Little Miss Homemaker

I posted this on facebook already, but I wanted it here too. Sorry for the repetition.

I really think that Laurie is going to know how to cook by the time she's three. Every time I am making something in the kitchen she has to help. This afternoon I had started heating some water to make Mac and Cheese, then I went to play piano until the water boiled. The box of pasta was sitting on the stove next to the pan, UNOPENED.

I heard a loud sound and before I could see what was happening Laurie came in and gave me a damp cheese packet. She had opened the box, and poured all contents into the water in the pan. I almost got mad.

She then insisted on helping to make lunch.

Spring In Utah (March 31, 2010). Yep! It's Snowing!

Today is March 31, 2010. As I looked out my back door today, this is what graced me falling from the sky. Yep! Lots & lots of snow.

And this is what it's looking like out front. The white specs falling from the sky is indeed snow.

I don't know about the rest of you, but if this is Spring, I'm ready for Summer.

Laurie Sleeps Everywhere

Laurie is probably going to hate me when she gets older. Since she refuses to nap she ends up falling asleep at random times. I have a new hobby of getting a picture of her every time she falls alseep somewhere. I think it is so funny.

Guess What It Is 2? (More Macro Shots)

Here's the results of the first macro shots:

A watchband

A drinking glass

Here's this weeks shots....

Enjoy!
-Graydon

Guess What It Is? (Macro Shots)

Ok, since I have this fancy new lens, it's time for a game....

Let's see if you can guess what these two pictures are of...

Picture 1

Picture 2

I'll post the answer this weekend.

-Graydon

I Love Macro Lenses!

About a month ago I rented a macro lens for my camera to shoot some product photography with for my business. I fell in love with the results!

Macro lenses tend to produce incredibly "crisp, sharp" pictures and give beautiful "blur" behind the object being shot (the stuff behind what you're taking a picture of is nice & out of focus). The blur is called Bokeh. It helps to really bring out the object that you're taking a picture of.

(I shot this example with the lens today)

The one I rented is called a Canon Macro 60 mm lens. And the images it produced were so nice that I decided to buy one!

Well, the new toy showed up today and below is a sampling of some of the things I shot today.

This is a shot of Josh doing what he does quite often...running around with a camera in hand (see the blur behind him? Sweet, eh?)

Here's another shot of our budding photographer

Fun shot of Laurie (see the grass out of focus?)

I loved how this shot turned out.

Laurie having a great time in a swing.

Not only do Macro lenses make for great "blur" and close up shots, but they also do really nice for general shots as well. I shot the one below with no flash in natural light. I loved how the colors turned out!

I think I'm really going to enjoy this lens! Not only will it be exceptional for shooting my products for my business with, but looks like I'll be able to get some great shots of the kids too!

-Graydon

Family Night Fun With Maps...

We had a really great family night this week.

Val bought a map of the United States and we used smiley face stickers to show where all the temples have been built. The kids had a blast putting all the stickers on the map and learned about all the different states too.

After we were done, Josh & Emily pulled out some cars and drove all over the map playing like they were on a road trip.

It's now up on the wall in the kitchen and we're using it to teach the kids all about the states.
We also had some great no-bake cookies! Yum!