Look Out, World! (now with before & after!)

UPDATE: Even though I have 1,000 other things to do before we leave for Ireland on Friday, it was just BUGGIN' me that I didn't include the "before" shots here! So, assuming you're interested, here goes...

I learned some awesome actions in Photoshop today! Granted this post might be a bit over-the-top, but I could play for HOURS! Here's a sampling.

First up, the girls, artfully treated... (I'm holding their attention with an animal cracker, if you must know ALL my photographic secrets.)

before:

and after:


Second, ... well, there's nothing that exciting about these photos, but I had to include. Warmer temps mean playing outdoors, and playing outdoors means ... POPSICLES!


The boys get so flippin' excited for popsicles! Patrick stands with his arms draped desperately across the freezer door, yelling, "Puck-les!!" (Sometimes little kid pronunciation is so darn cute you just have to give in!)

Okay, back to my news tricks. Here's Patrick and his eyes. When Patrick was a baby, Elliott (then two) observantly told us his brother's eyes looked like blueberries.

before:

and after: (see how it's all dreamy, with eyes that just jump out?)

These probably won't look that great in sequence... What I really should've done was before & after... Alas, here's Elliott, ever my serious young model.

before:

and after: (all the colors are intensified!)

And here's Pure Patrick Joy:

before: (never a very clear shot, but...)


and after: (with these effects, the photo looks like it's from the '70s!)

Elliott is so proud that he has TOTALLY figured out the whole winking thing. One eye open? DONE.

before: (this one has probably the least change)


and after: (it's clearer and his eyes are much brighter!)

Doesn't Patrick look like he was born decades ago??

before: (born in 2007)


and after: (Patrick's great-great-grandfather)

Here, I asked Elliott to give me his sad face. It's understated--like he's quietly lived a hard life--but, well, he can be an intense kid.

before:

and after:

Just look at that face! [swoon!] But don't stare directly into those eyes... Look away! Look away!!

before:


and after:

It's mighty hard to pick favorites, but I think I ended with my fave of each boy...

before:


and after:

What's your favorite?

If you're a Photoshop user and you're interested in these techniques, check out this GREAT instructional site! (Ree Drummond, you're the coolest!)

OH. Yeah. The blog. Sorry!

Well, if you knew one thing could bring me back to blogging, OBVIOUSLY it'd have to be my son's holiday! Happy St. Paddy's Day from Patrick (and Diego)!


(I apologize that, yes, this is the best photo we could get this year. Remember how well it worked last year?? Here are a couple outtakes--just in case you thought I was withholding the good stuff.)


He loves this hat.


Don't you worry about Sir Elliott! He made his very own hat!


Now, I know the last time I posted it looked like this...




...but you haven't missed much. We've just been hangin':



Happily, Patrick's speaking abilities have really turned a corner. (Seriously!) Here he is reciting an original haiku. (Okay, that part is a stretch. But truly! His vocabulary is growing every day!)



This photo just speaks for itself. (And it says, "Mom... WHY are you taking a picture of my macaroni and cheese?!? Are you goofy???")


Here's a trick question for you: Would I love this little face more or less if it didn't have a scab, snot and lunch on it?

Here's a great little story from the kid who likes to open his mouth when I wipe his face with a wet paper towel. (Yes. He looks wildly smart doing it.) Great kid logic led Patrick to dress for and work on this train setup:

...and then have a standoff with the dog, who figures any food that close to the floor is hers...

...all so--what? You didn't guess this??--he could put his feet in the empty Goldfish bag! Success!!

I don't know how many opportunities you get to talk to Elliott, but if you talked to him last spring, you know he BEGGED to go to the Rec Center for MONTHS following the Read Across America event there. Naturally, he was THRILLED when we FINALLY granted his request! (In other words, it was time for the annual event.)

Baby Patrick couldn't even go last year, so this was his first chance to experience the play gym, storybook characters, zoo animals, cookie-decorating, crafts and more. Can't they do this EVERY night??

(I'm pretty sure I'm observing no kind of chronological order here, but) We went to Erie around Valentine's Day so Pete and I could have a night away. Here, Piano Man Patrick works the keys AND the camera.

Elliott got jealous, of course, so here he is, umm, reading the, uh, mu-sic... Yeah.

Poor Elliott was really trying to play, but Patrick, fed up with being reprimanded for not doing it right, just went for it.

Character studies are the best, and sometimes, the light is just right AND the kid obliges.

Yes, I recognize this is an unconventional kid portrait series, but don't you love how expressive he is??

An angel...

Okay, one last thing: a plug to get a good camera! (I have a Nikon D40. It's a dumbed-down SLR, but I haven't regretted the purchase once!) Now, I could point out my ability to capture the toilet in its natural setting..., but instead, I'll ask you to notice the crayons mid-air as Elliott spreads them throughout the first floor!

Cool, huh??

Okay, so sorry, sorry, sorry to the few friends who have slipped snide belated blogginess comments my way. I promise to start to think about trying to be more timely!