Baby it's cold outside.

"Baby it's cold outside.... are you listening?"
Tyler has the song "Baby it's cold outside" stuck in his head, but can't remember the rest of the lyrics.  So instead, he combines it with some of the lyrics from "Walking in a Winter Wonderland."  Or at least, what sounds like are supposed to be lyrics from Winter Wonderland.

Every time he sings it, it sounds like he's asking me if I'm listening to him telling me it's cold outside.  Until he continues on with other made up lyrics.

It's rather entertaining on these cold cold nights.

Besides listening to Tyler, my favorite thing to do on frigid evenings (hey, I have to find something positive about the -10 temps) is to sit all bundled up next to our real tree.

It smells so perfectly Christmasy.  It's worth the excess needles on the floor.  Trust me.

For some reason, this year I'm not the grinch I normally am.  I actually began decorating the day after Thanksgiving, with strong urges to start before Thanksgiving even! 

Totally unlike me.

Maybe it was the real tree that has spurred me on.  Or these gorgeous stockings my mom knit for us:

Aren't the perfect?  The color in this photograph is a little off.  The colors are even more gorgeous in person.  And she's working on a little one for Wally in a lighter green!  How fun!

I've even been baking like a mad woman.  So far I've baked:

1. 2 different batches of sugar cookies
2. Thin Mint cookies
3. Peppermint Cream bars
4. Pretzel Kiss candies
5. and I have dough in the freezer ready to make peppermint/sugar cookie sandwich thing-a-ma-jings.

Still on my list are spritz cookies, chocolate chip cookies for Dad, stained glass sugar cookies for Ma, and more sugar cookies as per Tyler's request.

Ufda!

Thankfully, when Tyler's home, he's been doing most the cooking.  I'm far too busy baking to cook.

Well, stay warm out there.  After all, "Baby it's cold outside, are you listening?"

Gingerbread Throwdown 2010

When Tyler and I were dating, we thought it would be fun to build ginger bread houses with my littlest brother and sister.

This was such a success, that it has become a tradition.  This year was our third year creating these masterpieces.

For months, the kids drew up plans, determined to outdo Tyler this year.  They'd send me on missions to discover his plans, and swear me to secrecy to protect theirs.

Finally, the day came to build!

Greyson joined us this year.  I don't think his heart was totally in it.  This undecorated jumble above was named cardboard ghetto.  Maybe next year, Grey?

This beauty is Ellie's.  She built a beautiful snow-covered front porch, peaked roof and chimney, complete with bushes and a snowman out front.

Isaac stayed very true to his plans.  He made a chimney with candy-cane smoke drifting out the top.  With Tyler's help to make it stable, he built a beautiful gingerbread house!

Once again, Tyler blew us all away.  This year he decided to keep it simple.  He built a manger.  He has a SourPatch Kid baby Jesus, three Sour Patch Kid wisemen, and the three candy-canes symbolize shepherd crooks.  Oh, and the camel, bear and lion animal crackers just complete the picture.

I suppose I'll show you mine.  I also attempted a front porch, but I must say: Ellie did it far better.  I have nothing else to say about it.

Next year I'll take Tyler down!

Sauck Family Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving this year was at Kay's house.

I made the hot mulled apple cider.  Thanksgiving just requires it.

The place was packed!  Not only with people, but with amazing food.

Besides the 20 pounds of potatoes, green beans, corn, deviled eggs, multiple pies and other goodies, there were three (count them, 3) different kinds of turkey AND a ham!

Lots of good eating.

And after all the eating, photo taking commenced.

I decided against taking a photo of the entire group together.  It was expected to have over 40 people at Kay's house- my lens just isn't wide enough!  But, I did take different groups.

First up, Elmer and Marcella's boys and gals.

MaryAnn, Jeanne, John, Brian

Mark, Elmer, Marcella

Then the grandkids piled in, minus Chris and Dean.

Shannon, Derrek, Darren, Matt (Stan), Rachel, Mike

Katie, Elmer, Marcella, Jordan (No Wait, That's Tyler!!)

For those of you who were not there, I accidently called my husband Tyler, Katie's brother, by the wrong name.  Instead of Tyler, I called him Katie's husband's name, Jordan.  Katie and Jordan just are so natural together, their names roll out together way too easily!

Finally, the great-grand-kiddos had their moment.

Again, not everyone was there.

And I'm sorry, I'm just not that good yet- I can't name all of them.  I'm still learning.

It was a very successful day.  Lots of fun, lots of family, and lots of food.

Tyler had to roll me home at the end of the night.

He's a good ol' dog.

Yes.  I bought Wally a sweater.

He had all his hair shaved off and he gets cold so easily!  I couldn't help myself.

Much to my surprise (and to my husband's disgust), Wally actually loves his sweater!

Look at that content look on his face as he rolls in the grass.  Doesn't that look like complete comfort?

"Thanks for putting my sweater on!  I'm so warm!!"

See, he really loves it.

"Ok.  Enough photos."

However, he does not love getting his photo taken.

"Really?  You're really going to make me sit here for this?  Really?  Ugh."

"But this is so lame.  Sitting by these lame pumpkins.  Hmph."

Here you can see how Wally has taken notes from Tyler.  "If you're going to make me take a photo, I'm going to make a goofy face."

(see example)

He's a good dog.

Oh, and Tyler's pumpkin...

In response to my "Welcome" pumpkin, Tyler carved a "Go Away" pumpkin.

 Thought you needed to see it.

(This was taken a week after he carved it, so the letters are starting to distort as it decays... but it still is quite effective, don't you think?)

My Weekend

What a fun way to end a week.

Wednesday night we didn't have church.  So, Tyler went off to the fields and before joining him, I carved a couple pumpkins!

I've never outgrown pumpkin carving.

I mean really, is there anything better than a lit up pumpkin welcoming you home?

Then Thursday I hit the road to Rockford, IL!

A 6 hour drive there was well worth the chance to see my dear friend Hannah!

Hannah and I met on a canoe in drawing class.  That's right- canoeing for drawing class.  Be jealous.  We've been great friends ever since.  I love this girl.

You'll love her too if you're ever lucky enough to know her.

Photo Shoots!

I've been having fun going on photo shoots for Womeninc again!

Hmm... When you see them in a row like that, not cropped in not in a layout- you can really see I rely on very similar poses...

It's okay though.  You'll see other poses in the magazine.  I promise.

Look!  A different pose!

And this one is even more different:

Different in so many ways.

And such a fun shoot!

Catching Up

Ok, so here's a catchup post for ya.  I'll try to share as much as I can.

We went up North in August.  I primarily used my 35mm (yet to be developed), but as per Tyler's request, I snapped this shot of his prize digitally.

Steph has these amazing things called "extension tubes".  I've been thinking about getting some for a while now.  Basically, they transform any lens into a macro lens.  She let me test drive them.

 Isn't that fun??


We had 2 weddings Tyler was a part of this September.

 (Tyler's reaction to all the wedding-ness... he'd rather be home).

First was Cody and Angie's.  Tyler was an usher.

(Uh, Guess I was kind of lacking in my pictures I took that day...)

Then was Pete and Allison's.  I was able to take getting ready photos for the bride.

I also snapped a few at the reception.

Tyler was best man at this wedding.  His speech was great!

Speaking of that fantastic husband of mine, he decided to sweep me off my feet (yet again) one night for no reason in particular.

 Tyler had been out of town that week.  When I came home from church, he was asleep on the couch, candles were lit, and there were a dozen red roses with a note that said "Wife.  Just 'cause I love you. - Husband."

When he wants to, boy can that man be romantic!

And finally, we're back up and running at the magazine.  Which means I've been having fun with intro and parting shots.  Here's a taste:

 Now, let's see if I can keep up to date from here on out...
Ha, yeah right.

Little Is Much

Little is Much, by DownHere

What is the measure of a life well lived

If all I can offer seems too small to give
This is a song for the weaker, the poorer
And so-called failures


Little is much when God's in it
And no one can fathom the plans He holds
Little is much when God's in it
He changes the world with the seeds we sow

Little is much, little is much

Who feels tired and under-qualified
Who feels deserted, and hung out to dry
This is a song for the broken, the beat-up
And so-called losers


Consider a Kingdom in the smallest seed
Consider that giants fall to stones and slings
Consider a child in a manger
Consider the story isn't over
What can be done with what you still have

Pete & Allison engagement photos

I had the pleasure of photographing Pete & Allison as an engagement gift.  And since I was at my ma's house, where she happens to have internet, and I happened to have the disc of pictures with me, I thought I'd show you a few.

Ain't they a couple a cuties?  Congratulations you two!!

Been forever, eh?

Thought I'd post photos of the cookies I've been having fun making.  I don't get to post often, as I don't have internet at home.  But thought you'd enjoy seeing (or humor me, at least) these stained glass cookies!  Ok, so I'm proud of them...

See?  Cute huh?  And, they're delicious too!  If I do say so myself. :)