Day 49, 50 & 51

Day 49: Favourite Toy

Day 50: A Peek Over the Fence

Day 51: Thoughtful

Thursday's Tut #1: Some Basics

Before I dive in, I want to admit I am pretty nervous about this post, however, I have promised my mum I will help her with her Photoshop and this is the easiest way with us being so far apart. So, if you're reading this and would like to comment, I'd love to hear from you; but please be kind! This is the first time I have ever done anything like this before! Thanks.

The thing I have found most helpful since I began playing with Photoshop is just that; playing. So, we're going to do some very basic photo editing to clean up our pic to get you going..

I am using Photoshop CS4

* Open the photo you're going to edit - File > Open. I have chosen this one of Kahlei I took the other day -->

* The first thing I am going to do is zoom in - View > Zoom In and use the Spot Healing Brush Tool to fix any blemishes, in this case it's a tiny bit of dribble.

Click to See Larger

* Create a duplicate layer - Layer > Duplicate Layer. A pop-up box will appear, select okay.

* Activate the duplicate layer by clicking on it in the layers palette. This will allow you to work on this layer.

* From the dropdown menu in the layers palette we are going to select Screen as our blending mode and adjust the opacity until we're happy with the result. I have chosen an opacity of 80%

* I love this effect on photos of the girls, but there are parts of this photograph I want the clarity and colour to remain ie eyes. To do this; click on the eraser tool, select a brush and erase the parts you want to keep bright. I used a 9px hard brush with 100% opacity

*Flatten your image by right clicking on the duplicate layer in the layers palette and selecting Flatten Image

* Now, we're going to do a simple crop. Select your crop tool then click and drag to create the crop box, right click and select crop when you're happy with what's within the box.

* Save :)

As I said, just some basics that I use (keep in mind this tut is primarily for my mum who hasn't worked with anything like photoshop before...). Now, I encourage you to go and branch out, explore. You never know what you might discover! I'd love to see your before and afters :)

Day 47 & 48

Day 47: Water Play

Day 48: Anniversary Flowers

Tuesday's Tribute: A Special Tribute

Yet Another Jay and Deb Production.

Since the moment I came across Tuesday's Tribute and decided to participate, I have been planning this post. I don't yet know what I am going to say, but I have always known today would be the day I would tribute this person.

Tomorrow James and I will share our second wedding anniversary. The past two years seem to have flown by, but at the same time it's like we've been married forever (in a good way).

I never would have guessed James and I would marry, not all those years ago when we would talk on msn long into the wee hours of the morning. I liked him, yes, but our relationship was so volatile. We would talk every night for months before some trivial matter caused a blow out and we would not talk for weeks, even months if I was angry enough.

I was young and hurt over past friendships which had gone awry and very reluctant to trust, especially another boy. Somehow, though, James became my confidant. Somehow, he managed to earn my trust without me even noticing and became my best friend.

Over the years he proved time and again that he would do what it took to look out for me, to make me feel safe, cared for and loved. Even before we were 'in love' we loved each other and it was this love that helped me through some of the darkest times of my life.

In the grips of an eating disorder, James showed me I was worth more, that I deserved happiness and that I should expect to be treated well.

Every morning since we've been together I have eaten breakfast, which really is a big deal.

James is funny, loving, caring. He is so smart, so often he has a tidbit to share which enlightens me, opens my mind and makes me realise, again, just how clever the man I married really is.

I love that my husband is also my best friend. There is nothing I wouldn't share with him.

This weekend, especially (even with me already feeling warm and fuzzy about our up coming anniversary), made me appreciate him even more. He's so awesome with my family. Fits in like he's always been one of us even though, in actual fact, his family is practically the complete opposite to mine (you know, quiet and sane...), not to mention full on.

Watching him with my mum and brother, Josh, made me so proud and gooey.

He is a softy at heart, movies, music... they touch him and he isn't afraid to shed a tear. Only recently we watched Curious Case of Benjamin Button and he had tears running down his face. His sensitivity and big heart are so rare, especially the fact that he allows these emotions to show. I really love that about him.

As a Dad, James is so loving and proud of his girls. It's no wonder Ellie and Kahlei are such Daddy's girls. I love to sit back and just watch him with them, knowing how much he loves them is wonderful.

This man that I love makes life an adventure. He really does. I am excited to share the next year...the next 50 years in his arms, sharing this life we have built together. Until him I never thought I would marry or have children. He's the best thing that ever happened to me (along with my girls, now).

I love you, baby. xoxo.

Oops. Project 365 Day 44, 45 and 46

I totally forgot I was going to post these in It Sucks ...

Day 44: Flicker

Day 45: Homeward Bound

Day 46: Self Portrait #2

AND I also forgot to mention that other than "It sucks", Ellie has also come home saying "Becky", which I find strange to hear coming out of her mouth. She has been saying it all day but is still calling me mummy, so I guess it's okay...

It Sucks

Well, it does if you ask Ellie, anyway!

I suppose that's what happens when you spend the weekend with a bunch of teenage boys... but, if that's the worst thing she learnt this weekend then I guess we got off light! ;)

They're good boys, really and sooo good with Ellie.

***

Friday night James and I finally finished our Secret Project at 2am, lucky, as it was my cousin's 21st birthday pressie and we were off to her birthday weekend on Saturday.

It was a DVD of photos from birth to now. We scanned well over 600 photos, which I then edited and retouched (those that could be retouched without issue, anyway) while James created a wonderful intro (you know, the part before the DVD that you can't skip that tells you the rating and not to pirate as well as a production company intro). I made one main feature (almost an hour long) and 7 special features which we put on two DVDs James had 'lightscribed'. James made the DVD cover and I made the insert, which was Casey's card. It was well worth all the late nights to see the finished product and the joy it brought to Case.

The DVD cover as a slide in 'The Making Of' special feature

James, Ellie, Kahlei and I had a lovely lunch with my brother, Josh and his girlfriend, Tahlia before going on to the party. I was so excited that Josh was coming and really wanted to see him without everyone around. I really miss him and in recent years we haven't been able to spend too much time together, hopefully that might change. I would love my girls to be close to him.

So, we went to the party and had our family afternoon tea, where Casey opened our gift after she had cake and her dad made a rousing speach which had us all tearing up and had me practically balling when he was talking about the help my grandparents have been in raising their kids. He was saying how important that support was, I was sitting next to my mum who had Ellie on her lap and I just couldn't help it. I just felt so sad for myself, the girls and my family in that moment.

We all watched the DVD while Ellie sat with Case, patting her head, saying "Side" (outside). I love when we have these get togethers and catch up with all the cousins, there were 8 of the 12 boys + Case and I and Ellie was completely in her element!! As I said above, the boys are so good with her. They can go outside to kick a ball around, she will follow and not once did I hear a complaint about her being in the middle of their game, making things slow.

We went to nan's for dinner, all waiting impatiently for 7pm, as the jumping castle was arriving back out where the party was happening. I was so excited, I really wanted Ellie to have a go. She loves to jump and I thought she would be soooo into it. By the time we finished dinner, drove back out and waited for the jumping castle to be pumped up it was dark and Ellie was completely freaked out by the huge form looming before her in the night and even when James got on there with her she didn't like it. So, that was disappointing for me. Instead, she had a dance or two and had a wonderful evening staying up late, eating party food and being Aunty Casey's offsider. It's the first real party she's been to and considering she stayed up WELL past her bedtime she was such a good girl!

Mum came to get her and take her to nan's (where Kahlei was sleeping) and James, Josh, Tahlia and I went for a quick drink at Maccas before returning to the party. When we got back, everyone was in watching the DVD we'd made, so we decided to go on the jumping castle. Even me. I don't ever remember being on one before. I suppose I would have as a young child... But, as an older child and teenager I was much to awkward to do something like that. Pity. It was so FUN. It was an awesome workout, too. Even when I wasn't actually jumping, but somebody else was I could feel my abs working. I told James we basically HAD to have one in the backyard.

It was lovely to be out, having fun and know the girls were safe with mum.

Eventually, James and I called it a night and got back to nan's after 1am. Then we showed mum and nan the pics I had taken and got to bed at 2am. Woohoo. Rebels.

The next day we had a lovely morning together, mum made Case a cake and Ellie had some quality time with nan. We all went to Chinese for lunch. Ellie was fascinated with the huge fish in their aquarium, she loves fish. I don't really get it... Anyway. I had satay lamb, which, to quote Regan (Casey's younger brother) "didn't taste like satay, just tasted like hot".

We retired to nan's for a game of mafia for the kids, desert and a chat for the adults. I love, love, love mafia. So fun.

Then, it was time to go. Which sucks ;)

Now, I will leave you with this photo of James and I, as proof of our late night raging :)

Day 43: Sadness

I was playing around with the settings of my camera when I snapped this photo of Ellie saying goodbye to Nanna, she was oh-so-sad.

Hello World

I'm Back!!

I realise you have all been hanging out for this moment, so I couldn't draw it out any longer. Give the people what they want, I say. Or maybe I just really missed blogging... Yeah, I have posted my Project 365 photos, purely because I have promised myself I will not get behind unless I have no access to the net.

I feel like so much has gone on with Ellie and Kahlei that I haven't had time to blog and now I can't remember! I'm going to try and figure out what those things might be now, as I often use this blog to update their baby books and my diary. My Project 365 photos help me out a little with figuring out what happened when.

* Last Friday Kahlei rolled from her belly to her back and I missed it!  I had gone into the kitchen to answer the phone and when I came back around she was happily on her back, not where I had put her. She has not done it since, I think she can tell I am watching her...
* Also last Friday; Ellie and I had fun blowing bubbles

  

Becky's Toddler Friendly Bubbles
- 1/2 cup no tears baby bath
- 1 cup cold water
- 1 teaspoon sugar

* Ellie has been going to the potty more often and can wear undies for hours without wetting them
* Kahlei has become a real little chatter, more so than Ellie was at this age. She will 'talk' for ages and thinks Ellie is hilarious. They share a bath together at night and Kahlei spends the whole time smiling and laughing at Ellie. I tell Ellie "Kahlei's smiling at you" but she doesn't really pay attention. I guess it doesn't seem such a big deal to her since she's still a baby herself...
* As she's such a chatterbox, she will often have a talk to her mobile toys before she goes to sleep and Ellie will race into her room at any peep. I'll go in and find her on her tiptoes, reaching through the cot bars, trying to put her dummy back in or patting her. I tell Ellie that Kahlei is going to sleep and doesn't need her help and Ellie looks at me as if to say "Mum, you have no idea." She was making noise, after all...

 

After awhile we have another problem, when Ellie decides Kahlei has been sleeping too long and will drop everything she's doing and run towards her room say "Kaylei Kaylei Kaylei".
* Ellis has started making up and singing her own songs while dancing to them. Mostly, I don't know what she's singing, but yesterday it was 'Igglepiggle is a good boy'. A classic in the making, I should think.
* Yesterday Ellie counted to two! She has been saying "Two" after I say one for awhile, now and for the past few days she has been counting without actually counting, if you know what I mean? Basically, she would sit there and say "two, faw, bleg, sis, sis". Yesterday, she was drawing and counting as she went.
*On the drawing front, she has become a real little scribbler and delights in telling us what it is she has drawn. She used to simply jab the pencil/texta at the paper while watching me or whoever was around and not show much interest in what she was doing but now she can draw happily for AGES, so long as we take the time to listen to what she has to say about it afterwards!
* One last thing (I know, these things are really only interesting to parents and grandparents of a child). Her favourite word is minute. I must say In a minute a lot. She thinks it is so so funny when I say it and I think it is simply adorable when she copies "Mmmit" (after she's finished giggling about me saying it, of course).

Well, my blogging alarm has gone off (ie Ellie's awake).

Oh! Before I go, I wanted to mention my plans for my Thursday post. My mum has ecently aquired photoshop and I promised I would write her some tutorials on the basics, as well as anything in particular she wanted to be able to do . I'm by no means an expert, but I can get things done and have learnt much by simply sitting and fiddling with the program. So, I intend to post my first tutorial for her then. Mum, any requests? Or does anyone have any suggestions?

Day 42: Skyline

It got to around 7 o'clock before I realised I hadn't even tried to get a photo for today, so I nipped out the back and took a shot of the sky. We're almost done, then I can have my "me" time back to myself!!

Day 42: The Making OF

Still working on our project, we're getting into the tail end of it now, though. I'm too tired to even turn the pic around.
Does this count as a March photo of me?

Day 41: Turning

I love when the leaves start to turn in Autumn <3

Day 40: Angel

Day 39: Elmo for Dinner

With James and I entirely preoccupied with our current Top Secret project, Ellie has gone nuts with her toys. There are toys everywhere! Tonight, she went to the saucepan drawer, got the pasta cooker and proceeded to 'cook' Elmo, as it was around 5 o'clock, it was perfect timing to start making dinner!

Day 38: Storm Clears

Day 37: Bubble Girls

I would love to write a post right now, but all my energy is being taken up by a project which I cannot name, as it is Top Secret! Seriously, it is all consuming! Thanks Mum, for getting me this task ;) xoxo

Day 36: Impossible

Getting a photo of James is like pulling teeth...

Day 35: Garden Visitor