Week 52 in Pictures ... The End

Happy New Year!

We've finally reached the day I've been looking forward to for a while ... the last day of my Project 366 for 2012.  If you recall, this is my third year in a row for Project 365 and I'm very excited to be done!  I still plan to take pictures frequently during 2013, but I won't have the pressure of taking a picture every.single.day.  I plan to participate in Gina and Tamar's Project 52.  A photo a week ... I can definitely handle that.

Before I show you my last nine photos of the year, I'd like to share my favorite photo from December.

My friend, Jenn, allows me the privilege of photographing her youngest from time to time. Isn't he adorable?!

Now, let's take a peek at my last photos of 2012 ...

{Sunday}

I took this for the tangled prompt for the last Scavenger Hunt.  This ornament is tangled every year we get it out of its box.

{Monday}

Our tree late on Christmas Eve.  I'm glad I took this because the kids were up early and had their gifts already sorted by the time I got up on Christmas morning.  :)

{Tuesday}

Honey found a new bone in her stocking on Christmas morning.

{Wednesday}

A slice of our Happy Birthday Jesus cake.  For details on how to make it, just click on the link.

{Thursday}

The kids each got a special lollipop in their stockings this year.  Instead of a stick, they were on Abominable Snow Monster teeth or Rudolph's nose.

{Friday}

Spent some time playing outside with Alex.

{Saturday}

Lots of birds visiting our back yard feeder.  Especially since we got all this snow.

{Sunday}

Our Christmas lights have icicles hanging from them and they look so cool!

{Monday}

The kids and I all ready to bring in the new year with our home made party hats.  I couldn't talk Daddy into getting in the picture with us.

Thank you for joining me in my photographic journey this year!  Now to just get my Project  Life album completed.  :)

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Week 51 in Pictures

Merry Christmas!!!  We had a wonderful day full of family, good food, laughter, and love.  And way more presents than we ever deserved to get.  We got to spend time with my nephew, Kyle, who was on leave from the Marines.  That was a great gift!

With a winter storm heading our way, we will probably be outside playing in the snow over the next couple days.  The kids are so excited and I'm excited for them!  They will get to use their new snow gear already!  We did have a little snow left over and had a somewhat white Christmas.  But it will be great to get out and play!  Other than that, we don't really have any plans for Christmas break.  And I like it that way.  I need a few days of relaxing!

Having said all that, let's take a look at last week ...

{Sunday}

Alex asked me to photograph his Polar Express engine for his sharing day at school.  The kids aren't allowed to bring in toys, but are encouraged to share a picture or a story.  Alex is still obsessed with The Polar Express and chooses to share about it any chance he gets.

{Monday}

Spent the day masking, priming, and painting our living room.  See that rusty orange color in the background?  It is no more.  It is now a lovely neutral color called Biscuit.  I love it!

{Tuesday}

One of our yearly traditions is to let the kids each pick out an ornament.  This year Nick picked Darth Vader Christmas style, Alex picked a Polar Express ornament (remember that obsession?), and Keira got a Smart Cookie ornament since she is one.  :)

{Wednesday}

Just playing around.  I love how you can see the tree (upside down) inside the ornament.

{Thursday}

I took a break from painting to watch the birds in our feeder.  I never tire of watching them.

{Friday}

I got to help at Nick's classroom Christmas party this afternoon.  It was a lot of fun.  He was doing his usual avoiding the camera ... by pulling his Santa hat down over his face.  But as you can see, I was able to get him anyway.

{Saturday}

Have you tried these Candy Cane Kisses?!  They are amazing!  I took this for the guilty pleasures prompt for the Scavenger Hunt.

So that was my week.  One more full week and a couple days to go in this year's Project 366.  WOOT!  Have a wonderful week!

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Week 50 in Pictures

My prayers go out to those affected by the tragedy in Connecticut on Friday.  And also to those affected by a similar tragedy in China.  My heart aches today.  I, however, am not fearful.  I took my boys to school today with no hesitation or fear.  My God has not given me a spirit of fear, but of power, of love and of self-discipline.  (2 Timothy 1:7)  He has given me a peace that I simply can't explain, but I am not anxious for my kids' safety today.  And I praise Him for it!

We met with a friend and her boys at the school and prayed for our kids, teachers, staff, the families affected by the horrific events that occurred, and for our nation.  

My friend read Psalm 121:  

I lift up my eyes to the hills -- 

where does my help come from?  

My help comes from the Lord,

the Maker of heaven and earth.

He will not let your foot slip --

he who watches over you will not slumber;

indeed, he who watches over Israel

will neither slumber or sleep.

The Lord watches over you --

the Lord is your shade at your right hand;

the sun will not harm you by day,

nor the moon by night.

The Lord will keep you from all harm --

he will watch over your life;

the Lord will watch over your coming and going

both now and forevermore.

I hope we can make this a regular occurrence.  It was a definite blessing.  To God be all the glory!

On another note, I started masking, priming, and painting  our living room this week.  Go ahead and call me crazy for starting to close to Christmas.  But I also have a peace about that.  Am I done shopping?  No.  Have I wrapped anything yet?  Nope.  Have I baked any cookies?  Not one.  Am I worried that it won't all get done?  Not at all.  My attitude this year is very different than in past years.  I'm looking forward to spending time with my loved ones.  If there are gifts to open, great.  If not, it really doesn't matter.  I just wish I could get my attitude to rub off on my kids.  :)

Keira and I attended the Toby Mac concert on Saturday night with our church's Youth Group.  It was a wonderful time!  That was my first Christian concert ... the first concert I have attended that was opened in prayer and spent in almost constant praise and worship throughout.  I didn't want it to end!  I can't wait for the next concert!  

Anyway, let's get to last week's photos ...

{Sunday}

One of Alex's birthday gifts was the game of Operation.  We had a good time playing it on Sunday afternoon.  It brought back memories of my childhood.

{Monday}

A friend asked me to take pictures of her three kids for Christmas.  I will probably post those later this week.  But while I had the background all set up, I coaxed Nathan (another friend's toddler) to let me take his picture.  Isn't he adorable?!

{Tuesday}

I bought my friend, Laura, a little housewarming gift a couple months ago.  But it has been sitting here since I kept forgetting to take it to her.  (She moved in in September!)  So I thought I'd get it wrapped so I could take it to her Thursday when I would be at her house.

{Wednesday}

We had a cold, frosty morning.

{Thursday}

Got to work on my Project Life album a little today.  I absolutely love this method of scrapbooking!  (This was going to be one of my "favorite things" for the Scavenger Hunt, but I ended up not participating this week.  Hoping to be back to it next week.)

{Friday}

Today was a bittersweet day.  On my birthday a senseless tragedy occurred.  Not exactly something you wish to happen on your birthday.  Or any other day for that matter.  But in the midst of our tears, we were able to find some joy.  Joy in our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.  Keira helped by giving me this necklace for my birthday.  It will forever be a treasured gift.  (This was also going to be my "sparkley" for the Scavenger Hunt.)

{Saturday}

Doug brought dinner home last night so I didn't have to cook on my birthday.  Along with dinner, he brought some fresh cut flowers for me.

So that was my week.  I'm hoping to get the living room finished up this week so I can relax over the kids' Christmas break.

I hope you are blessed in all you do this week!

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Week 49 in Pictures

I know I probably say this every week now but ... one week closer to the end of this year's Project 365!  WOOT!  :)  At this point in the year, I'm so ready to be done.  Even with all the pretty Christmas lights and decorations.  I'm sure I'll look back at my photo books one day and be glad I did this for three years in a row.  And, who knows, I might even decide to do it again another year down the road.  But for now, I'm excited to be almost done.  Have I said that already?  :)

This week was another busy one.  (When aren't they busy anymore?!)  Meetings, sick kids, doctor appointments, and birthday celebrations, just to name a few things I was busy with.  Doug was on vacation and we had planned to go shopping, but that didn't happen.  We're planning to try again on the 18th when he has the day off for Keira's Christmas concert.  Her concert is at 8:00 a.m. so we'll leave straight from there.  Unless, of course, I have all the shopping done by then.  Which is highly possible.  I'm more of an online shopper these days.  I can take my time and very often get better deals and free shipping.  Gotta love it when Christmas presents get delivered right to your door.  And I can shop in my jammies.  :)

Anyway, let's take a look at what last week looked like ...

{Sunday}

Keira made this sign in "shop" class and asked me to photograph it, along with a few other items she made.  She needed to make a display board documenting her time in class.  

{Monday}

I picked up this cute ornament at Target.

{Tuesday}

Tuesdays are one of the few days I'm up early enough to see the sun rise.

{Wednesday}

Alex turned 7 today!  Seven!  My baby!  I did a little tribute post to him.  You should go see it.  He was so stinkin' adorable when he was smaller.  He still is, but you know what I mean.  :)

{Thursday}

We had some cupcakes left over from Alex's birthday celebration at church Wednesday evening.  So I photographed them for the "colorful" prompt for the Scavenger Hunt.

{Friday}

When all else fails, photograph some bokeh.  :)

{Saturday}

We celebrated Alex's birthday with family today.  I made his cake again this year.  I didn't want to, but my cake-making friend was all booked up this weekend.  I need to remember to ask earlier.  Her cakes are incredible!  Although mine wasn't bad for whipping up on the fly.

This week is another busy one.  Fun stuff, but busy.  We already had our church's Christmas dinner, had a quick photo shoot yesterday, and Bible study this morning.  Coming up are: prepping for Wednesday night church (yes, I tend to wait until the last minute), painting my living room (I hope), craft night with the girls, my birthday, possibly a girls' movie night out if I can swing it, Praise & Coffee, and the Toby Mac concert with Keira and the youth group.  I think I might just sleep all next week.  :)

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Week 48 in Pictures

One more week down!  Have I mentioned how happy I am to be almost done with my third year of taking a photo a day?  :)  I think it is starting to show in my photos.

Here's what last week looked like ...

{Sunday}

Alex drew this picture of me and him.  I don't know when he's ever seen me dressed like this, but I must look like a princess to him.  Or Lady Gaga.  :)

{Monday}

Doug put the outside lights up over the weekend so I captured some bokeh from the ones on our snowball bush.

{Tuesday}

Woke up to a dusting of snow today.  It melted pretty quickly though.

{Wednesday}

I bought a little craft kit on clearance and made one of the poinsettias with Nick's help. {ahem}

{Thursday}

We belong to the coolest credit union.  They sent Alex a birthday card with a $10 Barnes & Noble gift card inside!

{Friday}

I woke up early enough to see the gorgeous sunrise.

{Saturday}

I took this for the Scavenger Hunt's "purple" prompt.  I bought some artificial flowers a while back to decorate for fall.  Along with the purple flowers are some burgundy and olive green ones.  They match some fabric that I bought which was supposed to be made into a table runner, but that hasn't happened yet.  Hopefully I'll have that ready for next fall.  :)

Lastly, my favorite photo from November ...


Well, I best get back to my children's ministries prep work.  Hope you have a wonderful week!
     

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Week 47 in Pictures

I hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving full of family, good food, and memory making!  We hosted Thanksgiving dinner again this year.  Someone asked me why I have been hosting the past few years - why we don't take turns.  I told her that way I know I will like all the food, because I make it the way I like it.  :)  Seriously though, I'm really the only one with enough room to fit everyone.  And my mom helps make the food.  Of course, not all my family comes.  If they did, we'd probably have to rent a hall or something.  I'm actually hoping to do that one of these years.  Because we haven't all been together for a long time and it would be nice to have the whole crew together, even if only for a few hours.  Maybe.  :)

Besides Thanksgiving, it was pretty quiet around here.  The kids are on a break from school (they go back tomorrow) and they've been playing and drawing and watching movies.  And fighting, of course.  Keira is feeling better, but she gave me her germs and now I am sick.  I had my husband take me to FastER Care yesterday to confirm my suspicions that I have bronchitis.  I'm already starting to feel better after only one dose of medicine.  November has been kind of a rough month for me, so I'll be glad to see it gone.  Besides, December is full of good and fun things.

{Sunday}

I was asked to make a sign for our church's food drive.  This is what I created.  I really love the Silhouette Cameo machine.  I wish it were mine.

{Monday}

I finally created a Shutterfly photo book documenting Alex's preschool years.  It came in the mail today.

{Tuesday}

This sweet little bird flew into my window and stunned itself for a few minutes.  We rushed outside to make sure it was okay.  He flew away and we are hoping he is fine now.

{Wednesday}

The man in brown delivered some goodies to me today.  These will probably cover gifts for anniversary, my birthday, Christmas, Valentine's Day, and Mother's Day.  Now to just figure out how to use them.  That book is pretty thick!

{Thursday}

You might be expecting some type of Thanksgiving picture today but instead I give you the first photo taken with my new camera and 85mm lens.  Our sweet Honey laying on her bed.

{Friday}

Alex found some packaging and decided to make himself some muscles.

{Saturday}

Nicholas and I made this banner for Thanksgiving. It is hanging in our dining room.  We cut everything out with the Silhouette and hung it with some twine I've had forever.  Have I mentioned how much I love the Silhouette machine?  :)

So that was my week.  I hope you all enjoy this last week of November!  Only 5 more weeks left in 2012!

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