Over the holidays I went over to my friend Janice’s house to see her first grandbaby. Her son is the same age as my Michael. It was so weird to see this cute little baby and think back on when her son was this age! I, of course, managed to grab some photos while I was there.

Yes, he really was that smiley. All. The. Time.

I managed to rearrange her house a bit to get a chair pulled over to her nice big window.

Yes, still smiling even after I plopped him here and there and everywhere. So adorable!

It’s weird to be entering that stage where my friends are becoming grandparents. (Note to my children…I’m in NO hurry to get there myself…) Anyway, I had a great afternoon of baby watching. He sure is one cute kiddo, isn’t he?

• Baby Boomer
• Worst Mama in the World
• Milestones
• Life in Focus-Quiet Moments of Winter
• They Grow Up

Welcome to Twenty Twelve!!

SuperGuy and I spent a quiet night at home for New Year’s Eve…with a bit of champagne. Nice evening! So love that more than going out and partying. Besides, we were exhausted from trying to keep up with the boys when they were in town for Christmas!!

Now the new year hits. A fresh page. Time to make goals and start fresh. I love a new year. It seems like you have a whole blank slate to start over with.

This year I’m going to do some kind of personal photography project. No people involved. Separate from my photography biz. I haven’t quite nailed down what I’m going to do yet though. Not a 365. (a pic a day). I don’t think it will even be a 52 project (a photo a week.) I think I’ll pick a theme and then do the photos whenever I get inspired throughout the year…but try for at least once a month.

I seen 50 days of taking a photo with your 50mm lens. (or 35 days with a 35mm, 85 days with an 85mm, etc.) Macro shots. Self portraits. Or picking an object and shooting it in different locations. Capturing sites around your town in the different seasons. Sunrises. Sunsets. Or more gritty projects like single moms, teen pregnancy, homeless, etc.

Do any of you do a personal photography project? I’ll let you know when I decide on mine. Still rolling it around in my head for a bit.

I’ll leave you with one more photo of our New Year’s Eve…

• Deep Thoughts on the First Day of the Year
• Guess What’s New?
• January Photo of the Month Winner
• 365-A Moment a Day
• St. Charles Missouri Photo Shoot

Some of my fav photos of 2011…in no particular order…just ones that grabbed my attention when I browsed through the photos.

Love this little one holding on in the wind during this winter storm.

Wonderful old car at Annie’s parents place.

My dad shooting Easter eggs with the boys. Such fun!

My son, Michael and his soon to be wife, Lauren. Yay! Another female in the family.

Love the colors and just about everything about this photo.

Love this one I captured of downtown St. Louis when we were stuck in traffic on the Illinois side of the river.

This one of my parents makes me smile every time I see it!

…since my sister hates to have her photo taken, I couldn’t resist sharing this one, just one more time. I absolutely love this one of her and my brother-in-law. Yes, they are this fun in person too.

another bird photo…just because…

and my adorable Maggie. Of course.

Our family has had a great 2011 and we’re very grateful for all our blessings and all our friends. Hope you all have a wonderful 2012!

• Life in Focus – Blessings
• Favorite Photos of 2010
• Some of my Favorite People
• Road Trip-Estes Park Version
• Unexpected Gifts

Never got around to Christmas cards this year….(I have a puppy you know!!! How does one get anything done with a puppy in the house???!)

Anyway…

Hope you have a wonderful holiday season!

Left to right: SuperGuy (Stu), Kacey (Kay), Stephanie, Matthew, Michael, Lauren, Drew, Ryan and Timmy.

• A Happy Addition to the Family
• A Lot of Boy Noise Coming to Town
• Have a Merry Little Christmas
• Who Wins?
• Favorite Photos of 2011

Ah, Maggie had a play date with her cousins… (well, there was some discussion that she might be Aunt Maggie…but, really…you shouldn’t have those kind of deep discussions without a beer…)

She was invited over to play in the nice fenced yard! What puppy fun!

This is Charlie. Cute, huh?

Boo! (no, I’m not scaring you…that’s Boo’s name.)

and last but not least…Oshie

Oshie was not too sure about the whole playdate thing…

The humans stood around and played watch the puppy…

The dogs played chase the puppy…

and more chase the puppy. Then the little stinker learned how to squeeze through the fence…and run, run, run…watch the humans run after her!

A good time was had by all. I now lust after a fenced in yard for her… Anyway, we brought home an exhausted puppy…which is always a good thing!

• It’s a Big Bold World Out There
• Where the heck have I been?
• New Way to Communicate
• Dog Piles
• Rose of Sharon

It is SO not my fault. I’ve been busy. Really busy. I have a puppy!! You cannot get anything done when you have a puppy!! Honest! Meet Maggie!!

Really, is she not the cutest thing ever??

I’m so in love with her. SuperGuy acts like he’s not attached to her…

Wait! Is that not my cute little Maggie sleeping with SuperGuy?

Sure, what a tough guy…

He’s not attached to her at all…

I’m hopelessly in love with her. Don’t you just love her eyes? What a cute little Cavalier puppy! She’s 4 months old and we’ve had her for 3 weeks. The house training is…well…it’s going.

I’m pretty sure we’re nuts to get a puppy in the winter time…I did buy a long down winter coat. Just sayin’. Oh, and no fenced in yard so she’s out on a leash every time…

My favorite daughter-in-law hints that I’m getting a second puppy for Christmas…

LOL!!! SuperGuy, quit hyperventilating!!! It’s a JOKE!!! I’m fairly certain one puppy is all we can handle!!

• Play Date
• From Our Family to Yours
• Cow Tree
• I Want My Garage Back
• We interrupt this vacation coverage

My sister had not been over to The Love Nest. Ever.

The Love Nest was beginning to get its feelings hurt…

So on a recent day trip to Columbia for a college visit for my nephew, my sister broke into our house* and took a peek. She was duly impressed by the distinct lack of clutter…as well she should be.

I guess she was also impressed by all the photos we have hanging on the walls…

Well, SuperGuy and I weren’t there at the time they were..but when we next got to The Love Nest…this is what we found…

She just cracks me up!

*confession: by breaking in I mean my brother-in-law had a key from the last time he was over with my nephew for a game.

• My Sister Loves Me
• My Parents Visit The Love Nest
• Happy 25th Anniversary
• You Call this Cooperation?
• The Last BBQ

SuperGuy like to act like he’s such a tough guy…

He’s not really fooling anyone, but we kindly let him believe he’s tough.

Would a tough guy make sure my birdfeeder was full of food for all my little friends?

So, we let “tough guy” SuperGuy live in his tough guy fantasy world.

But we all know the truth….he’s a softie at heart…

• All About the Flowers
• Fall Food
• Such a Tough Guy
• There’s No Place Like Home
• Don’t You Wish

Ever have one of those weeks (months??) when you feel like you are just running in circles and can’t really see that you’re getting anything finished?? Welcome to my autumn. I swear, as I check something off my to do list, I put like 5 more things on to replace it.

I guess it’s too early to lust after a vacation, since we just had one a month ago, huh? Sigh.

Anyway, I’ll get my life back on track. Just real soon now. I keep promising myself…

(As an aside, aren’t my running shoes cute? So turquoise-y good! Okay, they are for walking, not running really. But, still. They are adorable!)

• Making Mama Happy
• If the Shoe Fits
• July Photo of the Month Reminder
• We interrupt this vacation coverage
• Signs of Autumn

Sometimes when I’m trying to grab a photo of the boys…they make me work really hard…

“I’m not going to look!”

“Really? Another photo? Put that camera away!”

Yawn…

But sometimes when they aren’t looking, and I’m very quiet, I get the perfect shot. Love this one!! Just a pensive moment.

…and this one of the father son male bonding moment…

• In Search of the Perfect Lighthouse Photo
• Not My Father
• Out of Focus
• September Photo of the Month
• Mooning People