Goodbye 2010

I did it. Three hundred and sixty five days. I did it.

Can't wait to see what 2011 has in store for little ol' me.

Rainbow Toes

I've been laying on the couch or in bed for days now with my feet up in the air. I'm sick of looking at my ugly toes so my daughters offered to paint them for me. Not my best judgment call.

Pimp Mama

I don't want to pay for crutches but I still can't walk on my own so I am using this cane my son picked out for his birthday. It even has a hidden sword in it. I feel like a pimp walking around. At least I don't have to worry about getting mugged since no one would dare mess with me and my cane.

Oweeeee

I was being chased by my son down the stairs while playing a game. I slipped on the last step and watched my ankle fold in half and make a horrible cracking noise. I got lucky and it's just sprained. I'm still not happy to be off my feet for several days :(

My Christmas Present

I got a Kindle for Christmas with the three books in the Hunger Games Series by Suzanne Collins. It's just what I wanted. I've read the first and am half way through the second in just a day and a half. Love it so far.

Post note - It took me 4 days to read all 3 books (my sprained ankle really helped). One and two are amazing, three was a complete let down. I want to put the author in the hunger games just to punish her for screwing up what could have been an incredible series. That is all.

Killer Bokeh

Yes, most photographers can get perfect circular bokeh or even know the trick to getting it into shapes, but only the really cool photogs can manipulate the bokeh like this!! Bet you can't guess how I did it. BTW, this is straight out of the camera, no Photoshopping here!!

Mom - you aren't allowed to give away how I did this!

Merry Christmas!!!!!!!!!

Eeeeeeeeeeeee!!!! I love Christmas! Hope you have an amazing one too :)
Just in case you are wondering, I made my girl's nightgowns and caps.

'Twas The Night Before Christmas...

...when all through the house.
Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse...

The stockings were hung by the chimney with care,
In hopes that St. Nicolas soon would be there...
The children were nestled all snug in their beds,
While visions of sugar-plums danced in their heads...

Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good night.

Feeling Loved

I love getting Christmas cards in the mail.
It's one of my favorite parts of Christmas so thank you to everyone who has helped me feel so loved :)

Nativity

Here is one of my favorite nativity sets I have. A friend made it for me years ago before we had our third child. She put our faces on the nativity and I love it. I need to take a picture of my youngest and add it to the angel face so she can be a part of it.

Favorite Ornament

There is only one other fellow photographer that has stuck out this 365 challenge with me. Her name is Renee'. She posted a picture of her favorite decoration and asked the question, "What is your favorite decoration?" Here is my answer...

I love anything nativity. I love the reminder of why we really celebrate this holiday season.

Oh Christmas Tree

Here is tree #1 of the two we bought. I fell in love with the lime green color and how tall it is. It took 800 lights and several hours to decorate this baby but I love it.

PSP For Sale

My son decided he wanted to sell his PSP and asked me to take the pictures to list it. Must have done pretty good since it's already sold for full asking price!

Evergreen

Little Angel

My little girl had a Christmas preschool performance today. This was my favorite song which goes to the tune of "twinkle twinkle little star".
"Tapping tapping little elves,
As you work upon your shelves.
Working hard to make some toys,
All for little girls and boys.
Tapping tapping little elves,
As you work upon your shelves."

Not So Easy

Finding and buying the tree was easy. Finding the time to get the lights strung and decorations up, not so easy.

This is my lights, still on the storage wheel, still on the floor :(

Cards

It took me all day but I've finally folded, placed, labeled, and stamped every one. Now to just mail them tomorrow :)

Oh Christmas Tree

We finally went to get our tree tonight. We get a real one every year from a tree lot. This year we couldn't decide so we bought to. Can't wait to show you :)

Clean Carpets

I never realized how happy having my carpets cleaned would make me.

Toys, Toys, Toys

I have 2 toy rooms in my house, yes, TWO and they are filled to the brim with toys all in a jumbled mess like Santa's workshop threw up all over the room.

I am going through and donating at least 75% of them. Just in time to add to it with Christmas!! My kids aren't getting a ton this year though so it shouldn't be too bad.

Recital

Abby had her first ever harp recital today. She played "Do, Re, Me" from Sound of Music. I see years and years of these in the future.

Fealing Festive

I got my nails done today. Don't they look festive? I've never been brave enough to get the glittery-tipped nails but I thought why not for Christmas?

Decorating

I finally started decorating today!!!!
My sister-in-law, Sherilyn, saw how overwhelmed I have been and she came over first thing this morning and helped me clean my house and start decorating for Christmas.
She is the best. I love her.

Nephews

Unarguably, I have the cutest nephews on the planet. Go ahead and admit it because you know it's true :)

One

Invitation

Received an invitation today. Guess where I'll be tomorrow at 4pm sharp?

Hot Chocolate & Tears

One minute things are all right in your world.
You are bundled up on a cold day in the snow with a hot chocolate in your hand that is smothered with whipped cream.

And then in a moment, it's all gone.

Whoever said it's no use crying over spilled milk was not a 6 year year old who just lost their hot chocolate.

Notice the spillage on the right :)

P.S. Thanks Steph for taking my family pics this year!! She took the first pic, I took the second.

Flying South

Somehow these ducks missed the memo that they were supposed to fly south by now.

Koka Dot Boots

My Lu is so weird. She hates clothes, especially pants but loves shoes. She'd wear nothing but these boots if I'd let her!!

Family Pictures

Family pictures today, that means majorly stressed out mom, last minute shopping, hair cuts, and a lot of yelling!!

I was going to do a really cool picture today since today is 14 years since I first became a mother but family pics got in the way. Oh well, next year I guess :)

Decorating

It's December 1st and I long to be like so many on Facebook saying how their homes are already decorated and their shopping done. I haven't even started either. I foresee these decorations being in their boxes for a long time to come. Too much to do, and only me to do it.

Page 330 -Disobedient Little *&%$#^*$@#!$#$

I'm done. I'm at my wits end and I don't know what to do. I have very simple house rules for my children to follow and yet they can't seem to obey them. The one we have the biggest problem with is the "NO FOOD OR DRINKS IN THE FAMILY ROOM" rule. Every day, every meal, every snack, I catch my girls taking their food from the kitchen to the family room whether the tv is on or off. I've tried everything and nothing works. Please help. What can I do short of duct taping them to their seats whenever they eat?

Page 329 - Rescued

Woke up this morning to almost 2 feet of snow on my driveway. Ryan was gone and I did not want to shovel it myself so I seriously considered just keeping my kids home from school. Luckily, my mom and dad were still staying with us from Thanksgiving so my daddy came to my rescue and shoveled the whole driveway for me. I love him.

I need a snow-blower. Anyone want to trade pictures for one???

Page 328 - I love Sneo

I love when kids are learning how to read and write and they try to spell words themselves.
Abby drew this picture of our family and wrote "I Love Sneo" (Snow).

Page 327 - Homemade Sugar Cookies

Daddy made sugar cookies with the girls tonight. They sat in front of the oven like this on their own and I just caught the moment. Love LuLu's reflection.

Page 326 - Giving Thanks

I am thankful for family with all it's many imperfections that make it just right.
I am thankful for photography and this 365 challenge.
I am thankful for my Heavenly Father who has blessed me more than I ever thought possible.


Saw this little guy sitting in the corner and just had to decorate him too. It is his first Thanksgiving afterall :)

Page 325 - Poinsettia

One of the most beautiful flowers on earth.

Pasge 325 - Blizzard of the Century

Today we are gearing up for what is predicted to be the worst blizzard in a century.

Blankets, candles, water, food - check. Bring it on.

It ended up just being an inch of snow with a lot of wind. I'm convinced the grocery stores paid off the weatherman.

Page 324 - It's Cold Outside

Page 323 - Tree Farm

One of the amazing places I missed on the drive up was this 35,000 acre tree farm. We purposely stopped at the nearest town to spend the night just so I could get pictures here. Otherwise we would have passed it in darkness. I don't regret it at all. It's one of the most amazing things I've ever seen. Trees for miles and miles all in pretty rows. Wow. I want to go back next fall when all the leaves are turning colors and do our family pictures there. Anyone else in for the road trip?


Yes, my hubby is a dork but he's MY dork :)


Ryan took some of me too. He did good didn't he?

Last but not least, my newest Twilight edit. I just did me some huntin'. Can you tell I'm a fan???