Project 52 -- Week 14

Cam's infectious good mood is my inspirational photo for Project 52 this week. We've all been crazy busy and in a bit of a funk since returning from spring break (even Cami occasionally). But I'm aspiring to shake it off and smile. At least more often than not.

Project 52 -- Weeks 12 + 13

If you follow us on Instagram, you probably saw that we just returned from a fabulous spring break in Jamaica. I decided to take a blogging break while we were traveling, so I'm grouping together the last two weeks of Project 52 into the theme of "water" -- easy to do given where we were! The first is a photo of Cam on a sunset boat ride we took. It was a bumpy ride, she was in the front, got completely drenched, and thought it was hysterical. The second is of Kane leaping down a waterfall like it was NBD. More on our trip next week!!

Project 52 -- Week 11

Happy St. Patrick's Day, all!! How fitting that this week's theme is GREEN. We are Irish, we are Greens, so this holiday was pretty much made for us. Needless to say, the kids are just a little excited.

Equally exciting is that they start spring break tomorrow! We are actually all in need of a serious break, so this year I'm taking a blogging break too. I'll still be kicking around over on Instagram and Facebook, and I'll see you all back here in a few weeks. Catch you on the flip side!

Project 52 -- Week 10

The theme for this week's Project 52 is "Senses." Instead of taking that literally, I'm posting a photo I took of Kane this week at the National Postal Museum. I'll share more about our visit next week, but given that the last time we visited the museum, Kane was just 2 years old, this week's trip completely messed with my sense of time. Much like last week's Project 52, actually. So maybe I'm sensing a new theme to this project entirely. Kane and Cami spent almost our entire first trip to the museum climbing up and down the stairs of this mail truck. This trip, they hopped in to throw me a bone and let me take a quick photo. Perhaps as an attempt to draw attention away from his inability not to Chandler Bing his photo smile, Kane insists on taking all posed photos with two thumbs up. Let's hope he comes to his senses soon enough.

Project 52 -- Week 9

This week's prompt was "Times" and all I could think of after taking Kane and Cam down to Yards Park last weekend to see the new art installation, Light the Yards, was that times are a changin'. Our first visit to the park was almost five years ago -- Cam was just a year old and much more concerned with getting her chocolate ice cream than exploring the place. Years later, these two ran around playing tag and taking things in by themselves (and checking back in every now and then).

Project 52 -- Week 8 + DIY Tassel Necklaces!

We've got a twofer for you today. Cam and I spent some time this week stringing together super bright DIY Tassel Necklaces and we couldn't stop making tassels. Seriously. The fringe, the faceted beads, the poms on our inspirational garland. All super fun tactile materials perfect for a Project 52 focused on texture. So, here's Cam working hard.

PLUS you can see how to make these simple beauties yourself over at The Land of Nod today. Get thee to the craft store and spread the tassel love.

Project 52 -- Week 7

Cam blows Kane a kiss to end a fight over who was reading their juice glass best. Love.

Project 52 -- Week 6

The devil is in the details ... or so they say. I love this photo (a rare one of the two yahoos together) because of all the details I see. Cami trying to stand as close to Kane without touching him as possible (and announcing that that is exactly what she's doing), because she's obsessed with him and he wanted a photo by himself. The checkered shirt Kane rocks because it's the closest to "daddy's." All of the changes in our living room since we moved in less than a year ago and how much happier (and bigger!) these two look in front of the fireplace than they did the night before our move. The details are all there, you just have to know where to look.

2016 Project 52 -- Week 5

We've cut back considerably on the kids' sugar intake recently, but for our recent game night, I put together several sweet treats for them. I love this picture of Cam -- her sweet eyes are always bigger than her tummy. She took down a few pieces of candy and one bite of Mochi and decided it was "too many sweets." No idea where she gets that from!

2016 Project 52 -- Week 4

After 2 days of stormy winter skies and 36 hours of straight snow, the sun came out and it was GLORIOUS. Light. Snowball fights commenced.

2016 Project 52 -- Week 3

Facebook has been killing me with the nostalgic suggestion posts this week. Fuzzy iPhone photos of the kids as babies and toddlers greet me daily. It wasn't that long ago, but I can barely remember it.

This past weekend we took a trip over to one of my favorite art museum duos -- the National Portrait Gallery and the American Art Museum -- and ended up, as we always do, with the kids wanting to run the Kogod Courtyard water features. This week's theme of Simplicity struck me as I watched Cam flitter around the water and I thought of our very first post on the courtyard. Sure, the kids are much more into the actual art now that they are a bit older. But Cam is just as happy today as her 2-year-old self was then to simply grab a grilled cheese and play in the water.

2016 Project 52 -- Week 2

There were many different opportunities to photograph something fitting with the theme of "cold" this week. We experienced an overnight temperature drop of 30+ degrees. We broke out our hats and mittens. We pumped the fireplace. But I love this photo of Kane from his very first wrestling match this past weekend. Cold waiting to wrestle in his new singlet. Wrestling cold without experience. Cold competition.

2016 Project 52 -- Week 1

This week's theme is Beginnings. Over winter break, these two began about 9,156 different fuse bead projects. And then left them about the house, to scatter about whenever anyone gave them the slightest bump. This week they broke out the glow in the dark beads Santa brought and started yet another.

We are so excited to have several other people joining us in Project 52 this year. You can find the year full of themes right here -- let me know if you want to join us too!!

Project 52 -- Week 52!! (And a New Weekly Photo Challenge)

We did it! I successfully took a photo of the kids every week for this entire year. There were plenty of times I forgot until post day, but we pulled it off. And looking back over all the photos, I'm so glad I did. The changes in the kids are subtle, but I see them. And I also see so, so much love. And happiness. And silliness. All between those two yahoos. They have plenty of not-so-friendly sibling moments, but I think these photos show that when you get down to it, they know how lucky they are to have each other.

This year's Project 52 was less of an actual photography challenge for me and more of a documentary of the kids. But I loved the results so much that I wanted to do a slightly different challenge for 2016. I'm no professional photographer, but I do enjoy trying new things so I put together a sort of themed list for each week (below this year's photos). My plan is to try and take a photo fitting each idea that also includes the kids, but we'll see how it goes. Anyone want to join me?! You can interpret it any way you want -- let me know ....

And Happy New Year!!

Project 52 -- Week 51

Merry Christmas Eve and Happy Everything!!

Project 52 -- Week 50

For some reason, this seemed like a good idea.

Project 52 -- Week 49

My lovies helped me take a few more photos for the book I'm working on. These two have fun doing just about anything.

Project 52 -- Week 48

These two help me out with a little bit of shopping after school.

Project 52 -- Week 46

Cam got to sub in for Kane's flag football team last week and they had a big win. Must practice, practice, practice ....

Project 52 -- Week 45

The weather in DC has been oscillating between warm spring sunshine and cold fall rain. This particular day, it rained all. day. long. We spent lots of time exploring art materials from the depths our arts and crafts cabinet.