November 30, 2011

Are you feeling the pressure yet?  It's the Christmas season!  I'm mostly relaxed at this point, but I have a tiny urge deep in the back of my mind to start freaking out because the Christmas gifts are not purchased and wrapped yet.  As I hear that silly little voice here and there, though, I remind myself that it isn't even December yet!  And I have to get through my son's birthday party this Saturday before I can turn my focus to preparing for Christmas.  We did manage to get the tree up yesterday, and I feel like that's a big accomplishment!  Let me clarify that it's just the tree right now, decorations not included yet.

My mother-in-law got us an Elf on the Shelf this year.  We weren't sure if my almost-2 year old would understand it, but he seems to really enjoy finding the elf every morning.  He even let me read him the entire story ... several times :)  I think it will be a fun tradition.  Part of the deal is that the child is supposed to name the elf.  Well, my son still has a very limited vocabulary, so he named him "What".  Here is our little "What" making his debut on the mantle:

What are some of your family's holiday traditions?

November 22, 2011

I know I'm getting old when I hear myself say things like, "It's already the end of November?!  Time is flying by!"  But it seriously does feel like it should be September.  And what's even harder to believe is that my son is a couple weeks away from turning 2.  Wow.  That feels weird.

I've taken a couple of classes since the last time I posted.  I took a 4 week SLR class at Bedford Camera in October.  I enjoyed being around other adults and talking camera things, but I was a little disappointed that I already knew most of what was covered.  It made me feel good to realize that my self-guided studying has actually given me a decent basic knowledge pool, but now I'm kind of stuck with a "where do I go next?" question because this is the only class that Bedford offers and the local colleges don't seem to have any intermediate classes.  The instructor suggested that we check out the Photographic Society of Northwest Arkansas (PSNWA).  He said that they are very active and have regular speakers and group shoots and sometimes classes.  I checked into it was interested, so I went ahead and paid dues and am officially a member now.  And I joined just in time to be able to sign up for a class about lenses.  The instructor was Greg Disch, and WOW!  What a great instructor!  Halfway through the class I thought, "This single class is worth the membership dues!"  So I'm hopeful that I will be able to learn more and learn it quickly.

Here are a couple of pretty fall pictures to say happy Thanksgiving to you :)  I took them for one of my assignments during the Bedford class.  I think it was a depth of field assignment.  Anyway, have a wonderful and peaceful Thanksgiving, and don't get too crazy out there on black Friday!

November 2, 2011

We had a lovely low-key Halloween.  My son is only 22 months old, so we didn't go all out this year.  He got a total of 4 pieces of candy :)

These are my favorites from a quick session at McGarrah Farms in mid-October.