4x12 January 2012

Happy New Year!

4X12: October 2011

This year I made sure we got ourselves out to the local corn maze. Not only did we have an afternoon full of crazy maze fun, we also went home with a giant bag of apples, half a dozen pumpkins, 2 gallons of fresh apple cider, some acorn squash, and various peppers.

4x12: September 2011

September was a crazy month, what with school starting and all. Now that The Girl is in High School our days are all wonky. It's going to take us some time to adjust the new schedule. So this month's picture was a few days late in being taken. Every time I wanted to head out to take the pictures the weather turned or someone had to be somewhere or people were cranky ( like me! ). It's becoming more and more of a challenge to find good places to take these family photos. With winter on its way we're going to have to think inside the box!

4x12: August 2011

Here it is! The August family picture. We're 8 months into this challenge and they still complain every time I announce "family picture time". Maybe by next year they'll be used to it?

4x12: May, June, July 2011

May 2011: I realized on our way out the door to the kids baseball/softball games that it was the last day of the month and we still needed our family picture! Three of us have lived in these uniforms all month, so this is a good representation of our lives right now.

June 2011: The seasonal campers are in full swing at the campground now. We've been spending the weekends hanging out around the fire. I grabbed this one really quickly while hanging out and goofing around.

July 2011: This was taken at a wedding reception. I was hoping the kids would agree to dress up a bit more. But I'll take what I can get!

4x12: April

Once again I found myself scrambling to get in a picture. I almost have to make sure we have a big event scheduled sometime during the month to get us all in the same place at the same time. Hopefully with the warmer weather we'll have more opportunities for fun family photos :)


I had the Pastor snap this for me. We were all meeting up at the church that afternoon to send the youth group to the Aquire the Fire conference in Lansing. So while we were waiting for everyone to show up, I asked the family to sit for our monthly photo :)

4x12: February

Walkin' on, walkin' on, broken gla-aass...

Welcome to Lake Michigan! A frozen Lake Michigan, that is. It was so very cold that the lake froze all the way across - something I've never seen before. It was also unusual because normally there are mini mountains along the shoreline in the winter, due to the waves. The cold snap hit so fast and so hard the lake just froze in its tracks. Quite the sight to see. And we were lucky to see it this year. We made it just in time. The day before this was taken it was still extremely solid. The day this was taken (Monday, Feb. 15) it had already started to melt. And now because of the super warm weather we've been having (40s!) its no longer safe to clamber across. So I'm glad we did this when we did. It makes for a wonderful backdrop :)

This makes photo #2! 4 people 12 times makes for a great challenge. They still whine when I tell them we'll be taking a family photo, but I know eventually they'll see it coming and just fall in line :)

Assessing 2010

My goals list for 2010 was varied and long. I was able to accomplish a few of the items, but most of them are still in progress. 2011 will see the completion of a few more of those goals as well as the birth of some new ones...but I'll post about that later.

1. Blogging. Blogging everyday went really well until my laptop died. I managed to use one of the kids computers for a few weeks until we started the process of moving back to Michigan. With all the hustle and bustle, blogging fell by the wayside. We are still not settled yet, but I've been feeling guilty about my neglected blog, so I thought a recap of 2010 might be a good way to put things into perspective. I still have no computer to call my own, so blogging for 2011 will still be sporadic, though I'm hoping to make a better job at keeping it up this time around.


2. Project 365. Ugh! I really, really tried to make sure I took at least one picture every single day. At first I was upset with myself for missing a day or two, and then a whole span of 11 days went by without a single snapshot. So now I've come to realize that it just wasn't meant to be and I shouldn't beat myself up about it. I haven't printed pictures at all since May. (shudder!) I have been keeping track of my photos and making notes here and there for when I'm ready to assemble the scrapbook, but I'm not nearly as on top of it as I was in 2009. Let's hope 2011 goes a little smoother.

3. Marathon. I started my training right on time. I did very well keeping up, with only a few lazy days. I made it to 15 miles and then we began the very unorganized move to Michigan. Once again my plans to participate in a marathon race have been derailed. But not in 2011! Oh, no! This is the year. I'm doing it.


4. Web Store. I designed the blog header, worked on graphics for the webstore page, even signed up with my store name. I made a handful of objects d'art to sell but never got around to adding them to the site. Again, moving takes a lot out of you.

5. Photo Challenges. Pull out tissue...My Rebel sat in a padded cell for 6 months without a single click of the lens to brighten its days. I didn't take any pictures until Christmas and then it was just normal Christmas stuff. I've had neither the time nor the inclination to participate in a photo challenge...sniff...so sad.

6. Book List. My goal was to double 2009's reading list. I don't think I made it to 82 books this year. I was keeping a detailed list on my laptop, but since it died over 6 months ago I couldn't tell you how many books I've read in 2010. I do know that it's probably very close to the same number as '09. I'm hoping 2011 will see an increase in leisure time for reading as well as better documentation of said reading list!


7. One Little Word: ACTION. The first half of the year saw a lot of action. I was doing quite well with my goals. Moving across the country put a damper on most of those goals, but I still kept them in mind, turning them over, examining them, re-evaluating them. I have a new word in mind for 2011. I'm still mulling it over. I'll let you know what it is as soon as I know for sure that my word choice is the correct one for the new year. That one little word is going to have a huge impact - so it needs to be the right word!

8. Debt. We did manage to pay off the truck loan early, and got rid of one credit card. That was as far as we got. We are still in debt. I seriously dislike being in debt. Debt reduction is still on the goals list for 2011.

9. Homeschool. Things got off to a fairly good start this fall. Even with the moving around the kids were able to maintain their workload. The holidays always set us back, but now that it's the new year, school will once again become our focus. Good things are happening.

Photo Shoot with R2-D2

R2-D2 was in the neighborhood and wanted to take a look around. I always thought the grass was cut a little short, but for R2 it's a jungle out there!

We didn't get far when he stopped to smell some flowers.

It was getting warm and the kids were in the pool, so we stopped by to see what was going on. R2 decided to get some sun and see what he could do about his pasty exterior.

While lounging around R2 decided he wanted to get a look at things from a new vantage point. Choosing a new perspective is always a good thing. Just don't fall, okay? We don't have any spare parts.

The day was slipping by and R2 was a little tired. He called Chewie for a pick up, but he chose the wrong place to wait. No parking here my friend.

Photo-frustration

graphic found on The Graphics Fairy

I am having a really difficult time remembering to take (or even wanting to take) pictures every day. The Week in the Life project really threw me under the bus. I just don't feel like picking up my camera most days. My pictures are starting to feel forced, rather than fun, spontaneous moments of everyday life captured for all time for the enjoyment of future generations. :p

I think some photo play is in order. Time for another photo challenge!

Round-Up - March 2010

It's Round-up time again! Amazing how fast the time flies!

1. What magazines/books did I read this month?

Can you believe I didn't read a single book this month? I was too busy knitting :)

I did glance through some scrapbook magazines, Lucky Magazine, Taste of Home Healthy Cooking, and my latest copy of Cloth, Paper, Scissors. And even though I didn't read an entire book, I did skim through several knitting/crocheting books, a couple vegetarian cookbooks and some books on the properties of Atoms, and the Periodic Table.

2. What TV shows/movies/plays did I watch this month?

The usual suspects: NCIS, Project Runway, Shear Genius, House. I also started watching Human Target. Chad likes it better than I do. As for movies, we went to the theater to watch Alice in Wonderland (LOVED it!), we rented Where the Wild Things Are (but didn't like it), 2012 (eh), Wizards of Waverly Place The Movie (funny), and I know several others...I just can't think of them...must not have been that great.

3. What fun things did I do with my family/friends this month?

We've spent lots of time working in the concession stand together and countless hours playing baseball. We also drove to MI to see family and we got to meet little Connor (finally!) And the boys and I had a paper boat race! It was a lot of fun and only happens when we get a nice strong rain.

4. What gifts did I give/receive this month?

Not a lot going on in the gift department this month. Sheri on the 29th -I gave her an 8x8 scrapbook for Connor's first Christmas. All she needs to do is add pictures and journaling. Chad on the 31st - he got a new feather pillow and some pillow sheets AND tickets to go see the Blue Man Group!

This is going to be sooooo much fun! (but not til spring breaks are over)

5. What special or unusual purchases did I make this month?

We bought some bulgar to make some Kibbeh for Chad's birthday dinner!

6. What illnesses/health concerns did I have this month?

We have all been healthy but that unexpected trip to MI was to see my mom. She had had a minor stroke and we just had to go and see her and make sure she was okay. She's doing fine now, thankfully.

7. What were my accomplishments this month?

Well....the kids are almost caught back up on their schoolwork...

I finished knitting my first sweater/wrap. It's awaiting final assembly stitches..but still...the major knitting is finished! I also managed to remember to join in the I Heart Faces photo challenges :)

8. What were my disappointments this month?

I didn't get in as many miles as I would have liked. But I do know I have time to get them under my belt. I just need to go, go, go!

9. How did I do on my goals this month?

I've been blogging regularly (except that trip to MI), got in about 1/2 of my walks, kids are almost caught up on schoolwork, and 2 big ones: paid off the truck loan and paid off a small credit card! We're getting there!

10. Anything else noteworthy for the month?

We said good-bye to our Oregon friends. They needed to get home and it's a long trip.

Best Buds D and J (J is whispering to D that he can hide in our truck) LOL!

I Heart Faces: Dramatic B&W

Week #13

"Dramatic B/W"

This was me circa 2005. hmm...I still wear those glasses....  o_O

This is my entry for the I Heart Faces weekly challenge. It was taken with some cruddy old camera that was a refurb cheapo deal. I was still saving my nickels and dimes to buy a nice camera. So this photo has been altered in PSE. I coverted it to greyscale and tweaked it with a filter. It's not too terrible, I guess. I don't know about dramatic. My hair definitely qualifies as dramatic, though! I was the only one in town rocking an asymmetrical 2-tone shortie. 

I miss my black hair.

If you'd like to check out some really awesome photos, head on over to I Heart Faces and enjoy!

January Photo Challenge: Reflections

In an attempt to get a bit more creative with my photography, I've looked up a gaggle of photo challenges on the internet and made myself a list. One of the items on my New Years goal list is to learn to use my cameras to their fullest potential, and get out there and take some photos! Challenge number 1: Reflections

Downtown Disney window display. You can see me and Chad in the bottom left corner if you look really close. I was just a little too short, so you can only see the top half of my face.

This is the pond at the RV park in Winter Garden. I timed it just right to get some nice movement on the surface as well as the play of light and shadow. I think I annoyed the ducks, though.

And this is me, hunkered down under the slide. I'm such a goof.

I used my little Sony Cybershot for this photoshoot. It was way too cold outside to pull out the Canon. My hands were frozen and sleet was sliding from the corners of my eyes. The wind was insanely bitter. But despite the weather I managed to snap 50 photos! How 'bout me?! These 3 are my favorites so far. The month isn't gone yet, so I plan to add a few more photo shoots to my challenge files. Wanna play?