Boys' night out

Today we took all of the kids to the museum, then the boys and girls split off.  I will try to get my bride to blog about the girls time later, but here's the boys.

We walked to Friday's Front Row and had dinner there.  This is the restaurant that is inside Chase Field, where the Diamondbacks play, so the boys got to see the baseball field and stadium in all its glory.

Then we took a short walk again over to the Suns game (where they beat a really bad looking Pistons team) and had a blast.  The last photo was about 10pm, the boys did GREAT and I can't wait to do it again.

December 31st

I almost got this in right on time, but we got back late from a very fun day.

We took the kids to the Children's Museum of Phoenix today, what a blast.  This place was so cool, the only regret is that we didn't have more time to play around there.  I hope to go back sometime soon to play around more.  Here are a few highlights from the last day of '10

12 "Days" to Better Photographs--Day 10 Landscapes

Not the best day for outdoor photographs, but I had to get it in to fulfill my my goal.  Will go play with more later.

12 "Days" to Better Photographs--Day 11 Your Daily Environment

If you are keeping track (I doubt any of you are), then you will notice that I skipped day 10.  This is the last day of the month and I have not had a chance to get good landscapes, which I had planned to take on our trip up north.  Unfortunately that trip was snowed out, so we are here in the valley and its cloudy out right now, so here's Day 11.  (Day 12 was the "catchup week" so I just need to get out here soon and practice some landscape photography!)

1.  Capture a small snippet of your life that usually goes unnoticed.  My BIL is so thoughtful that he even grabbed a paper towel before his nap on the couch to catch the drool.

2. Share your favorite photo and tell a story.  These two have such a fun relationship.  K3 already know how to be rough with her brother and enjoy wrestling and how to be a playful baby and play baby games with her sister.

3. Create a visual record of your day.  I picked just an hour or so of our day, we went to the Candy Factory (shared a little yesterday, here's the full story)

December 30th

There was a TON of snow up north today, so that cancelled our trip up north for the second day.

Chad and I took the kids to Cerretta's Candy Factory for the "free tour" (really more of a lecture-see below).

You can also see below the before and after effects.

December 29th

Today was a very rainy day.  Those of us who have spent most of their lives in AZ don't know quite what do do with these days.  Good things the cousins from TX were here to show us the way.

12 "Days" to Better Photographs--Day 9 Portraits

What a better time to take portraits than when the cousins are here?!?!

Heading up north in a couple of days to play in the snow, so looking forward to some landscape photos which is next lesson.

1. Take a portrait of an individual

2. Take a group portrait

3. Take a portrait with an interesting backdrop

4. Take a portrait and convert to B/W (had to do this one again)

December 28th

I got to play golf for the first time in a loooooooong time today.  It showed on my first few and last few holes, but had fun.  The girls got to go do some pottery as well.

Since I was gone most of the day, I didn't get to take many photos.  I've been interested in night photography and didn't realize until tonight now much the stars move!

Here's a picture of how much they move in 15 minutes of exposure.

December 27th

Legos...love them.

December 26th

We took a very nice hike as a family today

December 25th

Such a fun day.  I think that this is why Christmas is fun.

December 24th

A couple shots from today.  The 'Twins' and the stockings.

Who am I anyways?

I've been thinking a lot over the last few days.

Since I allowed myself to believe that I was on break, I've been a bit more playful, patient and even organized.  It got me thinking of my personality and what I've been over the last year or so.  I kinda don't like what I look back on.

I think that I've been "that guy" that looks too busy to care to those around him.  I see this in people hesitating to ask me favors.  I like doing favors.  I do think that we have a crazy schedule, but not as much as I allow myself to think it is.

I know that God has called me to have life now and have it to the full.  John 10:10 is very clear on that, so I've set a few goals for myself over the next months and desire to keep them.

I will not complain and whine through my surgery, going to kick it's butt.
I will read more again.
I will study more again.
I will laugh more again.
I will help my wife more again.

Thanks for listening.

December 23rd

Highly unusual here in the desert to find a day of rain and fog.  We had one a couple weeks ago where it seemed that everyone's FB profile stated something about the fog.  This morning everyone must have slept in, as last night it poured down and this morning there was a beautiful California-esk haze of fog and wetness in the air.