Update and Apology

To all my followers of this blog,
I'm sorry I have been slacking on my photo project, well, not really slacking but a lot has been going on lately that has taken a toll on me as well as my family. I have plans on picking up my photos again once things and life gets a little more regulated. I am trying my best to keep doing the photos every day, but I am not able to post them or edit them in a timely fashion. =(

Thanks again for being my loyal followers.

-Jenny-

Day 22 | 365

To a Grandpa who means the world to me

Day 21 | 365

Mommy's little shadow

Day 20 | 365

This path I take

No major explanation on this photo. It was also taken at Whalen Lake near me.

-Jenny-

Day 19 | 365

Faith

Some days, faith, is all we have to hold on to. Today, this plaque that I received from my mother-in-law at a time when I wasn't sure how much more I could handle in life, called to me to take it's picture. It was almost like a feeling that it knew I would need this saying today and I do. I found out today that my grandfather is in the hospital and not doing too well and this sign can help me realize that things are in God's hands and I just need to trust in Him that things will be alright. I am not in the writing mood tonight so I am just going to close with this quote, "God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference"

-Jenny-

Day 18 | 365

♥Our Pretty Kitty♥

Our 3rd child, or should I say my husband's 3rd child. This is our kitty, Sylvia. She is a gray short haired tabby cat that we have had for around 9 years. If you ever come to my house, you will probably never see her unless you happen to look like my husband. She and him have this bond that cannot be broken...maybe because he is the one that feeds her (I would forget since she hardly shows her face). When my husband goes to bed she is sure to follow him and she even gets under the blankets for about 2 minutes or so until she is ready to get her rubdown and get cozy on my side of the bed. I will say, no matter how much I cannot stand her hair all over the place and the smell of her nasty food, she is and always will be a part of this family. I mean, what would we do without a cat that can act like a squirrel (stands on her hind legs with her front paws up) and growls like a dog when she hears a car pull into our driveway. =)

-Jenny-

Day 17 | 365

My Monday Macro

Well, I put my poor man's macro to the test today. It is a working progress, but will not give up. I absolutely love macro photography, but I'm not too sure I will get the shot I want without a macro lens, but I am willing to wait. This is a knob from our armoire. I don't know if it is just me, but I think things look more beautiful up close.

-Jenny-

Day 16 | 365

Whalen Lake

This photo was taken on my little outdoor excursion at a nearby lake. I have always wanted to capture this old barn and I finally was able to get out and get it with the beautiful snow covered ground and I love the way it turned out.

-Jenny-

Day 15 | 365

SURPRISE!!

So, my day started out like a typical Saturday...wake up, get the kids ready to go to church, and this Saturday get them packed up for a weekend over at Grandma and Grandpa's. Me and the hubby were very excited to have a weekend to ourselves and to hang out and relax. Well, since our little girl was sick on my birthday we were going to go out and enjoy a nice quiet dinner just the two of us and I couldn't be more excited after the past month of craziness we have had. It was nice to have the break.

It was a great day. We got home from church and shockingly Vince said he wanted to clean the house since he had people coming over for the Bears game Sunday (so he said). I took advantage of it and I went out and snapped some photos outside at a nearby lake still having no clue of what was taking place. I got home and was amazed how well Vince did at cleaning in the short amount of time and thought he should do this more often. lol Well, we were on our way to dinner and I was just excited to enjoy a dinner that I didn't have to cook or clean up after and I get to come home to a nice clean house...the night couldn't possibly get better?! Well, it did!

Apparently there were family members at our house while we went to dinner decorating like mad and setting up food and waiting for my return. Well, dinner didn't go as planned...took a little longer to get seated and fed so our family and friends were waiting a little longer than planned. So, here we are done with dinner and are heading home while I am telling Vince that I just can't wait to get home, put on comfy pants, and relax on the couch watching a movie...he just nonchalantly nods his head in agreement probably chuckling under his breath and nervously hoping that everything goes off without a hitch. We pull into the driveway and make our way to the door and I enter into wonderful screams of "SURPRISE!" and a house fully decorated and full of delicious food and desserts. I was completely shocked and so grateful to all that helped pull it off. I have to say I have the best husband and the best family and friends!

What a way to make a memorable birthday!

-Jenny-

Day 14 | 365

Timeless Treasures

Today we went and visited with my family at my grandparents house. I hadn't done my photo of the day yet to that point so I still needed something, but have recently started getting mind blocks on what to photograph. I know I have been completely overthinking things, but just like writing and other art forms you always come to some dead ends...now I just had to turn around and just observe my surroundings while I back track some steps to choose a different path. With that, I made sure my point and shoot was in my purse just in case something struck me and yelled "Take my picture"! =) Well, that kind of happened. I have been to my grandparents house plenty of times, but when you get older you start looking at things a lot differently. Everything that is in my grandparents house brings up a ton of great memories that will always be close to my heart like going through my grandma's closet to pick out which shoes I wanted to wear that visit or getting out the wired rack on wheels (our cart) and go grocery shopping in her kitchen and using her big adding machine to do our checkout. Then there were the simple things like when I slept over and shared the bed with my grandma, we would simply use a flashlight and portray a sunrise and the hours of the day by where the "sun" would be across the ceiling. So, going into my grandmother's bedroom has now taken the turn to "Wow, this piece of furniture is over 60 years old and still beautiful". This is why these little things are part of my photo a day...the way of living back 80-90 years ago was so simple and seemed less complicated and it was the little things that were important and not how much something costs or the brand name. Life today is about who has the most money and who has the best and newest things...is that really how we want to look back and remember our lives? I know I don't want to look back and think, Damn, I wasted that much time for what, while missing out on the things that really count.

These photos represent that you are not defined by the things you have or will have, but the memories that come with them. Also, the photo is of my Grandmother's mother, who happens to have the same birthday as Lexi. I am so glad that I used this photo today and it now has a story to go along with it.

-Jenny-

Day 13| 365

♥Camera Love♥

Today, I was starting to have a mind block on what to photograph and it irritates me since I am only 13 days into this project and thought I would get a lot farther than this before hitting a wall. Well, then I remembered that I received my necklace in the mail the other day that I ordered from Pamela Topping and knew I had to wear it and figured why not make that my photo of they day. Then I had to think of how I was going to photograph it...it's not the easiest thing to photograph a necklace while making it look as pretty as it is. When I received this in the mail, I was instantly in love...who wouldn't be? Then again, anything having to do with a camera or photography these days is good by me! I have not been this enthralled with my photography as I am today. I have honestly seen my photos and skills grow and change before my eyes over the past few years and it truly amazes me and excites me to see where I am heading.

I hope you all enjoy my journey and I thank you for taking a look at my photos that I post daily. I only hope to inspire people like I have been inspired by many others.

I just wanted to post the link for the necklace just in case someone was interested. This one is the Rockstar Pink. She also has a Blue one and just announced a pastel pink one. Go take a look! www.pamelatopping.com

-Jenny-

Day 12 | 365

My Vice

We all have them and some we would rather not admit to, but ever since receiving a Keurig coffee maker for Christmas I am in love and have a hard time actually brewing a whole pot of coffee. There is nothing better than knowing that when you have woken up late and the kids are not moving as quickly as you need them, you will always have time to pick out your choice of k-cups and push a button and you are set! No grinding (my husband insists on whole bean over pre-ground coffee), no measuring, and no realizing that you forgot to clean the decanter from the day before-who has time for all that? Not me! I don't move very quickly or timely in the mornings so I think I will stick with the new toy to feed my addiction.

-Jenny-

Day 11 | 365

Hot Chocolate and a Smile

So the weather was awfully cold and snowy today so of course we enjoyed some time playing in the snow. After shaking every bush of snow and making snow angels and writing all over the cars some little hands got a little cold and needless to say some snow made it into a little boys pants which did not make for a happy kid so we headed inside to warm up with some yummy hot chocolate topped with whipped cream. Needless to say he got to have some fun while Lexi was down for her nap. When Logan drinks his hot chocolate he always has to drink out of the same mug and it only makes sense as to why even on some days he causes more pain and aggravation, but I wouldn't change him for the world.

-Jenny-

Day 10 | 365

Simple Play

Well, Logan received this very cool track for his cars and I will say this thing is very fun! Me, Logan, and Lexi had a great time setting up the track over and over again and watching the cars do their "stunts". All I can say is that I am thankful that he chose to play with this over his video games today...music to his mother's ears! All in all, we had a very fun relaxing day playing with this new toy and the best part is that it can all go back into the box without a problem for easy storage!

-Jenny-

Day 9 | 365

Family Fun

My family is the best and the most fun when we all get together! Today, we were finally able to celebrate Christmas together. Everyone had a great time. The kids got to rip through the paper faster than you can imagine to see what they received and the adults got to have their fun in an ornament exchange that we started last year. Well, to do this ornament exchange we purchase an ornament $5 or less and at the party we play a dice game to determine who gets the ornaments. This year, we shared a lot of laughs while exchanging our ornaments so it was a no brainer that I had to photograph the gifts that were the men's favorites! I will let your minds run with this but all in all I wanted to remember the great laughs we shared as a family and now know that I am able to remember them with a single picture.

Much love to the family that I wouldn't trade for anything no matter how crazy, nutty, and out of control life gets for us!

Merry Christmas-a little late or a little early depending on how you look at it! =)

-Jenny-

Day 8 | 365

30...the new, er, 20?

Well, I'm not too sure I believe this quite yet, but I have only been 30 for almost 5 days now so maybe that presumption is a little premature. I will say, though, that when the numbers are on a delicious cake they don't look too bad, but I'm still getting used to saying them and seeing them written.

A little about this picture...well, every month we get together and celebrate the birthdays and my mother in law makes our cakes. With each month I seem to find more and more cakes that I have come to love. This year I went with a spice cake with cream cheese frosting...yum, I know! Either way, I love my mother in laws baking among other things and with that I will just say that I am pretty darn lucky to have a mother in law that is a wonderful woman that I can go to for just about anything. ♥

Here's to hoping 30 isn't as bad as they say!

Day 7 | 365

Tis the season...a little late

Who says that you need to celebrate Christmas in December? That's not how we roll, well, okay we usually do but this season has been stricken with a lot of illness so we are finally getting around to celebrating with my mom's side of the family. Every year, I make these delicious balls of heaven! You can also call them Oreo Balls...whichever you choose! So in tune with Christmas coming I still had to make these and believe me if I didn't, well, I don't think I would hear the end of it! These are very time consuming, but they turn out so pretty. My husband has definitely mastered the dipping process over the years and has learned to do so with such grace and for this I will keep him around! I, on the other hand, will stick with the decorating of them since I am not a big fan of dipping. =) I will leave you now with your mouth watering as you dream of what these balls of heaven taste like...just grab a glass of milk to go with them.

-Jenny-

Day 6 | 365

Poor Man's Macro

So today I ventured outside with my camera in hand and lens turned around (hence the poor man's macro) in an attempt to capture my first snowflake. Well, I have to say that these aren't the best, but this whole project is about seeing my growth in photography, right? I figured before the year is up we will have another snowfall and hopefully I will have my macro lens by then! *HINT* *HINT* to my hubby reading this! ; ) Either way, I think these turned out decent for having to hold a loose lens steady while trying to feel my fingers! I have a feeling that I will love macro shooting when I actually have a lens in my hand, but until then it is Poor Man's Macro for me and I'm not ashamed of it-lenses aren't cheap! lol Who knew that snowflakes actually look like those paper ones you made back in grade school...you know, the ones where you fold a piece of paper 12 times and cut endless amounts of "holes" in them and when you unfold it you end up with a beautiful snowflake. Me, personally, never knew they actually looked so intricate in real like until I saw my first snowflake photographed by a fellow photographer who happens to have one of them fancy dancy Macro lenses I was talking about!

Hope you enjoy looking at my photos and off I go to actually accomplish something around this house since apparently I have completely lost track of days this week and need to get something done around here!

Enjoy and thanks for looking!

-Jenny-

Day 5 | 365

Happy Sickie Birthday...

Well, nothing says Happy 30th Birthday (yes I said the number) like puking and presents! How could I choose between my sick little girl and a brand new camera bag, well, I couldn't so you get both! Here we thought that we got through Logan getting a terrible bought of the stomach flu that lasted over a week and here we are with another one. I am still holding on to the little hope that it will only last a couple days...that hope may only be millimeters thick but hope none the less! I will say my kids have great timing, though. =) Either way, it is/was my birthday so my hubby, the great man that he is, got me this well needed camera bag since my new camera seemed to grow in size compared to my rinky dink rebel. I still have a dear attachment to that rebel since we had some great times together, but I have to admit that I am in LOVE with my new "baby"! I have a feeling we will make great music, err, photos together! Now, that I finally got up my photo today I think I am going to go catch some zzz's before my little girl wakes up and needs me. ♥

Jenny

Day 4 | 365

Today, this is how I am spending my morning. Cough drops for my throat that is on fire with some hot tea to hopefully help soothe it. Then on to sewing my buttons on my new coat for the 2nd time within the 2 months that I have owned the darn thing! It was a little too cold dropping Logan off at school this morning-probably part of the reason I have this sore throat and cough! The good news...I actually feel relaxed when sewing (not that I am the best at it). =/ To a better morning for all of you! Enjoy

Jenny

Day 3 | 365

Does your person have blue eyes?

Well, it's back to school for Logan so me and Lexi decided to take in a little game time. In our family, games are big. Not only do we love to play them, but we are all competitive right down to Lexi. This is the only way we survive the cold weather we have over the next couple of months.

Jenny

Day 2 | 365

I'm off to a good start...2 for 2! I am patting myself on the back! I have a feeling, already, that my family will really get sick of my camera in their face or me having to interrupt conversations to grab my camera so I can capture "that" moment. Oh well, that is what my husband, at least, gets for getting me my new camera. ;)

So, day 2, PANCAKES!! Who doesn't love pancakes! Well, my kids would eat them every day if I was able to get up early enough and motivated to make them! Either way, I have made pancakes many times, yet never thought to photograph them so while my counter was actually clean I figured why not?! Now, don't they make you want to get up and go make some...well, maybe in the morning!

Night all and until Day 3!

~Jenny

Day 1|365

HAPPY NEW YEAR!! A new year and a new start! So day 1...We celebrated Christmas a little last this year since my son was dealing with the stomach flu and in doing so I received this ornament as one of my gifts and I absolutely love it! Why wouldn't I? It's a camera and well, loving photography and everything that surrounds it, that is how it should be. =)
With this project I am going to try and document the little things that can be overlooked so easily on a daily basis. Then when I get to look back on my work,not only will I be able to see how I have grown over the past year, but will be able to remember these little parts of our days that we happen to forget so easily.

~Jenny

So here it begins

Well, for those of you who don't know me, I am Jenny and I am an aspiring photographer. I recently have been upgraded to a Canon 50D and I couldn't be happier. I also don't want to see my camera sitting around not being used so I have decided to finally take on the 365 A Photo a Day Project. For this project I have to take at least one photo every day and post it. In doing this I have decided to document it on here as well as my Facebook page to put a little background into my photos. I hope you all enjoy reading about and keeping up with my photos for the next year and hopefully longer.