Day 18/365 - Last Night, I Dreamed.

I woke up this morning in tears.

I'd dreamt that I was taking photos of my family - and that my mother was there, fussing about not wanting to be in any, that she didn't look nice that day. I gave her a huge hug and told her she was beautiful and that I just wanted a photo with her. 

Then I woke up. 

My mother passed away nearly twelve years ago. She was sick, but no one expected her to go so suddenly. 

And after she passed, we realized how few family photos she was actually in. 

I have a photo of her and I at my brother's high school graduation and one four years later at A.'s baby shower. She died a year later. Those are it now. 

I can't even find a digital copy of the baby shower photo - though I did find these:

So today I tried to focus on some mother-daughter photos, in addition to our family photos. 

And sending them out into the universe as a hug to my own mother.




Yeah - that would have worked, had my son not felt an irrepressible need to never be left out...

and, okay, if I took better group selfie photos with the new camera.

Because, yes.  This photo was supposed to be of all three of us.

Oops.

I think my angle was off?

Seriously - I could NOT figure out how to do this with a big hulking camera!

A. finally took the camera from me.  Can you tell how exasperated she is above?

One shot.  She did this in one take.  My daughter is brilliant.

She also then had my camera.  The day off from school.  And me driving all around.

 

 
 

 

Day 17/365 - A. Gets in on the Action!

Today's photo shoot is brought to you all by my amazing daughter. 

I took this photo, attempting to position the tripod: 

From there, I was relegated to subject only. 

There were a few laughable outtakes - thanks to Miss Violet, who was also indispensable to A.'s creative process.

(This one is seriously my favorite. Vi went on a licking spree, EJ threw up his hands - A. and I couldn't stop laughing...)

(Okay, that was an EJ goof...)

And she got a gorgeous close up of her brother (ignore the cut off bits of her and me).

And even a decent photo of the beagle - who is ALWAYS moving. 

Net result of today's photo shoot:

A lot of laughs, a lot of love, and a bored looking VW Beagle sitting in front. <3

Day 16/365 - A Whole New World!

Okay - the snow world, not so much.

It's deeper than an Accord at this point. It's still snowing now - and more is in the forecast three days from now. 

I braved it, though. 

A. and I took off this evening for Target! It was exciting. 

Why Target?

We needed non video game activities!

Mission accomplished!

In other news - I scored an Ah-MAZ-ing deal yesterday on a dslr camera. 

It has a timer! 

(It's the little things that excite me.)

And I got a tripod. 

So, now I can do this:

And the new NON-selfie!

Yeah, it's a work in progress - but hey, that's US!

Day 15/365 - The Sweetest Thing

You thought I was going to say family, didn't you?

Yeah, family can be sweet. 

Not only are they sweet, they're COLOR COORDINATED! 

But there's something sweeter - which we relished on this Valentine's Day...

Yes. 

Dairy Bar ice cream. 

We drove over an hour to get there, but it's just SO good. 

And, of course, we did photos. 

And today that's as good as it gets. <3

Day 14/365 - I'm Too Tired to Be Clever

No. Really. 

Shoveling exhausts me - and puts me in a lot of pain, aggravating both my arm and my neck and shoulder on the other side. 

So I'm not clever today. 

In fact, I've gone to bed and told the 12yo to be in charge of the 3yo. It won't end well. But I'll be asleep. 

There's a whole lot of snow outside - today was another snow day and tomorrow has already been canceled as well. 

Stir crazy. 

Stir. 

Crazy. 

Within two hours of waking. 

Today was also my dad's birthday. 

There were brownies. 

And brownie batter.

And a whisk. 

 

And so, while my children run wild downstairs*, coming down from their chocolate dessert high, I leave you with this gem:

* they're actually just playing Lego Harry Potter on the Wii, but to this tired mama, they may as well be running laps. 

Day 13/365 - Puppy Love

Dogs?

Really?

But today our beagle got a bath and became the family member everyone else wanted to be with. She smells like a cupcake and is velvety soft. 

Seriously. 

The cashier at the dog store kept calling her Velvet instead of Violet. 

Fitting. 

Photos of Violet are difficult. She's perpetually moving. 

So, of course today shall be dog themed. 

Didn't A. see that coming??

PUPPIES!

Even I took a selfie. 

Me. 

Alone. 

With EJ's puppy clings. 

But a family photo must occur. 

And this typifies our family. 

 A's "why am I a part of this crazy family" face

My "quick, let's take a photo!" face

And EJ's... well, he's a character. 

And puppy love in the background. <3

Day 12/365 - Peace On Earth

It's a nice thought - and one that's still hanging over our fireplace. (Wait - you take your Christmas decorations down BEFORE Easter??)

It's also pretty ironic this evening. 

At around the thirtieth photo, all I want is for everyone to smile. Just one photo of us smiling. In our jammies. Cuz we're cute like that (and ready for bed!). 

Really, dude?  You need to start with the tongue now??

 Finally. Peace on Earth. 

And to all, a good night.