Day 21 - Thanksgiving

I am thankful for a day to remind us to give thanks.  There is so much to be thankful for - even if it's just to be alive for today.  I was thankful on Wednesday to be able to watch my oldest in her first performance - she got to introduce the program and she did so great.  They went around saying what they were thankful for - and her's was "My parents" - how cute is she!

So proud of my girl!

And she is a budding artist :)

Day 20 - A Beautiful Niece

This weekend I was thankful for a beautiful niece to take pictures on a beautiful November day (yeah - we don't get those too often - the nice days that is!)

We went to my favorite park - and my brother and his wife brought some adorable hat's :) I think I narrowed it down to about 60 pictures - all in about 45 minutes :) Ha!

Day 18 - bath time

I am thankful my kids love bath time - makes it so much easier - ok - maybe a little harder to get them out - but better that than not being able to get them in!

ISO 1250, SS 1/50, f/3.0 (with Speedlight) with 40 Macro lens

ISO 800, SS 1/80, f/2.8 (with Speedlight) with 40 Macro lens

Day 17 - Education

I am thankful for education.  I am thankful that my daughter is now in Kindergarten and is learning how to read.

Day 16 - Creative Minds

I am thankful that all my kids have such creative minds - they would rather color than almost anything.

Day 15 - Captivation

I am thankful - this may sound silly - but for TV....why - because for 30 minutes while they watch their one TV show - I can run around and clean up the house.  During one Backyardagins I can get a load of laundry done, dinner cleaned up, table's wiped down, oldest daughters lunch packed and coffee set for the morning.....phew - so yes - thank you TV shows :) I am not ashamed to admit it!

ISO 5000, SS 1/50, f/2.0

edited with MCP's Lightroom edits - Milkshake Glass

Day 14 - Inspiration

I am thankful today for other peoples inspiration.  I received this in the mail!

For those of you who live under a rock (just kidding!) and haven't heard of Jasmine Star - she is amazing!  She is an international Wedding Photographer.  Not only is she amazingly talented.  She is so helpful.  She shares her success - and most importantly failures - and inspirations.  Not many people can admit their defeats - but she encourages people to learn from them.  I am thankful there are people like her to help inspire others to pursue what makes them happy.  Thank you!

Day 13 - emotions

So I have been thinking about what else I am thankful - and it's a little funny. I was looking through pictures of the kids - and came across these:

This is Mikey hugging Bean as she's crying.

Hayhay crying because she hurt Bean.

Mikey crying cause he didn't get his way.

Ok...so what am I thankful for?  Their tears at this age.  These tears I can fix.  When they cry I am thankful I can pick them up, give them a hug and a kiss - and make the tears stop.  I am thankful they run to me when they hurt - and I am thankful I can wipe the tears away.

Day 12 - Projects

Today - I am thankful I signed up for project 365 - where I take a picture everyday. So today I was thinking what can I take a picture of....And then I was so excited that I started a project I have been thinking about for a year.  So - that brought me to a project I have wanted to do for a year - a new closet for my daughters.....One down :) These are the boards for the next!  So excited!  I am on a mission to get things done!

Day 11 - children

Today I am thankful for my children.  Though this morning they were driving me crazy :) and I was contemplating a buy 2 get 1 free sale on them; I couldn't be more thankful for what I have.  Three healthy, beautiful and for the most part well behaved children. I am truly blessed!  And I thank God everyday for them - no matter how hard the day.

Day 10 - Mischief

I am thankful today for mischief :) yeah - it sounds funny.  But curiosity is a beautiful thing.  Sometimes I wonder when that desire to seek out new things ends.  When you stop being curious and settle into the mundane of everyday.  Where that sparkle of finding something new subsides....

So for today - I am thankful that my little man is mischievous, and continues to discover something new everyday.  Even if it is only what cereal is behind the cupboard doors today:

Day 9 - progress

So to build on yesterday.  I am thankful for progression.  That everyday gives you the opportunity to better yourself.  I was looking at my leaf jumping pictures and remembered last year - so I wanted to see where I was last year.  Pictures speak louder than words sometimes:

Brianna November 2010

Brianna - November 2011

Hayden November 2010

Hayden November 2011

Michael November 2010

Michael November 2011

I am thankful for where I am today - but am just as excited for tomorrow and what it will bring.

Day 8 - New ventures

I have been thinking a lot about my photography journey lately.  Trying to figure out when the obsession - or should I say passion - started.  When that desire to learn and explore began.  I can trace it back to January 9th, 2011.  To this picture:

I am thankful for this picture - because as soon as I hit the shutter - I felt "it".  That feeling of capturing exactly what I was seeing, capturing the day, the moment.  I realized the importance of light, colors, what a difference a second made. This was an accident - I couldn't have painted it any clearer if it was intentional.  When I saw it on my computer - at that instance I knew that I wanted to learn how to capture more moments - deliberately.  So I dove head first into my passion. Though there is a lot technically wrong with this picture - it will always remain one of my favorites, and I wouldn't change a thing about it.  This marked my first step in my journey.

Day 6 - Furry Little Friends

I am thankful for my furry little friends :)

Day 5 - The Fall

Not often am I thankful for living in WNY with the hard Winters - but - I am thankful for the Fall.  Though it's the shortest - it's the best!!  The color's, the cool weather where you can wear jeans and a hoodie!  Ahhhh......

But - most of all - I love our leaf jumping :)

Day 4 - Thankful - The small things

Sometimes you need to step back and be thankful for the small things in life:

(All taken with my new macro lens!!!)

Day 2 - thankful

Ahh - so much to be thankful for today - I am trying to tie it into pictures.

I did some crafting for the first time in a long time.  I am thankful for all of the craft supplies and my desire to always want to be creating.  Here are some cute headbands my girls can be sporting :) I am thankful that they will be able to rock them :)

Till tomorrow.