Shades of Autumn Photo Challenge Finale

To me autumn is a time of being cozy and enjoying the indoor decorations, growing up in my house it was all about the decorations;), and soaking up the gorgeous colors of the outdoors. Here is my representation of indoor autumn and outdoor color! These indoor pictures were taken at my moms house and the outdoor are around where I live in Sacramento, California. I love feeling thankful for all the aspects of my life. I love being a mother and sharing with my sweet Spencer about life such as snow! He shows me about understanding and patience and love. This photo challenge has been a good diversion from unpleasant situations with Spencer's schooling. I come out of this November feeling blessed and focused on the positive!

Day Trip with The Kiddos

I love waterfalls and we had a day with all the kiddos home, so we journeyed to see if we could find and walk into Bassi falls. It was closed, due to snow! We had a great time playing in the snow and enjoying ourselves. We saw Bridal veil falls on the road on the way back, but we will have to try again to see that fall in the spring!

Preferred activity-being with friends

Emmy had a few friends over for her birthday. She had friends from church(Kimberly, Emily, Sabrina, and Paige) and is going to have more friends over tomorrow from school. I thought it was big of her to have separate parties as to have time to spend with smaller groups so no one felt left out with having Emmy as their only mutual friend. We had Emmy's best friend Kaitlyn over yesterday. We went to In n out and the park and then the girls played in Emmy's room for several hours. I love how they were nice to Celia and how happy they were. It is great to value spending time with friends as true happiness. I think being a good friend is a very important attribute that Emmy has. I love how happy she looks in these pictures. I felt like a good mom helping Emmy take time for friends since its pretty busy around here.:)

Giving Thanks For the Everyday

Emmy told me I may need to make a photography blog. I think she is missing all the pictures of her I usually post. She takes them and uses them on facebook, I've noticed. No, I'm not turning my blog into a photography site. I am just excited to photograph everything!

I am also thankful for so many things, I think it is appropriate to post my list of things I am grateful for in November 2011

I am so thankful for; Smiles especially from my happy and healthy little ones. Also, Agency.. I love being able to do what I want and choose what I think is best for myself and family. Another would be Routines. It nice to know what is coming next, gives you something to look forward to. I love the Gym each week, Jamba Juice, Date Night, Tutoring, Parent Trainings, and Church. Quotes would be next. I love to grab a scripture or quote for the week and ponder on its meaning and bring it to life in my life. I got Emmy the "Way to Be" book by President Gordon B. Hinkley. I hope she reads it and has those thoughts help her daily life. I am teaching a lesson this week about the Prophet Howard W. Hunter. I love this quote from him " Kindness is better than coercion." It is a good reminder for me in parenting and working with those that try to teach my children. I value Quiet Time it is conducive to peaceful thoughts and reflection. I missed the hum of my family when I went away on my own last weekend. It is good to have both the bustle of the family I love, and the times to think, ponder, pray, and dream. I am happy to be finding peace and happiness in this tumultuous, but great time in the history of the world. I am always thankful for my wonderful husband and my fabulous kiddos. I feel blessed to have such a wonderful family.~

White is Glorious

I love Succulents, my mom is so good at nurturing them. She planted some I picked out for me and I'm trying my green thumb with them at home.

I love the white and black mixture I found in my parent's retreat of a backyard!

I wanted to try out these mirrors, they are like a fun house, neither appears how I really am. I like the steering wheel for a boat to signify what I will choose to believe MY image to be... Something in the middle of small and large, but definitely not only as I appear in the mirror.

White is such a beautiful pure color. I've attended many wedding receptions this year, white roses gave me that feeling of celebrating marriage. The clouds particularly amazed me with their whiteness. The sun shining on the clouds made it even more glorious. I liked looking for white this fall. It gave me more opportunities to play with my new camera and family liked seeing me use it. I have everyone around me in color mode, even the tutors ask me about what color I am looking for now. I have missed a few amazing shots because I was driving or without my camera, but This challenge has helped me see this beauty of this fall in terms of color.:)

Wordless/ish Wednesday

Pink Peony. Just like life, this flower has its beauty, it comes and goes as fast as you can think of it. It's nice to capture and cherish those moments of pure softness and beauty.