4th of July

I love the 4th of July.  I love getting together with family and friends.  I love celebrating the many freedoms most of us take for granted every day.  I know I am not always aware of what we have.  I love the BBQ's, the fireworks, the colors, our flag.  My list could keep going.

Since we didn't go to Arizona this year, we decided, kind of last minute, to have a bike parade and pancake breakfast at our house.

When I was growing up in the small town of Solomon, most 4th of July's we would decorate our bikes with create paper and streamers and have a bike parade and then a pancake breakfast.  I loved it!  My brother's bike was ALWAYS decorated better than mine.  I wanted Tyler and Katie to have this same experience and possibly make this a family tradition every year.

We invited about 25 people over.  There were about 10 kids with their bikes or wagons.  It was fun!

We started with our pancake breakfast.  We had fruit, pancakes, muffins, eggs, bacon, juice, milk and lots of talking and socializing.  The kids couldn't wait to get outside to ride.  As soon as most people were done, we headed out to the cul-de-sac and let the kids show us their stuff and ride, ride, ride.

I think everyone had a great time.

Thanks to everyone for coming and enjoying this great day with us!

We rested the afternoon and then went to a late lunch and to the movies to see Brave.  Katie thought it was scary and Tyler said can we buy that movie.  

Overall it was a fantastic day.

Unfortunately, we were not able to see any fireworks because there was a ban on them this year because of the Waldo Fire.  Everything is very dry.  But there is always next year and possibly pioneer day if we are able to make it to AZ.

Air Force Academy Graduation

Today was the Air Force Academy graduation.  The Thunderbirds always do an air show after the ceremony to celebrate their accomplishments.

This was the stadium from where we were sitting. It was a busy place today.

Before the airshow got started the President decided to leave the graduation and post-pones the air show.  We all sat around wondering if it was going to happen or not.  Apparently this helicopter is the President's escort so we knew he was coming.

This is some photos from the motorcade.  I was a little behind on them because I was wrestling with kids.  The President is in one of those cars?

We decided to have a picnic for the airshow.  This is a horrible photo, it was taken with my cell phone.

On to the show!

This jet put on his brakes for the crowd.  It was really neat to see it slow down so much.  I could actually track it with my camera.

It is amazing to watch these pilots and the maneuvers they can do.

While I was tracking them, they flew directly over our head.  I actually rotated this photo 90 degrees because they were straight up.

We had a great time as a family.  Our neighbor, Brad, also came with us and he had fun too. It was a nice day.

This also helped me finish one of my 101 goals:  To have a family picnic.  Nice show, good food, great family.

101 in 1001 days

With my recent injury (post to come) I am going to have to re-write some of my 101 in 1001 days.  It makes me sad to change some of my goals but there is no way I can do some of them.  List to come in the next week or so.  I need to figure out what I am going to do.

101 update

Here is an update on my 101 list. I still have a long way to go but I feel I can accomplish this list, at least most of it. I am really excited to really push forward this next year. In Young Women's for one of our activities we are going to be talking about goals and I get to share my 101 list with the girls and talk about how to set and accomplish goals.

1. Go to Disneyland

2. See the Braves play in Atlanta (5-12-2011)

3. Take pictures of all the temple in Utah (that are currently built 13) (2 completed)

4. Design a new business card (10-12-2010)

5. 1 photo shoot weekly for 6 consecutive weeks

6. Fit into wedding dress

7. Attend General Conference

8. Sell temple prints

9. 52 consecutive weeks w/ different theme, post picture weekly on blog

10. Attend the temple everyday for one week (tue-sat)

11. Visit a temple I have never been to...Columbus Ohio Temple 10/2010

12. Earn enough money from photo shoots to buy a full frame camera

13. Take a photography class (5-11)

14. Learn or improve 5 new photography skills White Balance, DOF

15. Read standard works: Old, New, BOM, D&C, PGP (completed BOM 2x, completed PGP)

16. Stop biting finger nails (10-11)

17. Buy a home

18. Cook dinner every night for 30 days

19. Run 5k

20. Go back to school

21. Create a March of Dimes team

22. Go to education week or women's conference

23. Weekly outing with Tyler and Katie for 2 months, then continue

24. Memorize The Family Proclamation

25. Memorize The Living Christ

26. Hold Family Home Evening for 2 consecutive months

27. Kiss Brad every day for 15 seconds for 2 consecutive months

28. Read 5 church books within 10 months

29. Quiet time with Brad for 30 minutes; no kids, no TV, no phone. 3 months daily

30. Bridal shoot or wedding (wedding in April or May)

31. Read entire conference issue for November and May

32. One night a week no TV from 6pm to bed 2 months 12-11

33. Morning scripture study before getting on the computer for 2 months

34. Write in my journal weekly for 3 months

35. Make 100 baby blankets for the NICU

36. Design another website for photography (10-11)

37. Save 10% from every photo shoot

38. Read from Book of Mormon every morning with Tyler before he goes to school. 3 months
Have family scripture study daily, 1 month then continue 1/2011
39. Pay off credit cards
40. Host a game night

41. Visit 3 states I have never been to before (Montana, Wyoming, Georgia, Ohio) 10/2010

42. No fast food for a month 1/2011

43. Watch a sunrise and sunset in the same day with Brad, NO KIDS

44. Visit 5 different museums (visited 2)

45. Encourage someone else to start a 101 list 11/2010

46. Complete a 1000+ piece puzzle by myself

47. Visit 3 national parks (Grand Tetons, Yellowstone, ...)

48. Attend an outdoor concert

49. Donate blood at least 3 times

50. Friday night date night for 2 months

51. Kiss in the rain

53. Go golfing with Brad

54. Finish Tyler and Katie's 1st year scrapbook

55. Donate $5 for PEF for every goal I do not complete

56. Invite a new family once a week to dinner for 2 months

57. Climb the incline with Brad

58. Make a new quilt for my bed

59. Finish Tyler's bed spread (10-11)

60. Make a bed spread for Katie's bed

61. Volunteer at Tyler's school once a week for 2 months 12/2010

62. One week, do not go grocery shopping for food and live off food storage

63. Start riding my bike again

64. Learn to bottle applesauce

65. Identify 100 things that make me happy

66. Plan a 6 month dinner calendar 1/2011

67. Make a "bucket list" of 20 things or places I would like to do or visit, be specific

68. Learn to make homemade bread

69. Get a couples massage

70. Floss every day for one month (Nov 2, 2010)

71. Go on a picnic with my family

72. Do 50 consecutive push-ups (hundredpushups.com) (I can't even do one now)

73. Go on a girls weekend trip

74. Blog at least once a week on family blog for 3 months

75. Start a new family tradition 11-2011 Thanksgiving Tree

76. Take a photo of 26 things, one for each letter of the alphabet and post on my photography blog

77. Go horseback riding as a family

78. Learn to identify 10 constellations

79. Memorize 25 scriptures

80. Try zumba 12/2010

81. Put together a family tree with as many pictures as possible 4 generations

82. Take a picture of my kids with their grandparents and great grandparent

83. Do the 200 sit-up challenge (twohundredsitups.com)

84. Become an organ donor

85. Post on DPS for 3 months, every challenge

86. Go to bed every weeknight at 10 for a month

87. Potty train Katie (08/2011)

88. Make a portfolio

89. Take a random road trip with Brad, we could try spontaneously, but we have kids

90. Watch a movie with Brad in the country

91. Have a big 4th of July celebration party (Brad's favorite holiday)

92. Milk a cow

93. Take a trip to Texas with my mom to find more genealogy

94. Go whale watching

95. Write 101 love notes for Brad 2/14/2011

96. Pay for someone's meal who is behind me in the drive thru (9/2011)

97. Serve 10 people in a month, random acts of kindness

98. Read 15 minutes with Tyler and Katie daily, 1 month then continue

99. Write a letter to self on 1st day of challenge to be read on last day of challenge. Letter should include how I am feeling about self, goals, and where I am spiritually. Also relationship with Brad. (10-2-2010)

100. Write another 101 in 1001 if I enjoy this challenge

101. Move back to Arizona! (really a wish)

Wow I have A LOT to do.

Atlanta Georgia Get-Away

Brad and I had the opportunity to go to Atlanta Georgia. We were very excited...namely because we were going to an Atlanta Braves baseball game. This has been my dream since I first saw the Braves play back in 1998. They became my favorite baseball team when I was at BYU healing on the couch from a knee injury. They were faithfully on TBS nearly everyday. It became a ritual for me to watch every game I possibly could. Over the years I have continued to watch whenever I can. My family has become Braves fans as well. Every time a baseball game is on, my kiddos ask "Is that Chipper Jones?" He is my favorite baseball player as well.
While in the south, we went to South Carolina to the beach. It was amazingly warm. We are so used to the Pacific Ocean which is always cold. The Atlantic Ocean is warm. We wished we had our swimsuits so we could have gone swimming. We saw an alligator. That was a first for us.
We also went to Savannah Georgia. By the time we got there is was almost dark so we weren't able to see much. I have always wanted to see a plantation but there just wasn't enough time. Maybe next time....if there is a next time.
We had a great time. The greenery was amazing! Moss grows on the trees like I have never seen before.
This also helps me complete one of my goals for my 101 project. Goal #2 is to go to an Atlanta Braves game at Turner Field. We did that. We went to 2 games. Fantastic seats, great company (thanks Brad), great games, great scenery....It was a great time!

101 in 1001

I have a lot to update on my 101 project. Since my last 101 update I have completed 6 more goals, 2 very soon and working on several others.

• #38: Have family scripture study daily for 1 month then continue. I am happy to say we have been doing this for about 3 months now. I don't think we have missed a night. :)
• #42: No Fast Food for 1 month. January was the month for me. It was really nice to cook dinner at home and to try and eat healthy. We also saved a lot of money not eating out. I never realized how much money we spent on fast food until we didn't eat any. My kiddos have asked for it less to which means they are hopefully eating better as well.
• #61: Volunteer at Tyler's school once a week for 2 months. This was a lot of fun! I was glad to be able to spend some time with Tyler and see what his class is like and to see him interact with his friends. I am planning on doing this again as soon as I figure out my schedule.
• #66: Plan a 6 month dinner calendar. I completed this back in January. It has been nice to know what we are having for dinner. If it isn't something we want to eat that night we just rotate nights. It is also really nice to go grocery shopping once a week for 2 week. I have to brag, this past week I only spent $40 for 2 weeks worth of groceries. We aren't eating bean and noodles either. A lot of food we have in food storage which really helps but even so, it was $39.64.
• #80: Try Zumba. I did this just after Christmas. Brad bought me the Wii game. It is really hard. I would really like to go to a class at the gym and try but I haven't found the time yet. I am going to try and do this next week.
• #95: Write 101 love notes for Brad. I completed this one on Feb 14th just in time for Valentine's Day. I saw something really cute in blog world and decided I could do it myself. I got a jar made some cute decor for the outside, put a ribbon on it and wrote out 101 things I love about Brad. I gave it to him at lunch and he was so sweet to say it was the best present he has ever gotten. I loved the look on his face when he read some of the love notes. It was a lot of fun and I realized how much more I love him today than the day we got married. He is a pretty amazing guy.

So that is a small catch up on my 101 list.
Has anyone else decided to do one. I would love to read what you are up to.

#70

Floss every day for one month.

I am so excited to say I have completed this goal.
My teeth and gums definitely feel better and I love having clean teeth all the time. I have continued to floss even after the 30 days so I think this was a great goal for me.

Goals # 11, 41, 45

So I am happy to say, I have completed 3 goals from my 101 list.

#11: Go to a temple I have never been to before.
This past week I went to Ohio with Brad as he had a business trip. I was able to go to the Columbus Ohio Temple. It is a small temple but the spirit it just the same. There will be pictures to come of this beautiful building.

#41: Visit 3 states I have never been to before.
We have become bi-weekly travelers. In so doing I have been able to visit: Wyoming, Montana and Ohio. I may have been to Wyoming and Montana before but I do not remember them so I am able to cross this goal off as well. Ohio is beautiful in the fall. I thought Colorado had some pretty colors, nothing compared to Ohio. (pictures coming)

#45: Encourage someone else to start a 101 list.
I don't know if I did much encouraging but my cousin Courtney read my list and felt inspired to write her own. We have some of the same goals so we will be working and encouraging each other. It is nice to have someone to help you along the way. I can't wait to see how she does in her challenge.

So there you have it. I have completed 5 goals in the 1st month. I think that is pretty good. I still have a long way to go but look forward to the challenge.

#4...Design a new business card

I have competed #4...Design a new business card.  We are getting ready to launch a new look on our photography website and with that new look we also needed a new business card.  I really want to show you, but I think I am going to wait until we are ready to show it all so you will have to wait, but I get to cross off #4.  I am really excited!

101 things to do in 1001 days

I have read a lot of blogs where people have started a goal list. I thought it would be fun to give it a try. It took me about a month to decide what I should do, what I wanted to accomplish. I know some of the things seem silly, but I think a lot of them will be fun. When I first started my list it was about photography but as I started to think about it, I wanted to focus more on my family, especially mine and Brad's relationship.

101 things to do in 1001 days

October 1, 2010 to June 29, 2013

These are in no particular order:

1. Go to Disneyland

2. See the Braves play in Atlanta (5-12-2011)

3. Take pictures of all the temple in Utah (that are currently built 13)

4. Design a new business card (10-12-2010)

5. 1 photo shoot weekly for 6 consecutive weeks

6. Fit into wedding dress

7. Attend General Conference

8. Sell temple prints

9. 52 consecutive weeks w/ different theme, post picture weekly on blog

10. Attend the temple everyday for one week (tue-sat)

11. Visit a temple I have never been to...Columbus Ohio Temple 10/2010

12. Earn enough money from photo shoots to buy a full frame camera

13. Take a photography class (5-11)

14. Learn or improve 5 new photography skills

15. Read standard works: Old, New, BOM, D&C, PGP (1/2 way through BOM, Finished Gen)

16. Stop biting finger nails

17. Buy a home

18. Cook dinner every night for 30 days

19. Run half marathon

20. Go back to school

21. Create a March of Dimes team

22. Go to education week or women's conference

23. Weekly outing with Tyler and Katie for 2 months, then continue

24. Memorize The Family Proclamation

25. Memorize The Living Christ

26. Hold Family Home Evening for 2 consecutive months

27. Kiss Brad every day for 15 seconds for 2 consecutive months whenever he comes home and leaves

28. Read 5 church books within 10 months

29. Quiet time with Brad for 30 minutes; no kids, no TV, no phone. 3 months daily

30. Bridal shoot or wedding (wedding in April or May)

31. Read entire conference issue for November and May

32. One night a week no TV from 6pm to bed 2 months

33. Morning scripture study before getting on the computer for 2 months

34. Write in my journal weekly for 3 months

35. Make 100 baby blankets for the NICU

36. Design another website for photography

37. Save 10% from every photo shoot

38. Read from Book of Mormon every morning with Tyler before he goes to school. 3 months
Have family scripture study daily, 1 month then continue 1/2011
39. Pay off credit cards (1 to go)
40. Host a game night

41. Visit 3 states I have never been to before (Montana, Wyoming, Ohio) 10/2010

42. No fast food for a month 1/2011

43. Watch a sunrise and sunset in the same day with Brad, NO KIDS

44. Visit 5 different museums (visited 2)

45. Encourage someone else to start a 101 list 11/2010

46. Complete a 1000+ piece puzzle by myself

47. Visit 3 national parks (Grand Tetons, Yellowstone, ...)

48. Attend an outdoor concert

49. Donate blood at least 3 times

50. Friday night date night for 2 months

51. Kiss in the rain

53. Go golfing with Brad

54. Finish Tyler and Katie's 1st year scrapbook

55. Donate $5 for PEF for every goal I do not complete

56. Invite a new family once a week to dinner for 2 months

57. Climb the incline with Brad

58. Make a new quilt for my bed

59. Finish Tyler's bed spread

60. Make a bed spread for Katie's bed

61. Volunteer at Tyler's school once a week for 2 months 12/2010

62. One week, do not go grocery shopping for food and live off food storage

63. Start riding my bike again

64. Learn to bottle applesauce

65. Identify 100 things that make me happy

66. Plan a 6 month dinner calendar 1/2011

67. Make a "bucket list" of 20 things or places I would like to do or visit, be specific

68. Learn to make homemade bread

69. Get a couples massage

70. Floss every day for one month (Nov 2, 2010)

71. Go on a picnic with my family

72. Do 50 consecutive push-ups (hundredpushups.com) (I can't even do one now)

73. Go on a girls weekend trip

74. Blog at least once a week on family blog for 3 months

75. Start a new family tradition

76. Take a photo of 26 things, one for each letter of the alphabet and post on my photography blog

77. Go horseback riding as a family

78. Learn to identify 10 constellations

79. Memorize 25 scriptures

80. Try zumba 12/2010

81. Put together a family tree with as many pictures as possible 4 generations

82. Take a picture of my kids with their grandparents and great grandparent

83. Do the 200 sit-up challenge (twohundredsitups.com)

84. Become an organ donor

85. Post on DPS for 3 months, every challenge

86. Go to bed every weeknight at 10 for a month

87. Potty train Katie

88. Make a portfolio

89. Take a random road trip with Brad, we could try spontaneously, but we have kids

90. Watch a movie with Brad in the country

91. Have a big 4th of July celebration party (Brad's favorite holiday)

92. Milk a cow

93. Take a trip to Texas with my mom to find more genealogy

94. Go whale watching

95. Write 101 love notes for Brad 2/14/2011

96. Pay for someone's meal who is behind me in the drive thru

97. Serve 10 people in a month, random acts of kindness

98. Read 15 minutes with Tyler and Katie daily, 1 month then continue

99. Write a letter to self on 1st day of challenge to be read on last day of challenge. Letter should include how I am feeling about self, goals, and where I am spiritually. Also relationship with Brad. (10-2-2010)

100. Write another 101 in 1001 if I enjoy this challenge

101. Move back to Arizona!

I hope to be able to make these goals a habit, to improve myself. I am really excited about this challenge. I hope this inspires you and you try to improve your own life, or do things you normally wouldn't do.