PROJECT 365 PICTURE OF THE DAY 1/16/11

Last night, we all went to the Nuggets game against the Cleveland Cavaliers. We had seats 14 rows up and Nuggets trounced the Cavs. Being down so low, we were right in the middle of the action and it was filled with energy and excitement. The players these days are Carmelo and Chauncy Billups, Chris Andersen with all the tatoos and Nene. Our coach is George Carl. He is kinda "old school" but these "new players" are at a level that probably was never imagined when I was young. It may be the last home game that Melo and Chauncy play here...basketball is a big business and players go where the money is and there is very rarely a loyalty for a player to stay with one team for their whole career...as we may be seeing first hand in a few days.

Being there last night reminded me of the days we had season tickets to the Nuggets. We had four tickets and went to half the home games. Whether it was a week night or a weekend, we were always ready to head to the game and cheer them on...Dan Issel, Bobby Jones, Byron Beck, Alex English and so many others. The first coach I remember was Larry Brown and then Doug Moe came in to the mix. I always fondly remember these games, but seeing the banners shown in the picture brought back a flood of memories. Yes, we had fun going to the games. Yes, we were fortunate to be able to do this, but even moreso, we went as a family and created a memory that was way beyond basketball. Thank you Denver Nuggets...

PROJECT 365 PICTURE(S) OF THE DAY 1/15/11

Today is the day to re-arrange the garage and move Nick's car into the spot next to mine and make room for Todd to park his car in the 3rd bay. The new truck is quite long and barely fits in now, but every day, after backing out or coming in to the garage, he has to get out and push the side mirrors in because they won't fit. Hopefully, by this new arrangement, he'll be able to just keep them out. Also, it will be nice to get the garage cleaned out. I am the moral support and am staying in doing laundry (and blogging) :)

The first shot is more of a "group/action/family" shot, but I just took this photo of Zach looking up apps on his Itouch. What I love about this is that, other than the counter top being completely clear and clean, he just is sitting there, hanging out. As I looked further at this photo, I love that I can see his reflection in the granite. I couldn't let this photo go without documenting it. It is a shot of who Zach is right now...a 6th grade boy, who is getting tall, and his Itouch which is such a sign of the times itself.

Looking forward to going to the Nuggets game tonight. We have really good seats and will be sitting with the Kimmey's. This could be Melo's last game in Denver before he gets traded, but we have heard this for months so I guess we'll just see. It will be fun and I'm sure I will have some pics from there. Thank goodness for our little cameras that fit in a pocket.

PROJECT 365 PICTURE OF THE DAY 1/14/11

Today's Photo(s) of the day was inspired by the quote I got in my "inbox" this morning...
"I look in the mirror with the eyes of a child who was me." -Judy Collins

Those words really resonated with me as I had just spent last night going to middle school orientation for Zach and Todd went to high school orientation for Zach. It is so strange to think I have kids that are growing up so quickly, although it seems like I was just at their ages. I remember childhood so completely that it's hard to imagine I am a 42 year old suburban mom with ever increasing "smile lines" or as Zach called them this morning ("crows nest"...think he meant crows feet but I will always think of it as "crows nest" now :) ). I feel so young and "cool" still however, the other night, Chris and Zach were talking about how "old" I was and that I did look like I was 42. I guess I was shocked because I don't see that when I look in the mirror. Well, maybe I do when I REALLY look in the mirror, but I try not to do that too often. I love where I am right now...my life, the blessings I've been given, the opportunities I have now and what I have to look forward to in the future in regards to my family and myself. Regardless, I still believe I'm that "little girl" and I'm going to keep feeling that way.

I like this photo because it is a contrast between a real "child" and that "mom" in the mirror. What I like best about this photo is how I have my hand on Zach's shoulder and the content/happy look we both have on our face. He was very nice to do these photos with me and it is definitely a candid and special moment even though we are standing in front of the main floor bathroom mirror.

This photo makes me smile because of Zach's smil on his face...rather quizzical and amused and I have the giant cheesey grin (not as authentic as the other ones). Boy, that photo really does show off my "crows nest" and every other wrinkle that shows up, but I love it because it continues to tell a story and also contains a story of that little girl within me. (I could get very introspective with this, but for now, I'll stop)

I think this is my favorite photo...just natural, comfortable and happy...and while I see my "little boy" who is quickly growing up, I still see him as that little baby and I think I always will, just as I will continue to look in the mirror "through the eyes of a child who was me."

PROJECT 365 PICTURE OF THE DAY 1/13/11

When walking through the dining room today, cleaning up for the cleaning ladies, I came across 3 of Zach's hats on the buffet. Now, of course, this is not where they belong, but it is not an unusual occurence to come across one (or more) of Zach's many hats somewhere in the house. There is not a day where he doesn't have one on. He has quite a collection which I just love and each one has a story...which is even better. The black hat on the far left: purchased in the gift store at the Holiday Inn when we were in Disneyland 2007 (I think). It really was black but has turned a new color due to much wear and tear and love. The middle grey hat: Zach and I found that at, of all places, Walgreens. This past summer, we walked down an aisle and he saw this felt like baseball hat that had a bull dog on it. It immediately caught his eye and, at first, I said to him that he didn't need another hat, I realized that he really loved it and it was only $5. He reminds me often that he wears it all the time (and he does). The hat on the far right is a new one. He had the Black/White Ball for 6th grade right before Christmas break. Chris had worn a cool hat to the same dance 2 years before and it was like a trademark. I told Zach I would get him one if he could find one he liked. Well, the first one I got was not what he liked so Chris now has it, but we went out again together and got this one. It was not without a little drama as he wanted to make sure it looked okay and fit right but he finally approved this one and he wears it often. What I love the most is that I bet I could look through all his hats that he has, and each one would have it's own individual story and be special in its own way. That is a set of mini-stories that I think will need to be told...stay tuned.

PROJECT 365 PICTURE OF THE DAY 1/12/11

This is not officially a photo of today, but the story does apply. This photo was taken 12/26/06 as the boys were sledding down the hill behind where Stone Mtn. Elementary is now. We all went out and the boys had so much fun sledding on their own and with all 3 on the sled. I snapped lots of photos, but this one was an instant classic. As soon as I saw it, I knew there would never be another moment captured like that ever. The look on each of their faces is so "them" and my heart just literally melts when I see this photo. Their personalities are each captured forever in this and that is the magic of photography...you never know what is going to make that instant impact or create that forever memory like this one does.

This photo has been enlarged and copied many times. Todd has an enlargement hanging up at work and family members all have copies. Every winter, when I switch out photos above the buffet in the entry way, this photo is the one I use. Thinking of all this came about today as I am putting away the rest of our Christmas decorations and switching out pictures from Christmas to our everyday photos. Today, I will switch out the enlargement in the frame I used for Christmas, and until springtime arrives, this specific photo will hang again. Everytime I walk past it or walk down the stairs, I know I will have a special little tug on my heart and a smile on my face (and perhaps, a little tear every now and then). I will never forget that day with the boys and the magic this photo brings to us all.

PROJECT 365 PICTURE OF THE DAY 1/11/11

Can't believe that I'm uploading pictures and getting in the groove to do my last elementary school yearbook. I'm so glad I have awesome friends that are co-chairing this with me. After this year, I will have been in charge of the yearbook for 6 or 7 years and helping with it for 9...and to think that I won't have a child in elementary school is a little strange. I spent this morning uploading pictures from the Outdoor pics that were taken and at this point, I have about 150 and that is not counting all that I could've chosen from. I try so hard to include all the kids every year, and it sure going to be fun working on Zach's 6th grade. From this picture, you can see Zach in several of them although I won't use every single on. It's fun to look and see this kid who is growing up so much and has good friends and a good school environment, but is still my little baby and is okay with that. Got a lot of work to do and I think we have 76 days left so we're meeting this week and we'll be on a roll to create the best last yearbook of my "mom career"

PROJECT 365 PICTURE OF THE DAY 1/10/11

We woke up this morning to find out that the boys did, indeed, have a "Snow Day." We didn't get tons of snow, but it was really cold and roads were to be bad so they are all home today. I am really glad because it's always good to have them home and, honestly, it would have been a pain to get them to school and picked up etc... So I'm halfway selfish in this happiness :) As is evident, even dogs look forward to "snow days." Both dogs absolutely love the snow and Mocha will go out and come in with snow all over his nose, and while Cocoa and I were out this morning, she was doing the same thing...licking the snow, catching snowballs and just enjoying something we haven't seen too much of this winter. Cocoa is such a spunky girl with a very nosey nose. I can honestly say that I have never seen a dog that wags her tail more than she does. Even when you think she is asleep, but will start talking to her or about her, her tail will get going. I took tons of pictures of the snow and our snowball fight this afternoon, but this one really takes the cake. It reminds me of the photos we took of her during her first snowfall as a puppy. I have similar photos of her with the snow on her nose and that sweet look in her eyes. How lucky we are to have both Cocoa and Mocha. The love and loyalty of a dog is pretty much incredible. They are both inside now, warming up from playing outside again and getting a good afternoons nap in.