Good To Know

Here's another installment of "Good To Know"... because sometimes you just want to pass along an amazing tip!

I recently had a conversation with Randy about an idea for an app.  My conversation pretty much went like this...

Erica: "We [as if we really could do this...] should develop an app that allows you to put in your lighting conditions, whether you are outside or inside and if your subjects are moving or not and then the app would spit out what the ideal camera settings would be for aperture, ISO and shutter speeds.  And, it would be for your particular camera!  That would be awesome.  We really should do that!"

As the saying goes....

Randy says:

Randy did a 5 second search in the iTunes store and found this app for me. I LOVE IT and it has helped me so much!

It's $1.99, but it's totally worth the two bucks! 

Gotta start somewhere...

So, my very first family photo shoot was this past weekend! I'll admit, I was a bit nervous because I've never taken photos of OTHER people... and them expecting greatness... or at least a photo where everyone is looking in the same direction, ya know?

Here are my favorites.  As I mentioned before, this family is absolutely beautiful and could not take a bad picture if they tried!

I'm a novice and I'm not going to pretend I'm a fabulous professional photographer, but everyone has to start somewhere.  So, this is my somewhere...

Blog Brain Dump Bullet Style

I'm not feeling very wordy today... probably because I'm just too darn tired.

Here goes:

• We celebrated Kyla's birthday on Sunday by bringing her to Sea World.  She rode the "Steel Eel" twice and was standing in line to ride it a third time and opted to get out of line.  She had had enough.  I'm proud of her for going on it at all. 
• We have two more volleyball games left in our season.  The girls are definitely improving and it's been fun... BUT, I'll be glad when it's over because I'm worn out.
• We had Elisan officially tested for gluten sensitivity last week.  She tested negative! Yay!  
• Kyla has begun reading "On the Banks of Plum Creek" by Laura Ingalls Wilder at school.  Lord, help me.
• I have my very first family photo shoot set for this weekend.  Thankfully, the family is the most beautiful family you could ever imagine so I could probably take pictures with my phone and they would turn out amazing.  I'll keep you posted how it goes.
• Look... if you are cutting through parking lots to avoid traffic lights then please realize I'm using you as an example to my kids by telling them that you think you are better than everyone else and that you think your time is more valuable than those around you. And, I'm also telling them that you are a law breaker who is a big 'ol loser and that you are not more important than the rest of us. Just sayin'...
• I love, love, love Kyla's 3rd grade teacher.  I want to be her BFF.  Unfortunately, I'm old enough to be her mom and she'd probably think that's weird.
• Our kids go through phases where they prefer one parent over the other... I'm sure it's something most kids do from time to time.  I'll admit, I'm always a little heart broken when daddy is the favored parent.  But, lately, it's been ME, ME, ME!  Elisan and I have been super tight lately and I'm loving every. single. second. of. it.  It's bliss and I'm soaking it in.
• I have plantar fasciitis which is a fancy way of saying I have heel pain resulting from inflammation of the tendon in my arch. Which makes it hard to run.  Actually it makes it hard to walk, stand, etc.  And, from what I've read, it can be hard to treat.  Great.
• Both girls are doing exceptionally well in soccer this season.  Makes this soccer mama proud.
• I'll be forty in 53 days or 1285 hours or 77127minutes or if you want to get technical...4,627,618seconds... now, 4,627,596 seconds.
• I finished all 8 seasons of Grey's Anatomy a week ago.  I think it took me about 3 months.  That's an insane amount of television to watch... Just sayin'...
• And, I'm just sayin' that I have no more to say.

Nine

 

Happy Birthday Kyla!  You are such a special girl! You are so beautiful, kind and thoughtful and I'm proud to be your mama.

Kyla you are so independent... it actually scares me a bit.  From the day you were born you did things YOUR way and in YOUR timing.  That can be somewhat challenging for us, your parents, but it makes you a strong person.  A fighter!

You are so much like your daddy that if anyone tells you you can't do something, you show them that you can!  And that you can do it well.  I love that about you.  I don't want anything to stand in your way of your dreams.

You are definitely the comic relief around our home. You are hilarious.  I mean... you are so stinkin' funny.  The other day I was telling Elisan to "smile like she meant it" and you said, "yeah Elisan, smile like you farted!"  You thought you would get in trouble for using the "f" word, but I was so busy laughing until I cried... I let that one slip that time!

If I had to compare myself to you, I would probably say that you are a people-pleaser like me. You work hard to earn the respect and love of other people.  But, be careful to not let people take advantage of you.  People pleasin' people oftentimes get their feelings hurt when others don't return the same amount of respect and care that we give... so just remember that sweet girl and don't let it change the way YOU are.

And finally... your daddy and I are amazed at your sheer athleticism. I know that there are people out there who would say that you can't determine if a person is athletic or not at age nine.  Well, I'm here to say that yes you can!  Daddy and I look at you in awe... knowing that you have the athletic potential to do anything you set mind on to do.  And, you have the potential to do it well!  All it takes is hard work and determination... both of which we already know you have.

So, baby girl... dream big... dream high... and don't stop dreaming.  We love you so much.

Wordless Wednesday (sortv've)

Here's Elisan in her prize winning t-shirt design.

She's so proud!