Project 365 - Day 366

Today's theme is Celebration!  Tonight we are celebrating the end of 2012 with our good friends.  We had great food, yummy treats and finished the night off before putting the kids to bed with some fireworks (as seen below!).  But tonight I am also celebrating the completion of my Project 365!  I did it and I am feeling very proud of myself as I reflect on the last year!  I have a years worth of amazing memories!  I am looking forward to 2013 and another year of amazing memories!

 

Day 31: {1 Photo – 32 Days} December Photo Challenge ~ Celebrate!

Project 365 - Day 365

It's the time of year when people, myself included, start thinking about things we want to do in 2013, the plans we want to make, the goals we want to reach, the so-called New Years Resolutions. There are many things I'd like to accomplish in 2013 but today I pledge to do more random acts of kindness, as my family did today, helping to shovel out an elderly neighbor. Do something nice for someone because it's right, not because you want to be recognized or because you want to get a pat on the back.

My husband, his Mom, Sister and Aunt did not see me take this photo, and I didn't tell them about it either. They didn't do this so they could post about it on Facebook or tell all their friends that they are such great people for helping someone in need. They did it because it was the right thing to do and so I challenge everyone, as they reflect on the past year, and make those resolutions to add this one to the mix because the world can never have too much kindness in it.

 Day 29: {1 Photo – 32 Days} December Photo Challenge ~ Resolution!

Project 365 - Day 364

Daddy, Shaun and Evan get white washed sledding down our hill today!  Evan took the brunt of the blast of snow being in the front!



Day 29: {1 Photo – 32 Days} December Photo Challenge ~ Texture!

Project 365 - Day 363

I'm the luckiest girl in the world to have these guys in my life!

 Day 28: {1 Photo – 32 Days} December Photo Challenge ~ Gratitude!

Project 365 - Day 362

Nothing like a cup of hot chocolate with "smarshmallows" to warm you right up after playing in the snow!


 Day 27: {1 Photo – 32 Days} December Photo Challenge ~ Favorite Things!

Project 365 - Day 361

The boys playing Mario Kart 7 against each other and David attacked Shaun with a shell.


 Day 26: {1 Photo – 32 Days} December Photo Challenge ~ Toy!

Project 365 - Day 360

Shaun was very excited about his unexpected gift from Santa!


 Day 25: {1 Photo – 32 Days} December Photo Challenge ~ Unwrapped!

Project 365 - Day 359

David writes a note to Santa to go with the hot chocolate and goodies.


 Day 24: {1 Photo – 32 Days} December Photo Challenge ~ 'Twas the Night!

Project 365 - Day 358

David wanted to show off his new owl hat, and I wanted to play around with shaped bokeh! Win, win!


 Day 23: {1 Photo – 32 Days} December Photo Challenge ~ Bokeh!

Project 365 - Day 357

Nothing says "warmth" like some cozy Christmas socks and my fireplace!



 Day 22: {1 Photo – 32 Days} December Photo Challenge ~ Warmth!

Project 365 - Day 356

Presents wrapped and already under the tree!  I am ahead of the game this year with only a few more things to wrap.  MIL has also dropped off some gifts too, so it makes for a very festive looking tree!  Looking forward to seeing what Santa leaves for us under the tree!



 Day 21: {1 Photo – 32 Days} December Photo Challenge ~ Wrapped!

Project 365 - Day 355

The Cats have been taking turns using my wrapping station (otherwise known as my bedroom floor) as their hang out spot.



 Day 20: {1 Photo – 32 Days} December Photo Challenge ~ Furry Faces!

Project 365 - Day 354

When I saw this tutorial on I Heart Faces about creating a starburst with the Christmas lights, I knew it would be a part of my 365 project. I wanted to have more than just the tree, but because of the super slow shutter speed, even David being as still as possible you will notice some ghosting.  But overall I'm happy with the results and I think it will be fun to continue playing around with before we pack up our tree in a few weeks.


Day 19: {1 Photo – 32 Days} December Photo Challenge ~ Light!

Project 365 - Day 353

Yesterday we had a beautiful blanket of freshly fallen snow, today we have slush puddles and ice from the rain. Still holding out hope that we'll get another blanket of snow it time for Christmas.



Day 18: {1 Photo – 32 Days} December Photo Challenge ~ It's Cold Outside!

Project 365 - Day 352

There is something so comforting about this image. The quiet, the dark, the freshly fallen snow and my 6 year old boy taking it all in. When I was taking this shot, we were just goofing around and being silly, he wanted to step out in the snow and I had already had the camera on the tripod testing out a starburst tutorial with my outdoor lights. It wasn't until I loaded it to the computer and pulled it up that I realized just how telling this image really was.



Day 17: {1 Photo – 32 Days} December Photo Challenge ~ Comforting!

Project 365 - Day 351

Hands at work ~ making some chocolate peppermint cookies!  We've been busy testing out different treats for our Christmas goody tins!



 Day 16: {1 Photo – 32 Days} December Photo Challenge ~ Hands at Work!

Project 365 - Day 350

Egg Nog Cupcakes! Something Yum!


 Day 15: {1 Photo – 32 Days} December Photo Challenge ~ Something Yum!

Project 365 - Day 349

Sending Christmas cards...


Day 14: {1 Photo – 32 Days} December Photo Challenge ~ B&W!

Project 365 - Day 348

'Tis the season for frosty mornings. Still holding out for a white Christmas!



Day 13: {1 Photo – 32 Days} December Photo Challenge ~ 'Tis the Season!

Project 365 - Day 347

Today we celebrated MIL's birthday!  Her birthday was the 4th but we made plans to celebrate today since it was an early dismissal day from school.  We took advantage of the early dismissal and headed to the movies to see Wreck-It Ralph.  The boys had a blast and the movie was great, I would highly recommend it.  After the movie we headed back the house where I made a homemade version of the Olive Garden's Chicken Milanese.  And of course, no birthday celebration would be complete without a birthday treat a vanilla bean cupcake with lemon butter-cream frosting from the New England Cupcakery!



Day 12: {1 Photo – 32 Days} December Photo Challenge ~ Sweets!

Project 365 - Day 346

The Elf "on the Shelf" ~ Day 11: {1 Photo – 32 Days} December Photo Challenge ~ On the Shelf!

Project 365 - Day 345

One of the traditions from my childhood, hanging candy canes on the tree.

 Day 10: {1 Photo – 32 Days} December Photo Challenge ~ Stripes!

Project 365 - Day 344

Away in a manger...



Day 9: {1 Photo – 32 Days} December Photo Challenge ~ Decorated!

Project 365 - Day 343

Nothing like a little online shopping to make life that much easier this holiday season! And the best part is being comfy on my couch in my jammies!



Day 8: {1 Photo – 32 Days} December Photo Challenge ~ Shopping!

Project 365 - Day 342

This is the reason we bought this house.  It is just as I imagined it would look in my head when we first saw this house.  This is Day 7: {1 Photo – 32 Days} December Photo Challenge ~ The View from Here...looking down at my tree from the upper level hallway.

Project 365 - Day 341

The stockings were hung by the chimney with care...



 Day 6: {1 Photo – 32 Days} December Photo Challenge ~ Burst of Red!

Project 365 - Day 340

Today's theme in the I Heart Faces December Photo Challenge is ~ Someone I Love. The who is super easy! Setting up the shot, not so much! After a long, LONG day at work the last thing my "someone I love" wanted to do was pose for a picture! Lucky for me I can be pretty stealth with a camera!  And wouldn't you know I was also able to get my boys (and I love them too, of course!) in the shots!

Project 365 - Day 339

Christmas tree light shadow play.



Day 4: {1 Photo – 32 Days} December Photo Challenge ~ Shadow Play!

Project 365 - Day 338

Shaun reading (by flashlight!) his Captain America book after lights out!



Day 3: {1 Photo – 32 Days} December Photo Challenge ~ What You're Reading!

Project 365 - Day 337

*Dress Classy * Dance Cheesy!*  Wuppa Gangnam Style!


Day 2: {1 Photo – 32 Days} December Photo Challenge ~ Elf!

Adding this image to the I Heart Faces Elf on the Shelf Challenge!

 

Project 365 - Day 336

This month I'm going to coincide my Project 365 with the I Heart Faces December Photo Challenge. So here is Day 1: {1 Photo – 32 Days} December Photo Challenge ~ Me!



This was spectacular timing, since I just got myself some new bangs today!

Project 365 - Day 335

Christmas time is here
Happiness and cheer
Fun for all that children call
Their favorite time of the year

Project 365 - Day 334

First Christmas card of the season!

Project 365 - Day 333

Some Christmas bokeh and a new haircut!

Project 365 - Day 332

The second annual glowing Christmas Tree picture!  And yes, I plan to do this every year until they move out of my house, and probably even then too!!  Someday they will appreciate all this (or at least they better humor their mother if they don't!).

Project 365 - Day 331

The most wonderful time of the year! I love seeing all the lights this time of year. It makes the fact that it gets so dark so early now that much easier to take!

Project 365 - Day 330

Braving the cold (and wind!) today to watch the Salem Christmas Parade!  The boys were good sports, it was cold, my feet were numb by the end.  But they had fun and loved seeing Santa and the little cars that the Shriners drive.

Project 365 - Day 329

Trim up the tree...

Project 365 - Day 328

Letter to Santa!

Project 365 - Day 327

Perfection!

Project 365 - Day 326

Thankful for this life!

Project 365 - Day 325

Thankful, that after 6 (LONG!) years, I can FINALLY see the light at the end of the diaper changing tunnel!  I'm normally not one for posting pictures of my kids on the potty but this one deserves special attention since this moment might just mark the end of diapers as we know it in our household!  And that is something to CHEER about!

On a side note, potty training is pretty much the worst parenting job ever.  I am not sure if this will stick, but I'm going with it, he's motivated!  After a couple months of him just sitting on the potty now and then, and not doing anything, he finally went this past Saturday and has been willing to keep it up.  He still won't tell me when he needs to go but he doesn't fight me when I tell him it's time to go.  We shall see.  Right now he's enjoying his candy reward (yay for still having Halloween candy left!) and I'm thinking I may need to stock up on some M&M's.

Project 365 - Day 324

Thankful for amazing teachers! More parent/teacher conferences tonight and to thank them for being so awesome I sent in the very famous Chicken Crack Pie for the PTA sponsored teacher appreciation dinner!

Project 365 - Day 323

Thankful for my boys, especially when they are sleeping! Shhhh!!!!!
 

Project 365 - Day 322

Thankful for my mom, the one who taught me the importance of family and what it means to be a mother.  Now, if only I could get her to stop spoiling my children with junk food!    

 

Project 365 - Day 321

Thankful for Miss Karen and the NH Swim School. Not only do my boys have a really fun year round activity that they love, but they are learning a very important life skill as well!

 

Project 365 - Day 320

Thankful for the Doc, my best friend, love of my life, my lobster, he's simply the best. man. ever!  Nothing melts my heart more than watching him with our boys.

Project 365 - Day 319

Thankful for my MIL, who is always there to help me with the boys and to clean my house! I'm very lucky to have her in my life, I won the MIL jackpot for sure!

 

Project 365 - Day 318

Thankful for my little ray of sunshine! He can light up a room with his smile and I never get tired of hearing him tell me that "I'm the best mom EVER!"