this could take all day

update time

Starting to feel settled in our house. I'm not tripping over boxes anymore. (Nope, the unpacked ones are in the garage or guest room.) I'm starting to get a routine to my days. I've even had some friends over for playdates!

So now its time to check in with the goals I set at New Year's. I've been avoiding this time, as I know I'm failing miserably at quite a few. But what is the point of having goals if I'm not going to follow up with them? (Can I get an Amen from any of my 4-H'ers who read this?!)

 1. OPAW. 4 projects accomplished in January. One big project (that would be moving) in February. Time to get back on the bandwagon here in March with my weekly projects. This week? A little baby shower present for a friend.

2. Working out. Most weeks in January I was at the gym at least two times. Making the third time continued to be a challenge. Even more challenging? Moving! The closest YMCA is a little sketchy, and the new one being build won't be completed until summer. I haven't been able to find a gym nearby with reasonably priced childcare, so its time to sit down with the hubs and come up with some other plans. A few new workout DVDs? A gym membership for me in the evenings? Would I go and give up my time with him?

3. Blogging. Once again, great in January. And then the move took some wind out of my sails. But as I organized my February pictures I realized there are quite a few stories left to tell...so I'm back to this one. (Minus the little vacay in the middle of the month.)

4. Photo a day! Keeping up with this one and loving the results. Do you guys like me sharing the pictures here?

5. Lastly, reading the chapter of Understanding Exposure each month. Utter fail on this one. But I've got some renewed motivation, so I'm gonna bring it with me on vacation.

So...I think we see a bit of a theme here. January was great. Moving halted it all. March is the start of doing great again. 

Here we go...

coming soon...

My OPAW this week is to organize and backup all my pictures from Oct-Dec 2010. I'm usually a lot better in keeping up with my pictures and blogging and storytelling, but...well...I got behind. What can I say? You know these past few months have been a little nutty.

So along with organizing, look for some blog posts from those months too. I probably won't be blogging in any particular order, just wanna get these stories preserved before I forget them!

Hey...this is gonna help with my New Year's blogging goal as well!

Stay tuned...

1-1-11

As I wrote the date on some bills and house paperwork I enjoyed the way it looked. Welcome to 2011! Here's to hoping it'll be better than 2010 for us AND you!

Darin and I had a little date this afternoon as his mom offered to babysit before he leaves me for seven full days in Colorado. He's excited about some intensive training for his new job, I'm excited for a few playdates we've lined up...but we're both nervous about him being away for so long. 

We did have a nice date and I discussed a few of my goals for the year over a shared cheeseburger. I need to write them down and put a little more thought into the steps, but I want to share them with my bloggy friends here too.

Remember last year's OPAW? It lasted through March and then life got hectic. This year I wanna tackle it again. Be intentional about one project a week. I'd like to add in a scrapbook page too, but I'm not gonna make that a goal until we get moved and all my scrapbook stuff is out of boxes again.

Work out 3 times a week. I've been a regular at the YMCA twice a week this fall, and I really need to kick it up to 3 times. Whether that means 3 visits to the Y or figuring out a different workout for the third day, its gotta get done.

Blog 4 times a week. I've been slacking a bit on the blogging lately and I miss it (and all my commenters!) so I'm gonna make this a goal.

Take a photo a day. Shoot more of our everyday lives. Share those photos here.

I have some goals in mind regarding my professional development as a photographer, and dreams about starting a business, but that'll need to wait until after we're moved and settled. So for now my goal is to study and practice one chapter of Understanding Exposure each month. This way I can really delve into the concepts presented. I love love love this book.

So there you have it:
projects
working out
blogging
photography

Here's to a fresh start to a fresh year! 

more OPAW updates

Well, there have been lots of projects over the past 5 weeks, but not a lot of scrapbooking. I wanted to make catching up a project for this week, and then I got a commission project for Miss Jen (more on that below) so the scrappy catching-up will be on hold for another week at least!

Here's the only page I've done for the 5 weeks: Sleep Tight

  

I wanted a record of the song I sing to her each night and naptime and this picture was the perfect pairing. Sometimes these simple pages make me the happiest.

OPAW Week 8:
I caught up on my Christmas card album. I have an ongoing album where I store the cards we receive as well as the one we send out. I spent this week organizing our cards as well as creating the 2009 page. I'm a little worried this book won't make it much longer! It's getting pretty thick.

  

 
 
 OPAW week 9:
New pictures in the frames around my house! Daisy noticed right away. It took Darin a bit longer.

OPAW week 10:
I made a batch of debriefing cards to use on a 4-H weekend. On one side of each card is a picture cut from a magazine, on the other is a word. The picture and the word don't have to be related. To use them as a debriefing tool just spread them out on the table and ask the participants to choose one. You set the rules: they can pick a picture or a word or either. They can pick one to answer a question or that describes how they're feeling. They were a great tool over the weekend when I asked the State Ambassadors to choose a word or a picture that described how they felt after a long day of leadership training.

  

 
 
 OPAW Week 11:
I had the opportunity to help Dakota design her wedding announcements. On Tuesday she and Sierra met me at Paperzone and we purchased all the supplies to create a batch of wedding announcements. Not invitations, as her wedding is going to be very intimate. Instead, they're gonna send out these announcements to friends and family after the occasion. 

We left a nice spot on each announcement for a photo from her wedding. Did I tell you she asked me to take the photos? Oh well...then we haven't spoken much lately because I'm super stressed about the prospect. The week before her wedding you better believe my project will be reviewing my photography class notes and practicing a ton.

 
 

OPAW Week 12:
My project this week was a commission! Jen emailed and asked if I could create some baby-shower invitations and thank-you's for a party she's throwing for her sister-in-law. Knowing how much I love papercrafts and my dear friend who's too tired to even think about papercrafts, I agreed. These were fun to design and create!

 
 

Some of you have mentioned to me that you've been inspired to do a little OPAW-ing yourself. How's it going for you so far this 2010?

OPAW updates

Started to think I'd forgotten, right? But we're still plugging along with my "One Project A Week" and "One Page A Week" plan.

Week 1

Week 2

Week 3

Week 4 I prepared the girls clothes for consignment (cleaned, ironed, folded, trimmed loose strings) but have yet to make it to the consignment shop. It's hard to lug a box of clothes and two kids by myself. Hoping when Darin's got a comp-day soon I'll get this one checked off my list.

Week 4 page: First S'more

  

"What a great day visiting Gram & Gramps at their campsite in Chehalis. Maya and Macey were there too! We swam, ate good food, played mini golf, competed at ladder golf, and explored an abandoned bees nest. The day capped off with the perfect messy treat: s'mores. You were in heaven."

Week 5 I evaluated all the picture frames in our house, uploaded and ordered a bunch of new shots. I wish that we had endless walls and counter-top space so I'd never have to change out my pictures. I love watching our family age and grow around me. But it isn't the case, so I spent this week agonizing over which ones to change and what to change them too. While I was add it I ordered a bunch more prints to scrapbook as well.

Week 5 page: Family

 

"This is one of my favorite pictures from our time with Dani in the hospital. My sister, Debbie, visiting and holding our newborn. Daisy thrilled to be sharing my hospital bed (and dinner!) while watching a video on the TV. The room was warm and tiny and a mess, but we were all so happy to be together. 7/30/09" 

Week 6 I spent making Miss Andie her own hooded towel.

And the page: Curly Lou

 

"Love, love, love your post-bath beautiful curls! August 8, '09"

Week 7: Fail and Fail. But I did spend a few wonderful days in Idaho Falls and I'm totally thrilled with that accomplishment. And the accomplishment of actually getting home! (The 10 hours in the Boise airport as well as the overnighter in a hotel with a baby and no luggage is a story I'll save for another day.)

But this week I'm back and dreaming up scrapbook pages already!  

OPAW, week 3

Week 3. Didn't think I was gonna make it. Thankfully I had the weekend to catch up.

My project was to organize the girls clothes, and pull out the next set for Dani. Following up, my project this week is to get stuff ready to consign and make an appointment at the shop in town.

And even with the chaos of last week, I managed to get not just one, but two scrapbook pages done! We got a new desk a few weeks ago and I love how much more space I have to scrapbook. Plus, it's really easy to put stuff aside mid-project. Naptimes have suddenly become much more productive and I'm loving it.

Run

  

"It is one of the best things in life to watch you run. You run with such joy, such abandon. Your arms swing happily at your side and the grin that covers your face is enchanting. I could watch you run all day. (Photos, July 2009)"

bringing home baby Dani

 

"Just two nights in the hospital and your Papa convinced our nurses to discharge us. Due to the heat wave, all you needed was an adorable onesie on. You look so tiny in your carseat!" 

Later this week I'm gonna share a super easy project you can do for your sweetie this valentine's day. 

OPAW, week 2; more scrappy stuff too

Week 2 down.

Email inbox beautiful and manageable again!

And a page made too.

Dani

 

"We treasured our time alone with you in the hospital. Cuddling, smelling, discovering, and of course kissing our brand new baby girl. We were so happy to have you here. Welcome to our family little one. You are loved."

 And a few more layouts I finally got around to finishing and photographing.

Easter Egg Hunt

    

  

"The first 'official' egg hunt for Daisy was held at the Arlington Airport. It was a lot colder than we expected that morning, but a free cookie made the wait a little easier. The 0-3 area was pretty much fenced-off grass with eggs strewn about. We waited about 30 minutes for the hunt to begin and watched as hundreds of people gathered with their babies and toddlers around the fence. The fire engine was our signal to 'go' around 11:08. We knew the eggs would go fast and boy did they ever! Luckily, Daisy had a nice little patch she was able to pick up before there was no more to be  had. When the hunt ended it was time to take stock and open our eggs before we left to make sure none contained a coupon for a special basket. (Honestly, we were pretty glad ours were coupon-free and we could return to the warmth of the car ride home.) As we were examining our winnings, a sweet lady came by and 'dropped' a few more eggs for Daisy to retrieve. We really appreciated her kindness and that of everyone who set up the fun for us that day."

Practice Egg Hunt

 
 
 "Gran had given you this fun set of Easter Eggs and had already filled them with coins and candies. So the day before our official hunt we decided to practice in the yard with these eggs. You caught on to the idea right away and loved picking up each egg and shaking it. You wanted to do it all once you had collected them all, so you waited patiently inside while I 'hid' them a second time. You are so much fun! Easter 2008"
 

Cider Mill

  

"Stacey and Tyler introduced us to this spot last year and we just had to head back in October for the harvest festivities. We had a great time exploring the farm and feeding the very friendly goats. The merry-go-round was broken, but our cute Daisy has a way of convincing people to do things like push it around for her! Ty and Darin found some real 'guy fun' in the apple sling-shot contest. And even though we were too late to find any good pumpkins, we all enjoyed a stroll (and a wheelbarrow ride) out to the pumpkin patch. We are lucky to have such great friends in the Rays! (2008)"

Gram & Gramps

  

"We were so thankful to have my parents come for three weeks this summer. They arrived a few days before Dani was born and got acclimated to Daisy and her routines. They cared for Daisy while we were in the hospital and brought her every day to visit. We enjoyed lots of time in the sun together, relaxing and enjoying our fun toddler and adorable baby. And while Dad did lots of work their trailer Mom helped me a ton with housework. I don't think I did a load of laundry or unloaded a dishwasher for weeks! Too bad Dad was sick their last few days here, but we were thankful to visit them again in Crescent Bar for a few days before they hit the road again."

And a couple pages to start an album for Dani.

ready to meet YOU

  

"A morning belly shot before heading to the hospital, and one of me all ready for surgery. Nervous but excited too. Ready for the chance to hold you in my arms. Heart Mama."

Brand New You

 
 
 
 

OPAW, week 1

Week 1 down.

Gift Card purses finished! Now I just need to confirm my aunt's address and they will be in the mail.

And I made a scrapbook page too!

  

Our Little Boxer

"As a newborn you were always making these fists like a boxer. 'Put 'em up!' we'd all laugh. So adorable! 9/11/09 ps: Gram is holding you here."

And man, her hair was sure dark!