Putzin around

Like I said I am an amateur when it comes to photography.....so I am practicing trying to use our little baby editing system. Of course, it doesn't have all the bells and whistles of the editing software I really would like. Nonetheless, it's good practice for me to putz (as I say) around. And I am actually kind of enjoying myself. As it reflects in the 12:31 am time of this post. I haven't stayed up this long in awhile. The real reason I have all the pics of Nathan is because I would love to print out pictures for his room playing with all different kinds of balls.....because he is obsessed.

I have been meaning to blog for days. It's not that I have been really that busy....just the usual keeping up with the kids and house etc. I had some great blogging material from last Saturday when we went with some friends to the "festival of trees" party they had at a local daycare/preschool. The school has people decorate a bunch of trees and then auction them off to benefit the school. Then they have a free party and families can come check out the trees, decorate sugar cookies, see Santa, and build little tool boxes (thanks to Home Depot). So I got some great pics....but I shot them in Raw instead of Jpeg. The only little problem is that I don't have any software that recognizes Raw pictures yet. I am obviously a big amateur....but I am trying to learn seeing as David bought me my amazing camera. I am really excited to save up for some editing software....so my pictures will come alive. I guess I will just have to continue shooting in Jpeg for a little while longer.....and sorry you can't see how much fun we had! I thought I would post a pic of me making my "zoolander" face just cause I think it's kinda funny.

My crazy day

Yesterday was a beautiful day! I just happened to be watching 4 extra kids! Now some might think that this would be pretty crazy. But we had an awesome day! Everybody was pretty content throughout the day. My kids are thrilled whenever they get to have their friends over to play anyways. Jackson (5) and Asher (2 1/2) came over around 9 or so. The kids played outside and inside really well. Then Frankie (3) and Ilana (1) arrived around 11:15. Ilana went right down for a nap. Elijah and Jackson were content to play some video games for as much time as I would allow them. Asher was happy just hanging out downstairs playing with toys. Micah, Nathan, Frankie and I went out to tackle the small mound of leaves in our backyard. It's amazing to me how they were entertained for at least an hour just jumping in and throwing the leaves around. Ilana got up and we had good old mac and cheese and oranges. After lunch Nathan, Micah, Frankie and Asher all went down for a nap. So I hung out with Elijah, Jackson, and Ilana. Gracie got home and was so excited to play with Ilana....she is such a little mommy. It really was a great day....maybe I should start a daycare....okay not really. I am just happy to be a blessing to my friends!

Trick or Treat!

7:00 am.....Mommy can we put our costumes on? 10:00am.....Not yet. 12:00pm it's still not time. 2:30pm shouts of glee from all the kids because mommy finally lets them put their costumes on. It didn't matter that we weren't going trick or treating till 6:00pm. Every year the kids can hardly wait to put on their costumes and hoard stockpiles of candy (which daddy secretly loves to get into). We had a great time with friends taking a little stroll around the neighborhood and then at the fall famtastic party at the fairgrounds. The kids looked pretty darn cute in their "Star Wars" costumes. We thought we would do a family theme this year. Loving it!

P.S. For some reason I am having a hard time uploading pictures.....so this one will have to do.

Toothless

What a brave little girl Gracie is! She loves loosing her teeth so much because it is confirmation that she is a big girl now! The moment she discovers she has a loose tooth she is on a mission to get the thing out ASAP! She lost the top front tooth last Tuesday...and then the other top one on Sunday. She thinks she is pretty darn special being able to sing "All I want for Christmas is my two front teeth" song and really mean it. She is still as beautiful without her teeth.

Family Pics

So for weeks now we have been anticipating our pictures being taken by the extraordinary Ali Brown. She is a friend of ours from church who has recently started a business here in town. We were scheduled to take them a couple of weeks ago....but got snowed out. The only bummer about yesterday was that it was so windy my hair was sticking straight up in some of the shots....according to Ali she had a great laugh thanks to me. My kids enjoyed the relaxed hanging out approach....even though pictures are usually pretty painful for them (with the exception of Grace our model). Elijah especially loved the horse that was roaming around the barn we were by. I have to give it to Ali though.....it is not an easy task getting a good picture of the six of us. So....here is just the sneak peak.....more are to follow.

Little stinker!

Have I mentioned lately how I am pretty sure my children at age 15 months have been abducted by aliens and replaced with "other" children. Well, I thought that we might be in the clear for the baby of the bunch.....but I guess it was just wishful thinking. Call it a right of passage but Nathan has finally proven to be worthy of the Oettel name! Of course, he is a million times milder than the others that have gone before him....but yes he does know what he wants! And on this particular day he wanted the cupcakes that were sitting on the counter waiting for dinner time. While I was busy separating the laundry he managed to get a hold of the entire package of cupcakes. I was only notified by Gracie that he had the cupcakes after he had made a gigantic mess of himself and created a trail of cupcake frosting all the way downstairs on our new carpet.....of course. First reaction.....ummm....a little anger. I figured if I grabbed the camera I might think he was a little cuter. Thankfully, we recently purchased a steam cleaner.....worth every penny in our house! I am happy to report their are no stains! As for the little bandit I actually believe that he knew he had been a little stinker. And now I am laughing.