Photography 52 - 52

It was a very Merry Christmas in our household.   My husband and I made a concerted effort to dial down the gift-giving, to stay in a small budget and concentrate more on the time we spent together with our family.  So many times I get this hangover feeling after Christmas, when I am reminded once again, it’s really not about the “stuff” we get; it’s about recognizing and being grateful for the ultimate gift of Jesus.  I think we had a more wonderful time being grateful for what we already have, not what we think we need.

This is my family on Christmas Eve.  After Church we head over to my parent’s house and have our family gathering, open our presents (yep we’re a Christmas Eve family), and then have a wonderful appetizer and dessert meal later that my mom always prepares.  Isn’t my little niece’s dress adorable?  And my Dad never knows when the picture is coming so he forgets to smile :)  

One gift you can almost always find on the list for the boys is Lego, so Christmas morning is spent building.  

Then on Christmas Day my parents come to our house and we cook a big dinner for them.  My older two kids above were SO THRILLED to have to wash all the extra dishes.  Can you tell?   :)  

The little guy’s sweet face.  

My daughter and I both got a few art supplies for Christmas, so we sat down one day and sharpened Prismacolor Pencils together.  I thought all the shavings together looked so pretty in their various colours, and the bokeh of the Christmas Tree is a lovely backdrop.  

Here’s to more beauty and colour in the year ahead!  

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Photography 52 - 52

Photography 52 - 50 & 51

It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas everywhere we go….

(Photobooth I designed for our Youth Christmas Party - really fun!)

(This is our Youth Staff at our Christmas Morning PJ Party in the photo booth.  Blessed to work with these great people)

(giant poinsettia at my Mom and Dad’s)

(little hands decorating gingerbread men and gingerbread houses)

(cookies and candies)

(More little hands working patiently decorating)

(Tags made for my wrapped presents under the tree)

  

Each day Chistmas is getting closer!  Hoping this finds you well, and with a few moments to enjoy and reflect on this most precious of seasons.  I am very much looking forward to the two weeks ahead with my kids home from school.  Making cookies, playing games, spending time together, the Christmas Eve service on Tuesday and time with my extended family.  Thanks for being a blessing in my life readers!  Chat with you again soon!

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Photography 52 - 50 & 51

Photography 52 - 49

I think that one thing I have learned from photography is to see and appreciate the beauty that’s around you in new ways.  From noticing the vastness to the tiny details, I suppose in photography terms that would be the macro and micro, I ‘ve learned to see differently.  Once you catch something visually in your frame it can make a statement, evoke a feeling, capture a memory and I have truly loved that.  

This past week we had a staff retreat in a Rocky Mountain town called Canmore.  We’ve gone there for 9 years now at this time in the calendar and it remains one of my all-time favourite places in the world.  The majesty of the mountains at all times of the year is special but in winter it takes on a whole different appearance of stillness and beauty.  

Friends and I went out on a photo shoot one day for a short time.  We’ve had unbelievably record-cold temperatures the last few days (-30’s Celcius), so we bundled up in many layers and I almost froze my fingers off, but it was SO worth it!  The hoarfrost touched every little detail of the landscape and the crispness of the air and blue skies were gorgeous.  It will definitely get you in the Christmas mood!  

Enjoy!  

My favourite thing from our photoshoot trip was how the hoarfrost touched the wild wheat that grows along the valley.  It was incredibly beautiful.  

The Bow River was steaming.  Amazing that it still stays warm enough not to freeze over in such cold temperatures.  

Inside the house we rent are lovely decorations that suit a mountain home.  These trees are so festive and rustic.  I love capturing the small details that are beautiful.  

A wood garland that hangs over the loft bannister.  

A lamp shade.  The detail on the leather ties is so pretty.  

And my friend’s knitting.  A loving work of art from her hands.  

I hope you have a chance to take some moments to see and enjoy the beauty around you today.  Blessings friends!

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Photography 52 - 49

Photography 52 - 48

How about a little look into what it’s like at my house when I try to take family pictures of my clan.  It was my husband’s birthday and this is how it went...

Kids settle down, let’s take a nice picture…my husband reaches over to touch our older son on the shoulder to get him to sit back.  He takes it as someone attacking him :)  Plus the little one is just a goof ball.  

Next middle son trys to hug his sister.  She obviously doesn’t want to be hugged by him.  

Next, of course they can’t all work together and have nice smiles, someone in there (who loves drama, can you tell who?) has to make some goofy face.  There is never a dull moment with him around.  

And this was as close to a nice shot as we could get.  Sigh.  I love my family.  They make me laugh.  

Concert season is starting!  This is our daughter’s fingers in action playing flute in her Symphonic Concert.  What a beautiful night of music it was.

And the last game of the playoffs for the VB team.  Our son was #8 the setter.  He played every single game except one I think.  Really proud of him.  

A little tip over the net...

And the team picture, some nice kids on the team.  I enjoyed watching them play this season.  

Thanks for dropping by today!  Only 4 more weeks of this photography project!  

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Photography 52 - 48

Photography 52 - 47

Our own personal Narnia lampost :)

The snow was flying this week.  On the day I took the photo here it was like cotton candy all day.  I wish I could capture just how beautiful the big flakes and stillness was.

As much as it means it’s colder, and it means shovelling and driving in snow…there is a beauty to it that is wonderful.  And when the Bible talks about Jesus making us whiter than snow, I know exactly what tham means in real life.

And because of all that snow, I took inside pictures the rest of the week!  This week it was of our hosueplants.  Our new little Christmas Cactus is beginning to bloom and is it ever pretty!

That single blossom is the first one to open fully - isn’t it gorgeous?  

This one captures the delicate sparkly-silvery veins on the petals.  Lots more about to bloom soon!  

And here is the lovely lipstick plant blossom too.  

I’m not terribly great with indoor plants, but these two seem to be surviving me :)  It’s nice to have some touches of green and colour blossoming during the winter!  

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Photography 52 - 47

Photography 52 - 46

It’s the theme of NEW this week.  

We were finally able to see our friends’ sweet new son and snuggle him.  He is absolutely beautiful.  I would likely think most babies are beautiful - but there are some that just seem so perfect and he’s one of them.  Tiny perfect little head, velvety blonde hair…sigh.  Babies are so special, and especially when they belong to someone you love so much.  I was overcome with joy and emotion to meet him and to see his mom and dad as parents for the first time.  

Awake!  

And asleep again.  I love their sweet expressions in sleep where you get an early glimpse of what it will look like when they smile.    He did that quite a bit as we were holding him.  So delightful!

Beautiful blessings.

It has been quite a crazy weather week, we’ve had it warm, then rain and yesterday and today….lots of new snow.  It was really coming down when I took this picture of our backyard.    It won’t be long and I’ll have to get the kids out there to shovel off the trampoline!  Crazy to drive in and shovel, but it’s fun to be honest, and very peaceful looking.

Happy Sunday to all of you!

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Photography 52 - 46

Photography 52 - 45

Pretty Roses today…nothing more than a lovely bouquet of roses my beloved bought me, so I pulled out my portrait lens because it gives such wonderful softened effects, and took some shots.  

Enjoy your Sunday…these photos are my Sunday gift to you!  

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Photography 52 - 45

Photography 52 - 44

Hello friends!  A quick photography post tonight.  Won’t be long and this project is done for another year.  

This past week we celebrated my birthday, my mom’s (the day after mine) and we threw in our daughter’s from a few days ago.  

So here’s my girl and I that night.  

And my sweet little guy again.  I just adore his goofy self :)

And here’s us three birthday girls laughing about my nephew starting the birthday song for us!  :)  He was so excited about the cake!

Sunrise Saturday.  Now it’s unusual for me to see to see a sunrise on a Saturday (or most days for that matter :)  I’m not a morning person!  But Friday/Saturday was another volleyball tournament.  I spent 4 hours in the gym Friday and a crazy 10 hours in the gym Saturday.  I’m so tired!  And he played great too, and I’m sure is much more tired than me!  The boys team earned 5th place, and the girls were playing for gold when we left.  

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Photography 52 - 44