DAY 365!!!

 Hooray I made it day 365!  I am so happy to have finished my year long goal, one picture everyday!  Obviously not all of them were perfect, and there were many days that I wasn't motivate but I am so glad I challenged myself and pushed through!

My goals at the beginning of the year was to shoot RAW and manual which I did for every single picture I took this entire year.  Because I challenged myself I was able to learn how to use my camera creatively and post process them to my liking (though I have a lot to learn about PP!)

Mostly I am grateful for all the love and support I received this year!  My husband has been truly remarkable and patient as I have pursued my goals.  His love and support are unwavering and I am grateful for that.  I am also grateful for my two little muses, and even if they won't let me take their picture, I am glad I have a years worth of picture to document their growing.

Lastly I am to grateful for the wonderful friendships I am have made this year blogging and on flickr.  I am especially honored to a muse with 8 wonderful women!  Thank you for all the wonderful comments and support even if I haven't been there.  You all are awesome!

Here are a few more pictures from today's photo shoot and some outtakes!

xoxo

April :)

Day 364

The sun is setting on my 365!
One.
More.
Day!

Thanks for all your support, I love you cyber friends!!!

Day 363

I am so glad I am almost done with the 365, I can't figure out what to shoot in the winter time...snow, ice or snow and ice :)

Happy Wednesday!

Day 362

The snow was beautiful and sparkly this morning!

And deeper than my calf high boots, which was a very cold wake up this morning for my feet!

Day 361

Today we got at least a foot a snow and snow drifts up to 3 feet! I was so excited but unfortunately my kids weren't too sure about it. My 18 month old had fun for about 10 minutes, hopefully I can get my 3 year old out tomorrow, I know he would have fun if I could just get him out there :)

Hope you had a lovely day! Only 4 more days of 365 :)

Day 360!

Oh my goodness, only 5 more days, yayayay!

So we are already taking down the Christmas decorations and the kiddos love to help of course!

I am linking up with the mortal muse blog today, the theme is shiny :) Oh and WEVS! (worms eye view Sunday)

Happy Sunday!

Day 359

Merry Christmas! I hope you all had a wonderful day filled with family and friends celebrating each other love and friendship, and of course the birth of Jesus Christ.

Thank you to all my friends, especially my muses for the wonderful gifts and notes this Christmas!

Day 358

Merry Christmas Eve!
Don't they look excited to have their pictures taken, haha :)

Day 357

Gooey snowflakes

Day 356

My sweet doggy Ralphy who really needs a hair cut :)

Day 355

10 more days!!!!!!!
I am really loosing my mojo, I need to remember to take pictures earlier in the day :)
I hope you had a lovely day today!
I am linking up with mortal muses today for the family post (even though we are missing a very important person in this picture) Come along and play, everyday there is a giveaway if you leave comments and/or link up!

Day 354

Look very closely...
missing heads
3 baby Jesus'
dinosaurs and lions

I love that my kids play, learn about Jesus' birth and can bring in their own creativity!

Day 353

This technically not perfect (humm are any of my pictures?) Didn't get the white balance right, oh well. Anyway this is so funny because she was sooo tired after church yesterday since she didn't have a nap. She was acting fine, and in nursery she got a candy cane so I let her eat it on the car ride home. One second she was chowing down, the next second I heard snoring, haha. If you look close you can see the stickiness on her face and pieces of candy cane stuck all over :)

Day 352

To my friend who said she would scream if she saw anymore Christmas Tree bokeh (ahem, Kirstin) I am sorry, it had to be done! Tis the season :)

Day 351

window snowflakes :)

The kids and I were getting ready to go in the car when I decided to run back inside to get the camera and macro lens. I was taking some pictures and my son was so confused, "umm mom why aren't we going in the car" Oh because mommy needs to take pictures, haha.

Day 350

Ok so this made me so happy. I always thought it was cute when kids feel asleep in random places, but that hasn't ever happened with my kids. Obviously this isn't too weird, just on the floor, but fun nonetheless. Now I am just waiting for a kid to fall asleep while eating :)

Day 349

This is the advent calendar I made for my kids :)

Day 348

Today I have a little heart taken for my sweet little one week old nephew. He was born with a really rare heart defect the requires open heart surgery that will happen tomorrow. If you have any prayers or happy thoughts that you could send his way I would greatly appreciate it :)

Day 347

Her curly mullet was extra curly today :)

Day 346

We found the neighbors Christmas decorations, the kids were super happy!

Day 345

You can't tell in this picture, but the whole bottom half of my tree is becoming empty of ornaments as I place them higher out of toddler hands :)

Day 344

More frosty fence post :)

Day 343

We had a little bit of snow fall last night :)

Sorry I have once again been so absent. I have been feeling very unmotivated so most of my pictures have been super crappy. Add that too being super busy with the season and other personal things my 365 has taken a backseat. I refuse to give up though, being so close! I am going to try harder for my last 22 days!

Day 342

Love them :)

Day 337

My neighbor has her outside tree decorated so cute, I can't wait to go back!

Day 336

coloring...

Day 335

This is the 30x40 canvas I won from a shutter sister contest :)

Day 334

once again I am obsessed with the curly mullet :)

Day 333

Today I am grateful that I feel a little bit better, after being sick for over a week really sucks! I did take a picture everyday but most of them aren't very good and today I am too tired to go put them all up, hopefully soon!

I hope everyone is doing well and that you had a happy thanksgiving :)

Day 326

There is a lot of sick going on here :( Today I am grateful for medicine to help me and the kids feel better. Also for my kids awesome pediatrician!

Day 325

I am grateful for my babies, how they play together and laugh hysterically in their own little world. Oh and I love the squishy baby legs :)

Day 324

Today I am grateful for my reusable diapers . I am saving mula, and helping the environment!

Day 323

Today I am grateful for peppermint stick ice cream, yum yum!

For those who saw I am doing a healthy habits challenge are probably wondering what this is all about.... well we get one day off from not eating sweets and I am taking my day :)

Happy Friday and happy weekend!!!

Day 322

Today I am grateful for sleep! And even more grateful that I got a nap today!!!

Day 321

Today I am grateful for yummy healthy food!
I am doing an 8 week healthy challenge with my dad and sister in law. Basically you exercise 30 minutes 5 times a week, eat 5 servings of fruits and veggies everyday (3 should be veggie) drink lots of water no treats and no eating late at night. It hasn't been too bad so far, and I love the healthy habits!

If you click on the picture it will take you to my flickr page and you can see the notes on the photo of what I put in it!

Day 320

Day 320, originally uploaded by AprilMN.

Today I am grateful that for preschool. Me and 3 other friends take turns teaching preschool each month. It is really fun having the kids over then the next week they get to go play somewhere else!

bling bling bokeh!

I am musing today at the mortal muse blog, come on over and say hi!

Day 319

Today I am grateful for my first baby, Ralphy. He was a good practice child even if he is a little naughty now! He is in desperate need of a bath and hair cut :)

i heart faces photo challenge, silhouette

I am submitting this for the i heart photos challenge this week which is silhouettes. And this is my favorite silhouette taken to date :)

Day 318

Today I am grateful for our church and all of our wonderful friends we have there. But I am especially grateful my Savior Jesus Christ and his gospel.

Day 317

Today I am grateful for my wonderful husband. He works so hard for our family, he is patient and kind and he loves me unconditionally! Plus he is the best daddy in the world.

Example of his awesomeness: Today I volunteered us to help a family rake some leaves. Well he ended up doing 90% of the work while I took pictures and played with the kids, and he didn't complain even once. Yup, he is a keeper :)

Day 316

Today I am grateful that the sun is out and we are having some beautiful warm weather, hooray!!!

I hope you have a lovely weekend!

Day 315

Today I am grateful that I am able to stay home and take care of these two wonderfully crazy red heads. And I am glad that my big red head is willing to go to work everyday for our family. Also I am grateful that the kids will be cute for the camera and give hugs with a bribe of a sucker :)

Day 314

Today I am a little sad because we had to say good bye to some of our friends that are moving. We have known them for over three years. And the best part, 2 of their three kids have red hair just like mine! So for now, my little family will have the token red heads.

I am grateful today for the wonderful friends I have in NY! They have become my pseudo family since both my and hubby's family live over 2000 miles away. I don't know what I do with out them. So thank you my NY family!!!

Here are a few more because they were being so cute and funny!

blowing kisses

giving hugs...

And this one just cracks me up!  Too cute :)