Mental Inventory

Free Throws at the Rose Garden

2012-02-06T18:40:00.000-08:00

Harrison's basketball team got to go down onto the Rose Garden floor after the Blazer game this weekend and shoot free throws. Talk about hitting the big time ;)!

One of mine made it...and one didn't. I'll leave you to guess which is which.

No Autographs, Please

2012-01-18T08:18:00.001-08:00

Drills

2012-01-15T19:29:00.001-08:00

Basketball

2012-01-07T16:43:00.000-08:00

It's basketball season!

Almost Here...

2011-12-22T17:28:00.001-08:00

A Man and His Trumpet

2011-12-16T16:29:00.000-08:00

Harrison's first band concert was a big success. So fun to see how far they've come in a few months. Carnegie Hall, here we come!

Ugly Sweater Party

2011-12-07T16:00:00.000-08:00

What better way to ring in the holidays than to wear an ugly holiday sweater? So we had a party. And everyone wore their holiday finery. And it was ugly!

The photo doesn't do some of these outfits justice. Trust me, there were zebra print Santas, furry stripes, teddy bears holding the American flag skiing past a Christmas tree (that was mine), silky Santa boxers, and oh so much more.

It was a lot of fun.

One of the highlights was the Ugly Sweater Gingerbread Contest. People REALLY got into it:

Guests unleashed their inner Picassos and Rembrandts on this project, let me tell you!

Prizes were awarded for Best Sweater and Best Gingerbreadman/woman. I brought the boys downstairs to judge so I wouldn't be accused of fixing the contest.

Unfortunately, I didn't get many photos. It's hard to be host and photographer simultaneously.

It sure was a great way to kick off December. I'm already thinking about doing it again next year.

The Perfect Tree

2011-11-30T20:05:00.000-08:00

It begins with the hunt.

The chosen specimen:

The final product with the usual death-defying stunt to get the star on top:

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas!

UCLA

2011-11-21T18:49:00.001-08:00

Time Warp

2011-11-15T18:30:00.000-08:00

Harrison exclaimed, "Mamma Mia!" today, and of course, I had to start singing the ABBA classic.

Harrison's response?

"Mom, I do NOT want to take a trip to the seventies!"

Mamma Mia, indeed.

11-11-11 recap

2011-11-12T08:19:00.000-08:00

To celebrate 11-11-11, the kids and I decided to do 11 random acts of kindness before 11:11 am. It got off to a bit of a hurried start when I slept in until 8. But that did feel really good :).

Here's a run-down of what we did:

1. We mailed a letter to a friend in the hospital.

2. Gave pumpkin muffins to a neighbor.

3. Got gas and gave pumpkin muffins to the station attendant who filled our tank. When Harrison handed him the muffins, he looked shocked and said, "Are these really for me?" They really were. And as we drove away, Harrison said, "That made my hand feel warm and tingly."

(For those of you who don't live in Oregon, we're not living the high life going full serve; you're not allowed to pump your own gas here...just so you know.)

4. At Starbucks, we ordered a traveller container of coffee to take to James' office.

5. In the parking lot, Harrison handed a "happy note" to one of the motorcycle cops in the parking lot. He was happy to chat Harrison up :).

6. Across the street at McDonald's, we paid for the woman in back of us in the drive-thru line. We spent a dollar. She was having an ice cream cone. At 9:30 in the morning. But hey, different strokes, right?

7. We also gave a "happy note" to the drive-thru gal.

8. Back at Starbucks, we went through the drive-thru to pick up the travel container of coffee. We paid for the woman behind us and gave the clerks a note at the window. They told us that someone two cars ahead had just done the same thing!

9. At the hospital, we dropped the coffee off in the office.

10. As a bonus, we were able to visit two young patients in the ICU and chat with them. They got "happy notes," too. Both patients were young boys who liked Star Wars and Bionicles, so we had lots to talk about :). They shared a room, and both had family with them. Harrison and Owen thought it was one of the best parts of our day.

11. We had a few "happy notes" left, and those we left on the windshields of cars in the hospital parking lot.

We finished up this last deed at precisely 11:00 am. I had brought my 11-11-11 signs with us, so we snapped this shot at the hospital right at 11:11:11 on 11-11-11.

I didn't get photos of many of our random acts because frankly, it felt a little weird to be taking pictures of your own good deeds. Plus, I was driving. Not that that always stops me:

Here's what downtown Portland looked like from the Fremont Bridge around 11 o'clock on 11-11-11. Don't worry. I kept my eyes on the road and just snapped out the window. Harrison commented, "Mom, I could have taken a picture for you." And spoil my fun? I think not.

We had accomplished our mission with 10 minutes to spare. But there was one more thing I wanted to do.

After lunch, we brought flowers to the Veteran's Memorial near the library in Beaverton. The kids were just going to leave the flowers on one of the monuments. Then I spotted a veteran wearing his service hat, head bowed, having a moment of silence in front of one of the plaques.

The kids waited until he started walking again. Then they walked up and gave him the flowers and thanked him for his service.

He gave Harrison a hug and then told them about his time in the Korean War, even showing them what the things on his hat symbolized. I was in the car, feeling like a stalker with my long lens camera taking pictures. I was a stalker with a tear in my eye as I watched this unfold, but a stalker nonetheless.

As we drove home, Harrison and Owen decided we should do this EVERY holiday.

I'm inclined to agree.

11-11-11

2011-11-11T13:45:00.000-08:00

Taken on 11-11-11 at 11:11 am. I have been waiting for this!

Glimpses of Autumn

2011-11-06T14:41:00.001-08:00

Halloween 2011

2011-10-31T19:37:00.000-07:00

The Candy Gobbler

The Avatar

The Pumpkins

Getting Ready...

2011-10-30T11:32:00.000-07:00

My Favorite Goalie

2011-10-22T14:08:00.000-07:00

Pre-Halloween Antics

2011-10-16T21:03:00.000-07:00

Sometimes you find weird things at the pumpkin farm.

These three came home with me.

Sophie

2011-10-02T19:58:00.001-07:00

Our newest family member, Sophie. She's a three-year-old chocolate lab we adopted this weekend. It's great to have a dog in the house again!

Bruin Mojo

2011-09-24T15:17:00.000-07:00

The gnome didn't work last week. Let's hope all the Bruin gear and the presence of these four at the game will do the trick.

Go Bruins!

2011-09-16T08:34:00.000-07:00

Showing up in gardens near you....

Brothers

2011-09-13T15:01:00.000-07:00

Dad and his brothers. You'd never guess they're related.

Season Opener

2011-09-10T12:08:00.000-07:00

First half, goalie: SAVE!

Second half, forward: GOAL!

Eight

2011-09-04T18:36:00.001-07:00

Happy birthday to my little muffin.

May your smile always be this sweet :).

We Know How to Party...MarioKart Style

2011-08-31T16:04:00.000-07:00

Setting the stage...

Cooling the refreshments...

Creating the ambience...

Action...

15 boys, 1 girl, all between the ages of 8 and 12. One big screen, four nunchuks and wheels, four brackets. Huge parent cheering section. Drinks, toffee, popcorn, cookies. Property damage (broken screen door). One visit from a police officer (who thought it was really cool).

Did I mention my kids won the tournament?

Best. End-of-summer party. Ever.

Another Tubing Adventure

2011-08-15T14:56:00.000-07:00

One person wants to slow down, the other one feels the need for speed. Three guesses which one is which...;)

Camping Part Two: Harris Beach

2011-08-04T21:02:00.000-07:00

Camping at the beach: great view, no mosquitos.

Three boys in a tent. Nothing better than hanging out in sleeping bags in the morning while someone else makes breakfast.

Summer

2011-07-27T18:40:00.001-07:00

Taking It Seriously...

2011-07-22T16:52:00.001-07:00

Inspiration

2011-07-19T15:34:00.001-07:00

Camping

2011-07-13T17:30:00.000-07:00

Mt. Hood

2011-07-10T19:51:00.001-07:00

Camping at Trillium Lake. A better view of Mt. Hood? I think not.

O

2011-07-06T09:39:00.000-07:00

The 4th

2011-07-05T20:01:00.001-07:00

New Smile

2011-06-26T18:57:00.001-07:00

Not-So-Sneak Attack

2011-06-14T16:39:00.001-07:00

What happens when someone discovers the paparazzi is snapping his photo.

The Pitcher

2011-06-10T08:32:00.000-07:00

Owen got a chance to pitch in the second to last game. He took his job very seriously. He even struck someone out!

Double Hockey Sticks

2011-06-04T13:22:00.000-07:00

Happy birthday to my fabulous 11 year old!

Holiday Weekend

2011-06-01T17:15:00.000-07:00

Even though the weather didn't cooperate -- read: grey and rainy -- we made it up to Multnomah Falls over the weekend. We hadn't been since we first moved to Oregon, and this time we climbed to the top.

This is obviously not the top, since someone is standing above us to take our picture. But we did get there.

Team-Up Thursday: Week Sixty-Six (PANNING)

2011-05-26T11:10:00.001-07:00

Love Melody's interpretation of our theme this week. I had to dig back into the archives to get a panning shot -- the week just slipped away again.

As you may have noticed (ahem), we've been a bit lax in our posting lately. Participation is down, too, probably because you guys are just as busy -- or more so -- as we are. So, we've decided to take Team-Up on hiatus for the summer. We can all relax, catch our collective breaths, and return rejuvenated in the fall.

In the meantime, send us suggestions for what you'd like to see when the project returns!

Team-Up Thursday: Week Sixty-Five (LIGHT)

2011-05-18T20:06:00.001-07:00

Love these two together! Definitely full of LIGHT. We haven't had much light this winter/spring here in Oregon, so we're dying for some sunlight. Finally got some today -- hallelujah!

Not only do I love the light in Mel's shot, but the colors and patterns are wonderful. The gorgeous model doesn't hurt either :).

Next week, I think we're going to try PANNING -- not really a theme, but a fun technique to play with. So let's see what you create!

Team-Up Thursday: Week Sixty-Four (LOUD)...again:)

2011-05-11T19:54:00.000-07:00

Does the theme look familiar? Melody and I just couldn't quite get it together last week, so my apologies for leaving you hanging. We're back on track with LOUD this week. And really, what better subject than kids?

Next week, we're doing LIGHTS -- lots of possibilities there -- so join us or pick your own theme.

Mother's Day Gift

2011-05-08T08:38:00.000-07:00

Team-Up Thursday: Week Sixty-Four (LOUD)

2011-05-05T07:39:00.001-07:00

Sorry everyone, we're having technical difficulties today. Feel free to add your link in comments and come back later to see our dip! Thanks:).

Team-Up Thursday: Week Sixty-Three (UNEXPECTED)

2011-04-27T17:36:00.000-07:00

I really lucked out this week. I had the perfect UNEXPECTED moment pop up...and I had my camera! On Saturday, the Easter Bunny stopped by in the middle of Owen's baseball game. Have no idea who it was or why he was there. He just hopped on the field, tossed out a pitch, ran to home plate, and then got mobbed by the kids. Then he hopped back through the parking lot. This is a SOOC shot I grabbed with the kids running to hug the bunny. Except for Owen. He wanted a high five instead.

I had to giggle when I saw Melody's shot. Really...who wouldn't?

Next week, were going LOUD for our theme. If you have kids, that shouldn't be a problem, right? :)

Team-Up Thursday: Week Sixty-Two (YELLOW)

2011-04-20T17:58:00.000-07:00

Love these two together. I couldn't resist the yellow border. We've had a very grey, very rainy winter this year, and anything that reminds me of sun is welcome. I chose to photograph dandelions against a sewer grate. Proof that life can spring up just about anywhere.

Melody's balloon shot is just like a sun in the sky. It seems to be suspended, glowing in the blue sky against the clouds. Lovely.

Next week, we're capturing the UNEXPECTED. What will surprise you this week?

Now What?

2011-04-18T19:39:00.000-07:00

I was just sitting here and something dropped in...

Team-Up Thursday: Week Sixty-One (DIRECTION)

2011-04-13T20:33:00.000-07:00

If you didn't know where you were going, just take a look at today's dip. The symmetry and composition of Melody's sign shot is fabulous. And I didn't even give her my phone directions ;). I was hoping to think up something more creative on par with Melody's photo, but it was not to be. Can't wait to see what others have created.

Next week, we're doing YELLOW. Bright and cheerful...unlike the weather we're having here in Oregon. It actually hailed today on our baseball game. Really. Everyone had to run for cover. If I think YELLOW, maybe the sun will come out?

Team-Up Thursday: Week Sixty (DESIGN)

2011-04-06T20:11:00.000-07:00

Melody outdid herself this week by DESIGNING her own wonderful family poster. What a great idea...and I believe she's got a link to download it over at her place this week, so go check it out. Mine's a bit less creative, but I do like the contrast of the colors with Melody's black and white.

Next week, we're going with DIRECTION. Should be an interesting one, so join us!

Flag Football

2011-04-05T15:44:00.000-07:00

Our latest sports endeavor, complete with awesome mouthguards:

Team-Up Thursday: Week Fifty Nine (FOOD)

2011-03-30T18:15:00.000-07:00

It's all about FOOD for us this week. Sorry I didn't get the theme posted. Last week was our Spring Break, so a few things got overlooked :).

This was a tough theme for me. I know there's an art to food photography, and it's an area in which I have no experience. But I did get some beautiful raspberries, so I tried my hand at food art with them. Love Melody's idea of the grocery list! Brilliant.

Next week we're doing DESIGN.

Things have been hectic around here, and I haven't been commenting on all your great diptychs. I'm getting back into the swing of things this week, I promise :).

Team-Up Thursday: Week Fifty-Eight (SPRING)

2011-03-23T17:07:00.000-07:00

Love how the blues go together here. Fresh and colorful as SPRING should be!

Team-Up Thursday: Week Fifty Seven (MUSIC)

2011-03-16T18:33:00.001-07:00

Two keyboards, two very different moods. Love the contrast. Melody's on vacation this week, but she still managed to snap this great shot of a chalk "piano."

Next week, let's do SPRING, why don't we?

Team-Up Thursday: Week Fifty Six (UPSIDE DOWN)

2011-03-09T20:10:00.000-08:00

Next week, MUSIC.

Team-Up Thursday: Week Fifty Five (EVERYDAY BEAUTY)

2011-03-03T04:58:00.000-08:00

Beauty, indeed.

Next week, UPSIDE DOWN!

Team-Up Thursday: Week Fifty Four (IN THE DISTANCE)

2011-02-23T19:00:00.000-08:00

What a fun theme! I didn't actually take my shot with the theme in mind, but it did seem to fit rather nicely. And I really like the effect that our diptych creates. The wide perspective in each shot allows the viewer to wander in and out of the each frame, don't you think? This dip looks great in a larger format, so click to see it bigger. Looking forward to seeing how far IN THE DISTANCE you've gone this week, too :).

Next week, it's EVERYDAY BEAUTY. Lots of possibilities there, so join us!

I've got another prospective partner waiting in the wings, so if you'd like to jump in, please email me at monamegs@hotmail.com and let me know.

Family Photos

2011-02-20T18:17:00.000-08:00

I'm always on the hunt for the next great family photo. Or just a decent family photo with no one looking weird. Vacation always seems the perfect opportunity to get the family to "pose"...or not...

Exhibit A: The "Whipped by the Wind" Family

Exhibit B: The "I Am SO Not Going to Smile" Niece

Exhibit C: Mr. "I'm in a JCPenney Catalog"

Exhibit D: "Why Yes, I AM at the Dentist"

Exhibit E: The "It's a Good Thing We Didn't Ask Anyone to Take This Photo" Family

Team Up Thursday: Week 53 (BLUE)

2011-02-16T22:06:00.000-08:00

I'm on vacation, so check back in a few hours. I'm on holiday time :).

EDITED TO ADD:

Sorry about the delay, but for those of you on the east coast, I'm currently five hours behind you. I'm in Hawaii. I'm ducking right now, because I'm pretty sure someone's trying to hit me. Maybe more than one person.

I purposely picked BLUE this week as our theme because I knew we'd be surrounded by it all week. This shot is from our snorkeling trip -- you probably figured that out :).

I'm not even sure what our theme is for next week. I realized as I was typing that we forgot to decide. I'll have to add another addendum to the post later. That's just what happens on vacation!

Team-Up Thursday: Week Fifty Two (CELEBRATION)

2011-02-09T18:57:00.000-08:00

Fifty-two weeks -- a whole year -- that deserves a celebration, doesn't it?

Thanks to all of you Team-Up teams that make this such a fun project. And a big personal thanks from me to Melody for being a fabulous partner and always a creative inspiration. Although Melody and I have never met in person, I feel I know parts of her life through her beautiful photography. Cheers, partner! :)

Looking forward to all your CELEBRATIONS this week in comments or in the Flickr pool. Dive in, why don't you? I've got another creative soul searching for a partner, so drop me a line at monamegs@hotmail.com and I'll get you started.

Any suggestions for themes or ideas that you'd like to see us tackle in the coming months? Do tell...

Next week, we'll be doing BLUE. Until then, happy "dipping!"

52 Weeks of Me (You)

2011-02-06T11:20:00.000-08:00

I've been trying to keep up with a fun new photo project -- 52 Weeks of Me (You) -- hosted by Jessie and Cara. The post date is supposed to be Sunday, and I've been late almost every week. So I've only been posting into their Flickr group.

This week I'm actually on time, so I'm posting here:

The theme this week is "At Arm's Length." I tried to get creative, but I think all I did was show you how dirty my iPhone is.

Friday Night Lights...Basketball Style

2011-02-05T09:20:00.000-08:00

Last night, Harrison's team provided half-time entertainment at a local high school basketball game. They got to scrimmage for three minutes in front of a big crowd on the full-size court. Three minutes isn't very long, but it was fun!

BTW: Harrison is #10. I won't tell you if he won the tip off :).

Team-Up Thursday: Week Fifty One (BEHIND)

2011-02-02T20:08:00.000-08:00

OK, fess up: who took a photo of a baby bottom for this week? No bottoms here, but both Melody and I captured our kids from BEHIND. Love the composition in Melody's photo as your eye follows the girls up the hill. And that gorgeous light -- sublime.

I feel I need to add a disclaimer to my photo: I don't usually let Owen listen to music while he eats breakfast. But when I turned around and saw him there, tucking into his waffles and bobbing his head with his earphones on, I had to take advantage of the photographic opportunity.

If you are keeping count (or if you've looked at the title of this entry), you may have noticed something exciting: next week is week 52. One whole year of Team-Up Thursday! Hard to believe. In honor of this momentous week, we're doing CELEBRATION for our theme, and we'd love to have everyone join in the fun. So find your party hats and take a photo in CELEBRATION of something, anything, and share it in a diptych next week.

Can't wait to see what you've got for us.

Team-Up Thursday: Week Fifty (STACKED)

2011-01-27T00:01:00.000-08:00

Love the colors and light in our diptych this week. STACKED was a fun theme, even though mine might be more accurately described as a "cluster" rather than a stack. I took mine in Las Vegas this weekend. The Bellagio had some wonderful displays celebrating Chinese New Year, and I loved this tree filled with colorful decorations. Melody couldn't have been more on target with V's stack of wood. Melody has a way capturing soft lighting that I adore, and this photograph is no exception.

Next week, we're tackling BEHIND for our theme.

Now, I have a shameless plug: I'm a finalist in the Greeblepix January Photo Contest and I would love to have your vote. Mine is the black and white shot I used last week in my diptych, so it's easy to spot. Pop on over and check out all the great shots ...and vote for me while you're at it :).

Can't wait to see everyone's dips!

P.S. I've got someone waiting for a partner, so if you're lurking and want to join the fun, email me at monamegs@hotmail.com.

I'm Watching You

2011-01-26T14:59:00.000-08:00

We didn't go to Vegas to gamble. But we thought it would be fun to pull some slots, especially those nice nickel ones. At least the nickel ones they used to have.

Since I grew up going to Las Vegas a lot to visit my grandparents, I remember the thrill and simplicity of the "one-armed bandits." Put in a coin, pull the lever, see if the little fruits line up and you win.

Not so much these days.

Now, you press a button. No more pulling the handle. And, instead of coins, you put in dollars...or your credit card (and we wonder why gambling's an addiction).

The worst part is that we couldn't even figure out how to play the machines -- seriously. There were all different kinds of lines and combinations to choose from even before you pressed the button.

So Keely went a-stalkin'. And she picked this little old lady to watch. Can you see how Keely's studying her? She tried to ask her a question, but either the woman didn't speak English or (more likely) she was too busy and purposely ignored her.

Gambler's Anonymous doesn't need to worry about us. We're too stupid to figure out the two cent slot machines.

Cosmopolitan

2011-01-25T07:25:00.000-08:00

Vegas, Baby!

2011-01-24T08:48:00.001-08:00

We had a great time in Las Vegas. I'm not sure this is really a quintessential Vegas shot, but I love it! Especially the fact that Lisa is losing her shoe:).

Will be posting more shots when I get past Monday morning.

Leavin' on a Jet Plane

2011-01-21T10:57:00.000-08:00

Leaving the boys to their own devices this weekend and grabbing a little R & R in Vegas. Hopefully I'll come back with some fun photos!

I just realized how geeky that last sentence is. Sheesh.

Go to Vegas and take great pictures! That'll be the new tourism slogan for sure. That's exactly why most people go there.

I probably need a new hobby ;).

Team-Up Thursday: Week Forty Nine (BLACK & WHITE)

2011-01-19T19:00:00.000-08:00

I think I've got a new favorite:). I've always loved BLACK & WHITE shots, and this diptych makes me smile. I had planned an abstract shot of an umbrella against a white wall, but it just didn't work. Then I got this shot of Harrison. Paired up with the wonderful shot of Melody's girls in the bathtub, well, I love this combination.

BLACK & WHITE lets the viewer notice the stripes in H's shirt and the pebbles in the walls in the bathroom. And of course, you can't help notice the cute kids. Actually you notice them in color, too, but that's another theme altogether.

Can't wait to see what you have to show us today.

Next week, we're working with STACKED as our theme, so join us!

Quiet

2011-01-18T13:11:00.001-08:00

It was awfully quiet upstairs, so I went to check on the boys. This is what I found:

Sky High

2011-01-17T14:48:00.000-08:00

We went to check out the new Sky High today. It's basically a warehouse full of trampolines. If it weren't so expensive, the boys could probably live there.

Can you tell they liked it?

Quote of the Week

2011-01-15T12:23:00.000-08:00

Backstory: Last year, Owen couldn't get enough of Michael Jackson's music. We were constantly listening to "Beat It," "Thriller," and "Billie Jean" in the car. But this is what he told me yesterday:

"Justin Bieber is my favorite for peppy songs. He's even better than Michael Jackson. 'Cause Michael Jackson is old...and dead."

And really, what could I say to that?

Watching

2011-01-14T13:08:00.001-08:00

Team-Up Thursday: Week Forty Eight (ALL IN A ROW)

2011-01-12T20:13:00.001-08:00

Oh, those piggies! Love Melody's interpretation of our theme this week. And once again we have a contrast in subject and even processing. Melody's is so soft, while mine is a bit more bold in the color scheme. Can you tell it's basketball season again at our house?

Can't wait to see what everyone lined up (get it?) to photograph this week.

Next week we're going with BLACK AND WHITE as our theme. Great possibilities there, so get those lens caps off and we'll see you back here or on flickr next week.

P.S. If you'd like to join in the fun, email me at monamegs@hotmail.com and I'll set you up with a partner -- we'd love to have you play along!

P.P.S. Looking for another great challenge? Check out the ladies over at the lucas zoo and i miei due bambini for 52 weeks of me (you). They've started a self-portrait project that you won't want to miss.

The Haircut

2011-01-11T19:11:00.000-08:00

In the beginning, there was hair. And it was big.

Lo, the clippers descended upon the hair.

And the clippers worketh hard.

And the people rejoiced throughout the land. And it was good.

Winter

2011-01-10T12:25:00.000-08:00

Well, I've already missed one day in my quest to photo-post everyday in January. Oh well.

This one's a Hipstamatic shot from my phone this morning.

Hoops

2011-01-08T14:38:00.000-08:00

Basketball season is upon us.

Books

2011-01-07T10:24:00.001-08:00

I finished a good book today. And then I realized I couldn't loan it to anyone.

I love new technology, and it's great to always have a book to read on my phone if I'm stuck somewhere. But I can't tell my mom I'll mail it to her, or swap it out with someone at book club. It's just there, on my phone. I'm finished and I can't even donate it to the Book Corner, where I could then buy another book for a dollar.

It was a book centered around death, and although it was beautifully written, I have to say I was looking forward to finishing so that I could move onto something less depressing.

Now that I'm done, I'm just depressed that I can't hand it off to anyone else.

Team-Up Thursday: Week Forty Seven (NEW)

2011-01-05T19:13:00.000-08:00

Happy 2011, all you Team-Up people! And welcome back. I hope you had a restorative break, one that renewed your creativity and left you hoping it was Thursday again.

Melody and I tackled NEW this week, an appropriate theme for the new year, and ended up with contrasting photos. In fact, when I was creating my diptych, I couldn't decide whether to put a white border (which looked better with Melody's shot) or a black one (which helped mine). It seems that the contrasting tones in our photos are echoed in the contrast in subject matter. I think Melody is ringing in the new year with sparklers, and I am looking at the new year through the rain on my windshield.

But that's the fun of Team-Up, isn't it? Looking at different creative visions of each theme and seeing them paired up. What do you have to offer us this first week back?

Don't neglect our flickr pool, and be sure to leave a link here in comments.

Next week, Melody and I will be doing ALL IN A ROW....so join us or pick your own theme. See you then:).

Through the Windshield

2011-01-05T11:04:00.001-08:00

Don't worry. I was parked.

Sunrise

2011-01-04T07:51:00.000-08:00

We were so cold out walking today at five that I'm still not warm yet.

But what a fabulous sunrise.

Strummin'

2011-01-03T16:00:00.000-08:00

James is teaching himself guitar this year. Since I'm the only one in the family who can sing (at least the only one who can match pitch), I'm looking forward to many tune-filled evenings around the firepit come summer.

Maybe I can get them all to play guitar so that I'm the only one singing? :)

Every Day in January...Maybe

2011-01-02T18:13:00.000-08:00

I'm too chicken to try the 365 project, so I thought I'd start small and promise to photo-post every day in January.

This photo involved some cajoling, as you can see by the "smile" on Owen's face. The rest of my month may involve photos of inanimate objects only. They can't get mouthy when you try to get them to pose.

Two down, 29 to go.

Happy 2011

2011-01-01T12:58:00.000-08:00

New year, new smile. I'm willing to bet not many of you can say that!

After the Holiday Rush & new Team-Up Theme

2010-12-29T08:30:00.000-08:00

Pictured is a nice moment of quiet in between Christmas and New Year's. Hope you are experiencing a lot of these moments, too.

Melody and I are ready to jump back into the Team-Up scene next week with the theme NEW. Seems perfect for welcoming a brand new year, doesn't it?

So join us with NEW, or pick your own theme.

Hope to see you next Thursday, January 6th, here and in our flickr pool.

Merry Christmas

2010-12-25T15:32:00.001-08:00

Have a wonderful holiday!

Holiday Houses

2010-12-23T15:52:00.000-08:00

You'd want to think long and hard before eating any of the candies off this house. Trust me.

And the Winner is...

2010-12-18T07:54:00.000-08:00

Carissa and Jenn!

Thank you so much to everyone who played -- so much fun to look at the loveliness of DECEMBER through your diptychs. We're taking the week off here at Team-Up, so we'll look forward to more wonderful photos when we return.

Now, I know you're wondering about the prizes. If you don't already know about Photojojo, they have great gifts like this wooden camera gift set that we'll be sending to both our winners. So Carissa and Jenn, email me at monamegs@hotmail.com or flickrmail me with your addresses so that Melody and I can mail your prizes.

Wishing those of you who celebrate the holiday a wonderful Christmas -- may your days be merry and bright!

Contest Entries

2010-12-17T07:00:00.000-08:00

The contest entries for the theme DECEMBER:

Check back for the winner!

Team-Up Thursday: Week Forty Six (DECEMBER): Contest Time!

2010-12-15T14:39:00.000-08:00

There's nothing like a contest to get you motivated, right? Melody and I aren't eligible for the contest...since we organized it...and we're the judges. But that didn't stop us from getting in the DECEMBER spirit with a diptych. Melody's twinkle lights on top, my poinsettia on bottom.

We are extending the contest entries through today (Thursday the 16th), so be sure to post your DECEMBER diptych in the flickr pool today and tag it "Team-Up Contest" so we know it's an entry. I will be posting all the entries here at the blog tomorrow, so be sure to check out the competition. Melody and I will then pick a winner, so stay tuned!

P.S. We're taking a brief Team-Up vacation next week in the run up to Christmas, so check back here for our new theme after the holiday.

Tree Climbing

2010-12-11T09:50:00.000-08:00

If you don't know us IRL, that's my 6'4" husband with my 5' tall 10 year old on his shoulders. On a chair.

I'm thinking Santa might want to deliver a ladder this year.

FYI: Reliable Sources

2010-12-10T12:53:00.000-08:00

Conversation between James and Harrison last night:

Harrison: Dad, will you tell Mom to unblock Wikipedia on our computer?

James: Well, you need to be careful with Wikipedia. Not all the information is reliable, you know.

Harrison: I know, Dad. Anyone can upload information to Wikipedia, so you have to make sure that what you're reading is true.

James: How did you know that?

Harrison: I looked up "Wikipedia" on Wikipedia.

(Harrison will be freelancing as an independent researcher over the holidays, if anyone's in need of his services....)

Team-Up Thursday: Week Forty Five (WORDS)

2010-12-08T19:00:00.000-08:00

For those of you who celebrate Christmas, this is a busy time of year. What better way to appreciate the season than by listening and looking for quiet words that really underscore the meaning of the holiday? From a child's heartfelt note to a joyous chorus of "The Messiah," wonderful words of the season are all around, if we simply take the time to look.

What WORDS do you have for us this week?

Remember to check out the details of our fabulous contest we've got going on this coming week! The theme is DECEMBER, and we're using that for our regular theme as well.

Melody and I have a couple of fun prizes lined up for the winning diptych partners, so get into the DECEMBER spirit and play along!

P.S. Edited to add: I forgot! I've got another person interested in a partner...any lurkers out there wanting to jump in?? Now's the time:)!

The Tree

2010-12-07T15:19:00.000-08:00

Trust me. It looks even bigger in the house.

Team-Up Contest

2010-12-05T09:28:00.000-08:00

Right in the middle of your busy holiday season, Melody and I have decided to run a contest!

Here are the nitty-gritty details:

Theme: DECEMBER diptychs

When: Post your entries between December 9th and December 15th.

Where: Post your diptychs to the usual flickr pool, but tag them with the "Contest Team-Up" label so that it's easy to identify them.

How: On Thursday, December 16th, we will post links to all the contest photos so you can see them all. Because this is such a quick contest, Melody and I will be the judges (we'll be fair and impartial, I promise).

Why: Because it's fun. Because everyone needs a creative boost in December. Because we've got a fun little prize for both partners of the winning diptych.

So grab your partner and snap away -- can't wait to see your DECEMBER dips in the pool.

Team-Up Thursday: Week Forty Four (METAL)

2010-12-01T19:00:00.000-08:00

We're back! It was a bit strange to skip a week, but we figured everyone (in the U.S.) would be busy with family, friends, and turkey.

METAL was our theme for the week, and we came up with an interesting diptych. I love the feeling Melody's mariachi trumpets evoke: a fun night of celebration!

Mine is more mundane: shot of my son's METAL MEDAL. Do you like that? "Metal medal?" I can hear your groans from here :).

Next week, we're working on WORDS as our theme, so join us! Check out the flickr pool and keep taking great shots.

P.S. I've got a new player who would love a partner. Any lurkers out there waiting for the perfect opportunity to jump in? Now's your chance. Email me at monamegs@hotmail.com and let me know.

P.P.S. CONTEST COMING SOON! Melody and I have a little contest coming your way...very soon...check back in the next few days for details!

Back to Regularly Scheduled Programming....

2010-11-30T16:19:00.000-08:00

Got a little busy over the holiday weekend. Had a fun time with the cousins: lots of Wii-ing, movie-ing, playing. Also a fun visit to the art studio.

December starts tomorrow, and Owen reminded me that we don't have the advent calendar up yet. Guess what I'll be searching for in storage tonight?

Cast Off!

2010-11-19T12:53:00.001-08:00

The last view of the cast...

Crazy Hair Day...Again

2010-11-19T06:35:00.000-08:00

I swear this day comes around more than once a year at our school. Harrison likes it because it means his hair looks crazier than usual. And if you've ever seen him in the morning, that's saying something.

Team-Up Thursday: Week Forty Three (BEFORE)

2010-11-17T19:39:00.000-08:00

Melody and I have quite the domestic diptych this week for our theme BEFORE. Melody chose her bed, I think right before she got in it; I just have laundry on my bed. I like her idea better :).

I was thinking about doing a follow up shot of AFTER...but the clothes are still sitting on my bed as I write this.

What do you have to show us this week? Check out the flickr group for more great diptychs.

Join us next week for METAL (heavy or otherwise :).

Weekend

2010-11-15T10:08:00.000-08:00

Guess where we were this weekend?

Team-Up Thursday: Week Forty Two (PAPER)

2010-11-10T19:00:00.000-08:00

A fun combination, huh? I almost did a paper airplane, but I'm glad I didn't. It wouldn't have looked half as artistic as Melody's shot. I made do with something we have a lot of: candy.

I'm thinking of calling my shot "The Morning After." :)

What do you have to show this week? Check out the links in comments, or hop over to our flickr group for even more great diptychs.

Next week, we're doing BEFORE as a theme. Lots of creative interpretations with that one, so we'll see you next Thursday!