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52/52 night street*, originally uploaded by Jen likes to snap pics*.

night street*
An uninspiring night street photo. Took this from inside of my car.... too cold to get out and set up a tripod. The dashboard makes a good one in a pinch.
Christmas came and went. I was unprepared but got through it. I guess I had these ideas in mind and not all of them were accomplished so I felt that I was unprepared. We spent Christmas Eve at my cousin's house. We had a yummy dinner, kielbasa, sauerkraut, potatoes. Mmmm... On Christmas Day, we opened gifts in the morning. David's big gift was a Varsity Jacket. He also got a bowling ball, shoes, and a bag. Emily got an ipod touch, and a slew of clothes. After all of that. We went to my parents. She made a lasagna dinner. Emily got a mini fridge from them. lol She has been wanting that forever. David got lots of shirts and hoodies from them. He was difficult to buy for this year. He didn't want anything.
Today we spent time relaxing. My brother and his family will be here tomorrow evening. I'm so excited!

It looks like Christmas threw up in my living room. 

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51/52 red*, originally uploaded by Jen likes to snap pics*.

red*
These are the cranberries just before they were stabbed and threaded to make a pretty little garland for the Birds of Winter. So far they have yet to find it. I'm going to have to move it to a quieter area out of my backyard. I don't think the birds like that obnoxious puppy or being watched by a very fat cat, even though he is behind glass.
The theme is red this week. I had so many photos this week that were red. I ended up using this one because it's just different, not so Christmasy. I'm really not in the Spirit yet. I'm trying though. I have my Christmas music playing and the scents of the season in the air (thanks to my Wallflowers from Bath and Bodyworks). I'm even doing a Count-Down-to-Christmas photo project. That's already getting old and I've only done 4 photos. This weekend we have 2 different family Christmas parties to attend. I'm not ready. I can't get motivated. It will feel like Christmas on Christmas Day.

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50/52 music*, originally uploaded by Jen likes to snap pics*.

music*
.....an ornament from our Christmas tree. Emily plays the flute and we got this for her one year. Each year the kids get a special ornament. When they are on their own my plans are to give them their ornaments.

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49/52 window*, originally uploaded by Jen likes to snap pics*.

window*
... looking out my window. Pondering the times past.


Today was David's birthday. I cannot believe he is 17! Seriously, where did my "little boy" go?
We enjoyed dinner at Texas Roadhouse with my parents. They surprised all of us by telling them that it was David's birthday. Of course, the staff embarrassed him. They made him stand on the booth, all 6' 2" of him. They clapped and yelled and shouted that he was 17 and for everyone to give him a big birthday "yeeha!" It was funny! He was sure red when he sat back down. =D

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48/52 stripes*, originally uploaded by Jen likes to snap pics*.

stripes*
It's after Thanksgiving so we can officially start getting ready for the Christmas season.
We had a nice Thanksgiving over my parents house. My mom always goes above and beyond with cooking. We had so much delicious food. My aunt and uncle and grandma were there, also.
This week is the week leading up to David's birthday. I can't believe it. I'm getting so old. Let's see... 17 years ago Mike and I were in our apartment. We decorated early because we knew our little bundle of joy would soon be here. We had an ornament party. All of our family members came over and brought us an ornament to symbolize our new life together. We still have many of them and I remember that day when I decorate our tree. Over the years we save the decorations for after David's birthday. It's my way of keeping his birthday and Christmas separate.

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47/52 body*, originally uploaded by Jen likes to snap pics*.

body*
The body of a pumpkin pie!! I can't wait to get my hands on some this week for our Thanksgiving Holiday. Yummy!

"Not what we say about our blessings, but how we use them, is the true measure of our thanksgiving."
~W. T. Purkiser

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46/52 *, originally uploaded by Jen likes to snap pics*.

untitled*

I did not follow the theme this week. Instead, I procrastinated and decided to shoot these Fizzle Skittles in a shot glass. So very random. Have you ever had these? I found them at Halloween. They are similar to PopRocks by the way they fizzle in your mouth. They are addicting. They are kind of gross. But they are kind of good. lol But be careful, they will make the roof of your mouth sore.

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45/52 create*, originally uploaded by Jen likes to snap pics*.

create*
Creativity is allowing yourself to make mistakes. Art is knowing which ones to keep. ~Scott Adams

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44/52 fall *, originally uploaded by Jen likes to snap pics*.

fall*

The kids had fun carving their pumkins this year. These are the end results. Emily wanted to carve two. David's pumpkin must have been picked too soon, as the seeds inside were unusable. Good thing Emily's had plenty of seeds. What is Halloween without pumpkin seeds?

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43/52 Holiday Flash*, originally uploaded by Jen likes to snap pics*.

Holiday Flash*
I didn't follow the theme for the week... was unispired by the idea. It's no offense to anyone. It just wasn't nudging my creative side.
I've had this cute little camera for a couple of months now. I decided she needed to make her debut. I'm not sure if she works but maybe someday I'll find out. I'm not even sure where I can get film and have it developed.
So until then....

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42/52 my day*, originally uploaded by Jen likes to snap pics*.

my day*

This photo represents a typical Sunday for me - laundry day. Since it's my only day off of work in a week, I play catch-up on laundry and other house cleaning. These are my work clothes, every day I'm in these black and blues. It's seems to be all I have left in my closest.
I can't seem to get very creative in my pictures lately. lol A pile of laundry??
I can't even come up with anything to write here.

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41/52 tradition*, originally uploaded by Jen likes to snap pics*.

tradition*

It's a fall tradition for Mike & I to take the kids to the Apple Orchard & Pumpkin Patch. Yesterday was a beautiful, sunny, 70 degree fall day in Michigan. We headed to Apple Charlie's in New Boston, Michigan to pick apples and get pumpkins. We had fun picking apples. While we were there, we decided it was a little to early to get carving pumpkins, so we ended up not getting any. Instead we brought home Cider and Donuts.... yum!

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The week's theme is black and white. Emily's homecoming dress is black and white and the highlight of the week. I found it fitting for my photo of the week. She had a fun time at the dance. A group of girls (only a couple of them had dates) went to dinner. She was quite disappointed in her food. How hard is it to mess up fettuccine alfredo? I'm tempted to call them today.
David didn't go to homecoming... he wishes now that he did. I feel bad for him.

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38/52 friends*, originally uploaded by Jen likes to snap pics*.

friends*
Milo playing with one of his many friends.

Hi everyone. Not much new to blog about. School has been going good so far. It's homecoming week. I don't know who is more excited, the kids or me?? Emily is costing me a fortune. lol Boys are so much easier. I do have to do something about David's suit though. His pants are getting a bit snug. Oh and a tie to match his dates dress.
I can't wait to show you pictures next week!!
Have a good week.

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37/52 bokeh*, originally uploaded by Jen likes to snap pics*.

bokeh*

This is one of my favorite things to create with my camera; soft, bubbly, bokeh.

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36/52 view through*, originally uploaded by Jen likes to snap pics*.

view through*

I feel like such a slacker for getting this in so late in the week. I should have posted this last Sunday.
Anyhow, this is the "view through" the conservatory at a local park.

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35/52 color*, originally uploaded by Jen likes to snap pics*.

color*

Laying out under the umbrella (Ella ella, eh eh eh) and not a cloud in the sky. What a perfect Michigan day it was today. I could stand it if all of the days were just like today.

Last couple of days from a week off of work, and once again I didn't do a darn fun thing. Well... I shouldn't say that. We went to Cedar Point on Sunday. Emily took a friend who was not a fan of coasters. eergh! I felt bad for having her sit for a good part of the day while we went on a few of them. She insisted she was fine.
On Monday Emily and I went to shop for a homecoming dress. She found one that she really likes. It's pretty I have to admit. I am not ready for her to be growing up.
Tuesday the kids and I went back-to-school shopping. That was fun too. I remember how important that was to me when I was in high school.
As most of you know too... David's first varsity football game was Friday night. I love watching him play! It's always exciting to me, even if his team loses. I didn't get to go to real football games in high school so this is so cool to me. I love it.
So that's about it. Hope all of you who are reading this have a wonderful week ahead... the last week of summer. *sigh*

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"Happy Birthday" edition*

I made these vegan cupcakes (her request) for my Emily's 15th birthday. They are just as tasty as "regular" cupcakes. I can't tell the difference. They are Cookies-n-Cream flavor.
I think she had a good birthday. On Friday, the two of us went to my favorite salon and got a pedicure. This was my second one ever. I'm not completely sold on the idea. lol
Today David and her friend took her out for Sushi. She liked it! She had the vegetarian, of course. So no raw fish. David had some though.   :-P  After lunch they went to Coldstone and then to the mall. Her friend got her a cute shirt that says "What's on your mind" and an area that can be written on with a washable marker. It also has a blue share "button".  It's cute. (I didn't get it at first, it's a FB shirt). For dinner we went to Red Robin with my parents. I hope she had fun.... Sunday it's Cedar Point!

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33/52 home*, originally uploaded by Jen likes to snap pics*.

home*

Well, this is not exactly my home. And it's not exactly anyone else's home either. These sunflowers are surrounding the Domino's Petting Farm. They are so pretty. I was tempted to take a few home with me. But out of respect of other's I left them alone. Instead I took a ton of pictures. ;-)
This past week, the kids have been busy. David is now officially practicing for varsity football. He's been conditioning all summer. He had his first scrimmage Saturday. Emily has been cleaning her room and getting things together for the garage sale that she and her friend had. She only made $23. But it's $23 that she didn't have before.
I've got one week left until a vacation. Nothing is planned other than getting back-to-school shopping done.
Have a great week ahead!
Jen

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32/52 light*, originally uploaded by Jen likes to snap pics*.

light*
Went to IKEA Canton yesterday. I love that place! Everything is so cool and the set up is awesome. We were in the childrens' section and I just had to photograph this wall of lights. I always love seeing it. It's so colorful and whimsical. I was wishing I had my XSi with me, or at least my S3is. Oh well... my blackberry had to do. Of course... I can't leave things alone so I slapped on a polaroid frame on this over at picnik.