Random December Pictures

I wanted to finish up editing and cropping and adjusting my pictures from December so I could back them up and save them off my computer. (I try to keep up with that monthly.) So here's a random assortment of photos from December!

Playing with my camera during the first week I had it. This was taken at the church playground.

Shelby being silly on the playground at church.

Shelby on the carousel at Bass Pro Shop. The kids asked to go there far more times than I cared to, but it was free fun so we went a couple times during December.

Cheyenne on the carousel.

Paige reading to Shelby during Covenant Classes one Thursday.

Shelby was great cooperating with me while I tested out my zoom lense at church. 

Paige and Shelby on the swings at church.

Cheyenne on the swing.

Paige on the swing.

The kiddos posing for me while I tried out the tripod and self-timer.

Shelby in her Elsa & Anna tutu (or choo choo as she likes to call it)!

For Christmas we got a BB gun (to hopefully deter any more cats from tearing up our trampoline). Clayton loved being able practice shooting at the trees in our backyard!

Jon showing Paige how to shoot the BB gun.

Clayton showing me something he could try to win from his Lego magazine.

Sparkling Lights

One of the first things I was determined to do was take a picture with my tree where the lights looked like they were twinkling. I couldn't even come close to getting that with my point and shoot, but I knew it was doable with the DSLR. I looked at a couple different articles describing how best to take Christmas tree pictures, and tried them both. I think they turned out decently well!

This one was taken with the lights off and a very low ISO. I also just used the end table to steady the camera.

This one was also taken with the lights off, but with a much higher ISO. And with a tripod instead of the table. I think it captured the tree well, but obviously didn't get Shelby very clearly. 

Same as above, but clearer with Clayton.

Same settings and still with the tripod, but Cheyenne wanted to actually snap the picture. She's really liked getting a chance to learn some with me too! 

LICE

On December 21st, we quickly had to leave church after I spotted something crawling in Paige's hair. We quickly figured out that it was lice, and all four kiddos had it! We have no clue how that came about, but it was definitely a crazy day. We came home and did a couple different treatments: soaking the hair in listerine for an hour, followed by a rinse, then a two hour soak in vinegar. I went ahead and treated my hair as well just in case. All this was followed by a bunch of combing, although I will admit that almost everything just rinsed right out after the soaking!

Clayton didn't seem to mind having to have it done at all. A soak and movie time? He'd probably volunteer again! (Just kidding, but maybe only slightly.)

Cheyenne certainly did not like having to drench her hair, but once it was over, she tolerated the waiting very patiently!

Shelby did not like anything to do with it. The drenching, the soaking, the waiting, the washing, and certainly the combing were all such terrible struggles for our youngest munchkin. She wanted her daddy and sat in his lap for a while!

Paige didn't seem to mind much either. She was mostly giggles and smiles with her pink shower cap on! 

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Oh, and I wish I'd taken a picture of the monstrous pile of laundry that had to be washed. Every single sheet and blanket and pillow and animal had to be washed! It was a ton of work, but thankfully it was easy. 

Rock Springs Park

One thing I have realized since getting my DSLR camera is that I recognize more places and opportunities to take pictures. On the way to Mom's house after Covenant Classes one day, I passed by a yellow fence that I thought I should stop and take a picture at. Since I had already passed it, and didn't want to turn around, I thought about a neat cable bridge at Rock Springs Park just up ahead. So I stopped there instead. These are a few of my favorites from that day!

Save The Horses

On December 13, we went to Save The Horses out in Cumming for the first time. It's a non-profit farm that rescues and rehabilitates horses and other animals. They need volunteers in order to keep everything going, and Cheyenne has been wanting to go for a long time. On that Saturday, they were doing a fundraiser, so we went out and participated in their scavenger hunt. The kids also got a chance to ride a horse (which of course they all loved). We are hoping to be able to go back for their volunteer orientation soon so that we can go and help out as we have the time and ability.

Paige

Shelby

Cheyenne

Clayton

Fun with a DSLR!

I got a new camera right after Thanksgiving. My point and shoot was still working just fine, but it was definitely lacking in it's ability to do what I wanted to do. I upgraded to a Canon Rebel T5 DSLR. I still don't know very much about it, but that's one of my goals - to learn how to use it better! I've had a lot of fun playing with it over the last month. These are a few of my first pictures taken.

Capturing Clayton with a genuine smile is no small feat these days. Thanks to the ability to quickly grab multiple shots, it's now (sometimes) possible! 

Shelby is such a ham. This didn't exactly turn out as clear as I'd like, but I couldn't resist that sweet smile and bed tossed hair! 

Paige being festive in her Santa hat before Christmas. She's my one brown eyed girl!

Shelby's piercing baby blues! 

Paige typically gives me one of these goofy grins. She doesn't mind posing for the camera though! 

My sweet Cheyenne loved her opportunity to visit Save The Horses in Cumming. She's hoping to go back soon to help volunteer!