project sort of 365 {days 49-53}

so lots has gone on in our world this past week and a half...mostly involving sick little ones, which is never fun. {so you know by "lots of stuff" i mean, throw up, medecine, snuggles, whining, crying, liquid forcing, and oh yes, don't forget the hot dinarenas} so, again, not a lot to take pictures of, but still gave it a go.

once again...in reverse order :/ i swear i'll get it right next week!

{day 53}

this is such an incredibly rare occurance..both kids asleep on the couch at the same time...yeah, we know they are both still not feeling good. bo was so sweet and ran to grab the camera, something he never does. i am so glad he caught this moment for me...love these babies so much and just wish they were feeling better.
{day 52}
ava sleeping on the couch...never happens, she's totally sick. but looks like such an angel.

{still day 52}
total angel.

{day 51}

happy first birthday sweet boy. isn't he a doll! had so much fun out on his grandparents farm this past sunday! he is a total oudoorsy boy, just like my kids!

{day 50}

max. such a good boy.

{day 49}

hello squirrel...again. in her favorite "wish bear" shirt. the stars definitely make it a "wish bear" shirt. i decided our bedroom needed some major attention, so while hollis was napping i set ava up with the laptop and an instant movie from netflix while i worked! the light is so pretty in our bedroom. i am ready to get it all in order so it can be my "haven"...isn't that what the oprah says?! yes, this was before the sickness crept in on her...i miss that wild girl...ready for her return.

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project 365...sort of

didn't do so hot on the 365 this week...still going to continue...just try to pick up where i left off! not sure why this past week was harder..probobly because we didn't do much of anything, so i didn't feel like there was anything really exciting to take photos of. there were definitely a few special moments {ava writing her first "a"}, but they passed quickly and the camera was too far away to grab in a hurry. so i just got to enjoy them, which is nice, too :) so here are a few shots from the past week...

{day 45} valentine's day of course! one of ava's rocks. she has a knack for finding heart shaped ones. so she has her own heart shaped rock collection. this one is my favorite. maybe i should let her paint it....
{day 44} from a sweet family session. this home was full of love soaking in all the beauty of a new life.

{day 40} coldest.day.ever. seriously, my fingers froze from the walk from the car to the rec. center where ava's ballet class is. bbbrrrrrrrr....

{day 39} poppy swung by with the puppies. such a fun surprise! the kids love walking them :)

xo,

a

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project 365 {day 31-35}

{day 35}

both kiddos in the snow...lasted all of five minutes...started with excitement and smiles and ended with both kiddosin tears because one wanted to go in and one wanted to stay out! lovely! snow is so much fun, but i am so thankful we don't have to deal with it on a daily basis in the winter time down here. it's really messy!

{ day 34}

my crazy girl in the snow. one of the new facial expressions i get when i ask her to look at the camera. lovely. {i guess it's better than sticking her tongue out at me...when flipping through shots, i usually have a few of those...stinker!}

{day 33}

yumm. arrived on my doorstep in the morning...totally derailed my diet for a few days. but oh so good!

{day 32}

ava in the snow. another new "pose" she strikes when i am taking her photo.

{day 31}

when hollis gets up from his nap i always change his diaper and then we spend a few minutes looking out his window. usually seeing what kind of mischief max and roxie are getting into. he loves watching them run and play in the backyard.

so yeah. lots of down time this week since we were stuck inside and lots of snow. uneventful, but nice to slow down and just be together.

xo,

a

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{project 365} days 23-30...a little out of order.

{day 24}

ava's hair. i love the way it smells. the way it shines in the sun. i was looking at how long it was getting while we were eating dinner and had to take a picture.

{day 23}

ava ready for her annual trip to the rodeo and stock show with nonna, kristi, and her cousins maddy and sydney! they always have a blast....& no moms allowed :( best mother in law in.the.world!

{day 25}
laundry...yes, it was ten o'clock and i needed a photo...this is my life after the kids go to bed.

{day 26}

hollis in his new kicks, courtesy of the always fabulous CSN stores! love those chubby little legs!

{day 28}

ava and eli {my sweet friend vickie's adorable nephew}. new friends. i love how children can meet and instantly become friends, invite each other into the other's life and just be happy. so refreshing and sweet!

{day 29}

ava's favorite toys right now...her my little pony happy meal toys. and yes, i am that mom that will drive through and buy only the toy because we are after a certain one. what can i say $1.50 for a toy that makes her world go round. not a problem for me.

{day 30}

sweet dreams sweet boy. love your bunny, love your musical seahorse. all the items you keep close when it's time for night night.

so thinking i should rename this "around the house" because it seems i always end up missing a day or two and as much as i love photographing outside, i seem to snap mostly inside. honestly, i was just glad to get a few snapshots this week...it has warmed up again and my allergies have been raging. i spent three days with a seriously evil sinus headache, so we didn't do much that was "picture worthy" this week. i do feel like a bad mommy because we went to the stock show on saturday and i didn't take the camera. it is so huge. i need to get a point and shoot for those types of outings. my mom had hers so hopefully i can get some shots off of it to share. it was hollis' first rodeo, you know!

weight loss update...for those of you still reading my ramblings...

i am down 6 pounds and it feels really good. i am actually going to go to a weight watchers meeting tomorrow & sign up so i can get the books, etc. i think it will really help keep me on track if i have the materials in hand to look at. and that sweet tooth just keeps coming on strong. it's a sickness really. but, i've been doing this for three weeks now, so i'm averaging two pounds a week...that's okay with me. my goal for feb. is to *try* getting in some exercise, too! thanks so much for cheering me on! it is definitely a battle every day!

xo,

a

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{project 365} days 17-22

sticking to it! even though we had that little hiccup last week, missing a day or two, i got myself right back on track and really love catching a moment each day. i am reminded how much i love snapshots, not everything has to be perfect. just special moments that i will want to remember, even if they aren't technically perfection!

{day 17}

not thrilled to wake up from a nice afternoon nap just to have the camera in his face. he is such a happy boy when he wakes up from his nap. he plays games with me like he wants me to pick him up and then he throws himself on his turtle pillow pet, with the "uh-uh". smiles and giggles. this was most definitely not our usually post nap routine :) i do love the monkey music in the crib...it has been a favorite of both ava and hollis...that may be one thing i hang onto and keep forever.
{day 18}
ava and uncle mike playing princesses, ponies, cars, dalmations, & chipmunks! we adore uncle mike and aunt delores and are always excited when they visit in the winter! they have to get away from that minnesota cold and it always warms our hearts to see them and reconnect!

{day 19}

hello, squirrel.

{day 20}

cleaning. i was cleaning, the kids wanted to join in...why the hell not?! clean those windows with those baby wipes! ha! they loved it...they definitely do not take after me!

{ day 21}

my cowboy. he got this horsie for christmas from nanny and pawpaw. both the kids love it!

{day 22}

quick snap from a shoot on saturday with an old friend. i love that photography has reunited me with so many people from my past. allowing us a bit of time to catch up and see what they have done the past several years. meet their amazing husbands and play with their sweet and beautiful children.

so that was our week :)

xo,

a

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project 365 {days 9-14}

okay, so pictures are all out of order and i've been up editing a session all evening, so i haven't had a chance to get day 15 ready and day 11...well, i have no clue where it is. also, i didn't get a photo today because, well, i left my camera at home while we were out running around. i chose to be able to enjoy my ava without watching through a tiny square snapping pictures. we went to a fun birthday party at chuck e cheese for her friend jonathan. he turned six. i still remember when he was born. crazy how fast time flies.

anyway, here are some shots from around our house and our lives this week! {i'll add a few when i find them...lord, this is harder than i thought...but i'm gonna keep it up! my 365 may turn into a 52...as in one photo to represent each week during the year. we'll see...i'm not ready to throw in the towel yet...i mean, it's only day 16!}

{day 13} it was late and i needed a picture...so my new favorite toy :)
{day 12} okay, i had to document this, as it NEVER happens around our house. my children are the type that have to be in there bed to fall asleep. falling asleep in high chairs just doesn't happen...so this was crazy to me! poor guy must have been really tired.

{ day 9} scrub a dub dub.


{day 10} 5 days old and such a beautiful boy.

{day 14} out at the carter's with the baby cow and all the pretty horses.

weight loss update coming tomorrow!

a

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project 365 {day 8&9}

and without further delay...day 8 & 9!

{day 9} SNOW!!!! barely, but it was here! it didn't stick, and only lasted about 45 minutes, but it did snow!! {too bad hollis was napping so he missed the whole flurry :( }
{day 8} my friend lori's beautiful baby boy. almost a month old already!

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365 {days 3-9}

okay, so the photos loaded up backwards and blogger is giving me such a hard time right now that i'm only posting 3-7...seriously, i've been at this for a good 45 minutes and all i really want to do is go snuggle with my husband who is all warm and cuddly on the couch! i'll add 8 & 9 tomorrow, or whenever blogger decides to quit being so crabby!

{day 7} dreamy sunset

{day 6} ava reading a new chuggington book before bed!

{day 5} ava after ballet/tap class

{day 4} what's on my needles right now...scarf for my sweet friend, vickie!

{day 3} hollis and his oreo face :)

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light

where there is much light, the shadow is deep.

~johann wolfgang von goethe

{ava. from project 365, day 5}

when the days get dark, you are brighter than the sunshine itself.

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