Christmas PJ's

Christmas PJ's

{January 9th}

Aunt Brenda gave all the kids new PJ's

Brin snowmen...James snow monster...Em fairy's

I wanted to get pics of them all but it didn't work out. Emsley wants to pick out PJ's each night herself. Jame's were put on then dirty after breakfast... oh well...at least I got one of three.

I love her eyes...

 I love her smile...sneezes...laughs...and sweet lips

Wiggly arms and legs... curiosity...sweet gaze...and how she nibbles her fists...

New Years Eve

For new years eve we were invited to a family friendly party...which I really wanted to attend...but for the safety of this cute baby who has already had RSV once...we opted to stay home.

We watched a movie with the kids. Ate some snacks. Then on to what may become a new year's tradition (We also did a puzzle with Aaron's family last year) an adult puzzle. I stayed up till one thirty...we finished the puzzle the next day.

First Photo Shoot with out Flash

I have to capture the cuteness of this adorable baby... chubby cheeks...check.

 Get ready..........kick your legs............move your arms

   Try out a background...(p.s. all of my babies have loved these black, white, and red board books. Did you know when babies are first born they see only black/white & shades of grey. Once they are four months old they have ability to see full color.)

 Success a few good shots alone....

 then the siblings join in.

Flash No More

 Flash no More

Broken flash and adventures of photography

1-2-13

I have had my simple Canon Power-shot since August 2008 just before Emsley was born. I bought a four year warranty because our previous two cameras have lasted just over a year. Well today 1-2-13 I was taking a couple of shots of Brinley just before bed and I hear a poof kind of sound... I knew right what it was the flash. You can see from the pictures there was two with the flash, one with a half, and the rest with no flash. The ones with no flash I edited by upping the exposure so you could even see what the picture was.

So later I looked up Canon online and found a number to call. I asked about getting a bulb. They said you had to replace the whole flash component. I thought about ordering it and trying to replace it myself for the forty some dollars. Then I called a local camera shop. I thought maybe they could give me some pointers. He told me they ship out all canon's that need repair to the manufacture. He said it would cost about $150.00 dollars and I would be a lot better off getting a new camera.

So, I researched, I wondered if I should get a DSLR, or stick with a point and shoot. I read several articles on improving your photography. One thing stuck out... TURN OFF THE FLASH...try and find the best natural light you can when taking pictures. That's my new goal.

I decided I need to get better at taking pictures and do it with my same camera it would force me to not use the flash. I am trying to take more pictures this year and keep our blog updated. It's so pleasurable to sit and look back at previous posts.

One more shot of my helper on my lap, just sitting there looking cute while I figured things out.

Watts Family Christmas Party

Watts Family Christmas Party

          We were in town for the annual party. My cousin Amber came and watched Brinley for a bit while I went and ate. Then I brought her a plate of food and we sat and visited for probably an hour. It was nice to catch up for a bit.

        They had a great meal buffet style. My dad always does the best turkey, and my mom and I made stuffing the night before. Then each person draws a number out of a hat. Great Grandma Dee has a whole table of wrapped presents. The person with number one goes first and picks their gift. The next person chooses a new gift or one that has been chosen. If your gift gets taken you choose a new one from the table. When all the gifts were chosen everyone opened their presents. 

Brinley found her thumb... Em popping in for the picture

 Second round leftovers...

Party presents kids loved ... Rainy Day piggy bank and etching art kit.

Grandpa de-boning the turkey.

More Christmas Vacation

More Christmas Vacation

More Emsley holding Brinley

Big smiles, yawns, and giggles.

We went to Grandma Mairiam's house so her kids could give her the present they went in on... a dresser for her T.V. with an electric fire place beneath.

Day after Christmas

Life the day after Christmas consists of...

Holding Brinley...Love that sister bonding

 Tool set still entertaining...check

 More snuggling Brinley...

 ABC mouse... can't believe at 2 and 4 they are so tech savvy.

 Grandpa always cooking up the best breakfasts!

 Can't get enough of this fluffy hair on Brinley...

Smiles

SMILES

Emsley love talking to Brinley and seeing those sweet smiles and goo's.

Christmas Morning

Christmas Morning Bliss

 It was quite the night being up four times. The baby woke up only twice to feed, the kicker was that the other two kids got up also. James just was comforted back to sleep. Emsley wet the bed (which hasn't happened in months). We were pretty tired and didn't wake up any too early. When I did wake up about eight I could hear James up. I went and found him he was still upstairs but not in the room he slept in. He had no diaper on. I found the stinky diaper; Off to the bath for James. This is real life. I then came down stairs with James all cleaned up and saw my Dad sitting on the couch. I asked him how long had he herd James? Oh about a half hour, he replied. I went to check on the other kids. Baby was up, time to feed. I then informed Aaron of the mess James had made that needed to be cleaned up. Now back to the Bliss....

James was super excited for his present a tool set with a battery operated drill. (Above)

Emsley enjoyed her present from us which was some mini princesses with changing clothes. (Below)

Brinley enjoying just watching...

Opening stockings...

 Grandma Mairiam came over later that morning. She held the baby and oped a gift which was a silver clinique bag with lepord print P.J.'s.

Then the kids opened part of their gift from Grandma....adorable homemade owl hats for all three kids.

 Joe woke up a little later and had fun with James...

 James with his neon green pillow pet monkey from Grandma and Grandpa snuggled up with his tool set...

 Tell you what that tool set was the perfect gift, and so was the one below!!!

 Joe and Grandpa put together another toy... Mommy snuggled little Brin...

Emsley opened tinkerbell from Uncle Joe...James got a magnet boy doll with sports clothes...
What a great Christmas morning...

Christmas Eve Part 2-cookies

Christmas Eve

Part 2

Making Gingerbread Cookies

for Santa

In my family we have always made roll and cut out cookies for Christmas. It was a fond memory of my childhood. My mom appreciated that it was a fond memory. She told me she would have to give her self a pep talk to make them each year when we were younger. I mean I do agree they are a lot of work. Homemade dough then chilling it for x hours, rolling in out with the help of two kids, cutting them and getting them on the pan, decorating them and making sure not to burn them, not to mention the clean up. The kind we made were sugar cookies that you decorated with sugar sprinkles before baking them.

Well tradition lives on. We have made Gingerbread cookies for two years in a row now. The dough is made a little different and we decorate after we bake. This year the kids had a merry time helping make the dough, roll and cut them out, but the best thing decorating them.

Each took a turn to roll out the dough. Then we took turns with cutting out the cookies.

Emsley's favorite part was decorating them. James his favorite part eating them.

The middle bottom was Santa's plate of cookies. The kids picked one then wanted another and another pretty soon the plate was piled high. The bottom left was cookies for sharing.

Upper Left Em and James showing their favorite cookies.