There's a reason people use professional photographers

because the kids will KILL you otherwise!

Today I had the "bright" idea to have a little photoshoot in front of this fantastic wall I found the other day. It's a nice, dark grey and would create a nice background blur if people stood still and I used the right lens, but of course, can four-year-olds actually listen and obey?

I felt quite murderous (let's be honest) because if everyone would just co-operate (Connor: "Mummy, what does that mean?"), the whole thing would be done in 5 minutes.

Anyway, just returned home from supper out and had a look through some of the photos and I think I may have to give them all some extra kisses because there are actually a few keepers.

Then again, the law of averages says when you take 597 photos in a day (some were taken this morning), there are bound to be a few good ones.

The wind was blowing so much - in the second photo, you'll see my hair is being blown straight back. My hair is a story for another day - frizzy and so horrible I cringe when I walk past a mirror.

I said to Kendra the other day, "baby, I wish I had gorgeous hair like you do" and she BEAMED! (love language - words of affirmation!)

Enjoy the photos!

Which is your favourite?
How's your week been?

PS I'm so glad I'm not in Jhb - apparently there's a heat wave! My SIL spoke to her husband who said they don't have power at their home in Pta... and haven't for the last two days!

Photo book frustrations

People, I'm exhausted.

Last night I spent about 5 hours uploading pics to do the photo book and that was only 37 pics.

This morning my two friends and I had a little email chat. We'd all bought the Groupons at the same time.

One friend is done, one had uploaded all her pics and I was about 40% through with uploading pics.

Caren then said some magic words, "why don't you just do one photoshoot so that it's easier?"

Big AHA moment.

But somehow my internet doesn't love me and is slower than molasses.

Another hour today and nothing would upload.

So I went to work tonight to do the photobook.

I chose the beach photoshoot we had done in December last year and it took me 1.5 hours to upload and put pics in their place.


Done!

love this one - one of my favourites of Connor and D :)

I should have done this ages ago.

I was saying before, "I'm never going to use them again" and other such things.

But truth be told, do I really want to learn new software now that I kind of know this one?


I've seen some other Groupons from other places and I'm always tempted - next time I will do my homework first though.

BTW, this was http://mymemory.com

What's your favourite photo book site and why? 

PS I had my first toasted cheese and tomato (my most favourite sandwich ever!) without my gall bladder this evening. Please note I waited exactly 1 week after the surgery. Let the games begin :)

162 and other snippets

There are 162 items in my Google Reader (after clearing about 50 last night) and I'm so, so tempted to just click "mark all as read".

Shall I do it?

Do you dare me?

However, I'm always scared I'll miss out on something... just call me Curious George. I'm probably showing my age but when I was little there was a programme on TV with a cute litle monkey called Curious George.

Maybe I'll compromise and just read the people's blogs who comment here (so I don't feel bad) and mark the rest as "read".

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Speaking about reading... I brought 4 books on holiday with me. I am still busy with number 1!!!

But I'm determined to finish it before we leave.

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Oh, this afternoon I had a look at the unedited proofs from the beach shoot and oh my, this is why I could not do this job. I just cannot see potential.

My brother and husband had to tell me (talk me down from the ledge) that the pics will be fine once they're edited.

Lord, I hope so.

Hair all over the place (mine), etc, etc.

We had to choose 20 or 25 images for editing (I can't remember and am determined not to go into my work email!) so I chose 25 and told him if the package is actually 20, to just take the 20 best :).

So we wait and see.

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We had our Christmas lunch today with my family (esp for us) and it was lovely. The babies are sitting and eating nicely in those baby seats (BTW, the link was in the comments if you wanted to order some) and we got to enjoy mostly hot food.

The best moment was when I gave my nephew his presents, one at a time, and when I gave him number 2 (I didn't have enough wrapping paper to do them together), he squealed, "I get TWO presents?" - too sweet! And he loved (genuinely as only a 3-year-old can) them both.

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Right, now I'm off to jump in the shower and then read my book.

How are you guys doing?

The beach photoshoot

Let me start off by saying I always realise when I'm back in my home town how fast and urgent and driven a place Joburg is. And how people are so relaxed (deep down I envy them) at the coast.

We'd tentatively arranged for a 5 pm photo shoot on Monday since the light would be best that time.

Well, you know my babies go to bed at 6pm and become really cranky in the half hour before.

I emailed him to tell him this and heard nothing so I was texting on the Sunday, phoning on the Monday (twice, all before 12) and the poor man was out of town (out of cell phone reception) all this time.

He eventually phones me, apologising. I was apologising too for "hounding him" as I called it.

Anyway, again, so relaxed and it was no problem to reschedule the shoot for Tuesday morning.

I like to think I'm led of God and this is a perfect example because Tuesday was the BEST weather for the 7 days we've been here.

We had no problems on Tuesday morning, were all dressed in jeans and grey t-shirts and this time I was very relaxed.

Let's attribute it to being at the beach and with all that wind, you're hanging onto babies and your cap so there's no time to stress about him getting the "perfect shot", etc.

D even commented afterwards that I didn't even try to control things. LOL

Yes, I was the epitome of Zen!

See the pic? My jeans were drenched, full of sand, my top was wet, my hair was a crazy mess because of the wind, I did nothing but run around after them, no relaxing with a book like in the past... but I didn't care.

Zen!

I still haven't seen any proofs but I assume they're alright as he told me he'd have a look when he got home and if the light was too harsh (because it got very bright very quickly - lovely for playing at the beach but not for gorgeous photos), he'd call to do another 30 minutes at another location of my choice.

I still haven't paid him! He wanted no deposit even though I insisted! I realised then that I was insisting to make myself feel better. He was not in the least bit concerned.

This is very unlike anybody in Jhb - nothing wrong with Jhb, it's just VERY different at the coast. I remember years ago we travelled to PE by car, took the car for a service as there was a special on, and there was something wrong with the credit card when we tried to pay. We envisioned the owner taking us to the bank to draw the money (as they would do in Jhb, but there you'd make your own way) but they just said, "next time you drive past (it was on a main road), bring the money. OH MY WORD. We were gobsmacked.

Anyway, so he was there with his one son who has the same first name as my boss, a fairly unusual name. The son was lovely and even looked after my kids for a bit while he took some pics of the two of us walking on the beach.

So D and I are waiting with bated breath... hopefully there are at least a couple that are worthy of printing on canvas :) There should be some cute ones of the kids as we took ours later that same day and they still looked cute.

P.S. I had some 2011 black and white calendars printed with 3 of our prof pics on them and they look stunning! I am now hooked on playing with the photos and will be visiting my local Kodak to see what else I can do with them.

P.P.S. The kids are about 70% there with the walking - they walk by themselves more than they crawl these days and Connor esp walks very confidently. I had a "moment" last night as he is getting to be a big boy!