"Angels around us,
angels beside us,
angels within us.
Angels are watching over you
when times are good or stressed.
Their wings wrap gently around you,
whispering you are loved and blessed."  
- Angel Blessing

My little angel is one of four that I've hung over the kitchen sink. 

It's nice to have them looking over me.  

You wouldn't know it from the photo above, but they're only 2" high! 

SOOC-- I posterized the photo, then added a matte and vignette frame. 

Packing Up Christmas...

Today was the day...

It was time to put away Christmas.

We put up early, before Thanksgiving (!), and it was time to take down the tree, pack up the lights, fold the stockings, and store it all 'til next year.

Older Daughter did not want to see it all go.  Truth be told, if it were "politically correct", I might stay decorated all year (and I know some people do).  I compromised... the red glass bulbs now adorn the wall shelf, surrounded by white lights.  Because of course, Valentine's Day is next, and we need to keep the red theme for that.

It was very, very hard for Older Daughter to pack up "the mouse".  The one my Mother gave her at Christmas several years ago.  It sings the "All I Want for Christmas is My Two Front Teeth" in a very, very annoying voice.  Very annoying.  OD cried, sobbed real tears for this mouse.  Even after I explained that it's just more special when you have it only at Christmastime... oh, no.  She was having none of that.  Mouse was not going in.

I continued packing, and grabbed my camera because I still needed a photo for my 365 project.  OD tried to stop crying and asked me to take a picture of her and the mouse, so she could remember it through the year.  My poor baby tried to manage a smile...

Oh, this picture just breaks my heart.  Her nose is red, her eyes are teary... But I'll tell you what.  We continued putting Christmas away, and after a while, she handed me Mouse.  She said she was ready to say goodbye until next year.

That's my big girl.

I have a question for y'all.  When you pack everything in their bins, very neatly like this...

...does it seem like your stuff has a party and you're not invited?  For me, it never looks as good coming out as it did going in! 

This is the photo SOOC (Straight Out of the Camera).  In the first photo, I boosted the color a bit and gave it a vignette frame so you couldn't tell so much that it was packed inside it's plastic storage bin.

 

My favorite shot of the week... my Girls walking together towards the playground.

Memories, Dreams and Reflections 2010

Me! 

I Love You 

My daughters, on the younger's second birthday (older was about to turn six)

Still Laughing... 

It's not easy getting seven cousins ages six and under together (and smiling) for a family photo!   

This photo was taken just before Christmas... and (most) of them look a lot happier!

Winter Wonderland 

Her first time making a snow angel!

Birthday 

The Younger on her second birthday, with the birthday cake my Mother made for her.  She's not sure what to think of everyone singing to her!

The Older on her sixth birthday, holding up the "Pink Princess Dress" she asked my Mother to make for her.

Friends

My daughter at her sixth birthday party, surrounded by her friends.  We had her party at our favorite park, and these girly girls spent the last part of the party playing in the creek.  :)

I Was Inspired...

I used this photo in one of my first Photo Hunt Challenges, and it was picked one of the judge's favorites.  While I have always loved photography, this pick inspired me to find other photo scavenger hunts and challenges to help me improve my skills.  I love Ashley's list of photo challenges!

Spring Fever 

Travel or Vacation

We didn't travel at all this year, but we did take a drive up to the mountains!  Here's a view from the Blue Ridge Parkway, just outside of Boone, NC.  I believe this is the

Summer Days

Lounging in the kiddie pool, with sprinklers and buckets!  I love the rainbow I caught! 

A Day In My Life  

Every day, I meet my daughter as she gets off the school bus.  Here she is on her last day of Kindergarten!

All Smiles

Playing in the Autumn leaves

Autumn Harvest 

Family

I totally stole this picture (Hi, Marci!).  I had planned to use the one of the cousins (above) for family, but I'm still laughing over that photo!  I've used enough of my girls... and truly, this represents family more than anything else.  My Grandmother, parents, brother and sisters, and all my nieces and nephews!  (My sister Marci is probably also participating in Memories, Dreams and Reflections, why don't you check her out here)

Celebrate!

Celebrating my Grandmother's 80-something birthday!  She's smiling at the camera... My daughter's smiling at the cake!

I Miss You

We're making a big move in a few months, and my Sweetheart has gone ahead first to set up hearth and home.  I miss him so much and so do our daughters... can't wait to be together again!

Dress Up 

Downtown Halloween Crawl

Macro

Holidays 

My Favorite

There's a short story behind this photo... if you're interested, you can read it here

Don't Ever Change

You've seen this one before... my two girls, ages six and two.  Sisters that love each other madly.  I love that bond that they share.  I don't want that ever to change

Just Because...So There!

I've always been a little partial to this photo... maybe because I risked life and limb to get it!  We were in the Single Brothers' Garden at Old Salem, and the ground below the peach tree was littered with rotting peaches.  Hundred of bees were buzzing hungrily and busily dining on the sweet nectar of the fruit. 

Thanks for sharing my year with me!  I'm excited that a New Year has begun, and I can't wait to see where it brings me!  All the best to you...

Peace, Health, and Wealth for 2011

Thank you, Ashley, for sponsoring this wonderful way to reflect on 2010.  To see the other participants, please go here.

He Was So Romantic!

Take a moment to enjoy more fabulous creations by these talented artisans!

Photo Hunt Challenge-- December 2010

Happy New Year!

My last Photo Hunt Challenge of 2010!  Unlike previous challenges that I've participated in, I didn't carry the list with me to complete it, I've just gone back and found pictures I've taken this month that best fit the category.  This month had 20 words, and we were allowed to use whichever ones we wanted.   Mine involve lots of snow!

Wishing you all health, wealth and happiness in 2011! 

Holiday Lights

I love my bubble lights, but we just did a tiny tree this year, with no room for my lights.  So, I placed them around my handpainted angels on a wall shelf... I love the display! 

  Holiday Spirit

I love that moment, when they open their present and love it so much they just hold it out to show everyone, with a big smile on their face.  It is truly better to give than receive. 

  A Holiday Treat

We live in the Piedmont Triad of North Carolina, and snow is not very common.  It is even rarer to have a White Christmas... the last one in our area was in 1969!  It started snowing Christmas morning about 11am, and kept snowing until the next morning.  This holiday treat was an afternoon of sledding-- something my girls had never done before!  Here, my younger daughter gets a ride back up the hill by my older daughter.

 

 A Window Display

Taken at a flower shop on Main Street, downtown Kernersville, NC

  A Winter/Holiday Icon

This is the first year since the girls have been born that we've had enough snow to build a snowman!

  A Tree

Our town has an annual tree lighting, with caroling and hot cocoa and Krispy Kreme doughnuts (the first Krispy Kreme doughnuts were created a mere 15 minute drive away!)  And of course, Santa Claus rides in on a fire truck and flips the switch to light the tree for the season!  And we had snow!

  A Tradition

Lucky us!  The last Indie Market of the season coincided with the town's Festival of Lights, and the carolers parked themselves right in front of our tent! 

  Something Precious

Walking toward the playground together.

 Something Cold

  Something Red

 

  Motion blur

The Younger has just thrown a snowball at me

  Black&White Photo (with selective coloring)

My Mom always flies a flag that changes with the season... the US and NC flags fly constant.

  Any photo using an Infrared Photography Technique (in-camera OR post-process)

  A Macro Shot

As of this posting, the linky for those participating is not yet up.  Please check back so you can see the other participants in this month's challenge!