Happy Holidays

We have been in Ohio for a little while now.  We just wrapped up our last Christmas stint, and are having a good time.  It’s nice and relaxing, and the kids seem to be doing fine with all the travel and schedule changes.  Brielle is sleeping on the floor, in a little nest of blankets, and has done well staying put.  Bryce is in his Pack-n-Play, and short of a really tough night a few days ago, he’s been sleeping well.  We found out it’s not a good idea to wake kids after 4 hours of sleep to travel 3o minutes, then expect them to sleep right away.  Needless to say, Lael and I didn’t get to bed until 4 AM, but at least we got to sleep in until 9!  That’s never happened before…

We have a good lead on a possible buyer for our house.  It is an interesting story, and one I’ll share more in detail if it all pans out.  We will hopefully have an answer in the next week or two.

Lael is still incubating the little one.  She is moving a LOT now, and Lael is all baby.

I hope you all have had a blessed Christmas, and here’s to a New Year full of fresh opportunities, personal growth, and good times with friends and family.

Tilt Shift Photography (Faking It in Photoshop)

Tilt Shift photography is used primarily in model photography (not the Heidi Klum variety…the tiny little train type).  It’s a cool way to zoom into and make the little details of the model stand out.  I ran across a website today that teaches how to take real life pics and make them look like they are models.

Found here:

So I did up a few.  I tried the source file linked to on the website, since it was taken in a manner that really allows for the effect to work.  The pictures I have weren’t taken with this transition in mind, so the effect isn’t as noticeable.  It was still fun to learn!

Home Update (UPDATED 12/9)

We had a home showing on Saturday morning.  The people love the neighborhood, and looked at a few houses in it.  They love ours, and we were told it was on the top of their list, sooo tomorrow they are coming back for a 2nd showing.  This is VERY encouraging, and hopefully they will make an offer; one that we can accept, or at least counteroffer.

The baby is due January 23rd.  If the home sells soon, we could be in before the baby is born, however, Lael will be limited in ability before, and obviously after, the baby arrives.  Ideally, I’d like to be able to move in December, but it’s not our plan, it’s God’s, and we will roll with whatever happens.  We’ll just be excited to be in a new home, one we can stay in for more than 5 years this time.  We have a lot of friends and family that will be able to help us out, and that owe us a favor.  Haha!!

So if you can, please pray that everything goes well.  Financing hasn’t been a problem, we are in a great situation, having our realtor sell our house, and us buying hers.  Things have fallen into place, and we believe this is God’s plan.  Still a little anxious, with the economy, and working for a boat company, there is a little anxiety, but I suppose that pushed us to plan really carefully with the money, homes we looked at, and prayer.

Exciting times!

On a side note, Bryce had his 15 month checkup today.  He’s doing great!  A little ahead on his development, and is getting molars in now.  He’s doing so well, we are thankful for our little man.  Brielle had her 2nd flu shot today.  No tears!  She also has stayed dry for over 24 hours.  She woke up dry this morning, stayed dry during her nap, and even went potty (she told us she had to, rather than being asked) at Walmart.  She was proud, and we are estatic!

(UPDATE:  THE SECOND SHOWING WENT WELL.  WE ARE STILL ON THE TOP OF THEIR LIST.  THEY HAVE A PREAPPROVAL LETTER, BUT HAVE SOME CONCERNS ABOUT THEIR HOURS AT WORK.  WE ARE HOPING TO HAVE AN ANSWER ON HOW LONG IT MAY BE BEFORE THEY DECIDE TO MAKE AN OFFER AND GET FINANCING SOON.  I’M ASSUMING IT WILL BE AFTER THE HOLIDAY SLOWDOWN.  PLEASE PRAY FOR STEADY EMPLOYMENT FOR THEM, WHOEVER THEY ARE.  THIS APPEARS TO BE THE HOLDUP)