week 52 | what life is all about

OK -- maybe that's being a little dramatic.  I had planned to take a fabulous picture of the loves of my life ~ Doug and the kids.  But life was crazy-busy (duh) this week.  This picture, however, comes pretty close.  Life is about family, fun and traditions, as shown in this, my last Project 52 photo.  for 2011, anyway.

week 51 | holiday cheer

This picture makes me laugh every time!  Josh had a great time with the dreidle, and nobody was going to take his gelt!

week 50 | festive colors

It doesn't get more festive than a fresh Christmas tree, decorated in years of memories.  These are the newest ornaments in our collection this year (so far), and they're actually old.  They belonged to my Grandma and Grandpa Sackett, and I just acquired them from my sister.  I love them!

week 49 | traditions

The first Saturday after Thanksgiving, it has become our tradition to get the Christmas tree.  This year it took less than 15 minutes (and tears from only one child).  We ended up with a "9-foot" tree that takes us almost the entire living room.  The kids can't wait to get it lighted and decorated!

the kids and Stephanie -- the lovely gal at Foley's who helped us find the perfect tree this year!

week 48 | twinkle twinkle

Lots of lights this week.  But my favorite were at the Creche ~ lighting Darren's gold paper nativity.

week 47 | water

With our big weekend getaway to visit the Payne cousins, I didn't really have time to get out and take pictures of any of the rain water.  I did capture this shot on a nature walk Thanksgiving morning.  I'm thankful for sunshine, crisp cool air, and blue skies.

week 46 | over the top

The Livingstons came to Seattle for business and asked us to join them for dinner.  I decided to work from home and then take the light-rail into Seattle where Doug would meet me before we met James and Lisa at the restaurant.  I happened to look up while I was waiting for Doug, and found the monrail over the top of me!

week 45 | book title

Panda Bear, Panda Bear, What Do You See?  (by Bill Martin Jr and Eric Carle)

week 44 | muted tones

Of course, now that I'd like some nice, filtered light for muted tones, I get bright sunshine (not that I'm complaining!)

week 43 | shadows

It's hard to capture shadows when the sun won't come out.  So technically, I think this is more "reflections" than "shadows."

week 42 | true beauty

I had lots of good ideas for this week.  But didn't follow up on a single one of them.  So you get to see a picture of one of my favorite things...fall leaves!

week 41 | architecture

this is the view from the 6th floor of the south building at work.  the diving board has great views of the heart of the campus, as well as south lake union.

this campus was just awarded the LEED Platinum Certification.  The certification makes the campus the largest LEED Platinum non-profit building in the world.

and I get to work here!

week 40 | a taste for vintage

I took a lot of liberties with this theme...in part because I thought it was "nostalgia" and not "vintage."

this is a rare daytime photo of our street with nobody in it! our street is awesome and is usually crawling with kids ~ wouldn't have it any other way. but before we know it, these kids are going to grow up and our street will be as quiet as this photo looks.

and that made me a bit notsalgic. or, rather, vintage. see? i took some liberties...

week 39 | man v. nature

Had lots of amazing ideas this week -- but (un)fortunately, I never stumbled upon a raging forest fire that was started by lightning and that was being fought by firemen.

We did, however, encounter more than our fair-share of rain.  And when you're trying to drive in pouring rain, it's man v. nature.

week 38 | the eyese have it

Cute Alie asked me to take her Senior Pictures for her.  I am still nervous about it (and it was almost a week ago), and I hope she found at least one picture she really liked.  In the meantime, the eyes have it in this picture...aren't her eyes beautiful?

week 37 | momentous moments

Last week was momentous for so many reasons...jr. high, middle school, and kindergarten.  But this weekend we started the soccer season ~ and that is a momentous moment for our family!

week 36 | thirst for knowledge

School started earlier this week for most of the kids.  Today, the kindergartners (all 9 of them on our street!) started their educational career ~ can't you just see their thirst for knowledge?

week 35 | lazy

I'm not sure why, but taking photos of flowers seems very lazy...

week 34 | connections

A beautiful soccer tournament gives one plenty of opportunities to capture "connections."

week 33 | slow down & look back

We got stuck in traffic after we left Cashmere much later than we should have (we were having too much fun with Deb!).  But it gave me the chance to literally slow down & look back.