I'm not even sure how to start this post off, I'm so far behind on my blogging I don't even know where to start.

But lets start here. I'm home! I've actually been home since the 10Th and I couldn't be happier about that. I'm already dreading going back. I'm fine once I'm there but leaving is always so hard. It's so nice to have real food, to get sleep, and to not always have some kind of homework assignment haunting me.

There is a lot I hadn't had the time to blog about so here is a recap for you:

Well, my apartment mate and I put together a team for intramural flag football. It only consisted of 4 games (given there was only 2 other girls teams) and we didn't end up doing very well, but it was fun. I ended up getting quite the beating when I ripped my fingernail off, landed on my head and possibly got a concussion, and pulled a muscle in my leg that hurt so bad I couldn't run the entire game and it hurt for days afterward. I was quite the hobbler for a few days after that one.

I started working at a local elementary school during the hours my classes allow. I work in a first grade classroom and I love the kids I work with. They are all so sweet! This job has really made me look forward to my career in teaching because I really do just love spending time with those kids and helping them out. When I go through my "I'm not sure if I'm doing the right thing with my life" thoughts, I just try to think of how much I love them kids. Sometimes it helps and sometimes I don't feel much better about things, but one day I'll realize if what I'm doing is right.

When I went to the eye doctor for an eye exam to get more contacts I got news I was expecting. Apparently I had spots on my right eye. I was told to cut back on contact wear so he could see if that was the problem. So, I did and when I went back I was told that they had gotten worse. I was then not allowed to wear contacts at all. Apparently my eye had gotten a virus. It wasn't contagious or anything but it couldn't heal with contacts and if it didn't heal it could get way worse. Last time I went to see how it was he said he could barely see it and I would be allowed to go back to contacts in January.

That's really all I got as far as the big things. For the little ones, well I really struggled with biology class but some how I managed to pass it. My little sister turned 13 and I surprised her by being home for her birthday. Whittneys little brother turned 7 and had a party at the zoo which was a lot of fun even for us older folk. Working on the yearbook staff has been harder to manage then I thought it would be but overall it still has been pretty fun.

Oh! Another kinda big thing that I just thought of would be that I volunteered to take pictures of sporting events for the college and now my photos have been used for the recap articles and one even got used on a bigger athletic website.

Well, now Christmas is over, which saddens me. I love giving gifts and shopping is way more fun for me when I have a reason to just go out and buy things for people. Despite the fact that I'm a poor college student who hates spending money, I love buying things for family and friends and seeing them open the gifts I give them. I also love the spirit people have around Christmas, the happiness and extra kindness that people carry around with them. It should last all year but it fades with the season. I wish it would stay.

A new year is not very far away and as excited as I am I can also say honestly that I'm a little scared. I'll be turning 20 here soon and that's a little scary for me. They really are right when they tell you that when your younger you really don't wanna grow up. I didn't really believe it but I do now. I don't want to get any older!

I also don't want to go back to school- but it's something I have to do and it's really not as bad when I get there, it's just the leaving part that's I hate so much.

Speaking of leaving, I'll have to end this post here. I really don't have much else to say and I need to go to bed here soon to- I'm getting up early to go to the sportsmens den with Whittney! I'm excited, I've been wanting to go there and it has been awhile since Whittney and I have hung out. So it will be a good day.

Hope you all are doing well!!!

Love,

Put your hands in the AYer!

This week over at i♥faces the theme is "Hands on fun" They figured after featuring feet and tooshies, it was time for the hands to get their chance in the spotlight! In my photography adventures, I find ideas on the internet that inspire me, so then I go out and use that idea to do my own thing. Also, I love getting messages across in an artistic photograph and so I do that as well. I've gotten some neat photographs that way and that leads me to my entry:

[[Click to view larger]]

Well, what do you think? I enjoy comments- so feel free to leave me one and I will return the favor!

Have you entered your own hands photo this week? Do you want to enter your own or just go and check out the other entries? No problem, just click on the i♥faces logo at the top of this post!

Thanks for looking!!!!


Love,

I Can’t Stop Time But I Can Capture It

My Opinion Essay for my writing class. I hope you like it- The professor did ;)
I love photography; it’s one of my greatest passions and my most favorite things to do. I love the way the strap grazes my neck, the way the grip fits perfectly in my hand like it was made just for me, the way the autofocus whirrs as it gets ready to take the picture, and then the soft but audible click as the camera captures a moment that would otherwise be lost and quickly forgotten. I love how photography can capture an instant, a moment in time that individuals will want to remember but could never recapture. How it freezes that moment so that it can be looked upon for years to come.

Photography also allows me to change something ordinary into something extraordinary. With a camera in hand the possibilities are endless. With the right view and level of creativity I can turn an everyday scene into something phenomenal and breathtaking. It’s almost magical which makes it so much more enjoyable for me. Another thing I love is how a simple photograph can tell the viewer so much. It can portray almost any emotion; from devastation to extreme joy. It can entrance the viewer allowing them to feel as if they were there in the millisecond of time reliving all the emotions and activities that were captured. In this world I can’t stop time or go back to a time and relive it but with photography I can capture it and that’s good enough for me.

I've been experimenting more with different editing actions. The last two are examples of a couple new actions I like, what do you think? Do they work?

Love,

Happy birthday i♥faces!

i♥faces is turning one and they have some special stuff going on to celebrate! The first is a special contest where the theme is..drum roll please.... i♥faces of course! You are allowed to enter five photos but they have to have the logo somewhere in them! You can put it there naturally or by editing but it must look somewhat natural.

To be completely honest with you I was very hesitant to enter this weeks challenge. I had no idea what to do. The only thoughts I had were mediocre and already used. I planned to be original and try to put the logo on there without editing it in because unless you count picnik premium I do not really have any sort of mega photo editing program. But that didn't work because I couldn't think of anything to do that didn't require nice weather..and nice weather we do not have here.

So I then decided I will pass on this weeks challenge. But then I got bored and decided to try editing in the logo some how...and then I saved some photos..then I decided that I might as well try- just for fun and maybe the judges will like my effort =]

Place or not at least I can say I tried! So here they are....

How bout an i♥faces band aid? Better than a finding Nemo or Barbie one I'd think ;) Or an i♥faces inter tube- makes for a wonderful flotation device in the summer (and you could use it for sledding in the winter) Or if your tball team was endorsed by i♥faces? How cool would that be? Talk about good luck and with that brings wins!
Or you can just leave it to the crazy kids that write on park benches..at least they picked something cool to write on it! The cuss words will have to come off but i♥faces can certainly stay!
I have no witty caption for this next one but FYI: not having good editing software did not make this one fun to create...it took forever to do the heart like that!

“I am submitting this photo into the I Heart Faces logo photo contest. By entering, I am granting I Heart Faces LLC permission to consider my photo for use in the marketing and promotion of their website.”

Well, I tried and thats all that counts right! lol. Make sure you check out the other entries by clicking on the i♥faces logo at the top of this post!


Love,

Christmas Part Three: Christmas Eve and Christmas Day

Christmas Eve day started out pretty normal, we all just kinda hung around- baked, cleaned and just enjoyed the spirit of Christmas.

Christmas activities started by Jodi coming over. I gave her the rest of her gifts which I hope she loved! I didn't get any pictures of her opening them that night nor one of us together (although she promised me one at a later date, because she said she didn't like her hair that night lol) but I can show you what one the gifts looked like, it was a picture frame with three openings and the pictures in it were these:

How cool is that!! I am pretty certain she loved it, or at least I hope she did! I was so proud of myself for pulling it off without her knowledge ;)

After that, Jodi curled my hair for church then we said our goodbyes. My family and I then went to church and enjoyed a really cool candle lit service. It was really pretty, except for when the hot wax went through the wax catcher and burnt my hand, that wasn't so cool, lol.

After church we returned home and exchanged gifts from each other. We do that every Christmas eve and its so hard to wait until after church because we are just ready to open something!

My brother and I picked some cool things out for Dana, but she really loved the bracelet we got her!

I tricked my brother: he wrote no clothes on his Christmas list so I taped the gift card to the box lid and put clothes in the box. He was appalled- Are you kidding me??? He said.

But then he got a good laugh when he finally found the gift card, after putting the lid back on, mind you ;)

Then it was time to go to bed so "Santa" could come....

Our tree Christmas morning.

Us in front of the tree Christmas morning, even the dog got in on it.

Dana got very excited about her new chair!!!

Denae loves to open gifts, even more so when they are treats for her!

Tony got what he wanted!

My mom opening one of her gifts!

haha, look at her face. Got to love an excited kid on Christmas!

My dad very excited about his new...jeans? lol.

My mom got a beautiful ring from my dad, and I zoomed up on it with my new camera lens!!! ;)

This Christmas was certainly filled to the brim with wonderful activities, happiness and love..and the gifts were a plus to. I really had a great holiday and I hope you did as well!

Love,

I am thankful

for so many things not just on thanksgiving but everyday. Since its Thanksgiving though, I want to share with you some things I am thankful for:
My family of course. I am so lucky to have such a great family. I know I can count on them for anything because they are always there. I am also lucky to have such a loving family as well. I am also thankful for all my extended family but I don't have permission to put all their pictures up on here so I will have to settle for just saying it.

My dog. I love my dog, shes such a good and faithful dog and things wouldn't be the same without her around!

The girls. They have helped me grow as a person so much. They love me unconditionally as I love them unconditionally right back. They are just a light in my life, always shining and helping me in ways they don't even realize.

My amazing best friends. I couldn't ask for better best friends, they are like sisters to me. They are always there for me when I need them, when its convenient and even when its not. They make me a better person in so many ways. I know I am never alone and can always count on them. These girls are also very important to me and also part of my closest friends group they just were not in the other picture. They also mean the world to me and help me in many ways.

My neighbors. I am so glad that I have such awesome neighbors, we used to have some pretty crazy ones (and still do, but at least we have one set of cool ones to make up for it) its so cool to have such amazing people living next to you. Landon and Gavin are so cute and so fun to be around and by being around them I learn so much. Brian and Randi are awesome role models and they are always so helpful and great to talk to.

I have so much and so many more people to be thankful for but if i kept going this could go on forever, plus I can only share the pictures of people who have given permission for me to do so.

I am so blessed and ever so thankful for all the blessings in my life even if I don't show it all the time. I have it good and to everyone who has helped make it that way, all my gratitude goes out to you.

And to all my readers- thank you for reading and being some awesome blog friends, blogging wouldn't be as fun without you!

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!!!

Love,

So I have this sister,

who celebrated her 12th birthday on the 12th! That means its her lucky year, and hopefully that turns out to be very true! She was so excited talking about how she is a preteen now! lol.

Dana,

Happy Birthday! I am very sorry I didn't get this up on your actual birthday, blame college- its not my fault! Lol. I just need you to know that I love you very much. I remember when I was little I would tell Mom all the time that I wanted a little sister. She said I was stuck there was not gonna be anymore kids for her but then I got my wish! I was ecstatic and still continue to be, even though you take my clothes despite how they do not fit you at all! I love all the notes you leave me. Its wonderful coming home and finding a note from you. And of course having my own personal model around is pretty awesome to. I am really glad that your my sister and I look forward to the many more fun moments that we will have together.

I love you very much and hope you had a great birthday...
and I am not just saying that because you seemed to like my present the best ;)

Love,

Halloween festivities!

I have to tell you, usually not much happens around my house for Halloween. We simply observe the holiday by wandering around with my sister and a few other small children to receive candy, then call it a night. This year was different though, and it was a very wonderful change to celebrate and enjoy the holiday more in its entirety. Having the girls living closer has certainly made a difference because having children around to enjoy holidays with makes them much more enjoyable, especially the little holidays where if they were not around it would not be as big of a deal. Its so nice that they are closer, not just in distance but in heart to. They have been permanently embedded into my heart and my family, along with my actual family (of course) as well as the other people that are near and dear to me. I am so blessed to have the people I have in my life and more so to be able to spend even the littler holidays like Halloween with them.

Here are some pictures of my wonderful Halloween:
The night before we carved a pumpkin! And then cooked the seeds. And just so you know, Mikayla wore that costume every chance she got, she really liked it! Just a new picture of me and the girls after the pumpkin carving!
Kelley and Me! She is one of my best friends. She took the pictures and helped bake the seeds.
TRICK OR TREAT! The girls all dressed up for trick or treat!
Taylor was a kangaroo. Here she was holding up her candy bag, signaling that she wants to go get candy and not stop for a picture lol.
Mikayla was a unicorn, and boy did she love that costume!One of my favorite boys! My neighbor boy Landon who made the cutest cop in the universe! The other of my favorite boys! Gavin who is also my neighbor makes the cutest koala bear!Dana did not allow me the chance for an individual picture of her so here is my lovely sister with Taylor.

Then comes the big kid fun!

Here is me, Jodi, and Whittney all ready for a Halloween party we attended. Don't you just adore our costumes? We wanted to do a group thing so we went as a cheerleader, football player and a Ref. We were the most awesome themed group there! I must say, I was so very filled with pride and thankfulness as we trouped up for that party together. Most of my life I have struggled with friendships and have never had a true friend I could could count on, the ones I did have decided I wasn't good enough for them. I hadn't had a friend who would do the things a real best friend would do (like coordinating Halloween costumes) until these lovely ladies came around and I am ever so thankful to call them my best friends. It was the greatest feeling in the world to be able to enter that party feeling apart of a tight group of friends- to feel accepted, loved, and knowing that I have two best friends who will stick by me no matter what. I have realized these things quite often but walking in as a group was just another bittersweet moment when I realized how truly blessed I am.
Because Jodi has problems with getting her picture taken (yeah, I don't know either. I mean I don't like getting my picture taken either (despite how it looks the opposite with all the pictures of myself on my blog) but i love the memories pictures give me so as long as i am in the picture with people i love i don't mind it as much) well she ran off after we took the one of all three of us. So I asked Randi (my lovely neighbor) to get in a picture with us and so she did. Which made my night ever so more the wonderful because Randi is another person I am so very thankful for- another great influence on my life and i am so very glad she is my neighbor!

Boy am I blessed and even a Holiday deemed Satan's holiday couldn't make me think otherwise! I have terrific family and friends and I had a great Halloween as well. I hope yours was spooky and wonderful!

Love,