Snow angels.  When we were visiting Grandma and Grandpa in Detroit for Christmas, it snowed!  A lot!  The boys were thrilled, and we had a blast playing outside.  Charlie has been telling me for quite a while that he wants to build a snowman, just like he did “last day”.  “Last day” in Charlie-speak = yesterday.  Or last year, in this case.  The only problem is, last year, he was only two, it barely snowed at all for some odd reason, and he has never built a snowman nor seen one in real life.  A three-year-old’s mind is such a wonderful place to be.

Charlie has also never made a snow angel, but he knew just what to do…he was dropping to the ground left and right, flapping his little arms and legs as fast as he could go.  Thanks Charlie, for making winter fun again!

I had no idea when I decided to finally really learn how to use all those buttons on my DSLR camera in the fall of 2011 where it would take me.  I was just having fun learning, having fun tapping into the artistic and creative side of my brain that has been largely ignored for a long time…I had no idea it would turn me into a virtual zombie, up way too late so many nights soaking up as much information as I could possibly stand, climbing up the huge photography learning curve as fast as my little feet could take me.  The best part is, it is a learning process that never ends, there’s always something new to figure out, some aspect of photography to explore and improve upon.  It never gets old to me.  It’s like a huge fire has been ignited and it just keeps getting bigger and brighter.

The best part about this passion of mine is that it is allowing me to document my daily life.  The life of my little boys and my family as we muddle along day to day.  It’s a hobby that allows me to expand my horizons and stretch my wings, all while staying close to home and spending time with my kids.  It has allowed me to capture little fleeting details that fade so quickly – Nate’s baby curls, Charlie’s last night in his crib, loveys that are no longer really needed, and chubby toddler legs that have melted away.  It’s those little things I don’t want to forget.  Those moments that sometimes last only seconds.

My interest in photography has also spurred on several personal projects, my favorite one being locating, restoring, archiving, and publishing some of my grandfather’s work.  I wish that my grandfather (who was an amazing hobbyist photographer) was still around to see all of this.  I’m sure we could talk for hours about photography.  I feel like he’s with me each time I click my shutter, and I know that he would be proud. He loved documenting his life so much, and I’m so thankful that he did.

Along the way I have also had the pleasure of photographing many friends – babies, children, dogs, and families.  A huge part of my growth as a photographer.  I have also met so many amazing and inspiring photographers from around the US and the world.  I have learned so much in the past year, and I can’t wait to see where this little adventure of mine will take me next.  Never would have guessed all this good stuff would come out of me picking up my camera.  I’ll just keep following my heart and see where it takes me.

So here are some favorite friends & family images of mine from 2012.  A little bit of everything, but each one special to me for one reason or another.  Happy New Year!