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Friday, December 31, 2010

365 Days...

Well, I did it.

Okay, fine, I almost did it.

Out of 365 days this year, there were only four that I didn't take any pictures at all.  Not too bad.

I'd say this project was a success.

I had a lot of fun doing it, too.  Yes, it was challenging at times.  I don't feel like there was always something all that interesting to take pictures of.  Sometimes my picture of the day was whatever I could quickly get a shot of before the clock struck midnight.  In fact, I almost called the whole thing off on Day 2.  But I didn't, and I'm glad.  I would really have regretted it.  Sometimes my picture was actually pretty awesome.

As much as I would love a bigger, fancier camera, the nice thing about only owning a point-and-shoot is that it's easily portable.  It fits fairly well in my pocket or purse.  I'm getting used to being that crazy person who takes pictures of everything and everyone, although I still feel like the paparazzi sometimes.

After the novelty of the project wore off, the girls got tired of me taking pictures of them all the time.  All. the. time.  But the last couple of months they've gotten back on board.  They'll remind me to bring my camera, and sometimes they'll suggest things for me to take pictures of.  Chris has been incredibly supportive, putting up with the constant picture-taking, the ridiculous amount of pictures I'm constantly unloading onto the computer (we actually ran out of memory on our old computer a few times before I got them transferred to a disc), and my obsessive need to keep the blog as up-to-date as possible.  So I guess you could say in a way it's become a family project.  I like that.

I'm excited for another year's worth of pictures.  My goal is to do better than this year.  That means more than 361 days.  Can I do it?

Only time will tell...

But it's almost 2011 and I'm feeling optimistic, so...


Here's me hoping for another great year of Project 365!

Will you join me?

Day 365: Ringing in the New Year

December 31
Well, she tried.

Day 364: Thai Spice

December 30
The food at this Thai place was really tasty, but what I really loved were the dishes they served them in.

Day 363: The Beard

December 29
Chris's brother Britton and the beard and moustache that make his mother want to cry.

Wednesday, December 29, 2010

Day 362: En Garde!

December 28
Lexi is about to completely annihilate Grandpa in Wii swordfighting.  You can tell by the looks on their faces.

Day 361: Nativity

December 27
One of my mother-in-law's many Nativity scenes.  This one is from Peru.

Monday, December 27, 2010

Day 360: PENGUIN JAMMIES!!!

December 26
They're comfy.

Day 359: Just What She Wanted

December 25
Santa knows.
Merry Christmas!

Day 358: Solitude

December 24
Per family tradition, we went skiing today (at Solitude Mountain Resort).  It was the absolute best day of skiing I've had in over 10 years.  Quite possibly ever.  Beautiful weather, zero crowds, excellent company, and Vicki finally figured out how to turn, meaning we didn't have to dig her out of snowbanks ever two minutes.  She was fun to ski with this year!  Ellie loved her "play & ski" class and learned how to stop, which is very important.  And Lexi stayed home and helped Grandma get dinner ready.  Which is also very important.

Day 357: Playing With the Boy

December 23
My little brother and his mini-me, Gavin.  If you put baby pictures of these boys side-by-side, I'm not sure you'd be able to tell who was who.

Day 356: Taking Pictures of Baby Zoe

December 22
We partied tonight with my London study abroad friends and their families.  Aaron is a much better photographer than I am.

Day 355: Want a Snowball?

December 21
Lexi's willing to share.

Day 354: Ballet Lessons

December 20
Grandpa has good form, but Lexi's is better.

Day 353: Cousins!

December 19
Ellie and Abbie, playing in "the castle", under Grandma's stairs.

Day 352: Grandma's House!

December 18
We did a very un-Ebert-like thing and left for Utah 10 hours earlier than planned.  So we pulled in at 7:00 in the morning rather than 5:00 in the evening.  Driving through the night isn't the greatest, but it did give us one extra day with family.

Day 351: Gingerbread Houses!

December 17
Instead of packing for our trip, I helped Lexi's class make these graham cracker/milk carton creations.  Majorly messy, but majorly fun.

Day 350: Our New Favorite Place

December 16
Dollar Books.  Nothing over $3.  Heaven.

Day 349: It's That Time of Year

December 15
Christmas present for the piano teacher.

Day 348: Fail Again

December 14
Yep, again.
But that only makes 4 times in an entire year.  Four days that I haven't taken any pictures whatsoever.  Not bad.

Day 347: Birdhouse in Your Soul

December 13
I'm pretty sure this is what that song is about.
I'm also pretty sure I already posted a picture like this, but I can't find it, so maybe I'm wrong.

Tuesday, December 14, 2010

Day 346: Showtime!

December 12
The girls performing a liberal adaptation of The Wizard of Oz.

Day 345: A Season of Giving

December 11
The girls' school held a food drive this past week.  Today a "store" was set up in the cafeteria, and families who needed some extra help with food over the holidays were invited to come shop.  I couldn't believe how much food there was.  The generosity was overwhelming.  A lot of families were able to benefit from this, and I hope it becomes a tradition.

Also, that's a ridiculous amount of mac & cheese.

Day 344: A True Portland Store

December 10
Whole Foods Market, with bike decor on the windows.  Very Portland.

Day 343: An Oil Rainbow is Still a Rainbow

December 9
Ellie was really bummed that the rain had washed this away by the time school was over, so she couldn't show her sisters.  Good thing I took a picture!

Day 342: She'll Probably Hate Me for This

December 8
Vicki is showing off her homemade paper to the rest of her Girl Scout troop.  I have no idea what the expression on her face is about, but I'm just mean enough to post this picture on the internet anyway.

Day 341: Bobby the Scarcrow

December 7
This colorful guy, along with a story about how he came to life on Halloween, was created by Lexi and hung on the main bulliten board at the entrance to the school.

Day 340: Another One Nightstand

December 6
I think that's the same magazine as the last time I did a shot of this.  I guess I should put the books under it back on the shelf.  It doesn't look like I'm going to get to them any time soon.
If you're wondering, the Lego creation is a rose.  Ellie made it for me, and I love it.

Day 339: Deranged Easter Bunny

December 5
The ornament we came home with after a crazy ornament exchange party last night.  Poor Ralphie.

Day 338: The Reason for the Season

December 4
Live nativity from our church's "Come to Bethlehem" event.

Monday, December 13, 2010

Day 337: Teddy Bear Hospital

December 3
By far Ellie's favorite part of the Providence Festival of Trees.  Never mind all the fabulously decorated trees, never mind that we were actually there to hear Vicki's school choir sing; it's all about the teddy bears.

Day 336: For Unto You...

December 2
I love this nativity set.

Day 235: Dashboard Lights

December 1
This picture was a mistake, but I think it looks cool.

Day 334: The Bane of My Existence

November 30
I hate laundry.  HATE it.

Monday, November 29, 2010

Day 333: So, What're You in For?

November 29
There was no school today, so we went to the zoo.  Lexi and this mongoose (which Ellie named Cindy, unless this is the one she named Sinny) were having quite a wordless conversation.

Day 332: Ornaments

November 28
A last-minute, late-night, batteries-are-pretty-much-dead shot that actually turned out pretty well.

Day 331: Decorating the Tree

November 27
Don't you love how she's decorating the Christmas tree in a summer dress?  My kids are weird, but I love them.

Day 330: Macy's Holiday Parade

November 26
Me and my cute snowflake.
We got to walk in the parade with Vicki's Girl Scout troop.  It was a ton of fun - we will definitely be doing it again! 

Thursday, November 25, 2010

Day 329: Turkey Bowl

November 25
It's a tradition in our family to go bowling every Thanksgiving.  We have a blast every year, although every year Chris and I are reminded of just how horrible we are at bowling.  This year Vicki almost beat us both.  And Ellie got the first strike.  And Lexi earned the 1st piece of post-bowling pumpkin pie, lucky girl.
Happy Thanksgiving!

Day 328: Fun With Percentages

November 24
Doesn't this mean that 23% do smoke pot?

Day 327: Snow Day?

November 23
Yep.  They canceled school for this.  Portland is weird.

Day 326: Footprints in the Snow

November 22
It's just a little bit, but that didn't stop them.

Day 325: Look, Mom, Snow!

November 21
We swear it's snowing, Mom.  Not just rain, but snow.  Promise.

Sunday, November 21, 2010

Day 324: Lexi and the Little People

November 20
Here we have Lexi's rendition of "Do You Hear What I Hear?", performed by her and her band of Little People.  This is the Shepherd Boy (in her hand) talking to the Mighty King (in his castle warm).

Day 323: Fangirls

November 19
The four biggest Harry Potter fans I know.

Day 322: Vicki Made Cookies

November 18
And she shared them!  Yum.

Day 321: Dance Party

November 17
To the beat of their own drum.

Day 320: Waiting

November 16
Time for the checkup already.  And, please, no shots?

Day 319: Matchy Hair

November 15
They wanted their hair the same, and I obliged.

Day 318: Mr. Moon

November 14
This is another "Oh, no, I haven't taken any pictures yet!" picture.  Hence the blurry moon-out-the-window-at-almost-midnight shot.  But I didn't forget!

Saturday, November 13, 2010

Day 317: Piano Hands

November 13
Vicki had a "showcase" (pretty much a very relaxed and casual mini-recital) at her piano teacher's house this morning.  She played two songs, and played them well.