I Did 52

Last year, one of my big goals was to learn more about my camera {cannon rebel xs}.  I wanted to learn more about shooting manual, and more about editing.

 I got Photoshop at the end of 2010, and started stalking some photogs on Facebook.  I decided to try a 'challenge' set forth by one of them, called "Let's Do 52".  The idea was to challenge yourself to take a fresh photo each week.  It was a great way to make sure I got my camera out each week and to make sure I challenged myself to try new ideas and techniques.

I'm really happy with my progress in 2011.  I learned a lot, and I feel comfortable with my camera.  I've even had 6 different people pay me money for photo shoots!  That's something I never thought would happen.

So if you've got the time, check out my 'Let's Do 52' tab.  Here are some of my favorites:

I'm not doing a specific challenge this year, since my camera is already a part of my daily life.

How about you?  Did you complete any goals in 2011?

Summer Bucket List

A few weeks ago, it hit me....summer is cruisin' on by.  I have this reaction around July 4th every year.  I think it stems from being in elementary school.  This was back when we got out right before Memorial Day every year (what on earth is up with schools going until the middle of June these days?!?).  Being in elementary school, I wasn't working or involved in sports, so the summer lasted forever.  July 4th seemed to mark the middle of summer.

Well, now, it seems that the summer has just begun around July 4th.  Every year, I kind of freak out and think, "Wait!  How is it July 4th?  Summer just started!  There's so much left to do!".  Schools around here start back in less than a month.

Though I suppose without kids in school, my summer doesn't really have an end, other than when it gets cold.  I decided to compile a summer bucket list of things I want to do with my kids before summer's end.  Some we've already done, and some we'll do multiple times.

Picnic

Library Reading Program

Sprinkler

Camp in Michigan

Camp in the Backyard

TinCaps Game

Outdoor Concert

Parade

Bubbles

Water Paint

S'mores

Splash Park

Winnie the Pooh

Boat Ride for Ice Cream

Cookout with Friends

Beach

What about you?  Do you have any big plans?  Small plans?  Or are you just counting down the days until the kids are back in school?

A Little Closure

 Image from the Disney Half-Marathon.  I'd like to do that one someday.

I got an email from a reader (that I don't even know!) the other day, curious about the half-marathon I ran in the fall.  Correction:  was supposed to run.

I was all ready.  I'd run 14 miles about 2 weeks before, so I was so ready to do this thing.  I had new gear, fuel for before, during, and after, and an iPod chock full of songs to keep me groovin'.

Then....I took a pregnancy test 4 days before the race.  Positively positive. After I discovered that, I kind of decided it would be best to skip the race, just in case, but a visit to my doctor confirmed that.  I know there are lots of preggers who run regularly, and it isn't necessarily a bad thing, but for me it would put the baby at risk.  My heart rate goes through the roof (normal for me, no worries), so the babe wouldn't really be getting the oxygen he needs.  You know, important stuff like that.

My sweet doctor bought my registration and ran the race for me.  Shhh....don't tell the race people.  And on race day, I did one final stint at the Barr Street Market and came home with $250.  Not a bad trade.

I was pretty bummed that I missed my first half-marathon, but I've got my whole life to do those.  Plus, I knew I could have done it, since I'd run 14 miles just a few weeks previous.  This sweet baby boy will bring me much more joy and satisfaction than a silly race.

I'll be out of the game this year, since I won't have time to properly train after poppin' this kid out (plus, I stop producing milk when I exercise...talk about a good excuse to take a year off!), but I'm looking forward to 2012.

So thanks for being so interested in my oh-so-interesting life!  I didn't blog about it right away because I wasn't quite ready to announce the pregnancy, and then when I did, I'd completely forgotten about the half-marathon.

Speaking of organized races, good luck to my friend Loni, who will be participating in the Ford Ironman in St. George in just 100 days!  I seriously can't imagine 140 miles, and on the second-toughest course, no less.  Go get 'em, girl.

2011 Resolutions

I know lots of people don't like new year's resolutions, goals, or theme words.  I happen to love them.  I'm a serious Type A, and so that type of organization and documentation is just my thang.

This year, though, I've been struggling with developing some good goals.  Mostly because this is a year of exciting changes for our family.  And exciting change = lots of unknowns.  We're for sure going to be having a baby and MacGyver will have a new job.  He'll be graduating this summer, and staying at his current job won't really be a viable option.  And those are just the for-sures.  Life is super great about throwing random events in, too.

With those two huge changes, there are lots of variables.  So many things are 'up in the air' for us right now, I can hardly stand it.  It's making planning really tough.

So I can't make a goal to have a fantastic organic garden, or to organize my house (done), or even make a serious business-related goal.  I feel like anything that is at all dependent on location needs to be put on the back burner this year.  That's seriously hard!

But then, I realized that one thing is constant in my life.  It's these people:

No matter what, I will be a wife and a mother.  No matter where we are living, or what type of income we are living on, I'm going to have my family.  We are together for a very long time.

So my goal this year is just to be the best wife and mama possible.  Let me tell you, I have room for drastic improvement.  Life will probably get in the way sometimes, and I'm sure I'll lose sight of my goal from time to time.  But I'm going to try to just be present for my family a little more, get down on the floor with my kids a little more often, and invest a little more time into my marriage.

What are your plans for 2011?