December 31

Ending 2010's picture gallery with a photo of the photographer.  I actually took this yesterday when I was figuring out how to use the new remote I got for my camera.  I set up the tripod and started playing.  So now that I know how to work it, hopefully I will be in a lot more pictures.  :)

Happy New Year All!  Thanks for joining me on my Project 365 photo challenge.  Looking forward to another great year!  And lots more learning.

December 30

We put the tree away a few days earlier than usual this year.  I just wanted the house to get back to "normal".  While putting the ornaments away, I took pictures of each of the ornaments a former co-worker has made for me each year since 1997.  This one is from 2007.  I plan to do a scrapbook page about them.

December 29

I treated myself to a bouquet of roses while we were out running a few errands.

December 28

Alex and I made candy cane cookies.  They turned out pretty well.  He had fun rolling the dough out into "snakes".

December 27

Nick made this cute little snowman in school out of a sock.  It is filled with rice.  Sweet!

December 26

My mom brought up a photo album that my Aunt Carol (who just passed away) had put together.  They  had them out at the funeral home and my mom thought I'd like to see this one because it contained baby pictures of me!  That's Kelly on the left and me on the right.  She's about 3 months older than me.  I know it's a terrible picture, but it's all I have.

December 25

This is not the best picture I took on Christmas day ... but it is the most fun, I think.  We got the kids these Nerf-like pop guns from Playthings, etc. and had a great gun battle after all the gifts were opened.  It was a blast!  Doug and I need to go buy a few more guns so we can all have one (we were sharing the 3).

December 24

I managed to get a picture of all 3 kids together ... looking at the camera ... and smiling at the same time ... after Christmas Eve service at our church.

December 23

Alex having hot cocoa and a peppermint stick after playing hard out in the snow.  Yum!  He's showing me how he can wink.

December 22

Alex brought this cute little Jello gingerbread man home from his preschool Christmas party.  I convinced him to let me take a picture before he devoured him.  :)

December 21

I know this is blurry.  It was hard to get a picture of it while we were moving since my shutter speed was so slow.  We took the kids to see the lights at Hartwood Acres - another family tradition.  This tunnel of lights is pretty cool.  It is just one of many, many light displays there.  So pretty.  

December 20

This White-breasted Nuthatch really loves the sunflower hanging in our tree.  And he is so much fun to watch.  He was hanging completely upside-down when I decided to photograph him, but by the time I got my camera, he had moved.  Oh well.

December 19

I realized that I never took any pictures of my scrapbook room since I filled it up with all my crap scrapbook goodies.  :)  Here's the ink pad holder I got from Organize More.

December 18

I am really enjoying watching the birds this winter.

December 17

Alex and I made Russian Tea cookies today.  Yum!

December 16

Just playing around again.  Our icicle lights stopped working a few days ago :( so we only have the colored lights working.  But I thought they looked pretty cool inside the real icicles that are hanging off our house.

December 15

Yeah, I know.  Another bird picture.  But I only took 2 pictures today and they were both of birds.  :)  I love how this little guy has snow all over his beak from picking the seeds out of the snow.

December 14

No, I am not posting a picture of myself today just because it is my birthday.  :)

I took this picture to show one of the wonderful ornaments a former co-worker, Bob, has made for me.  I showed it over on my other blog for the Girl Talk Hop.  He makes ornaments every year.  This is last year's ornament.  Keeping my fingers crossed that I get one this year.  Although I don't usually get them until my friend, Pat, and I get together, which sometimes isn't until August.  :)

December 13

Okay, so you know how I'm obsessing over birds right now since I got my bird feeder set up in the back yard, right?  :)  

Alright, maybe I was obsessing over them sooner.  Here are some previous posts for evidence - just in case you were looking for something to do.  Male cardinal, woodpecker, female cardinal, unknown birds in feeder,  white-breasted nuthatch, geese flying south, female cardinal, turkeys, goldfinch, another goldfinch, woodpecker.

Anyway, enough about my obsessions.  This morning, I tossed a cup of bird seed out the window in the hopes that I could lure the birds in and get some closer shots.  Well, this sweet little bird was so nice to oblige.  After he got his belly full, he perched himself up on this branch that Nicholas set up.  Apparently Nick decided that we needed a bird habitat by the house so he set up a few branches that he "found".  My thanks to Nicholas for enabling me to get this close-up shot!

December 12

Just playing around.  I noticed the reflection of our Christmas tree in the window and thought it would make a neat photo.  So I set up the tripod, found an ornament to focus on, and played around for a while. I think it turned out pretty neat.

December 11

Doug started spinning the kids around on the snow tube a few years ago.  Alex absolutely loves it and talked Keira into spinning him.  It is a lot of fun to watch too!  Alex just giggles and giggles ... even when he gets thrown off.

December 10

Keira's school Christmas concert was this morning.  She played her violin with the strings ensemble and then sang in the chorus.  She (and all the others) did a great job! 

December 9

This handsome cardinal was feeding on the sunflower and my feeder this morning.

(I'm still trying.  The birds move pretty quickly so I have to be fast to get a picture of them.  But I am determined to get some good ones!  You saw a bunch of butterfly photos during the summer ... you'll be seeing a bunch of bird photos now.  :) )

December 8

The snow is bringing more birds to my feeder!  Here's a red-headed woodpecker!

December 7

Another 6 or so inches of snow overnight was (were?) the cause of another day of no school.  While shoveling out the driveway once again this morning, Alex asked me to bury him.  The kids had a blast playing in all the snow again today.  Me?  My right shoulder is pretty sore from all the shoveling.  :)  Here's hoping there is school tomorrow!

December 6

A female cardinal in my maple tree.  She was feeding in my bird feeder!

December 5

Happy 5th birthday to my little man!

December 4

Alex was so excited to open his gifts today.  We told him he could open them after he finished his lunch and once everyone else was done.  So he walked around and told everyone to hurry up and eat!  :)

December 3

I had my MIL take a few pictures of Doug and me while he was not in his grungy work clothes, which is how you typically see him.  He was poking me in the ribs which is why I was holding his hand like that.  :)

December 2

My little hunter.  Doug took him hunting again this afternoon for about an hour.  They saw 4 doe, no buck.  Nick said he did better and didn't talk as much.  :)  They will try again Saturday morning.

December 1

The one good thing about the snow ... the birds have found my feeder!  I hope Santa brings me a stronger zoom lens.  :)

November 30

I bought Alex an Incredibles costume on clearance after Halloween with the thought that he could wear it next year for his Kindergarten Halloween party.  Well, if it is still in one piece by then, he can wear it.  He's been wearing it almost every day since he discovered it.

November 29

This is what I got when I asked Alex to hold up his new Christmas ornament for me so I could take his picture with it.  :)

November 28

My two personal Super Heroes!

November 27

For the past few years, we've had an artificial pre-lit tree.  Last year it became a fire hazard as some of the wires were shorting and the lights were going wonky, so we pitched it.  I found this one on clearance after Christmas at Target for like $15.  It looked so nice on display.  Not so great set up in our living room.  Oh well, I guess you get what you pay for.  This is before the kids put any ornaments on.  It looks a little better now, but it is still tall and skinny.

November 26

Alex taking a break from ornament making to enjoy some hot cocoa.

November 25

Happy Thanksgiving!

November 24

Finally!  A bird interested in my new bird feeder!  At least this is the first one that I saw around it.  Anyone know what kind of bird this is?  I haven't been able to identify it yet.


EDITED TO ADD:  Never mind!  :)  I think I found it!  I believe it is a White-breasted Nuthatch.  Info can be found here:  http://identify.whatbird.com/obj/362/overview/White-breasted_Nuthatch.aspx

November 23

After the rain stopped today, the sun came out brightly.  I looked out my kitchen window, saw water droplets on my windshield, and thought they looked pretty cool.  So I captured them and got a little sun flare as a bonus.  It is fun to play.

November 22

Alex making butter at this morning's Preschool Thanksgiving Feast.

November 21

Cheating on this one.  Twice.  One - I obviously didn't take this picture.  My nephew Kyle did.  He liked playing with my camera.  Two - it was taken yesterday after Christiana's birthday party.  Okay, now that the confessional is over ... this is a picture of me, Keira, my mom Elizabeth (aka Betty), and my sister Linda.  We were outside and we were freezing.  :)

November 20

First birthdays are so much fun!  Christiana had a good time digging into her own little cake.

November 19

Geese flying south.

November 18

Today, November 18, is this sweet little girl's first birthday.  It is hard to believe she's one already!  Happy birthday, Baby Christiana!

November 17

Alex found this mustache the other day but won't let me take a picture of him with it on.  Nick was willing though.

November 16

I bought a bird house in the hopes that I will be able to better photograph some birds this fall/winter.  We have some cardinals and blue jays flitting around but they don't stay in one place long enough OR they are too far away (up high in a tree) for me to photograph.  I hung it a few days ago and haven't seen any birds in it yet.  Hopefully they will discover it soon!

November 15

Alex at the Purple Playground.

November 14

This picture was not taken today as today was a dreary, rainy (and busy!) day.  

I was just playing around a few days ago when I took this.

November 13

Keira received a gold medal at FFA's Bible Quizzing Invitational.  She only missed 1 question out of 40!  Great job!

November 12

Alex and I decided to take advantage of the warm weather and paint the swingset/playhouse with some leftover paint we had.  Alex ended up with paint on him from head to toe.  Literally.  But at least we had fun.