Visitors

Mark (my brother) and Marianne and kids came and visited San Diego and then went up to Disneyland, where we met up with Kelli (my sister). We had a super fun time and can't wait to be with them again in the summer. Thank you so much for coming and entertaining us for a week.

Mark and family with my kids

We went to La Jolla Beach and even though it was cold and overcast Holland and Mattie still got in the water....clothed.

Sam and Caleb at the beach.

In Old Town, San Diego.

At the zoo.

Kelli's girls had the best reactions to meeting the Disney characters. There were fascinated. So fun to meet the princesses with them.

Taylor and Hazel mapping out where we will go. This was a common scene in both Disneyland and the zoo.

 Teacups: Holland, Cate, Emma and Mattie

Caleb and Sam, always together.

Getting sprayed on Grand Rapids in California Adventure Park.

A New Camera

So for Christmas I got a new camera, a nice one. It has been great fun learning how to use it and trying my best to delve into the very large and intimidating world of photography. I happen to have a super nice nieghbor who gave me a few old lenses and is also giving me small challenges to help me learn some of the fundamentals. So here are some of my challenges and the pictures that go with them.

1st Challenge: Take a picture of bananas

2nd Challenge: Take a picture of our blooming rose with the rose being the brightest object.

3rd Challenge: Decide beforehand what I want in focus and then take the picture. Here are a couple of examples. And, as a bonus, you get to see Tom's moustache.

This was an accident lesson on frontal light, but if I ever take some before and after pictures or Tom, I know how to make the after picture look really good--no blemishes anywhere.

These next four I just liked.

I really am enjoying what I'm learning, and if you are a photographer and have suggestions (hint hint J), please do so I'd love to hear them.