Random Ramblings

I am a terrible blogger as any of you know who even bother to check this blog anymore. I don't know what it is about blogging that is so appealing to me when I read other friends blogs, but when it comes to making the time to write on my own, I get all turned off. I think I am much more of a face-to-face conversationalist. That is probably why I don't really enjoy talking on the phone. In fact, half of the time I don't pick up the phone when it rings because I don't like the idea of stopping whatever I am doing to talk on the phone....major turn off. This drives my sister nuts sometimes. We don't have caller ID, so it's not like I am purposely ignoring specific people, I just only answer if i happen to be by the phone, or if i am really expecting a call. Otherwise, I rely on the idea in my head that "If it is important enough, "they" will leave a message." After all, that is what I do.
When we lived in Texas, I was much better at sending out pictures of the family, or talking on the phone, or e-mailing, etc. because I never saw anybody in person. So, I knew that unless I wanted to seem like a complete jerk, I had to keep in touch. Now that we live here, and my Hill side of the family has a private blog, and most of both of our families and friends live within an hour of here, I really have gotten lazy with e-mailing, and blogging. So, if there are any of you still out there wondering what we are up to around here, I apologize. I am actually thinking of turning this "photography blog" into a family blog because maybe I would share more of what we are up to more often. What do you all think?

Since this is so random...here is a very random pic. of Jer from last summer because blogs are always better when there are pictures involved. Ha! You love when I put your picture up on here, don't you my dear?

Lightroom

I have been using a new program to edit my photos. It is Lightroom by Adobe. It is designed by photographers, for photographers and is really easy to use. I don't know that i would call myself a "photographer", but i like to take photos. I have loved this program so much more for the basics. Like I've said before, I am not computer savvy or motivated to learn the technicalities of the computer. I guess that is the artist part of me (or the lazy part....I can't decide). Photoshop was always very overwhelming even though i learned a few great things on that program. I still use it for the more involved edits, but for the most part Lightroom will do everything that I want to do. My favorite part is that it has it's own pre-sets which would be the equivalent of Actions in Photoshop. You should all try it out. There is a free-trial available of the Beta version.
These photos of my little brother and his family were edited in Lightroom. His little girl is the niece that I watch every day. She is such a good baby. She has the funniest little personality that is starting to present itself more and more. Very feisty. And, as you can see, very photogenic.

Finally

I have not really been feeling up to blogging lately. I'm not very good at it anyway, but have been really bad lately. So, for the few of you who read this sad excuse for a blog, I apologize.
I may be blogging a lot more now because of my Mother's day present. Jer surprised me with a new laptop. I am so not computer-savy, but have really enjoyed the convenience of it. I love that I can sit and relax on the couch, watch a movie, and work on photos on the laptop. I am a born multi-tasker, so this fits right in to my personality.
Anyway, the pictures are a few more from the session with Sara and her cute family.

Teaser

Thank Heaven for warmer weather! I was able to do my first real shoot of the year. I prefer to shoot outside, but the weather has been so cold for so long (and I despise being cold), that I haven't done much. I had almost forgotten how much I love to use my camera. One of my best friends that I have known since birth had me do some family photos for her. It was such a nice afternoon. The lighting was a little bit tricky at times because it was around 3:00, but I think we got some really great shots. This shots are barely touched (in Picasa, I'm almost embarrassed to admit), but I was in a hurry to let Sara have a preview. So, here you are my dear. These are a few of my favorites.
By the way, her kids are beyond cute. Her little girl is so sweet (even though she didn't really want to look right at the camera), and her little boy is always smiling. It was a lot of fun. Thanks Sara! I'll work on proofing them as soon as I can. There are quite a few.

Busy weekend, and Random pics

We have had quite the fun-filled weekend. Jeremy gets every other Friday off of work (by working an extra hour 4 days a week...it's really nice!) and it was warm this weekend, so we were able to take full advantage of our time. First off, on Friday we finally cleaned out our Garage. It was making me crazy. I don't know that it bothers Jeremy that much, but I am kind of an organize freak, so it was such a relief to get it looking so much better. I should have taken a before and after picture, but I didn't. In fact, I didn't pick up my camera once this weekend. Sad, because we had such a great time.
As our reward for cleaning out the garage and getting started and cutting out where we are going to have our garden, we went bowling. Eden has been wanting to go for a while (after she tried it on one of our friends' Wii.), and she loved it. She did not want to be done. She is going through a phase where she whines a lot when we have to leave something that is fun. I need to figure out how I can help her to be grateful for what we ARE able to do, instead of always wanting MORE. Any suggestions?
Anyway, that was a blast and Eden even beat me at bowling. I got a strike on my first throw, and it was downhill from there:) After bowling, Jeremy started putting together the nightstands that we ordered (our first nightstands in 5 yrs. of marriage...hooray!). Then, my mom brought some dinner over and we ate together, then she watched Eden while Jeremy and I went to the temple. That was really nice. We did initiatories and there weren't very many women there, which is very unusual, so I got to do 10 names instead of 5. I love doing initiatories!
Saturday was another busy day, but the highlight was when we went down to Lehi to go swimming at this wicked-awesome indoor pool with some of our friends. Eden was in heaven. She could have spent all night there and slept in the pool and been perfectly content. I wish I had a water-proof camera so that I could have taken pictures of this place. There were all sorts of slides for big and little kids, water fountains, a lazy river, a water park type thing in the water. It was great. Eden did not want to leave...again. Then we went to dinner with our friends and had a great time.
Today was the usual Sunday routine, but we invited my Mom & Dad over for dinner and games. We played this game called (now don't laugh..it sounds pretty cheesy) "The Celestial Companions Game". Yeah, I know...obviously created by some LDS person, but it is basically the clean version of the Newlywed game. We had a blast playing it. My parents have some hilarious stories, and it is always funny to try to guess what your spouse is thinking. My favorite story was my Mom's most embarassing moment: when she was little she was messing around in a school that was being built, and heard a noise that scared her, so she tried to run into the room that she had come into and jump out the window that she had come in originally. Well, it was the wrong room and SMACK ....she ran right into the window and bounced off and onto the floor. Then, her sister (who was with her at the time), ran right into the back of her. They did this not once, but twice! The third window, they checked before they jumped. Good idea!
Anyway, sorry for such a long blog, but it has really been a fun weekend and we just wanted to share some of the fun-times. The pictures (which I had to take inside because it has been so cold outside until today) are just of Eden in her easter dress, and one of my niece from a while ago when I did her hair in a little pony, which my brother (her Dad) did not like, but I thought was so funny! These girls keep me busy. I watch my niece every day, which is good for me and my baby hungry-ness, and it is good for Eden to not always be the center of attention (even though she may disagree).

Most of you can relate

FORGET REDNECKS; THIS IS WHAT JEFF FOXWORTHY HAD TO SAY ABOUT UTAHNS!

If your local Dairy Queen is closed from September to May, you live in Utah.

If someone in a Home Depot store offers you assistance and they don't work there, you live in Utah.

If you've worn shorts and a parka at the same time, you live in Utah

If you've had a lengthy telephone conversation with someone who dialed the wrong number, you live in Utah.

If 'vacation' means going anywhere south of Salt Lake City for the weekend, you live in Utah.

If you measure distance in hours, you live in Utah.

If you know several people who have hit a deer more than once, you live in Utah.

If you have switched from 'heat' to 'A/C' and back again in the same day, you live in Utah.

If you install security lights on your house and garage but leave both unlocked, you live in Utah.

If you can drive 75 mph through 2 feet of snow during a raging blizzard without flinching, you live in Utah.

If you design your kid's Halloween costume to fit over a snowsuit, you live in Utah.

If the speed limit on the highway is 75 mph -- you're going 80, and everyone is still passing you, you live in Utah.

If driving is better in the winter because the potholes are filled with snow, you live in Utah.

If you know all 4 seasons: almost winter, winter, still winter, and road construction, you live in Utah.

If you find 10 degrees 'a little chilly' you live in Utah.

Out of Curiosity

I am just curious to find out who checks my blog. Most of you never leave comments. In fact, very few, which is understandable, but I would much rather hear from you once in a while. I know people look at least once in a while because my little stat counter keeps going up, but I am really curious to find out who checks it and would love to hear from you.
So, instead of just lurking onto my blog (which I will confess, I do to others once in a while,) leave a comment this time around. I want to see how many of you are out there.
Thanks!