Learning to Edit

Ever since I got my DSLR and took my camera class last year, I've been dying to learn how to edit photos. I actually have photoshop, but I have no CLUE how to use it! Very frustrating. I went online to try to find an easier program, and I came across PIXLR. What an awesome website! There I can edit photos for free, and it's much easier to learn on than photoshop. Here is a before and after showing what I've been working on this past week...

Before, SOOC (straight out of camera). A great picture but underexposed.

After. Got the lighting fixed and some touchups.


I am by no means a pro, but I think the touched up version looks pretty good! I love this picture so much that it is now the background on my computer, blackberry and ipad. Is that a bit much? Ah, who cares? I love that face!

My Mini Me

Welp, it's official--my mini-me is a boy. I always dreamed of having a cute little daughter who looked just like me that I could wear identical clothes with and parade around (cheesy dream, I know--but cut me some slack, I never had any sisters!). But alas, it was not to be. My daughter looks like my husband, and while I did manage to make a mini version of myself, that mini version is a BOY (unfortunately for him!). But, I love him nonetheless! He is my mini-me in every sense of the word. Some even joke that I must've made him all by myself because he bears so little resemblance to his dad. I think as he gets older he will start to look more like a Wheeler, but I'm going to enjoy having a little twin for now while I can. I present to you--the side by side:

Brooke, age 2, circa 1985                                                        Brady, age 23 months, circa 2013

The 4th and the 6th

Our Independence Day mini-break went pretty well overall, considering all the picnics we had to truck the whole family back and forth from (and anyone who's raised small children knows that's no mean fete on a holiday). I spent the first half of the week suffering and attempting to recover from a nasty case of mastitis, which I'm pretty sure I picked up trying to calm baby Brynne down with all the nursing at Jason's party on Saturday. I was down and out for about 3 days, but I felt better in time to enjoy the 4th of July. Jason did some yard work in the morning, then we had fun picnicking and swimming at Gigi's house on Thursday. I made a fun red, white and blueberry trifle to take for dessert, and not only was it show-stoppingly-gorgeous, but it turned out DELICIOUS!

Loves to help his dad do yard work. Let's see if this continues into his teenage years...

Always something to smile about outside!

"Please let me in Mom, it's hot out here!"

"Ha! I made it in the door!"

 

Red, white and blueberry trifle, recipe courtesy of Skinnytaste

I NEVER make desserts, so this was a huge accomplishment for me!

 

Learning to swim with Grandma F.

"Lookout Mom and Dad, there's a new swimmer in the family!"

Loving every minute...

Cheering on her bro in her festive dress

"It's a little bright out here, Dad..."



"Ahh, that's what I needed!"

These two are related, can you tell?

With Uncle G. before the inevitable meltdown

Woken from her nap, changed out of sweaty clothes and feeling good enough to party with Grandma F.

No caption needed.

 

On Saturday we attended my cousins's graduation bash at my mom's house. Brady ran around like a wild man for nearly 12 hours straight, and baby Brynne slept almost the whole time! Had I known she was going to sleep like that, I might've been able to relax, but since I kept expecting her to wake up any minute (because that kind of sleep is very unusual for her), I was on edge for most of the party. There's only one picture from that party for that reason. Luckily, it's a good one!

Pre-nap of the century pic with Gigi.

Jason's Big Three-Oh

I haven't blogged for 2 weeks, so it's been awhile! What a whirlwind week of July 4th we had. It started on Saturday, June 29 for Jason's big 30th birthday bash. His parents threw him a nice little party, for which we were grateful because otherwise it never would have happened. We can barely keep up with the average housework with the babies and dogs and our jobs, so we are in no position to entertain large groups of people at present. Anyway, it was a good day filled with food, fun, family and friends. Everyone enjoyed themselves with the exception of my baby Brynne, who decided that she no longer approves of random people holding her and only wants Mommy or a grandma to touch her from now on. That made it quite a long day for me, but I still enjoyed myself. Here comes the photo dump (brace yourselves, it's a big one)...

With Grandpa L, before the first of many meltdowns.

Aaaand the meltdown begins!

Grandma W. finally got her to sleep.

Rob even showed up!

Not long after we arrived, Brady stripped off his cute polo shirt and seersucker shorts to change into his swim gear.

Partiers...

and more partiers!

Grandma F. trying to calm an unhappy baby

 

I really hate to brag, but my husband is H O T.

The awesome and yummy cake, courtesy of PA Bakery

The whole family was actually very America-color-coordinated, but the kiddos just wouldn't let a family pic happen.

 

This child is clearly his mother's son.

She finally calmed down enough to sleep!