WOW!

It seemed to me that traffic was getting lighter on my commute to work. Today the state released the latest unemployment figure. At 12.1% unemployment we could be the highest in the country. The federal government releases the figures for all the states on Friday. The only 2 states ahead of us were Michigan and South Carolina. Let's see if Oregon can be first in something.

Peter Cottontail part II

I mentioned before that we hid the eggs inside quite a few times, well, Jillian also hid them for us to find. John had much fun finding eggs! Jillian was the last to wake up Easter morning, well after 7:30. The second pic is of her checking out her loot. (thanks to Texas grands for the presents and Auntie Donna for the basket and check!)
Picture of Jillian and Mommy kissing is because Jillian tried her first hard-boiled egg on Saturday and she likes the Yoke best. She was kissing me with a messy mouth so I guess the yoke's on me!
The last is just a sampling of the beautiful eggs we colored.
Happy Easter 2009!

Here Comes Peter Cottontail!

This Easter we went out to my parents' house. We headed out on Saturday and spent the night so I told Jillian she should leave a note for the Easter Bunny so he could find us.
We decided to do some Egg Hunts Saturday afternoon since it was going to rain on Sunday. I think we hid eggs 2-3 times outside then about 12 times inside the house. Lots of fun!
Later in the day we dyed eggs and then on Sunday the rest of the family came to eat and have specially decorated sprinkled Easter Egg cupcakes.

Our Little Genius

Jillian came home from Grandma's house this afternoon and my mom told us to have Jillian write her name for us. What? Well, the evening progressed through dinner and a shower to coloring. I asked Jillian to write her name for me and she DID! She also did it LEFT handed which we've seen her do since she learned to hold a pen correctly at 9 months old. I wrote some names down and lines beside them and she wrote them all : Mom, Dad, Owen.
She has also been in panties since Thursday and pedaled her big girl bike all by herself this afternoon. Our little girl is growing up. Now if we can just get her to read so she knows what she is writing! We could not be more proud!

She did it!

Well, she made it. Julie has finished her first half marathon. Sorry about the bad pictures but I got to the finish line just in time to see her coming across the line. (She was supposed to call me at 11 miles so I would be prepared.) Now she has to train for the full marathon in October. We're all proud of you, honey!

B&W film

I have been putting my digital camera off to the side and shooting with B&W film recently. I really like the results. Some people may not understand going back in technology, but there is a certain feel to the camera as well as the film grain that you can't get with digital. I then take the film and scan it to make prints. The only draw back is when Jillian wants to see the picture after I take it. She has now started asking, "Is it film?" and then knows she has to wait if the answer is yes.
The top picture I've titled sidewalk artist and the second picture is so far untitled. I'm planning on making 16x20's of these soon.

April Fools!!!

Well, the day is coming to an end so I guess I must confess.

Jillian's smile is fully intact. She will not be getting a gold cap! 

The whole story was a farce fabricated by yours truly. 

I made John do the photoshop of the pic...

For those of you that bought it, HAAHAHHAHAHAHHA AHHAHAHHHAHH AHAHAHAHAHA!

I have been berated on the phone, told I was, "sick",  had threats to kick my ass, and told it was, "a great one." 

I am pretty sure I pulled off  one of the greatest jokes in my history. With that said, I may just retire...

C'mon, there's always next year.