Vids, Vids and More Vids!

I have started to accumulate a pretty large chunk of videos since we purchased the GoPro.  So I finally pulled the trigger on a new video editing software (Cyberlink PowerDirector 11) in hopes of cranking out more videos and to utilize the horsepower my desktop computer provides.  So far I am happy with the way the software works and I am slowly figuring out new ways to speed up production etc.  Below you will find a few of my latest videos.

Halibut Fishing


Moto Ride


Utah Skiing

Happy Birthday Papa Thom!!

Snow Ski!

Well if no one else will update this blog than I might have to!  Last Friday 1/13 we (Andi, Dan, Pete, Kelly, Mark, and I ) set out to get our first day of snow skiing in.  Well Pete and Kelly have been skiing a lot this year and are season pass holders at Mt Hood Meadows.  Dan one of my good buddies has a gopro hero 2 action cam and also recently got the Gopro Hero 3 black from his wonderful wife and daughter.  So we (Dan and I) took some footage throughout the day to video document the highlights.  Dan let me dump the raw footage off on my computer and I decided to take a stab at making a video.  It was definitely a great day skiing and I had fun tinkering with iMovie on my macbook.   Thanks again to Grammie and Papa Hymas for watching the boys for us or this never would have happened.  For best viewing open it in youtube and select the 720p setting. Anyway check it out!

(click here if you want to go to youtube for bigger vid!)

Summer Camping Memories...

We have been on a few camping trips so far this summer and had a WONDERFUL time with family and friends...making memories.

Before summer leaves us for the crunch of fall, we will have more memories to add to our collection.

I've added some more pictures to the online gallery...so have a look :)

The Art of Humor

School has ended...and Ryan brought home several items during that last week of school that gave me a good chuckle.  Click on any of the pictures to see a larger version.

The first one was a map of the world.

I need to give you a little back story on this one.  When Gage and I were on our last cruise, Papa Thom and Grandma Dar showed him on a map where we were (Puerto Rico).  That has stuck with him, and he can pretty easily point it out on a map.  If you look, he designated it on this map.  However...he must think that people who stink live there.  I laughed when I read his label for it..."Port or Rekos".  Oh...he also labeled Camas, WA...but apparently the whole city has relocated to Alaska :)

The second was a watercolor painting he did of a flower, and he was to label the parts of the flower that he learned in class.  Here is what the whole flower looks like (apparently this flower was in very bumpy ground).

Upon closer inspection...I realized that what I thought were leaves, were actually (in part) speech/comment bubbles.  Here is a closer look at the top and bottom of the flower...

I asked Ryan to explain what was happening in this picture.  He showed me the flower and its parts, and then explained that a little bad guy fell from the top of the flower ("AAA!"), and then hit and bounced off the petals on his way down ("ouch!" "ouch!" "ouch!").  Then at the bottom, he sunk into the dirt and was trapped by the roots (one last "AAA!" in red at the bottom of the flower).

This last one is not really funny...but shows the growth Ryan has achieved during his 1st grade year.  

The directions for each page are the same..."Draw a picture of yourself."

The picture on the left is from the first week of school in September.  The picture on the right is from a few weeks before the end of school in June.  I was amazed at the increased detail and more appropriate use of color that he has developed.  The kids mounted them inside of a black 11x14 piece of construction paper, and folded it into a large card.  Ryan presented this to Gage for father's day...the bottom line on the picture on the right says "Love you Dad".  Makes my heart smile!!

Growing up Ryan...

Both boys are getting so big!  This past weekend we had some close friends of ours visit with their 6 month old boy.  I don't realize just how big these boys are until I really spend time with a baby.  The above pic actually happened when I was taking some pictures of the baby, and I could tell Ryan was waiting his turn.  When I pointed the camera to him...this is what he gave me.  This doesn't happen that often...usually when I'm inspired to shoot pics of the boys, they are inspired to avoid me and get on with their day.  Times like these are fleeting.

Evan's First Bus Ride...

Evan's school schedule has changed... he has gone from going to preschool 2 days per week to 4 days per week.  Given my work schedule, the only way to make everything work was for him to take the bus to school in the mornings.  Thursday was his first day riding the bus...and it became the highlight of his day.  Man, these kids are growing up far too fast!