It's so quiet here!

My daughter made me get rid of the music. Sorry, Jess. I know you liked listening to my playlist at work. Sorry, Jake. I know that first song was your theme song. Kate convinced me that it was a huge inconvenience to make all of you search for my playlist and turn it off in order to be able to hear my videos. I want to make a point of taking more video and including it, so the playlist is gone.  I may have to reconsider once I start listening to Christmas music!

I was so happy that Jake was well enough to make it back to school on Friday for his Halloween parade and party. I was so surprised to see that he was the line leader. What do you think that means? Are they afraid he'll run away?  Was he misbehaving before the parade?  Is it because he is the youngest in the class? Are you wondering why I must over analyze everything?  Sigh...it is my nature.  I must think positive. Maybe it was his turn to be the line leader. Maybe he just happened to line up first? Ok...ENOUGH! I'll let it go now.

Don't have too much fun, Jake. This makes me think he was in trouble! Ha!

Kate came home Friday evening to help us carve one of the pumpkins. It's always been a Daddy/Kate tradition around here, so it was great to have her with us. Of course, they set up the pumpkin in the darkest part of the kitchen. I decided to be brave and use my external flash. I have flash issues. I hate it. I think it looks so fake. I rarely use it.  At least I feel like I'm finally having some success with it...even if I still think it looks fake. The first two were taken without flash. It is interesting how much the flash warms up the shot in the rest of the pictures.

This is why we get to see Kate so often. She's crazy about her brother!

Jake actually asked me to take some pictures while we were outside today. I was more than happy to have the chance to play with my new camera again. The color is just amazing. I typically make my pictures more vibrant and boost the blacks. I don't have to do either with the shots that come out of this camera. They require very little editing. I have a few shoots coming up, and I'm tempted to use it. I feel ready...already! We'll see!

 He looked at the camera...more than once! Do you believe it? Don't you just love the grass stain on the knee in the next shot?

He promised me some studio shots in his Halloween costume tomorrow. I'm going to hold him to it!

Hey...all you single ladies...

Beyonce's got nothing on him...

The "PS" man came. Guess what he brought.

I played just a bit. There is a learning curve, and I don't have a lot of time right now. I did very little editing to these shots. Dan looked over my shoulder and commented on the colors!!!  I was using my new macro lens.

Those flowers are in my yard...still...at the end of October. My 2 rose bushes bloom like crazy from early spring to late, late fall. I've even seen buds in the winter. I think their location in my backyard must just be the perfect spot. They are right under my dryer vent, too.  It blows my mind every time I look out at them.

Last weekend was parent weekend on campus. We took Jake Friday night to see Kate and take her out to dinner.

I took one look out of the window while we were eating and asked her to please avoid the place across the street.

Dan and I went back on Saturday to spend time with her and take her out to our favorite French restaurant for dinner. I didn't take my camera. I didn't want to embarrass her. It was so cool to walk the campus with her and see her favorite spots. We came back to campus for dessert and had gelato and coffee at a cute little cafe. 

Last weekend Miranda came along for my photo shoot to act as an assistant and observe. She's very interested in photography, knows her camera well, and has a great eye.

 I think we worked really well together, and I was impressed by what she captured for the family and for me. 

I thought this shot was super cute and creative. Don't you just love my stool? It's so me!!

Jake has been home all week with another cold. Unfortunately combined with the allergy problems right now, the cold led to an asthma attack. It presented differently than normal. He wasn't actually wheezing, but the doctor believes that his hard, constant cough is asthma related. She put him on prednisone for the second time this fall.  He improved very quickly.  We now have an appointment in early December with a pediatric asthma/allergy specialist. He will be skin tested to see exactly what he is allergic to and will have a pulmonary workup.  We are suppose to get a freeze tonight. I am praying we do and praying that the mold levels will decrease. I think that is what we all are reacting to right now. Kate and I have also had a bad allergy week.

I am planning on sending Jake to school tomorrow so he doesn't miss his Halloween party. I think he's ready to go back, and I'm close and home if he needs me. I think we also need a little break from each other!

Tom, Sue, and family

This photo shoot lasted for 1 1/2 hours! What can I say? The entire family was so into it. It was fun and full of laughter. I don't think I've ever been this relaxed at a shoot.  I caught myself belly laughing on more than one occasion!

Mom wanted a skipping shot. The boys didn't really want to, but they did it for mom with smiles on their faces. Nick and Matt both look like they are doing jump shots on the basketball court.  My second shooter, Miranda, and I were cracking up!!

Thank you so much, guys!!!! Hope you love these as much as I do!!

The link to their video is at the end of this post.

Click here for the family video

Road Rage Revisited

Jake has discovered the PlayStation 2. It's been sitting idle next to the basement tv for a very long time. Who knows...they may be on PlayStation 4 or 5 now. I have no idea. He's been checking out the steering wheel that goes with it, so I finally broke down and hooked everything up. I was amazed that I got all the connections right...the first time! I must admit that I was pretty impressed with how he handled the steering wheel and pedals. The only issue is that he tends to press on the gas and brake at the same time and just spin the thing. He played Kate's game of choice...one I knew he would love...The Simpson's Road Rage.  He had a blast crashing Homer's car over and over again.  I enjoyed hearing the belly laughs.

Since Halloween is my favorite holiday, I make sure to start the "Boo-ing" early! We hit two neighborhood houses last week and made up a Boo bag for Izzy. Our bags contained a Halloween cake mix, icing, and cupcake liners, Pez dispensers, and Teddy Grahams.  Jake and I got caught at one house this year!! The dad was determined to figure out who is was. We were hiding along the side of their house after ringing the doorbell, leaving the bag, and running.  I should have been more creative in the hiding!

I started Christmas shopping last week. I'm actually finished with Jake, have a couple things for Kate, and am done with 1 niece and 1 nephew. I start getting stressed if I don't start early. I'm hoping to knock a couple more out this week. The trick is that I need to start wrapping right away, too. Last year I waited until the last minute to wrap everything. I hate that!

I bought two presents for myself while I was at it. Here's the first. It's a camera charm with a little J and a little K.

I also bought the Nikon d700!!!!!  I can't believe it. Someone pinch me!!  I will have the winter to get use to the camera and will be ready to shoot clients with it in the spring. It shipped on Thursday, so I'll be just as excited to see the "PS" man as Jake is!