And Then We Snapped - Week #21

This week was all about Christmas and spending time with family. I can't believe I'm finishing up another 365 project! Yes I will be starting another one in 2015. 

“The next time you face something that is unexpected, unwanted and uncertain....consider that it just might be a gift.” 

― Stacey Kramer

Tonight we had dinner at my aunt’s house and a small gift exchange. My kids were so excited because these were the first gifts they got to open this year. My son opened his present and it was two toy John Deer tractors so he was super excited. My daughter opened hers next and I could tell right away she was a bit freaked out. My aunt had given her the game operation. Between the tweezers, the buzzer and the funny looking guy on the box she was pretty much speechless.  We opened it up and my son, and my aunt’s granddaughter started to play and they were having the best time. My little girl watched on for a long time. Also my aunt and my daughter went over each thing wrong with Sam and talked about how silly it all was. The whole time my daughter kept saying, “I sure feel bad for Sam”. By the end of the evening she made a deal with us that she would play it as long as we took out the batteries and as soon as we got home she begged to play it some more. I think her reaction to the game shocked us all a bit but I knew she would end up liking it in the end. 

"In the garage

I feel safe

No one cares about my ways

In the garage

Where I belong

No one hears me sing this song"

-Weezer

“The best color in the whole world is the one that looks good on you.” 

― Coco Chanel

'Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house

Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse;

The stockings were hung by the chimney with care,

In hopes that St. Nicholas soon would be there;

-Clement Clarke Moore

“It's not how much we give but how much love we put into giving.”

― Mother Teresa

“Because the greatest part of a road trip isn’t arriving at your destination. It’s all the wild stuff that happens along the way.” 

― Emma Chase

“But how could anyone who's ever seen a summer - big explosion of green and skies lit up electric with splashy sunsets, a riot of flowers and wind that smells like honey - pick the snow?” 

― Lauren Oliver

Now follow the blog circle! Next up is Lori Dozier from Lori Dozier Photography!! 

Recent Reads

And Then We Snapped - Week #20

The weather this month has been too strange, it feels like we moved back to Portland. It's been real rainy.  It hasn't gotten real cold and when ever we get snow it melts.  We were finally able to make a trip to falls park this week too. Otherwise this was overall a very random week.

“December's wintery breath is already clouding the pond, frosting the pane, obscuring summer's memory...” 

― John Geddes

“I feel free and strong. If I were not a reader of books I could not feel this way.” 

― Walter Tevis

"she is made up of depths even the ocean couldn't fathom." jessica katoff 

Falls Park Freelensed

"Those Christmas lights light up the street

Down where the sea and city meet

May all your troubles soon be gone

Oh Christmas lights, keep shining on"

-Coldplay

“The greatest gifts you can give your children are the roots of responsibility and the wings of independence.” 

― Denis Waitley

Today she helped me decorate wrapping paper and she also helped me wrapped a gift.

“If you’re offered a seat on a rocket ship, you don’t ask what seat. You just get on.” 

― Sheryl Sandberg

“Once upon a time there was a boy who loved a girl, and her laughter was a question he wanted to spend his whole life answering.” 

― Nicole Krauss

My last session of 2014! It rocked!

Now take a trip to the other side of the globe to see what Sharyn Thompson photography has been up to. I have fallen in love with her photography over the past couple of months and I know you will too!

And Then We Snapped - Week #19

It has been dark here. We seriously have not seen the sun for days. We're making the most of it and it has been a really good challenge for my daily photos to take photos in low light. I wouldn’t mind a few days of sunshine this week though. 

“When the first baby laughed for the first time, its laugh broke into a thousand pieces, and they all went skipping about, and that was the beginning of fairies.” 

― J.M. Barrie

“Part of the secret of success in life is to eat what you like and let the food fight it out inside.” 

― Mark Twain

“When someone loves you, the way they talk about you is different. You feel safe and comfortable.” 

― Jess C. Scott

“Some of the worst mistakes in my life were haircuts” 

― Jim Morrison

You know Dasher, and Dancer, and

Prancer, and Vixen,

Comet, and Cupid, and

Donder and Blitzen

But do you recall

The most famous reindeer of all

“Do not apologize for crying. Without this emotion, we are only robots.” 

― Elizabeth Gilbert

“It's true, Christmas can feel like a lot of work, particularly for mothers. But when you look back on all the Christmases in your life, you'll find you've created family traditions and lasting memories. Those memories, good and bad, are really what help to keep a family together over the long haul.” 

―Caroline Kennedy

Now head on over to Mel Karlberg Photography's blog and see her week!

And Then We Snapped - Week #18

Happy first week of December everyone! There was a whole lot of Christmas going on in our house this week. The tree went up, Santa’s beard was colored, tears were shed, and on Saturday we even went to go visit the big guy.

“Our hearts grow tender with childhood memories and love of kindred, and we are better throughout the year for having, in spirit, become a child again at Christmas-time.” 

― Laura Ingalls Wilder

“Because I am still a little girl who believes in Santa and the tooth fairy and you.” 

― Laurie Halse Anderson

“Think it over, think it under.” 

― A.A. Milne

“If one cannot enjoy reading a book over and over again, there is no use in reading it at all.” 

― Oscar Wilde

“People observe the colors of a day only at its beginnings and ends, but to me it's quite clear that a day merges through a multitude of shades and intonations with each passing moment. A single hour can consist of thousands of different colors. Waxy yellows, cloud-spot blues. Murky darkness. In my line of work, I make it a point to notice them.” 

― Markus Zusak

You better watch out

You better not cry

Better not pout

I'm telling you why

Santa Claus is coming to town

“Not believe in Santa Claus! You might as well not believe in fairies!” 

― Francis Pharcellus Church

Let me take a moment to talk to you about the Santa photo. This is by far the most challenging photo I take every year. We visit Santa every year at our Zoo. He sits and meets with the children in a giant event room with every high ceilings that is very dimly lit. To top that off the ceiling is painted black so even if I could bounce my flash off of it the black would just suck it in. Also I only get one chance to take this photo. The last few years have all been major failures. Though this year’s photo isn’t perfect I am still so proud of it. Yes the white balance is off, the exposure isn’t perfect and yes there is some grain, but I love it. I feel I captured that moment, and I captured my children’s emotions and to me that’s the most important thing. I took one shot…and this is what I got and I am so happy with it. 

Now take a moment and head over to Mary Slone Photography’s page to see her week! 

And Then We Snapped - Week #17

"When you're a princess you make up your own rules" - Olivia 

“Knowing your own darkness is the best method for dealing with the darknesses of other people.”

― C.G. Jung

“I love you because no two snowflakes are alike, and it is possible, if you stand tippy-toe, to walk between the raindrops. ” 

― Nikki Giovanni

“We can't choose where we come from,but we can choose where we go from there.”

― Stephen Chbosky

Big decisions…trying to pick out which sticker he gets for pooping on the potty. He went with the green slime. 

“If the only prayer you said was thank you, that would be enough.” 

― Meister Eckhart

Happy Thanksgiving! 

“Spring passes and one remembers one's innocence.

Summer passes and one remembers one's exuberance.

Autumn passes and one remembers one's reverence.

Winter passes and one remembers one's perseverance.” 

― Yoko Ono

“Have you ever noticed that anybody driving slower than you is an idiot, and anyone going faster than you is a maniac?” 

― George Carlin

Now make sure you follow the blog circle around to Jenny from Through My Lens.