Happy Halloween

I took these photos after school on Thursday when they had their school parade. Bella went home with a friend so I have yet to get a photo of her in her "teacher" costume (she needed to dress up in her future profession for school), but I will tonight before we head out for trick-or-treating. I'm impressed these two costumes came together in the end, especially Tess' whose came together at the last minute--is there any other way? I made them both, but got Tess' costume idea from Martha Stewart magazine.

Every year when I'm in the thick of it, I think, what am I doing? But in the end I'm always glad I put for the effort to make our own.

I hope you all have a happy safe Halloween!

52 photo project | update

I'm a little behind posting my 52 photo project photos, if you can call six weeks a little behind. I've really enjoy participating in a challenge that pushes me to think creatively and I'm especially fond of one word prompts. It's like free association, but with photos--everyone has a different interpretation.

Remember it's never to late to jump in and join. Go here for more info.


week 22 & 23 | red & fence
took this using my iphone and instagram.


week 24 | circle
went around the city in search of circles.


week 26 | autumn color
We were in the canyon four times last week. It's so sad what a difference a week makes. The color is all over the ground now.


week 27 | look up
You know when you're out playing and you're having so much fun you don't notice how dark it's gotten? Well, that exactly what happen this evening, all of us playing after dinner, suddenly realizing we could no longer see the other. There was barely enough light in the sky, but we managed to enjoy it til it was gone.

randoms

I finally gave in and took a nap this afternoon, something I haven't done in a really long time. I decided not to fight it after I was driving home from meeting my friend Lucy for brunch and doing a bit of shopping (last minute Halloween and even some Christmas shopping), and noticed my blinks were a little too long for my own good. It felt good to give in, needed.

I ran 11.1 miles Friday. Yes you read that correctly, 11.1 miles. It's the longest I've ran in my life. I must say, I'm impressed. I honestly didn't think I had it in me. What's even better is I could have run the extra 2 miles to make it a 1/2 marathon, but decided to wait to November 5th, race day, to meet my ultimate goal. Of course it didn't hurt that I ran down a canyon lined with yellow and orange covered trees.

I'm frantically putting the finishing touches on Tess' costume, or trying to at least. Remind me again why I'm making it? It was suppose to be an easy "no sew" costume (of course it was), but it's not turning out quite the way I had envisioned. Bleh! I'm really hoping the makeup will add the extra punch it needs.

I need a last minute costume idea for myself? Adam and I are invited to a "costumes strongly encouraged" Halloween party. We never dress up so I have nothing and really no good ideas. Are you dressing up? If so, what will you be?

I've been in a bit of a reading drought lately. Nothing has been calling to me and everything I start I have no desire to finish. Last week we chose The Little Book to read for bookclub and I'm hoping it will be engaging enough to keep me interested. What have you read recently that you've loved?

Adam's been out of town the last couple of days. I usually don't mind it the first night, but then it grows old and we all just really want him back with us. He definitely adds a layer of goodness to our day we can't get anywhere else.

The best part of my day was sitting around the dinner table eating homemade pizza with my girls chatting about anything and everything. We do it every night as a family so I don't know why it would stand out tonight, but it did. It seemed different somehow, exciting. I think there is a serious buzz surrounding the upcoming holiday (they have their school parties on Thursday, no school Friday) and for some reason Megan's really excited to wear her new boots to school tomorrow. I can't pin point exactly what it was, but it ended my day in just the right way.

And now it's time for bed. Good night.

"... [s]he and I are...so similar" -lizzybennet

we laughed and laughed and laughed and then we laughed some more.

somewhere along the way, this girl of mine, has decided self portraits to be an opportunity for silliness, or maybe that's all photographs in general. there does seem to be a pattern emerging as of late. i can't say i'm complaining, i love that she's comfortable being herself and how easily her energy rubs off and encourages me to do the same. there really is never a shortage of fun when she's around.

thank you little g, for brightening my world. never change.

glist

Today I'm grateful for...

-an afternoon walk through the trees with my girls.
-66 degrees.
-when my girls listen the first time.
-family night.
-songs that bring me to tears.
-practicing the piano, even if I am beyond rusty.
-the anticipation of a four day weekend.
-talking with a long distant friend.
-reading with my girls.
-apple cider.
-late night talks with Adam.
-visiting with a neighbor.
-a new perspective.
-resisting a 5.5lb bag of Halloween sized candy bars.
-not taking the game too seriously.
-new music Adam finds.
-buttered popcorn.
-a grocery store near by.
-the quiet morning space to think.
-the tweet sound my phone makes when Adam texts me.
-stories that inspire me to want to be better.

What are you grateful for today?

Remember how Adam dropped me off at the airport and we talked about a trip together next year.
Remember when Chris wanted to sit next to the exit so he could help people get out of the plane safely--just in case something were to go wrong.
Remember when all of us stood in the Seattle airport and had a conversation with a couple we pretended to know because they clearly knew us, but we couldn't remember who they were?
Remember when we figured out it was the people who bought our childhood home and how sad we were that our conversion could have been so much more personal?
Remember when we couldn't find Enterprise car rental?
Remember when the man stood in front of the Enterprise shuttle bus and yelled at the driver?
Remember when Chris timed the server to see if she could really bring the food in 10 mins like the menu said?
Remember when Grandpa kept wondering why I was taking so many self portraits?
Remember when we drew all over the table?
Remember how the four of us downed a bag of peanut m&ms?



Remember how I got all teary waiting for her to come in the door knowing how happy she'd be to have us in her home?
Remember when we almost gave Jeni a heart attack as she came around the corner and saw us all waiting for her in the living room?
Remember when we surprised Taylor at her soccer game?
Remember how lovely the weather was and how chilly it got once the sun went down?
Remember how we were so hungry we accidentally didn't save Scott any dinner?
Remember how the boys watched sports?
Remember when Poppy, the guinea pig, had her second set of babies and lived?
Remember when we went on a hike and the beautiful view?
Remember when we went to Levenworth and we ate your fondue?
Remember when we didn't have much time to shop or stop by the local farm stand?
Remember how good that cabbage salsa was?



Remember when we saw Moneyball and how cute Brad Pitt was?
Remember when I ran 7 miles?
Remember when Alan's team played an amazing game?
Remember when Chris wouldn't tell you what he ordered for lunch because he didn't want to influence your decision?
Remember when our hilarious volleyball game and how we never wanted it to end?
Remember how bad we all were and how ticked Chris was getting?



Remember when Jeni turned 40?
Remember when her friends all dressed in black?
Remember when we were suppose to go around and say something we loved about her and ended up roasting her instead? :)
Remember when she made another cake because she didn't think mine would be enough and we had a full cake left?
Remember how delicious it was and how no one complained about the excess?
Remember when Alan beat Grandpa at an arm wrestling match?
Remember how sad it was to watch Jeni and the kids get smaller and smaller as we drove away?
Remember how lovely and misty the 2 1/2 hour drive was?
Remember when we arrived 2 hours early for our flight?
Remember what it felt like to be home?
Remember how much we miss having Jeni close?

12of12 | October

For whatever reason when I sat down to look through the photos I took yesterday I was thinking I didn't take nearly enough. I was pleasantly surprised, however, when I realized I had a surplus of goodness of which to choose from.


[click here to enlarge]

01. Up early to run. It's amazing how dark it is now at 6am. My friend brings glow sticks for us to wear around our wrists and sometimes we have an occasional flashlight. It was much brighter this morning though, with the full moon out.
02. Have been anticipating the new Apple ios5 software since June. It's available to download if you're at all interested. Honestly I know there is a huge difference, I mean somethings work differently, but I haven't a clue how to use most of the features. All in good time I suppose.
03. This is the first scene I saw as I walked out of my room this morning. Tess at the mirror discovering she was indeed infected with pink-eye. Totally derailed my day, but than again it was nice to be able to stay home and get projects done or at least started.
04. Had to run to the store to pick up a prescription for Tess and saw that it was full of fall goodness.
05. Found this beautiful tree on my way to our Church building. Felt good to be out in the fall air. It's just perfect right now.
06. The girls didn't have time to do the dishwasher this morning so the task fell on me. It felt good to take the morning a bit slower.
07. I can't believe how many tissue paper sheets came out of Megan's costume pattern. Took me a good while just to orient myself with what I needed and what I didn't.
08. With Tess down I was finally able to start on Megan's costume. I've put it off feeling like I have loads of time, but really Halloween is just around the corner. It's about time I started, especially because a sewing project isn't a sewing project without unpicking--there was lots of that.
09. Reading scriptures this morning before the girls left for school.
10. I was in my studio a fair amount today and keep looking at my pin board. This is what it looks like right now.
11. Megan sliding down the poll after soccer practice that's apparently off limits at school. Amidst the screaming all the way down all I could hear them say was, "I'm glad the duties not around".
12. We made cake pops at the Relief Society meeting. I'm not always a huge fan of cake pops, but they were quite tasty.

I remember going to bed on the 11th thinking, tomorrow will be an interesting day to photograph because of all the days this week it was the most low key. It really is interesting how a day maneuvers and takes shape--you just never know what it will be about. I'm really glad this was the day I captured.

I hope you had a great day too. If you played along don't forget to share.

12of12 reminder

This month certainly snuck up on me. It wasn't until I went to pay some bills this morning that I realized it was the 11th and that the 12th was tomorrow! I'm sure it was a combination of being out of town and the days quickly passing, but it certainly feels like we just did this.

I'm downloading my photos, as I type, from my trip to my sister's house and charging my battery so I'll be ready for tomorrow. Now I just need to remember when I wake up in the morning. :) Setting an alert on my phone now.

I hear we have some new comers to the challenge--so happy to have you on board. If you have any questions feel free to email me. A template can be found by click on the 12of12 icon on my sidebar.

Hoping tomorrow is a fabulous day.

Today I

flew hundreds of miles,

drove 3 hours in a car while listening to my dad and brother go back and forth about who is the better navigator--I won,

all to surprise my sister. She's days away from turning 40 you see and I simply couldn't pass up the opportunity to be here to celebrate with her.

Since we've been here I've been able to nearly give my sister a heart attack (in a good way), watch my niece play in a soccer game (something I've been wanting to do for a long time), and witness the birth of another litter of gunea pigs. Well, not the actually birth, but pretty close.

Horray for days like this! The only thing that could have made this day any better is if Adam and my girls would've been able to be here with us. I already miss them.

P.s. This post is brought to you by iPhone, diptic and instagram apps. I love technology, don't you?

Oh, Great Pumpkin...

While I would have loved and even hoped for a beautiful evening with the sun setting in the west, what we got instead was an ominous night, very much in line with the spirit of Halloween. I could almost hear Linus yelling, "Oh, Great Pumpkin, where are you?" It really couldn't have been a more perfect evening to help set the mood.

Fall is very much at the door. Although it already looks like autumn, our mountain dotted with color, the ground littered with leaves, for some reason the warm 90 degree weather has confused my mind into wondering if it's really going to turn. With the onset of this week I'm wondering no more, the change has begun and our sweaters and boots are now what we are grabbing for.

It's delightful, is it not?

I envision this weekend with apple cider, fires, and pumpkins coming to life. I love this time of year.

happiness is

-reliving a moment
-working toward something
-sharing when it's difficult



-getting read to sleep by your sister
-accomplishing everything you wanted to
-learning something new
-acting on faith



-working as a team
-laughing chatter in the other room
-the smell of breakfast in the air
-a clean kitchen



-playing with cousins
-daily gratitude
-a good morning kiss



-getting an uninterrupted hour break in the car while waiting for dance to end
-reading a delightful book
-an uplifting conversation with a friend
-dinner on the table



-wind blown hair
-secret notes on a napkin
-coming home
-caramel & apples



-wide open spaces
-meeting new people
-inspirational messages
-giving kindness



-the smell of rain in the air
-running through a pumpkin patch
-the crunching of leaves
-morning light



-the opportunity to volunteer
-family togetherness
-seeing the beauty life has to offer

We had a really great weekend together as a family listening to the prophet and apostles of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints speak to us. There were many comments that tugged at my heart, but the quote below pretty much sums it all up.



"The most powerful being in the universe is the father of your spirit. He knows you. He loves you with a perfect love. God sees you not only as a mortal being on a small planet who lives for a brief season, He sees you as His child. He sees you as the being you are capable and designed to become. He wants you to know that you matter to Him. May we ever believe, trust, and align our lives so that we will understand our true eternal worth and potential." -Dieter F. Uchtdorf

fallness | artist date

I stood in my kitchen with my todo list staring back at me, my mind wrestling with the thought of getting it done. I promptly turned away and grabbed for my camera--there would be time enough for that later. I decided getting out and enjoying the fall for a few hours was the option I needed today.











What more can I say then it was a delightful hour and well worth my time. When I returned home my list was waiting for me exactly where I left it, but this time more doable then before. I'm finally learning that some days you just need a moment or two to get yourself balanced before jumping in. I remember when I had babies at home how much I relied on nap time for that brief moment of clarity. I don't know why now it feels more like I'm getting away with something when I know it's still important to quiet the mind. After all, life is still just as busy, it's just a different kind of busy. Since coming home from squam I've been trying to do more yoga in the mornings, even if just for a few minutes. It seems to really help the quality of my day and now I'm wondering how I got along without it.

--what do you do when you need a moment to regroup?
--do you practice yoga?

Have a great weekend!

glist

today i'm grateful for...



a hand written note.
a morning hug.
freshly grown tomatoes.
ripe pears on the tree.
colors dotting the mountain side.
time to read.
details.
conference weekend.
good health, strong body.
delightful conversation over food. (thanks for lunch a&j)
laundry done.
being able to connect with friends who live hundreds of miles away.
motivated children, well most of them.
ending the day next to adam.
peanut butter m&ms.
dreams coming true.
friends to share it with.
opportunities.
a contented heart.

a wednesday night

I've been asked several times why I choose to take the photos I do.
My answer, I capture what I always want to remember.

And I wanted to always remember the spontaneous moment of this night.



How the girls smooth talked Adam and I into abandoning school work and a messy kitchen to enjoy the beautiful evening together by going to Nielsen's Frozen Custard. The way they brought their wadded cash which had been hid away for just such a moment. The silliness that trickled it's way through each one of them as the deliciousness of the event sunk in. The magical light that accompanied us on the six minute drive. The view of color that was just beginning to spread on the tip of the mountain side.



It was simple and ordinary, but I never wanted to forget it--and now I never will.

Happy Monday!

what I learned at squam

-Photography is my form of meditation.


-Vermont apples are delicious.
-I could live in New Hampshire.


-A heating pad makes all the difference on a chilly eve. Some of the nights in the cabin got to be 35 degrees, with a heating pad warming my feet all through the night I slept cozy.
-In the cold humid weather towels do not dry. Ever.


-I learned to juggle and found out it's the perfect activity to help you get out of your head. Thanks Amy. I need to practice practice so I don't loose it.
-I can still start a fire.


-Sea salt and chocolate are an awesome combination.
-I want to show people how to see their everyday.


-Details are important to me.


-It pays to wake up early in the morning.


-A chef is on my must have list. We ate well. The photos below are from my food photography class. I guess you could say I need some practice.


-It takes courage to grow. Open mic night.


-I love getting lost.


-Mushrooms are cool subjects to photograph. They were all over the woods.


-Don't let opportunities pass you by.


-It's ok to keep trying.
-It's ok to never get it.


-Together we can make something extraordinary.
-We each have a part to play.


-I need to incorporate yoga into my daily routine.




-Anyone can be an artist.


-She continues to inspires me.


-Staying up til almost 2am with a bunch of woman is very revealing. Our evenings were spent in front of the fire chatting. Wouldn't have wanted to do anything else.


-Friendships can happen over night. I love these woman.



-Mornings and nights are magical here. I miss it.



I had such a magnificent time and met some amazing individuals.
I simply can't imagine not going again.

Thank you ladies for making my world that much brighter.