13/52

13/52 Live your passion every day., originally uploaded by Jen likes to take pics*.

Live your passion every day.
I've been so busy with work lately that I have not been doing 'this'. I've neglected my passion. Not to say that tea is my passion, but my family, my photography hobby, my on-line friends. I have to remember that I can't let my job take over my passions.
On a side note... I've discovered tea. Starbucks makes a mean Tazo Tea Latte. My fave is London Fog. It's made with Earl Gray full leaf tea bags and milk. It's almost the "new coffee".

my girls

my girls, originally uploaded by Jen likes to take pics*.

This was taken last Sunday. I kept forgetting to post it.
Emily always wants to take Sidney in the car. I refuse. She is too hairy! So last weekend I got out a sheet and threw it in the backseat of my car and said, "Let's Go" They were both excited! hehehe I drove over to the local community college because there is a lot of land to walk on. It was muddy so we had to stay on the paths. Sidney got muddy none the less. Good thing for the sheet.

Oh and a big YAY!! for Emily... she is going to be in the Science Olympiad on Thursday. I don't even know exactly what it is... science fair I guess. She and her partner had to do a structure out of toothpicks and marshmallows. She is so awesome!! LOL! I am so proud of her.

12/52

12/52 "Nothing is easier than self-deceit, for what each man wishes that he also believes to be true." Demosthenes, originally uploaded by Jen likes to take pics*.

Just enjoying the day doing nothing. I'm re-reading Jodi Picoult's book the Tenth Circle. I didn't "get it" the first time reading it. I love her books. If you haven't read anything by her yet, you ought to.

11/52

11/52 Waiting on Spring, originally uploaded by Jen likes to take pics*.

Waiting on Spring
The grass is still brown. The trees have not budded. The spring flowers have not sprung. I did however see the first robin, so I know that spring will be here soon.

The week's theme is silhouettes.

10/52

10/52 patterns, originally uploaded by Jen likes to take pics*.

So here is my photo of the week. The theme is patterns. I had a lot of ideas in my mind but really didn't know how to execute them. I should say that I didn't have the patterns on hand. For instance I wanted to do something with an umbrella. No patterned umbrella. My clothing is pretty basic, no crazy skirts or shoes. I actually found these two things in Emily's room.

put a smile on my face

This morning I was driving to work and I got a text message from someone. It said I c u. I was wondering who was sick? ha ha I thought someone was in the intensive care unit at the hospital. Then saw that it came from David. He saw me. duh! So I looked around me and there goes a charter bus. He was on his way to a ski trip.
Here is our text conversation.
David: I c u
Me: Oh thats you in that bus! Have fun.
David: I saw the orioles sticker and michigan plate
(We have an orange Orioles sticker on the back window)
Me: Not hard to miss it huh
David: lol yea I know
Me: I should have stayed on Telegraph so i could follow you guys.
David: why
Me: Then I could wave at you. But that would be embarrassing. Ok I have to work now. Love you.
David: love you to

I thought it was cute. It made my morning. I can't wait to hear how his ski trip went.

driving

driving, originally uploaded by Jen likes to take pics*.

This photo was taken at Lego Land in San Diego, California. It was the summer of 2005. He was so excited to drive a Lego car. He even got a driver's license. He was so proud of that. He had the biggest smile on his face when he got it. I think it is still in his wallet. ;-) Tomorrow, David starts driver's training. I can't believe it! He won't be 16 until December but this just doesn't seem right. How can it be? Where did the time go? I smile just thinking about his excitement and the smile he'll have on his face the first time he get behind the wheel.

9/52

This shit is bananas, B A N A N A S, originally uploaded by Jen likes to take pics*.

Bananas are a perfect breakfast. They come packed and ready to go.

8/52

conservatory, originally uploaded by Jen likes to take pics*.

This is a conservatory at the Heritage Park in Taylor. The conservatory is a steel frame structure with no glass. It is a one-third size replica of the Anna Scripps Whitcomb Conservatory that is located on Belle Isle in Detroit. The replica was built for a home builders show some years ago. The city of Taylor was able to purchase it for $1. Of course thousands of dollars had to be raised in order to move and erect it on it's new site.

heading to the UK

=), originally uploaded by Jen likes to take pics*.

Well, not me the wig.... The traveling wig should go out today. I had a few more ideas but I really should get his out. It was a lot of fun!

Ok I think I got it!

Thanks to Melissa B for helping me get my blog the way I wanted. I think I'm done with the layout for now. I like change every now and again so the background and header will probably be different in a month or so. Who knows it just might stay. Ya never know.

Excuse me while I play around here

pumps, originally uploaded by Jen likes to take pics*.

I can't stand that the columns on my page are so narrow. I am trying to fix that. I know it can be done, but how?

7/52

Once upon a time, there was a pink wig. The wig's dream was to travel the world and be worn on the heads of many vibrant and beautiful flickr members. So far this wig has been in Australia & France. Now here it is in the USA. Check it out Wigfeld Follies.

This is also part of week 7 of my 52 week project.
Happy Valentine's Day!

Just thought I'd post a pic of Emily and I. This was done the same day that I took my photo for the week. I had my camera on my tripod and had it on the self timer. It was hard getting both of us in sync. This was about as good as it got. I tried not to get the harsh shadows on both of our faces but as you see it didn't work. It's ok. I'm still happy with it. Some of you know how Emily is with having her pics taken, so I'll take this.

If you want to see it a little bigger you can click the picture.

6/52

It was so nice out today! It finally got into the 40's and most of the snow has melted. My daughter and I made a special trip to the park just so I could get this shot for
my 52 week project. The theme is motion/movement.

Happy Birthday Mike!

Happy 38th Birthday to my wonderful husband Mike. Today is his birthday. So far he's been spoiled by breakfast in bed. I made him a breakfast sandwich on an english muffin with canadian bacon and egg. No other big plans were made for the day. It's sunny and above freezing so I'm sure we'll do something.
Off to make banana bread!

5/52

Every morning my alarm goes off at 5 am. I do not get up. I lay there, and lay there. I know I need to get up and jump in the shower before taking the kids to school. Finally I get up and start the day. I leave the house at 6:45 and take my son to school. I'm back home by 7:15 only to leave again by 7:30 to take my daughter to school. I am home by 7:50 and finsh getting ready for work. I try to get out of the house at 8:00. Most times I don't. I usually get on the computer to see what's new.
Sundays are for sleeping in. So I don't usually see 5:44. Thank goodness for Sundays!

Back home...

We got back from Higgins Lake on Tuesday. What a weekend! I left Saturday after work. I had to go pick up my Mike's sisters car after I got off work. I was driving that up north. I still hadn't packed yet. The kids were home straightening up the house and packing their own stuff. I didn't get home until 3 pm. At 3:30 one of Mike's other sisters called me to pick her up from the airport. It's 5 minutes away so it's nothing to get there but I still wasn't done packing. I called my brother-in-law, who's house I just left, to go get her. I ended up getting her. He was causing me so much stress. In the mean time he got to my house. I rushed around and tried to gather the rest of my stuff. When I got up there I realized I only brought 2 sweatshirts and a pair of jeans. I did bring my clothes for the Memorial Service... that was the most important.
The kids drove with my b-i-l and my neice and great-nephew. I drove my s-i-l. We were going to follow each other but somehow his 75 mph turned into 80. We got separated but I managed to pass him somewhere around Birch Run. I called him to let him know we were stopping to get coffee and go to the restroom. He said he was driving straight through and not stopping. Well we ended up beating them there. I don't know how he thought he wasn't going to make any stops with a 7 month old. lol!
There were about 20+ people at Mike's moms. It was a mad house!
Monday was the mass. That's it. Just a small service. Nothing at a funeral home. That's how he wanted it. He was creamated so there wasn't a body to see. Mike did a reading, the kids carried the gifts (wine and host for communion) and a granddaughter read something that she wrote. She wrote something for each letter of his name. That brought tears to everyone's eyes.
The women of the church preapared a lunch for afterward. It was a nice service.
Mike did a lot of the work, he did a lot for his mom. He really wanted to be there for her to get things taken care of after today but he needed to get back to work.

This is a picture of some flowers and the urn.

4/52

My father in-law passed away yesterday. He was diagnosed with stage 4 lung cancer two months ago. This is my tribute to his life here on earth. He will be missed by his wife and their 8 children & their spouses, 9 grandchildren, and 1 great grandchild.

Vince Gill - Go Rest High On That Mountain

I know your life
On earth was troubled
And only you could know the pain
You weren't afraid to face the devil
You were no stranger to the rain

Go rest high on that mountain
Son, you work on earth is done
Go to heaven a shoutin'
Love for the Father and Son

Oh, how we cried the day you left us
We gathered round your grave to grieve
I wish I could see the angels faces
When they hear your sweet voice sing

Go rest high on that mountain
Son, you work on earth is done
Go to heaven a shoutin'
Love for the Father and Son

- Vince Gill

3/52

The theme this week is Self Portraits. Yeah, I've done them in the past but I really don't like doing them. I just don't like looking at my self. The lighting in my bathroom is bad. I looked yellow so I did some playing and this is what I came up with. I didn't crop much.... just the spot above my head. I used my 50mm lens... that's why its so close.