My Year in Review | Photos and Words

January

counsins / brothers / winter cooking / basketball watching

February

babysitting / valentines / sledding with friends / hair feather/ watching friends in sports / brother signing

March

awkward cousin photoshoots / National Lutheran Schools Week / best friend / volleyball team at Dairy Queen / teachers making pancakes for us / roller blading / State wrestling championship (1st place!)

April

confirmation / track meets / best friend / last school band concert / last school volleyball game

May

track meet / baseball games / Festival of Nations / annual lock-in / prom / last choir concert / 8th grade field trip / volunteering at Camp

June

Zach's graduation / my graduation / my mom's graduation / salutatorian speech / first Twins game at the new field / goodbye parties for friends

July

campfires / fish / lake / wedding / first phone / 4th of July / fireworks / brothers / trips

August

state fair working / county fair ribbon-winning / flower picture-taking / bird watching / babysitting

September

birthdays / adventure seeking / cousin time at the lake / dog-loving / portfolio building / football games / 1st day of school / first pepfest / Girls of Grace concert

October

volleyball / cousin's confirmation / brother's playoff game / adventures with the cousins / early Christmas / Fields of Faith / half marathon watching

November

Grand Marais / youth group trip / Gooseberry Falls / Thanksgiving / Student Council lock-in / my birthday

December

snow fall picture / band gift exchange / church youth directors / my old school's Christmas concert / best friend / siblings / winter pepfest / new mascot / aunts / extended family / cousin with our friend's baby

H. Kids | Sibling Photography

The H. Family has been on the blog before. They are a family in the neighborhood that I often babysit for. This wasn't a scheduled shoot, but I took these right after I got my 50mm. (I had to "test" it out) No picture is a perfect pictures, so I can improve on a lot of things. I really enjoyed shooting this family, even though I didn't always get a perfect smile. We met another little boy that we saw in the park's tennis courts. It was so cute watching the kids run around and being kids. I didn't post any of those pictures, but maybe I will another time.

Do you have a favorite picture?

P.S. I think/hope the blog's working again!
P.P.S. I'm taking more pictures of this family this weekend! 

S. Family Portraits

I believe I told you all that I'd post about Sophia's family pictures. Well, here they are! This family is SO much fun! They are full of energy and the kids are SO polite. It got a little hectic because the mosquitoes were out, but I do believe I got some good pictures. :) And of course you get those really cheesy grins or those "I'm-hating-this" face.

Which picture is your favorite?

2012 Independence Day {v.1}

 Yes, it has been a week since the 4th, but I'm just now posting about it.

 Our morning consisted of going to a  neighboring city for a parade.

Boy, was that parade long.My mom threatened to leave early because it was so long and the temperatures were unbearable.

 After our morning parade, my older two brothers went off on their own and did their own thing, so my younger brother Luke and I were home and completely bored.

 We begged mom and dad to take us somewhere, but because of the heat, there wasn't much outside that we wanted to do.

 So what did we do? We went on a house tour. Haha! No, I'm not moving, but we looked at all sorts of houses (the lake houses were my favorite) while listening to my new CD by Jamie Grace.

 We were looking at houses for a little over an hour before the sun went down and it was time for the city firework show {that apparently is the best in the Cities}.

 Let me tell you, this picture made my night. Gah!

 I never knew that fireworks were create such great bokeh! :P

The finale.

 So even though I didn't go out of town like I have every year, it was nice to experience something new and in my city for once. Last year was close to a once-in-a-lifetime experience. But this year, I just might have found some enjoyment in it.

What did you do for the 4th? Were you restricted from fireworks because of the drought?

Confirmation 2012

41. Get confirmed

42. Receive a new Bible

I look kinda creepy in this picture...

Last Sunday, I got confirmed. It was such a blessing to be surrounded by the people that love and care for me and my faith in Jesus Christ.God invited me to partake in Holy Communion. For a gift, my wonderful godparents gave me a beautiful Bible. It explains verses and it also has my name inscribed on the back. :) Overall, it was a really great weekend!