sisters

I didn't take this picture, but I wanted to put it up, since it it all of us sisters.  Including Theresa, who, at this time next week, will be our sister.  SUPER excited.

L-R: Naomi, Natalie(neice), Emili, Maylene(SIL) holding Evelyn(neice), Maria holding Hailey(neice), Vicki, myself, Theresa(new SIL), Laura, Bobbi, Brianna(SIL) holding Alyssa (neice), Lydia, Elsi, Abbi.

playing games

We had a group of people over for dinner last night, and it was SO much fun! After dinner we pulled out the cards and the sticky notes and the scrabble tiles and played games until midnight. 

Headband was the biggest hit of the night.

Which is why I only have pictures of that and the scrabble tiles telling you my sentiments regarding the game.

first real dinner party at our new house

Maria setting tables for our dinner.

We got 12 people around our table.  That made me happy.

the harvest is silvering

Last week during her drive to and from work, Bobbi stopped for a few stalks (is that what they're called?) of wheat for our table.  It gave our dining table a definite festive, fall feel.  And me something to photograph.

it was late and kind of dark in the room, and  i feel like this photo kind of captures that moonlight-y feel.

this looks like bread to me.  golden loaves, fresh from the oven.

then I turned on some lights and got some artificial 'sun' to shine on the wheat.

for Laura

A couple pictures of my new house, for Laura.

one living-room wall

another, with organized books

my bedroom.

using a fun camera, pt 2

Devon in the grass

purple and orange

the front rosebed

trying out the zoom on our barnyard fence

Hailey and Noami on the trampoline

using a fun camera

Luke and Theresa asked me to take their wedding-day photos in October.  (YIKES!) Matt and Maylene have been kind enough to lend their camera to the poor-sister-without-a-good-camera fund and I've been practicing every time they come out.  It is a Nikon D3100 and quite fun. Here are some of the shots I've turned out.

Lydia and Devon

Evelyn

Hailey (she actually smiled for pictures, which made me happy.)

Handsome boy, that Abel

And Seth is just plain good-looking here.

Seth and Natalie. And Yes, she is normal.

Daniel.  The car on his head was a good prop and actually
turned out a smile on his adorable face.

And I did take some other pictures beside these portrait-type pictures.  Close-ups and detailed shots follow.

I love the detailed scales on this little guy.

pool ball shadows

I was trying to focus on the fly, but it ended up being focused
on the cue-stick, which looks okay anyway.