Day 110

New Years Eve at Temple Square

Zenobia, one of the students that my parents met in Paris is in town from Hong Kong. Confused? Anyway, we took her to Temple Square tonight to see the lights. My battery was dying and I didn't bring any spare so this is the best shot I got. ...Sigh.

Day 109

Cold

It is officially cold. These icicles grew overnight...or since the last time I went out...which feels like a couple of days ago (it wasn't really). I love "vacations!"

Day 108

Examining Snowflakes

Day 107

Dressed up and ready to go

Em, Robbie, and I went to breakfast this morning (Rob didn't believe me when I said Jeremiah's had GIANT breakfast's...he believes me now), and we got all dressed up.

Day 106

The Family

Okay, so I didn't "technically" take this picture. I did all the set up, I did all the processing...and let me tell you, there was a LOT of processing (5 or 6 faces are from 5 or 6 other pictures), but I didn't press the shutter. Is that cheating? I don't think so. :-)

Anyway, this is my WHOLE family. They're pretty cool.

Day 105

Holidays End

Day 104

Stocking Vomit

You'd think that a house full of people over 30 would find less enjoyment in Christmas Stockings. Well, not my house. Stocking gifts are the best ever!

I hope you all had a very Merry Christmas and your stockings were full to overflowing!

Day 103

Snow Angels

...or should I say devils!?
___

Yay! I'm all caught up! I can't say it won't happen again, but I'll try really hard. :-) Happy Christmas Eve!

Day 102

The Orgy of Greed

My family used to exchange gifts from each other on Christmas Eve after dinner. As the family grew it became an "orgy of greed." Needless to say we changed the date...there just isn't enough time!

Day 101

Clouds

Johnny & I went shooting at the Antelope Island causeway. I realized that I really do suck at landscapes, but these clouds turned out pretty cool.

Day 100

Christmas Shopping Marathon

I was hoping to get something really great for Day 100, but instead I went Christmas shopping. Ug!

I'll do better for Day 200. :-)

Day 99

Wrapping Paper

I forgot to buy wrapping paper, so I made my own.

Day 98

Pink Mountains

I'm not really great at shooting landscapes, but the pink sunset was reflecting on the mountains tonight and I thought it was lovely. So here you go.

...Did I just say lovely?

Day 97

Grocery Shopping

I haven't been grocery shopping in over a month. Tonight was a good night. :-)

Day 96

Candy Canes

...for 1300 people. Oi!

_____

I've added a new link to "my peeps." It's not a blog (though he has one there), it's my friend Dan Beck who is an incredibly talented singer. Y'all should check him out, there are even some of my photos on his photo page...the ones for A Broadway Valentine.

Day 95

Patient Kitty

Chloe loves her kitty, and her kitty must love her because...well, she lets her.

You guys will let me know when you're sick of pictures of these kids wont you? Because I never get sick of them.

Day 94

Drive-by Christmas Lights

Sometimes it's all you have time for.

Day 93

Alvin & the Chipmunks...an Epic Tale

First of all, you should know, my Dad is kind of a dork. That said, this photo has a story. So go get your Jammie's on, a cup of ...whatever and get ready for story time.

I had a great childhood. We had everything we needed, lots of kids to play with, a Mom and Dad who loved us like crazy, but not a lot of money. So, when my older brother (who was 4 or 5 at the time) broke the T.V., my parent's didn't replace it. Needless to say, I grew up (in the 70's) without a T.V. Sad, I know. But like I said, I had a great childhood...and friends who had T.V.'s. But that left the time at home to find other things to do. Those other things usually included records (and for those of you who don't know what records are...GET OFF THE BLOG!).

At Christmas time, before the Carpenters came on the scene, we had Alvin & the Chipmunks. Our favorite song in the ENTIRE world was The Chipmunk Song, or Christmas, Christmas Time is Here. In my father's defense, if I heard that song 12 times an hour on a record that skipped and had 5 - 7 small children pinching their noses and singing it at the top of their lungs, I'd probably do something similar to what he ended up doing.

What did he end up doing? Well, one dark day, pretty close to Christmas, he "accidentally" stepped on our favorite record...the one that "someone" left "laying on the floor." We were devastated. But like I said, we didn't have a lot of money and "couldn't replace it."

Well, as we got older we got wise to the old man (as we got a few days older...we weren't stupid). But we, for the most part, got over it. Over the past few Christmases we've taunted him with The Chipmunk Song at Christmas time and watched as he covered his ears, then laughed and turned up the music. But this year, we hit pay dirt! Alvin & the Chipmunks live action movie hit the scene, and the other night when my nieces said they were going to ask Grandpa to take them to the movie it was like my dream come true.

So tonight, I sat next to my father as he sat through not only The Chipmunk Song, but several renditions...including Hip Hop. Oh, sweet revenge!

P.S. He just tried to tell me (30 years later) that "it was an accident!" Right.

Day 92

Steel Life

Lara is a photo title genius!

_________________________

Shameless Pimp of ME:

It's official, I'm can be bought! I've been having computer issues, and I need a new one. Specifically, I need a MAC. So, I'm saving my pennies and pimping myself out. I've decided that it's time to post prices and start charging. So, my plea to you is this:

a) If you or someone you know needs family/individual/whatever (within reason) pictures taken, my prices are now listed to the right. Send me an email and we'll hook up...for photos. :-)

b) If I have taken photos of you, your kids, or someone you know...show them off, then give out all the information you have for me...including my website (which is under construction, but the address is: melissaseamonsphotography.com) and tell people to GET IN TOUCH WITH ME!

c) Visit this links:

• 365 Photo

and buy prints of your favorite photos. You'll have a stunning print and you'll be helping me at the same time.

d) Just keep checking my blog and sending me good Juju.

Day 91

Jelly Bean

This is my Jelly Bean...or Jake (...when she was 2 or 3 she told me her name was Jake, not sure why). She is the most fun to photograph because she loves it! I can't tell you how many times she has said to me "Lissa, take my picture." To which my response is always..."OK!"

Day 90

Christmas Shopping

Go ahead and interpret this however you'd like... In fact, post comments, it'll be fun...and I need some fun!

Day 89

It's slowly killing me

I had to get gas on the way home. Holy Crap! This isn't even 1/2 a tank. I think I might die...or go broke.

Day 88

Denali's Family

Remember Denali? Well, here she is with her family. Too bad there isn't anyone out there who loves this kid, huh?

Day 87

Once there was a Snowman

After Taylor & Baylee's dance recital we headed to my brothers house to make a snowman. There's lots more pics in the "graveyard."

P.S. I made the scarf.

Day 86

Yummy Snow

The rain turned to snow, and Mary ... again ... was a very good sport.

Day 85

Christmas in the Rain

I went to my parents house tonight for a piano lesson (but forgot my books again, so it didn't actually happen), and realized driving up that I didn't have a picture for today. Big shock! So I snapped this out of my car window. I didn't think I'd post it (since I posted a photo of my parents house just the other day), but realized that it was pretty cool and posted it anyway.

So, there you have it. The story you didn't really care to know. :-)

Day 84

Christmas Card

It's a Christmas Card! Can't you tell? Okay, it's not...yet. I was very crafty tonight, much craftier than I've been...well, ever (my friend Karen calls me "craft challenged"). Johnny had a Stampin' Up party and we made Christmas Cards. It was fun! I love art projects, I don't do nearly enough of them. You can see the finished product here.

Day 83

Baby Gas

This is Denali (Hallie's baby sister), she's two weeks old. Her mother insists that she isn't having gas, that she actually is smiling. What do you think? Whatever it is (gas or smile) she's pretty stinkin' cute!

Day 82

Christmas Lights

Day 81

Practicing the Piano

Day 80

Winter at the Parent's House

My Dad's even out playing with his favorite winter time toy (you have to look for him though).

Day 79

I'm Sick

I've been fighting off this "cold" for weeks now, and about 5:30 tonight it hit me with the force of, well the flu. I had totally planned on going out and shooting something pretty, but it didn't happen. Sorry. :-( I'll get something better tomorrow.

Day 78

Sadness in Stone

Day 77

Twas the Night Before Christmas

Day 76

First Snow Fall

...well, the first real snow fall, the kind that won't melt as soon as you blink.

Day 75

Lonely Road

Day 74

It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas

Day 73

Watching the Nutcracker

This is how I like to watch the Nutcracker, on the floor, in the lobby, on TV!

Day 72

I'm so tired

This Nutcracker looks like he is made of chocolate. I think it would be better if he was.

__________

Update:

It's Saturday the 24th and I'm just realizing how incredibly lame this post is. I was so tired last night that it seemed incredibly funny. :-) Sorry.

Day 71

Best Friends Forever!

Hattie and Baylee are Best Friends. They look almost totally opposite, but believe it or not, they are related. I don't think I've ever seen cousins this close. I really believe they will be best friends forever.

I spent an hour this afternoon taking photos to replace the ones hanging in my Mom's living room. This isn't one of them because if I posted one, I'd have to post them all. They are pictures of the greatest kids ever. I've decided that if I can't have kids of my own, I'm glad I have these kids to borrow. PLEASE go to the graveyard and look at the rest of the photos I took today, I'm positive that if you see the rest of these kids you'll know why they are 10 of the things I'm most THANKFUL for.

Day 70

Mom's Apple Pie

I'm sure everyone thinks their Mom makes the best ... something, well, I'm no different. My Mom makes the best apple pie EVER! I just wish this photo could show how good it actually is, but alas that is not the case. You'll have to salivate from afar.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

Day 69

Me, only Cranky

I only have two words to tell you why I'm cranky...Nutcracker Suite. Or, if I was in a better mood...I Cracked my Suite Nuts.

Day 68

Going Home

Day 67

Owie

This is Sam, he had a bit of an accident, but he's "okay," or so he says. I love this kid!

Day 66

Shirllyn

This is my friend Shirllyn, sexy hu? If anyone needs her phone number, let me know. It's all yours! :-)

Day 65

I'm late...

Day 64

Star Noodle

I thought about posting another window but decided I didn't want to get stuck in a rut. Besides, this is a much better photo. Star Noodle Parlor was open for a good 50+ years and closed before I got a picture of the sign lit up at night, and while it's a pretty cool sign in the daylight, it's much cooler at night.
__________

For those of you aspiring photogs out there, my Camera Club is starting a weekly Photo Hunt, and we'd LOVE as many people as are interested to join us. All you need to do is take a picture that follows the weekly theme listed on the Camera Club's blog, post it to your blog, then send me an email so that I can post a link to your site.

Come play with us! It will be fun!

Day 63

Green Girl

This is the second photo in my series on windows, also the second in my series on the ballet studio next door to my office as well as the second in the series of naked looking green statues...oh, wait its the first in that series. :-)

...And it's also the last.

Day 62

Lonely

They say that windows are the eyes of the house, and this house just looks lonely.

___________

I can't believe it was two months ago today that this craziness started. Wow! I also can't believe there is another ten months to go...sigh...stick with me folks, I think we're in for a bumpy ride. Fun, but bumpy. :-)

Day 61

Veterans Day

Thanks Grandpa, Uncle Farrell, Uncle Mike, and Ron! You guys rock!