Every year I get so upset thinking about the little time we have with our children in the summer. And every year I think about the 18 summers and how are we going to make it the best summer ever. 

The school year has truly snuck up on me because we were too busy making memories, and enjoying each and every day. I learned a lot about myself this year, and I am so thankful for all of the memories made.

The one thing I changed this year was cutting back on the weddings and family sessions during the summer. I knew my limits, and I know I won't get these summers back. I am down to 5 summers left with my oldest and that scares me so much. Only 5 family road trips in the summer can happen before he flys the coop..

This year I was not sure I was going to continue doing the 365 project and the boys said "but mom you have to. Its our favorite part of the year when your book arrives". So I knew they knew I needed it, they wanted it, and heck its pretty amazing to look back on one year. One year where so much has happened, so much has changed, and so many memories have been made. I always say "I want to blog more. its a self care thing", yet I never find time to blog. 

This summer may have gone fast, but that doesn't mean it wasn't a fun one. We hit almost everything on our bucket list, and the last few items will be hit in September after school starts. We had so much fun with our Hockey families, we enjoyed some fun time up north as a family, we fished, we ate ice cream, we enjoyed Valley Fair and the Minnesota State Fair, we did adventures at home, we watched baseball games, we had hockey camps, we tie dyed, most importantly we made memories that last a lifetime.

Now its on to our favorite season of the year.....Hockey season!  The chaos, the running, the cold rinks, the snowstorms during a game, and so many more memories. 

Never in my wildest dreams did I ever think I could get through another 365. The year goes so fast, the memories we made were so much fun, and its on to the next 365. 

I was going to quit as my boys get older it gets harder to do a photo a day. But then they begged me to do another because they love being able to look back at a year of memories.

Not every day was a fun day, but every day was a memory. 

Now that I have finally finished up the collage for 2018, the book for 2018, its time to move to a new year. 

And hopefully this blog will get the attention that it needs now that hockey season is over ;) 

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Seriously every year passes so quickly, sometimes I feel like its just gone in the blink of an eye.

Not only was 2017 a super fun year, it was a great year of meeting so many new people. The weddings this year just reminded me why I love capturing the I Do's, the dancing, the fun, the love, and I can't thank those who hired me to be part of their big day. 

I had the awesome opportunity to all capture all those family sessions. The end of the year there were some pretty cute babies, the fall brought great joy with all the returning clients, and I can't forget all the new friends I made. 

Personally 2017 was fun, trying with some great challenges, and it was quick. My fall starts to end sooner than before so that I can be the mom that my kids need. School starts, hockey starts, and well the calendar is full. But so is my heart! My oldest is growing and learning so much in school and then plays his heart out on the ice defending his net. Its a pretty cool thing! And yes you will catch me at the rink with my camera almost always when it comes to games. Oh yeah and you will catch me with a hotdog in hand for the little guy. Sports photography is growing on me, and its making me wanna pull my heart out at times, but its the love in his eyes that I see that makes it worth it. 

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Why do you take so many everyday photos?
So people have been asking me why do I take so many everyday photos? Well because everyday passes so quickly that I have to have some way to document it. I know sounds silly, but documenting our life is going to be something that my kids look back on and I know this because they are very active in me documenting their life. And I am doing this for me and them. This is my hobby, my passion and my therapy. I enjoy teaming up with Ethel (aka Canon) because without Ethel there is no need for Lucy. 

I love the opportunity to grow and learn while doing something I love. And everyday life is pretty cool when you stop and look at it. The ordinary is the best, the events are fun, and hey who doesn't love farm photos. Its my diary in pictures, its my story with color, and its my joy. 

How do I find the time? 
Well that isn't always easy, but Ethel goes where Lucy goes so Ethel is always with me. I don't leave it in the bag, I leave in the kitchen so I have access to it when I need it. It is about making the time for me, and doing what I love. I am on year 3 of my 365, and each year I have improved, learned new things, and felt amazing after looking back. 

Doesn't life get boring everyday?
Its the boring times when I realize its life, its a challenge, its fun, and its really short! Earlier this week I read about a 12 year old boy who was killed in a car accident, and it hit home. My boys are my world, my life, and I would be lost without them. So instead of worrying about the boring times in life I am going to turn the boring times into documented times and do everything possible to show my boys the best life ever. The mundane cat pictures, the crazy goat pictures, and just the random boring times are much greater than boring times. 

Do you print these everyday photos?
​I sure do! I have more everyday photos on the wall then posed photos. These are the real photos, the reminders that life is crazy, but remember it goes fast!

So go out, take the boring photos, make the memories, and always remember that life is too short for boring. Life is too short so make those memories now while you can. 

Didn't this year just start? I feel like its going faster than I really want it to go. Oh well I guess I will embrace it. Just a few more days and Hockey starts so I felt I better get an updated 365 post going because soon I will have no time.  But thats life and hey I am ready for hockey as well. 

To say this year was fun with weddings is a complete understatement. This year was nothing but the best, with so many different and unique parts of each wedding. Nothing was the same, and it was always so fun to work with each couple. 

Jake and Juliana- 

Such a beautiful wedding with great wedding party. It helps when I know people in the wedding party, but this was a fun group dancing the night away. Did someone say no wedding cake....how can that be? Oh an Ice Cream bar....well then who cares about cake!  
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Matt and Kayla-

Well these two are pretty special to me. I mean come on who lets you shoot with them during deer hunting and then lets you shoot their wedding. And growing up with Matt it made me so happy to see him so happy marrying the love of his life. And a wedding party that well some of which were related, some of which I have made some awesome memories with, and some of which I have became friends with. Never will I forget the bus ride with this group!

Breanna and Ryan-

This couple and I had such a great time when we did their engagement session, I just knew that their wedding was going to be fun. When they said they weren't going to see each other before the wedding I was a little nervous, but man when that groom saw his bride the tears fell. I just love when the couple says "yes I would love to head off and do some fun sunset photos"

Kim and Jay-

Two families coming together as one, and the love those kids have for their new family is amazing! I hope one day my boys dance with me like Kim's boys did with her. Pizza....you said Pizza and wine. How perfect! Brick oven pizza at a winery with amazing cupcakes and popcorn. Talk about having the best of all worlds. 

Bri and Mitch-

The details of this wedding were awesome! From the keys to a successful marriage, to the card box made by a relative, to the tractors, the father daughter dance, and down to the pie. What you say no cake...how can that be? Pie oh pie, how I love pie! The father daughter dance was a highlight but so was everything else about his wedding

Matt and Kinzie-

This couple made sure they had the memories from their day to last a lifetime. Custom jewelry, special details, and the love for God and each other. Learning how to play a new instrument was the goal for the groom, and I just had to hurry up and distract the bride because there was no way I was going to miss it.  And a couple that rides off with their videographer and photographer on a golf cart to find the shot is pretty awesome in my book. 

Today I sit here and think about pumpkin spice, blankets, football games, soon to be hockey time, and a pool that is coming down. But I am so thankful that I have documented the entire year we have had with my 365. Now where has the time gone? How can school be starting in just two days? But it is, and that means its time to enjoy another year with so many more memories.