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Day 13- Eyes

I am doing things a little out of order.  I realize I have skipped quite a few days here, but we've been super sick in the Hammontree House.  So I'll have to go back and make up what I've missed.  So here goes.  Day 13 is eyes.  And my loved ones have some amazing eyes!

Grayson choose not to participate.  He refused to look at me long enough to get a shot.  So here are the other three people I love so much.  

Week 6- Vehicle

I am a lover of all things old, old rusted trucks or cars, old broken down barns, houses, sheds.  The more run down and time worn the better.  I don't know what it is about something that has weathered time, but they just do something to me.  I'd have to say that most people I know lean towards newer things.  I'd love a really old house that we could remodel.  Some day, maybe not now but when the kids are gone and we have time and money.  

The assignment this week was to photograph a vehicle.  That was it.  It was left up to us to figure out what that meant.  Of course since I love old trucks and cars I knew what I wanted to do.  The complicated thing was going to be finding something.  

Grayson and I spent a few different days out looking for the perfect old piece of loveliness.  Every time I found one, I couldn't get to it.  It would be behind a locked gate or on private property where I couldn't figure out who to ask permission from.  Then I stumbled on these as I was turning around in defeat.  I love them!

Day 7- Generations.

I am thinking I'll have to come back to this one.  Since moving from most of our family this will have to wait until we are home this summer or until Grandma and Grandpa Hammontree come back to visit.  And since they were JUST here, I don't think that will be anytime soon.  So for the sake of having pictures here on this post I am going to post a few from my mom's visit over Christmas.  I wasn't planning on posting these ever but it's better than nothing.  It was so wonderful to have my mom here.  We were so busy and had so much fun that I really didn't bring my camera out.  I'm so sad that this is all I have to document her first, short visit to our new town!

Day 6- Who they love

I am a little behind this week.  I had a migraine over the weekend and now I have two at home with the flu.  Never a dull moment in our house.  Grayson has been sick since Sunday night.  Mom and Dad were watching the Super Bowl and the kids watched a few movies and had a picnic of CRAP on the floor in mom and dads room.  Night was going pretty well too, until the baby decided to puke during half time.  Poor little guy.  He's had a mild fever, nasty cough, runny nose, and congestion ever since.  He looks just terrible too.  So this morning I suggested that he lay down for a little bit.  He made it clear he didn't think that was a good idea.  So I put a movie in for him and he was asleep before it started.  

Next thing I knew the dog was curled up next to him keeping him company.  So I quick, grabbed my camera and snapped away.  To me this is Love.  This little boy adores his dog.  And the dog equally adores him!

Week Five- Self Portrait

This assignment was really hard for me.  The guidelines on the self portrait this week was that you needed a photo of yourself doing something or with something you love.  Your face didn't have to be in the picture, just some part of you did.  I really struggled with this.  You couldn't have other people in the picture at all.  It took a lot for me to figure out what my loves were.  It has been so long since I have really done something for myself, had time to think about what my loves are.  My time is spent with my greatest loves, my family.  Since they couldn't be in the picture, I was lost.  I'm not that girl that loves shopping, and material things just don't do it for me.  So what was I going to do?  

This is what I came up with.  And trust me it took much thought on my part.  

Venti, non-fat, extra pump, extra hot, no foam Chai Latte

Arizona Sunsets- nothing beats an AZ Sunset

My Canon 50D camera and my Jo's Totes Camera bag

Lake Powell- the greatest place on earth

Snowboarding- like walking on a cloud

Pizzeria Bianco- if you haven't been, GO!

Tropical Beaches-enough said

and of course

Zumba!
My life wouldn't be complete with out my iMAC too.  This is an apple family for sure.  

Then you see just a tiny part of me, my feet.  I wish my pedicure was a bit newer, but I loved it this time.  I had the Breast Cancer ribbon on my big toe.  It seems I know more and more women that are fighting this nasty cancer.  So for them, and all other women, I wanted to show my support.  I would really love to do the three day walk.  If I was in Arizona, I think I would do it with a group I know.  But I don't know enough people here yet to form a team.   

Week 4 of Project 52- Motion

As I said before, I have a feeling that these projects might end up being a little Grayson heavy.  I hope I don't look back and feel a little bad about that.  Hopefully this summer I'll have the other kids in front of the camera a little more.  For now, my muse is Grayson.  This is him playing on the rope swing at open gym.  He loves our Friday afternoons at gymnastics.  

Day 5- Love To Hate

No I don't hate my dog :)  I love him to pieces.  But this dog LOVES to play ball.  He never seems to tire of it.  It really is almost an obsession for him.  If you ignore him while he is trying to play, he just throws the ball at YOU!  He makes you want to play.  I love to hate this about him.  He is always there to bring forth a smile for me.  He is such a part of our family.  

Day Four- What They Wear

This one was fun for me.  I just happened to be doing laundry today.  How could I not somehow forever record what my daily routines are. I love having a family, I love the joy they bring me.  I don't mind cleaning, I don't mind cooking, I don't mind grocery shopping.  I HATE laundry.  I really do.  It's one of those things that ALWAYS needs to be done.  As soon as you think you are done, there is MORE.  I have no idea how really large families do it.  There is only five of us and we have so much laundry.  So this is what they wear.  And yes, that is just two loads!

Day Three-Then and Now

This one was a little harder for me.  I wanted something that would really show the change of a then and now photo.  I really love the way it turned out.  The first picture isn't the greatest picture when it comes to lighting or composition.  Nor is the Now picture.  But it shows the true love between these brothers.  How can I not look at them and be happy.  

Day 2- How they Look

Yes, since Grayson and I spend most of our time together I have a feeling that he will be the subject of many of the pictures I take.  He and I were at the park and I asked if I could take his picture.  This is what I got.  It's the usual silly smile I get.  I have never taught my kids to say "cheese" and yet that is exactly the face I get from him.

Day One- What They Do

Day one was what they do!  I picked Grayson up from preschool today and Michael told me he'd buy us lunch if we'd stay out of the house for a few hours.  He had a conference call that he was going to be on and he needed the house to be quite. So of course Grayson and I went to lunch.  Hello, who doesn't like a little Chipotle now and then?  As you can see this boy loves his Chipotle.  And I love watching him eat it.  I love most things this boy does.  He warms my heart daily.  

The beginning of the journey

This is my journey in finding myself again.  Since getting married and becoming a mother I find that I have lost little pieces of myself.  Sure, I have also found many, many more pieces that I didn't know I had.  Yet, I miss those little things that made me, well, ME!  I don't expect anyone to really follow me on this journey.  Although it would be fun.  I need this for me.  I am hoping to find myself along the way, and also see my photography grow and improve.
I am currently doing the Joy of Love, which is a photo a day for the month of February.  There is an assigned topic as you will see.  The point is to improve the skill of photography but also find the joy in what you love.  For me, it's easy, it's the people I love.
I am also participating in Project 52 with Sandi Bradshaw.  Once a week I will be posting a picture from an assignment.  I joined this three weeks late.  I plan to make those up at the end.  I really want to finish this project.  I wanted to join a 365 group.  But I know myself and I would have flaked on that one eventually.