Photostory Friday: 365 Week 43

Hosted by Cecily and Lolli

Day 262

October 22: Neighbors. Friends. We adore the Evans family and it was my great honor to shoot their family.

Their family photos, I mean.

Day 293

October 23: Really...have you EVER seen three cuter kids?

All three of them crack me up, but that one in the middle...she has my number.

Day 294

October 24: Little specks of peppermint joy, wrapped in a thick blanket of cocoa....hmmmm....

....where was I?.....

Day 295

October 25: The quintessential, indispensable, undeniable color of Autumn -- pumpkin orange.

Day 296

October 26: Garden variety cobweb, or authentic Halloween decoration?

You be the judge...

Day 297

October 27: You should have seen this guy's magnificent web -- before I inadvertently destroyed it.

Sorry dude.

Day 298

October 28: The true bond among all men.

Photostory Friday: 365 Week 42

Hosted by Cecily and Lolli

Day 285

October 15: Who knew death could be so cute?

Day 286

October 16: One of the reasons we encourage Matthew to play soccer, is to learn the value of sportsmanship. This is one of my favorite things that the boys do. Whenever a player is injured (which happens a lot more frequently now that they are eleven), all the boys, on both teams, take a knee until the injured player is ready to play, or is removed from the field. And then they all applaud that player for his effort.

Sportsmanship.

Day 287

October 17: Sooooo......

You want to hear an Emma story?

The other night, we were watching the movie "Date Night" -- which is funny, but not necessarily for seven year olds. I had actually forgotten that Emma had come into the room...and then Steve Carrell said the word...vagina.

Let's pick up the scene right there:

Emma: What's a vagina?

Me (trying to get my heart started again -- staring frantically, and expectantly at Emma's mother)

Sharon (leaning over and whispering in Emma's ear)

Emma (eyes as big as plates --at first anyway -- and then accepting): Hmmm. I call mine the Declaration of Independence.

Day 288

October 18: Little pumpkin cake balls.

Make that happy little pumpkin cake balls.

At least one anyway.

Day 289

October 19: This is was one of the hardest days of my life. Photography was on the back burner.

Day 290

October 20: A better day.

Much better than Ghost Face seems to indicate.

(Did you know they're filming a fourth Scream movie? Yep, it's due out next April...which makes total sense...)

Have you ever seen a ghost? Do you ever wish your house was haunted?

Day 291

October 21: So the new IN-N-OUT Burger opened in Centerville a few days ago...

The line of cars, everyday, is insane.

To the Good People of Centerville: This is not a mobile fast food joint. It's not going anywhere.

And I have had their burgers -- they're good.

They're not THAT good.

Photostory Friday: 365 Week 41

Hosted by Cecily and Lolli

Day 278

October 8: Yep.

I missed another day.

That's three.

I'm glad this year is almost over  :)

Day 279

October 9: A wild herd of soccer players.

Or is that a gaggle?

Day 280

October 10: A portal to the stars.

I've always been fascinated by looking up at the stars.

By the idea that you're not just looking at space, but literally into the face of time.

Day 281

October 11: Or...

You could just lick it off...

Day 282

October 12: Rounding up the usual suspects.

Except the ones on the ends -- they're rather unusual.

Day 283

October 13: Our local fire department held their annual open house tonight -- which basically means inviting all the neighborhood kids in to climb all over their trucks, and wear their clothes.

Notice the foot wear; flip flops are an essential part of any fire fighter's wardrobe.

Day 284

October 14: This is how you know when it's time to trim your eyebrows.

Photostory Friday: 365 Week 40

Hosted by Cecily and Mary

Day 271

October 1: I love October.

It's my favorite month of the year. The weather is perfect. The colors are at their boldest. And college football is in full swing.

But this October started off with a fizzle...namely due to my team.

I don't usually take pictures of the television, but the slaughter on the screen was too much for me to look away from. I know you're thinking that 16 - 31 is a respectable score...

But not when you're BYU, and this is your fourth straight loss. And not when you're playing Utah State -- one of the worst college football programs in the nation -- a team you've beaten ten straight times, and twenty of the last twenty one times. And not when it's nationally televised.

The good news: things can only get better from here.

Day 272

October 2: Multitasking has really gone too far.

Who would have thought that there would be a need to wash your car while tie-dyeing your clothes?

Day 273

October 3: Every time we go to my mother's house, this little face calls to me.

"Chriiiiiissssssss......take my picture, Chriiiiiisssssssssssss......" it says.

You know, I think I've been hitting the Nyquil a little hard lately...

Day 274

October 4: The greatest day of the whole year!

...He said, modestly....

Today was my birthday, and I was just curious enough to see if I could jam 38 candles into a standard cupcake.

And then I was just curious enough to see what would happen if I lit them...

The flame was four feet high.

Day 275

October 5: If my son, Matthew, could buy me a football for every gift giving occasion, he would.

And I'd be okay with that.

Throwing the football in the back yard is one of the strongest bonds my son and I have. Would it seem weird if I told you that I also feel the presence of my father, when Matt and I participate in this family Fall ritual?

Day 276

October 6: Um...Yep.

This one's going to cost us a pretty penny.

It's pretty bad when your teeth look like gag teeth.

Day 277

October 7: The gifts just keep on coming!

I got a birthday package in the mail today from Pam.

You may know that Pam is my sister-in-law, that she lives in Germany, and that she's one of the best friends I've ever had.

In my package today was a book on Exposure, an authentic Oktoberfest T-shirt (made in Honduras), and a wide selection of German chocolate and other candy, that I'm apparently supposed to share with the rest of the family.

Right.

And to think, all I gave Pam was Chlamydia.

(please follow the link, before you judge me  :)

Words: A love affair

I used to blog.

I used to write about life and family, about love and adventure. I used to think deeply and pour my soul on to the page. I used to love the act of composing a moving sentence. I used to soar on the wings of words. 

I'm a photographer, but my choice of self expression will always be the written word. Words are powerful. By a word, God created the universe. By words we commit our lives to each other. 

A word -- love -- reaches the farthest corners of our souls, and changes our lives. 

Two words -- thank you -- civilize us.

One word -- friend -- binds us together.

Words -- We hold these truths to be self evident... -- free us.

Words -- Four score, and seven years ago... -- define us.

Words -- Come follow me -- save us.

I have a love affair with words. I am unashamedly, unrepentantly in love with the written word. 

This blog I write is very unimportant, in the vast panorama -- except to me. And I've neglected it for too long. 

Here is where I tell the world who I am. 

Here is where I tell you how I see life. 

Here is where I open up the direct vein to my heart, and let it flow. 

Here is where I discover truths about myself that I never knew. Here is where I say what I mean. Here is where I speak as I think.  He is where I define me. 

Here is where I promise my poor neglected blog, that I will try to be a better writer.