We Just Go Nuts at Christmas!

It's almost Christmas. Wow! This month has flown by.

I spent the day yesterday making cinnamon almonds to give as neighbor gifts.

I tried to take some pictures of the almonds before I put them in the bags, but the shots looked like dog food, so I decided that did not look so appetizing to put on the blog. Let's just say these taste way better than they look!

Anyway, here are some Christmas light pictures (thanks for sharing how to do this Bobbi and Rachael). And a shot of the gifts under the tree, and a photo of the cinnamon almonds waiting to be delivered.

Blue Christmas

Yes, we are true blue through and through at this house. We love our Cougars...even though we weren't too happy about the outcome of the Las Vegas Bowl. Oh well. Life does go on!

I got this ornament for Parker this year. I thought I'd try to get the star effect with the Christmas tree lights on it. It took several tries and a bunch of different camera setttings to get it how I wanted, but I was pleased with the outcome!

And for my photog buddies, my settings were: f/22, 30 seconds, 100 ISO.

Derek and I went to Texas Roadhouse for lunch Saturday, and who should show up but four missionaries who sat across from us. We talked to them for a few minutes and oh, how it made me miss Nate. I told Derek we should buy lunch for the missionaries, so we gave them a gift card as we were leaving. I told Derek, "I hope there are people in Edson who are nice to the missionaries." And we know there are..Nate's told us. I did get a little emotional seeing the missionaries. I started crying right there in my mashed potatoes, but I tried not to be too overcome...

Oh, and did I mention that on Christmas Day, we get to talk to Nate on the phone? YEA!!!!!!

Dancing Queen

Yesterday was Christmas performance day at the studio where Mallory dances. This isn't a formal recital, but just a chance where parents can go watch their girls during regular dance lessons doing barre work and other exercises. They then perform a short Christmas dance for us. It's always fun to watch and Jan and I keep threatening our girls that we are going to enroll in the adult ballet class the studio offers. It's pretty alarming for pre-teen girls to fathom the thought of their mothers running around in tights and leotards. I try to tell Mallory I used to take ballet, but she finds it hard to believe. Watching the girls yesterday, though, Jan told me, "I think we'd be good at this! I can see you doing that." So stay tuned. Maybe Jan and I will be in the spring recital this year! :)

Hello...Yeah...It's Been a While...

I've been absent from the blog for several days. December has been busy. In the photography area, I've been designing Christmas cards and sending in print orders. I've also done a few Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep sessions. Those have been especially difficult, as I feel so much sadness for the families who have lost babies at this time of year.


I've also been busy getting ready for Christmas. I'm getting there, but still have quite a bit to do. Yes, I'm starting to panic.

My friend Laurie was in town the other day. I had a fabulous lunch with her and her sister Cherie. What a blast!


Derek and I went with some friends to the Mormon Tabernacle Choir Christmas concert on Saturday night. What a spectacular performance. They had two amazing guest soloists, as well as wonderful dancers and bell choirs from several schools throughout Utah. Wow!


I spent my morning yesterday at Costco having a tire on the Suburban repaired. As it turned out, there were two nail holes too close together to repair it, so they had to replace the tire instead. Just what I was hoping to get for Christmas this year! A new tire! Merry Christmas from the Michelin Man to me!


Yesterday afternoon, I went with Mallory to a parent meeting for the elementary school musical. From January to March, she will be required to attend some 30 rehearsals and performances. Add that to orchestra, her dance classes, paper route, homework, Young Women meetings, etc. and I think we're going to be just a bit busy after the holidays!! Not to mention, I was frightened by the musical director. She's very gung ho and straight up informed us that she is not nice like the directors we've had in the past. Gulp.


But.... I had a big bright spot in my day yesterday. I met up with some of my photography friends for a fun lunch at Gardner Village. It was fun to see everyone and just chat and laugh. These people are so much fun...and even better, they're all just as geeky about photography as me! (I mean that as a compliment, of course!)


Anywho.....here is a shot from yesterday! We asked the restaurant hostess to take this one for us.







And this next one is terribly grainy...I turned the flash off to get the self-portrait in the mirror!
What would a photographer meet-up be without the standard picture in the mirror?

Lights in the City

We took a family excursion to Salt Lake last night to see the lights at Temple Square. If you've never been there, let me tell you, it's a sight to behold. There are hundreds of thousands of lights. It's truly amazing.

The Smith 5 -- in (mostly) Black and White

These siblings were a lot of fun to photograph. They put up with a long session and being dragged to several locations...all without complaining. Their mom wants a black and white portrait, so that's what most of these shots are in this post. I did throw in a little color, too, though.