automatics anonymous

I had the opportunity to spend the day in Victoria with Jen Smith at a 6 hour Chris Keating Better Photos Workshop. The very first thing he had us do was to turn our cameras to manual. I had never done this before. He then spent the day teaching us all about shutter speed, aperture, ISO, white balance, metering and much more. Chris is extremely entertaining and talented. He challenged us to not revert back to automatic, but to push through and learn how to create photos instead of simply taking them. I had such a fun time. I would go again the next time he comes to Victoria, to learn even more. So much of it was over my head, but as Chris said, "Don't call yourself an amateur, call yourself a hobbyist. And tell your critics to get off your back, your a hobbyist, not a pro." One of my favorite parts was when Chris pulled people out of the audience and created photographs, never using an on camera flash. Up until this point the flash was my best friend while inside. Now that I know how to actually use my camera I can take pictures inside without a flash, even at night....crazy!
I am so grateful that Jen decided to do this and that she didn't mind that I tagged along with her. And when she dropped me off only to find Darren gone somewhere with the children and the house locked up tight, she took me home to hers. I loved spending the day with her. She teaches me to not take life so seriously, but best of all, she just makes me laugh! 

Liebster Blog Award

This morning when I opened my e-mail I found a message from a lady named Theresa. She writes a blog Called Party of Four. She had just awarded me the Liebster Blog Award. To be honest I had no idea what this was, so I looked it up on the internet of course. Here is what I found out: Liebster is a German word meaning dearest or beloved, and the award is given to Bloggers with less than 200 followers, to promote and encourage new friendships among the blogging community.

If you receive the award you are to:

1. Post the award on your blog.
2. Show your thanks to the blogger who gave you the award by linking back to them.
3. Reveal your picks for the award and let them know.
4. Enjoy the support from fellow bloggers.
5. Have fun, and pass it along.

I am more than honored that someone awarded my blog. I want to thank Theresa for that. I am always excited to connect with people I otherwise would not have had the opportunity to get to know. I spent the afternoon reading Theresa's blog, and she is one of those people that I just know I would love if we ever met in person. 

And now for my picks: 

1. My sister-in-law Shannon Wight. This girl can make anything and everything, and it all turns out perfectly lovely. She is a crafter, a crocheter, a photographer, a creator of all things incredible. She is one of the most talented people I have ever met. I feel so very blessed to be able have her in my family. She is always inspiring me to get up and do something! 
2. Megan from Nestled. She is just cute. I love seeing her painted nails, the new shoes she won in some contest, and her beautiful home that looks so welcoming. She reminds me to take myself a little less serious, and enjoy being a girl. I am always happy to take a peek into her world. 
3. Jaimie from At Home. I first came across Jaimie's blog when I was looking for 'fresh eggs' signs on the internet for my pantry, and I have been reading it ever since. I love the easy, beachy, beautiful way she makes every house she is in a home. And she just so happens to live on Vancouver Island, only a couple of hours away. She hasn't been blogging much lately - I think it might be due to a new addition to her family! 
4. Michelle from Miss Stitch a Wish. I have recently come in contact with her. She is every bit as bubbly, happy, creative and talented as she is beautiful. She is a do-it-yourself kind of girl. 
5. A couple of years ago I was reconnected through blogging with someone I knew only very briefly when I was a young adult. She has fast become a very cherished friend, and were it not for the fact that her blog is private I would want to add her to the list. I admire her honesty. She inspires me. Every time I think about her I am grateful for blogging and how it brought us together. Maybe someday she will go public. (It sounds so scandalous when you put it that way!)

bunny slippers

Jared, Shannon and Aubrey came for a visit last week. As usual the came and were gone again faster than we would have liked. We wish we could spend more time with them. But, also as usual, it was so nice to see them. 

We were able to give them our Christmas gifts. I made Aubrey a doll like the one I made for Nya, except I gave her a little brown bob. Shannon then started crocheting all sorts of clothes for the doll, and she made a pair of bunny slippers for Nya, so that she and her doll would have a matching pair. They are the cutest things you have ever seen! I think Shannon and I had more fun playing with the dolls than the girls did!

Thank you, Auntie Shannon. I love them! 

love, Nya & Pinkalicious {that is what she named her doll}

this week.....

we got a package from my parents in the mail. It contained Christmas cards for the kids and this years ornament. Since moving away my mom has made a really big effort to send the kids cards - for Thanksgiving, Halloween, Christmas, ect. This means so very much to them. They save every card! Thank you, also, Mom and Dad for the birthday cards. I got two - one from my mom and another one especially from my dad! I am missing my parents this time of year, and wishing we could have our annual girls day at the mall.

Auntie Shannon let Santa know that we needed an elf at our house, and so a couple of weeks ago we had a new little guest come to stay with us for the holiday season. Nya was not too sure about him, and refused to go into the living room where he sat. After a couple of days, and seeing pictures of her cousin, Aubrey, with her little elf, Nya warmed to the idea. I asked her what we should name him and she insisted upon Sheep. So here he stays, taking advantage of the many holes we still have in our drywall since getting pot lights installed last summer! The kids are actually super excited about him. Every morning I will awake to Tate asking me if he can show me where the elf is now! 

My Christmas mantel this year is super simple. I didn't go and gather greenery to make fresh boughs. Normally I clip behind my parents house, but since they moved I didn't have in in my heart to go. Maybe next year. But thanks to Debra who was in a purging mood, the mantel got a facelift at least. Thank you, Debra. I LOVE the believe sign, and the black star got a coat of red paint and now my pretty bland mantel is all ready for Christmas. And..........

after 8 months I FINALLY painted my board and applied the vinyl (cut by Debra) for our family affirmations. It makes me smile every time I walk past! It has been WAY too long since I have done anything creative. I need to get back at it.

My boys have such fun with their hair. Every morning they think up some new animal they resemble. One morning this week it was a great horned owl. About 30 minutes later Bergen was relieved of his horns, via the hair clippers!

Noelle is continuing to cook up a storm! She loves it, and so do the other children. She declared one day that she wanted to open her own bakery and name it 'The Baker Bee'. She would greet her customers with, "Welcome to the hive. How may we help you?" I, for one, think this is a fantastic idea. I will be your first customer, Noelle!

You would think that Nya would never be in need of a playmate, but the other day I found her playing Connect Four with a Webkinz. She would lift his paw and have him play his piece when it was his turn. Too cute!

14 years

Darren and I were married 14 years ago today. 

November 26, 1997 he took a little 19 year old girl and gave her everything she had ever dreamed of. 

He has loved me and cared for me throughout the years. 

Even at times when it has been hard too, he loves, always. 

I trust him with my heart, my feelings, my hopes, and my dreams. 

He holds my hand and those of our children.

He makes me feel like I am the best wife and mother in the world, even though I am not.

He encourages me on, and believes in me when I don't believe in myself.

He does not expect me to be perfect - he loves me regardless.

She sees what I can be, and he wants great things for me.

He is so strong, and gentle, and he leads our family along in the footsteps of our Heavenly Father.

There is still no one in the world I would rather share this life with than him.

{source}

Happy anniversary Darren.

I love you.

from my husband

Darren finished my surfboard today. Thank you. I really, truly love it.

Long Beach Continued - Through the Lens of the Fishers

The other day Jen Fisher sent me some pictures she took of our trip to Long Beach. Not that I could ever forget my first time surfing, but thanks to her, I have a couple of pictures to go with the memories. Thank you Jen!

 Nya & me

 Darren

 Kaylee & Emma

 Noelle & Lauren

 Darren & Berg

 Brent

  Jen & me

 Brent & Tracey

 me

 Olivia & Noelle

 me

Julianne & me

 Darren & me

Owen & Nya

the full McCullough family photo shoot

My sister-in-law, Shannon, came up a couple of weekends ago to take some photos of the whole McCullough clan for her parents. She is such an amazing photographer. As I watched her work I felt 2 things: first of all - I was in awe of her talent and ability to know what to do, where to stand, and every other thing that needs to be taken into consideration when shooting outside - wind, sun, shadows, bees! Secondly - I do not want her job! The seemingly simple task of taking a picture is not so simple. Trying to co-ordinate 12 children, to have then all smiling and looking at the camera at the same time, as Shannon sets the timer and runs back to join us for the picture, in the hopes that everyone will be looking ahead, hopefully smiling, but in the very least not crying, is about as chaotic as it sounds. She did it, as she always does, with patience and kindness and incredible crazy camera skills. Shannon, thank you! I feel like the luckiest mom, sister, daughter, auntie, and wife to have every single 1 of these people in my family! I love you all.

a move, but not my own

I have not blogged about this yet for many reasons. Most of all because it is just hard and sad. But worthy to be remembered when I am old and gray, so here we go.
My parents moved. Moved from being only 8 minutes away to being another province away, and frankly it stinks. Because the truth is I am not strong. Not like I wish to be anyway. I miss them. I want them, selfishly, to always be there whenever I need them. I would want them to stay here just for me and my children forever and ever. But that is not the way it is suppose to be right now. God has a different plan for us all, and although I cannot see it, I must trust that He can and that He knows what is best, and that someday I will understand. But for now it hurts and I cry, and then I carry on and it is okay. Or at least it will be.

Dear mom and dad, 

I want to thank you for all the years you devoted to raising me. 

I am grateful for the love you gave when I was small and lovable, 

and even more so for the love you showed when I was big and rather hard to love. 

Thank you for teaching me about my Heavenly Father and my Savior Jesus Christ. 

This above all else will forever be the best gift I could have possibly been given. 

Thank you for your love that now extends to my children, 

and for your continued faithfulness and examples. 

I love you. I miss you. I want you back. But I wish you all the best. 

Until we meet again please know how much you matter.

Love, your girl

family photos

Darren's sister Shannon is in town and she graciously offered to take some family photos for us while she is here. 

For having to co-ordinate 7 people I think she did a pretty fantastic job. 

We are so grateful. Thank you Shannon, so very much - we love them.