Sunday December 11, 2011.
An Ordinary Morning - We sat drinking our morning coffee, discussing our plans for the day.  The To Do list was growing quickly.   I was grateful for our few moments of quiet togetherness.

263/365

Monday December 12, 2011.
Locked Together - It is a tradition for the grade eight students to put their locks on the chain link fence on the last day of elementary school.  Kenzie and her friend, Chelsea put these locks here.  I would call them best friends, but not in the way you usually think of best friends. 
They met on the first day of kindergarten, although, these two girls rarely socialize at school.  I remember once in grade three listening to the girls fight upstairs.  One minute they were yelling and screaming, the next they were in a fit of laughter.  Uncontrollable laughter.  That is how Kenzie and Chelsea are.  There is bond between these two that goes beyond popularity, social status, or a bad day.

264/365

Tuesday December 13, 2011.
Lines of Light -

265/365

Wednesday December 14, 2011.
Baby Fix -  I had the chance to photograph my friends granddaughter and got my baby fix too.  As much as I love the stage my kids are at, I miss having a baby in my world.   Last year, we finalized our decision not to have more children.  I know it was the right decision for us.  But moving ahead, farther and farther away from some of the most precious years of my life makes me a little sad.   

266/365

Thursday December 15, 2011.
Sincerely Yours - I hope he gets all he has wished for.

267/365

Friday December 16, 2011.
New Word - Last year for Ali Edwards One Little Word project, I choose the word Thrive.  I think I over shot.
Thrive -verb,

1.  to prosper; be fortunate or successful.

2.  to grow or develop vigorously; flourish: The children thrived in the country.

What I`ve learned this past year is that thriving - growing and developing vigorously is often accompanied with growing pains. 

After the year we`ve had, I`m considering words like comfort, enjoy, and easy for my 2012 one little word. 

268/365

July 1, 2011.
100 - I made it to 100 day.  I am one hundred pictures into my 365 project.  It feels like a big accomplishment.  An accomplishment far worthier than a quick snapshot of a hundred pennies, but because I was racing around getting ready to go on vacation, one hundred pennies will have to do. 

100/365

July 2, 2011.
Roadside Rocks - I love road trip photography.  I love that I can freeze time and capture what I would have otherwise miss as the car races along at highway speeds.  Call me Rain Man.  I took the two images in the diptych not thinking of the other.  When I went to edit the images, I loved the similarities and differences between the smooth concrete of the overpass and the jagged granite rock of the Canadian shield.  Both awesome in their own way.  Putting them together seemed like the best way to showcase both.

101/365

July 3. 2011.
Teen Bonding - I've really noticed how much Josh has grown up lately.  I think Kenzie has noticed too.  She is spending more time, more interest and interacting with his as a peer, not just her younger brother.  Love that.

102/365

July 4, 2011.
Us, morning walk - Why is it that by the time your children have learned to love sleeping in, your own internal clock won't allow it?   John and I took advantage of our alone time and went for a morning walk around the campgrounds.  I can't think of a better way to start my day.   (taken with my iPhone - instagram app.)

103/365

July 5, 2011.
Vintage Camp Store - Another picture with my iPhone. Did i mention how much I love my new camera I mean phone.  Love it.  I especially love the Instagram app.  Instagram isn't just a way of editing your pictures, it's also a community of iphoneographers who post their images.  Think twitter, only with cool retro looking Polaroids. 

104/365

July 6, 2011.
The Bridge - We left the campground  and went to Bracebridge to see the new Transformers movie.  It was a good day to get away.  Apparently just as we were sitting down to the movie, the sky opened up.  It poured rain for about an hour.  I took this picture as we came back into Arrowhead.  After the storm, the river was so calm that it looked like a mirror.

105/365

July 7, 2011.
Family Portrait - Every year I make the family huddle together for a vacation portrait.  This year I forgot my tripod.   My camera was balanced on the firewood box, the pots and pans tote with a few pieces of kindling.  I decided it was too much work to clear a spot for us in front of the trailer, so we used Kenzie's tent as a backdrop.  The vacation portraits speak more about us and our family than the over thought, over planned fall portraits I torture my family with.    

106/365

July 8, 2011.
Jump! - The boys and I went for an after dinner swim.  The beach was ours alone and we had so much fun.   I got a picture of Charlie showing off his favorite beach trick.  John holds the boogie board for him and he jumps into the water.  Reminds me of my favorite swim trick - bobbing on an old innertube with my cousin at Leonard Lake.

107/365

July 9, 2011.
Packing Up - The week ALWAYS goes by too fast.  Camping gives us a chance to shut the world out.  To connect and refuel.  That is a lot to ask of our one week together, but it happens effortlessly.  I know that after the kids have grown up and have families of their own, these vacations will be my sweetest memories.

108/365

July 10, 2011.
Chillin' with a Friend - I took this picture of the beach ball while visiting my friend Jenn.    We used to go for daily walks around the neighborhood when we were both stay at home mommies. Our visits now are less often, the walks have been abandoned and the tea has been replaced with beer and coolers.  I assumed that when she got a full time job, I would meet other moms.  New mommy friends to walk with and talk to.  I have.  But there is something special with my friendship with Jenn.  She has been there for me.  She listens with out judgement, giving advice that is neither too wimpy or pushy.  We laugh until we cry when we tell each other stories about our family's antics.   Being just plain silly.  I realize that life only offers you a handful of friends like this and I am grateful for her.

109/365

July 11, 2011.
7/11 Day - Whoo hoo, free slushie day!  Another with my iphone, Instagram app.

110/365

July 12, 2011.
Roses Through My Window - I moved my rose bush from the backyard to the front of my house a few years ago after too many balls were popped by the thorns.  The front garden is a much safer place for the roses.  Not only is it safer, but I enjoy my roses more now.  When the sun sets, and hits the rose bush, it looks beautiful.  I took this picture through my sheer curtains.  The roses were behind dirty glass and the window screen.  I love the effect it gave to the picture.

111/365

July 13, 2011.
One of those Days - This is one of those, "I was too busy to take a picture so here's a random picture of whatever grabs my eye" days.  Seriously I have been busy.  I have sanded and stained my back deck this week.  A huge job.  That alone would be a big deal, but it's also on call week.  Which means that I'm pretty much a single parent this week. I feel like I'm on auto pilot, just going through the motions to get through the day.  So the fact I remembered to take a photo is a miracle when stringing together coherent words to form a sentence has been a  challenge.  

112/365

July 14, 2011.
Good Morning Selfie -  Good morning self.  Are you in there?  I see the little smirk on your face, and the lost look in your eye, are you okay?  Something eating at you?  Or perhaps you have a secret that can't be told yet.  Whatever it is, I hope your day turns out well for you, take care, and remember to have some fun today. 

113/365