Yes, the first post of the year had to be titled 'resolutions'. I am nothing if not a traditionalist (ask my parents. They can confirm this).

My resolution this year: take a photo every day and improve. So to get me started, I will be doing another photo challenge for the month of January! My goal is to do a photo challenge for every month of the year this year. Let's hope this resolution doesn't end up like so many others before it, and I actually can end strong.

Here's to a new year! Happy New Year everyone!

I'd say I covered all the requirements of having an awesome Christmas.

1) I got to be with my family.

2) I went to Temple Square and saw all the lights.

3) We made the traditional sugar cookies.

... and maybe some not so traditional cookies as well.... (wait, you mean a porcupine cookie isn't a Christmas tradition?!)

4) And we got all of our Christmas decoration up (and outdid all of our neighbors. No lie).

And even though it wasn't a White Christmas, I still think it was a pretty good one.

 

 

Just to illustrate my point, look at how cute this is! I think you were 6 or so in these. It blows my mind how fast you have grown up...



 



 

This is from our trip to London this past May:

 



Love you Chloë! I think mom knew what she was doing when she named you after Madeline's best friend in the Ludwig Bemelman books. :)

It's been a while. Wow... obvious statement. I was pretty sure I could handle taking 17 credits and working at the same time.... which I can. Just at the sacrifice of everything else, as is evident by the lack of posting on here. But anyway, here are a few things I've been up to recently:

Hiking up American Fork Canyon to Silver Glance Lake. Can I just say it was a gorgeous hike? I'm tempted to do it in the winter... is that crazy? I just have this feeling it would be gorgeous in the snow....

I've taken some engagements for some couples. These guys ^ were SO cute. Seriously, I can't even handle it. They're getting married in December and then moving to Moscow, Russia in January! I'm crazy jealous!

And I went up to Park City! I only got a taste of the town, so I feel like it's necessary to go back.... I loved the plethora of photography exhibits in this town. I could spend days.

I applied for graduation yesterday. Please tell me I am not the only one who thinks that's absolutely crazy! People keep asking me what I'm going to do after I graduate. I keep hoping that every time I say "I don't know" someone will think that's a valid answer. Hasn't happened yet. I guess we'll see!

July 18th: Plate

I remember when my mom bought these plates. Ever the deal-hunter, she found the Villeroy & Boch outlet while living in Germany. Of course we took a road trip there. Of course she found amazing deals. Come on. It's my mom.

I went on an amazing hike today up American Fork Canyon. Can I just say, this was like... the Celestial Kingdom compared to the Telestial Kingdom of Provo Canyon. Not to get all Mormon up in here or anything.

But really.

We hiked for quite a while before reaching Silver Glance Lake. It was quite the reward, hiking all the way up there and seeing this lake at the top. I'm really tempted to go in the winter, because I have a feeling it would be surreal up there. I just have to get over the cold. I think it would be worth it though....

July 15th: Finger(s)

Driving back home from Nauvoo at dusk. Can I just say Nauvoo is one of the most inspirational and humbling places I have ever been. I went when I was twelve, but I don't think you can understand what leaving everything behind is like until you're a little bit older. And I probably still don't understand what that is like. I'm just glad I chose to shoulder the spiritual burdens rather than the physical kind. I know I was chosen to come at this time for a reason, because chances are, if I had had to lug a hand cart through six feet of snow as I hiked over the Rocky Mountains.... it just wasn't going to happen...