Photo challenge Week 1 - Landscape with a tree focus

So this is the first week of our 52 week challenge! A photo a week for a whole year... am really hoping it will encourage me to keep using my camera and keep learning new skills. 

For this weeks challenge I headed out to Western Springs in Auckland New Zealand. We went for a family dinner picnic as I had read dusk is the best time to shoot landscape pictures. Looking through some of the examples I really liked a shot that had the tree trunk in focus and city lights out of focus in the background. It wasn't really a landscape but this was my attempt to do something similar while keeping with the theme. I think it probably would have looked better if the background was more crisp but I love all the detail of the tree trunk and I quite like the ducks in the background too. 

Yay week one done!! What will next week's theme be...

Day 28 - My favourite

And these are a few of my favourite things...

Travelling, snorkeling, my husband, the beach, swimming, colourful fish...

Family, my children, my mummy, colour co-ordination, laughing....

Switchfoot, concerts, parachute music festival...

Day 30 - Something beautiful

For something beautiful I decided to take a photo of my Grandma. My grandma is an incredibly beautiful person. While old age is catching up with her my memories of grandma will always be of her at her lovely house at Mount Maunganui. She was an amazing cook and loved to eat her own cakes and biscuits. She loved to read and sun bathe and has given me many of her books now she finds it hard to read. She is always positive, had a real gift for hospitality and was just the right amount of slightly crazy and really fun!! I love my grandma! Apparently we are a lil alike and maybe that is why!!

Day 29 - A great memory

I recently turned 30 and with that came a bit of soul searching. It felt so old!! As I thought about it I realised I am well and truly no longer a child, adolescent or even a young adult but am staring middle age square in the face. EEK!!!

As scary as that thought feels it is less overwhelming when I reflect on what an awesome 30 years it has been! While I have had my share of ups and downs I have so many great memories to look back on. If the next 30 are as awesome as the last 30 have been I truly have nothing to fear!

Thanks to God for leading me safe so far and I know He will lead me on!!

Photos are such a great way of remembering. They capture moments from big events like weddings, overseas adventures and new additions to small events like fun times with friends. It is one of the reasons I want to be better at taking pictures, to help me remember. Here are some pictures of photos from my living room. Being surrounded by happy memories is an awesome way to live...

Day 27 - Made you laugh

I'm away on my holiday at the moment and have lots of things that are making me laugh and feel happy with life. Beautiful weather, a beach I can see from the couch (and have swam at twice) and wonderful friends who are my family too and so much fun. It has been so cool to watch our kids playing together. Evie and Jack really enjoy each others company. They seem to set each other off and one starts giggling at the other and soon they are both laughing and soon we all are too cos its just to cute! This photo is of them playing in the bath together where there was so much laughter my brother broke the seat he was sitting on!

The other place we have discovered the kids love is to sit out on the deck and watch the world go by. They look so funny but it has become a great babysitter! Here is Milly chilling out and enjoying the view...

Day 26 - A simple goodness

This morning we went out to the French Markets in Parnell and I wish I had taken my camera. So much amazing food - cheeses, salami's, hummus, breads - and interesting people from all around the world. When I got home and saw the topic I felt like that summed it up. Simple goodness - good food and people hanging out with good friends. The picture below is of kumara bread and Moroccan hummus which we brought for lunch and was so yummy. It was quite simply good!

This evening we went around to the parent in laws for a summer BBQ. Another simple goodness - family, beautiful weather, tasty food and good conversations. I like the picture below because I managed to get steam coming off the steak. 

Day 25 - A recent triumph

I have to admit I have had to resist the urge with this blog to make every post about sleep. I inwardly smile at Rebeca's blog as everyday she finds a way to make it about Savannah - so much more noble than me! Rather than every topic making me think of my children they all just make me think of taking photos of things relating to sleep!

Well today I am resisting the urge no longer. My triumph is that I have singlehandedly got both my girls to bed for the second night in a row (husband has been out at bedtime). Woo Hoo Go Me!!! And so after seeing every hour last night except 2am, then my darlings tag teaming their naps so only getting half an hour child free in which time I had to do washing and dishes (anyone else hang out their washing at 3pm?) I can finally relax and maybe get an early night... if only the toddler would stop kicking the wall! Ha ha I am not trying to win a sympathy award or anything. The truth is I know all mums work as hard as me. Motherhood is beautiful, crazy fun, hard work and incredibly exhausting!!

So my very uncreative photos today are of my very comfy looking bed. And the sun setting out of my bedroom window just waiting for me to close the curtains and my eyes....

Just as a side note... when you do spell check on this blogger site the word blog comes up as spelt incorrectly... weird... sorry if my grammar is horrible today!