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.

PROJECT 365 PICTURE OF THE DAY 1/9/11

This morning, as the snow was beginning to fall, I asked Zach "do you want me to make chili" and he smiled and said "did you say we could go to Chili's?" (which he really thought I had said) and I said "no, I can make chili" then, after only a few seconds to ponder, I said, "Yes, we can go to Chili's!" It was a good idea since I had a gift card that would make it more "doable". The snow was just starting to fall harder and the parking lot was pretty empty when we first got there. By the time we left, Chili's was filling up, and the snow was falling more and temperatures were dropping. It was a perfect day to head out before the brunt of the storm hit. Now, it is snowing even harder and it is swirling around as I look outside. It is getting really cold and we are all hoping for a "Snow Day" from school tomorrow. At the very least, I predict a "delayed start" but we are crossing our fingers for much more :).

PROJECT 365 PICTURE OF THE DAY 1/8/11

Our first weekend with our new truck...Zach was checking out the bed of the truck and we thought we should have a family photo to celebrate this new addition to our family :) . I didn't realize how nice it would be to have a truck again, but we all fit in it and it will be so nice to have for camping, trips to the mountains, and weekend errands. I am most happy because I can tell how happy Todd is to have a truck again.

PROJECT 365 PICTURE OF THE DAY 1/7/11

Donuts and coffee with Dad. We headed downtown to the Denver Public Library to pull some photos for his upcoming book, but had to stop for some coffee (and a donut) on our way down. I almost didn't order one, but I couldn't help myself. It reminds me of our Saturday visits to "Henderson's" growing up. If we didn't go with him, he wouldn't bring one home for us and even when we went, we could only choose a chocolate or glazed. I always wanted the "jelly filled" kind and only got it the one time Grandad Dell came with us and my dad didn't want to tell me "no" in front of him. :) It is a treasured memory of childhood. It is even better that my kids got to experience Henderson's before it closed. Oh, I can smell the Henderson donuts right now as I type this, and Mrs. Henderson crankily sitting at the back office while she bossed her workers around. I also remember the old man with the amputated arm that would come in and sit at the very last seat at the "bar"...he was a little scary to a kid, but was a fixture there. We would then see him hop back on his bike and ride home. He had a orange flag on the bike, like we had as kids.