School Room of Life: Post-Christmas Catch Up

First of all, I have to whine for a minute about my camera lens. I spent some time researching lenses and I picked out the one I wanted. A 50mm f/1.8. I'd be happy with it and it was in our price range. I ordered it and got it on Dec. 22. I was sooo happy to get it before Christmas! I immediately put it on my camera and started shooting. I very quickly realized that the autofocus was not working. So I pulled out the manual and discovered that the autofocus is not compatible with my camera body. Only manual focus. BAH! I never read that anywhere during my research (I obviously didn't research it thoroughly enough!). I was so bummed because I certainly don't want a lens that doesn't autofocus. So I had to return it. I did some more research, and found a couple other review sites that do mention this incompatibility. I have found another lens that I think I will be happy with, that DOES autofocus with my camera, that is a little more, but still within our price range. It's a 35mm f/1.8. I haven't ordered it yet though. It was so frustrating to be THAT CLOSE to having it... :(

Ok, now for a December recap:
I had to take Graham to the dr. on Dec. 4 because he was having trouble breathing clearly. Eric ended up going to the dr. the same day because he had a 103+ fever and felt awful. They were both sent for chest x-rays. Graham's came back clear, but he was put on breathing treatments for a few days. Eric's came back as pneumonia and he ended up missing 4 days of work because of it (which if you know Eric, you know what a big deal that is. He doesn't take sick days almost EVER).

Here is Graham during a breathing treatment. He was such a good patient!

On Dec. 11 Natalie had her first piano recital. She played "Jolly Old St. Nicholas".

Here is Erica's swollen lip - you can't tell very well in this pic, but she fell and busted it.

Leah and Graham playing

The last pic of Natalie's full smile

Before she lost her front tooth

She came to me on Dec. 23 morning and said that her tooth fell out in the middle of the night, and she put it under her pillow, but the tooth fairy didn't come. lol I told her she had to wait 24 hours. hahaha

Showing off her new smile a.k.a. acting goofy for the camera

probably the most unflattering picture of Graham - at least Leah is smiling!

Here is Graham this morning before church, wearing a jacket that was Eric's when he was a little boy

Leah riding on the rocking horse Graham got for Christmas from Nana

*notice one of her toes is sticking out of a hole in her footy pajamas...

The kids opening their Christmas Eve gifts of pjs

Leah loves the little babies on the Carter's tags

She liked to eat the wrapping paper best

Big Brother coming to clean it up before she chokes on it!

*notice how we ended up just cutting the foot off of those pajamas because her poor little toe kept getting caught in it! lol

haha, he forgot a piece!