What's New With The Carter Family

I'm super excited!!! In 2 days time I'll be starting a FREE 28 day photography class, called The Joy of Love . Here's how it works... I'll be receiving daily email prompts/photo assignments from willette and once I take my pictures, I can choose to share them on a public flikr room created just for this class. Fun and easy, right? But what fun is that for you guys if you can't see what I'm shooting? So..... I'm going to "try" to post them on here too :) My goal is to take a picture every day in the month of February, all dedicated to things and people I love. I can't wait to begin! I'm hoping that by the end of this class I'll have learned a few things and improved just a little! P.S. There is still time to sign up for the class, just do it before February 1st!

The upstairs "computer room" is one of my favorite places in our house. I always seem to be up there :) If I'm not on the computer, I'm at my scrapbooking desk....and if I'm not busy doing something, then I'm looking out the window. It's quiet. It's calming. It's relaxing. It's just beautiful. No matter what time of day or night, there's some beauty to admire out in those woods. Sometimes I just watch the birds hopping around the trees. Other times I search for the squirrels. But mostly I just like to look out at the trees. Especially at sunset. Sunset is spectacular sometimes! Just take a look at this picture, taken one evening when my boys were at a movie and I was home alone.... I mean, really.....who wouldn't want to stare out there forever? :) Of course you also have beautiful views in the morning too...as the sun starts to rise (from the opposite end of the house) and the moon is still visible. I think I took thi...

The older I get, the harder it is to stay up late. Ok, who am I kidding LOL. I've never been a night owl, and staying up past 10pm is kind of pushing it for me. Just because it's New Year's Eve does not mean that I'll be any less sleepy than any other night. My bedtime is 10:30pm. It's a fact. It's good that I know my limitations. Right? In the past we have spent New Year's Eve struggling to stay up until the 'magical moment' when the year officially ends and the new year begins. You tell yourself that you are getting together with family and friends, to play some games, have some laughs, bring in the new year together. But really, it's just a lie. It's a lie you tell yourself because if you told yourself the truth -- what you're REALLY going to do -- it would make you run far far away! The truth of the matter is this: You are going to stay up PAST YOUR BEDTIME. HOURS past your old folk bedtime. You will yawn. Lots. Your eyes will want to...

One of the best parts of Christmas for me is spending time with family...and even though my mum, dad and brother weren't here with us, I did get to have a nice video chat with them. I love that we can do that now :) It's like they're sitting right in front of me, just a little smaller and a little fuzzier! One of my other favorite things about Christmas is sending and receiving Christmas Cards, Photos and Newsletters! Here is this year's "Door of Fame".....thank you to every family who sent us a card or photo....we absolutely love hearing from you! This year we kept the "Door of Fame" up until way into the new year :) I took a picture of it right around Christmas (though we did receive some more cards/pictures after that point, they are not in the pic below). Take a look.... Another of my favorite things at Christmas time is having the kids spend time with their grandpa! We are always so happy to have him come visit, and Jem and River (and now...

I'm sorry it's been a whole month since my last post...as always, December-January is fun, hectic and family filled - so even though I've taken a bunch of pictures, I haven't gotten around to posting them yet. Here is the first of many "catch ups" - Christmas day! We spent Christmas day at our house, with my father in law flying up from Idaho and my Sister In Law and her family driving a mere mile down the road. Have I mentioned how much I love that they've moved to Lake Stevens now? :) It was a great, relaxing Christmas...full of food, funny movies and a "Special Concert" to end the night with. More on the concert at a later date....for now, here are the pictures of the gift opening! We hope you all had a very merry Christmas!

Jem's annual NCA Christmas Concert was held this past Monday.... it was called "Star of Wonder" and the kiddos (as usual) did an amazing job! The kids sang 8 songs throughout the play. Here is a short clip of the last carol medley....and in case you can't spot Jem, he's the one in the white vest and pants :) After the concert the kids went back to their classrooms...where I snapped this picture of Jem in front of the class Christmas Tree!

Last weekend, the Skinners and I popped on over to Lundeen Park to take some "sister" photos. We were there only a short time 15-20 minutes maybe....and it was a little bit on the chilly side..... but boy, were River and Piper troopers! River smiled and posed and posed and smiled while Piper gave her best "I am not smiling" look LOL. They are two VERY special girls, and no, I'm not partial because they are my nieces *wink* . I think we got a couple of sweet shots....here are a few of my favorites ! And now for the two I had printed up to hang on my wall...... (This last one is my personal favorite! I love the sweetness on River's face as she cuddles close her baby sister.....).