The season with all the trimmings

December 9, 2009 at 12:36 am (Family, Fun With Cameras, Little Lamb Chop)

It was so fun to decorate the house with my kids this year. Brenden really got into helping with all the details, and Miles and Eve danced with excitement. The stories behind each ornament were told as we found the perfect spot to hang it. When everything was in it’s place, we turned off all the lights and spent the rest of the evening playing by tree light. The boys set up their train underneath, and Eve circled the tree over and over studying all the ornaments. Christmas is almost better as a parent than it was when I was a kid. I’m sure that is because some of my best memories include the glow of a Christmas tree, and it warms my heart to see that same joy reflect in the eyes of my children as twinkle lights dance on their faces. Every morning the boys get so excited to “turn the tree on, so it can be beautiful” and I’m more than happy to oblige. I love Christmas! Not really the big day even…it’s the whole build up to Christmas Day that I love. It’s just merry and bright and all that jazz. :) I love it! Greg asked me the other morning how I can stand to listen to Christmas music all day long. He’s crazy!

My sister sent Eve this dress. Greg and I are generally not big fans of velvety, frilly dresses for little girls, but we both had to admit that she looks darn cute in this fur trimmed number. She BEGS to wear it every time she finds it. That and her witch costume. It’s so funny to me how she’s already into dressing up. All of my hair ties double as her bracelets, and head bands are necklaces. Give this girl a purse, and she’s over-the-moon excited. So different from my boys that came out making car noises.

On a photography side note: My camera does not handle high ISO levels well AT ALL. I’ve noticed that my images start getting significantly noisy on anything over 200. It used to bug me, but I’ve decided to embrace it. This picture of Eve, for example, was lit only by our Christmas tree. I bumped the ISO to 1600, and really liked the dreamy glow I got. I think the added grain makes it all the more enchanting. I absolutely love experimenting with photography. It’s so fun to me. I remember the day I really learned what aperture meant and how it worked, and my view of the whole world changed. I’m totally not exaggerating…the WHOLE world. :)