Okay, okay, I like my phone

You know I am usually highly annoyed with people who are in love with their phones, but I confess that I kind of like my phone.

Of course, I NEVER use it as a phone.

I like that I can text more easily now (although I rarely do), I can find scripture references at church so quickly, and I can entertain my children with Netflix. Chloe will not sit down and watch a show on TV, but put it on the phone and it has her undivided attention. And I really like the Kindle app. I didn't think I would even like the Kindle but I confess that I LOVE it. I can read so much more than I did before, and read lots of book reviews, and make wish lists, and if I don't have my Kindle with me I can access it on my phone and it is right in sync with my Kindle. I prefer the Kindle during the day because it looks more like a book and the screen doesn't glare under light, but I like using the phone to read at night because the phone is lit so I can read in the dark until I fall asleep.

So while I admit that I am finding some fun uses for my phone, I still do not like when people use their phone as their camera. I mean, sure, we have all been out and not had a camera and a phone shot is better than nothing. BUT, unless you have a really good camera phone, I just don't love to look at people's grainy cell phone pictures. But Julie, your regular camera takes grainy, blurry pictures too. Touche. But still, unless I am taking a picture specifically to text to someone, I do prefer a real camera.

But this weekend I found myself out without a camera and became that guy, documenting life with my phone. This technology thing seems bound and determined to lure me to the dark side one evil app at a time.

So here is our phone camera weekend.

We were at the mall and happened to park by Bass Pro Shop, so we walked through the store to get to the mall. An elf approached me and asked if we were there for pictures with Santa. Oh gosh, no. I have never gone out of my way to do the Santa visit thing. If we run into him somewhere, fine. If not, well then, whatever. But wait, ma'am...it's free. Seriously? I was shocked. No one does free souvenir pictures, do they? The kids wanted to do it, so I agreed and we were assigned a time and then we were free to play in Santa's Wonderland. Elves were walking around handing out fudge and silly bands while the kids played. It was a bit of a redneck-y spin on the North Pole, complete with duck hunting and a gun range.

When it was our turn, we went up to meet Santa. We had been informed that you get one free 4x6 picture, so we decided to have all 3 kids go up together. However, they had them come up one at a time to visit with Santa, and then all 3 together. So now the wheels in my head are turning and I can sniff out their plot. Take a ton of pictures and then they will have to buy the poses they don't get for free. Tricky, tricky. And then I really had to laugh when they told all 5 of us to come get in the picture. C'mon, really? So our visit with Santa dropped us off in the lap of a young elf, who was there to explain the picture packages to us. I was about to announce that we would just take the shot of the 3 kids, when she explained that all 5 pictures were ours to keep, and the packages were just in case we wanted duplicates. You know I am not a big Santa fan, but the kids were so excited to accidentally stumble upon something fun to do on our shopping trip and I am always happy about businesses who do free stuff for kids.

Alyssa marched right up and started a conversation. She did not ask for anything though. She explained that she had already written a letter and would mail it to the North Pole ASAP.

Alex asked for the Penguin submarine, which is only $13 so I thought that was a brilliant choice.

Chloe was nervous but wanted to get her request in. She asked for the American Girl Bitty Twins.

Ha,ha. We had to pose with Santa. Of course I have no make-up and I am in full uniform but oh well, this is what I look like folks.

And here are a couple other shots from my phone this weekend.

Me in the apron that I got from the Primary kids and leaders today with all of their names and fingerprints. I love it. I usually don't keep stuff for sentimental reasons, but I will be hanging on to this. It did make for the fourth Sunday that I fell apart at church. But I am going to be okay. This week was the first Sunday that I got to sit through a lesson with just the Beehives, and we planned some fun stuff for mutual, and next week it is my turn to teach and I am pretty excited about that. Yes, I had been crying again, so don't judge my appearance too harshly.

And here is a shot from our second 3 hour block of church. Ha,ha!

I had to get a shot of Seth in his new birthday jersey and slippers. It was not a pretty performance but the Pack won, which brings them to 10-0 for the season. Woo Hoo!

And that is my weekend, as seen through my phone.