Day 365~

I DID IT!

I took a picture a day for the whole year.

I was just really bad at getting them all posted.

I'm planning on taking a picture a day in 2011, but I'm OK with it if I stop somewhere along the way... or if I don't get a picture a day, but do get 7 pictures in a week.

Sometimes I couldn't tell the whole story with just one picture.

Sometimes I had to search for something to take a picture of, because not much was happening.

One thing is for sure, I'm going to try to do like Tara Whitney and get a picture of my whole family once a month.

If I'm successful, I may just have one that will work for our Christmas cards.

Here's to wishful thinking!

I'm also for sure that I won't be even contemplating posting my pictures daily.

But, I may try to post them weekly, like Benita at Chez Larsson.

Love her blog!

She's one of the 3-4 that I actually read every day.

Here's to looking forward to all that 2011 has in store for us!

Day 363~

Great night.

Friends over for dinner.

Computer working again.

Yummy southern leftovers for later.

A clean kitchen to boot.

Quick photo before heading to bed.

Day 357~

Just a couple quick shots before heading to Central... most of these presents will be unwrapped there tonight.

Ahhhh, I'll be home for Christmas!

Day 351~

Christmas cards addressed, stamped, and ready to mail...

better late than never!

Day 333~

Which of the following could cause such a laundry room disaster:

A. Being out of town for the better part of 3 weeks

B. Building, sanding, and painting leading one to escape her home for days

C. Preparing for weekend house guests

D. All of the above

* Needless to say, it's crazy around here!

Day 331~

The tree is up!

Construction is going on in the living room, so it will be awhile before any ornaments are on, but this is a start!

Day 303~

Joined our extended family for a cookout and bonfire tonight.

It was so very nice!

We loved every minute of it!

Day 302~ The Old House

We've procrastinated long enough!

Today was the day to finish emptying out the old house so that we could rent it out.

Seeing it empty actually fills me with relief and not the first bit of sadness.

It is the first home I lived in with Superman, the home we brought our little, bitty babies home to, but also the home we have future plans for.

And for those plans to happen, we needed to move out and move on...

Day 301~

(photo by Cameron)

The joys are so proud of their pumpkin carving skills!

They go out each night, replace the tea light, and light up their pumpkins.

I'm pretty stinkin' proud of them, too!

Day 300~

Probably one of the last of our nights to have salads for dinner for awhile.

It's beginning to cool down, and I'm already having trouble finding our favorite salad toppings- like yummy, summer tomatoes.

Day 299~

I am beyond thankful that Superman loves to do pumpkins with the boys.
I find and print out patterns, then hide behind my camera!That way I'm involved, but not covered in sticky pumpkin 'guts'.

Day 298~

Note to self: When these are the only items in your buggy at the grocery store, the woman behind you in line will ask if you have a sick little one at home.

To which you will reply, "Yes."

The tummy bug has invaded our house, and the littlest joy is down for the count.

SmartKnitKIDS WINNER!!!

AND
THE

WINNER IS...
Mommy Wants to Read!

Thank you to all of you that entered my first-ever giveaway!

And, special thanks to SmartKnitKIDS for graciously giving away their wonderful products!

Congratulations to Melissa at Mommy Wants to Read!

Please email me with the style, color, and sizes of your three free pairs.

I'll be back tomorrow with another product review!

Day 296~ The Big MO

(photo by Cameron)

Beautiful farmland at sunset on our drive to Monetta.
I obviously have much to learn about taking photos at night, but I had no choice but to document the joys' first trip to a drive-in movie!
We loaded up the car with drinks and snacks, stopped by the local pizza shop for pizzas to-go, and began our one hour trek to The Big MO!
It was all I expected and then some!

Thanks to some Facebook advice, we were well prepared.

(Thank you, Sherry!)It only cost $20 for us to get in- and it was a double-feature.

The boys enjoyed 'Legend of the Guardians' and 'Alpha & Omega'.

I mainly enjoyed snuggling up to the joys in the cool, fall air under a quilt.

Poor Superman dozed in and out in various seats in the car.

He had worked all day, so when the first movie started at 7:45 pm, he was already pooped.

Next time we'll do things a little differently.

Like, pack the air mattress for laying down in the back of the car.

After two movies, I realized I'm not as young as I once was.

I think we'll also pull the 3rd seat out and set it up for Superman to stretch out on.

All in all, it was a wonderful night!

Best family date night ever!

:)

Thank you, Superman!

Day 295~

Friday nights are normally date nights around here.

However, Superman has to work tomorrow and we have a family date planned for tomorrow night, so he and I didn't make any plans.

But then I read on FB that the new yogurt shop in our little town was now open, so we had to go!

Well, I had to go!

Superman was not so gung-ho with the idea.

I obviously convinced him to take me!

But, I couldn't convince him to let me take my camera in.

He hates it when I take pictures of random things in public... like gets embarrassed and turns red- sort of hates it!

Bless his heart!

I just couldn't convince him that taking a picture inside the new shop so I could post it here was worth his embarrassment.

Oh well, he took me for a ride around town while we shared a cookies-n-cream waffle cone, and let me take pictures once we got back in the car.

That makes it a hot date, right?

Day 294~

I have been in a funk all week long.

Pooped, grumpy, funk!
Even my pictures have been out of whack!!!So today I decided to do something about it!
After finishing school, I ordered the boys to their rooms for shoes- and then out to the car.
I wouldn't tell them where we were going.
Because of my aforementioned 'funk', I think they may have even been a bit worried that they were in trouble.
So, imagine their surprise when I swung through Zaxby's for kid's meals, then stopped at a park for an impromptu picnic!
:)
We discovered nothing cures a funk quite like fresh air, sunshine, and a picnic with some veggies for Mom...
except maybe all of that & a side of french fries for her, too!

Day 293~

Been one of those days.

Ended it on a sweet note, though!

Ahhhh, Ovaltine!

Day 292~ Drink the Wild Air

At the insistence of the littlest joy, we've added a daily walk to our homeschooling schedule.

Truth be told, I like the idea a lot... it was just the motivation to get up and do it that I lacked!

It felt great to soak up some sunshine (vitamin D) and breathe in the wild, fresh air.
Which, of course, reminded me of a piece of artwork I need on Etsy by Katie Daisy at The Wheatfield.
Superman, if you're reading this... I really, truly need it! :)

Day 291~

What a Monday!

Made it out the door just in time to take the littlest joy to karate, only to hop in the car and find that it wouldn't crank.

I've known my fuel pump was dying, but had no intentions of replacing it until it was all.the.way.dead.

Today was the day.

Oh well, life goes on!

If I had to find a positive, it would be that I learned I should be having my fuel filter replaced every third oil change.

In all my years of driving, I never knew.

Did you know that?

Day 289~

Today my sweet, little brother took the oldest joy to a Clemson game.

With us iving in Gamecock Country, he doesn't often get to Clemson games in Death Valley.
My sister was kind enough to let Cameron have her ticket, and she took the littlest joy out for lunch and a movie while I went to shoot pictures.
Thanks, Ashleigh & Daniel!There are not words for me to tell you how much I just want to smush kisses on this sweet little one's face.
I've loved her since the first day I laid eyes on her!Her big brother is quite a cutie pie himself!
Love these kids!