The Best of 2011

Since one of my goals for 2012 is to get better at knowing how to use my camera, I decided to review my photos from 2011.

There were some (ok...a lot) of bad ones.  A few others that weren't bad.  Then there are these, which in my opinion could actually be placed in a frame to display.

Almost all of these were taken after the birth of my shiny 50mm 1.4 lens.  The only one that wasn't was the first one.  It was taken about 2 weeks prior. 

 I'm actually only including it because my husband is actually smiling for the camera, which is a rare occurrence.  You are more likely to get Swine Flu than get him to ham it up for the camera.

Without further adieu....

Big Rock 2011.  These 2 have been friends for almost 20 years.

Lauren on her big sister's birthday and just one day shy of 6 months old.  This was also moments after opening the box containing my new lens.  In love already!

 

Lauren 9 months old playing in the bathtub.

 

A sunset wedding captured of the deck of Breakwater Restaurant in Hatteras, NC. 

11 months old playing in the front yard.

My debut as a sideline photographer using this lens. Thanks to a good friend for trusting me with it for the day.

 It was a good time but also really humbling.  I truly admire those guys/girls who do this day in and day out because it is truly challenging.  My goal for the day was get a few good shots and not get run over by one of these guys.  Much harder than I originally imagined.

Lauren's only other girl cousin at her 1st birthday party.

Lauren showing off at her 1st birthday party. 

Lauren and Tonka on Halloween.  This picture is hands down my favorite photo of the year!

One of Lauren's cousins who used to love being in front of the camera.  Now, not so much.

His brother with Lauren.  He loves Lauren.  Absolutely.Loves.Her.  I love this picture of them together.

Christmas morning 2011.  This pretty much sums up her personality.  Happy and curious all the time.

Finally, the day we went to see Santa this year.  The picture with Santa wasn't bad but also not one of my favorites. 

This picture is probably my 2nd favorite for the year.

There you have it, the year in review through photos.

Oh, the Places You'll Go!

Speaking of Dr. Seuss....

What are my goals for 2012 you ask?

Many of last year's goals will remain, with the addition of a few new ones.

The goals carrying over from 2011 are:

• 
  
  To continue to learn Photoshop Elements.

Ideally, I think it would be best if I enrolled in a physical class because I learn by doing. If you are local to me and know of one, I'd love to hear about it.

• 
  
  Continue to learn my camera by starting and finishing the Two Peas course.

• 
  
  Run 2 half marathons. They can't be destination races this year, so I need to start looking semi-locally.

• 
  
  500 in 2011.

Started this morning. 3.5 miles done. 496.5 to go!

• 
  
  Not to get pregnant nor to have an additional child.

Yes, again.

• 
  
  Continue decorating the walls in my house as well as the actual house itself.

• 
  
  Read 4 books this year. Ideally, this is one per quarter. I'm taking suggestions if anyone has them.

Now for the new items:

• 
  
  Blog at least one time per week.
  


• 
  
  Take more photos of Tonka, as well as photos of Tonka and Lauren.
  


• 
  
  Travel

3 weeks of vacations planned hence the need for local races.

• 
  
  Enroll Lauren in an extracurricular activity such as swim lessons or gymnastics.

Shoot for the moon. Even if you miss you'll land in the stars right?

These are not lofty goals but there are a lot of them. I'm not going to achieve all of them however, having them written out allows me to feel like I am making forward progress all year long.

Here's to 2012 being another great year!

Let's Tally It Up, Shall we?

As I reflect on closing out 2011, I think it is fair to summarize where I've been and where I'd like to go in 2012.

No resolutions on this train. Goals are the most efficient way for me to measure my progress throughout the year.

January 1, 2011 is when I finally threw out the resolutions and started down the path of goals.

On a high level, I think it was productive. It gave me the breathing room to pull back some if needed, in order to direct my focus elsewhere.

For example, when I was at the peak of my running this year, there truly was not room to squeeze much else into my schedule between training and my daily life. During these times the other goals often sat idle until I could direct more attention to them.

How did I do in regards to my 2011 goals?

• 
  
  To learn Photoshop Elements.

Progress = 2% maybe? There is still a lot to learn here although I have learned how to adjust lighting, download/use actions, and of course crop. I've barely scratched the surface on this one so it will remain for 2012.

• 
  
  Continue to learn my camera.

Progress = 75% I took some amazing "for me" pictures this year. This one will remain on my 2012 list because there is still room for improvement specifically metering.

• 
  
  Run this half marathon.

Done with a bonus disaster for good measure just one week later.

• 
  
  500 in 2011.

Finishing the year with 350 miles.

• 
  
  Finally get my red Kitchen Aid mixer.
  

Done. Isn't she pretty?

• 
  
  
  


• 
  
  Decorate the walls in my house.

Lots of progress. The hallway is almost 100% complete. My office is also well underway. We have also added 2 new prints to the living room.

• 
  
  Not least to not be pregnant nor to have an additional child :)

Done. Whew!

• 
  
  Start reading again.

This is definitely the one item where I can say I 100% failed this year. I am alone in saying I didn't read not even 1 book for the 1+ crowd? Unless you count Dr. Seuss I did not make any progress on this goal. Must regroup for 2012.

All in all, I'm really proud of 2011. At times, I felt like I was on balancing on a tight rope with no net below but in the end I can really see the progress I have made. It was hard yet fun and rewarding.

On to 2012......

A Ladybug of 13 Months

What a difference a year makes!

Last year, I propped up this tiny 1 month old to get the token Halloween picture.

Her 1st Halloween.

Our 1st Halloween as a family with a child here to raise. License to dress her however we wished before she suddenly becomes old enough to voice her opinion.

She was still so tiny and new. Having to rely on someone else for her every need. Poor kid.

She survived.

Still tiny.

Less new.

Now she can do a lot more for herself.

In the blink of an eye, she can be across the house terrorizing Tonka. Poor dog. He has a new master who happens to only be about 2.5 feet tall and 15 lbs. She yells his name when he isn't meeting her expections. Tooonnnta.

At least, I know what I have to look forward to in 12 years.

The rest of the time they are best buds. Today they even shared the banana I gave her for snack. She handed it to him. He kind of hesitated, looked at me, and snatched that banana before anyone could change their mind.

Smart dog.

Later we went outside to get the token Halloween photo for this year. It may just be our Christmas card.

Happy Halloween!

Tiny Pirate Fan

We are still here. Things are going really well adjusting to having Lauren home with us.

I'll spare everyone the gushing over how wonderful being a new mom again has been so far. Lauren has really just been the best little baby so far. She sleeps, she eats well, we think she is pretty cute, and Tonka loves her. I'm not sure we really could have asked for anything better so far.

She is such a fabulous baby we have already toted her to her first Pirate game. It was a blast and she did wonderfully! I carried her in carrier all day while she just slept. It was amazing to see her sleep through everything including all the fans cheering.

A Big Little Life

This is the title of a book I recently picked up at the local library. It is written by Dean Koontz. It is a story about his beloved Golden Retriever named Trixie and the impact she had on his life.

So much of what he says in the books outlines how we feel about our Tonka. Never in a million years could we have imagined how much better our lives would be after we brought this little guy home almost two years ago.

He is just such a delight to have around. If you are a dog lover this is a great book. Enjoy!

Snow Covered

We have been having quite the fun time with our wonderful gift from Mother Nature.

Prior to the snow arriving our nephew arrived for a visit as well. It has been great a great time!

Tonka loves to play with him and will probably sleep for several days once he returns home.

And as you can see Tonka loves the snow too!

Bacon, Bacon, Bacon

Oh how I wish I got this excited over a piece of bacon

Tonka Time in the Snow

"Hey Mom, put your gloves on so we can go play in the snow. It is fun!""Is that a treat I see?"


A very rare picture of Tonka and I since I'm usually behind the camera.

So pretty.


Gotta Get the Stick.


Watch Out!

A Man and His Dog


Got the Stick!

Say What?

What a Good Boy!

A Few of My Favorite Ornaments

As a follow up to my ornament exchange post I thought I'd share some of my favorite ornaments from past years as well as this year.

This ornament and another one below are from a collection of three that a very dear friend gave me this year. I'm so in love with them. Christmas just isn't going to be the same this year without my dear grandfather. Papa we miss you!

The reason I like to do ornament exchanges is because each year when I put up my tree each ornament reminds me of different times of my life.


or significant others such as Tonka :)


and Megan Grace.


Or Steve.
Our wedding in St. Thomas


The year we MADE ornaments. I'm not sure I'll ever do that again but I do have a few cute ones to show for my hard work.

And this is my prize from this years party!

This one I'm pretty sure is from my first party.
This ornament and the one below are from a collection of three that a very dear friend gave me this year. I'm so in love with them.

Another ornament to remember Megan Grace.


Jackson Hole. One of our favorite places.

Self explanatory but it still makes me think of the person who gave it to me.

I had this one made for myself. The other side has my name and Class of 2004 painted on it.


Another homemade ornament.


And another.


This one has my name on it and I think it is an old one from when I was a child.

A very cute ornament from a couple of past coworkers.


An ornament to comemorate my first (And only so far) half marathon.