Intensity

I can't take credit for these photos. They are the product of another great mom from Owen's soccer team. She emailed them to me and I was thrilled. Not only were the colors intense, but so was the subject:
my child--Owen--
the soccer beast.
I loved seeing his focus and drive out on the field. If this is age 3, what's age 4, 7, 12, 17?

Ode to Photoshop!

Photoshop, Photoshop, how I love thee!

You trim off the excess and make me look skinny.

Under eye circles? Ugly, crossed eyes?

It can all be fixed--even Aunt Bertha's huge thighs!

So, now when you see a picture on someone's website

You may have to wonder if everything is quite right.

Okay, so I don't know that Photoshop actually made me look skinny in this photo since I was facing the camera dead on, but thanks to A TON of help from my friend Jess, we have three head changes, glasses removed from the pocket, my sister in law's finger erased (Lauren's middle finger was looking a little suspect) all things removed from the wall, general brightening of all colors and under eye circles deleted and voila! We are a gorgeous group of people! Witness the before first and the after next.

For those of you wondering who this group is--it's Derek's family--his parents, their children, children's spouses and children's kids. We're almost getting too big for one shot. This is going to look so gorgeous on my Mother in Law's wall!!!

And, here's our little family portrait from that same shoot. Aaahhhh so sweet.

Fall Photos

It looks like he has a queue!

The other day while Owen was taking a nap, I got some photos of Eli and Ryanna. I thought they turned out rather cute. Then there are the Halloween photos--Ryanna was a peacock and Owen was a hamburger. If there was a prize for cutest costume, I think Owen would've won it. I've never seen so many people in love with a costume.

The last detail you should know--don't bend over when you're alone in a hamburger costume--you'll never be able to get up.

The movie stars do it, so why shouldn't we?

Okay folks, you remember those family shots that we had taken? Well a couple of you are photoshop masters out there and you graciously volunteered to "fix" them if you will. I have been seriously impressed and a little bit disturbed to see exactly how much my friends are able to manipulate these photos. Let me just provide an example for you:
Do you see the second shot below? (I would move it to the first position, but blogger is having issues with picture downloads and I can't understand the help language they provided) My friend, and Photoshop master manipulator Jessica, did the following to this photo:
1. Erased all the bird droppings from the bridge.
2. Whitened all of our teeth.
3. Erased all of our wrinkles (must be talking about my hubby here-since I'm so naturally beautiful).
4. Eliminated people and a red bag that were in the background.
5. CHANGED Owen's head from a different photo onto this one.
6. Brightened my jewelry.
7. Erased a bird in the background. Disclaimer: No birds were injured during the editing of this photo.
8. Brightened the grass from yellowish/green to beautiful, like it was summer green!

NO, she did not remove any weight from me. I bet she would if I asked her to. However, when you all finally see me in person you might be a little disappointed if I had her edit that.
So, the moral of the story is twofold: When those Christmas cards and photos come this year. Don't believe them for a second! AND, why diet when you can photoshop?
Here are some other photos edited by Jess and by sister & brother in law Kjirsti and Tom.