIoG6XlLzlk/s1600/schoolbooks.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-xWbq5x58X-0/Tm7EzB7xDII/AAAAAAAAA2U/YIoG6XlLzlk/s640/schoolbooks.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-pm9E-ug-hQs/Tm7EvaTsfpI/AAAAAAAAA1s/aDoZBbXiBxg/s1600/firstday2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-pm9E-ug-hQs/Tm7EvaTsfpI/AAAAAAAAA1s/aDoZBbXiBxg/s640/firstday2.jpg" width="426" /></a><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rJELPRSxavg/Tm7EvPrLoPI/AAAAAAAAA1o/RsbOSXYFros/s1600/firstday1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rJELPRSxavg/Tm7EvPrLoPI/AAAAAAAAA1o/RsbOSXYFros/s640/firstday1.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xEIiqtcEraA/Tm7Evhbif1I/AAAAAAAAA1w/B1K21sg1Xug/s1600/firstday3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xEIiqtcEraA/Tm7Evhbif1I/AAAAAAAAA1w/B1K21sg1Xug/s640/firstday3.jpg" width="426" /></a><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8UUtjfpk5JI/Tm7EwASzq3I/AAAAAAAAA10/a307VJqyVWE/s1600/firstday4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8UUtjfpk5JI/Tm7EwASzq3I/AAAAAAAAA10/a307VJqyVWE/s640/firstday4.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5pQ4WdkBJL0/Tm7Ewoi66TI/AAAAAAAAA14/QbosIH0Lzgw/s1600/firstday5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5pQ4WdkBJL0/Tm7Ewoi66TI/AAAAAAAAA14/QbosIH0Lzgw/s640/firstday5.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VF_bM4hvaak/Tm7Ewyfm8KI/AAAAAAAAA18/7-0pw3X0rQg/s1600/firstday6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VF_bM4hvaak/Tm7Ewyfm8KI/AAAAAAAAA18/7-0pw3X0rQg/s640/firstday6.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> Ethan and I met a few friends at his preschool the week before he started as well. He mostly wanted to play on the playground but we did get a few good ones! This morning we dropped Grace off at school and then Mommy, Daddy, and Ethan swung by Dutch Brothers for a hot drink treat before heading to preschool to play on the playground until it was time for Ethan's class to begin. He was soooo excited and couldn't wait to hang his backpack on his hook. When he got to his desk he found his crayon can with his name on it and was just over the moon happy. He told us that we could go and happily waved goodbye. Such a big boy!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ejEjMMi99d0/Tm7GPQ1hiPI/AAAAAAAAA2k/gXVVcPw1uR0/s1600/preschool1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ejEjMMi99d0/Tm7GPQ1hiPI/AAAAAAAAA2k/gXVVcPw1uR0/s640/preschool1.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-v7DnXdAyZ7g/Tm7GP3FQbhI/AAAAAAAAA2o/Nk_w8i0dgZw/s1600/preschool2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-v7DnXdAyZ7g/Tm7GP3FQbhI/AAAAAAAAA2o/Nk_w8i0dgZw/s640/preschool2.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Sn6lQ6E9reE/Tm7GQW3p5pI/AAAAAAAAA2s/rSsS1I0FpuA/s1600/preschool3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Sn6lQ6E9reE/Tm7GQW3p5pI/AAAAAAAAA2s/rSsS1I0FpuA/s640/preschool3.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/--NB04-QhSgU/Tm7GRMjSE9I/AAAAAAAAA2w/8UtQ4sf1V-c/s1600/preschool4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/--NB04-QhSgU/Tm7GRMjSE9I/AAAAAAAAA2w/8UtQ4sf1V-c/s640/preschool4.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-l1AusiGXlLk/Tm7GRg3xxBI/AAAAAAAAA20/y6K827-RBmY/s1600/preschool5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-l1AusiGXlLk/Tm7GRg3xxBI/AAAAAAAAA20/y6K827-RBmY/s640/preschool5.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-HUmft58iX6A/Tm7GSpmLgsI/AAAAAAAAA24/6E4TTKAM2s8/s1600/wethreelooking.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-HUmft58iX6A/Tm7GSpmLgsI/AAAAAAAAA24/6E4TTKAM2s8/s640/wethreelooking.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-oNgIEC9j3V0/Tm-4C-VsY7I/AAAAAAAAA28/RDhi3Rqw9Pk/s640/first1.jpg" width="426" /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-w1WTJWv-okU/Tm-4EjuyzWI/AAAAAAAAA3A/ZL7tTJIeKwM/s1600/first2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-w1WTJWv-okU/Tm-4EjuyzWI/AAAAAAAAA3A/ZL7tTJIeKwM/s640/first2.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-tEMaUmnP80Y/Tm-4OP29zlI/AAAAAAAAA3M/-vwv5DUekgw/s1600/first5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-tEMaUmnP80Y/Tm-4OP29zlI/AAAAAAAAA3M/-vwv5DUekgw/s640/first5.jpg" width="426" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-FQBOtq44gbo/Tm-7cZiogNI/AAAAAAAAA3Q/m18W1Tgdm60/s1600/first6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-FQBOtq44gbo/Tm-7cZiogNI/AAAAAAAAA3Q/m18W1Tgdm60/s640/first6.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-iRJHh_EcfE4/Tm-7ckD6bVI/AAAAAAAAA3U/ac3amyGRYaY/s1600/first7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-iRJHh_EcfE4/Tm-7ckD6bVI/AAAAAAAAA3U/ac3amyGRYaY/s1600/first7.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-8ml9ts-vkoE/Tm-7dw12WSI/AAAAAAAAA3Y/wmVF5UTkPrI/s1600/first8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-8ml9ts-vkoE/Tm-7dw12WSI/AAAAAAAAA3Y/wmVF5UTkPrI/s640/first8.jpg" width="640" /></a> </div>Cooking with Big Ehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07022582208907832592noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3397195815152913396.post-68801554672938263762011-09-12T19:41:00.000-07:002011-09-12T19:41:53.482-07:00I Heart Faces: Back to School ChallengeIt was a tough call to choose my favorite back to school image from my kids back to school photo sessions, but I think this one of my first grader fits the bill.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uUVdMrNsb7c/Tm7CrHbejQI/AAAAAAAAA1k/QN5GAXFpcsw/s1600/schoolgirl.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uUVdMrNsb7c/Tm7CrHbejQI/AAAAAAAAA1k/QN5GAXFpcsw/s640/schoolgirl.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.iheartfaces.com/"><img border="0" src="http://www.iheartfaces.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/I-Heart-Faces-button.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Click the logo above for more back to school photo fun!</div>Cooking with Big Ehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07022582208907832592noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3397195815152913396.post-11235300519759669252011-09-08T20:50:00.000-07:002011-09-08T20:50:26.568-07:00Mommy and EthanI was challenged to take some photos of me with my kids after reading a blog post about the "missing mom" syndrome when mom is always behind the camera. I'm actually not that camera shy, but taking a self portrait is NOT easy! Especially when you try to do so with a 3 year old!<br />
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So tonight Daddy and Gracie went to their first Girl Scout meeting and Ethan and I were left home. That's happened a lot lately since school started and Grace is gone all day. I told Ethan we could make cookies together this evening as a treat and he also wanted to make tea together. While I was steeping the tea and in between batches of shortbread cookies I remembered my camera. So here we are, in the midst of baking cookies in our cluttered kitchen on our dirty floor using natural light from our sliding glass door after 7pm when there's not much to be had. But this is us, and our real life and I love them even though they are far from perfect. The focus is off on some because Ethan was more excited about running to check behind the camera with me then staying put for me to focus on. The first photo is actually one of my favorites and I almost deleted it because it was a mistake. Love it anyways!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-okSm1ML0qqA/TmmMWk-bQlI/AAAAAAAAA0o/OYxN0yncU8M/s1600/IMG_1705+web.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-okSm1ML0qqA/TmmMWk-bQlI/AAAAAAAAA0o/OYxN0yncU8M/s640/IMG_1705+web.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nzf-T_w0QY0/TmmMW8p46dI/AAAAAAAAA0s/KQOeCIHa9sQ/s1600/IMG_1710+web.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nzf-T_w0QY0/TmmMW8p46dI/AAAAAAAAA0s/KQOeCIHa9sQ/s640/IMG_1710+web.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XD-aXxF-aVI/TmmMXYpl_CI/AAAAAAAAA0w/TNZdHZIeM0k/s1600/IMG_1711+web.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XD-aXxF-aVI/TmmMXYpl_CI/AAAAAAAAA0w/TNZdHZIeM0k/s640/IMG_1711+web.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-MdE0oCu-yvQ/TmmMX8aUe9I/AAAAAAAAA00/MLgqTIXzW78/s1600/IMG_1712+web.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-MdE0oCu-yvQ/TmmMX8aUe9I/AAAAAAAAA00/MLgqTIXzW78/s640/IMG_1712+web.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-RsYbJSbdD1c/TmmMY7i3uII/AAAAAAAAA04/xK7APQ5SJWw/s1600/IMG_1714+web.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="430" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-RsYbJSbdD1c/TmmMY7i3uII/AAAAAAAAA04/xK7APQ5SJWw/s640/IMG_1714+web.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0enFnxPhqJ8/TmmMZubKilI/AAAAAAAAA08/rWjaJ8LBODg/s1600/IMG_1715+web.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0enFnxPhqJ8/TmmMZubKilI/AAAAAAAAA08/rWjaJ8LBODg/s640/IMG_1715+web.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4VP0B5Z_Dzs/TmmMbBz87kI/AAAAAAAAA1A/Wm7rsu_Rna4/s1600/IMG_1716+web.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="362" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4VP0B5Z_Dzs/TmmMbBz87kI/AAAAAAAAA1A/Wm7rsu_Rna4/s640/IMG_1716+web.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-vtnc63zLGJA/TmmMb2MvjgI/AAAAAAAAA1E/Aba0stnqu-g/s1600/IMG_1717+web.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="364" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-vtnc63zLGJA/TmmMb2MvjgI/AAAAAAAAA1E/Aba0stnqu-g/s640/IMG_1717+web.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>Cooking with Big Ehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07022582208907832592noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3397195815152913396.post-24558536715435567902011-08-31T09:54:00.000-07:002011-08-31T10:52:48.044-07:00Fun in IdahoSince I finally finished editing July's photos I've got a bunch to share and catch you all up with our busy summer! Today I'm sharing some more photos from our trip to Idaho. I shared the rodeo photos but this time I'm sharing the other fun stuff we did during rodeo week. We packed a lot into our week trip!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-dZZg0sCd9NA/Tl5lqybLK5I/AAAAAAAAAzk/EuCBGImWLfk/s1600/zoo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-dZZg0sCd9NA/Tl5lqybLK5I/AAAAAAAAAzk/EuCBGImWLfk/s640/zoo.jpg" width="588" /></a></div> We visited the Boise Zoo with everyone in tow (including Jim!) though David had to dash out early to meet someone at HP so he missed the butterfly exhibit. That was honestly the best part of the zoo trip, the butterflies were beautiful! We stood in there for a long time and all of us had a butterfly land on us at one time or another. Oma seemed to be the most popular with the butterflies! Grace sat so patiently holding her fingers out in hopes that a butterfly would deem her attractive enough to land on, but to no avail. Just before we were ready to leave the butterfly exhibit one landed on her hat which made her happy. She was a little miffed she couldn't see it though!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-x3QwHxAa08k/Tl506GG3ZTI/AAAAAAAAAzo/yosA0uUx1Io/s1600/butterfly.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-x3QwHxAa08k/Tl506GG3ZTI/AAAAAAAAAzo/yosA0uUx1Io/s640/butterfly.jpg" width="588" /></a></div>We spent an hour one afternoon visiting David's grandparents and brought along some entertainment. The adults all sat on the front porch in the shade and watched the kids (and Daddy!) squirt each other with water guns. It was pretty entertaining and we all cooled off so it was a good idea. Grace really loved getting wet, although Ethan was a little less enthused about getting squirted. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-LNU9sp7cz4w/Tl5lqR8qkDI/AAAAAAAAAzg/rTt_aQgJ-T4/s1600/waterfight.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-LNU9sp7cz4w/Tl5lqR8qkDI/AAAAAAAAAzg/rTt_aQgJ-T4/s640/waterfight.jpg" width="588" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> We always enjoy rodeo week but it's always a very tiring week and a quiet trip home. This year David flew from San Diego to Boise (work trip) and the kids and I drove by ourselves to meet him there. We left the house at 8am, dropped the cat off at my mom's house is Sherwood (the dog came along for the whole trip), and made it to Nampa at dinner time. We stopped in Portland at the Ferrari dealership for a photo for my scavenger hunt and also took the scenic route to stop at Multnomah Falls for fun. It was a long drive but our kids are awesome travellers. We didn't even pop in a movie, instead we rocked out to Mommy chosen tunes (wahoo!) and chit chatted. I haven't done that long of a trip by myself in a long time and it really wasn't as hard as I thought it would be.</div>Cooking with Big Ehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07022582208907832592noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3397195815152913396.post-7207148388359102122011-08-29T22:11:00.000-07:002011-08-29T22:11:57.908-07:00Snake River Stampede Rodeo 2011So I'm a little behind. At least I'm working on catching up! Tonight I finished editing all of my personal July photos (other then Grace's 6 year photo session). That was a bunch of photos to go through! I thought I'd share some of my favorite rodeo photos from the Snake River Stampede rodeo this year. If you know us then you know that this isn't my kids first rodeo. In fact even the little guy has been to more rodeos then many adults I know. This year the kids made it to the end of the rodeo almost every night which was a big change from past years. I think the steady supply of sugar from Opa and Oma was a big motivating factor. Having your Opa be in charge of concessions does come with some perks, one of which is sour cotton candy. Haven't tried that particular variety? Well let me just warn you to stay away from the sour watermelon (seriously, heed this warning!) but the sour grape wasn't too bad. <br />
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I have many more photos to share from our Idaho trip this year but I'll save that for another post since this one will be long enough. Here's my favorites, bearing in mind that I only took my camera to the rodeo once and that was only to take photos of us watching the rodeo and not the rodeo itself. I realized years ago that attempting to photograph a rodeo with a child or two on your lap is just not a good idea so I've given up trying until my children are old enough to NOT jump up and down on me.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Inp5z64B55w/Tlxuj550XqI/AAAAAAAAAzQ/0GVsKE12QwA/s1600/littlecowboy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Inp5z64B55w/Tlxuj550XqI/AAAAAAAAAzQ/0GVsKE12QwA/s640/littlecowboy.jpg" width="640" /></a></div> First up is my little cowboy. Why yes he is wearing the exact same outfit (hat was a little snug but we made do!) as last year. It still fits and it's cute! And since I'm not 100% sure I actually blogged last year's rodeo photos you all don't know the difference.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-t1juLZvIyZo/Tlxuiiz2HKI/AAAAAAAAAzE/ohUCKIWia5c/s1600/cowgirlwanted.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-t1juLZvIyZo/Tlxuiiz2HKI/AAAAAAAAAzE/ohUCKIWia5c/s640/cowgirlwanted.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">And here's the rodeo princess. Doesn't she look so grown up? I'm still in shock she agreed to smile for me without looking like a cheeseball.</div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ApOE8AtYRD8/TlxuhiJGBXI/AAAAAAAAAy8/SChZfaNaIOI/s1600/cowboysiblings.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ApOE8AtYRD8/TlxuhiJGBXI/AAAAAAAAAy8/SChZfaNaIOI/s640/cowboysiblings.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">And here we are increasing the difficulty level by attempting a photo of both children at once. Score one for Mommy with eye contact from two hard to pin kiddos! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-qYEUuzxjTOM/TlxuiAYsxsI/AAAAAAAAAzA/EiQYFLvWHko/s1600/cowboysister.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-qYEUuzxjTOM/TlxuiAYsxsI/AAAAAAAAAzA/EiQYFLvWHko/s640/cowboysister.jpg" width="426" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">And here we have the classic Big Sister maneuver as she "helps" me get a photo of her brother. So sweet. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-gzf4y_dyo5A/TlxujYXglcI/AAAAAAAAAzM/4JZ5DzYwCbY/s1600/ethansam.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-gzf4y_dyo5A/TlxujYXglcI/AAAAAAAAAzM/4JZ5DzYwCbY/s640/ethansam.jpg" width="426" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Uncle Sam and his namesake. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Nxdcb4U3CRw/TlxulRytGJI/AAAAAAAAAzc/ykRKzWVOF2g/s1600/unclesam.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Nxdcb4U3CRw/TlxulRytGJI/AAAAAAAAAzc/ykRKzWVOF2g/s640/unclesam.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Now I'm really getting crazy with the jellybeans. A photo involving two small children, Sam Parry, and an excitable small dog. Somebody make me some Sploosh. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-9Ld0GqFf55Q/TlxujNMZAtI/AAAAAAAAAzI/4TkLZ3sWYrs/s1600/daddyrodeo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-9Ld0GqFf55Q/TlxujNMZAtI/AAAAAAAAAzI/4TkLZ3sWYrs/s640/daddyrodeo.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Daddy hanging out with us for a little bit in the stands.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2d7uwdzhMFA/Tlxuki0oNaI/AAAAAAAAAzY/rmQt_-RtXnY/s1600/rodeowriting.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2d7uwdzhMFA/Tlxuki0oNaI/AAAAAAAAAzY/rmQt_-RtXnY/s640/rodeowriting.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Grace practiced writing her numbers by writing the cowboy's scores on the daily each night.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-C8jRM4EPKLg/TlxukJnIXcI/AAAAAAAAAzU/DU2MUMvbLrE/s1600/rodeodrink.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-C8jRM4EPKLg/TlxukJnIXcI/AAAAAAAAAzU/DU2MUMvbLrE/s640/rodeodrink.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> The kids' first drink in a bar courtesy of Uncle Sam. For the record, it was a Shirley Temple and was in the Rodeo Club right above the arena. </div>Cooking with Big Ehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07022582208907832592noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3397195815152913396.post-5640951551876970492011-08-11T08:37:00.000-07:002011-08-11T09:13:26.567-07:00We've been married 10 years? Really? Really!Ten years ago this morning I was spending a relaxing morning preparing for our afternoon wedding. I remember I took a bath in my parent's large soaking tub, read a little, and soaked in the quiet before heading to the church. I spotted the Oscar Meyer Weinermobile on the way and I knew it was a good sign. Friends did my hair and makeup and my Mom helped me into my borrowed dress. David and I chose to see each other and do all the posed photos before the wedding (something I encourage every bride to do!) which helped keep our nerves calm. I remember goading each other not to cry and the feel of David's hands holding mine firmly. I am not a person who relishes the spotlight but I don't think I even noticed the rest of the people at the ceremony because I was so focused on David. My good friends Kay and Anna both sang beautifully and we released doves (or tried to, it was sweltering hot and the birds had to be practically thrown out of the basket!) right before we left the church in a cloud of bubbles. Our brothers took us for a spin through the Dairy Queen drive thru where my brother chivalrously bought us a Blizzard that we ate while waiting for everyone else to arrive at our reception location.<br />
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10 years.<br />
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Looking back I wonder at how young we were and how much growing we each had to do. I had just turned 20 and David was newly 21. We were in the middle of college, we planned our wedding date to be as close to the end of summer as possible (to make as much money working summer jobs as we could!), and also give us time to go on a honeymoon and set up house before school started. By luck we were able to share David's grandparents 55th wedding anniversary (Happy 65th to Delbert and Fern Parry!) which is special to us.<br />
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Our first two years of marriage were spent in Moscow, Idaho finishing college. We lived in a tiny 450 square feet "apartment" (I use the term loosely) literally across the street from campus. The Engineering Physics building and David's Computer Science classes were all within sight of our front door. Our home became the hub for many of David's friends to spend time playing video games between classes since we were so convenient. David graduated with his BS in Computer Science and BA in History in December 2002 and I finished my BFA in Interior Design in May 2003.<br />
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We moved to Salem , Oregon the week after I graduated with no job prospects but a sense of adventure. David was enrolled to begin classes for his MBA at Willamette University in August but for the first few months we were unable to secure jobs of any kind and so we practiced being retired. We've very good at being retired: we perfected our bocce technique, ate dinner early to watch Jeopardy every night, and went to bed early with nothing to do. We had no cable, no internet, and lived a very spare existence and knew nobody in town. <br />
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I finally landed a job the same week David started school and worked three different jobs (some overlapping) to support us while David spent two years at Willamette. I found out I was pregnant with Grace the day after Thanksgiving 2004 and she was born July 30, 2005. David was able to meet us at the Salem Hospital for my midwives appointments because Willamette University is only across the street which worked out well for us since we only had one car. We bought our second vehicle right after David graduated and before he started to work at Hewlett Packard in Corvallis. We shared our Ford Escort station wagon for four years before that point. We couldn't make sharing a car work with David driving to Corvallis every day, a 45 minute drive one way. In the ten years we've been married we have both worked full time regular jobs for six weeks. <br />
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We bought our first house in spring of 2006 and moved to Dallas, Oregon which is where we still are. My brother, Brian, lived with us for the first year we lived in our new home. He was attending Western Oregon University at the time which is only 10 minutes from our house. It was actually good timing because I was pregnant with Ethan during six months of his stay with us and I couldn't cook/deal with food for much of that time so Brian fed us all and helped me out with Grace during the day when he wasn't at class.<br />
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That brings us to today. We've packed a lot in to the last 10 years and have grown a lot. We've finished 4 college degrees, had 2 kids, bought 1 house, worked 9 jobs, owned 4 vehicles, moved 3 times, and have made countless 7+ hour car trips. I've learned a lot from all those things but the biggest thing I've learned is that marrying David was the best decision I've ever made. He is the kind of man I hope our son grows up to be and I thank God for him every day. I never pictured myself as the kind of girl that gets married young and finds joy in domestic bliss, but meeting him turned my world upside down and I'm the better for it.<br />
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And because I don't think I'm capable of not posting a thousand photos, here's a photo walk down memory lane: <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zZA1mVlGs1g/TkPwM0681dI/AAAAAAAAAwQ/z13zHpkmQCo/s1600/dating.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="420" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zZA1mVlGs1g/TkPwM0681dI/AAAAAAAAAwQ/z13zHpkmQCo/s640/dating.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"> First year of dating in Moscow, Idaho 1999</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bGDj0Reu6p8/TkPwMLfjLEI/AAAAAAAAAwM/9hHqpEiPPz4/s1600/dancing.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bGDj0Reu6p8/TkPwMLfjLEI/AAAAAAAAAwM/9hHqpEiPPz4/s640/dancing.jpeg" width="464" /></a></div> Dancing together at a Scholars Residence Party 2000<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><img border="0" height="428" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-X5iGr_-61dU/TkPwLZg75lI/AAAAAAAAAwE/CaKRF3-JsbI/s640/apartmentoutside.jpg" width="640" /></div><div style="text-align: left;"></div><div style="text-align: left;">Our first apartment (i.e. The Shoebox) and car (white station wagon)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-r_BnyElht38/TkPwOWRUTQI/AAAAAAAAAwc/XaFNiEVXQJw/s1600/firstapt.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="456" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-r_BnyElht38/TkPwOWRUTQI/AAAAAAAAAwc/XaFNiEVXQJw/s640/firstapt.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"> Inside our first apartment. View from the front door, we're standing in the "kitchen".</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zwHlBFq8fIY/TkPwOwwRcsI/AAAAAAAAAwg/E6uMW_HPl6o/s1600/firstaptkitchen.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="425" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zwHlBFq8fIY/TkPwOwwRcsI/AAAAAAAAAwg/E6uMW_HPl6o/s640/firstaptkitchen.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"> Setting up our first home the weekend before our wedding</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Uh8XpN-5uT0/TkPwQblNK1I/AAAAAAAAAws/8ltUNbVQQbc/s1600/wedding.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="619" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Uh8XpN-5uT0/TkPwQblNK1I/AAAAAAAAAws/8ltUNbVQQbc/s640/wedding.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"> We got married in a beautiful church in Gresham, OR</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mTMWkESsoVE/TkPwQ16X8qI/AAAAAAAAAww/XTjqEVsRumo/s1600/weddingdance.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="420" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mTMWkESsoVE/TkPwQ16X8qI/AAAAAAAAAww/XTjqEVsRumo/s640/weddingdance.jpg" width="640" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Our first dance </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-L20f4ubsMDs/TkPwNwN6BUI/AAAAAAAAAwY/wkXZaFn8QbM/s1600/firstanniversary.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-L20f4ubsMDs/TkPwNwN6BUI/AAAAAAAAAwY/wkXZaFn8QbM/s640/firstanniversary.jpeg" width="640" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> Our first anniversary Canoe Trip Disaster. Do NOT attempt to canoe Lake Couer d'Alene! 2002</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-TGpuoyxDGqY/TkPwNcMIqtI/AAAAAAAAAwU/9qWAZWs5M8E/s1600/davidgraduation.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="633" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-TGpuoyxDGqY/TkPwNcMIqtI/AAAAAAAAAwU/9qWAZWs5M8E/s640/davidgraduation.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">David's graduation from the University of Idaho 2002</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HHqVstGST9Q/TkPwPc3wiQI/AAAAAAAAAwk/7xiOn8maOcU/s640/kelliegraduation.jpeg" width="640" /> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">My graduation from the University of Idaho 2003</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-DgiE5rjQRs0/TkPwPyuhzYI/AAAAAAAAAwo/AVkoATcE3mk/s1600/rodeo.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="473" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-DgiE5rjQRs0/TkPwPyuhzYI/AAAAAAAAAwo/AVkoATcE3mk/s640/rodeo.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> I actually am not quite sure what year this is but I think 2003? At the Rodeo!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-dncqponiXB4/TkPwLxzd9xI/AAAAAAAAAwI/aSwZFYXpidA/s1600/beach2004.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="403" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-dncqponiXB4/TkPwLxzd9xI/AAAAAAAAAwI/aSwZFYXpidA/s640/beach2004.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Building a sand castle at the beach in 2004</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-aVuxEtE2gMQ/TkPzSmRy_9I/AAAAAAAAAw4/ePr0jSt0DVI/s1600/IMG_0074.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-aVuxEtE2gMQ/TkPzSmRy_9I/AAAAAAAAAw4/ePr0jSt0DVI/s640/IMG_0074.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"> David's MBA graduation in 2005 (I'm pregnant with Grace)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SieCNyrxzoI/TkPzsi5uKOI/AAAAAAAAAw8/ajaLqPHe_jw/s1600/family2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SieCNyrxzoI/TkPzsi5uKOI/AAAAAAAAAw8/ajaLqPHe_jw/s640/family2.jpg" width="545" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;">At Dominic & Melinda's wedding with two week old Grace</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9iQa40wCTqc/TkPz6qd1gUI/AAAAAAAAAxA/MRkWikE5pfw/s1600/anniversary5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9iQa40wCTqc/TkPz6qd1gUI/AAAAAAAAAxA/MRkWikE5pfw/s640/anniversary5.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;">Our 5th wedding anniversary August 11, 2006</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-G0ErD791mHs/TkP0HGo4DkI/AAAAAAAAAxE/UoJ9zUr2N88/s1600/superparryfamily.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-G0ErD791mHs/TkP0HGo4DkI/AAAAAAAAAxE/UoJ9zUr2N88/s640/superparryfamily.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;">The Super Parry Family just before Ethan was born</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-RV39ahYZXxg/TkP0tEPUu0I/AAAAAAAAAxI/6Ua2iozPZ1U/s1600/rockingout+%25282%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-RV39ahYZXxg/TkP0tEPUu0I/AAAAAAAAAxI/6Ua2iozPZ1U/s640/rockingout+%25282%2529.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;">Rocking out on Rock Band (what you didn't know I have mad drumming skillz?!) Christmas 2007</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-NoAjoCQc9a4/TkP1AcuZ1TI/AAAAAAAAAxM/LrtFODuSgA8/s1600/familyportrait1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="425" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-NoAjoCQc9a4/TkP1AcuZ1TI/AAAAAAAAAxM/LrtFODuSgA8/s640/familyportrait1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;">Family portrait (by our wedding photographer) in 2008</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-zgn2S4jbKno/TkP1i0grgGI/AAAAAAAAAxQ/sufGFeot4QA/s1600/ParryIMG_1708.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="425" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-zgn2S4jbKno/TkP1i0grgGI/AAAAAAAAAxQ/sufGFeot4QA/s640/ParryIMG_1708.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;">Our family in 2009 (photo by Alysun Peters)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-IbNs3AdiK5E/TkP2MeuleDI/AAAAAAAAAxU/54m9Mx0zpEM/s1600/IMG_4506.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="425" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-IbNs3AdiK5E/TkP2MeuleDI/AAAAAAAAAxU/54m9Mx0zpEM/s640/IMG_4506.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;">The four of us (well, three of us plus Thor) Mothers Day 2011</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">Happy 10th Anniversary Sweet Pea! Looking forward to the next 10!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-TC2OGNT07Jc/TkPyvzEViaI/AAAAAAAAAw0/tFTBYU_0m_w/s1600/IMG_0074.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-TC2OGNT07Jc/TkPyvzEViaI/AAAAAAAAAw0/tFTBYU_0m_w/s1600/IMG_0074.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> </a><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-TC2OGNT07Jc/TkPyvzEViaI/AAAAAAAAAw0/tFTBYU_0m_w/s1600/IMG_0074.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> </a></div>Cooking with Big Ehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07022582208907832592noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3397195815152913396.post-7474953261936911732011-08-03T19:50:00.000-07:002011-08-03T19:51:58.314-07:00Grace has a loose tooth!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">So I realize I'm a bit behind on blogging, but July is really a crazy month for us and I'm just now coming up for air. I thought I'd share this little video I just took 30 minutes ago of Grace talking about her loose tooth we just discovered. She is so excited about it she wanted me to call all her friends so she can tell them about her loose tooth. Since I'm sure their Mommies would much rather not have calls about loose tooths just before bedtime I am posting this video for you all instead.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">(never mind the cat fight in the background...our cats just looooove each other)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/f9QxxwvD98w?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>Cooking with Big Ehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07022582208907832592noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3397195815152913396.post-72195544901587222682011-07-14T14:39:00.000-07:002011-08-03T19:33:11.927-07:00Photo Scavenger Hunt Fun!This month I've been participating in a photo scavenger hunt put on by my favorite photography website <a href="http://www.clickinmoms.com/">Clickin Moms</a>. The kids and I have driven all over the place to find oddball and obscure items to cross off our list. As of the writing of this post I am up to 164 items found which is about halfway through the list. I've just about exhausted all my resources so now I'll be bugging all my friends and family between here and Idaho so look out!<br />
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<b>Here's a list of some of the items I'm currently on the lookout for.</b> If you have any of the items and you're willing to let me come over and photograph please let me know! If you know where I can find some of these that would also be a big help. Thank you!<br />
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"No Shoes No Shirt No Service" Sign<br />
3 Legged Dog<br />
4 Leaf Clover<br />
A "Where's George?" dollar bill<br />
A Tattooed man on a pink bicycle<br />
Adult in footie pjs<br />
Adult on roller skates<br />
Adult twins<br />
<strike>An acid washed skirt</strike><br />
An El Camino<br />
Animal with 2 different colored eyes<br />
Billboard with a camera on it<br />
<strike>Blooming Cactus</strike><br />
Bottle of Dom Perignon 2002<br />
<strike>Candy Corn</strike><br />
Castle<br />
<strike>Covered Bridge</strike><br />
Curling Stone<br />
David Hasslehoff Poster<br />
Delorian (the real car)<br />
Dog with blue eyes<br />
Euro<br />
False Teeth<br />
<strike>Ferrari</strike><br />
Green fire hydrant<br />
Heart shaped swimming pool<br />
<strike>Log Cabin</strike><br />
Man in powder blue tux<br />
<strike>Man with a handlebar mustache</strike><br />
Misspelled Tattoo<br />
Mullet (the hairstyle)<br />
Pachinko Machine<br />
Person with 2 color eyes<br />
Person with a purple cast<br />
<strike>Pink Suitcase</strike><br />
<strike>Prickly Pear Cactus</strike><br />
<strike>Rubberband Ball</strike><br />
Someone wearing false eyelashes<br />
Someone wearing a sumo wrestler suit<br />
<strike>Stork bite</strike><br />
Tadpole<br />
Tarot cards<br />
Triplets<br />
<strike>Troll Doll</strike><br />
Turkey Wishbone<br />
<strike>Two $2 bills</strike><br />
<strike>Ukulele</strike><br />
Unicycle<br />
<strike>Whoopie cushion</strike><br />
<strike>Windmill</strike><br />
Zero candy bar<br />
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<b>Amusing Items I've already crossed off my list:</b><br />
Car with 2004 Election Bumper Sticker<br />
House numbered 123<br />
Worker at a Drive Thru Window<br />
Zebra print thong underwear<br />
Blue lipstick<br />
Someone jumping in a pool with clothes on<br />
Pie Eating Contest<br />
Slurpee<br />
Person with a gold tooth<br />
Ferris Wheel<br />
Grown Man on a pogo stick (my husband must love me!)<br />
Cat on a leash (Boo now hates me)<br />
Adult in a tutu (yep I squeezed in one this morning)Cooking with Big Ehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07022582208907832592noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3397195815152913396.post-4192989536597411172011-06-28T15:35:00.000-07:002011-06-28T15:35:15.464-07:00Strawberries!The kids and I went strawberry picking yesterday and picked 12 pounds of strawberries. That might sound like a lot, but it really isn't. I made a double batch of strawberry freezer jam (10 cups), put some in the freezer, made <a href="http://parryfamilychronicles.blogspot.com/2009/05/strawberry-oven-pancakes.html">strawberry oven pancakes</a> for dinner (my favorite!), and have a bunch leftover for more strawberry goodness. Thinking about making some strawberry ice cream, and maybe freeze some more.<br />
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We didn't pick any strawberries last year because we picked so many the year before. In fact we're just now finishing up the last bit of freezer jam from that batch! This year Grace was actually a helper and managed to get more then one or two in the box instead of in her mouth. Ethan took over the taste testing position and left Grace and I to the real work.<br />
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I'm excited that the berry farm we found also grows raspberries and marionberries...we'll be back!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-tvDVdTSonuY/TgpWuLgJf4I/AAAAAAAAAuE/TV_vrE_Z6h8/s1600/ethanstrawberries.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-tvDVdTSonuY/TgpWuLgJf4I/AAAAAAAAAuE/TV_vrE_Z6h8/s640/ethanstrawberries.jpg" width="440" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-66yDj7GNDfE/TgpWvxm9KaI/AAAAAAAAAuI/FmBYVa6AIno/s1600/gracestrawberries.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-66yDj7GNDfE/TgpWvxm9KaI/AAAAAAAAAuI/FmBYVa6AIno/s640/gracestrawberries.jpg" width="440" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-EDSCFcDraDM/TgpWwO_XUSI/AAAAAAAAAuM/0cMtIdrzn-4/s1600/strawberries.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-EDSCFcDraDM/TgpWwO_XUSI/AAAAAAAAAuM/0cMtIdrzn-4/s640/strawberries.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>Cooking with Big Ehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07022582208907832592noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3397195815152913396.post-12164394915690384382011-06-20T07:45:00.000-07:002011-06-20T07:45:26.654-07:00I ♥ Faces: Hearts Challenge: Let's Hear It For the BoysI couldn't resist entering the Let's Hear It For the Boys theme...I happen to think my boy is just about the cutest thing on the planet! As such I had a terribly difficult time choosing just one photo of my little guy to share, but the fun <a href="http://www.kellieparryphotography.com/2011/04/my-little-rock-star-child-portrait.html">Rock n Roll session</a> we did awhile back came away the winner. I love that he wanted to listen to All the Single Ladies while we took these photos. How can you resist his charm?<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5063/5578908216_9270a132d2_z.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5063/5578908216_9270a132d2_z.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>For more adorable boys click on the I Heart Faces link below:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.iheartfaces.com/"><img border="0" src="http://www.iheartfaces.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/05/I_Heart_Faces_Photography_125.jpg" /></a></div>Cooking with Big Ehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07022582208907832592noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3397195815152913396.post-84967884688131637052011-06-19T07:08:00.000-07:002011-06-19T07:08:57.665-07:00Happy Father's Day Sweetie!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-qwZZ1wg3TSo/TfrTrgvPP8I/AAAAAAAAAr8/7wr5mvrv7SA/s1600/fathersday.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-qwZZ1wg3TSo/TfrTrgvPP8I/AAAAAAAAAr8/7wr5mvrv7SA/s640/fathersday.jpg" width="640" /></a></div> That's right, we took some silly mustache on a stick photos for our favorite Mustache Man in honor of Fathers Day. Why not? My sweetie is an awesome dad and one of the things that my children love about him is how silly he can be. They are lucky to have a dad who is willing to act like a complete goofball to make them laugh, although they may feel less lucky as they morph into teenagers! Thanks for being such a fabulous father to our children, they are so lucky to have you!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-eL57Jwx7yLk/TfrTr-Lzh2I/AAAAAAAAAsA/NgSnPRA6-EM/s1600/gracemustache.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-eL57Jwx7yLk/TfrTr-Lzh2I/AAAAAAAAAsA/NgSnPRA6-EM/s640/gracemustache.jpg" width="640" /></a></div> When I asked Ethan what he loves about his Daddy he said he loves that he gives him hugs and plays with him. He also loves Daddy smooches.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-nv7kc1IwDpg/TftfhL5SY_I/AAAAAAAAAsI/bn5NpQb1AcM/s1600/gracemustache.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-nv7kc1IwDpg/TftfhL5SY_I/AAAAAAAAAsI/bn5NpQb1AcM/s640/gracemustache.jpg" width="640" /></a></div> Grace told me that she thinks Daddy is handsome (I agree). She loves that he works hard to make dollars for her and loves to snuggle with Daddy in bed in the morning. She likes to play outside while he barbecues or mows the grass.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-aw_Dfieq78Y/TfrTsefZZDI/AAAAAAAAAsE/cKoehm-Vyt0/s1600/mustachetrio.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-aw_Dfieq78Y/TfrTsefZZDI/AAAAAAAAAsE/cKoehm-Vyt0/s640/mustachetrio.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> Yes, I jumped in a shot too. Mustaches on a stick are just too tempting for me to resist. Happy Fathers Day Sweetie!</div>Cooking with Big Ehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07022582208907832592noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3397195815152913396.post-88046040941441919762011-06-16T15:29:00.000-07:002011-06-16T15:30:00.950-07:00Little Cowboy and CowgirlLast weekend we enjoyed the Sisters Rodeo as we do every year on the second weekend in June. This year I brought my camera along but only took a few photos of the kids playing around and didn't even bring it to the rodeo. Through the years I've discovered that it's pretty much impossible to do much with a camera at a rodeo when you're a mother of two small children. I have at least one child on my lap at all times, get to make 15 trips from the stands to the portapotties and/or to buy more bottled water or treats. I figure I have plenty of years to photograph rodeos to my heart's content once my children can sit in a seat by themselves and don't require me to take them to the potty constantly. Instead I snuggled with my kids and even got Ethan to nap right as the last few bullriders finished the rodeo for us. So instead of fast paced exciting rodeo action I am sharing sweet photos of my kids in their cowboy hats. Notice Grace's is purple and Ethan refused to wear his cowboy boots (he did consent to wear them to the rodeo though...)<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TjxzDEGfmyk/TfqDODyuyHI/AAAAAAAAArk/zb38LZb0ioo/s1600/rodeoethan.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TjxzDEGfmyk/TfqDODyuyHI/AAAAAAAAArk/zb38LZb0ioo/s640/rodeoethan.jpg" width="640" /></a><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-oC-UxmFtPBY/TfqDNlMxkMI/AAAAAAAAArg/8OARsjaD4HM/s1600/rodeoblue.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-oC-UxmFtPBY/TfqDNlMxkMI/AAAAAAAAArg/8OARsjaD4HM/s640/rodeoblue.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-raLqM9WU79E/TfqDPe8uUFI/AAAAAAAAArw/yBv0W2AZa0E/s1600/rodeojed.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-raLqM9WU79E/TfqDPe8uUFI/AAAAAAAAArw/yBv0W2AZa0E/s640/rodeojed.jpg" width="640" /></a><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-I7ln7toL6FI/TfqDOlkJKgI/AAAAAAAAAro/6m4CRGoaCcc/s1600/rodeoflower.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-I7ln7toL6FI/TfqDOlkJKgI/AAAAAAAAAro/6m4CRGoaCcc/s640/rodeoflower.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-o2dbbSThPLk/TfqDPwX4t3I/AAAAAAAAAr0/kuZgUQcEyWI/s1600/rodeorock.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-o2dbbSThPLk/TfqDPwX4t3I/AAAAAAAAAr0/kuZgUQcEyWI/s640/rodeorock.jpg" width="640" /></a><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-yVHOJnKNtNE/TfqDOzQLtbI/AAAAAAAAArs/yNk9U2aq8Sc/s1600/rodeograce.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-yVHOJnKNtNE/TfqDOzQLtbI/AAAAAAAAArs/yNk9U2aq8Sc/s640/rodeograce.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/--xYp3Z08G7M/TfqDQJfk9iI/AAAAAAAAAr4/Vvr4e_EE8eQ/s1600/rodeosunflare.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/--xYp3Z08G7M/TfqDQJfk9iI/AAAAAAAAAr4/Vvr4e_EE8eQ/s640/rodeosunflare.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>Cooking with Big Ehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07022582208907832592noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3397195815152913396.post-26857690167421827262011-06-15T11:06:00.000-07:002011-06-15T11:06:22.918-07:00Ethan the GymnastEthan was enrolled in gymnastics this spring and really loved it. He's watched Grace take the class a couple of times and was so excited that it was his turn! He did such a great job listening to his teachers and sitting in line, I was very impressed. Grace was much less impressive in her sitting still in line skills (and still is!). This was the first activity in which Ethan was the participant and Grace was on the sidelines with me. She didn't like the role reversal very much, but it was good for her. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-RBYy3J5M_UA/Tfjzu6ccCWI/AAAAAAAAArU/zbHcIn5qtJE/s1600/gymnastics1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-RBYy3J5M_UA/Tfjzu6ccCWI/AAAAAAAAArU/zbHcIn5qtJE/s640/gymnastics1.jpg" width="440" /></a><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-eE7jmTrFWio/Tfjz3rH0ieI/AAAAAAAAArY/_BTMjcxoiX4/s1600/gymnastics2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-eE7jmTrFWio/Tfjz3rH0ieI/AAAAAAAAArY/_BTMjcxoiX4/s640/gymnastics2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">As a reward for all his hard work (and excellent waiting in line skills!) and for Grace's patience watching her brother twice a week I treated the three of us to a Burgerville milkshake. If you've ever had one you know that they are quite possibly the best milkshakes ever. They had a Timbers Mint Oreo one that we tried that was pretty tasty.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8GlpyHmtiyM/Tfj0khxzOCI/AAAAAAAAArc/g4a_a0e0dBE/s1600/ethaneyes.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8GlpyHmtiyM/Tfj0khxzOCI/AAAAAAAAArc/g4a_a0e0dBE/s640/ethaneyes.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>Cooking with Big Ehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07022582208907832592noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3397195815152913396.post-18003823284427543892011-06-03T13:23:00.000-07:002011-06-03T13:23:16.515-07:00Hello GoodbyeRemember when I got my <a href="http://parryfamilychronicles.blogspot.com/2008/05/its-coming.html">first dslr</a> back in May 2008? In my blog post I mentioned that I couldn't wait to get it and post a million photos. I bet I'm close! I posted the <a href="http://parryfamilychronicles.blogspot.com/2008/05/pictures-at-last.html">very first photos</a> I took with my brand spanking new Rebel and I have to say that taking a million photos has really helped me come a long ways. Yikes! The last blog post on this blog with photos taken with my Rebel was <a href="http://parryfamilychronicles.blogspot.com/2010/09/graces-first-day-of-kingergarten.html">Grace's First Day of Kindergarten</a>. Certainly taking a million photos improved my skills some. My Rebel was good to me and I learned to shoot on the scary Manual mode with it so it will always have a special place in my heart.<br />
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When I first started venturing into photography as a business and not just a (very expensive!) hobby David gave me the rule that I couldn't spend family money on photography equipment, only money I earned. It's actually a great rule, even if it is frustrating at times. I really think through all my purchases and spend my money 500 times before ever actually spending a dime. Last fall I had finally made enough to either improve my lenses or upgrade my camera body to full frame. I chose to buy the lenses first and it was a good decision for me. I upgraded my 50mm and bought the 85mm once I realized that I'm really a prime girl. Instead of making a big jump in camera bodies I bought a used 40D and kept my Rebel as my backup. The 40D was a nice jump and a really nice camera, but I knew when I bought it that I still really wanted to go full frame.<br />
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This spring I realized that the only time I reached for my Tamron zoom lens was when I needed to go wider then 50mm (mostly indoors studio shoots) and I realized I could sell my Tamron to fund a wide angle prime. When I was researching which wide angle prime to get I realized that if I could find a way to upgrade to the full frame I might not need a super wide lens. So I sold my Tamron and my Rebel and cleaned out my business account to buy a used 5D classic. I realize it's not the newest (the 5D iii is due to come out this fall so I'll be 2 generations behind) but neither was the 40D when I bought it. Most of my equipment has been bought used because saving up for new would take me way too long!<br />
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I realize most of you reading this blog post are probably super bored by now and have no idea what I'm talking about. Suffice it to say that as sad as I was to say goodbye to my Rebel I am even more excited to say a great big HELLO! to my 5D! I am not even a little embarrassed to say I screamed with joy when I got back to the car to drive home with it. You can ask the kids, they'll tell you just how happy I was! There wasn't a lot of light left when we got home but I still managed to take a few photos with my new camera and had the kids mimic my excited face. <br />
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Goodbye to my Rebel....<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-SPnMg1I-2Uw/TelBZVmSwqI/AAAAAAAAAq0/ft9oTkbn738/s1600/rebel.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-SPnMg1I-2Uw/TelBZVmSwqI/AAAAAAAAAq0/ft9oTkbn738/s640/rebel.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>And a great big HELLO! to my new 5D!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RVSyTuxW-So/TelBl-juOoI/AAAAAAAAAq8/KoRWoite2t0/s1600/5dgrip.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RVSyTuxW-So/TelBl-juOoI/AAAAAAAAAq8/KoRWoite2t0/s640/5dgrip.jpg" width="640" /></a><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-9h_ECSB2VE4/TelBjh2eWfI/AAAAAAAAAq4/cFBUZIT-FT8/s1600/5dback.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-9h_ECSB2VE4/TelBjh2eWfI/AAAAAAAAAq4/cFBUZIT-FT8/s640/5dback.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>Watch out world because here I come...full frame camera in tow!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-20Vz3XxhWBQ/TelBEk5DwqI/AAAAAAAAAqw/x5mtVPIfA1c/s1600/excitedethan.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-20Vz3XxhWBQ/TelBEk5DwqI/AAAAAAAAAqw/x5mtVPIfA1c/s640/excitedethan.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>Cooking with Big Ehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07022582208907832592noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3397195815152913396.post-60645634426655698832011-06-02T18:26:00.000-07:002011-06-02T18:26:50.261-07:00Baseball & Barbecue 2011This year's Baseball & Barbecue was a small affair, wondering if maybe next year we should plan it on a non-holiday weekend. Or maybe a sunny one? Ha! In any case, the few of us that braved the elements stayed dry if not a little wind swept. Ethan wouldn't have cared what the weather was like, he was just ecstatic to play ball! He didn't even play on the playground with the other kids, he just kept hitting his tee ball. Thank goodness we bought the Super Duper Can't Break This If You Tried tee ball stand for him last Christmas. That thing weighs a hundred pounds but I think it will withstand constant use and abuse and that's what we need.<br />
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Here's Ethan in his element:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2788/5791637639_46fc84fc30_z.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2788/5791637639_46fc84fc30_z.jpg" width="440" /></a></div>And a few of the other brave souls in attendance, sorry I didn't get everybody but I can barely stand to use my cheap long range zoom and didn't want to crawl all over in the dirt with my primes!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3405/5792196712_27e3ebe58b_z.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3405/5792196712_27e3ebe58b_z.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>Cooking with Big Ehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07022582208907832592noreply@blogger.com0