2011 Memories

1.  Me: My most proud accomplishment | Graduating from college. (December)

2.  I Love You | My sweet pup, Abby.  She puts a smile on my face each and every day.  (BTW she is giving kisses to baby.)

3.  Still Laughing | Dad making silly faces on our way to Branson.  This makes me laugh every time I see it.  (August)

4.  Winter Wonderland | Abby enjoying the winter snow.  (January)

5.  Birthday | I turned 22 in 2011.  (February)

6.  Friends | The crazy people I love.  At Kenzie's wedding in May.

7.  I Was Inspired | I created my own 'bulletin board'.  I have posted comments I've gotten on this blog, quotes, and a few things that just make me happy.  I post things that keep my inspired to keep going with my photography and reminders on how I should live life.

8.  Spring Fever | This is probably one of my favorite photos I've taken this year.  I can't put my finger on it, but it just seems peaceful and simple and beautiful.

9.  Travel/ Vacation | In June I went to visit my best friend (and old neighbor) in Virginia.  We also spent a day running around DC.  In August, my family took a trip to Branson to visit some family friends.  It was such a nice trip to get away and relax a little bit.  In November, my friend Jody and I went to Madison to visit our other friend Mallory.  While we were there we took a day trip to Chicago. It was the first time I'd ever been and it was so much fun!  That girls trip was definitely needed!

10.  Summer Days | It was a hot summer.  I don't know if this would sum up my summer in one photo, but I like it all the same.  Plus it seems summery.

11.  A Day In My Life | I participated in a 12of12 project.  You take 12 photos that document your day on the 12th day of each month.  This was my favorite photo project of the year by far.  I love the outcome and seeing each month side by side.  You can see all of them here.

12.  All Smiles | This picture makes me laugh every time I see it.  Dad was being funny when picking out pumpkins.  I think he picked a winner!

13.  Autumn Harvest | This just screams fall to me.  Pumpkins.  Boots.  Field.  Scarf.  Need I say more?

14.  Family /Home | I love my family more than anything. (January)

15.  Celebrate | Celebrating a huge milestone.  Story.

16.  Let's Do It Again | I really enjoyed my 52 week portrait project and I intend to continue it for many years to come!

17.  I Miss You | My family lost 2 wonderful men this year.  My Uncle Bobby, and my Grandpa Hower.  Story.  Story.

18.  Beautiful | I just think this is a beautiful photo.

19.  Dress Up | At the Delta Sigma Pi formal (November)

20.  Macro

21.  Holidays | Christmas Tree, Ornaments, Reflection of twinkle lights....

22.  My Favorite | I just really love this photo.  I took it when my family went to the pumpkin patch in October.  It was such a fun and new experience.  It was a good day and it started a new tradition that I plan to keep for years to come.

23.  Don't Ever Change | I hope that no matter what life throws me, I will forever have a positive outlook on life.

24.  Just Because | I don't know why, but I love everything about this photo.

25.  Hopes and Dreams | This year was very difficult for our family.  Actually, the last 19 months have been very difficult.  I just hope that 2012 is a little nicer on our family.  We could really use a lot more laughter.  (Sorry to keep using the pumpkin patch photos, but there are some of my absolute favorite from this year!  Dad was acting so goofy and making funny faces at me.)

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Week 45

Week 45

November 12, 2011

This past weekend me and 2 of my friends went to Chicago.

We had a wonderful time.

Full of girl talk and laughter.

I love this picture.

It sums us up perfectly.

12of12 November

I don't normally do this for my 12 of 12s, but I thought a background story might be needed...

The last 18 months have been hellish for me.  For those of you who don't know...my dad was diagnosed with cancer back in May 2010.  You can read the story here.  That experience in itself can (and has) turned my world upside down.

But it didn't stop there.  In August of 2011, my dad's younger brother died unexpectedly in a bicycle accident.  It was the first time I ever saw a dead body--and to make things worse, he died due to head trauma, so you can just imagine what that looked like.  You can read his story here.  Then on November 1, 2011 my grandfather, mom's father passed away.  This is the first grandparent that I have lost and I am so sad that he had to be the first one to go.  (Not that I want any of them to go..but you know what I mean.)

They say that bad things happen in threes.
I thought those would have been them.
But what happens if the bad keeps going?

On Thursday, November 10, 2011 I spent 4 1/2 hours at the hospital while my aunt (dad's older brother's wife) was having surgery after finding a brain tumor the size of a tennis ball.  We are still waiting for results, but it does not look good.

And though all of this I am a full time student.  I commute 1 hour each way to and from school.  I am taking some really tough classes.  And I am getting ready for finals.



The reason I'm sharing all of this is to help you imagine how badly I needed to get away...even for just one weekend.

And that is just what I did.  A really good college friend and I went to Madison, Wisconsin to visit another good friend.  (She moved there this past summer after graduation.)  While we were there, we traveled to Chicago for a day and met up with more old college friends.

The trip was amazing.
Definitely needed.
A time to escape, even for a little bit.

So I give you my November 12th.
Not just a fun little vacation.
But an attempt to renew the soul through friendship and laughter.

01.  Chicago!
02.  Typical us.
03.  Sailboats on Lake Michigan.
04.  Flying High.
05.  Outside of Willis Tower.
06.  The view was amazing!
07.  Me, Mallory, and Jody at the top of Willis Tower.
08.  Sitting on the Sky Dive.
09.  The view...looking straight down to the street.
10.  Met up with 2 more friends, Afra and Ulli at the bean.
11.  Sunset at the bean.
12.  Driving back to Madison, Wisconsin.