My Project 52. Week One.

week one

Happy New Year from California!

Its a brand new year!  And I am going to document this new year, in a new way.  Follow me on a journey of one photograph a week for a whole year - my project 52.  Its a project for me.  Shooting.just.for.me.  Wow.  I remember that.  barely.  I have neglected shooting my own personal work, but no more.  I am letting my creativity soar to new heights.  I am releasing the pressure to please anyone else.  I am staying true to myself and my own vision ~ expressing myself through my photographs.  I am following my passions.  I am documenting my beautiful life.  I am letting the inspiration flow freely and getting back to what moved me to become a photographer in the first place.  I am excited!

At the end of the year, I plan to create a book from my collection of photographs from this project.  I will share my project 52 weekly photograph with you every Friday.  Thanks for coming along on this journey with me!  What new ideas ~ traditions ~ projects are you taking on this year?

Happy New Year!

It's the new year already?  How did that happen?  Is your life flying by, as fast as mine seems to be?  Its just a roller-coaster ride and I am holding on tight and enjoying the ride!

Since getting home from my trip to Mississippi (yes, I still need to blog about that) I dove right back into work, family, and my calling as Young Women President.  Therefore, my blog has been a bit neglected, but something has to give, right?

In a perfect world, I would have time to blog about:  Me, Chad and the kids sitting 8th row at the Jazz game, our delicious Thanksgiving holiday - specifically my pumpkin pie and Chad's amazing turkey, Caden shooting his first Elk, Jordan's broken toe, saying good-bye to our cousin Logan who is a missionary now, our failed winter family photo shoot in the cold/rain/snow, Christmas countdowns all over the house made by my darling children, Jordan singing another solo with his guitar in the assembly at WHS - he rocked!, losing 10 pounds and buying my first pair of skinny jeans, spending time in the temple with my darling young women and my two boys!, a December full of parties and festivities spent with people we love, the biggest pizza you have ever seen, a beautiful and wonderful and delicious and quiet Christmas eve with my favorite people, a magical Christmas morning filled with wide eyes and surprises and yes, some happy tears.... , and our amazing trip to California where we spent our winter holidays.


As I reflect on this past year, I am filled with gratitude for all the blessings that fill up my life to overflowing.  We are filling every year with some pretty amazing memories and traditions.  After all, that's what its all about, right?  Living your life.  I am so truly blessed and I am thankful for every single bit of it.  I am so proud of what we have accomplished this past year!  I get so excited as I write my goals for the new year, and think of all the amazing possibilities that are waiting for us.  Happy New Year!!

  (our Happy New Year card that will be mailed out today!)

The Dixon Family.

I posted some pics from my session with the Dixon family on my Photo Blog!

Today.

Reading with my little Shaye-Shaye.   Its a favorite part of my afternoon.   I watch her face.   She is beautiful.   She is smart.   You can almost see her brain learning.  She is my baby.   And my heart loves her so much.  Its a wonderful winter afternoon when I get to curl up with her and read a few good books on my big king size bed and let the afternoon sun pour in on us and warm us a bit. 

(Shaye reading to me - "If you give a Cat a Cupcake" - one of our favorites.)

Now off to finish the rest of my day, which includes:
~ cleaning up the house
~ picking up the children from various places around town
~ making dinner
~ listening to some of my favorite Christmas songs, while I work around the house
~ helping little Gabi with her science experiment
~ pondering on my upcoming talk in Sacrament meeting
~ bathing little girls and kissing them and tucking them in tight
~ starting another load of laundry, and thinking about the mounds to be folded and put away
~ doing another load of dishes
~ admiring my lovely Christmas tree glowing in the evening hours
~ and hopefully ~ curling up with Chad to watch Survivor from last night

How do you spend your afternoons?  Are you as blessed as me?

The Wallberg Family

There are a few pics from my shoot with the cute Wallberg family over on my PHOTO BLOG.  Hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving!

Tracy and Sallu *Engagement Pictures*

Tracy and Sallu's Engagement Pics are up on my Photo Blog!

My Sis.

A few weeks ago, my sister Cindee brought her darling little Corey out for a photo shoot.  I can't tell you how much these 2 people mean to me!  I honestly can't imagine life without them.  She is always up for an adventure with me!

She has always supported me 100% in everything I do, and in fact, she was one of many who encouraged me to become a professional photographer... AND, true story, she and her husband designed my first website and surprised me with it one day when business cards showed up in my mailbox, with my name and info, and a website address - ( jennifer lynne photography, at the time) - and you can imagine how surprised I was when I clicked on there and found a website devoted to my photography.  "Jenny, you are so talented with that camera, you should be doing this professionally!" she said.  Well, that was about 4 or 5 years ago now, and the rest is history. 

We have a lot of laughs together and I love her to death.  Her little mister is a mini version of my Dad, and he is just about the cutest baby boy you'll ever meet with a personality to match. 

I hope everyone is lucky enough to have a sister or friend like Cindee in their lives!  You can see more of her and Corey's shoot over on The Shoot Shoppe Blog!