30 Days of Home

I can't promise anything but I am attempting to start blogging again.  I love doing it but my boys always come first and finding time to sit in front of the computer and write is hard.  I am finding that I really just want to blog for myself and my family and close friends.  That is it.  For me this isn't a popularity contest or finding followers contest....it is purely for a journal. Maybe it will just be me who reads it but maybe my boys will enjoy it when they get older.  Either way....when I can fit blogging in, I will write.  I am starting back up with a personal project that has tons of love behind it.

Some of you may or may not know that because of some events that are out of our control we have to leave our house and find a new home.  We have been in a rental home for little over four years and we have really made it our own.  We love it here and we are very sad to be leaving.  We may find another rental but we are playing with the idea of buying our first home within this year.  Wherever this new journey takes us I know in my heart that there is a greater purpose to why this is happening now.

We moved here when my first born was exactly one year old.  Both of my boys really only know of this house as being their home.  We have very wonderful memories of raising our babies here.  I know as they get older, this house will only be a few faint memories to them.  So with that in mind I have decided to do a personal photo project.  We have to move at the end of August.  Before the house gets bare and there are boxes everywhere, I want to document our lives here.  Every day for 30 days I will take a picture of our life in this house, hoping to get every room and every inch of fun and love we have had here.  Then every night after the boys go to bed I will post the picture(s) I took that day with a story or memory.  Hoping at the end I can make a book for my boys, so they will always remember our first "home" as a complete family.

DAY 1:

Summer's in our backyard are perfect in every way!  Especially with fresh watermelon!

Adieu & Hello (2013 365 Photo Project)

As we say adieu to one year, we welcome the fresh blank slate of a new year!  With the ups and downs and all the memories that this past year has brought, we are always ready for the fresh journey of a new year.  As I make new dreams and start old dreams, I remind myself to cherish the quiet times, the days I can relish in the beauty of my children.  The biggest thing on my 2013 to-do list is to love so deeply on my two little ones and to always be present with them.  I will always remind myself to slow down, soak in the moments with them, and to laugh along the way!

Following on my list......live simpler, be kind ALWAYS, continue in my sustainability journey, and to love, protect, save, and enjoy our Mother Earth!  These are always on my list as reminders or refreshers!

Wishing you and yours a truly magical, happy, and healthy new year!  Cheers!

January 1st, 2013

This is also my first photo in another attempt at a 365 photo project.  A full year in photos.  Just one photo a day posted here on the blog to help keep my mind fresh in photography and continue my journey in expanding my knowledge with the camera.  Maybe I should call it my "almost 365 photo project"  because I might miss a few days here and there!  Enjoy!  

Where the sidewalks ends.....

I often wonder when I am out in the world with my boys how they are perceiving the world around them...what do they notice the most...what brings in the wonder.  It would fascinate me to dive into their little minds and relive what it is like to be a kid again.  There is one thing I know that is definite....I can learn more from these two little boys than anyone or anything else on this planet.  They know more than me....they see more than I see!

A couple weeks ago, I decided to take them out, let them lead me, and I was going to document it.  I told Ayden to lead the way, tell me when to stop the car, when to take a picture, and what to take a picture of.  It was fascinating to see what caught his eye the most.  It wasn't places you would typically think people would be drawn to. He took us to old buildings, under bridges, gravel roads, fences.   He saw the joy and beauty in these places that some people would shun away.  A huge lesson for us adults!!

"There is a place where the sidewalk ends 

And before the street begins,

 And there the grass grows soft and white, 

And there the sun burns crimson bright, 

And there the moon-bird rests from his flight 

To cool in the peppermint wind.

Let us leave this place where the smoke blows black 

And the dark street winds and bends. 

Past the pits where the asphalt flowers grow 

We shall walk with a walk that is measured and slow, 

And watch where the chalk-white arrows go

To the place where the sidewalk ends.

Yes we'll walk with a walk that is measured and slow,

 And we'll go where the chalk-white arrows go, 

For the children, they mark, and the children, they know 

The place where the sidewalk ends."  

-Shel Silvertein

365 Photo Project- February

I have been slowing organizing and getting my photos ready to update on here.  Trying SO hard to get all caught up with it, so that I can get back on track with posting my photos weekly.  February, March, and April were difficult to get photos daily with everything that was going on, including my husband traveling for work (and taking the camera with him).  So unfortunately, I wasn't able to get a photo every single day.  But I tried hard and that is all that I can hope for when being a busy mama.  Starting May 1st...I have done so much better with my photo project.

So I am still going to post the photos I took for February, March, and April.....each month get there own post.  Enjoy!

For my new readers.....click here to see what my photo project is all about!

February 1st, 2012
Garlic in our garden! 

February 2nd, 2012
My sweet loves playing on a nice winter day!  I love watching these two boys grow such an amazing bond.  It is by far the most amazing journey of my life!

February 3rd, 2012
Coffee!

February 6th, 2012
The husband and I were downtown taking pictures and a nice fireman let us check out the firetrucks.  It was such an awesome experience for the boys.

February 7th, 2012

My love day photo shoot with the boys.  All you need is love!  

February 8th, 2012

"If I have a monument in this world, it is my son."

-- Maya Angelou

February 9th, 2012

February 17th, 2012

A journey into the dryer! 

Unfortunately......we lost a memory card from a big chunk of this month.  MAJOR SAD FACE!  I was totally bummed when we figured this out.  But a great excuse to get our office organized in hopes to find it.  I will post them if I find them.  I hope you enjoyed the few that I posted.  

Thank you for all of you that have continued to support me in my journey as a blogger!  I have heard some pretty encouraging words lately from a lot of you and I truly appreciate it.  It is was keeps me doing what I love.  

Updating 2012 Photo Project- January

So in order to make this way easier on myself I am going to update the photos for the photo project in three big posts...the rest of January... February...and the little bit of March that I was able to do.  I was able to take photos each day but I missed some mostly in March.  Then after that I will start all over again with the beginning of April.  HA!  Does this even make sense.  Long story short...you are about to see a bunch of photos!!!

January 17th, 2012
Breakfast Time!

These film pictures were shot with a Pentax K1000 using Ilford Delta Pro 400, Black & White, 35mm film.

January 18th, 2012
 Eggs from the farm! 

These film pictures were shot with a Pentax K1000 using Ilford Delta Pro 400, Black & White, 35mm film.

January 19th, 2012
Stand up my little! This was the first time my little one pulled himself up with no help!  He was so proud of himself after he got all the way up!  This was the beginning of lots of exploring for him.  

January 20th, 2012- Puddle Jumpin'!

January 21st, 2012- 

PB&J

January 22nd, 2012

My husband is an avid snowboarder.  He lives and breathes snow!  Sometimes I get jealous!  Ha!  So naturally we want to get our oldest up to the mountain as soon as possible, so our son is comfortable with the snow and so they can ride together in the near future.  So this Sunday, we went up as a family and Ayden got use to the snowboard with dad.  Its so wonderful to see my husband so happy to be doing what he loves with our son!  

January 23rd, 2012

Sad face!  He was not a fan of bath time this Monday night!  Don't worry....I took the photo fast and snuggled him!  Pobrecito!

January 24th, 2012

Nothing is as sweet as my precious baby dreaming the nap time away.  Sweet dreams my little one!

 "Mommy woke me up with all her picture taking!  So I will give her lots of smiles!"

January 25th, 2012

My film camera!!!!  This camera is actually my mother's camera but when I was in high school and developing a love for photography she let me use it.  This camera is the camera I learned how to take pictures on.  Followed with classes in the dark room!  Now over 15 years later....I am still using it and loving it!  

January 26th, 2012

This Thursday in January, we flew to Utah to visit my husband's family.  We came to attend some family gatherings and celebrations.  We were also lucky enough to have some of our very best friends drive up from New Mexico to see us.  It was an incredible trip!  The first day we just relaxed at Grandma's house!

January 27th, 2012

 This Friday was filled with family activities but my favorite part of the day was in the morning!  Balloons and a magnified glass filled the morning!

 January 28th, 2012

For part of our trip we headed up to Park City, where my husband's uncle has an incredible home/resort.  It is literally at one of the highest parts of Park City....in fact the ski lifts 9990 and Peak 5 from The Canyons Resort are in the backyard.  We were able to stay up there for a few nights with some family and our friends from New Mexico.  The kids had a great time as they had SO much space to run around in.  And us grownups got to "escape" from reality for a few days too.

January 29th, 2012

More time up in Park City......lots of relaxing and enjoying our family and friends.  These are just some random pictures from the day.

These last two photos were taken by my husband.  It is from his hike with his best bud up from the house we were staying in.  He really wanted me to put these on my my blog....and of course I did!  

January 30th, 2012

Snow....snow...snow!  Ayden and his friend got on a board for the first time!  They both did SO well!  I am pretty sure riding runs in the family and he is already such a natural at it.  It was pretty exciting to see him have such style on the board.  Watch out Shawn White!!!!  The dads built a snow igloo for the kids and we just enjoyed our surroundings. 

I am posting the last day of January all on it's own.  I took SO many photos and I couldn't pick a few, so I am letting that day have it's own post.

I hope you enjoyed my month of January.  It was fun and challenging taking photos everyday!