My THANKimony - Part 4 (by Haley)

My THANKimony continued...

22. RAIN- I am grateful for rain. You have no idea how excited people get here when it rains. Since I live in a place where it only rains a few times a year, rain is such a treat for us. We get SO excited. My favorite is when it rains when it's time to go to bed. I love the sound it makes on the roof. 

22. LIVING IN DIFFERENT PLACES- I am grateful that I have lived in so many different places. I have lived in West Virginia, Kentucky, Idaho, Utah, Uruguay, and Nevada. I have learned a lot about different types of people. I have also found beauty in each place. Each place has a special place in my heart.

23. VISITORS- I am grateful for visitors. There are very few things that make me happier than getting visitors. I LOVE it when people come over, especially my family. I love cleaning my home and making a special treat for people that I care about.

24. PREGNANCY- I am grateful I have experienced pregnancy. I know many of you mothers out there are rolling your eyes right now, but I am so grateful that I know what it is like to get pregnant and do through the whole labor process. Although it is tough, it is totally worth it in the end!

25. CHRISTMAS LIGHTS- I am grateful for Christmas lights. I love how they shine in the darkness and bring others happiness. They totally brighten my day!

26. THANKSGIVING- I am grateful for Thanksgiving. It is such a fun holiday. You get to eat tons of yummy food, spend the day with people you love, and focus on the things you are most grateful for in your life.

27. THIS LIST- I am grateful for this list. I really enjoyed making this list. It helped me realize the things I cherish the very most or take for granted. I think I'm gonna try to make this a Thanksgiving tradition. You should too!

Simple Baby Books (by Bethany)

When I was graduating from college/getting married, my mom presented me with my baby book (as well as a handmade baby blanket for my future first baby, and a really sweet card that made us both cry). It looks like this:

My kids love it and I treasure it because it is mine and it was made by my mom, but there are many reasons why I didn't want to use a pre-made baby book for my own kids. For one thing, it's full of spaces for things you may not have the information for.

My mom left lots of blanks, and even covered over some pages with scrapbooking paper to add things there wasn't a space for, and to omit things she didn't want to include. I wanted to start with more of a blank slate.
I've done digital photo books as family yearbooks:

The problem with those is that you can't include the hospital bracelet and stuff like that. I wanted something I could do whatever I wanted with, insert mementos, add pages in the future, somewhat match from kid to kid, not spend too much money on, and most of all it needed to require no artistic talent. I am not even kind of a scrapbooker. 

So Sarah gave me this idea: a binder (cute, but not expensive), page protectors, and cardstock. Using two sheets of cardstock to a page protector (rather than one sheet front and back) makes it easy to switch order, or even scrap pages without losing too much work. (I used this same method for my mission photo book, since none of my pictures were digital.)

I used a gluestick for Grace's baby book, but some of the photos were starting to detach by the time I started Alice's, so I used double-sided tape squares for hers - love them! Then I just used a pen to write captions (messy, but easy, and it's in their mom's handwriting, so that's nice - right?). I used a marker or crayon to label the pages. I was going for speed!

The most time-consuming part for me was going through hundreds (maybe thousands?) of digital pictures and choosing my favorites. Then I had them printed at mpix.com, and went to work! Some of the things I like to include are:

The backstory/pregnancy. My pregnancies with both girls were preceded by miracles, so I typed those stories up for their baby books. My husband also wrote a letter to his future child each time we found out we were pregnant, so I included those. Plus the doctor's pregnancy verification note, and a big, fat picture of me! 

The pregnancy announcement. It's all online, so it was no trouble at all to print out the email announcement and facebook comments. It's so fun to have!

Ultrasound pictures. I always try to add any emails I can find where I announce things like the gender.

Baby shower invitations. I also try to incorporate any other cute cards I received.

Birth story and hospital mementos. Grace's book includes her first bow and the sign the nurses made for her. I also include the hospital bracelet, the stats card, and the footprints. I even included the hospital bill for Grace!

Firsts. Admittedly, I kept track of Grace's firsts better than I did Alice's. 

Baby blessing. I include the blessing certificate, who was in the blessing circle, and photos of the blessing day. Grace's book also includes the backstory on her blessing dress, which was handed down for generations.

First holidays. I intend the baby book to basically cover the first year. After that, I figure they can look in the family yearbooks.

Pictures with relatives. I devote a page or two to pictures with each set of grandparents, great-grandparents, cousins, parents, and siblings.

Events. Family reunions, camping trips, vacations, even family photo shoots.

Anything I have multiple cute pictures of that I can form into a category. Pictures in the bath, in a swing, wearing sunglasses, reading books, wearing hats, in a carseat, playing toy instruments, similar poses at different ages, etc.

Artwork. 

First haircut. This is my exception to my rule of only including the first year, only because I can't put hair clippings into a digital family yearbook.

Other ideas.  Some other things I've included are: a family tree, their growth chart, the meaning of their name, and extra pages at the end with cute pictures that didn't fit into any other category.

This is what works for me. I feel like it's manageable, but meaningful. It can be as time-consuming, artistic, detailed, and expensive as you want, or quick, cheap, and minimal. (I choose the latter, though it is very detailed, with a date and caption for every picture, and tons of excerpts from journals and emails.)

Charlie just turned one and this is his Christmas gift - I better get to work!

Sappy Love Story (by Heather)

My husband and I just celebrated our 8th wedding anniversary. The morning of our anniversary, my kids asked me to tell them our "love story." It was really fun to remember how it all began…

Austin and me at Busch Gardens, FL when I met his family for the first time after we got engaged

It was the summer of 2005 in Provo, UT. I was dating a guy at church that I just couldn't shake. I had tried to break up with the guy a dozen times, but he just wouldn't go away!  So I decided that at the next church activity, I would go up to three random guys and ask them out. Surely when I went out with three other guys, that would give him the picture. 

At the next church activity, I quickly picked my victims. Austin was someone I hadn't met. All I knew about him was that he had a sports car, which was definitely a point against him, but my sister Haley knew him and said he was a good guy so I went up to him and said:

Me: "Hi, I'm Heather."

Austin: "Hi, I'm Austin."

Me: "Nice to meet you."

Austin: "You too."

Heather: "So….I can't remember….when is the last time you made me dinner?"

Austin: "Um….never?"

Heather: "Well….I'm available on Tuesday."

Austin: "Ok….do you…want to come over for dinner on Tuesday?"

Heather: "I'd LOVE TO! Thanks for asking!"

Austin's 25th birthday, a few months after we got married

Tuesday (August 2nd), he picked me up (in his sports car) and opened my door and had made a great baked spaghetti dinner. We got to know each other a little better and he told me his conversion story to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He told me about his mission to Antofosgasta, Chile and his family and friends and showed me pictures, etc. We talked easily, but I never dreamed that I was staring at pictures of my future mother-in-law, father-in-law and sister-in-law. After we had talked for a while he said that he had promised some guys that we would go play volleyball with them. We got to the court at my apartment complex and had to be on separate teams. Then it got late and I had to work early the next day so I wanted to head home. I told him so and he waved to me from afar and said, "Okay, have a good night." He didn't walk me to the door or give me an awkward half handshake/half hug or even a high five. I went home and told Bethany, who I was living with at the time, that based on how our date ended, he probably wouldn't ask me out again, which I was fine with.

Our first Christmas together (1 month after we were married) Austin secretly bought me a piano! from a thrift store. It needed some work so Austin got it tuned and then took it apart (he's very handy though had never touched a piano before) and re-keyed the whole thing for me! True love! He did a great job on the project and we still use this piano today. 

The next day (Wednesday) Austin called. He was heading home from playing basketball with some friends and what was I doing? Well, Bethany and I had just made a "dinner" out of some leftovers and it was less than gross, but I somehow found myself inviting him over to eat our "delicious dinner." He must have really liked me because he raved about our meal and stayed for a long time and we just talked and laughed. After he left, I really liked him and Bethany said he seemed to really like me. (It's so fun to live with your sister!)

Austin and me and Bethany and Paul. They started dating right at the end of our engagement. In fact, Paul came to our wedding but wasn't allowed in any of the family wedding pictures because he hadn't proposed yet!

The next day (Thursday) I got sick. It may have had something to do with the nasty meal from the day before, but that cannot be proven. I was throwing up and a real mess. Austin didn't call or come over that day. 

The next day (Friday) was a church party. It was a pool party at somebody's house. I was much better and was excited to see if Austin would be there. Bethany and I got there and I didn't see Austin. I was talking to some people, but still had an eye out for Austin. I finally saw him get there, but I was surrounded by a bunch of guys, I was so worried that he would see that and not come talk to me. But as I watched him, I could tell he was just as eager to see me as I was him. I watched him search the group for someone (me!!) and then when he saw me he just made his way in front of other people until it was just us two talking. He invited me to go on a hike with him and some other people that night. I told him I had been sick and didn't feel up to hiking and Bethany and I were planning to watch a movie with some friends at our place. He quickly canceled his other plans to hang out with me! The movie we ended up watching was "The Sixth Sense" (not gonna lie and say Bethany and I didn't strategically pick a scary movie). That night Austin and I held hands for the first time - thanks scary movie! Then after the movie was over, I walked him to his car and went to give him a goodnight hug and it ended up lasting well over 2 hours. We didn't kiss or anything, just held each other, sometimes in silence, sometimes talking. We both think that's when we fell in love. It was a very special and exciting feeling. When I finally went back in to the apartment, I told Bethany that if he asked me to marry him, I'd say yes! (I had never said that before.)

Our ring ceremony after we were married/sealed in the temple

The next day (Saturday) Austin and I hung out at a service activity and then planned to go to a rodeo that night. Bethany and her date went with us. On the drive home from the rodeo, Austin kissed me for the first time. Hence, when he was asked (for the game for the bridal shower) how he would describe out first kiss in one word - he said: RODEO!

This is what I wrote in an email to my family about that week:

"Who is Austin, you may ask? Well, he's the best thing in my life right now. He's so incredible in so many different ways. We went on our first date last Tuesday (August 2nd). I think it was probably the 2nd time we'd ever talked. I kind of asked him to ask me out. (an old Melanie Moore trick - worked for her and Joel!) I went up to him at ward prayer and asked when he was making me dinner. (this is not an uncommon question that Bethany, Haley or I ask guys. We always get guys to make us dinner, but I specifically said only me when I asked Austin to make me dinner.) Anyway, he jumped right on the idea and we went out that Tuesday. It went well and he came over the next night on Wednesday. We talked and looked at pictures and stuff. He has seen good and bad pictures of everyone. He'll know you all when we go home next Friday (I had never taken a guy home before)…….

Sunday we sat next to each other at Church. We got a lot of "compliments" and "congratulations" on our "new development." Pretty funny. I was with Austin from 5 to late again. He's so great and easy to talk to. Such a good person…..

Anyway, we've been together every day since then. We talk in the morning, afternoon and night. I think I'm in love with him. He's so great. You guys will all love him. Almost everyone will get to meet him this month.... (You may remember that I have 10 siblings so yes, some of them - like Sarah - met him in the reception line AFTER we were married!) Anyway, I love you all. I'm so, so happy.

Talk to you later.

Heather"

My dad said this in his family email:

"Heather, I can’t believe you’re in love! We can’t wait to meet him. Is this for real?! It doesn’t sound like you!…"

When we went home and Austin met my parents for the first time

The rest is history. We were officially engaged on September 8th and married on November 23rd in the Boise Temple on a cold November day (though I couldn't feel it I was so happy!) We almost didn't get married that day because there was an inversion in Boise and incoming flights (including Austin's!) were canceled. Thankfully my wonderful Aunt Claudia and Uncle David and cousin Melanie, were making the trek to come to our wedding and left at 3AM so he could be there on time. What a wild and wonderful day!

Um....no caption necessary...

And it's been that way ever since! 8 years, 4 kids, 6 homes, 4 states, 2 undergrads, 4 years of podiatry school, 5 cars and 150,000+miles later (at least! with all our fun trips!) I still look at him and can't help but kiss him and hug him and smile with delight that he's all mine, for eternity!

Kramer Family 2005

Kramer Family 2007

Kramer Family 2008

Kramer Family 2011

Kramer Family 2012

Kramer Family 2013

Holiday Photo Tutorial

A few years ago I stumbled upon what I like to call "holiday bokeh".  Bokeh is the photography term that describes the blurry background in a picture.  It looks like this:

See that blur of Christmas lights in the background?  That's holiday bokeh.  Holiday bokeh (or any blurry background, for that matter) is achieved when you get the camera as close is as reasonable to the subject in focus and put the background at a distance.  In other words, if I had backed this gingerbread house up to the tree, the lights wouldn't have been blurry.  No holiday bokeh.  Also, you need to set your aperture as low as possible (that number will look like a 1.4 or 2.8 or 3.6, etc).

Ever since I discovered holiday bokeh, I've had it on my to-do list to take holiday photos of my kids with a background of Christmas lights.  I finally did it this weekend!  I just taped Christmas lights up to my wall, layed down a white sheet, and put my kids about 6 feet in front of the wall.  Here's how they turned out:

Try it sometime this holiday season!  It's a lot of fun!