Lattins Cider Mill

Last weekend, after our attempt at family pictures, we took the kids to Lattins Cider Mill to hang out for the morning and get pumpkins. I had never been there before so I didn't know what to expect. We had a great time, there were goats and sheep to feed, fresh, hot apple fritters to eat and of course fresh made apple cider. The funnest part of the morning was the apple bungee shoot. You could have three tries to shoot an apple across a pasture with a bungee cord and try to hit a sign to win $25. We came close a few times but never actually hit the sign, it was much harder than it looked. I'm so glad the kids were up for making the trip there, as they get older we seem to less and less of this kind of thing. I guess they have to grow up sometime, I just don't have to like it.

October kid pictures

The morning started out good, I told Jim and the kids that I wanted to take some family pictures. I have been itching to try some portraits with my new camera and having all of the kids together doesn't happen too much anymore. Sounds good, right? Then we decided we would go to the cider mill up the road after the pictures to get pumpkins. Still sounds good.... It's almost like they couldn't wait to get to the cider mill, they were impatient at every pose, complained, made faces, wouldn't smile.... you name it. I finally gave up after the railroad tracks and the constant complaining about their pants getting dirty (I have to admit, I was just a bit worried about a train coming) I did end up getting a few shots that I liked and I was able to use the new camera a bit, so all in all the "shoot" wasn't a total loss. I think the next time I wont tell them anything except we're going to take some pictures and warn them they better behave or they'll be grounded. Who knows if that will work even, the older they get the harder it gets to get them to all cooperate. Then of course there's the other kid in our family, Jim, who's goofing around distracting them. Check out his picture if you need any proof of that!

Senior picture favorites

Julie took some amazing pictures of Rachel a few weekends ago in the Portland area, she is so sweet. The picture in the Abercrombie sweatshirt is Rachel's favorite shot, but I like the one in the striped sweater just because it has some interesting lighting, not necessarily for the yearbook but it is a nice shot of her. I also really like the bright pink t-shirt shot, her smile is adorable. I am totally loving the things I am learning through the process of taking her senior pictures. My friend, Seth, has helped edit the pictures posted here and has taught me some Photoshop basics that I will be using in the future. Julie gave me Photoshop 7 but it is so overwhelming I think I may just use the Elements program instead, it's super easy.The new Canon Rebel Xsi is scheduled to deliver today and I am so excited. I plan on spending the weekend learning how to use it and taking random pictures. Wish me luck!!

Good morning Sunday

This is what I was greeted with this morning when I went into the living room to watch the morning news and drink my coffee. Cameron was totally zonked out in the chair and had been there all night. He stayed asleep through then news and Lucy licking his face a few times. He finally woke up when Jim picked him up to move him. Good morning Cameron.