360/366 - "Family Photo Time"

(F/8, 55mm, 1/160, ISO 800, Canon 5D Mk II)

(F/8, 58mm, 1/160, ISO 800, Canon 5D Mk II)

(F/8, 35mm, 1/125, ISO 800, Canon 5D Mk II)

Every year after we finish Christmas morning at our house with the kids, we hop in the car and head to my mom's house for the rest of the day.  I am the oldest of 14, and days like Christmas, when we are pretty much all together,  get very chaotic.  We are generally never all in the same place at the same time and this year was no exception.  However, we did have record turnout 11 of 14 were there and we decided we had to take family photos.  The top photo is mom and Gary, with all the kids.  The middle photo is the out-laws (significant others), and the final photo is all of the grandkids.  Missing from the top photo are Pete, Anna, and Josh.  Missing from the middle photo are Dejan's wife (Ivana), Pete's girlfriend (Ivana), Anna's boyfriend (Jimmy), and Josh's wife (April).  There are three missing in the last photo, Layla (Josh's daughter), Devin (Chili's son), and Logan (Zach's son).  I think I captured that correctly and if I did't I will update it once someone corrects me.  The day was total chaos and a blast catching up with everyone.

359/366 - "Roller Blades"

(F/4, 80mm, 1/125, ISO 100, Canon 5D Mk II)

Today we celebrated Christmas with Pat, Karen, Matt, and Nora.  Jonah opened up a set of roller blades and wanted to start learning right away.  We spent about an hour outside and he actually did really well for his first time out.  In case you are counting there are seven photos remaining.

358/366 - "Cookies"

(F/1.4, 50mm, 1/160, ISO 200, Canon 5D Mk II)

Today we made and iced some sugar cookies for Santa.  I figured I would take a photo of the finished product and I actually did, but then Harper decided she needed to take some photos of the cookies.  So she wound up being my photograph for today.

355/366 - "Stockings"

(F/7.1, 55mm, 1/125 sec, ISO 100, Canon 5D Mk II)

A fellow photographer that is participating in her own 365 Project took a photo of her needle-point stocking last night and that is my inspiration for today.

When I was born, my grandma made me a stocking (far left).  When I started dating Sue, I found out that her mum made her a stocking (far right).  When Jonah was born, my mom his grandma continued the tradition and made him a stocking, and then again when Harper was born.  The stockings are one of my favorite decorations.

351/366 - "Heavy"

(F/4, 24mm, 1/200 sec, ISO 200, Canon 5D Mk II)

Today was Christmas morning at dad's house.  Harper was trying to move her bag of presents, and after trying to lift it she decided it would be better just to sit down and open them at this spot.  Everyone had a great time!

344/366 - "Changing Bokeh"

(F/1.4, 50mm, 0.4 sec, ISO 100, Canon 7D)

I was searching for creative ideas to execute during the last days of this project and Jim suggested that I change my bokeh.  I had never heard of that, so I searched and found this link.  It is a pretty easy process and I decided to do a star as the backdrop for this little wooden Nativity.  I told Jim that I was posting this today and he sent me an example he did which I posted below.

343/366 - "Waiting for Santa"

(F/5.6, 70mm, 1/160, ISO 400, Canon 5D Mk II)

Today we went to see Santa at Phipps.  This is Harper waiting in line and watching the process as the other kids took their turns.  Unfortunately, when it was her turn she declined to sit on Santa's lap and would only go near him for the full family photo.

342/366 - "The Cowboy"

(F/2.8, 100mm, 1/100, ISO 400, Canon 5D Mk II)

Growing up my mom would needle-point a new Christmas ornament for me each year.  When I moved out and started a family she gave them all to me for my tree.  This cowboy is one of my favorites.

340/366 - "Christmas Show"

(F/2.8, 200mm, 1/125, ISO 1600, Canon 5D Mk II)

Tonight was Jonah's Christmas Show at school.  His class represented the reindeer and all the kids sang some songs and looked like little angels.  Next year we will show up a little earlier to get a better seat a little higher up.

339/366 - "Advent House"

(F/4.5, 19mm, 1/200, ISO 100, Canon 5D Mk II)

My mom bought the kids an Advent Calendar several years ago and it is not your normal calendar.  It is actually a log cabin house that we hide candy in each night and the kids try to find the correct day.  It is a major hit and is our standard after dinner activity.

338/366 - "Ernie"

(F/7.1, 100mm, 1/100, ISO 100, Canon 5D Mk II)

Our Elf on a Shelf showed up on Saturday.  Jonah named him Ernie several years back and is very excited to locate him each morning.  Ernie is always lurking in the shadows watching the kids.  I took a portrait of Ernie and it took a couple tries to get the lighting the way I wanted it.  I think Ernie is "shifty" looking and don't trust him one bit.

334/366 - "Story Time"

(F/2.8, 95mm, 1/25, ISO 3200, Canon 5D Mk II)

Jonah is getting very excited for Christmas and the arrival of Ernie the Elf.  Tonight he decided to tell Harper the story of the Elf on the Shelf.