Have you Seen my Phone?

Day 22 - Home
Gotta love my phone! Nope - I can't take pictures, or check my Facebook status, or do a Google search. But I can call anywhere at anytime without a contract! Actually, I can't believe I still have this phone! I don't even know how old it is but I've had it for a loooong time.

Day 23 - Home
Snow, snow, snow! Thank you, Steve, for plowing our driveway!

Day 24 - Home
Great report card Dylan! So proud of you :)

Day 25 - Omak
We had dinner at Koala Street Grill tonight. Part of the tradition is a big gumball from the wacky gumball machine. Oh - and Dylan giving Lyndsi a bit of a tackle!

Day 26 - Okanogan Middle School
Basketball shoes! I felt like I was playing a game of Memory - you know the game where you find matching sets of cards? I got 3 pair! Lyndsi's wearing blue...

Day 26 - Salmon Meadows Sno Park in Conconully
This is my friend, Amy, and 5 of her 6 racing dogs. This is the start of the SnowDog Supermush, an annual race that attracts mushers from all over the country, even Alaska! We used to come spend a Saturday morning at the race but haven't been in a couple of years. It felt so good to get back. The sound of the howling dogs, eager to get on the trail, gets me every time!

Turning the Ordinary into the Extraordinary

I love how blogging about your everyday life turns it into some magical story!

Day 17 - Okanogan (Virginia Grainger Elementary)
Lyndsi and her friend are playing a duet at a local variety show in February. This practice session was much needed!!!! I'm not sure what they were playing at first...
 

Day 18 - Omak Performing Arts Center
Lyndsi, Dylan and I went to neighboring Omak to watch a theater performance of The Little Mermaid (which happens to be one of my favorite Disney movies!). Mary, who was playing one of Arielle's sisters, was gracious enough to pose with the kids and their friends after the show.



Day 19 - Winthrop Barn
Delhi 2 Dublin concert! Loud and fun music! This band member played the fiddle and drums and was also one of the singers in the band. She paused after the show to let me take her picture with Lyndsi - who was amazed at her talent.

Day 20 - Omak (Vedders' Home)
Dinner and game night with some of our best friends. We have been so lucky to have found all these lovely folks (as well as several others who were not present) to call our friends! 

Day 21 - Winthrop Ice Rink
No school today so ice skating we go! Dylan was trying to pose but got scared about Steve coming up behind him. Can't say I blame him!



Another Full Week Shot and Posted!

Day 10 - Somewhere between Okanogan and Malott
Look at these cuties! All 3 of them! Lyndsi and her friend were practicing their violin together after school one day. We took the friend home and were greeted by her young, vibrant dog, Shadow. What a love he is! He was so happy to see us!

Day 11 - Home
Here's our Christmas tree! We put it on our deck after Christmas so we can house and feed birds. It's so pretty with the fresh snow! And yes, there are a few birdies hiding out in those bushes!

Day 12 - Bridgeport
Basketball in Bridgeport! One of the pictures I lost was Lyndsi with some of her basketball team. It was such a cute shot! Anyway, I'm subbing with this picture. This is the 2nd year Lyndsi has played ball. She is a natural basketball player and I'm continually amazed at her grace on the court. I look forward to my "Basketball Saturdays"!

 

Day 13 - Home
Gluten free heaven in a cake! I'm thankful I have a husband who allows me to experiment with my gluten-free baking on his birthday cake. I have to say, this German Chocolate Cake turned out mightly yummy!

Day 14 - Home
Happy birthday to the most amazing hubby one could ask for! On his birthday, he wanted to take care of dinner and he wanted to stay home and play games with the kids and me. So he did, and we did! Steve ordered and picked up pizza for dinner and we played dominoes while we ate.

Day 15 - Home
Lucy! I'm so glad Dylan and I took a leap of faith and brought you home from the soccer field one summer night. You were such a tubby little round ball with legs! All my unfounded fears about your breed have been squelched by the love and affection you show us every day.

Day 16 - Home
Look at my little boy now! This has become his look - shorts, t-shirt, snow cap. Many evenings you can find him picking out songs at the piano or practicing for his next lesson.

I Have a Confession

I have a confession to make....I really didn't do anything wrong but I tried to fix a problem. Actually, I did fix a problem. I could just keep it all secret but it's really bugging me. So, I'm going to confess. Days 5, 8, 9, 10, and 11 aren't actually the original pictures from days 5, 8, 9, 10, and 11. But I did have original pictures on those days! I swear! I haven't missed a day yet! What I did, though, was deleted pictures from my memory card. Which means they're gone for good....yes, I felt like crying :( I had a couple of great shots on those days. Images and scenes I won't get back. Ever. The good news, however, is that I had a couple of days that I ended up taking more than one picture because something better came along after I shot what I thought would be my "photo for the day". So, here they are - the next 5 days of photos in my ever growing collection!

 

Day 5 - Home
I love our kitchen bar. I love it because it's constantly cluttered and messy. The mess just means that the kids use the bar. They use the bar in the morning for breakfast, after school for snacks, in the evening for homework, on the weekends for tv viewing... for whatever they want to use it for! The messy bar means that while I'm cooking dinner, I get to chat with my children. I get to laugh at and with my children. Sometimes I get to lecture to my children. But I get to be with my children because of that bar.

Day 6 - Home
Such a cute little bird! I think it's a female junko but maybe my birdy friends and husband will correct me! After Christmas, we always put our Christmas tree on the back deck to attract the birds. We sprinkle bird seed on it and the birds flock! I love watching them flit through the branches.



Day 7 - Home
Thank you, Erin! I look at this guy while I'm washing dishes. Can't help but smile! He was a gift from Erin.

Day 8 - Home
Don't you just love these faces! I have several dozen pictures of little sock snowmen but the pictures of these guys are my favorites! I make these at school with my students every year. These 3 were made by Dylan and Lyndsi when they were in my class and by Lyndsi when Dylan was in my class. I love them!

Day 9 - Home
Dylan's math book...made me laugh! Dylan does very well in Math but it's always been just a tad bit of a struggle. This is a fitting cover for Dylan's math book.

I'm Doing It Again!

I'd love to have a beautiful, soul-searching introduction to my new/old venture. Something that would make everyone want to do this with me because they, too, want to feel what I feel and see what I see. But I don't. So here it is.

I'm taking one picture every day for the year 2013. I did this in 2010. When 2011 came around, I felt a sense of relief that I didn't have to keep looking for pictures to take. When 2012 came around, I wished I were taking more pictures. By the time 2012 turned to 2013, I decided I needed to take pictures - pictures of things that make me smile, cry, shudder...pictures of things that make me feel something. I don't necessarily have trouble expressing my emotions. I just like having an outlet. Plus, pictures help me remember the blessings in my life.

So, if you don't want to see a lot of photos - stop here! Otherwise, welcome to my new/old venture!

Day 1 - Home
New Year's Day - we ate up leftovers and played games at dinner. After 2 weeks of being home from work and school together, it was time to return to normal. I was feeling sad! I wanted more of my family!

Day 2 - Home
Before she went to bed, I heard Lyndsi yell out, "Be sure to read my chest mom!" The request confused me but didn't surprise me. My chidren are often saying things I don't understand! The fact that Lyndsi had a big piece of silver duct tape across her Bobby Jack jammies surprised me! She'd written, "I want to sleep with you. Please let me [heart] Lyndsi". Awwwww! Yep, she slept with me.

Day 3 - Omak's Silver Sage Spa
Heavenly relaxation! I always knew I'd like massages. I had no idea how much I'd like massages! After dealing with a kinked neck and a knotty back that wouldn't quit, I tried massage. Aaahhh....I'm hooked!

Day 4 - Home
I love this rustic little set up I have here in my kitchen! Lyndsi made the sign at summer camp (love the t's!). The squash came from a roadside fruit stand on the way to Spokane- Shaw's Fruit. The kids and I stopped there this last fall, in search of pumpkins and other fall decor. Everything looked so comfortable together, we threw in some gold and pine and created a quaint Christmas basket! Yep, even the bottle of wine seems to fit. Now I don't have the heart to take it all apart. Some day!

I'm