Day 31 - Do you mind, I'm on the phone here!

I could not resist staging this picture. I know - silly - but it is really funny too! She really does love posing!!! Hope you have a great week! Can you believe I have posted a picture every day this month? I can't! Now let's see if I can keep it up!!!

Day 30 - Best Friends

The boys have been friends for years. Amazingly they do not attend the same school or live in the same neighborhood - but they are best buds just the same. Enjoy!

Day 29 - Mom stop!

Here is one of our girls - a little camera shy, but beautiful all the same.

Have a great day!

Day 28 - This is what 13 looks like!!!

I asked if I could take her picture for her birthday - and I got a look of disdain! I guess this is what 13 looks like! Next week we will have pictures without braces - maybe the look will be better!!!

Day 27 - One of my favorites

This picture might be old (meaning taken not this year) - but it is one of my all time favs. I love horses. Isn't he absolutely beautiful.

Have a great day and thanks for looking.

Danielle

Day 26 - Stampin' at my House

This is a picture of some of the people stamping at my house. We had a great time making cards! WOO HOO! Have a great day!

Day 25 - Isn't he gorgeous?

The most beautiful cat ever! Enjoy!

Day 24 - Another's 50's Pic - but with personality

Now this is more like it!!! I absolutely love how expressive my kids are! Enjoy and have a great Sunday!

Day 23 - Fifties Themed Winter Ball

Well, the boy had his first Cotillion ball last night. It was great! The room was decorated wonderfully - thanks to all the mom's that put in a ton of work! And the kids had a blast. The boy looked great! The best part was that I got to dance with him - and he got to dance with his grandmother. Life is really good! I am truly blessed!

Day 22 - A Little Late

This is what my son found while we were waiting for Cotillion to start. Isn't he beautiful.

Cotillion pictures will be posted tomorrow!

Have a great night!

Day 21 - Would you call this framing?

Okay so I am suppose to be working on my photography skills - right. That would mean I would have to take some pictures. Life has been a little crazy this week - so I am posting a picture I took last month. This challenge is getting hard! That is the Statue of Liberty in the background!

Anyway, enjoy and have a great day!

Day 20 - Cards for Operation Write Home

These are some of the cards that I am making to send to Operation Write Home!

Day 19 - Learning about make-up

I would like to thank my friend Amy Simmons, Mary Kay consultant, for helping the girl learn about make-up. This was part of her birthday present. She is beautiful without make-up, but I know that she will want to start wearing it with more regularity. I want her to know how to wear it properly - not take away from her natural beauty - enhancing her natural beauty. Thanks for looking. Have a great day!

Day 18 - Computer Cat

I told you today would be about Dexter the Cat! He is going to need his own blog one day!

Well while I was working in my fabulously organized craft room, thank you Lisa, Dexter decide he needed to check out the Mac! He's a smart cat. The picture is actually taken by the girl. But I thought it was humorous and needed to be on here. He enjoyed watching what was coming on the screen. Crazy cat. I hope you have a fabulous day!

Danielle

Day 17 - The Rooster

This is a picture of the rooster at my dad's house. He is pretty amazing. They live out in the country in Fredericksburg. The kids love going to the ranch and learning about all things country. They like to hunt, explore, garden and so much more. I wish we lived closer!

Have a great Sunday! Tomorrow might be another picture of Dexter the cat, you never know. See you then.

Day 16 - Will it ever stop raining?

Okay - maybe that is not what she is saying! She might be saying - I love this couch and I am so glad they finally let me in. I say - the pillow goes under your head - not on top - but who cares! I tell you she loves the camera! I know you are tired of seeing my youngest dog - but she is just so photogenic!! She drives us crazy - but we love her.

Day 15 - A little bit of history

I know that the pictures are suppose to be taken this year, however, the more I thought about the scene taken in this photo the more I wanted to put it on the blog.

I teach history, it is a challenge to get my students to understand why we study history at all. They live in the here and now and are not concerned with things of the past. We talked today about WWII and the holocaust, about Walter Case a man that survived the concentration camp and shares his story with students. He wants them never to forget, just like he will never forget. I keep trying to tell them that life is series of steps and that we have to look at where we came from to understand where we are going. They don't get it, just like I did not get it when I was there age. I wish I would have taken the time to listen to the words of my grandfather more often. To ask more questions, to understand his experiences. I did ask some questions, but not enough. I love it when I can share with my students his first hand accounts. I just wish they understood that our past has a bearing on our present.

Today's pictures were taken on our vacation. One is of the work now taking place on ground zero - and the other is of the liberty bell. I love this country and I love teaching!!!

Day 14 - The Poser

You are probably tired of seeing Libby the dog - but she sees the camera and she poses. So she is today's subject.

I hope you are having a great day!

Danielle

Day 13 - My Crazy Offspring

These are my offspring. The oldest was placed for adoption at birth! God and his adoptive parents have been so gracious in allowing us to have a continued relationship with him. We love when he comes to visit! Granted the maturity level changes in our house - but it is all good! Actually it is all amazing.

I think the picture picks up each of their personalities pretty well. The boy in the middle is extremely mischievous, the girl would rather be anywhere else and might just cut off her brother's arm if he touches her again. And the oldest enjoying his time with his siblings - but knowing he gets to go home to peace and quiet.

Again, I am truly blessed!!!

Day 12 - My Handsome Husband

Wow he's cute!  After 15 years I think he is handsome! Good thing, huh. He is also pretty amazing. God has given me a man that can live with me and loves me for who I am. He lives with the baggage that I brought to our marriage and navigates the craziness that is me with grace! Thank you God for knowing exactly what I needed.

He is a hard working, fun loving, incredible father and husband that loves God and his family.

Woo Hoo - life is good!

In this photo he is talking to one of our good friends and didn't know that I was taken his picture. My favorite kind of picture - not posed!

Day 11 - The Craft Room

Okay, this is a picture of one of my favorite places in my house - my craft room. My good friend Lisa blessed me with organizing my room for me. She spent about 25 hours in my room, organizing, finding a place for everything and cleaning out - it was awesome. Before she came, it was a space filled with clutter, a frustration and rarely got used because it was so overwhelming. Not anymore. I am loving going into my room and creating. It is awesome. I might actually get to work on my scrapbooks. We will just have to wait and see. Life is good and I am blessed in more ways than I can count.

The pictures are of the closet and one of the cabinets with all my stamp sets.

Thanks for looking and indulging my picture taking. I really am having a good time. I hope I can keep it up.

Danielle

Day 10 - Making Dinner for Mom

My husband challenged my son to learn to cook 10 different things this year. He is 14 and Jeff is worrying that he will not be able to feed himself when he moves out in a few years (always a forward thinker). So we have taken on the task of learning to make things that he likes to eat and hopefully perfecting them over time. So the other night he got to make French Toast for dinner, one of my favorites and I love breakfast for dinner. Ryan did a great job - this was the third time he had made french toast and he is working on perfecting his skills. Dinner was awesome.

It was a lot of fun and I am blessed with both a great husband and amazing children. I really am enjoying the journey.

Day 9 - The Sleepy Girl

Okay so we have the most expressive Cocker Spaniel on the planet. Libby truly thinks she is human - a pushy human at that. She is that neighbor that does not wait to be invited in - but rather barges in anytime the door is opened. Our lab - not like that at all - she is smart enough to wait at the door for an invitation. Libby also thinks that the furniture is where dogs belong (because in her mind she is not a dog). Well today's picture is of Libby lying on our love seat relaxing after a long day of chasing birds, digging holes and drinking out of the pool. She is definitely comfortable. She did not even blink when the flash went off. Crazy girl. Can I just tell you, I am loving this project!

Day 8 - A Visit from my Sister

I had the best day on Monday (the 4th) with my youngest sister and her husband. Alicia and Caleb are students in Stephenville and just came down for a quick visit! It was awesome! I am really enjoying getting to know both of them better. It is hard when you are 18 almost 19 years older than your youngest sibling. We never lived in the same house and only in the same city for a little over a year. Crazy I know - but it is what it is. She has developed into an amazing person. She is kind, intelligent and extremely talented. I get why she is my dad's pride and joy. (I am too, but in a different way!). And Caleb is a lot of fun. He too is smart and interesting. Good choice Alicia. I love you both. So here are their pictures.

Day 7 - The Diva

Okay so we went shopping. Nothing shocking about that! So the girl decides to try on some sunglasses - and I took a picture with my phone. Isn't she cute? She thinks she is all that and a bag of chips and I tend to agree. We did not buy the glasses but it was fun just spending time together being silly! I love shopping with my girl, oh and Natalie too!!!

Day 6 - Dinner with a Friend

On Sunday I went to dinner with a wonderful friend. It has been a joy getting to know Melinda. We ate fabulous crepes at La Madeline and then spent a couple hours talking about life. I am glad that God has blessed me with her friendship. And that he saw fit to have her as the teacher of both of my children. The picture is of the fireplace at La Madeline. It was a cool night in Houston. This will not be the last time that Melinda and I eat at La Madeline. The crepes were lick your plate good! Next time dinner is on me!

Day 5 - One of my favorite people

This is a photo of my music minister at church. We have known Justin since he was in high school. It has been wonderful watching him develop into a man used by God. Justin leads the worship for our church every Sunday. He does a great job and it is a blessing to serve in the music ministry with him.

Day 4 - The Cat and the Tree

This is a picture from Saturday night. We got home from shopping and I had not taken a picture. It happens that Dexter the cat was posing for another photo op - so here it is! Dexter hanging in the tree. Too funny. We have not taken down our Christmas lights yet, so he is illuminated in the tree. He is a great cat! We love him.

Enjoy!

Day 3 - Part 2 Addy - Dinner with the Girls

So I am trying to stay true to having pictures taken this year as part of this blog. Here is one of our friends daughter. She is beautiful. She is chewing her fist and we gave her the hardest time about that. She is little but it was funny anyway. We love watching this blessing from God grow! Addy girl life is going to be fun with this gang.

Day 3 - Independence Hall

Okay, so these pictures were taken on one of the most challenging days in recent memory. My family, including my mom, went on vacation to New York. We flew in and out of Philadelphia. This was all Jeff's idea and he planned everything, staying out of the planning may have been my first mistake. But it was a great trip. The photos were taken at Constitution/Independence Hall in Philly - it was a very cold morning (Dec. 30) - mom had never been to Philly. So we left Jeff and the kids to go to the airport since our plane was not suppose to leave until 5:25 p.m. - and went off sight seeing. It was a lot of fun and we had more planned until we got the 911 phone call. Apparently, our plane left at 7:40 a.m. and my mom's was to leave at 5:25 p.m. Let's just say it was a day that tested my patience. Jeff felt terrible and knew that I had every right to be upset (which amazingly I wasn't). We ended up getting on a plane to Dallas and driving home from there. But as I think about it our struggle that day was nothing compared to the struggle that our great nation had in forming. The patience shown by our founding father's is a testament to a time when instant gratification was not an expectation. So enjoy my pictures of a day when my patience was tested but not broken.

Danielle

Day 2 - Objects in the backyard

Here are a couple of things that Jeff has around our yard. I really like how they turned out. You might say they are strange to be in our yard - but if you knew us, you would know they are perfectly normal. One of them is a tire, the other is an old mop - both useful in their own way, but probably not in the backyard. I will have to look around to see what I can photograph for tomorrow's post. I think I will take my camera to church and see what I find there. I am so looking forward to the remainder of this challenge. I love taking pictures. My dad would be proud.

Day 1

I have decided to try and do a 365 photo blog. I hope I can keep it up. Pictures may be simple or complex, but they will revolve around my daily life. If you have any inspiration, I am sure that I can use it. It is definitely going to be a challenge - and some days the pictures may not be from that day (I am sure that is some kind of violation) - but I will try to post one photo a day. Today starts a new decade and I am looking forward to seeing what the future will hold - one photo at a time.

Todays photos are of the most fabulous cat in the world. Dexter will definitely be a subject on several

occasions in the next 364 days.

Thanks for taking this journey with me.

Danielle