Noah's best friend

Steve, originally uploaded by juliecinci.

Steve taught us how to play "Shadows of Camelot." If you like Settlers of Catan and have an interest in King Arthur, you'll love this game. My favorite aspect of it is that the entire group who plays are cooperating to defeat the board. The idea is that the cards and the way the board is configured requires a group effort to go on quests and defeat them. So each time anyone triumphs, we all cheered because it was a group victory.

There is the possibility of a traitor which adds to the level of intrigue. Sort of like a player who "shoots the moon" in Hearts.

Game board is gorgeous and all miniatures are meticulously crafted.

We had such a good time!

My husband loves me.

Jewelry, originally uploaded by juliecinci.

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas, originally uploaded by juliecinci.

Before all the excitement, we had shiny bows. Tomorrow (technically today, the 26th) will make 365 days of photo-shooting. Woo-hoo! I'm sure I'll keep posting photos here. But I may not post every day.

In the meantime, I hope your day was as relaxed and enjoyable as ours. And if you get the chance to see "Juno" (the movie), I recommend it!

Christmas Place Cards

Christmas Place Cards, originally uploaded by juliecinci.

Caitrin is really on a roll creating these. I love the card holders (from Pier One Imports).

Cincinnati Ice Rink

Cincinnati Ice Rink, originally uploaded by juliecinci.

Yesterday's excursion to the downtown, outdoor rink. (Three of our kids are the ones holding hands in the center.) All the skating you want for a $2.00 fee and $2.00 rental. Grater's (famous Cincinnati ice cream) is outside the rink, conveniently enough. :)

Blue and orange

Aronoff Nutcracker, originally uploaded by juliecinci.

I took Caitrin to see the Nutcracker on Thursday and forgot about my photos. I have two others from the Aronoff Center that were inspired by jayfish's style of photograph. You can see them here and here.

Graham cracker gingerbread house

Graham cracker gingerbread house, originally uploaded by juliecinci.

While I already posted photos of gingerbread, I liked this one that I snapped the other day best.

Portrait of Caitrin

Portrait of Caitrin, originally uploaded by juliecinci.

She's reading Little Women.

Festival of Lights: Cincinnati Zoo

Festival of Lights: Cincinnati Zoo, originally uploaded by juliecinci.

Last night's trip to the zoo, taken on top of the van with all the pretty reflection...

La vie en bleu

La vie en bleu, originally uploaded by juliecinci.

A quality macro finally.... My little camera has been wimping out lately.

Presbyterian church

Presbyterian church, originally uploaded by juliecinci.

This is the one I visited with the family about two years ago which is in Olde West Chester.

Jaunty snowman

Jaunty snowman, originally uploaded by juliecinci.

Gretel, Hans and the mean old witch

Gretel, Hans and the mean old witch, originally uploaded by juliecinci.

To pass the time indoors, we made gingerbread houses.

Snowstorm on Red Mill

Snowstorm on Red Mill, originally uploaded by juliecinci.

Our house.

It takes two cell phones

It takes two cell phones, originally uploaded by juliecinci.

to conduct a social life that includes both college and high school friends. (That's her high school yearbook which just came out last week... six months late.)

Red light, green light Christmas

Red light, green light Christmas, originally uploaded by juliecinci.

My little camera has worked hard this year. Not quite the Ampersand effect, but close. Notice the "bokeh"!! :)

Angles alight

Angles alight, originally uploaded by juliecinci.

Yeah, we suck at hanging lights.

December sky

December sky, originally uploaded by juliecinci.

I can never get enough of bare trees against midwestern skies.

Christmas dog

Christmas dog, originally uploaded by juliecinci.

Rocky at his ease.

Scrounged Poetry

Co-op Class, originally uploaded by juliecinci.

I created an activity for writing where you gather words from various sources, put them on little word tickets and then create poems with them using artwork as the source of inspiration. This is one of my students using a Van Gogh painting for his poem.