I DID IT!!!! 365 Project Completed (366 Leap Year)

I DID IT!!!!!!!! I don't think too many people thought I would stick with it a whole year and I'm not really sure I believed I would do it either. BUT, I did do it and it has been a fun experience and I have learned a whole bunch. There were days that it was hard and I was very uninspired (as you can tell by some of my pictures) but I kept at it. Still not where I want to be with my photography but I'm alot farther along than I was this time last year. I don't usually pat myself on the back but I do have to say that I am very proud of myself for this accomplishment. And I even did it in a leap year with an extra day.

I tried to be creative with my last picture but as you can tell I'm just not really very creative. It has snowed all day today and I wanted to use snow in the picture somehow and this is what I came up with. I'm sure people driving by our house this afternoon that saw me standing in a lawn chair with a pool stick writing in the snow wondered about my well being.

Now the big question, will I do it again next year? The answer is YES.

Goodbye 2012, its been a good year of photography. Heres to learning and improving even more in 2013. Let the journey begin again.

They Are Almost Gone

The last of the Christmas cookies, thank goodness. I have eaten so many of these cookies. I will be really glad when they are gone. It will be a LONG time before I make them again because I can't keep from eating them.

Hunt Family Picture

Family picture. We are a really fun group and have a great time when we get together.

Christmas Lights Tour in the Church Bus

We went to Brad and Kelley's for the Hunt family Christmas. After dinner, Brad took everyone that wanted to go, in the church bus on a Christmas lights tour. The kids were as excited about riding on the bus as they were to see the lights.

A Visit From My Friend Donna

Donna came home for Christmas and we got to spend a whole evening together. I really enjoyed getting to be with her and visiting. I sure do miss her. Wish we could have spent more time together but I will take what I can get.

My Christmas Present from Brian

Brian got me a scanner that scans negatives, slides and prints. I am so excited to get started on some projects that will put this new machine to work.

Nick's New "Too Little" Hat

Nicks new hat that appears to be just a tiny bit small.

Granny on Christmas Eve

Granny had lots of help opening her presents. The sad/mad look on her face isn't because of all the helpers, but because she was getting very frustrated that she had to wait so long to open her gifts. We open presents one at a time from youngest to oldest. She did have a few partially picked open by the time it was her turn.

Christmas Slumber Party

Last year we started a new tradition of having a Christmas slumber party with the grandkids. Last year there were six because Gage was too little to join us. This year he got to stay, however, when it came bedtime he had to go sleep in the crib. We don't trust him to get up in the night and roam around unattended.

Cleaning the Driveway

Okay, Brian really isn't this crazy, to completely shovel the drive in shorts and barefooted. He was just testing it to see if the thing he was using would actually break up the ice. It did work and he came in and dressed for the job and completed it.

Mornings at Grandma's

Happy 60th Birthday to my brother.

This is what early morning looks like around here when the kids first get up.

First Snow This Winter

Well, they predicted it and it actually happened. Our first snow of the winter. Of course it wasn't as much as I would have liked but its a start.

Nativity Scene

This is the nativity set that my Mom painted for me when she was doing ceramics.

So many of my Christmas decorations have sentimental value to me. We even still have the very first tree decorations that Brian and I made the Christmas before we got married.

Cookie Exchange

Jennifer hosted a cookie exchange. There were 17 of us that attended. This is my basket of 17 little packages of cookies that I brought home. It was a big hit and I think it may be an annual thing now.

Snow Village

Another Christmas decoration. One of the buildings from my village. I bought this one because of the name. It reminds me of my Grandma Grace and now we have a granddaughter Grace.

La Guardia Airport

Headed home. Sitting in the airport in NY waiting for our flight. It isn't as much fun to leave as it is to arrive but the kids are worn out and its time to go home.

Blake had a very memorable trip and he really took everything in. I'm sure he will remember alot about it. Can't wait to take him again when he is older.

Central Park Carriage Ride

We got a pretty early start today. We took the kids to Rockefellow Center to ice skate. We had to stand in line for over an hour but it was well worth it. At least for Blake it was. He loved it and did really well. He even was able to skate by himself. Grace didn't like it at all. Gage liked it but it was very hard for Grandpa and Caleb to bend over and hang on to him and pull him around.

We went to Chinatown and ate lunch, got dessert in Little Italy then went back to end the day in Central Park. Caleb's family enjoyed a carriage ride through the park.

In case we didn't think Grace was paying alot of attention to Mary Poppins, when we started to go in the park she said she had money so she could feed the birds. Guess she really did listen.

Subway Stations

Looks like the subway system may be getting to some people.

Today was spent at Ground Zero, Wall St and looking at the Statue of Liberty. We weren't able to go out to the statue because of the damage from hurricane Sandy.

We headed to Macy's to see the window display and we stood in line to see the Macy's santa. Thats a pretty big deal.

We left there and went to Rockefellow Center to see if after dark.

   

Mary Poppins on Broadway

Today we started out going to see the big tree at Rockefellow Center. Then we went to American Girl on 5th Ave, then headed down 5th Ave to FAO Swartz. Walked by Central Park, then to the M&M store.

That evening Sherry, Brian and I took Blake and Grace to see the broadway show Mary Poppins. After we found our seats, which were very good seats by the way, Brian asked the kids if they wanted to go see where the music came from. He was going to show them the orchestra pit. When they got out in the aisle, Grace turned around and said "Nana, if it starts before we get back, tell the man to pause it". She had no idea what was going to happen on that stage.

They both seemed to enjoy it. Grace was pretty quiet but Blake laughed alot and was in to the show. After the show Blake wanted an umbrella like Mary Poppins, so Sherry got it for him and Grace to share. This was the billboard right outside the front door.

After the show we went to Times Square to meet up with Amy, Caleb and Gary. They got to NY at 8:30. The kids were glad to see their daddy.

New York City - Times Square

Special date, 12-12-12 and because we left today to fly to New York City with Caleb, Amy and the kids and Amy's Mom and Dad.

Blake has wanted to go to NYC for a long time. He has watched the movie Elf and Home Alone so many times that he knew alot of the place in NYC. So on a whim, we planned a trip.

This was the first night we were there. We went to see Times Square and there were all kinds of characters there. The kids loved seeing all the lights on Times Square.

Noah's Choir Program

Noah's special chorus program at his school. He did great and really sang out.

And we stuck with tradition and went to McDonalds for ice cream afterwards. We started that with the very first program he was in when he started school. Fun times and great memories.

Beginning A New Ornament Collection

A new ornament series that started this year, Lighthouses. As much as Brian and I both like lighthouses I knew we needed to collect these. Number one in the series.

Grace's 1st Dance Recital

Grace's very first dance recital. She didn't do alot of dancing but she did more actions and motions than most of the other girls. She ended the number big tho.

A Really Good Grandpa

Now really, how many Grandpa's do you know that would stand in a very long line at American Girl with all the other ladies. He would do anything for his granddaughter.

Blake Playing Basketball

Blake playing basketball in the Gardner Park and Rec league. Caleb and Amy are the coaches for his team.

New Cable and Internet

Okay, dumb picture I know but this is something exciting for me. We are changing from AT&T to SureWest and alot faster internet. Thats makes me very happy. They came out and located utilities and marked the yard. It will be installed next week. WooHoo

Debbie, My Sister-in-Law and Friend

Seven years ago today I lost a very good friend. Debbie was my sister-in-law but she was also my friend. We didn't get to spend alot of time together because we never lived close to each other.

Debbie LOVED M&Ms, and I do mean loved. She called me so excited one day to tell me she had lost 10 pounds. I asked her how she had done it and she said she quit eating M&Ms. My response was "Well, good grief, how many M&Ms were you eating?". She said she had them on her desk at work, on the kitchen counter, beside her chair in the living room and on her bedside table.

One of our favorite things to do together was make M&M cookies and drink diet Coke. Debbie ate as much dough as she did cookies but we sure had fun making them.

Debbie was diagnosed with colon cancer in late October and left us on Dec 5th. The day after Thanksgiving when Mom and I were in Branson, Mom bought Debbie this M&M house thats part of the original snow village. Debbie was spending alot of time sleeping by this time but Jimmy put the house up for her right beside her bed so she could see it. After she passed away, Jimmy asked if I wanted the house. I have several pieces of the snow village but this is by far the most special one. I think of her often but especially at Christmas when I get "her" house out.

Maesyn Stylin'

Had to get a picture of the special hairstyle that Maesyn has. She has really long pieces on both sides that match but thats the only long hair she has. The rest of her hair is short.

Maesyn 6 months

Maesyn loves to have her clothes off and chew on her toes. She likes sitting in Grandpas chair with him because its right beside the fireplace so she is warm and toasty.

Christmas Card Photo (that was never sent)

Christmas card picture (if I get around to making them and sending them out)

Putting Up the Christmas Tree

 I really really DON"T like this fake tree. I prefer a real one. Pops and Granny gave us this tree a few years ago when they got a smaller one. I put it up two years and moaned and groaned the whole time I was putting it up and taking it down. The last couple of years we have gone back to a real tree. This year we thought maybe we would save the money on a real tree and put this one up again. The other advantage is, we can put it up earlier than a real tree. However, I still don't like putting it up even with Brian helping me. Next year its back to a real tree.