I woke up this morning with a horrible headache. The kind that feels like someone is repeatedly stabbing you behind the eyes with a hot poker to the beat of a bad polka song. The kind where you vision swims, your stomach turns, the slightest noise makes you cringe and all you want to do is crawl back into bed and pull the covers over your head until tomorrow.

Unfortunately that was not happening today. Instead I chugged a Dr Pepper this morning with a few advils to take the edge off. Repeat as needed.

The only other picture I took today was of Jesse with his new dsi.

His old ds had gotten a crack in it and he has been working to earn money and saving it for a few months now. Last weekend we looked online and ordered a package deal that included the dsi, two games, a case and for $10 extra an accessory kit that had a docking station, car charger, earbuds, screen protectors and a bunch of other things. It all arrived today so he spent the evening checking out all the new stuff it does.

After School

This afternoon I took out my camera while the kids were doing their homework. Well actually, Claudia was doing homework while Anakin and Mia were drawing pictures and being otherwise silly.



Mia and I went to Target today while the kids were in school. She needs a new car seat but they only had the one I wanted in an ugly brown color but even then I couldn't leave the store without spending money. I was looking through the clearance racks and got both Anakin and Mia some cute new pajamas for a few bucks each. They put them on as soon as we got home. They were so cute that I couldn't resist photographing Mia's tootsies peeking out from the bottom of her pj's.

Uninspired

Today was one of those days where I took a bunch of pictures and didn't really like any of them. Nothing spoke to me today. Maybe it's because it's Wednesday. Maybe because my brain is already befuddled from doing our taxes this afternoon. Or maybe I just need a break.

I did eventually get an image today, but wasn't happy with it until I cropped it tighter.

Random

Today I decided to try photographing things I wouldn't normally photograph. I love to photograph people, especially children, and nature and landscapes. I don't often photograph inanimate objects and I find that it's harder for me to "see" them they way I do my preferred subjects so I decided to turn my camera to my husband's guitar and the oldest's skateboard.




And when I was done I couldn't resist turning my camera to the cookies cooling on the stove.

My poor pan is so scratched and stained, but nothing ever sticks and it's been loyal to me all these years. LOL

Family

Family is the theme of this week's I Heart Faces challenge. I had a great picture that I really wanted to enter, but it was only of the kids. I love it because it really, truly tells the story of our family. The rules, however, state that there must be an adult in the picture so instead I chose one that I shared the other day.

I kept returning to this picture, because it makes me laugh. It's a typical scene in our house of Daddy chasing down the kids and grabbing them up and hugging them to death or pretending to put them in headlocks or hanging them upside down. The kids are always fighting to get loose and squealing with laughter. It's a funhouse in here sometimes.

Missing My Mom

It was three years ago this month, that my mom was diagnosed with lung cancer. While the grief has been getting better, there are certain times of the year that it hits me pretty hard. January is one of them and the week before my birthday (this week) is the hardest.

My relationship with my mom was not what you'd call typical. We took turns being the parent, even back when I was 12 and my parents had first separated and I'd tuck my mom into bed. As an adult, my mom and I saw each other nearly every day. I did everything with my mom and as much as she drove me nuts, I know she was the person who understood me the best.

She had just partially retired the October before she was diagnosed, right after I gave birth to my youngest. My mom loved being a Gramma and was looking forward to spending time with the grandbabies. She was tickled with how much Mia looked like I did as a baby, and sometimes I really wish that she could see what a great kid she's turning out to be as are the rest.

After my mom passed, she was cremated and that summer we took her ashes with us to California and I spread them overlooking Lake Berryessa as she wanted me to. I hope she's proud of us, and I hope she knows how much I miss her and love her.

Experimenting Again

Today I spent more time with my Lightscoop. I have to say that I'm even happier than I was yesterday. Today I spent more time playing with settings and seeing exactly what it could do. The reccomended settings for use are ISO 800 and shooting wide open with the shutter speed at 1/200th. It's also reccomended to shoot with the flash exposure compensation at +1 to +2.

Today I mainly shot at ISO 200 and the flash compensation at +1 at the most. I'm sure a lot of that has to do with my tiny home and low ceilings, but it was great to get such wonderful results with a lower ISO.

I guess even 13 year olds get upset when their heart lollipops break. LOL

Some before and afters: