Sunday, November 6, 2011

Photoshoot with E--catchlights

In no way do I label myself as a "photographer." I do LOVE taking pictures, and always have. I mostly love the memories that come with looking through old photos. Slowly but surely I promise (Brett) to learn more about my "new" camera that is over a year old :) One day I'll take it off the auto setting and never look back! This day I learned about a technique...not necessarily the camera. Catchlight. It's basically getting your subject to have that twinkle in their eye, because you made them turn their head just so....or you got the light to reflect just right...

Emri happened to be in a "take a picture of me" mood, this day so I did. A. LOT.


 Have I put her in front of the camera too much?! What a poser!!!

 Love this one....so her!



And a few silly self-portraits! Her face cracks me up. And my face....well, it looks tired to me...and wrinkley :(

One day I hope to call myself a "photographer"....even if it's just pics of my family!

Thursday, November 3, 2011

Bear River Cabin

In September we thoroughly enjoyed ourselves heading back to the Anderton cabin at Bear River, in the Uintah's, for the first time in 4 years. The scenery was beautiful....the leaves were just beginning to change!
The company was great too! We invited the Obergs to come play.... Hazel and Emri are a month apart in age and got along sooo well! Most of the time not spent outdoors was spent in Hazel's makeshift bed :) for "bathtub parties" as the girls called them!

Jet enjoyed his first sink-bath :)
These two literally became besties! I loved watching them interact! Couldn't they pass as twins?! They even have the same single dimple in their left cheek!
We hiked to Ruth Lake...
...and enjoyed a fun picnic and playing in the water.

Jami, Jet & Crystal
the girls (notice Emri's snug shirt...this was the hike back down...after a water incident)...
...I can assure you that both girls made it TO the lake fully clothed! They both decided to immediately wade in their shoes and levi's before we could stop them, which ended up meaning no pants while playing...

they loved seeing the fish Taylor caught!
Emri was doing a little showing off in the lake and wasn't paying attention to her large rock surroundings....
...which ended up badly for her. SOGGY pull-up, wet shirt and cold skin! (this is just as she tripped and was on her way down)
Well, i didn't think to pack extra clothes for E...just Jet. All I had to cuddle Emri with was my thin nursing cover. Not too warm, but gave just enough comfort!
...then of course, Hazel wanted in on the nakedness...and they enjoyed the rest of their time throwing rocks...
and doing "cheers" with their little bums! haha! I'm not quite sure how they even came up with that! We got a kick out of it though!
Emri had to squeeze into Jet's extra (9mos.) onesie for the hike home! It was skin tight!

We definitely didn't go hungry on this trip! One night for dessert we made banana boats and the newest craze (thanks to Crystal for the idea) "Smore-itos!" They were amazing!
One night we dedicated to dutch oven cooking. Brett made his Mt.Dew chicken/potatoes and Taylor made the best cobbler I've ever tasted in my life: peach/marion berry. Taylor buys these special frozen berries and has them shipped from Oregon if I remember right. He's very serious about his food!!
The girls "made fire" in this cool fort outside the cabin....
...and went on a nature scavenger hunt


One day we took ATV's out for a ride, that turned into a wild adventure!

We were trying to decide which trail to go on. I specifically said to avoid the trail with the sign marked "Danger. Steep terrain" (or something to that effect). So we picked a different one....
and found a YURT along the way (I didn't know what that was until then)!
Jet was a happy camper bundled all up. He slept the majority of the bumpy ride.
Well...we were safe up until the Yurt sighting. Then I saw a sign marked "ridge trail" and told the boys to take that so I could see the scenery. It was definitely beautiful and we were on top of the world. The only problem is....those trails were at some points skinnier than our ATV's... and the ATV's turn like boats... so we ended up having to take the trail to get back down. It was steep, rocky, and adventurous. Not gonna lie, my butt puckered more than once! But we made it. And we came out right at the "danger, steep terrain" sign I wanted to avoid from the get-go! haha! Below is Crystal & Taylor almost to the top....straight down from there on!

On the way back down we stopped at Lily Lake for a picnic lunch,
....some cute pics of the besties
...and more fishing for Taylor. It was so beautiful!!!!


Oh Fall.....I wish you could stay a little longer. I'm not ready for snow!

Brieanne's Baby Shower

It was so fun to celebrate one of my dearest friends....finally having a baby!!
The spread........the party throwers (minus shara): Grandma Connie, Aunt Brooke, Momma Brieanne, "aunt" Jami, and Aunt Erin :) While Brieanne and I lived together these other girls pretty much became family to me. It's so good to see them often again!The parents to be, Kyle & Brieanne. Good try Kyle....you'll never have a belly!Sweet little Levi was born Oct. 22, 2011 and is cute as can be!

Rascal Flatts

It's been FAAAAAAR too long since I've seen my boys in concert! But thanks to Brody and Britt and their awesome bday gift to me I was able to go to the concert out at USANA. Brittany and I before the concert....I didn't take my camera, so this is it until Brit gets her pics to me :)

Last Day of Summer

Bear with me as I try to get caught up. For real this time :)

Thanks Michelle for the pictures! We spent Labor Day afternoon at "North Shore" water park in No. Ogden (along with everyone else in Northern Utah)!

Emri is such a little waterbug, she had such a great time and I think she's as sad as I was that summer left us!
She loved going on the big slide with Daddy and Mommy

Jami & Michelle with Jet & LoralyeIt was a bit overcast and chilly, so Jet didn't really get wet...he just did some relaxing by the pool :)Emri & Tabitha warming up and having a juicebox break with Grandpa