Snowball Phenomenon

I have seen some amazing things in my lifetime.  Breathtaking sunsets are always the best and frost on trees never ceases to stun me; however, I think after today I've seen it all.

Perfect conditions and location created this....

snowball phenomenon.

There were thousands of puffy snowballs laying in this field.

Breathtaking

Sunsets help me unwind every time, without fail.   

The best gift a teacher could ask for....

is to give the joy of learning to all her students; however, I think a close second is sweet, new fonts!  Click the link below to check out one of my favorite blogs and score some new fonts!



http://kevinandamanda.com/fonts/fontsforpeas/

A perfect reason to smile after any kind of day...

Walkin' in a Winter Wonderland

I must be a ND girl at heart, because to me, one of the most stunning scenes is frosty trees in winter.  I struggle to find energy in the winter because it's dark by the time I get home, so I relish weekend time when I can enjoy the outdoors (bundled up that it!).  What is your favorite winter activity?

Emotion-Filled Shots

I especially love when I can capture emotion in a photo.  The following two photos were taken at Thanksgiving (I really could blog all year about the fantastic Red Willow Bible Camp Memories!).  The first one is of some of my cousins who were having a chocolate frosting war.  My Grandma (who is WAY reserved!) came up and started to lick it off my cousin's face.  I think someday they'll really appreciate having this picture to capture the love between family.

The second one is of two cousins having a wet towel war.  I know it's blurry, but it captures the moment.

The only bad part about North Dakota

7am---leaving my house

is the lack of sunshine during the winter.  Today I am linking up with Snapshots of Life over at the eighteen25 blog.  The snapshot time was 7am. I'm sad to say in North Dakota is it not light when I go to work and it is already dark when I come home.  Now, don't get me wrong, I LOVE snow and winter.  Notice the title of the post is the ONLY bad part :)    Snow means snow forts, snow ball fights, sledding, snowmobiling, and wearing cute hats and scarfs!! 

On a totally different note, I also attached some pictures of summer in North Dakota, so you don't get a bad impression.  North Dakota is often one of those overlooked places, but is ranked very high as a fantastic vacation spot (we're affordable too!) 

Our Backyard

Winter Sunrise

Medora Full Moon

Lastly--please excuse the poor quality of these photos.  They are all from my phone.  What would we do without those?!? 

We are Thankful for...

wonderful rich, family traditions!  My extended family has rented out a local bible camp for as long as I can remember so we can get together in one place for the holidays.   Some of the festivities this year included, scrapbooking, numerous rounds of apples to apples, cross country skiing, Christmas baking, playing in the gym, having chocolate frosting wars, and visiting until WAY too late; however, I think the tradition nearest to everyones' heart is our tablecloth.

My grandma brings a table cloth that we continue to write on every year (in a different color) and say what we're thankful for.  It's so special to look back and see what we've written and how we've grown as a family. Below are some of my contributions to the tablecloth!

At the time of these pictures I hadn't decided what I was going to write for this year.  What are some special traditions that your family has?

Snapshots of Life

I am pretty sure I didn't figure out this linky thing; however, I am trying to link up the "Snapshots of Life." Today the time chosen was 4 pm.

Here is my snapshot:
-My HUGE family (40 + of us) rent a bible camp for the weekend
-Kara and Andy moved to Idaho and couldn't get off work (VERY DEPRESSING!)
-We decided to make a flat Kara and flat Andy (can you tell lots of us are teachers?!?) so they could spend some quality time with us this weekend.

It's from my phone so the quality is pretty poor.  There will be a new post tomorrow on our "Thankful Tablecloth."  Tune in!!  

Darn snow.

Since we're gearing up for another blizzard I thought I'd post an old picture.  It was taken with my Canon point and shoot last year on my way home for Thanksgiving.  Once I got 60 miles out of Bismarck there was frost on the all the trees and I kept waiting for a tree close to the road so I could stop (crazed I know...).  Well I finally found this one---at the Jamestown Cemetery!

Pray for nice weather tomorrow so I can make it home :)  

I think I need a headband (or two or three)...

Here are the following headbands I am pretty sure I need.  Along with the headbands I need some cute newborns to photograph!!

Which are your favorite?






Small Coral One

Small Fuchsia One

Red One

Medium Fuchsia One













Vintage Headband

I am, I think, I know

I borrowed this from a friend.  Feel free to kill some time and borrow it too :)  


I am: wishing it wouldn't get dark so early. 
I think: I should be at school correcting papers.  
I know: I can make it through this short week of school.
I want: to go to Hawaii!  
I have: a twitch in my eye that I've had for at least a month.  
I dislike: when 10 year olds whine. 
I miss: days in college when you either wouldn't have class or you would only have one class a day.  
I fear: choking while driving.  
I feel: SO happy that I get to see my extended family and immediate family on Thursday!! 
I hear: the music awards...which is not as exciting as my usual Sunday night ABC programing :)  
I smell: chocolate cake that I made for Lyn's Birthday.  
I crave: another piece of chocolate cake.  
I search: for my debit card, keys, chapstick, etc. in my bottomless purse.  
I wonder: how early I should go to school tomorrow to correct those papers I'm not getting to...
I regret: a few things. 
I love: sun.   Feeling the warmth of it.  
I care: about my friends and family.
I am always: checking my phone.  It's a BAD addiction.  
I worry: about everything.  Also a BAD addiction. 
I remember: not enough...I have a fairly poor memory.  Thank heavens for photographs! 
I have: a brand new camera that I am lovin'!!  
I dance: usually only at bars and usually only when I've had at least one drink.  Unless you're swing dancin' then I am ALL about it!!  
I sing: in my car.  
I don’t always: wear matching socks.  
I argue: too much for my own good.  
I write: texts, emails, letters, and journal entries.  I still LOVE to send a good 'ol letter.  
I lose: my mind?!?  haha...I thought we already had this one. I lose things in my purse.  
I wish: that I could get myself to workout.  
I listen: to all sorts of things:  students, family, friends, tv, etc.  
I don't understand: a certain person's recent decision. 
I can usually be found: oh, who knows!  I'm all over the place!  
I am scared: of getting cancer.  
I need: to correct those papers like I mentioned previously...also to workout which I mentioned previously, neither of which is happening because of this survey.  
I forget: what person I've told my story to.  
I am happy: that it almost Thanksgiving!!  I have SO much to be Thankful for!  

Wind follows me

 wherever I go!  Despite the windy weather (typically for ND!) I managed to get some wonderful pictures of this family.

Lovely family...

 Last fall I was in a "super" daze with it being my first year of teaching.  This year I started to stop and smell the roses and couldn't believe how beautiful Mandan/Bismarck is.  The river and colors were phenomenal.   These were taken at the tail end of fall down by the Missouri.

My first senior session!!

I traveled to Fargo to participate in a 5K run in honor of my mom's cousin Sonja, who died of Cystic Fibrosis.  While I was there I was given the opportunity to take this wonderful young man's senior photos.  Here a few!  Enjoy!  If you want to see more, become a fan on my facebook page!

Perfect Fall Photo Shoot

The weather was gorgeous this weekend for this photo shoot!   Here are a few of my favorites.