#365-Dec. 31st

Another year down in the books.  It has been a year with some serious ups and downs and the next year will most likely to prove just as crazy.

#364-Dec. 30th

Back in studio.  I have really been working on lighting with texture and shape.  Plus the pineapple is so yummy.

#363-Dec. 29th

And the snow finally is falling again…

#362-Dec. 28th

I have been working more and more in studio as the weather is finally getting quite cold outside.

#361-Dec. 27th

And little Angus, who we have had for just over three years now.  So hard to believe so much time as passed.  We still think of him as a puppy because he just goes nonstop!

#360-Dec. 26th

Addy enjoyed her treat of pig ears.  We have had her for ten years and three days now.  We aren’t happy to know her health is in decline, but so thankful for all the wonderful years she has had, especially since she has had health problems since she was two!

#359-Dec. 25th

Can you tell that Cole and Kati were very ready to start the day.  The older teens~not so much.  I am sure they would have preferred to sleep in a little more.  Merry Christmas to all!!!

#358-Dec. 24th

I just adore our Christmas eve tradition.  We take the kids out to look at lights and get McDonald’s for dinner.  Then we open their one gift for the evening, and then we grill our best steaks and enjoy a quiet candlelight dinner while we wait for the kids to fall asleep.  Every year I treasure this quiet downtime.

#357-Dec. 23rd

Spent the afternoon getting sugar cookies made for the holiday. 

#356-Dec. 22nd

Kati’s class party was today.  It was SO much fun!  We are so thankful every day that she got the wonderful Mrs. Popham as her teacher again this year.  She is fantastic with the kids and they all just love her so much {and so do the parents.}

#355-Dec. 21st

Cole had his last preschool day before the holiday break and it included a party with gift exchange.  He had so much fun.

#354-Dec. 20th

#353-Dec. 19th

#352-Dec. 18th

It drives me crazy how the blog templates change the colors of my images.  This is an abstract one I created for class.  The colors truly are much more vibrant though.

#351-Dec. 17th

#350-Dec. 16th

Incredible fog blanketed the town today. It was eerily beautiful.

#349-Dec. 15th

Tonight was the city swim meet.  Blake took fifth in the city for the 25 meter freestyle. Great placing!  So proud of him.

#348-Dec. 14th

I spent the afternoon working with a fellow photographer and friend.  I had to create a 1920s lipstick ad for a class assignment and she was willing to model her awesome hat while applying the lipstick.  She is so gorgeous and fun to work with.  Thank you so much Susie!

#347-Dec. 13th

Cole, dressed in his redneck wear, wanted to get to meet Santa.  He was SO thrilled to get to tell him his long list of things he wanted for Christmas.

#346-Dec. 12th

Blake had his school band concert tonight, which included not one but two solos on his baritone.  He loves being in Jazz band and I am so thankful every day for his teacher Mrs. Massey.

One of Blake’s jazz solos at the school Christmas concert

#345-Dec. 11th

Pumpkin sauced spaghetti squash~a new recipe that was totally yummy!

#344-Dec. 10th

HAPPY 14th BIRTHDAY to BLAKE!!!

#343-Dec. 9th

#342-Dec. 8th

#341-Dec. 7th

Cole has begun to think my IPod is his personally toy to use whenever he is bored.  This is the look I get when I ask for it back.

#340-Dec. 6th

Today was Trent’s driving portion of his test to get his license.  He passed and is now legally driving.

#339-Dec. 5th

Driving back to North Dakota for the last time for a while.  Love how the state welcome sign is full of bullet holes.

#338-Dec. 4th

So tonight WAS suppose to have a family photo with me and my four siblings since it was the first time we have all been together in over four years.  Instead you get a photo of Cole in the ER with suckers in his two favorite colors green and blue.  He had an “incident” and a bb ended stuck up his nose.  It took trying with tweezers, vacuum, then a medicine spray and special angled tool before it would come out.

#337-Dec. 3rd

#336-Dec. 2nd

#335-Dec. 1st

Last month of the year, it is so hard to believe how time has passed.  Kati and Cole were playing dress up this afternoon.  She helped him to be a boxer.

#334-Nov. 30th

I love glittery ornaments on the tree.  They help to make it all shimmery. 

#333-Nov. 29th

This is an incredible image by Robert Heinecken that I am studying this week.  Definitely a photographer worth learning more about.

#332-Nov. 28th

Getting the finishing touches on the tree.

#331-Nov. 27th

Cole maxed out at Grandma’s house.

#330-Nov. 26th

My cousin Zach with Cole.  I can hardly believe he will be graduating this year.  He is grown up to be such a wonderful young man!!!

#329-Nov. 25th

Row of pies for desserts…having a family game night tonight.

#328-Nov. 24th

This is my brother Scott harassing my dad (Uncle Steve in the background.)  With Scott some things will never change.  Happy Thanksgiving to all!

 

#327-Nov. 23rd

Cinnamon roll bites and rolls near the warm oven to rise.  Yum.

#326-Nov. 22nd

This is the initials and marks on Dan’s arm right before heading back into surgery.

#325-Nov. 21st

My mom has been spending a ton of time getting all the goodies ready for Thanksgiving dinner.

#324-Nov. 20th

View as we are almost to Great Falls.

#323-Nov. 19th

It took almost 11 hours for what is usually a nine hour trip.  Packed tight into the truck with all six of us and the two dogs.

#322-Nov. 18th

Beautiful evening sky, my favorite light.

#321-Nov. 17th

Spent the afternoon with a friend making cake truffles.  The kids had them half gone the minute I got home.

#320-Nov. 16th

Cole was so thrilled to get to play in the snow while I was out shoveling.  Talk about a photo of pure joy.

#319-Nov. 15th

Got our first significant snow fall of the year.  It is beautiful blue skies now, but it definitely snowed last night and into this morning.