Friday Night Videos

One of the resolutions I have for the coming year, is to give more of my time. Without the crazy time commitment of work obligations, I will have more time. Here's a really great idea for a project using photography...I just need to get better. I love the idea:

I found this video this week and thought it was adorable:

Another 'stop-animation' video I thought was too cute:

2010 music mashed up in a great video:

To all my friends and family: May your new year be filled with the happiness and joy we all deserve!!

Favorite Pictures from 2010

It has been an "active" year, to say the least. A lot has happened; not all bad. Here are my favorite 2010 pictures, that captured a few of those active moments.

#1. In January, we made it up to Zermatt Resort in Midway, where there were some 'ice castles' on display. They were very cool during the day and got even better at night. This picture is the #1 most "interesting" picture in my flickr:

#2. Eric and I celebrated our five year anniversary. I couldn't be more happy with my choice in husband. He is my best friend and we enjoy spending time together.

#3. I loved this picture of Eric and Chance crossing the bridge over I-215. It was one of the first sunny days of spring (notice: no coats):

#4. This picture of my in-law's dog, Mischief, was taken on the same day as the one above. You can see that he enjoyed basking in a bit of the warmth as the first signs of spring arrived:

#5. I love taking pictures of flowers and this is one of the favorite shots I got this year:

#6. We joined Evan, Kirsten, Chance, Ryan and Dax at the aquarium in Sandy in May. I'd seen it there but hadn't visited yet. It's a work in progress and I anticipate more visits in the coming year. This is by far my favorite shot of the day:

#7. Once I got the new camera, it was time to test the new lens and speed...Elise and Andrew were all too happy to oblige me:

#8. In June, Eric and I took a week off for a staycation..and then toured Salt Lake. It was cool to see Kennecott as an adult and this was my favorite shot:

#9. Another shot from the week staycation. We went to the International Peace Gardens and I captured the workers hiding in the shade from the heat of the day:

#10. We visited the zoo during the perfect time of day when the animals were awake and moving. By far, this is one of my favorites this year:

#11. In August, Eric and I were helping his mom move some items in storage. I noticed this praying mantis waiting near the door and had to try out my new macro lens. The mantis gave me a nice hello:

#12. In July, we were all up at Willard Bay and noticed that Chance was guarding his arm. He'd fallen down the night before. We took him to urgent care and found a broken arm. He was so good; didn't cry at all:

#13. The big event of the year at work, was the transition from a 20 year old computer system to a new, updated one. After a lot of work learning the system, we began training in September. It was a very fun time and I was grateful to participate in the most stressful transition:

#14. Another big moment, was the baptism of my beautiful (and only) niece. She is such a spunky character and I love her!

#15. Our fall mountain journey ended with a really nice family picture of Richard's family. I loved the lighting and their smiles.

#16. Our final journey to Echo Reservoir, was in October! It was incredibly warm and so fun to have the lake to ourselves.

#17. I love seeing beautiful sunsets, and I have found that my favorites are in the winter. This one was a big winner! The colors were incredible:

#18. In December my mom decided it would be interesting to break a bone....she fell and broke her ankle and cut her hand. I loved that I got this picture of her and her sister:

#19. The final favorite was one from Christmas Eve at Temple Square. I, of course, have the the traditional one of the Salt Lake Temple, but this one was my favorite of the night:

Christmas Day 2010

Christmas morning began with my mom, Sandy, me and Eric joining Eric's mom at her house for presents and breakfast. Of course, Evan and Chance and Shriley were there, too.

My family was very generous and I'm appreciative of the gifts I recieved, most of which were visa cards and cash that I can use to get the items I need/desire for my camera. Evan gave me the books I've been wanting (The Digital Photography series by Scott Kelby).

Chance opens a gift from his grandma: color bags. In this case it was the orange bag:
Chance plays with the gift that Eric and I gave him...which I also really enjoyed:
Chance wound his hair into the tire of the truck. My mom help him free his hair:
My mom:
Sandy:

Later, Eric and I went to his dad's house for celebrations and wonderful food. Again, the generosity was abundant and we are grateful for the gifts we recieved.
Chance got a tricycle, which he loved. It was funny because he couldn't make the pedals work, so he just moved along with his feet:
Chance and his grandpa adore eachother:
To end the day, we went to my mom's house for Christmas with my mom, Sandy, Richard and his family...and again the generosity was overwhelming. I didn't take pictures, but should have. I was so grateful to have Sandy in town for the holiday! This Christmas was bitter sweet because it was our last in that house. My mom will be moving at the end of January, so it's farewell to the house we have loved for more that 20 years.

Christmas Eve 2010

Christmas was very nice. As usual, Eric and I began Christmas Eve with the chaos of last minute shopping - we wait until this day to purchase all of our gift cards just in case someone gives us a last minute Christmas List (which has happened).
It was pretty warm, so out traditional Temple Square visit was comfortable and nice. I always enjoy the peacefulness of downtown Salt Lake City without all the traffice and noises of construction.
Later, we joined our family for Christmas Eve 'dinner' - which is usually finger foods. This year, we added empenadas to the mix and they were divine.
Here are my favorite pictures (as usual):

Lisonbee Christmas Party

The Lisonbee Christmas party was last weekend. I wasn't too excited to go, but once I got there, it was very nice to see my cousins...I read their blogs and follow them on Facebook, but I don't actually see them or speak to them very often. We are all so busy with our lives; but it was nice to be with them for the short time.

I took a ton of pictures. These are the ones I loved the most, because of the facial expression or the cuteness or something.







Click here for the rest of the pictures.

Work Treats

For our work party, we had a pot-luck luncheon and a pinata. It was pretty funny when the pinata busted open because we all sat there and looked at the candy on the floor. No body moved to get any of it, which is how I got the picture, with no people.




Then we we had a bake sale of sorts...it was an auction to raise money for the Utah Food Bank. The bake sale alone raised more than $400! The auctioneer was the CIO, Jim Turnbull.


For my work buddies, I put together a 'Holiday Survival Kit' - which I can't claim as my own, because when I went to google ideas, there was already a little poem out there...so I used it.


It was really fun to put together and see the responses.

Friday Night Videos

This week, I couldn't decide on a theme for the videos (not that I've ever really had one).

First video is to help prepare you for the present you might get for Christmas that you weren't quite expecting.

Jolly Old St. Nicholas - I like this version:

Chrismas in Killarney:

One of the most adorable little girls singing Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree:

Another one of those Christmas Movie compilations:

Friday Night Videos

Yup...posting this on Saturday.

It's scary that this is a spoof, but how real it is!!

I like the music and I really like the 'dancing hands':

A crazy look at how insignifacant humans really are in the 'big picture'

I got this one from jake of the web; SAD!!

My Mom's Injury

Eric and I were visiting his dad when I recieved a call from my mom that she had fallen and thought she had a broken ankle. She mentioned in passing that she'd cut her hand, as well.

I had a fleeting twinge of anger at my dad for leaving her in this position, to be alone and have to wait for me to drive through the thick fog to take her to the doctor. "Wait for 20 minutes for me to get there."

The flush of anger passed as quickly as it came.

Her sister met me at her house and we packed her into the car and took her to the nearest Instacare.

After some x-rays, it was confirmed that she had broken her ankle. The cut on her hand required 5 stitches.......so, that was how she welcomed the holidays.

I'm really grateful the fall wasn't worse and that her injury was relatively minor (no surgery).