last post of 2010

I tried making a calendar on lulu.  I found that it was very user-friendly, very competitive in its pricing, loved the full size pdf file that it allowed me to download my project, and we shall wait to see what the printed results are like (in the mail).
Happy NEW Year!

Christmas -THYME

This one is a little off the wall... but I really like the song and with all this crazy snow, I think a crazy post is indeed appropriate.

Lunar Eclipse Tonight

In case you haven't heard, the lunar eclipse (if visible in Utah) will begin around 11:30 pm and take about 70 minutes to get to the complete eclipse stage. Hopefully we can see it and get some pictures. By the way, it's also the winter solstice tonight.


From a post from almost 11 months ago.

picture time again

Scotty is first. He usually doesn't mind getting his picture taken. And for a while there, he would come look at his picture in the display on the camera and say "cuuute"

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Sam. He likes to walk right up to the camera (like 2 inches away) for his picture.

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Seth is just plain cute. And he is starting to walk a few steps quite often.

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Camille usually gives one hammy cheese and then lets me get a more natural shot of her.

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These next two... well, I love the lines on an infants face. Such soft cuddly lines. Lines that don't last long enough.

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And Spence is a great big brother. He is skilled at everything he does.

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Lego Dance

Spencer wanted to put something on youtube. So we helped him set up the point and shoot camera with his reading light for lighting. And then he started moving things a bit while taking still shots. We then put them into a movie line, added some music, and here it is. Spencer's first youtube video (17 seconds).

Family Christmas Present

Here is the outside.  We will need to do a little work on the inside before we show any images of that. It is small but we are thrilled.  Many years of fond memories ahead. 

 

And the kids are super excited for the hot tub.

 

View of the front

It is up Big Cottonwood Canyon in the Forest Glen area.

Flash back photos

Flash back to Spring 2007... ahhh the memories

Go Cougars!

Spence and I had a great time today at the BYU game.  Hopefully next week is at fortuitous as this week was. 

How ya' doin'? (or "What are you really saying?")

What is the origin of the word 'OK'?

There have been numerous attempts to explain the emergence of this expression, which seems to have swept into popular use in the US during the mid-19th century. Most of them are pure speculation. It does not seem at all likely, from the linguistic and historical evidence, that it comes from the Scots expression och aye, the Greek ola kala ('it is good'), the Choctaw Indian oke or okeh ('it is so'), the French aux Cayes ('from Cayes', a port in Haiti with a reputation for good rum) or au quai ('to the quay', as supposedly used by French-speaking dockers), or the initials of a railway freight agent called Obediah Kelly who is said to have written them on documents he had checked.

A more likely explanation is that the term originated as an abbreviation of orl korrekt , a jokey misspelling of 'all correct' which was current in the US in the 1830s. The oldest written references result from its use as a slogan by the Democratic party during the American Presidential election of 1840. Their candidate, President Martin Van Buren, was nicknamed 'Old Kinderhook' (after his birthplace in New York State), and his supporters formed the 'OK Club'. This undoubtedly helped to popularize the term (though it did not get President Van Buren re-elected).

The only other theory with at least a degree of plausibility is that the term originated among Black slaves of West African origin, and represents a word meaning 'all right, yes indeed' in various West African languages. Unfortunately, historical evidence enabling the origin of this expression to be finally and firmly established may be hard to unearth.
--Ref: http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/page/190

Lone Peak

taken from our front yard... love the fresh snow in the mountains...

our 2 yr old

October at the secret garden in Thanksgiving Point...

From Desktop

Traverse to work... (aka "head in the clouds")

With the winter creeping upon us, I revel in the dawn of the day for 20 minutes in my red ice box. Climb in, pull away from the driveway while white fairies dismount my hood and windows; they are swept away in the wind. The mountains all around are still dressed in the clouds they slept in. Birds are a flurry above. A couple of gulls fly cross-wind on their morning commute. Next a desperate flock of starlings are chased by a hungry and aggressive kestrel. My heart is in the heavens, my eyes are on the road... at times. Evidence of strong winds is found in the quickly jogging clouds that skim the earth: the flag we call freedom straightened in the breeze. A lone duck, who may have missed the Southern boat, catches a glance from my eye. The sun pierces through, but only from a moment. It seems to have just reached it's summit on top of Mount Timpanogos. Into the Salt Lake Valley I settle, and the day has begun. Another day. A beautiful morning.

Ireland 2010 Slideshow

Will add some captions as time permits... we had a lovely time with the lovely people of Ireland.

awk, we're doin' just grand

we have had such a lovely time in Ireland so far. Our flight wasn't really too bad, except for Amber's knees keeping her from sleeping. So she slept as I Tyler tried to navigate a car through Dublin. We found Howth without a hitch (it's only a few miles from the airport). And it was a beautiful sunny day. A little windy, but still gorgeous for Ireland in October. We had a little snack at a Tea Room and met a nice native of Howth named Jimmy. His son owned the Tea Room. The hot chocolate and biscuit really hit the spot. Then we went to the summit and had a look over the city and ocean.
We then meandered (got lost) getting through the city to Tallaght, where we were to stay. We checked into the hotel, which I need to take a picture of, and then went over to the Shannons. We had a wonderful dinner and evening chat. Skipping ahead... we took a swim the next morning, had our breakfast and then headed down to the city on the Luas (train like our Trax)
We visited some of the sites, had a nice lunch at an Indian restaurant and then saw more sites. We went back to St. Patrick's Cathedral for their service and there was a nice choir that sang. and the acoustics in there are great. I will have to add pictures when (if) I can find a converter that works (long story). Cheers for now.

In the Atlanta airport on the way over

From 20101020

Amber at the Catholic Church on Howth

From 20101021

In the TeaRoom on Howth

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Out front of the store where the TeaRoom is

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Our rented car (blue) next to the church

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the Irish sea from Portmarnock

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The Shannons (all but Kevin)

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cookie monster

camera/lens for sale D300s

While I don't have any immediate weddings lined up to shoot, I thought I would sale a camera and lens (I have too much equipment currently).  At any rate, I thought I would let family and friends have first bids on these if interested.  First, the D300S (which is still the latest and greatest pro-sumer camera).
Features I really like are the

-51 point 3D focus

-live view (also does HD movies with stereo sound)

-watertight, mag-alloy body (very durable and built to last)

-controls on the body (rather than in the electronic menu)

-dual memory card slots (SD and CF slots)

-auto cleaning sensor

This camera only has about 7,000 actuations (these are rated for atleast 150,000).  I have had it for less than 1 year and only, so it comes with Nikons warranty. It shoots 6 frames per second and it has a quiet mode as well.  This body sells at bhphoto for about $1450

Secondly, the lens.  This is the workhorse lens.  It is a prime lens (which means f2.8). It is a professional lens and has an incredibly fast focus.  It comes with a bayonet (not pictured here).  This lens sells at bhphoto for about $1350

 I will be asking $2300 on KSL next week for the combo,
but family and friends deal is only $2100 (lens and body may be sold separately)

Here are pictures of mine:

picture day at school

3rd grade and 1st grade school picture day.

Light

We received much light and knowledge from the good leaders of the Church today. Some of the things that come to mind of a practical nature were: introduce yourself to someone new each day, each week introduce yourself to someone at Church. The Church needs more worthy missionaries. Get out of debt, including your mortgage. Beware of pride. Two lines of communication to God: personal and priesthood, and how they are related.  Early to bed and early to rise is more than just a trite quote, it's a commandment. 
It was so nice to be together as a family to hear the things that are of greatest importance to our souls.
Here are some pictures from this day.

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Spence dressed himself... lovely!

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Grouchy face  mommy :)

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From 20101003_to_post Loves to swing! Crazy how grown up and independent he is becoming.

Random Video

I thought I would take some footage from the past month and throw it together in a random way. Enjoy.

weddings and family

We went up to Evanston on Saturday and had a great time at a cousin's wedding.  They looked great, the setting was wonderful, and it was great to be with family.  Tyler got a new camera due to needing a second camera body for weddings. He is really pleased with the results. The majority of these images were taken without flash. Enjoy the show...

sunday blessings -life is good :)

We love our neighbors. They are wonderful to us and just plain great people!

From jpgs

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I love the Norwegian flare to Flora's dress.

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This is Sam's partner in crime.

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Camille's best bud.

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Then, of course, Scottie, who looks like a hot-rod surf bum with his new stylin' hair-do.

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And, of course, Sam being Sam... easy goin' on the swing... friends with everyone

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