03.04.2011

It is a lot easier to get them all to make silly faces at the same time than it is to have them smile nice at the same time.

03.03.2011

We have a lot of Bald Eagles in our area in the winter and so I've always wanted to get a good picture of the, but have never been quick enough.  This is the best picture I have so far.  On my way to work this morning, this Bald Eagle was feeding on a carcass near the side of the road.  Shh, don't tell anyone, but I slowed down on the highway while grabbing my camera out of my bag and shot this photo (and several others that didn't turn out as well) while driving down the road.

Life is Good's Picture from 050:365

Just a little bit (about 1 minute) of editing can go a long way.

original

editing color and saturation

using 1960's effect

using orton-ish effect

03.02.2011

This is the reason why northwest North Dakota and eastern Montana say, "Recession, what recession."

This is the reason why people from Florida move to Williston without having a home in which to live.  They typed "best place to get a job" into Google and Williston was it.

This is the reason why my school can afford to build a new science lab, add a new gym floor, give teachers Flex Benefit Plans, buy new lockers, buy new computers, remodel floors and bathrooms, add a new crows nest to the football field, and remodel the kitchen with state of the art technology.

This is the reason why traffic has increased so much on my little country road that I am sometimes scared to run on it and the reason why the state of North Dakota needs to put millions of dollars in to western North Dakota roads.

This is the reason why the Vancouver Olympics athlete's housing has moved to rural North Dakota for roustabouts and drillers and hands to live.

This is the reason why our school can get four new first graders in one week.

This is the reason why they are building a natural gas plant just seven miles from my house...which, mind you, is in the middle of nowhere.

This is the reason why parents of my school kids don't just have jobs, but good jobs.

This is the reason why they are building so many more wind towers around the rest of North Dakota.

This is the reason why high school boys don't think they need to go to college.

This is the reason that the art teacher in Fairview must live in Williston.  There is no housing available in Fairview.  It is also the reason why the Williston mayor was on the news and asked people not to move here in the winter.  People are living in tents and freezing because they had no idea what a North Dakota winter could be like.

This is the reason why western Montana thinks that oil and gas revenue should be spread around the state.  Do you see eastern Montana asking for tourism dollars or logging money?

Can you think of anything else?  I'm sure there is more.

03.01.2011

My mom and dad came home to do taxes, pay bills, etc. and surprised the kids with a visit.  When Papa walked in the door, Jeffrey said, "Hey, you aren't here."  Papa then answered, "Nope, I'm still gone."  When Jeffrey and Macy finally realized that Papa and Grandma were really here, they both screamed, yelped, jumped up and down, and ran to give hugs.  Macy couldn't stop bouncing from excitement because she was so excited.  She didn't let go of Grandma all night long.

02.28.2011

Tyler and I got home from a week's worth of vacation on Sunday.  This morning (Monday) he left for a work trip to Fargo until Thursday.  The kids and I stayed up late reading books and playing with the self-timer on the camera.  (I really need to figure out how to use my remote with my new camera.)

02.27.2011

How to describe Macy:  basketball jersey, snowmobile goggles, pink dangle dolphin earrings, and all smile.  She is so much spunk wrapped up in one cute package.