Spring Into Soccer!

Soccer started up again and Oliver couldn't be happier! It was such a better start this year too. No sideways rain, no near-freezing temps, no bone chilling wind, yeah it's a little bit chilly but I can deal with that and so can the kiddos.


Coach Rick talking to the kids before the game.GOOOOOO Dragons!!!

Lots of jumping on a field full of five year olds.

GOAL!!

Running to defend the goal.

He never stops smiling while on the field.

And he never stops running.

Thumbs up Ollie!

Polishing My Skills

I took a class a month or so ago and wasn't really satisfied with it so when I saw a Photography Workshop called Capturing True Emotions come through on my Groupon deals I pounced. It consisted of a 4 hour presentation/seminar/class followed by a 2 hour photo safari at the zoo. This class is probably not for you professionals out there (unless you are looking for a good review) but if you amateurs want a very comprehensive, overview of your camera and how to use it, this class is perfect. I have been self-teaching my way through this photography thing so it was some review but it was a great review! Nice to realize that you are on the right path and haven't been making too many mistakes. Touch on the basic concepts, how to get your camera to do them, then how to use them to your advantage when photographing was how the day went. Plus they threw in a ton of hints, tips and tricks that they have learned along the way. Easily remembered catch phrases and acronyms were also used to drive the concepts deep into my brain. The instructors, Val Westover and Stephanie Adriana are amazing and very talented people that shared their talents and wisdom without hesitation. Then having them tag along beside us all on the safari to help us practice was just icing on the cake. I see a lot of practicing what I learned today in my future. I have about 16 pictures from today that I really like, hope you enjoy them too.

Playing with ISO in the banquet room.

My favorite of the day...

Shores of Columbia

We took advantage of the little bit of sun peeking through the clouds and headed down to the banks of the Columbia River. It's been running a bit high lately due to the snow melting and copious amounts of rainfall and we wanted to check it out. There was not as much shore to play on as there is in the summer but the boys still managed to have a good time.

Oliver climbing on a large piece of driftwood.

Hey! I know that guy.

My Eldest

Shep got to tag along too.

Stick Assisted Jump

Boy giving his dog some love.

Love You Noah

Love You Too Oliver

Totally cracking up at this picture. I have quite a few pictures of them with goofy fake smiles. So much for asking them to smile!

The river was very calm today.

Hello Sunshine!

Can't really complain about where we live, it's beautiful!

Snowpocalypse!!!

Okay, so our weathermen around here love to OVER-predict the snow. Our two solid days of non-stop snow that will cripple our city turned into about an hours worth of snowfall and a couple of inches that is melting fast. Never the less, the kids in this neighborhood come out in herds to play in the snow.

Once I caught up to the boys and knew what the plan was, I went back home and grabbed Shep so he could play in the snow too.

Noah helped with the dog walking. Of course that meant I was holding gloves and a sled. Makes it more difficult to get good pictures!

Informed me today that he likes it cold and snowy OR hot and sunny. Apparently, you can't sled or swim in the rain...I bed to differ!

My Noah

Oliver playing chase with Shep.

Noah trying to make the biggest snowball in the park.

Oliver "helping" with the largest snowball in the park.

My Snow Angel

Before the snowball got big and dirty.

After a wipeout, letting us know he was fine.

He has the best expressions.

Brotherly love.
Nothing like a snowball to the back of the head.

Path through the park.

Picture

I was messing around with my camera on the way home the other night and, what? Yes, Joel was driving! Anyway, I ended up with a couple that I really liked. No particular reason or reasons why, I just liked them. This one was my favorite...

Yin and Yang

This is just one small part taken from Wikipedia's definition of Yin and Yang...

...For instance, dropping a stone in a calm pool of water will simultaneously raise waves and lower troughs between them, and this alternation of high and low points in the water will radiate outward until the movement dissipates and the pool is calm once more. Yin and yang thus are always opposite and equal qualities. Further, whenever one quality reaches its peak, it will naturally begin to transform into the opposite quality: for example, grain that reaches its full height in summer (fully yang) will produce seeds and die back in winter (fully yin) in an endless cycle...

I realized that I had not posted any pictures of my tattoo to the family blog, the tattoo that complements Joel's dragon, my phoenix. People keep asking me, "what's up with all the new tattoos?" Well, I've been wanting a tattoo for a LONG time now and my gift from Ricki got me going on the first one. Then, Joel recently won some money on some scratch tickets that I bought him and he decided that he wanted us to get tattoos with the winnings. Anyway, I went in and got my phoenix done last Saturday. Jacob did a great job!

Stencil on...

Jacob getting started, took over 3 hours to complete.

Don't worry, he's working on the few red spots in the tattoo, that is ink, not blood. And yes, I am smiling. It hurts a little bit but not so much that I couldn't smile, laugh and joke.

Started the shading...

All done!

AND just because I think Joel was worried that I now had two tattoos to his one tattoo, he decided to get a second one from Jason while Jacob was working on mine. Turns out, it was a pretty sweet gesture on his part. You see, about 14 years ago I gave Joel this little love note and instead of signing my name I quickly drew this stick figure with curly hair...


He has held onto that card and asked Jason to put the little curly haired stick figure on his arm. I say it's a little bit crazy but sweet and super cute none-the-less.