The Photography Monster Strikes Again! (And Christmas recap)

Before I delve into the sweet events of Christmas, and overdosing on toys (if that's possible), I think I need to update my blog from about a week ago. Basically in it, I lament how photography is an expensive hobby/habit. And how I'm never content with what I have, always wanting the next better thing. For example, I was unhappy with the lens I have, wanting a 50mm lens, so I could get more indoor photos. The ironic thing is, as I wrote the blog, I had my younger sister Anna in mind, as she also has a knack with a camera, and I was indirectly warning her of how expensive things get as she ventures further. What I didn't expect, was she told my dad about my latest desire (the new lens), and my dad calls me a few days before Christmas, telling me he's in the third camera store trying to figure out exactly what I wanted!! LOL. So, the photography monster has been satiated for now, as my dad got me the new lens!! Actually, I told him I could pick it up myself, so as soon as I got it, Chuck took this photo of me to show my dad how happy the monster really was:



But, to wrap up the photography stuff, I also found a great article that talks about the dSLR cameras, in simple language, and gives a great comparison of the various brands. Just click here if you want to read it. I highly recommend it if you ever think you want to go up to this level of photography.

So I promptly put the new lens to good use and took about a million photos in the last 5 days. Here are my favorites:






[Kaleb, my nephew, 6 months old]


[William, my nephew, 3 months old]


[Elijah, my nephew, 7 months, with Chuck's mom. I can't take credit for this one, Chuck took it. Good job, babe!]



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Christmas also went so well, and we are so blessed! Our boys were inundated with gifts, and we were so thankful to get time with family. We stayed in Austin December 23-27th and it was a nice trip. It definitely beats the quick weekend trips we take, even though it was a bit weird not being in our home for Christmas morning. I'm beginning to cherish each trip, as I know it will be much harder to travel once we have 3 boys...at least for a few years.



[My cousin Dustin and his baby Tyler.]


[My sister Desi, and her boyfriend Jay.]


[My dad, the lens-gifter, and William, his youngest grandson.]


[Elijah made his appearance on Christmas as Santa. Isn't he cute?!]


[Kaleb obviously just enjoyed having all his grandparents around. His shirt says "Who needs Santa when you have grandparents."]


[My boys both enjoyed playing in their Aunt Melanie's backyard...something we don't have at home, yet.]




[Christmas morning, they looked so cute in their flannel Thomas pj's. Thanks, Aunt Mitsi!]


So, now we're home and changing modes...Getting ready for Chance's birthday in 2 days! I think this will be the last time we celebrate on his birthday, as it's just too close to Christmas. There are so many disadvantages to it. I think his next real birthday party will be "at the half." Chuck thinks I'm weird, but I really want to celebrate his half birthday instead...so the next one will be June 2009, when he turns 3 and a half. :)



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One more tidbit to catch up on... One of my favorite bloggers, Pioneer Woman, was featured on CNN for a quick tidbit, click here to see the cute interview.