In Elijah’s Words…

Today during school, Elijah had to write out the definitions of his spelling words that he didn’t understand. He was talking to himself as he read through them…

“Hot. Like, Mom’s tea is hot.”

“Father. Well, a father is a dad…”

“Man. A man is just but a boy- but grown bigger…”

 

He doesn’t even know how right he is! ;)

And then, I read Eve’s interview questions for Nana…

1. Where were you born?

2. What year were you born in?

3. When did you get married?

4. What foods do you like?

5. How long did you ever let Dad play lego?

6. Did you homeschool? Or go to public school?

7. Did you even go to school?

So, Nana… did you even go to school? And did Dad even go to school? Or did you just let him stay home and play lego all day? …

Gotta love ‘em! :)

And because I can’t do a post without a picture, and I haven’t taken many pictures of my own kids lately… Here’s Ella- screaming because Jed put her in this bin and wouldn’t help her out. Sounds like a typical “big brother” to me…

Check out those molars!!! Eye teeth are on their way!

Wordless Wednesday: Cheeky Monkey….

Homeschool: Science

Keona is studying “Health & physiology” this year. I’m learning things as we go.

Elijah is learning about bugs. This is the third time I have taught Grade 2 science, which is all about bugs. I’m a little sick of it bored with the whole bug thing… :)

Though, I can tell you that a spider will remove (by the next morning) anything that you put in its web. We’ve proven it.

I know that when a new queen bee is born, it fights with the old queen until one gives up and leaves with its faithful workers and drones. This is called a swarm. And then…. she goes and opens all the cells of the other “baby queens,” and stings them one-by-one.

No wonder my son is so disturbed.

I’ve also learned that well-nourished, female ants, are born with wings. They “detach them” when they find somewhere suitable to live. Oh, and ants “milk” aphids by stroking them with their antennae. Therefore, aphids are often referred to as, “ant cows.”

By who? I haven’t a clue. But thanks to grade 2 science, I have all of these random facts taking up valuable brain storage space.

But grade 3 science…. ah, I love grade 3 science.

It’s all about the universe, and mammals (not just insects!) and of course, the human body.

Plus, as an added bonus- we get to do lots of experiments! :)

For example….

I didn’t say they always work…

We did learn how soap works, and breaks down the water tension.

And how fire needs oxygen to live…

And how oil and water don’t mix. Even though, Eve was sure she could get them to!

One more try…

Notice how Charity blew it off the plate?! This whole time I thought it had worked! (a bit) I jut saw now, while watching the video, that she did it! Ugh...

Oh, and we made a “rubber egg.” Except that somebody, apparently thought the inside turned into rubber too, and tried to bounce it on the floor.

How I love homeschooling!

Especially science! :)

A Boring Photo Editing Post…

 

Here’s the SOOC:

Pretty crummy shot…. First off, let me say- Not all my photos start out this bad… It was the first shot and I was shooting in manual. Second, open-shade is my best friend!

So here’s what I did in PSE7….

1. Colour correction

Still pretty dull….

2. Colour boost- (a “soft light” and a “screen” layer- set to taste)

Slight improvement…

3. Slight blemish removal and dodging/burning of the eyes

  Not quite happy with the colour yet…

4. Another slight colour boost and then a very slight desaturation (-5)

Almost done…

5. Crop, sharpen and stamp!

  (this is the original and I don’t remember the EXACT steps- so I may have boosted the colour a bit more by the looks of it!)

Anyhow…

SOOC

Finished product

And for all those who were looking… here’s my reflection…

See? Right in the middle!

 

i heart faces: {Blue}

My cousin’s baby- with his stunning, ultra-blue eyes. If you look really closely…. you can see the reflection of me standing on a chair above him with my camera. Love this baby! :)

Peyton Gail

I had the chance to do TWO newborn shoots this weekend! Have I mentioned how much I love babies lately? Well, I do! And I thoroughly enjoy photographing them. Here is a sneak peek of gorgeous, little Peyton’s pictures.

 

This one just seriously, made me laugh out loud. :)

Thank you for allowing me to photograph your beautiful daughter! I’ll post some more on my Inspired Life blog tomorrow.

 

 

(My two blogs are having identity issues right now, and I’m working on it…)

Quit

 

Either quit, or quit; but choose. Stare it right in the face. Look at it right now. Decide. Either quit, or quit.

“It’s difficult.” So quit.

“I can’t.” So quit.

“I’m scared.” Quit.

“I’m scarred.” Just quit.

“I’m tired… It hurts… I’m lost…” QUIT!

Quit! But whatever you do, don’t quit.

This world is not a perfect place. It is not a just or fair place. This world is a place full of unrest and distress. Look around, and you will be humbled. Look inside, and you will reach for distraction as a cure. We are simply unequipped, or not quit, for such circumstantial menace.

As soldiers marching toward a battle without any leader, armour, orders or weapons, we are not quit. As a rescuer fighting a fire without a hose, help, or training, we are not quit. Like a farmer, preparing to sow a field without seed, plough, sun, or even a field, we are not quit. Therefore, we quit. The task, the distress, the distractions, the risk, is altogether too much and too far.

So we quit!

One way or another, one quit or another, you will quit, or be quit. It’s too big for you. It’s too hard without pill or thrill to rob reality of its bite. So, you quit.

You get up in the morning fighting the tears, because you know that you’re going to pour yourself into a day that brings nothing in return but vanity and exhaustion. And you are not alone. You can’t seem to get anything to go right at any time ever. You’re not the only one. Let’s be honest, you’re trying to scale a mountain, and you’re not even sure it has a top to reach. And you are not alone.

You are missing something. The bread isn’t rising; you’re missing something in the mixture. The car won’t start; perhaps try the key? This pen won’t write; it may be out of ink…

You need the right quit. Quit, unbeknown to most, is a homonym. Not quit like stop; quit like start. Not quit like leave; quit like be free while you’re here. Quit does not just mean stop, leave, or give up. Quit means prepare, be justified, or be ready. Your problem, your missing ingredient, your failure, is simply in your definition and use of the word quit.

I refuse to quit. So I quit. If I’m not prepared for the day, week, or whatever it may be, I will very likely stop living it before it’s done being lived.

Are you prepared to live? Have you quit; or have you quit? Prepare for your challenge, look it straight in the eye, and say without a flinch, “I shall NOT quit! I shall not be robbed of life by you, challenge!”

Don’t quit.

Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, quit you like men, be strong. 

– 1 Cor 16:13

 

Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.

- Matt 11:28-30

The only force in this life powerful enough to make us able to succeed in this life, is the very Person who gave us life. Might I introduce you to Him sometime?

Wood Family Photoshoot

Just thought I would post a few quick pictures from today’s photoshoot before I head out!

 

 

I posted more of them on my Inspired Life blog…

Thank you for letting photograph your beautiful children, Natasha!

What Was Happening Here?…

  

Now I’m off to take pictures of my friend’s baby, and then a double date with Mom and Dad Polhamus tonight! :)

“I’m not a newborn, Mom….”

But you look so cute posed as one!

I couldn’t help it!

I was getting all of my baby photography props out so that I would have them ready for the weekend, and I had Ella sitting beside me in her diaper… So, the girls and I decided we should take a picture. Or two. Or three…. She was much more co-operative than a newborn, I must say. I said, “Ellie, do this!” (putting my hands under my chin) And she did it! I love her little baby chub!

Speaking of chub… did I mention that I forgot my sweet little Jeddy in the nursery on Sunday night? I was working in the baby nursery right across the hall, I came out with Ella, walked right by his nursery, and to the foyer to find my other kids. It wasn’t until we were all standing there, that I realized- someone was missing! I sent Eve running to go get him… I still can’t believe I forgot him!

That’s a first…

Or maybe a second…

There was this one time, just after Elijah was born. You know, when we had a 3 year old, three 1 year olds, and a newborn… We all came rushing into the house after church, I sat down on the couch, and looked around for the carseat to feed Elijah. Scott and I both thought the other had carried it in… Scott ran out to the van and rescued my poor baby. Really, it had only been about 2 minutes, but I felt like the worst mother in the world!

Atleast neither of them were a “”Home Alone” style forgetting my kid….

Oh, and one more quick story…

I took the triplets shoe shopping on Sunday between church services, because the poor girls have enormous clown feet like their mother they’ve grown out of their shoes AGAIN… and I thought it was hilarious- how you could see their personalities in the way they choose their shoes.

Here’s how it went…

Prayer: Ooooh! Look! They’re shiny!!!

(enough said)

Charity: I want heels, so they “click” like your shoes, Mom…

Eve: Aw! Look at the beautiful flower lining inside these shoes….

So different, and yet, so much alike…

Same - Difference

I couldn’t tell them apart at birth.

Scott, always could.

Kids are better at figuring them out than adults are.

They have extremely different personalities.

I still can’t tell them apart when they’re sleeping.

When I took them to the park the other day, there was a group of about 15 girls there. All “preteen” age. When I got my camera out to start taking pictures, they all gathered around. One of them shouted, “Hey, are you guys models!?” Followed by all of them whispering, “They’re triplets! Look, they’re all wearing the same thing!”

I shouted back, “Just my models!”

Apparently, my girls were entertained by the thought. As they went around the rest of the time we were there saying, “We’re models. Our Mom takes pictures. She has a blog….” 

Then… my camera battery died.

THE END

Wordless Wednesday