PROJECT 365 PICTURE OF THE DAY 1/1/11

Okay...it's day 1 (actually January 2, but just catching up) and I am posting my first photo for "Project 365". Todd and I were "posing" in the mirror for a few shots and I really liked this one. Great way to start the year.

In regards for the "word" project chosen by each of the 5 of us, here is the official list:
Tracy: EXPLORE
Todd: BETTER (as in doing everything a little better and being thoughtful of that)
Nick: STRIVE (to be the best or do his best)
Chris: TRAVEL (which will be happening this next summer, but also throughout the year, I'm sure...both literally and figuratively)
Zach: WIN (play to win and work to win...and as Grandad Dell would say, "it's not whether you win or lose, it's how you play the game" and I think that when you do your best you automatically win and I think Zach will do great)

What I appreciate today....1/4/2010

Love, love, love this photo of the three boys. You guys make me so proud and my heart so happy.

This was one crazy ram...he kept making these wierd noises with his mouth as he was licking or eating something and then would look at us and burp. When we would make a noise, he would burp back at us. I'll bet he is a CSU ram fan...I'm just sure of it.

I am quite sure we have several pictures of Zach through the years in this exact spot. What's even cooler is that he remembers that, too, and reminds me to take the photo. :)

Goofing around before hitting the zoo. What was Chris putting in your hood, Zach? We had a great trip to the zoo. We have had a tradition of going to the zoo after Christmas almost every year since Chris was 1. What was so cool is that the boys each individually thanked me at different points of our visit for taking them there. I think I was the one who should thank them for wanting to go.

Today, the boys went back to school. After a long break, I always dread the day before when I know that they have to go back and our relaxed, fun, hangout schedule is going to change. I looked at the alarm set for 5:30 am and just knew that another time together had passed. The good thing is that I know there will be more of these special times, and because of that, I can look back and APPRECIATE the time we had and it becomes a treasure. The ease of just being together, playing games, talking, laughing, and even arguing is just so awesome. Yesterday, Chris was talking about being at home and going back to school and he said "home is just fun." What a great comment coming from a teenager. I hope the boys always feel that way and love being at home. I'll admit, not everything is always in perfect order, but what is in order is that we all like eachother as well as love eachother and that just is incredible and that is reason to APPRECIATE these times all the more.

HAPPY NEW YEAR 2010!

HAPPY NEW YEAR! I cannot believe, first of all, that I haven't posted for so long. I have so many things that are always on my mind and that I want to blog about, and for some reason, time always seems to slip away and this never gets crossed off my "to do" list, BUT since it is a new year, it is a good time to get in a better habit of blogging. I use this as my online journal so it is important for me that I do this. These are some pictures taken on Thanksgiving day...leading to my word of the year...the word I will use to shape the ideas in my mind, the times I spend with people, the things I do...and that word is...APPRECIATE! Throughout this year, I will be using this word and blogging about it...hoping to mix photos with digging deeper in to what I appreciate. I do think I work hard to make sure to appreciate the moments, but by challenging myself to look at things in a deeper level, I think it will be a really positive challenge for this year. With these pictures, what I know is that I appreciate my family...the five of us...the relationship we have all together and the relationship we have developed amongst ourselves with eachother. I feel quite sure that we are the kind of people in which "what you see is what you get" and these photos show a family that truly does love and respect eachother and because of that, I really APPRECIATE that.