31 365+1 2012

I love the colors of this one and the bubbles. I have never photographed anything like this before and was just stunned by the beauty of it.
Wine and 7:00pm that is what I want to share with you today. The first, wine, I have never really been a wine drinker, but in the last year I have found one that I really love: Moscato. It is now Shawn and I's wine of choice and we only really have it when we go out and even then, very rarely. So we decided this week that we would actually buy a bottle for home. What an adventure that was, from selecting the perfect bottle to how to open it. After the drama and thanks to google, we sat down to enjoy our first glass last night at home. And tonight another, and I thought, well what a lovely picture (since I haven't taken one yet today) and a lovely story,  Which leads us to point number 2, 7pm.
I love 7pm most days. It's the time my boys go bed. I can have a glass or wine, take a bath, read a book, watch a movie, play a game with my husband, talk to my husband, or really just about anything else I could imagine. :) I love the quiet it brings, and the joy of the memories it creates. It's our most treasured husband and wife time. I wouldn't trade it for the world, and I am very thankful for it. So tonight on our 7 o'clock agenda is wine, pj's and our favorite game dominon, and I plan to enjoy every minute of it!

30/365+1 2012

Dinner time! I think this is my most favorite part of the day.
We implemented a chore list at the beginning of the year and one of the things on it, is to cook with mom (everyone's favorite chore  - the free day everyone has). I love it, it gets the boys in the kitchen which they love, and I don't have all 6 boys surrounding me every night while I am cooking, which is usually how dinner goes.
I love having some great one on one time with each boy and they are learning how to cook, it's better than a win win! My other favorite things is when we all sit down to eat, everyone takes turns praying (usually two each night), and we dig in. We talk about our day, funny and bad, things we saw or really anything that pops into any ones head is fair game at the dinner table!
I have never taken a picture of this wonderful moment of our life (which is what I thought of when we were eating tonight, hence the picture). I am lucky and blessed that we get this joy each night, and something I hope doesn't change that much as the boys get older and busier. So many memories have been made at this table and many, many laughs and stories have been shared!

29/365+1 2012

I am realizing taking pictures for me on the weekend is getting harder and harder, we are busy or nothing is inspiring me, or I don't want to take the same o, same o shots! I am hoping this changes soon.

I took this picture on Saturday and tried again on Sunday, but of the two I think this one turned out the best.
Dominon! This is my husband and I's favorite game. We have played almost everyday since we got it at Christmas. We love it! Thanks to our friend Ashlea for turning us on to it. Since Christmas we have bought 3 more expansions  for it, we love it that much!! I am sure here soon we will own the rest!
It has been so fun to stay home on Saturday's and Sunday's and just hang out as a family. Shawn and I play this game, the boys play Wii or Kinect or we all go outside for bikes and football  (thanks to our very mild winter) and just have some quality family time together! Precious memories!
As a side note, my husband is kicking my butt in this game, so I am hoping to overtake him soon, his head is getting a bit big!!

28/365+1 2012

Ok not the best picture at all! It was last night in my dark house with my husband's camera phone. But I do love the picture anyway. After our movie our dog was wrestling with my husband and kept hitting him with his paw in the face, then licking him. It was so precious! This is my husband's puppy, it was his birthday gift and he picked him out, they love each other so much. And though poor Aztec is never comfortable when ever we are on our small love seat his cuddles right up next to his daddy to watch tv, sleep or play.

27/365+1 2012

Can you see something wrong in this picture?
It's mix match day at school. All of the boys decided, since all of their clothes match, that they wanted to switch shoes with each other. What clever little men I have. They all thought it was so funny to wear shoes that didn't match and to wear their brother's shoes. I of course made them do 50 poses in different locations to get a shot! They are good sports!!
What I can't believe over all, is with an age span of almost 9 to 4 year olds, they can all fit into 3 sizes of shoes (3's, 1's and 12's)! I'm going to have some giant men on my hands here soon!
I am so glad that the boys love their school and that they all have such outgoing personalities that when things like today arise they put their heads together to come up with ideas and want to participate fully!

26/365+1 2012

Ok not the best shot at all. I am feeling rather uninspired today and I have been crazy busy.
I am an avid couponer, not extreme, but a hard worker and OCD about it! One thing I do is blog, I post my match ups, and every shopping trip (with what I bought plus my spending and savings), it also has tips and money saving advice. Plus this week I was about 4 weeks behind in clipping and putting away my coupons, so for the past two days, coupons have been my whole life! Clipping, printing, organizing, matching up, listing and now I am ready to shop!
Couponing definitely has become a major obsession of mine, well rather saving money has. I can't believe all of the things I paid for without even thinking, things now that I always get for free or at least under $1!  I am so blessed by the others that do so much hard work and I can look at their sites, and I am so thankful for my husband and my children who bear with me as I go to 5 different stores over a few days a week to maximize our saving. I am honored to be able to bless others with things they may not have, because I have an abundance. And as a family, especially one with 6 growing boys, we are thankful our grocery bill is less and continues to go down rather than up every week and we hope it continues to do so as the boys grow more and more! If you coupon, have a great week shopping and if you don't, get into it, save some money!!! And feel free to check out my blog at www.getthescoupon.blogspot.com

25/365+1 2012

A boy and his best friend!
I can't believe I got Aztec to sit long enough for a picture. They were playing hide and seek, one of their favorite games. James hides then claps and Aztec runs to find him!
These two love each other and are always together. James loves dogs, more than anything. He loves to play with them, pet them, help train them, anything! All of his stuffed animals are even dogs, for sure his favorite animal! He keeps asking for us to get more and more dogs, we will see about that! But for now I will enjoy watching and laughing at this two and their games!!

24/365+1 2012

The beautiful Haleigh and her cookies! This is our wonderful girl scout. I met her mom right when we moved in about 3 years ago. We became instant friends. I am very lucky to know their family and have them as such close neighbors. I wanted to go and take some pictures of Haleigh with all of her girl scout cookie boxes, so we had a bit of a fun photo session. This is just one of my favorites of the day! She loves to have her picture taken and was so much fun to work with. She again has set a lofty goal of selling 2000 boxes of cookies this year. I have no doubt that she will reach this, she has met her goal each year and just raises the bar for herself the next year! I am proud to know her and see what a great young lady she is! And if you need cookies and are in the Denver area, let me know, and we will get you hooked up! :)

23/365+1 2012

Taken with my camera phone.
MJ sleeping on the couch during our movie time. He asked to watch jungle book and just about 1/2 way through he was asleep. What a precious little man! He was snuggled up with this blanket and was tightly holding a dino underneath. All I can say is that I love this little man like my own and I am lucky to have him in my life!

22/365+1 2012

Don't even think about taking MY cookies!!
It's girl scout cookie time! The time in our lives where all of our hard earned money goes to these fabulous once a year treats! This is my husband guarding his hoard of cookies, literally he came home with a whole case (12 boxes) of our favorite cookie (samoas). I couldn't resist a picture! Lucky (or bad news) for us, our girl scout lives just a few doors away from ours, so I am sure this won't be our last case! :) Enjoy some cookies today!

21/365+1 2012

Tokyo Joe's! The boys have been asking us to take them there forever, so today was finally the day. I actually got a lot of great shots, but this one was my husband's favorite! The boys had so much fun eating with chop sticks. We had so much fun watching them! I enjoy these special family out dinners/lunches that we have! The boys are all so good when ever we go about, people are amazed, and we are just blessed and honored!

20/365+1 2012

A day late posting, but I did take this yesterday! These are two boxes that I have sitting in my guest bathroom.
Blessings and Hopes, two such important words in our lives! I think we always need to keep our blessings in focus over our hopes. We can always hope and want for things, things that will make us happier, things that will help our lives, a better life for our children,etc. Hopes are not bad, and actually are usually really good! But it's so important to remember whats already been given to us.
A big lesson we are teaching our boys right now is how to have a grateful heart vs. a greedy heart and what that means. This is a lesson for me too on a daily basis, to be thankful for what I have and not always wanting or needing more in my life! There are so many things everyday to be thankful for and I know I go many days not even thinking about what I already have, I just go on in my life taking things for granted. This is something I want to change in this year, to be seeing with thankful eyes and having a thankful heart!

19/365+1 2012

Growing up + boys = Love Notes
I cheated today and couldn't help but post these two photos together! They both bring a smile to my face and joy to my heart! The first one is 4 of my boys walking to their bus stop. Awhile ago they asked me to stop walking them all of the way, since they were now bigger and able to do it on their own. So I walk them to the end of our street and watch them walk the rest of the way.
The second is my son James' first ever "do you like me note". Do you guys remember these? It's so cute!  I could hardly believe it when he brought it home and showed me this "note" from his friend Rose! He also told me she keeps trying to kiss him and he just runs away really fast, but he would like to marry her one day!! Oh my, it's already starting!! It's hard to believe they are growing up so fast, time is flying by and I am anxious to capture every fleeting memory!
I much rather handle all of this kissing and marriage stuff with little boys then girls, I can't even imagine. For all of you mothers of girls out there, good luck to you, and their boy crazy ways!! I will do my part in teaching my little men what it means to be a real man of God and how to treat those precious little princesses that you are raising!

18/365+1 2012

A remnant of fall!
Such a beautiful, very crunchy leaf! I love how this picture really shows how crunchy it is. I can hear it in my head, the sound it would make if I touched it or stepped on it. I love when pictures can do it, draw such a clear memory of something! That is a huge reason I take pictures both professionally and personally. I want to remember, I want to see, and I want to feel the things that were happening in that frozen moment in time. Everyone's mind fades and it's such a blessing that I have pictures to look back on and recall things I may have otherwise forgotten! I don't think you ever regret taking a photo, so go out and capture a memory today!

17/365+1 2012

A cleansing, a new beginning, a freshness! Psalm 51
We got a dusting of snow last night. This morning when I was walking my boys to the bus stop I took my camera and captured a few shots. This one I love because of the texture and the colors. I shot this blind, I didn't want to lay down on the street, it's a bit cold for that! :) So thank you camera for taking the cold for me!  I find that I shot everything from above so I am trying to change that up a bit and get lower in my shots.
I love a fresh snow, it's so beautiful. Being born and raised in Colorado has given me so much experience with snow, and so many great memories.  The beauty of it amazes me everyday, whether it's falling, we are playing in it, or it's just a dusting with the sun shinning on it, is such a glorious sight!

New Foods for John!

I know I have many posts about this each year, John and his new foods, but man it never gets old and brings so much joy and relief to our life! So here is another praise report of the new foods John is trying and even a few that he has added to his short list of foods he will eat time and time again. This year is already off to a great start and the list of new foods is longer already then it was for all of last year combined. The big one so far is potatoes. And since I got him to eat one kind (western rounds we call them), they are thin sliced and have bbq sauce on them, bacon and cheese. He now will eat mashed, these rounds, and fried! Yay! I know it's just one more starch to his already starchy diet, but I am just happy he is eating a veggie!! Another thing I have gotten him to eat was salad, can you believe it, salad! As in lettuce with dressing, a bit of cheese and some bacon! Yay! Now he did say with this he liked the flavor but not the crunchiness of the lettuce. But we can work around that! Ok lets see what else? There is more, which I know is unbelievable, and I must say we are using his Dr. as a scapegoat for us, it has helped that we tell John, his dr. says he has to eat what we are eating, so he will keep growing big and strong and so far that has worked and he has eaten or at least tried every food I have put in front of him. He has had yogurt, homemade gravy, taquitos, chili, burritos, tacos, chicken noodle soup, and grilled chicken and the list will keep getting longer. I am so blessed that as he grows he is willing to try some new things, and has a better vocab to tell me what's good or bad so I can alter it so that he will eat it. Yay for an already great start to the year and I can't wait to see what else will come in John's food department!

16/365+1 2012

I love the natural light coming in in this photo. The colors are bright and having it on the lego table I think adds some fun texture!
CARS! These are the winners of the world grand Prix, as one of my sons told me. He built these winners stands and asked me to take a picture. I think we must own almost all of the CARS, cars. They are every where in my house! The boys race them, talk to them, and carry them almost everywhere!
We love PIxar and all of their movies and own so many of their action figures from the movies.  We hope they keep up the good work!
I love listening to my boys play with all of their toys. They each have their own unique, but very active imagination so it makes play time pretty interesting and really fun to listen to!

15/365+1 2012

My favorite pair of earring! I own so many pairs, it's hard to believe that I would love one pair over another, since jewelry is an obsession of mine, (well that and headbands), but I do. I love these above anything I own, they are the perfect pair for me! They remind me of a charm bracelet, something I have always wanted but never have had. They also were given to me by my boys this past Christmas, so that alone makes them precious! But the one thing that makes me love these above all else in my collection is how they capture and describe me it the most awesome and perfect way. They are a bit vintage and a bit rock, just like me! I love both styles and tend to mix them a lot in my clothes, my hair, my demeanor, everything about me! In all of my searching and all of my buying of jewelry I have never seen anything like them, I'm sure there are others out there, but to me, they are totally and completely unique, just like me!

14/365+1 2012

I know it's not too interesting of a shot today, but it's been a busy day, filled with shopping, cleaning, family and football!
Not to sure about those broncos! :)
This is my very cute youngest son Jordan (my ever willing model), and his favorite animal, friend, pillow pet, person, Broncos! We are watching the game and neither of these two quite know what to think so far! We are a very football driven family, so Sundays, or what ever day the broncos are playing, are shut down for us. We veg out at home, have friends over, and eats lots of yummy/greasy food! Most everyone is a broncos fan, lead of course by my husband, the biggest fan in the world! We all sit down together and watch the game. It's such great family time in our house and I am so glad that all of my boys like it enough to sit and watch, maybe not the whole game but most of it. We are hoping that Tebow will lead our team to the super bowl this year, but we will see!

13(1)/365+1 2012

I found a great pure brick wall tonight as well, and wanted to take a few pictures so my husband kindly obliged, something he is getting used to being married to me! I like the darkness of this one like the other so I couldn't resist posting this one too!
This is my husband (shawn). He is an incredible man and I am one very lucky lady! I met this man when I was only 12 years old. I know 12, crazy uh?! Oh but how life happens, each of our families moved to very different areas!  We each grew up in our parts of the country only to be brought back together 15 years later, a little unbelievable I know. I still can't believe it myself, but here we are almost 3 years later, happily married with the most wonderful 6 little boys! And I wake up everyday thinking I am in a dream, but am very much in reality and loving every minute of it!

13/365+1 2012

I saw this awesome tree shadow on the parking lot tonight.  It was such a unique look, I couldn't help but snap a few photos. I just had my little fuji with me, and really wished that I had my trusty nikon but, I was amazed at how great this photo turned out and the detail that you can see in it. Some what of a selfie since I am in the picture, but I think it added a bit of a fright night piece to it. A girl alone in the woods, afraid and lost.  A night, dark photo is a different thing for me. I love how this project is growing and stretching me, more than I even thought it would.

12/365+1 2012

The other little man in my life! This is MJ, and man is he a cutie! I have been his nanny for over 2 years now! I can't believe it! It has been just a joy and a honor to watch him grow over these last two years! When I first starting having him he was still a baby! I, well actually I and my boys can't believe how big he is. All of my boys say "Mom do you remember when MJ couldn't talk or walk? Now he can!!" I am a lucky lady to have this little guy in my life as well. He gets along with my boys just like a brother and none of us could imagine our life without him in it. One day I hope to capture a picture of him and all of my boys and him and my husband (that's his real favorite), when my husband is around everyone else is chopped liver! :) He didn't really want me to take his picture this morning, hence no smile, but at least I got him to look at me!

11/365+1 2012

Evidence that I might take too many pictures. It is only the 11th day of the year and I am already at 251, and that number doesn't include all that I have deleted over the last 11 days! This may be a bit higher number because of my photo a day project, but not by far. Last year I took 18,112 photos, yes that is right 18 thousand, and 155 videos! Can you believe it? Oh my gosh, I hardly can! I do love photos though and I do love to create memories and capture those memories! So as we go on in this year I am thinking I might exceed last years total, we will see! Moral of the story, go take a picture today, actually go take a few!!

10/365+1 2010

The Eyes are the windows to the soul!

It's the first thing I noticed about most people. What color are they, how to they move when they talk or smile, what shape are they? The eyes are such a wonderful and telling part of a person! Most of us, just by seeing a simple shot like this one, could tell you who the person is, whether they are famous or someone we love, we remember their eyes.
This is my wonderful son John and his very unique eyes. They are such a beautiful blue color with a hint of brown. This was my first attempt at a very up close, macro shot of the eye. I think it turned out great for the first go. I want to take this kind of shot of each of my boys and my husband in this coming year. Everyone in my family has very different eyes so I think it would make for a very beautiful collage of photos.

I was laying in bed last night, thinking about how this picture did not get it's full story shared and I had such a heavy heart about what unfolded after this photo. A bit after this was taken, John took a huge turn for the worse. He was angry because he wanted to play the computer and didn't want anyone or anything to come in between that. So when someone (me), and something (a card he needed to sign) did come in between that, everything fell to pieces. He started yelling at the top of his lungs, saying mean things, pushing, hitting himself and anything else he was close to, just an utter and complete meltdown. It's been so long since we have had an episode like this one. I am so thankful that they only come once in a while, but still they seem to take everything out of me, out of him and out of this family. It's so hard to watch him lose control and not have any way of turning it around, and I at a lose for helping. I do what I can but it seems to never be enough and then helplessness takes over my soul. Living with Autism is such a huge adjustment and heartache many times and in many ways, but there are so many great memories and blessings at the same time because this is who John is and it makes him different and unique and to see the world through his eyes is a life changing experience, and anyone who has met him would attest to that! We couldn't imagine him any other way and we wouldn't want him to change for anything! It's just so hard sometimes to take all the bad that comes with the little good of this disease. We are praying and hoping for a better day today, it hasn't started out well, but there are many more hours to this day, so I am optimistic that there are some good ones in there somewhere. 

9/365+1 2012

I figured I'm not taking many pictures outside, so I ventured out today(even though it's so cold here in CO), but didn't get far. This is our big, beautiful tree in our front yard. I love this tree! This is only a small shot of it. It's really full, not too tall, but wide. It's beautiful all year round. In the fall it has the most wonderful colored leaves gracing it, and in the winter it is so majestic covered in snow, and in the spring and summer bright with green leaves! I find peace in this tree, Every time I look at it, my heart swells with emotion, I don't really know why, maybe just its beauty no matter what time of day or what time of year. Maybe because I have always been drawn to trees. I love them, I love them alive, I love them dead, I just love them and I love to take pictures of them. I am sure you will see this tree and many others over the next 357 days!

8/365+1 2012

Just a lazy Sunday afternoon! Today we watched episodes of america's funniest videos before football started! The boys love this show. I sat for awhile, camera in hand, shooting so many shots every time they laughed. I love this picture of 3 of my boys and their dad, laughing at the crazy stuff on tv. It really did make my day just to sit and watch them. I forget to sometimes to that, time passes so quickly, and I always seem so busy just to sit and watch. This photo will always make me happy when I look at it and remember their great individual laughs and smiles! Thank you Lord for days like today! And thank you for a photo project that is allowing me or even making me seize the day and the moments in my life that may otherwise pass me by.

7/365+1 2012

Our puppy is a puppy no more! Our cute catahoula dog (Aztec) is now a year and a half old!
We were playing outside today and I caught this wonderful shot. He was running around with our boys, and our friends new puppy (tried to get a shot of that cute 9 week old, but that just wasn't working out), hence the tongue hanging out! I love his beautiful and unique white spot on his eye. And we learned a very valuable thing with this puppy around playing with Aztec, he wants or really needs a new puppy brother to call his very own. Those two played all day and he was such a good boy!

6/365+1 2012

Just one of the many snowflakes we have around our home during this time of year! This one is on our front door; it's a cheerful, wintery hello to everyone that comes to visit! I love snowflakes and how each one, even in creative form like this one, are each unique and different. It's such a great reminder of people and how we are all so much alike and yet so different at the same time, and so magically beautiful!

5/365+1 2012

Just a little snack! My favorite ice cream mint choc. chip! I actually got a nice looking round scoop and that is hard to do, so of course I thought was a great picture for today!

I have always put my ice cream in a cup not in a bowl. That's how my mom has always eaten it, and not until recently did I realize so many of my sisters do the same thing and couldn't figure out why. It seems weird and foreign to all of us to put this delicious treat in a bowl. So thank you mom for giving us such a unique way to eat our ice cream! I hope to pass this odd family tradition down to my boys! Lets hope it catches on!

4/365+1 2012

Homework! I have to say this can be one of the roughest times in our house. It's hard on all of us, and the one thing I have learned by having so many boys in school is that I know nothing!  Homework is an adventure to all of us and I'm just thanking God that today was one without blood, sweat and tears! I did throw the boys a bit when I was hovering around taking pictures of them trying to work. I finally caught one where they were all working and not looking at me!

I am thankful that my boys are hard workers, even when things don't come easy to them!

New Year

Oh man the boys are back at school today and my heart is a bit sad! I have so enjoyed Christmas break with my boys. I love days filled with pajama's, crafts, games and movies. I am excited to have a bit of peace back during the days though. I really don't know what I am going to do next year when Jordan is at school. Thankfully I will have Memphis, Quinn and new Baby Brown(Yvonne's baby coming in the spring) here to keep me company! :)

We are looking forward to a great new year. We have so many things already planned. Flag football for Ximon, James and Zeke in the spring. Our autism family ski get a way weekend also in the spring, Yvonne and Scott's wonderful little boy joining the world in the spring, ok well we have a lot planned for spring! :) An adult hawaii trip planned for the end of summer for Shawn, Scott, Yvonne and I! I'm super excited for this! Another year of birthday's and new adventures. We can't wait! 2011 was a great year for us, as most years are here lately, now we are ready and excited for another year! Bring it on!

3/365+1 2012

Oh Ipod, how I love thee, let me count the ways! Music, oh man would my life be dull without my music. I think this is the most used item in my house. I have it on, and blasted at top volume, from the moment I wake up until I go to bed. One day it's going to die and I might die along with it. Music is one of the most wonderful gifts ever given. It gets you through hard days, bring joy to others and creates memories like no other! Enjoy some music today!

2/365+1 2012

Mornings! I love mornings. I love my time to sit down with my coffee and the word. Though this time is not quiet in my house, because everyone is up and running around and asking questions. I still love it. And this picture is also to help me stay on my task of reading God's word everyday, another thing that seems to always get moved back or not done on my list. In this new year I want a renewed since of love for my Lord, a passion that seeps out of my life!

1/365+1 2012 photo project

Day 1 of my 365+1 2012 photo project! I am so excited but nervous to be doing this and hoping I can stick with it all year. I decided to have my first picture be of John. I think he is the greatest example of endurance and that is what I am going to need in this year with this project. So here's to to a wonderful year filled with lots of photos, memories, growth, and love!!