Day 365

Seems hard to believe that I am posting for Day 365...this Project 365 has been so much fun at times and so much work at times.  In hind-sight, I am so glad that I did it. A big shout out to my friend, Maria, for helping to keep me accountable for posting.  I have truly enjoyed sharing this project with you, dear friend!

Here's to the New Year!

Day 364

Hibiscus - my favorite flower.  Blooming now in Florida...I could live here.

Day 363

Just back from Ron Jon Surf Shop...these three were happy with their loot.

Day 362

Today we headed farther south to Cape Canaveral!  It is warmer, but it rained off on and on all day. I only took photos with my iPhone today because I was afraid that my Nikon would get wet. Here is a photo showing some of the outdoor area at the pool. If you look closely behind the palm trees, you can see the Carnival cruise ship heading out to sea.

Day 361

The first third of our Christmas vacation is in Daytona Beach.  We cashed in some timeshare points that were going to expire on the 31st, and we spent two nights at the Wyndham Ocean Walk.  Here is the view from our balcony looking down the beach...

Day 360

We are heading south for the week!

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Merry Christmas Eve!

Day 357

Another photo from our Christmas card series...

Day 356

It's going to be a Very, Merry Christmas!

Day 355

This afternoon we took the girls to see The Nutcracker Ballet performed by the NC School of the Arts.  This is the third year that we have attended, and it is a wonderful tradition.

We enjoyed a delicious lunch beforehand, and then we headed downtown.  Everyone looked so wonderful dressed up! The girls are just beautiful, and they behaved so well.

I love that this is a tradition that helps to honor Emma's Russian heritage!

Day 354

Baking for the neighbors

Day 353

Throwback Thursday

One of my all time favorite photos…just so genuine!

Day 352

Emma brought home the ornament she made in art class.  It has her name and 2013 engraved on the back!  This will be a favorite for years to come!

Day 351

Day 350

Today was the big day!  Brendan got his braces!!!

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It's beginning to look a lot like CHRISTMAS!

Day 346

MAGIC…

Day 345

The stockings were hung by the chimney with care…

Day 344

Christmas card photo outtake 1…

Day 343

Never know where they are going to land…

Day 342

Today was the day that we built a gingerbread house!

When we opened the box, a few of the house pieces had broken so I tried to glue them back together with icing.  We got the house put together, and Emma started decorating it with candy.  Then it just collapsed!

Emma and Brendan didn't seem to mind too much! This is the first year that the kids have actually gotten to eat the gingerbread house!  They thoroughly enjoyed their afternoon dessert.

Day 341

This morning I took Emma to the Angel Breakfast at church.  She had a great time.  Brendan went with us and served with the Youth Group!  It was a great morning!

Day 340

On Friday, December 6th, it was 76 degrees outside!  It was so wonderful for the brief time that it lasted!

Day 339

Throwback Thursday!

One of my favorites of the boys…it was "wear your pajamas" to daycare day!  They were so sweet!

Day 338

One of my favorite Santas.  One of my oldest friends gave it to me when we were 10 or 11.

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We also got to see Santa at the Christmas tree farm!!!  Emma was thrilled…the boys, not so much!

Day 334

Today we left Tennessee and stopped at a Christmas tree farm on the way home.  Here is a photo of me and JC by our tree.  Emma really wanted to take photos with the big camera.  Love Brendan photobombing the shot!

Day 333

Dollywood

Day 332

Happy Thanksgiving 2013

Day 331

Today is Thanksgiving Eve!  We drove to Gatlinburg, TN this afternoon.  We had clear skies until we got to Asheville, and then the snow started.  It was a little scary at times driving on I-40 in the Pisgah National Forest.  It took us almost an hour longer than we had planned, but we finally made it!  We have an amazing log cabin where we will celebrate Thanksgiving tomorrow.  This is our view off the back deck:

Amazingly this is not a black and white photo…it just looks like one!

Day 330

more love…

Day 329

more puppy fire love…

apparently the south has become the new frozen tundra.

Day 328

In honor of Thanksgiving week, I want to share this photo taken in 2004.  It is one of my favorite photos of all time!

Day 327

National Adoption Day

Love this girl

Day 326

Had lunch at school with my favorite girl and Brandon!  Love that sweet face!

Day 325

Emma has received 20 stars in class so today she got to bring home "Brandon" the class puppet.  This afternoon, they colored together!

Day 324

More Puppy Love

Day 323

Lazy late afternoons…

this little one still loves her blanket and her thumb…although she is chronologically too old for that thumb, it is still a huge comfort for Emma.  i'm just letting it go for a little longer.  she is after all the baby, and unfortunately, she will be forced to grow up all too soon.

Day 322

Today was a gorgeous fall day…75 degrees and blue skies.  I wish we could bottle that weather up.

Tonight, JC grilled, and we enjoyed a nice fire as the sun went down.  Not a bad Monday after all!

Day 321

Puppy Love

Day 320

Today was the 3rd Annual Corn Hole Tournament.

This year a friend volunteered to do face painting for donations.

She did a fantastic job!

Day 319

These two are happy to have a cozy fire.

Day 318

Emma is helping us get ready for the 3rd Annual Corn Hole Tournament! Tonight we baked for the Bake Sale!

Day 317

quick photo of the new headband…not the best photo, but my subject was not cooperating.

Day 316

We saw our first snow today.  This photo does not do it justice.  It only snowed for a few minutes and then was back to rain.

I will take sunny, blue skies any day over snow though!

 

 

Day 315

It is Veteran's Day today!  I am sharing a picture of me and my favorite Veteran taken in 2002.

DAY 314

This weekend was Jackson's last soccer tournament of the fall season.  His team lost their first two games, but they were able to end the season with a win.  I am proud of Jackson and the way he played today.  It has been a rough start, but I am looking forward to how this team can grow in the spring.

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Day 311

I have been wanting to do a "glitter" picture with Emma for a while.  Today was just a practice round.  It's amazing how it takes just the right amount of air forced out to make the glitter fly in a pretty pattern. Maybe one day we will get it right!

Day 310