I sometimes can’t believe the things that I am able to procrastinate. I have owned my current camera for about three years, and I have had an external flash even longer. I used to use that flash on my old camera with this clunky spiral cord that connected the two.
My current camera was the first model that came with the built-in ability to trigger the external flash wirelessly. I knew that when I bought it. I just never cracked open the user’s manual and figured out how to do it. Until today. I want to fling myself in to the air in a giant cartwheel of kicking my own butt for putting it off this long. It took about 4 minutes of concentration to figure it out.

I guess if you are not interested in photography, all of this is like, “So what?” But what I know most people struggle with on phone cameras or even high end little point-and-shoots is low light indoor stuff (for example, my house). Photos are blurry because the camera has to expose the sensor for so long that it picks up the movement of the thing you are trying to photograph.
My happy expensive camera can compensate by cranking up the power to the sensor and the new lens I bought can open up wide to let in as much light as possible. But nothing works to make happy pictures like more light.

With this new option, I can take the flash with its cute little stand and set it on the counter. When I take a picture, it will set off the big bright burst of light aimed at the ceiling which will fill the room with bounced light. This opens up all new possibilities for shots I could have taken for years, or it can take the good shots I did get with a lot less grainy noise. Ah well, live and learn… and procrastinate. Sorry for the long rant about photos, it is just an important subject for me who writes a photo blog daily. Maybe you will see the difference in the pictures.

It was a good day for a Monday. Trevor slept until 8:30am, ate huge meals, AND took a nap. He must be about to shoot up another inch. The boys were in good moods today. Trevor was cooking and mixing puffs.

Brendan was playing with his iGuy while he was eating, Trevor was interested in what app he found.

Brendan gets these funny tufts of hair that grow twice as fast as the rest

I distracted them for a long time by dragging them around in this bin

This one is for Gramma

Since Brendan has been interested in popsicles, we froze him some baby food purees in popsicle molds. This one is peaches. He was interested for a short time, but didn’t like it as much as the “real thing”.

These little headphones are designed for little kids, they have volume protection that won’t let them go above a certain number of decibels. The iPads have volume controls for headphones too. We are getting the boys used to using the headphones for rides in the car.

The weekend went by too quickly, I can’t believe we are back to Monday already. It ought to be interesting. I just have a few pictures from dinner tonight.
Brendan started with some trains and some peach slices.

Bye, trains

Bye, peaches

Wiping hands free of dinner

Trevor thought that trick might work on peas too. I told him he couldn’t have dessert unless he ate his peas. I found bunches of them in his lap.

He tried to “cute” me in to allowing dessert

In the end, it was a compromise. He ate most of his peas and got his treat.

We were excited today to find Brendan’s favorite honey mustard pretzels in our regular grocery store. That is rare! Brendan loves these things, he made his whole nose and chin yellow by licking on them.

Of course, when they are soggy and depleted of flavor, he calls in the clean up squad.

I don’t have much for today. Trevor and I did a five mile bike ride this morning and stopped at the grocery store for a few things. He walked out with a sprinkle donut.

Brendan would rather eat his hand.

The day was uneventful. Hooray!