Learning to Shoot... Photos, that is

I got my new camera last week. I love it! What I know about photography could fill a, uh, um... a thimble. But, I love taking pictures of my kids, the things we do, and all the sights we are so blessed to have in our area. So, I decided to get a big girl camera and learn how to do more than point and shoot.

I figured I'd see what I could do with my new camera down in La Jolla. It's so beautiful down there and I especially love the La Jolla Cove... with its cliffs, interesting rocks, and the spray from the waves hitting the rocks.

I got there around 7:00 in the morning, thinking early morning would be best for shooting pictures. I quickly learned, though, that because of the cliffs surrounding the Cove, it stays pretty dark until the sun rises high enough in the sky to shed some of its light on the water and rocks.

There is so much to learn and I can see that I need lots of practice, but here are some of my favorite pictures from my morning shooting at La Jolla Cove:

Beautiful, clear water.

The Children's Pool... now a seal sanctuary.
No swimming allowed.

Facing North

Trying out the slow-shutter speed on running water...
gives it a smooth, velvety look.

I love when the waves crash into the rocks and cliffs, sending sprays
of water shooting up!

Water shooting up through a hole in the rock formation.

Funny squawking sea gull. I'm not sure if he has a leg up or if he's a one-legged bird.

Before the sun came up enough to shed light into the cove...
the cave in the background is what caught my eye.

I love the rock formations and the colors of the cliffs at the cove.

Job Titles

I am a Mommy. That means I'm a:

1. Sanitation supervisor
2. Chef
3. Nutritionist
4. Architect (specializing in LEGO structures)
5. Engineer (on a contract basis for the town of Sodor)
6. Hostage Negotiator (specializing in stuffed animal rescue)
7. Personal Shopper
8. Translator
9. Chauffeur
10. Child Advocate
11. Teacher
12. Nurse
13. Tour Guide
14. Event Planner
15. Judge
16. Mediator
17. Librarian
18. Race Car Driver
19. Secret Hideout Designer
20. Historian/Scientist
21. Dental Hygenist
22. Human Jungle-Gym
23. Professional Wrestler
25. Crayola Artist
26. Carpet Cleaner
27. Banker
28. Story-teller
29. Singer
30. Photographer
31. Stunt Woman
32. Referee
33. Hug Specialist
34. Cake Decorator
35. Lab Assistant

The Mommy's Night Before Christmas

'Twas the night before Christmas
and Mommy's awake.
There are still presents to wrap
and cookies to bake.

The kids are snuggled in tight
sleeping, like they should.
No begging to stay up late
(last chance to be good).

Daddy fell asleep watching
the 10 o'clock news
While Mom folds the laundry
and longs for a snooze.

She steps over the LEGOS,
the Hot Wheels and toys...
On her way to the bedroom
to check on her boys.

She sees that they're safe and sound
They're warm and they're fed.
She sees boys who are happy,
with nothing to dread.

She lifts up a prayer of thanks
She knows she's been blessed.
Her husband, her boys, their health...
and all of the rest.

Christmas swirls in like a storm,
her days seem to blend.
There's a stack of Christmas cards
she forgot to send.

There's Snoopy and there's Frosty,
Rudolph all aglow.
The Grinch tries to steal Christmas
from those down below.

Now she looks at the faces
of those she holds dear,
and remembers the reason
God's own Son came near.

It is not about fruitcake,
or trees or the lights.
It's about God's gift given
to us on that night.

A promise of a Savior
made right from the start
to a world that had fallen-
a world torn apart.

The baby boy born that night,
so weak and so small,
was God's perfect sacrifice...
His gift for us all.

Mommy smiles as she gazes
at her little boys.
They will wake up too early...
they'll make lots of noise.

God will smile, too, she's sure
because of their joy.
On this day we celebrate
the birth of His Boy.

Written by: Sara Jones

My New Camera

OK... I finally got myself a "big girl" camera. I've been researching and wanting a new camera for a long time. I was first looking into the Nikon D40 (an earlier version of the one in Ashton Kucher's commercials. He's pretty cute, isn't he?). Great camera, with excellent reviews but expensive and probably more camera than I need.

I was still in Nikon D40 mode when I went to Fry's last week to check it out in person. I found out they don't carry Nikons. I was disappointed but half-heartedly looked at their other big girl cameras while Matt took Nate to the restroom.

It was then that I saw the Cannon SX10. I was immediately impressed with the zoom on the lens. It zooms up to 20x. In addition, I have been using my point and shoot Cannon Elph for years and many of the menu buttons are the same so I felt comfortable with the SX10 pretty quickly. And, it is less expensive than the Nikon.

My favorite part: The LCD screen shows what you're about to take a picture of (unlike the Nikon D40, where you have to look through the little view finder). AND... I absolutely LOVE this- the LCD screen swivels around and tucks itself in so that it is protected from being scratched. My ELPH LCD screen was scratched up after just a few weeks of owning it. I honestly think that's what sold me on this camera.

I ordered the camera from B&H Photo Video for a lower price than Fry's had it. They also express shipped it (overnight) for FREE! I got the camera today and love it already. I can't wait to take pictures of our Christmas celebrations with my new camera.

Bath Time for a Chicken

When Nathaniel came up to me today to tell me his Chicken was dirty and needed a bath, I was pretty surprised. Surprised, because Nate has always adamantly refused to let me put his best friend into the washing machine.

I learned that Chicken was in the back playing with Nate. Somehow, Chicken ended up getting covered in dirt. Chicken was so dirty, even Nate had to acknowledge that his beloved fowl was... well, foul!

I documented the whole saga as it unfolded. My own little Bawwkumentary, I guess you could say. Here, my friends, is what happens in our house when Chicken needs a bath:

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Here is dirty Chicken. You can see some of the chunks of dirt.
What you can't see is how foul Chicken smells.

Is it just me, or does Chicken look

a little worried?

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One final picture before Chicken goes IN.

Don't let his slouchy posture fool you...
he is really a very dignified Chicken.

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Nathaniel decided to watch as his buddy got swished around in the washer.
Far more interesting than Sponge Bob, it would seem.

Nate has bed head...
even though this picture was
taken in the late afternoon.

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Warning: This picture looks more
traumatic than it really was.

Chicken did his best to tug at Nathaniel's heart strings by
looking as pathetic as possible. Chicken, however, overestimated the
compassion of a 3 yr. old who was finding the whole
thing highly entertaining.

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Andrew even stopped watching Indiana Jones
in order to see the events of the evening unfold.

Hmmm... maybe my boys need to take
up a sport or something.

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Time for the dryer, Chicken. Take that look off your face...
it might be kind of fun.

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Chicken Suave... clean, fresh,
and ready to score some hot chicks.

Yes, I'm aware that Chicken appears to be a
"she" instead of a "he". Nate has declared him
a boy chicken, so he is.

Nathanielisms

Most kids say funny things... and my three year old, Nathaniel, is no exception. I often get a chuckle out of the way he says what he is thinking. Here are just a few of Nate's funny and cute expressions:

1. "Tortilla with Cheese"
Translation: Quesadilla

2. "Peanut butter and jelly sandwich with peanut butter"
Translation: Peanut butter sandwich

3. "Last night"
Translation: Any time in the past... could be hours, could be weeks or months

4. "This is the ______ I never saw before"
Translation: This is the __________est I've ever seen!

5. "Daddy's old church"
Translation: Jazzercise, where Matt worked before taking his current job at Mission Hills Church.

6. "Turkey sandwich with the turkey on the side of my plate"
Translation: Turkey and cheese slices, please- no bread.

7. "Nordstrom"
Translation: Costco, Jimbo's... and Nordstrom

8. "Auntie Sheena"
Translation: Anyone having to do with my parent's side of the family, including my parents.

9. "Baaaaaaauuuuuuckkkkkk!!"
Translation: My stuffed animal Chicken is speaking for me today.

10. "The Mama Mia Song"
Translation: Let's listen to Bohemian Rhapsody for the 25th time today!

11. "Mommy! A Mustang!"
Translation: Look at that cool car, Mommy.
**This term may be used for any cool-looking car he sees

12. "I'm getting that for you for Christmas, Mommy."
Translation: Billy Mays endorses it so it must be good!
or, You can make me yummy things with that so I'm getting it for you.
or, I want that.

13. "Muffins with the stuff on top."
Translation: Cupcakes

More Confessions of an Average Supermom

Every so often, I like to share my secrets as an Average SuperMom. I do this so that other moms might reach the same status I have worked so hard to achieve. I hope these little confessions help you become an Average SuperMom too. That is, assuming you are a mom. If you aren't, you are welcome to read on. Just be sure to share these insights with those who might find them helpful.


1. I'm a push-over. I could try to put it in a better light and say I'm tender-hearted but then I wouldn't be an average SuperMom, I'd be a super SuperMom... and how boring is that?! For example, I warm my kids' towels in the dryer for them after their bath. I also warm up their clothes. Does Daddy do this? No. Do they insist that Daddy do this? Again, no. This is Mommy's thing.

2. I'm a wimp. Some days I get so tired of arguing with my boys that I just back down. I guess a lot of it could fall under the umbrella of "picking your battles", but there are times I am just too tired to enforce certain things, even though I know I should.

3. I Get Strangers to do my Job. OK, that sounds worse than it is but when you have kids who listen to every other person besides their parents, this can be an effective tool. I recently tried to enlist the shoe salesman at Nordstrom to convince my three year old that it is NOT good to wear flip-flops in cold, rainy weather. I figured I was spending enough money on a pair of shoes, the least he could do was act as the voice of authority- the "Shoe Guy"- and save me from having to participate in the War of the Flip-Flops for the next 15 years. The Shoe Guy did a beautiful job coming across as the stern authority on the subject of proper footwear. Did it work? No. It was worth a try though.

4. I Get More Strangers to do my Job. When the Shoe Guy couldn't convince my little Jimmy Buffet that flip-flops are not suitable for winter weather, I took advantage of Andrew's doctor's appointment to get the doctor-- who was really a nurse practitioner, but the boys didn't need to know that-- to explain to Nate that he needs to wear socks and shoes in cold, rainy weather. Guess what? I think this time it worked... Nate wore shoes and socks this afternoon!

5. I Let my Kids Play in the Rain... in their Flip-Flops. Why? I figure it won't hurt them to do that for a little while. They like to hop in a hot bath afterwards. And of course, I warm up their towels and clothes for when they get out. I can only imagine what my neighbors must think, seeing my boys outside in the rain, running around and splashing in mud puddles. I'm sure I've been pegged as the irresponsible mom in the cul-de-sac. Heck, I only wish I could get out there and join my boys!

Elephants Never Forget... or Do They?

I just read the blog of a friend whose grandpa recently passed away. Her blog touched me as she shared some of her favorite memories of her grandpa. She also mentioned a Christmas ornament her mom had given her that says, "the best gift we can give to our children are memories".

What does this have to do with elephants? Well, the other day I was talking with a friend of mine, Jane, who works at the San Diego Wild Animal Park. She has worked as a keeper to all kinds of wild animals. This woman loves animals and has so many interesting stories to share!

During the course of our conversation, she said something that I have never thought of before. She made the statement that although so many animals share human characteristics, the biggest difference between animals and people is that animals have no concept of their past... no concept of their ancestors, heritage, and traditions. They have no memories to pass on to their offspring.

Jane explained that with some animal groups (like elephants and gorillas), when one of the group dies the animals will mourn for a little while. But as babies are born into the group or herd, the animals that passed on before them are lost to future generations.

As I think about this, I realize what a gift it is for us to be able to have and share our memories of loved ones with others. What a gift to pass on these memories to our children. How blessed we are to have a sense of family and traditions!

The ability to know about, share, and appreciate those who have lived before us is unique to the human experience. This brings me back to my friend who has lost her grandpa. She will be able to share her memories with her own children. They will never forget him. She and her family will be able to relive some of their memories of their grandpa when they are together. In this way, their dearly loved grandpa will continue to be an important part of the family.

Thank you, God, for giving us a past... stories to share with others... experiences to remember fondly... traditions passed down through the years. Without these things, we would always and only be aware of the present... those who exist at the same time we do... clueless of those great people who came before us.

Bits and Pieces

I haven't blogged for a while and in case you're wondering... yes, I'm still alive! To save time, here are some bits and pieces of my life these days:

1. No more homeschooling! That's right- I found out that our local public school is actually very good. I was so impressed by my visit that I enrolled Andrew as quickly as I could. He started on Monday, December 1st so he is still in his first week of school there. So far, he LOVES it! He's made friends, plays soccer at lunch and recess, loves his teacher, and even looks forward to the lunches (they have a great selection of food!). I get to help out in the classroom tomorrow (Friday) and I'm looking forward to it.

2. Good decisions: I won't go into detail here but let me say that I've been making really good decisions lately regarding my family, my marriage, and myself. Deciding not to home-school is one of those good decisions.

3. Cluck Cluck: Nate still carries his chicken around with us every where we go. It got so dirty, I had to sneak the poor thing into the washing machine. It was a very well-planned operation and we ended up with a clean chicken in the end. It's dirty again.



4. Stupid Me: I took Nate to the Wild Animal Park yesterday. We had a fun day but in an idiotic attempt to get a picture of the two of us on the pretend tree in the playground area, I slid off the slick surface of the structure. I was holding Nate in one arm and my camera in the other hand. As I started to fall, I grabbed as tightly as I could onto the "branch" with my camera-hand and my right leg. It didn't stop me from hitting the ground, though. I'm happy to say that Nate is fine-- I was able to get him in a good football hold as we fell, protecting his head and back. Aside from feeling like a fool, I'm fine too but feel like I pulled every muscle on the right side of my body. Why do I do these things? I guess because I think I should be able to.

5. Santa: Even though Andrew doesn't believe in Santa anymore, he wanted to get his picture taken on his lap when we went to the mall before Thanksgiving. I wasn't intending to have this done when we went to the mall that day so I didn't dress the boys in anything special (well, special for them is clean clothes). When I saw that there was NO line & remembered my hour-long wait for Santa last year, I decided to get the picture done that day. I ended up going to the Children's Place to get Andrew some pants (to replace his raggedy sweat pants). And we went to Santa's throne for our picture. Both boys smiled this year and I was smiling because we didn't have to wait in any type of line. Ahhhh... sweet
Santa success!




6. Fudge: I LOVE fudge! I love eating fudge. I love making fudge. Every year, I start early in the fudge- er, holiday- season making fudge. I am always trying to make each batch better than the batch before it. I made the BEST fudge in the history of my fudge-making life on Tuesday. What made it especially good this time? I think it had a lot to do with the Godiva White Chocolate liqueur I put in it. Yes, I love fudge but love it even more with some sort of alcohol in it. YUM!

7. Soccer Mom: Yes, I'm going to be a soccer mom. No, my boys are not joining a soccer team. I am!! Many of my mom friends play soccer and love it. I've been asked to join leagues before, but was always afraid to because of the commitment involved and because of the fact that I don't know how to play. Well, as part of my good decision-making streak lately, I've been wanting to do something fun for me. Something that allows me to get exercise and develop more female friendships. Since there aren't many skateboarding mamas out there, soccer seemed like a fun way to accomplish those goals. I'm pretty feisty, quick, and a semi-intelligent so I figure I have time to learn how to play soccer before the season starts in January. The team I'm joining is not in the aggressively competitive league and the ladies know I'm a beginner. They play more for fun and exercise than to kick butt so I think I'll fit in just fine. I can't wait to get my pink shirt, cute soccer socks, shin guards and cleats! I wonder if they make pink cleats... hmmm, I'll have to look.

That's all for now! Gotta feed the kids and hubby now.