Best face of 2011

I took lots of pictures of my beautiful family members in 2011 so it was very hard to choose just one. However, I narrowed it down to this one. This is my daughter, Allison. She and Ryan got engaged in July and they asked me to take their engagement photos. We traveled to Austin in October and this is one of my favorites. I captured this one that I think shows how happy she is and how much love she feels.

I heart faces entry (eyes)

I heart faces entry

I've been following the I heart faces blog for a little while. I've never tried to enter a photo before now but this week, their theme is wind. When I shot some pictures of Camryn for my photography class a few weeks ago, we had a lot of trouble with her hair blowing in the wind. Perfect, right? Well, here is my entry for this week's theme.

Aren't they beautiful?

 I spent Saturday with my girls. It was just the three of us. We left all the guys and the children at home. I so enjoy their company. What wonderful, beautiful, fun people they are. I am so lucky. I love them so much.

You are the poem I dreamed of writing, the masterpiece I longed to paint.You are the shining star I reached for in my ever hopeful quest for life fulfilled. You are my child(ren). Now, with all things I am blessed.

Feb 1, 2011

Today, Melissa Nicole would have been 31 years old. I hope my daddy is enjoying playing with his very first granddaughter that we never got to play with in this life. Sadly, I won't be going to the cemetery today in this weather.

A List of Random Stuff

1. I've only scrapped one page since Nov 1. Seriously. I was a little burned out and wanted to take a break. However, I haven't stopped taking pictures, so I need to catch back up.

2. I went through every drawer and box and piece of paper in my scrap room and filled up two big boxes full of stuff that I was just not in love with. That is what happens when you are on DT. Loved being on it. Loved it, I swear. However, I occasionally got stuff (for free) that I just really did not like. Gave it to this place. The birth mothers make scrapbooks for their babies. I wanted them to have fun stuff to use since I am so proud of them for making the decision to give their babies better lives, for choosing life. 

3. I've signed up for a new photography class at UTA. This one is called "on location." I'm pretty excited. It is about finding outdoor locations and how to get the best shots using natural light. It meets on the 4 Tuesdays in February during the DAY from 12-2. I've cleared it with my boss and everything. I just have to use 1.5 vacation days for the time I leave early each week.


4. I bought one of these. It is just perfect for the tripod pictures where I don't want to have any camera shake at all or when I am trying to get a child to look at me. I can make great faces and still press the shutter.

5. The hot flashes are not fun. They keep me from sleeping well. too. I am also told that I am not so fun, either. I've been accused of biting a certain someone's head off a few too many times. I guess I need to look into remedies.

6. I need to start walking again, too. The pounds are starting to creep back on. Is that from menopause, too? I got lazy this fall and just didn't start back up again. Shame on me.

7. Why are all the robes in stores either thick and plush (which makes them hot) or short and slinky? I want a plain cotton wrapper that is at least mid calf length. The one I have is getting a bit worn out.

8. I'm starting to think about retirement a lot lately. I'm not ready financially but certainly ready, otherwise. I like my job but like the idea of not working, too.

9. I'm really excited about all the engagements that are happening in my family. Right now, I've got a niece and two nephews planning weddings.I'm betting the next few years will be busy with weddings as more and more of them get older.

10. I've seen several people post their top 12 pictures from last year on their blogs. I want to do that, too. I just need to find the time to go back through the 5 million pictures I took last year.

11. I've got a day planned with my girls for Feb 12. I am so excited. We haven't done anything, just the three of us, in quite a while.

Forever

Forever lyrics

If every word I said
Could make you laugh
I’d talk forever (together my love)
I ask the sky just what we had
Mmm it shone forever
(together my love my my my my my my my my my my my my my)
If the song I sing to you
Could fill your heart with joy
I’d sing forever (together my love my my my my)
Forever
Forever
I’ve been so happy loving you

Do do do do do do do do do together my love

Let the love I have for you
Live in your heart
And beat forever (together my love)
Forever
Forever
I’ve been so happy loving you

Baby just let me sing it my baby
I wanna be singin’ my baby
Baby baby baby my baby
I wanna be singin’
I wanna be singin’ my baby
Oh oh oh oh
My my my my my my

So I’m goin’ away
Mmm but not forever
Na na na na
I gotta love you anyway

Forever

Not doing a project 365 again this year

However, I am going to attempt a photography project for this year. Actually, I am going to do two. First, I am going to follow along with MCP actions and do their Project 52- one photo a week. I really like the idea of having a weekly theme and I especially like the idea of someone choosing those themes for me. Takes much of the pressure off of me. This week's theme is "around the house." I've already taken the picture. I just need to edit it and then I'll post.  The second project is going to be called Me on Monday. I want to take self portraits of my self and I will take one every Monday. I may not post on Monday but will take the pictures on Mondays. I think it will be fun to take a look at them at the end of 52 weeks.

Christmas pictures

I took very few pictures this year. I made a conscious effort to just enjoy the moments and not stress about the lighting and the camera shake like I usually do. I played around with some fun photos in the days leading up to Christmas. However, once the kids came over on Christmas Eve, the camera went on auto, the flash got popped up and I just took some pictures  and handed the camera off so I could have pictures of me, too. I hope your holiday was as wonderful as mine was.

Joe graduates and a story

Congratulation to my son-in-law, Joe on his graduation from college. It took him a while to get serious. He joined the navy out of high school and then  after getting out halfheartedly went to school some and worked some until he and Karen reconnected a few years ago. I remember a conversation he and I had one day while we were in the waiting room during Karen's gall bladder surgery. He mentioned that he was not crazy about the job he had at that time but he took it because he loved my daughter and wanted to take care of her and Seth. He was interested in science and wanted to finish his degree, then go to graduate school and make something of himself. He had my heart at that moment. Here we are a few years later and he has his bachelor's. I'm so proud of him. He has worked full time, gone to school full time, loved Seth like he is his own and now has Stella, too. Good job, Joe. We love you.

I sat next to Joe's grandmother, Lee at dinner afterward. She was telling me how much she enjoys Seth and what a smart boy she thinks he is. She told me a story about him that did not surprise me one bit.

Shortly before Stella was born, Lee's husband, Ken was taken ill and died. Before he died, though, he was in intensive care for several days with his family keeping vigil at the hospital. Seth wasn't allowed to go into Ken's room because he was too young and that upset him a great deal. When Ken heard that Seth was upset, he sent word out to the waiting room to tell Seth that the next time he came to their house, he could play the piano for 10 minutes. Apparently, Lee and Ken had a 5 minute rule on grandchildren playing on the piano when they visit as most of them just bang on it. Lee said that, sure enough, the next time Seth came to visit, he reminded her that Grandpa Ken had said he could have 10 minutes on the piano. She also told me that Seth is unlike the children before him in that he will press the keys and actually listen to each note before he goes to the next one and can put some notes together well. She thinks he has some musical talent. I hope he pursues that. I loved listening to the music in the house when Karen was singing and Allison was playing her flute. Miss that.

The Christmas letter

I did not make Christmas cards this year. I bought them. Of course, they still aren't mailed. I did not put together a photo collage of my family's year. I even considered not writing the annual Christmas letter as our year was pretty ordinary. No, I am not being a scrooge, I have just been really busy. Work has been nuts. I get home and I am tired. There have not even been many home cooked dinners, just lots of Subway sandwiches, pizza and the occasional grilled cheese sandwich. My favorite meal is definitely the one we eat somewhere other than our house. However, I did sit down yesterday and wrote this short note which I will enclose with the store bought Christmas cards that might get mailed tomorrow. haha I hope all of you have a wonderful holiday season.

Dear family and friends,

I’ve procrastinated writing my annual Christmas letter because there simply isn’t much to tell. Life is crazy busy but actually kind of quiet. Curtis and I go to work each day. We come home and relax. We go to bed and then, we start over again the next day. Sometimes, I look back at those days when both girls were younger and we had sports and school and extra curricular activities to fit into each day and wonder how in the world I lived through it. I like our life. We’ve settled into our routine and are enjoying the quiet. We are very blessed to have just celebrated our 33^rd wedding anniversary. Of course, we look forward to seeing the girls at every opportunity. I talk to them on the phone several times a week and we still do fun things as a family. They are both happy and doing well.

Although she is currently looking for a job, Karen is a stay at home mom. She and Joe bought their first home this summer. They are slowly furnishing and decorating it. Seth is seven and in the first grade. He is smart, enjoys baseball and being a big brother. He has the cutest dimples and such a great smile. Curtis and I thoroughly enjoy every minute we spend with him. He says the funniest things. Stella just turned one this month and has started walking. She is a blonde haired, blue eyed cherub and we are all smitten with her.

Allison is teaching physics and Aquatic Science at Colleyville Heritage High School. She is very excited to have won a large educational grant that she plans to use for building a pond on the CHHS campus. The check presentation was especially fun as they surprised her by coming to her classroom with the marching band’s drum line leading them down the hall. She is also the adult sponsor of the teen leadership group at our church of which she was once a member and is teaching confirmation classes. For the last two years, she has seeing a very nice young man, Ryan Martin, a fellow Longhorn she met when they were both Biology majors at UT. He has become very much a part of our family, too.

Curtis and I hope the next year brings you all the joy and blessings you deserve.

With all our love,

Curtis and Detta Owens

Stella turns One

It is hard to believe but little Stella is a year old. We celebrated with a party at her house. She wasn't too interested in the cake but did like her presents and was really interested in the Christmas tree. She is walking pretty well and I loved watching her. Here, of course, are a few pictures.

Playing in the leaves

Seth and Stella came to play on Tuesday last week. Stella is beginning to walk and is saying a few things. She says E I E I O and she claps her hands and says "yay!" We played outside in the leaves. Seth thought it was great fun to rake, so I let him. Of course, I took pictures.

The end of an era

I have decided to step down from my Design Team coordinator position at Memorable Seasons. It's been two years now and I have loved every minute. However, I seem to not have as much time to devote to it as the site gets better and bigger and my life gets crazier. Who would have thought this grandma would be busier now than when my kids were still living at home? How in the world did I do it? With that said, here are my last Design team kit projects. Our November 1 reveal was sponsored by Jillibean Soup. They have the most fabulous kraft paper designs and one of my favorite scrapbook supplies, the Jillibean sprouts. Are you ready for some Christmas? If not, I'm sorry but I will get back to Halloween stuff in a day or two.

 Found these at a garage sale down the street. I got 8 of them for $2 thinking I could alter them somehow. Here are the first three projects using them.

I created the next project using a dollar store frame and a flower cut from old dictionary pages and tissue paper misted with Glimmer mist. It is kind of subtle but I rubbed some Tim Holtz antique linen ink around the edges of the snowflake paper.

This is an empty matchbox that I put a miniature candy bar into. It would be a cute stocking stuffer or a cute gift for your co workers.

and of course, I made a layout and some cards.

I will miss the free stuff I got for being DT Coordinator (haha) but I am looking forward to actually scrapping less and using just what I like. See you around, bloggers.