an item crossed off my bucket list {and too many pictures}

I'm pretty excited.

I REALLY AM!!!!

One of my photographs was featured HERE.

It's always been a secret hope of mine to have one of my pictures get noticed by her.  And it happened!  

It may not seem like such a big deal to you...but it's a pretty darn awesome accomplishment to me!

You see...I love photography.  Now I don't have any aspirations of going professional any time soon {I don't do well with things when they are "forced" upon me}.  I just love to excel and do all things well...for the sake of excellence.  And it's challenging.  Once you turn those settings to "manual"...you are in charge.  You are in control.  And a picture comes out good {or bad} because of your choices and quick thinking.  I love that.  In fact...I think I like the challenge more than the medium.  

I think my ultimate dream when it comes to photography is to be able to represent what my eyes see BETTER than what my eye sees.

And I feel that she does that.  And her.  

Someday.

Until then...getting my name mentioned is a pretty close second.

I'm so excited about that!

And here's a bunch of too many pictures.  I decided to share {only} a few of my favorite pictures I've taken over the years...

Great job!

I'm impressed you kept with it for this long!

Now go take a 20 minute nap. You deserve it.

{Scrolling for all the time must have made you exhausted.}

we have the most adorable coffee maker

Since Annaleigh was really {like REALLY} little, she's always enjoyed watching the coffee making process.  From brewing to stirring.  And as soon as she could sit up on her own, Mike has had her help make his morning cup of joe.  He gives her a spot on the counter to sit and gives over his control.

He's taught her so well she now puts the pod in the keurig, pushes the correct button, adds sugar and cream, and stirs.  All without help.  And if that wasn't cute enough, she proceeds to "smell" her creation {she actually blows out when she "smells"...which always puts a big smile on my face...and no green additives have made it into our freshly brewed coffee....yet}.

Daddy is a Starbucks snob.  And I think he's turning our daughter into one, too.

But that's OK.  I don't mind.  At least my snobs are adorable...

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