December 2010
112. 2010-12-31 Munchkin braids
We left the munchkin with my parents for the night to have a huge night of partying....we went home and watched non-animated movies until midnight then went to bed. We are real party animals. I spent half the night missing my baby's oft-braided head.
111. 2010-12-30 Birthday funnel cake
Today was my husband's birthday. We went to Bristol Motor Speedway's Speedway in Lights display. He was so psyched to get to drive on the track. There was a carnival in the infield, so we got to eat FAIR FOOD! This was his birthday cake.
110. 2010-12-29 Piano
I haven't had much chance to touch these keys in the last few years. Hopefully the munchkin will want to learn to play when she's older.
109. 2010-12-28 Candy Land
The munchkin got every preschool classic board game I could find for Christmas this year. This means we've been playing a LOT of Candy Land, Shoots and Ladders, Hi Ho Cherry-O, etc.
108. 2010-12-27 Dinner
It is often hard to get the munchkin to eat. This is one meal I can almost always get down her though. She loves "slurpy noodies" (spaghetti noodles) and broccoli! At least her picks are healthy picks.
107. 2010-12-26 Life imitates art
We had a white Christmas for the first time since I was a small kid. It wasn't much - not enough to build a snowman or sled - but it was still a white Christmas to us!
106. 2010-12-25 Santa gifts
The remote control puppy dog Santa left for the Munchkin - and the crumbs from the cookies he ate! She was very tickled with her dog - it's all she's talked about for weeks.
105. 2010-12-24 Santa's cookies
The munchkin left tea instead of milk for Santa. She also wrote him a note (hence the extra T and the squiggle) and drew a picture of the remote control puppy dog she wanted him to leave.
104. 2010-12-23 Bag o` COAL
I made this gift bag for my mother-in-law's Christmas present. It's a running joke in the family. She got a box of rocks for Christmas one year, so this year, she got a bag of coal. No, it's not actually coal in the bag - it's mugs she wanted, but she loved the bag joke!
103. 2010-12-22 Christmas Cake
The Munchkin picked this cake mix out at the store with her Gram and helped make it. Then she iced it "ME ALL SELF!" She was very proud of it. She also enjoyed devouring it!
102. 2010-12-21 Christmas Tree Bokeh
I took the advice of another shutterfly share site user and 365-er to create this. Thanks, Lisa, for the idea and the tips!
101. 2010-12-20 Christmas Story
Let us not forget in the midst of parties and presents and food what Christmas is really about. Praise God he sent his Son to save us!
100. 2010-12-19 Christmas Cookie
The munchkin and her friend had a little Christmas party today. They made ornaments and Christmas cookies and iced them ALL BY THEMSELVES! This was the munchkin's first cookie - right before she devoured it.
99. 2010-12-18 Munchkin
This is our munchkin's annual Christmas tree photo. My husband's family has a tradition of taking a photo of each grandkid in front of the Christmas tree every year at their Christmas party. There is an album for each grandchild set out by the tree. I get to see photos of my husband from his first Christmas to present each year.
98. 2010-12-17 Energizer Bunny
My Mom gave me this ornament when I was a kid. He gets a special place on my tree every year.
96. 2010-12-16 ICE STORM
This is the SECOND day of work I've missed this week. We were so coated in ice that our GRAVEL driveway was a solid sheet of ice. That's right, the gravel was too slick to safely walk on. The grass was even slippery! So naturally, the wisest thing is to grab your camera and go skating in tennis shoes to capture photographic evidence of said coverage. Plus, I had to shoot the red barn. It ends up in all my favorite landscapes, even if it is in as Barn Bokeh!
95. 2010-12-15 2006 Ornament
Another ornament! I love Christmas. I love Christmas ornaments. What can I say, except: TREE BOKEH!
94. 2010-12-14 Munchkin Reindeer Ornament
The Munchkin painted suncatcher ornaments for the grandparents and great-grandparent's Christmas presents. This is one she chose to keep.
93. 2010-12-13 Christmas Cookies
First run Christmas cookies! I found a new recipe for butter cookies - I wanted to try it out and make sure they were edible before baking them to give, and we were snowed in from a small winter storm last night, so the munchkin and I baked cookies. They turned out VERY yummy - just sweet enough without being noxiously so.
92. 2010-12-12 Church Christmas Program
The munchkin was in our Christmas program at church for the first time this year. This was also my first time trying to shoot a program like this - and my first time using my big girl flash - it did pretty good, but I'm still learning how to use it and not overexpose. I also remember one of several reasons I don't like to use flash - REDEYE (I couldn't bounce flash - majorly high ceilings)
91. 2010-12-11 Cinnamon Rolls
I bragged about these on Facebook over the weekend. It started a war of FB friends who wanted me to bring them some. I have to thank Pioneer Woman for the recipe and my dear friend Reggie for teaching me how to make rolls and not be afraid of yeast!
90. 2010-12-10 Baby's Nativity
I love that Fisher Price makes kid-friendly nativity sets. This was hard to find in stores last year, but I finally found it at Target. I think this will be a part of my decor (instead of my fancy "real" nativity) until the Munchkin moves out and demands it back. (So I'm thinking 30 years or so, right? RIGHT?!)
89. 2010-12-09 This Year's Ornament
Every year we've been married (this is our tenth Christmas) I've bought one ornament with the year on it. We have cheap metal ones, way over-priced, if cute, Hallmark ones, and since the Munchkin has been here, several photo-frame ones. This is ours for this year.
88. 2010-12-08 Work Tree
My coworkers teased me that I took and posted a picture of our restroom snowman decorations, but hadn't posted some of our pretty decor. So here is our tree. The girls who put it together did a great job. It's very festive when we come in the door now!
87. 2010-12-07 Ornament
The munchkin hung many of our ornaments this year, including this one. I can remember buying this set, which consists of 12 or so old-fashioned looking carriages, sleds and the like, in the first year or two of our marriage. It's still one of my favorite sets. (And it doesn't break if the munchkin or her clumsy mommy drop it!)
86. 2010-12-06 Stinker
I saw this at Penny's and had to have it. We have called the munchkin our "Little Stinker" since she was teeny tiny. So this is the representation of our Stinker on the tree! I think this will be one of my favs for a long time.
85. 2010-12-05 Avon Ornament
Yup - I buy a lot of Avon. Used to buy more. They used to have really pretty ornaments - like this one!
84. 2010-12-04 Visiting Santa
The Munchkin looks less than thrilled with Santa doesn't she? She'll like him Christmas Eve when we are baking cookies for him and Christmas Day when she sees what he brought her, but as far as sitting in his lap? Not so much.
83. 2010-12-03 Decorating the tree!
The Munchkin was SO excited to decorate our tree this year. She helped last year, but couldn't do a lot of it yet. She decorated the whole bottom half of the tree all by herself this year!
82. 2010-12-02 Temperance Building
This is the Temperance Building (named so because the city was founded on prohibition standards...they have liquor stores and liquor by the drink now, but the building's moniker stuck.) We were waiting on the Christmas parade to start. The blue glow at the bottom of the page is because every emergency vehicle - whether in the parade or not, apparently was required to have it's lights flashing - I think this one was actually blocking off the parade route.
81. 2010-12-01 Church Decorations
This is on our BEAUTIFUL Christmas Tree at church. It seemed fitting to start the month of December with an ornament. Merry Christmas (month)!
November 2010
80. 2010-11-30 Potty Snowmen
We now have observers (coaches?) when we go to the bathroom at work. Poor snowmen, the things you will see in the next month!
79. 2010-11-28 Church Decorations
This is on our BEAUTIFUL church Christmas tree.
78. 2010-11-27 That's IT - DO OVER!
Okay, I am starting over counting on Jan 1st...I am such a slacker! I'll try to better....no, I WILL do better...until tax season, when you may see a lot of photos of calculators and other office supplies.
77. 2010-11-26 Munchkin
We were in South GA for Thanksgiving...it was actually too hot for the long sleeved shirts we had on - it was in the mid-seventies and muggy this day. SO didn't feel like Thanksgiving!
76. 2010-11-25 Throwing leaves
What better entertainment while waiting for Thanksgiving lunch than throwing leaves?
75. 2010-11-24 Traveling oops
WOW - I am really letting things slide this month....does a 7 hour trip with a 3 year old qualify as a good excuse?
74. 2010-11-23 Little Munchkin
This munchkin's whole family is photogenic. She is, naturally, no exception.
73. 2010-11-22 Luke 2:14
To get us in the mood for Christmas!
72. 2010-11-20 & 21 NO EXCUSE
I just forgot. I am so ashamed!
71. 2010-11-19 Snakes and tootsie rolls
There is a big, long, "you had to be there" story behind this, but the point is, I said the phrase "snakes and tootsie rolls" at work today, and, having a big fat pain-in-the-butt cold, it apparently sounded like "sex and tootsie rolls." My coworkers were very amused.
70. 2010-11-18 Barrette
I could say I thought I'd do a depth of field study, but it'd be a lie. It was late, I was sick and beyond tired. I needed a quick 365 shot and this was sitting on the Munchkin's little table.
69. 2010-11-17 Cough drops
These have been my constant companion for days.
68. 2010-11-16 Oops
We had our Thanksgiving dinner at work. This delicious-looking broccoli casserole didn't survive. It EXPLODED when it was set down out of the oven. We all mourned.
67. 2010-11-15 Thermometer
This thermometer is on my desk at work. Yes, I went to work with a 102 degree temperature. I kept Purell on my desk and told everyone to stay away, but on a short month, I've got too much to do to be sick!!
66. 2010-11-14 Illness Oops
Apparently, I over-shopped yesterday. And apparently, a 101.9 fever will make me forget my project 365. :(
65. 2010-11-13 Christmas Shopping Loot
Remember the early-bird specials mentioned on the previous day? Well, here's a taste of it....Christmas shopping for a munchkin is so much FUN!!!
64. 2010-11-12 Sticky buns
This was my first attempt at from-scratch sticky buns. They turned out great except for the goo in the bottom of the pan that overflowed, burned onto the ENTIRE bottom of the oven, and filled the house with smoke. At 11:00 at night. When I need to be up at 5:30 in the morning to hit some early-bird specials. The sticky buns were delicious, but my house smelled like burned caramel for days afterward.
63. 2010-11-11 New Haircut
I cut the Munchkin's hair to her chin in March. It'd grown back more than halfway to her waist by now. It took a good 10 minutes to get it dry with a blowdryer. So it was time for a BIG trim!
62. 2010-11-10 Sky
Ooooo...pretty sunset sky!!!
61. 2010-11-09 Rara's Girl
When the Munchkin was first starting to talk, she began calling her Nana "rahrah" instead. She had problems with N's. Well, she had problems with words, period. She's conquered her vocabulary issues famously, but the name Rara stuck. So Nana is now Rara. I think it suits her better anyway.
60. 2010-11-08 Overworked Keyboard
This is my keyboard at work. If you use my computer, I hope you know how to type, because hunting and pecking on my keyboard just won't cut it. I've rubbed most of the letters off. Just an example of how hard I work, right? :)
59. 2010-11-07 Two Munchkins
It's so sweet to watch the Munchkin playing with her little cousin. They play so well together now, and really share pretty well too, especially considering their ages.
58. 2010-11-06 Rowan
Meet Rowan, the softest, most kitteny feeling, cat I've ever met.
57. 2010-11-05 McRib
It's BAAAACK! I love this sandwich. Can someone PLEASE tell me why McD's part-times the best (and only edible, in my opinion) sandwich on their menu?!
56. 2010-11-04 Preschool technology
She just LOVES her Daddy's Droid. The scary thing is she can get into the applications, find the one she wants (usually a paint program), open it, paint on it, change colors, clear it, and start again! Now she's figured out how to change the paintbrush size. On her own. She's three. She's going to be smarter than me before she even starts school!!
55. 2010-11-03 Awanas badge
The munchkin earned her first AWANAS badge this week for memorizing Bible verses! I'm so proud of her!
54. 2010-11-02 I Voted
Did you?
53. 2010-11-01 Sneezy
This poor cat spent the last three years in hiding from my munchkin. He's finally getting used to her.
October 2010
52. 2010-10-31 Disney on Ice
This was actually a really good show! The skaters were very talented.
51. 2010-10-30 Trick or Treating
Since Halloween fell on Sunday this year, many cities and counties in the area decided to celebrate on Saturday instead, which works GREAT for me!
50. 2010-10-29 First Candy
The insanity has begun! Let the (sugar high) good times roll!
49. 2010-10-28 Jack O Lantern
The munchkin drew her own pattern for her Jack O Lantern, and her Daddy cut it out for her.
48. 2010-10-27 Bad hair day cow
Anyone else ever have hair days like this?
47. 2010-10-26 Calm in the storm
Several years ago, this area was ravaged by tornadoes, which was, before then, unheard of in our mountainous area. It happened around this time of year, after a VERY balmy late-fall day. (As in, wearing sundresses to church in November balmy). Today was much like that, so when the tornado warnings came out today, our boss sent everyone to our building's basement. The storm skirted around us, and the sky was BEAUTIFUL instead.
46. 2010-10-24 Silly Kids
Sometimes, you just need a silly snapshot to make you smile!
45. 2010-10-23 Plymouth
Don't ask me the year, I have NO clue. It looked like a gangster car, though.
44. 2010-10-22 Cherohala Skyway
This is near the famous "tail of the dragon" that motorcyclists love. It is also very popular with motorcyclists. It's a great place to view fall foliage while avoiding the insane crowds that slam the Great Smoky Mountains National Park this time of year.
43. 2010-10-21 Skeleton
My office decoration for Halloween. He has a happy face too, but he usually is turned this way....
42. 2010-10-20 Caution
Caution - I was running out of ideas for shots...
41. 2010-10-19 Pizza
Gondolier's Super Veggie Pizza - it's what's for dinner.
40. 2010-10-18 Laptop
I've been looking at this a lot lately, editing pictures. I take LOTS of pictures in October.
39. 2010-10-17 Italian open face sandwich
Yummy! My husband found this recipe - garlic toast, roasted red peppers, deli sliced turkey, salami, banana peppers and cheese! Very good, quick meal!
38. 2010-10-16 Irony
A good business model? Saw this in Sevierville this weekend.
37. 2010-10-15 Sewing machine
I've spent some quality time with this little machine lately. Halloween is coming quickly!
36. 2010-10-14 Halloween Costume Tutu
Any guesses what I've been doing?
35. 2010-10-13 Cows
Our cattle have attitude problems. Can you see the "what *you* lookin' at" look on her face?!
34. 2010-10-12 Cosmos
Pretty flowers with fall foliage in the background! I love Tennessee fall!
33. 2010-10-11 Petty Office Thief
This is what happens when I don't have a rubber band and my hair starts annoying me. I forgot I'd stolen office supplies until I got home. And yes, I returned them. And yes, I did, in fact, take this photo myself. I am quite the contortionist when it comes to getting the shot I want. This was actually only the second or third attempt to get it in focus and in the frame!
32. 2010-10-10 Bee on Lantana
The bees seem to be frantic to get to the flowers before the frost kills them all.
31. 2010-10-09 Fishing
The munchkin got to take her brand new pole out on the lake.
30. 2010-10-08 "baby" bed
This baby had a bed made in the middle of my living room floor.
29. 2010-10-07 Fishin
The munchkin fishing "me all self!" She was so excited to have her very own pole.
28. 2010-10-06 First frost on Mums
We went from the high eighties as highs to lows near freezing in a matter of a day or two. I got mums on to add to my fall display on Monday, and Tuesday it frosted lightly. Wednesday, it frosted HEAVILY. The grass almost looked snowy. The mums survived, but I'm somewhat surprised.
27. 2010-10-05 Hwy bumper view
I'm taking a picture from here every day on my way home from work in an effort to document the fall leaf changes. Sometimes I get silly and do things like take the photo from the perspective of a car bumper. You know, by sitting in the middle of a state highway. It's a smart thing I do, really, it is.
26. 2010-10-04 Crayons.jpg
So some days I forget my 365 picture until bedtime. These were sitting out on the table. Come to think of it, boxes of these are all over my house. My daughter is not the only one who likes to color.
25. 2010-10-03 Smiles
The munchkin's fall portrait. We went through a lot of closed eyes and grimace-smiles to get to this.
24. 2010-10-02 Balloon Festival
Pellissippi State Community College hosts a Hot Air Balloon Festival every year. There are several concerts, tethered balloon rides, craft vendors, a children's area, and FAIR FOOD! Plus a lot of great photo ops!
23. 2010-10-01 Fall Display
I planted these. Can't take credit for growing them, God did that. But I did plant them. Can't take credit for picking them either, my husband did that. I washed the mud off of them, though! :)
September 2010
22. 2010-09-30 Highway
If you hear any reports of a crazy girl running into the middle of the highway, ignore them, it's just me. I'm trying to document the change in leaves this year from this particular spot, so I'll be standing in the middle of the highway a lot in the next month. For the record, this is not the typical road in our area....this particular part of it is RIGHT at the edge of the plateau and it's actually relatively flat and straight. You can see the mountains in the distance, that's where our typical curvy, hold on for dear life roads are. Well, and right behind me, too. :)
21. 2010-09-29 Clouds over barn
The skies have been so beautiful, I can't help but grab the camera! Have I mentioned I love this barn? There will probably be quite a few barn shots in the next 300 or so days.
20. 2010-09-28 Clouds over pond
The change in temperatures, finally easing us into fall, have brought some beautiful clouds & bright blue skies. Not many changing leaves yet, but it'll be here soon.
19. 2010-09-27 Taming the Beast
Sneezy spent the first two + years of the Munchkin's life hiding. She's finally calming (and not chasing him so badly) and he's finally warming up to her and letting her pet him.
18. 2010-09-26 Halloween Snowglobe
The Munchkin's new Halloween snowglobe. I'm not sure what to think of the orange snow...
17. 2010-09-25 White donkey
This photo is compositionally lacking, I know, but I loved the sky and apparently white donkeys are a rarity. This one lives on the farm next to us and has a VERY big mouth. He's also pitifully matted with burrs in his mane. The owners of the farm next to us are not really good at taking care of their livestock, or keeping them in their fence.
16. 2010-09-24 Calves
The Munchkin and I were watching the cattle. She was petting "Susie" the friendly cow in the herd (through the fence, don't worry, I'm well aware that the friendliest cow alive can still crush bones with an accidentally placed hoof). These guys were thinking, hey who's the kid petting my sister and who is that freak with a camera stuck to her face? It really looks like he's saying "what you lookin' at?"
15. 2010-09-23 Pasta
DINNER! Okay, so this seems to be a theme. I'm obsessed with food. This was a thrown together invention with veggie pasta (Wacky Mac), canned tomatoes, olives, celery, broccoli, and Italian cheese. I don't know what you'd call it. I called it dinner, then took a bite and called it YUM!
14. 2010-09-22 Baby & Daddy
The Munchkin's first dentist visit. She was nervous. Her Daddy was calming her.
13. 2010-09-21 Fried Okra
We had the last of our garden stuff a week or so before. A dear lady I work with has a garden that's still producing and shared yummy okra with everyone in the office. YUM!!
12. 2010-09-20 Photography Old School
I love old cameras. They are just pretty! Don't get me wrong, I love my camera, but it's so utilitarian. These antique ones had style!
11. 2010-09-19 Fair Food
We went to the Tennessee Valley Fair this weekend. HOLY crap can you drop some money fast at a fair. I'd forgotten how expensive it is! The munchkin enjoyed seeing the animals and the rodeo though.
10. 2010-09-18 Chester
I love this cat. In addition to being the friendliest, most loving cat I've ever met, he is WONDERFUL with my munchkin. Since she was tiny, any time she would cry, Chester would come to investigate. When she cried wanting me to stay when I'd drop her off at Mom's for the day, he'd come running and she'd laugh and suddenly be fine. He tolerates and purrs through her three-year-old "loving" on him. He just appeared at Mom and Dad's a few years ago and took up residence. We have no idea where he came from, probably dumped out by some loser, but we are all glad he showed up and purred his way into all our hearts.
9. 2010-09-17 "self portrait"
Since the Munchkin told me she wanted to take pictures of me, I figured maybe I'd give her a rest. So I used myself (well, shadow me) today. And hay. And blue skies.
8. 2010-09-16 Sweet Baby Girl
The poor kid told me a couple of days before she was going to use her wand to make my camera go away. Today, she told me she was going to take my camera and take pictures of me...I think she's getting tired of being my little model. :)
7. 2010-09-15 Faucet
AWANAs tonight meant I didn't get home to my camera until after dark. Improvisation & a munchkin in the tub (plus a lightscoop) = freeze-action water!
6. 2010-09-14 Sky
Was taking pictures of Dad teddering the hay and looked up. This is what I saw.
5. 2010-09-13 Hay cutting.jpg
"Fall" (read: late summer) cutting...the hay has been so pretty this year. I'm sure there will be more hay related pictures in the days to come.
4. 2010-09-12 Abacus.JPG
The munchkin has been counting EVERYTHING. So much so that when we went to the big city to go shopping today, we had to take her abacus with us.
3. 2010-09-11 double rainbow.jpg
September 11th rainbow. A symbol of hope on a day forever marked with fear and horror. Fitting I think.
2. 2010-09-10 Pineapple upside down cake
The Munchkin and I made a pineapple upside down cake for the Pine Orchard Fair tomorrow. I say she and I because she poured the water, oil, eggs, and pineapple juice into the mix. By herself. And only spilled a quarter sized drop. My girl is getting so big!
1. 2010-09-09 Making Chocolate Milk
I'm starting with a picture of my big girl. She must make her own chocolate milk now. "Me do it me all self!"