Nate is 13!!!

Tuesday, December 29, 2009

Wow! My youngest is no longer a 'Tween' but an Official "Teenager"!!!
Nate turned 13 on December 9th and there is no looking back....

Click here to view these pictures larger

...actually, I HAVE been looking back. Twyla gave me an AWESOME Christmas present: She transferred my old VHS home movies to DVDs! I watched Christmas 2000 on our big TV on Sunday evening and got VERY sentimental. All the boys hugged me and consoled me....it all goes so fast!

I am so proud of my Natie. He is a big, strong, handsome, witty, intelligent, sweet young man. *Sigh. Thank you Lord for him.

In Print...

Friday, December 18, 2009


"What am I, 3?"

This is the first line of Caleb's Newspaper article in the PHS newspaper this month concerning the school's 'Tardy Tank' in which students are compelled to sit in the cafeteria for the entire class period--missing the important information being taught during that time. In another article, he wrote about his experience attending college citing the differences such as-- the teachers won't track you down if you miss class or don't turn in your work.

I am laughing so hard because Caleb's transition to manhood is in FULL force! He has worked very hard this year to make his straight A's and it is the first time I have really seen him truly achieve by diligently studying. --Just in time for college.

Since he has been attending college 2 nights a week and driving himself everywhere he is now starting to appreciate the difference in how high schoolers are treated versus college students. He has always been 'independent', but his new sense of freedom and responsibility gives him a whole new perspective.

It is amazing to watch this season of his life and how much he has changed over the past 6 months. His aspirations to be taken seriously and to be treated as a mature young adult are slowly coming to fruition and I couldn't be prouder!

Who Loves Photoshop!

Sunday, November 29, 2009

Just wanted to show the difference between Straight out of the Camera Shots and AFTER the Majic of Photoshop!






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Fall Photo Shoot

Saturday, November 28, 2009

Fun Family! What a pleasure to capture this precious Bunch!

Thankful

Thursday, November 26, 2009


This is a photo from today. Wow! We have so much to be Thankful for. Heather is smiling again. That in itself is a wonderful blessing. Adriana felt well enough to be able to come share the Thanksgiving with us. Look at how all the grandchildren are growing!
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Seriously?

Tuesday, November 24, 2009

November 24 is already here??? It feels like November 4th, not 24th! Thanksgiving is only 1 day away and is quickly followed by the Entire Christmas Celebration! I haven't even had our family photo done yet!!! AAaaack!

Does anyone else feel like December has crept up and is about to spring a surprise attack on them?

I downloaded Jessica Sprague's Holidays in Hand prompts for my December 1-31 prompts, but I have yet to print them and make a cute reminder clip board... I really want to savor every precious moment this year with my family.

Maybe it's because Caleb is a Senior and driving now. Maybe it's because I visited my Mom's and reminisced about so many treasured memories with our family... for whatever reason time is speeding up and I want it to slow down.

Senior

Saturday, November 7, 2009



Caleb's Senior Photos--Round 2
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Lawn Man

It's a rite of passage and Nate is right in the middle of it.






My little boy is mowing the lawn! Great job Nate!
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Concert

Sunday, November 1, 2009

The Jeremy Camp/Bebo Norman/Natalie Grant concert was AWESOME!!!!!! Here is a clip just for FUN

Birthday Boy

Monday, October 26, 2009

Jacob turns 16 this week. Wow! SIXTEEN... Let's review a few photos:

2000- 7 years old -Happy Camper! Party at Peter Piper Pizza! That's Matt Effland there on the right!
2001- 8 years old Awesome Sleepover Party. This was the year we earned the 3 room tent selling scouting popcorn, so we had a campfire complete with s'mores and bunches of friends.
2004- 11 years old- Our neighbor Rojit and Joshua were in attendance. Jake got to decorate his own cake with various candies--gummy worms, red hots, etc.

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This was 2007. The 'not so thrilled' look on his face is due to the fact that he found out on his birthday that he was going to have surgery on his foot. Notice that he lit his own candles--He was 14.

*Sigh* They grow up so fast. Stay tuned for for his 16th birthday pics!

Licensure

Friday, October 23, 2009






Caleb got his Driver's License!!!
My Firstborn son is loose on the roads! Well, maybe not loose... His first Solo was to Cristine's House, of course ;) During the same evening he was promptly made the new family chauffer by his 2 brothers. Nate needed picked up from the dance and Jake conned him into dropping him off at his friend's. Grumbling was heard, but we knew he was lovin' the opportunity to drive, anyway!
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PS Rocks!

Sunday, October 18, 2009

Original SOC (Straight out of the camera)
Picasa Edit
Photoshop-RAW adjusted then fine tuned in PS.
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Photoshop Fun!

Original


Levels, Saturate, PW Action: Warmer, Unsharp mask x 2


PW Action BW, history brush to recolor.

Type+Writer Day 8

Sunday, October 11, 2009


Day 8 Journaling
Nate/Nathaniel/Natiebug

Today I am thinking about Nate. My sweet youngest son. I have been thinking that he does not get as much attention from me as I would like to give him. It is a symptom of being the youngest, I think, but I would like to change that.
He is such a neat kid. I admire how he can get up early every morning and just bounce out of bed eager to meet the day. I would say that he is Daddy’s boy, but he is my boy, too. Bob takes Nate with him on errands and makes a point to spend time with him. Bob and I were discussing this and I noted that it is probably easier for me to relate to the other 2 as grown up men than it is for Bob. This would be different if we had girls. Nate is in transition. He is in 7th grade now. I remember thinking that Caleb was easy to talk to and so grown up when he was in the 7th grade. Why don’t I think of Nate that way? I think it is because he is my baby and I may not be ready for him to grow up too fast.
Nate is such a friendly guy. He hugs everyone he meets. He always has complimentary things to say, which is why he has the nickname “The Silver-tongued Bandit”. He is clever and witty. He is so fun to be around because he is constantly trying to make me smile and laugh. He has served on the student council at school for 2 years and this year he is the vice president. I sense that he is frustrated with the scheduling conflict this year. His football games are on the same night as the student council meetings. He also plays a mean trumpet. Originally, he wanted to play drums, but we signed up for try outs too late and all the percussion slots were taken. He has quickly learned to read music and make his instrument sing. Last week, at the ‘Battle of the Bands’, he looked like he was having a blast being a band geek. Time will tell if he decides to stick with the Band or pursue football.
On a daily basis he can be found at a friend’s house. I am glad that we chose to live in a subdivision where he can easily walk to many different friends’ houses. The other main attraction Nate enjoys is playing games on his computer. Out of the 3 boys, he is the one who is most likely to play games.
His sense of style is only beginning to develop. Mostly he just wants to be comfortable. He will routinely arrive downstairs with tattered jeans and an ill fitting T-shirt. Most of the time he can get away with it, but periodically he is sent back up to find something nicer to wear by either his brothers or me. He bought himself a Navy blue bowler hat last summer. It definitely suits him. He looks very handsome with his stylish glasses, hat, and trademark dimples. His older brothers remark that they remember not caring about what they wore at his age either. Jacob decided that it’s okay for Nate not to look cutting edge because then the girls are not as likely to come after him.

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Type+Writer 1st Layout

Monday, September 28, 2009



I am taking Jessica Sprague's Type+Writer journaling/scrapbooking class online. It is Awesome, but I am already behind!

I am so excited about getting this first layout done! Click on it to see it larger!

Mawage

Sunday, September 27, 2009


Mawage...it is what bwings us tugevuh... This quote from Princess bride brings a smile to my face. Bob and I will be celebrating 17 years of wedded bliss next month. I am looking for a good picture of me for a journaling class and I came across this one. It was taken this year on our trip to Niagara Falls. My sister mentioned the movie "Fireproof" and I can't believe we haven't seen it yet. I will definitely be putting it on our Netflix.

Tipping my hat to Jessica Sprague's Type+Writer class, I will now make a themed list as a tribute to marriage, Our marriage that is:
Commitment
Friendship
Flirting
Arguing
Discussing
Planning
Enjoying
Experiencing
Caring
Serving
Talking
Loving

These are verbs. Marriage is a constant state of action and requires work and upkeep. I am so grateful for the man that God gave to me to be my husband. I would not be who I am today without him in my life. Through 'thick and thin', good times and bad, we are in it together and I look forward to the next 17 years + spending it with my love-Bob.
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The Waiting Game

Thursday, September 24, 2009


Jacob patiently waits on the sideline for it to be his turn to play. Gentle Giant.
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Of Laptops, iPhones, and Digi-ness

Thursday, September 17, 2009

Fry's has got to be CRA-SEE! I Love that I have a 5 YEAR warranty on my laptop that also provides a loaner laptop when mine's in the shop! This is the 3rd time this year I've had my laptop in the shop. It might be the final time. IF that is the case--I get to keep this Brand-spankin-new one! SHINY!

In other news...Caleb is waiting anxiously for his new (refurbished) iPhone to come in. He has already located about 20 'apps' including The Bible! *How Cool is That!*

On to the Digi-ness...I just signed up for Jessica Sprague's Type+Writer class. It's true-I love to make visually impactful scrapbooking layouts--but when it comes to adding the journaling to the page to tell the story I suddenly have a creative block. I am hoping that by taking this course I will unlock the stories to go with my pages.

I am having a hard time getting to Photoshop to install for some reason... BUT I will get there.

Thursday, September 10, 2009




Wow! Caleb is a Senior. He is so independent...within a few weeks he will be driving by himself, he goes to college, he is found studying at all hours of the day...It's incredible, my little boy is a man. *Sigh*
I am so proud of you, Caleb. You are so brilliant, talented, sweet, loving, handsome, funny, witty, insightful, creative, spontaneous, mature, affectionate, ...I could go on and on.

Love, Mom
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Dylan Preview

Monday, September 7, 2009

Here is a preview of unretouched photos from the photoshoot today! It was Awesome! He Smiled! Such a little miracle.

 

 

 

 
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