Ringing The Bell

Waterfront Bell - doesn't actually make much of a ringing sound but the kids had alot of fun with it.

Ok, and I'll admit one of the reasons I wanted to post this photo is because I love Herself's outfit.

Hurry Up Mom...

You Knew It Was Coming - Christmas Future.... ooohhhh.... aahhhh.....

Inspired by a photo on DBWalkers photo blog - I started playing with long exposures and Christmas lights tonight - and this is what you get. Not really futuristic, but fun to photograph!

Christmas Present

What's an Christmas morning without Irish Coffee? Made with the finest Irish Whiskey - Tullemore Dew. mmm.... yeah, Irish Coffee and Pannetone make for an excellent way to start the day.

And we've never had a Noble Fir before - I'm not 100% sold on having another one, but they are interesting looking, very stylized, but tough to get lights on looking decent.

Hope you enjoy this Christmas present. I'm trying to think of a way to do Christmas Future but haven't come up with it yet.

Christmas Past 2007

Just for fun, some photos from last Christmas. Enjoy.

Dr Cason's Friday’s Photo Challenge- Through a Child’s Eye

The kids could not get enough of the snow! I love how the flash reflected off the snowflakes.

Peace On Earth Good Will Toward All...

I was having kind of a tough time getting ready for Christmas this year. I'm kind of defeated trying to work full-time, and be a decent Mom in the few hours daily that I have with my kids, and things just weren't getting done. I was stressed. I was fussy and pissy. Everything sucked.

However, finally I decided a half-assed Christmas would be good enough. And you know what? It is, it totally is. I've counted my blessings and I Am Very Blessed. We have a decorated Christmas tree, presents underneath, Grandma Freddy and Uncle Cheech are in town, and its been wonderful. I've been cooking simple easy dinners and its great. I was upset because I haven't decorated. Never had time to send cards. There's alot Not Done. But, its OK.

This is not my permanent plan but it worked for me this year.
Thank you for blessing us with your presence this year Grandma Freddy & Uncle Cheech, you really made our Christmas about the love.

Hope you all are safe and warm and happy with the ones you love, or feeling the love of far away loved ones in your heart.

And to everyone who's lost someone special this year - please remember their Love too.

Christmas Eve And All Is Well

Hope you and yours are having a safe and warm and healthy Christmas Eve.

Sleeping Boy

I love pictures of sleeping children. Especially mine ...wink wink...

A Worse Packrat Than My Dad?

Strange but true, look at all this crap. heh-heh

Dr Cason's Photo Challenge - A Beautiful Mess

Its my mess of christmas lights on the rhodedendron out front.

The snow is rather unusual. We may have a white Christmas this year - first ever since I moved here in 1991.

Christmas Reflections

Reflected in our plasma screen TV. Love the twinkle effects - I didn't even notice them until I downloaded the photos.

Red in the Winter

And on another note, I did not win this months greeblepix contest, but the winner IMO was the best photo. I was really honored just to have been chosen. And I already have january's entry picked out.

Thanks to everyone who voted for me.

Old Dog Thor

Thor for Thursday.

More Summer. Actually Late Spring. But Really Nice In California.

I have such a thing for stripes. I don't know how many striped tops Herself has. I love them. For me too.

I'm A Finalist at greeblepix!

I am so honored to be chosen as a finalist, considering the amazing levels of photographers found in Aimee's contest, I am so excited and surprised!
Anyway, if you'd like to take a look and vote for your ...wink wink... favorite Disapearing Boy - go here and check out the other finalists. And I'd love if you voted for me.

Photo of the Day to follow.

Its too cold out so here's a warm summer day for you!

Ah those long ago days of summer.
But keep in mind only 5 days to the Winter Solstice - then the days start getting longer. Imperceptibly at first, but they do they do they DO!

bonus post

its fucking hard enough trying to be a mom and work full-time because you HAVE TO, but then all these fucking daycare programs close whenever they fuck,ing feel like it - but I STILL HAVE TO WORK DAMMIT.

Greeblepix December!

Greeblepix contest entry for December - by Awesome Aimee over at greeblemonkey.

Check out the other entrants - there are some amazing photogs!

Herself Looking Down

I need some images from summer. Dang its really cold here.

FAMILY FAMILY FAMILY

Ain't we just so dang cute - heh-heh
This pic is great. Only guy missing is my nephew and his wife. It was a great Thanksgiving.

Winter Berries - Home for the Holidays

I found these berries while I was out walking on my way to Lake Harriet, I was at my parents house over Thanksgiving.
This is my photo for Dr. Cason's Friday Photo Challenge - Home for the Holidays is this weeks theme. Check it out.

One Of My Most Favorite Places In All Of Minneapolis

We'd go skating in the winter, swimming in the summer, "hanging out" all summer when I was a teenager, fishing and canoeing, they have a bandshell for watching concerts on summer nights. And they make the BEST popcorn EVER. Nonthing compares to Lake Harriet popcorn. The best part is - when I was there a couple years ago in the summer, I got a box and it tastes EXACTLY like it did 20 years ago. This is a late fall shot.
Oh, and my parents live a 10 minute walk away so no wonder we spent so much time there.

Herself Framed

Cool climber thing that looked like a spider web.

Silly Old Fart - And His Fabulous Wife

AKA Grandma and Grandpa. Getting silly at the photo session after Thanksgiving Feasting.

I love my parents. I hope someday I can be cool grandparents like they are.

The Coolest Park in Minneapolis

The park next to where my parents live - I grew up playing there and it was great. Little did I know I'd go back with my kids and its SUPER AWESOME. They totally redid it about 2 years ago and its state of the art with so much fun stuff, I was bummed when we had to go home.

There was a scoop on a circular pulley thing that you'd fill with sand, raise and dump into some other container, then rotate it and let it fall 5 feet to the sandy surface below. Sounds mundane, but it entertained the kids for a good long time. Even in the 30 degree sun, we had a blast.

Minneapolis Sidewalk - 1984 Was A Very Good Year

Juniper Berries in Minneapolis

Ponytails At The Park

Japanese Gardens at Point Defiance

The colors that day were so vivid, so amazing! It almost hurt your eyes it was so bright - not the sun but the reds and oranges and yellows and greens. And when I looked at these photos the first time I was disappointed at how poorly the colors were captured. And now I see vivid colors. Guess the time has "colored" my memory. ha-ha.

Interesting Ornament

Foound this on a tree outside the Wedge Co-op in Minneapolis.

Maple Drive

Ruston Way. Last photo then my battery died. Gotta get a second battery. Turned out nice tho.

Summer Climber

Back from Out of Town Today (Live from Home Again-yay)

If I remember correctly, Minneapolis this time of year is dirty and gray. Gray and dirty. The Pacific NW is an oasis of color in comparison. Anyway, the point is that I hope to have a ton of pictures from our visit, and will post some here soon. Hope you all had a great Holiday weekend.

And in my Thankful post - I forgot to mention the friends and aquaintances I've made through this and other blogs.

Hope you like the new look - I think it still needs a little tweaking, I'll see what I can do.

Out of Town Day 6 (Live from Minneapolis!)

Out of Town Day 5 (Live from Minneapolis!)

And happy birthday to my cousin Aaron.

Thankful! Out of Town Day 4 (Live from Minneapolis!)

I have so much to be Thankful for, I don't even know where to start, so I'll make a short list of the top several.

My Family

My Health

My Job

My Friends

Life in general has been pretty good to me.