Time for Sledding

While out visiting my family we did a mini photo session. There is a reason I'm not a people photographer... there is so much to learn that is different than pets! While I like a lot of the images that we got, I'm not 100% thrilled with any of them. They don't seem to be in crisp focus, and the compositions could have been stronger with just a few little tweaks. We took the photos on the last day so we had no time to repeat the effort but we can always try again next time! Right?

So that is Steve in the back, then my sister Debbie, then my nieces Sarah and Alison.

Steve was a seasoned model the whole session. :)

Alison too always knew where the camera was and turned on the charm.

I love this photo of my sister!

Sarah has a smile that can light up a room.

As can her little sister!

Christmas Part 1

Marlin and I have been doing lots of traveling this Christmas. Our first stop was Camrose where his family gathered on Christmas Eve. We had a wonderful potluck dinner in the basement of his Grandpa's place. The kids had lots of toys to play with and the adults had lots of good food to eat and good company to chat with.

We then set off for a 12 hour drive to Nelson. It was a very long day. The girls got the chance to run a few times in farmers' fields and even a dog park in Canmore.

We are having a great visit so far. My sister's family got a Wii for Christmas and I am completely addicted... and a little sore. I think I over did it during the boxing match. :) We have managed short breaks to go out with the dogs in the snow. We had to bundle up though.

Gotta go and get back to the Wii!

Another Wubba

I think I need a second Wubba. There was a whole lotta this going on today.

Lacey seems to have finally discovered the attention she gets whenever she has it. She was full out sprinting for the toy today and not backing down if Coulee was hot on her heels. I was impressed.

Coulee had to up her game to get the toy so she turned on the focus and determination.

What is Lacey looking at in the distance?

An old daycare buddy named Otus. We hadn't seen him since he was still a pup!

We have a few long road trips ahead of us these next couple of days. I hope they got enough exercise this afternoon!

Working Out

Somebody looks like she has been hitting the gym!

Decision Made

I finally made a decision about a new camera. After every salesman telling me something different, I went to the source and e-mailed Canon. They described the 5D as a portrait camera and the 7D as a sports camera. So I bought the Canon 7D. It was cheaper, I didn't need another lens like I would have needed for the 5D and if Canon themselves thinks it better for what I do, then I'm convinced.

I still need to reduce the orange in all of Coulee's pictures but I can live with that. I even did a custom white balance and she still looked Orange. And Lacey always looks the right colour. Weird.

There is no way my old camera would have gotten this in focus...

And I can crop my photos and still have the subject look crisp.

Down Under

Guess who got to hang out with the cutest little Aussie pup today?

He was super curious and was constantly trying to get to the camera.

And because I didn't want to completely swamp the blog with 101 photos, I posted more on the photography one instead! :)

And not to be left out is Ali. She demonstrated with her breath just how cold it was today.

Ali was pretty shy to start but the moment I picked up a ball, it was like I flipped a switch. She was excited to fetch and showed just as much focus as Coulee.

Frozen Fingers and Toes

Coulee kept doing "the beat down" on Lacey so I knew despite the cold, we had to give the girls a decent run today.

We didn't want to drive and risk getting stuck on the way to the dog park, so we went to the green space next to the train tracks near our home.

My fingers got a little cold, Lacey's toes got a little cold, and I assume Coulee's face got a little cold too!

But they are now both napping so it was worth it.

Snow Zoomies

The girls are having so much fun outside in the snow. Lacey is constantly asking to go back outside. She doesn't even dry off in between.

I had lots of fun taking pictures of all their fun. I just went into the park right behind our house and let them run wild with the Wubba.

Not surprisingly, the park was empty. :)

The snow has made it almost like having a giant (yet cold and wet) studio. I did have to edit out the houses in the background but they were almost obscured anyway by all the snow.

I think we'll go back out in a few hours and do it all over again!

Hoops of Fun

This is definitely Coulee's prefered way of carrying her new frisbee.

Or maybe I just take more pictures when she is carrying it this way.