52 Week Photo Project - Week 52: Christmas Tradition

 Our Christmas Tradition is that we stay home and we LOVE it! We love being home as a family for Christmas eve and Christmas day. We have a nice traditional candle light Christmas Eve dinner. Then we open a new family game to play. We read a Christmas story before heading to bed. The next morning bright and early (actually it is usually still very dark) we get up to see what Santa brought. Then we spend the day playing, grazing on yummy appetizer type treats, Christmas candy and leftovers from the night before, and spending time as a family. Congratulations it is the last week of the 52 week photo challenge! I had to play catch up a lot but I am grateful for all the photos I took this year and the memories I made. Stay tuned for a video recap and details on next years challenge!

52 Week Photo Project - Week 51: Favorite Christmas Decoration

My favorite decoration has to be the Christmas Tree. I love the lights, the memories that the ornaments hold and the spirit of the season. After we decorate the tree I always take pictures of the kids in front of the tree. This little session is always entertaining! Here are few of my favorites from this year's session.

52 Week Photo Project - Week 50: Hands

My amazing and dear friend Cindy had a baby in November. I was able to go up to the hospital and take pictures. I captured this photo of his little hand around her finger. Oh I love this image. I do love baby hands.

Next week's theme is Favorite Ornament/Decoration

52 Week Photo Project - Week 49: Family Photo

I have family photos taken EVERY year! Fortunately my kids are good sports about it and my husband is totally supportive. This year my amazing and talented friend, sister of a different mister, and photographer Lynette took our pictures. She did a fabulous job and if you live in the Salt Lake area I would highly recommend her. (click on her name to go to her website)

Now if you live in Cache Valley then call me. I would love to take your family photos or wedding, newborn, senior, individuals ect. ;)

Next week's theme is hands.

52 Week Photo Project - Week 48: Something I am Thankful For

I am thankful for music! I love listening to music especially when it is being created by my kids. December was a month of recitals. We had ballet recitals, guitar recitals and piano recitals. It was a joy to hear and see my kids perform and excel.

Next Week's theme is Family Photo

52 Week Photo Project - Week 47:Something Old

Ha Ha! Ok maybe she isn't really old but she is 10! That is a whole decade! Happy Birthday to my amazing, spunky, fun oldest daughter!

Next week's Theme is "Something You are Thankful For."

52 Week Photo Project - Week 46: Shoes

Oh the shoes that clutter this house! We have a front entry closet and everyone is allowed TWO pairs of shoes in the closet! No one keeps that rule. There are usually two dozen pairs of shoes scattered all over the entry way. It drives me CRAZY!!! They don't stay in the closet either. They are usually scattered all over the entry way so every time the doorbell rings I have to quickly collect and toss shoes into the closet so I can open the door. That also drives me CRAZY!!! SHOES!!!

Next Week's Theme is Something Old

52 Week Photo Project - Week 45: Family TIme

My kids seriously have the best Aunts and Uncles. As mentioned we hosted Thanksgiving this year for the Norris Family. My kids love Bree,  James and their girls. They had a great time playing games, having a nerf/balloon turkey shoot and eating lots of yummy food.

Next week's theme is Shoes

52 Week Photo Project - Week 44: Halloween

I have a confession. I didn't take a single photo on Halloween! I know terrible. I don't know what happened. Oh wait yes I do. I have 4 kids going 4 different directions all at the same time! Well after Halloween I did a photo session with my kids in their costumes and with my new lights and back drop. It was fun practice for me and I think the kids had fun too! I have around 200+ photos of Allie. She kept posing herself in different ways and kept saying take my picture like this and this and this.... I finally told her she killed my camera. Lucky for you I am only posting two of each kid well except for Allie. I think I narrowed it down to 4. ;)

Mikele - Le Bellatrix Lestrange (from Harry Potter. She was Hermione a few years ago. Apparently she has gone to the dark side.)
Allie - Cat (she wanted to be a cast ghost. No idea what that is but we convinced her to just be a cat.)
Kassie - A cute witch
Brock - Sophisticated old man.

Next week's theme is Family Time-Activity

52 Week Photo Project - Week 43: Something Orange

What do you think of my fruit turkey? It was very yummy! We hosted Thanksgiving this year and for breakfast I served this fruit turkey with Idaho quiche. I couldn't believe how much fruit the kids ate! This turkey was picked clean!

 Next week's theme is "Halloween"

52 Week Photo Project - Week 42: Sunset

Pic to come

 Next week's theme is "Something Orange"

52 Week Photo Project - Week 41: Kitchen

Kitchen: My Mom and I traditionally make candy every December. This year we really out did ourselves and the kitchen was sticky from floor to ceiling by the time we were done! We made Pecan Rolls, toffee, turtles, fudge, suckers, peanut brittle, chocolate covered pretzels, and almond joys. It was a long but fun day!

Next week's theme is Sunset

52 Week Photo Project - Week 40: Bad Habit

Pic to come

Next week's theme is Kitchen.

52 Week Photo Project - Week 39: Eyes

 Gorgeous Eyes. . .

 Sad Eyes. . .

Crazy Eyes!!!

Next week's theme is Bad Habit.

52 Week Photo Project - Week 38: Pets

I was ordering some pictures for a scrapbook layout and came across this one from Allie's 1st birthday. Cooper our dog makes a great foot rest. What a goofy dog!

Next week's theme: Eyes

52 Week Photo Project - Week 37: Hobbies

With school back in session and extracurricular activities in full swing I have been doing a lot of this. . . (see image to the right). Monday - Thursday at least one of my kids have an extracurricular activity, then add carpool to school, preschool and church activities and I feel like I am living in my car. I know everyone else is going through the same thing but it is my turn to complain! Thank goodness for my ipad mini that is always stocked with a good book to read and candy crush. So my hobby right now is driving! :)

Share your link to your hobbies below. Next week's theme is "Pets."

52 Week Photo Project - Week 36: Back to School!

This week's theme is "Back to School!"  I have all four kids in four different schools this year. Brock is over at the middles school, Mikele and Kassie are at different elementary schools and Allie is in preschool. It makes for a busy taxi driving week especially after you add extra curricular activities to the mix!! Oh well what do you do. I included myself in these pics because I have decided that I too need a back to school outfit! Don't you agree?

So I am excited to see your back to school pics! Post the link below.

Next week's theme is "Hobbies." This could be your hobby or one of your kids extra curricular activities.

52 Week Photo Project - Week 35: Self Portrait

As I photographer I like to hide behind the camera and let other people be in front. As an avid scrapbooker I know how important it is to have pictures of every member of the family including me! There are so many excuses we make as to why we don't want our picture taken but at the end of the day do we really want the consequences of not ever getting in front of the camera and having our picture taken? I don't want my kids to look at their albums and ask themselves "where was Mom?" So put away your excuses, put your big girl panties on and have your picture taken!

Next week's theme is "Back to School."

52 Week Photo Project - Week 34: Clouds

I love living in such a beautiful valley. This was one of many sunsets that I have enjoyed over the last 15 years.  How did you capture the clouds this past week? Post below!

Next week's theme is "self portrait."  I know this can be a tough one but you can do it. Is important to have pictures of yourself!

52 Week Photo Project - Week 33: Best Tan Line

This summer has been an awesome tanning season for everyone in my house except for they guy who wishes to remain anonymous! I can't believe how dark everyone including Kassie and I are. The tops of my feet are so dark that they look dirty. Allie's swim line is so dark that she looks like she is wearing a white swimsuit when she is in the tub. Mikele who is always dark did not disappoint and Brock and Kassie who are usually pretty white have impressive tans as well.  Last weekend we went to Bear Lake and the guy in the photo got his first real taste of the sun without his shirt on. He faithfully applied sunblock but apparently it was no match for the Bear Lake sun.  Needless to say it was PAINFUL! Thank goodness for lavender oil.

So lets see your impressive tan lines. Post on your blog and then add the link below. Next week's theme is "Clouds."