The Harwick Hubabaloo

2012 - Word of the Year

I wasn't going to pick a word this year - I consider myself a total failure at accomplishing/living out the spirt of last year's word - so I surrendered; however, I recently read a blog (excuse my poor memory b/c I cannot remember which one it was) where the author was talking about their word choosing them... so I started thinking, and I noticed that there was a definite trend in weaving its way through my goals for 2012 ... and that is when I realized that my word had choosen me too... it was starring me right in the eye... begging me to choose it, love it, embrace it and most of all.... live it! And that word was: (this is a snazzie logo I found on the internet through a google search - still couldn't figure out who it really belonged too - I should add that to my list of reductions - reduce internet miscrediting.. or lack thereof - if this logo should be yours - please let me know!) 

Reduce, according to Dictionary. com means: 

1. to bring down to a smaller extent, size, amount, number,etc.: to reduce one's weight by 10 pounds.

2. to lower in degree, intensity, etc.: to reduce the speed of acar.

3. to bring down to a lower rank, dignity, etc.: a sergeantreduced to a corporal

4. to treat analytically, as a complex idea.

5. to lower in price.

I think most of my plans include #1..........

To reduce the number on the scale (while increasing the numbers of miles tracked on my eliptical)

(and yes, those are the display photos still in that cute frame that my babysitter gave me for Christmas... can you add "reduce procrastination" to my list?) 

To reduce the amount of my spending...... and debt.... thus INCREASING our capital! 

and one more - To reduce stress... this may require reducing the daily routine (not sure how that works with four children and an absentee spouse, but we will try!) 

(again, not sure where this image came from, it was on my drive from something else, sorry!) 

So, has a word choosen you? Be vigilant and your word just might smack you upside the head! - Mine did! 

 

 

A Special Message for Daddy...

It has been 3 days since we put Daddy back on the plane to a place that not a single one of us would agree to go to willingly.... he works 24 hours a day... sleeps in the equivalent of a wooden shanty, eats what looks like dog food and doesn't get to hug his amazing children each day or tuck them into bed each night... 

All in all, the kids are holding up pretty well... we are slowly returning to our regular schedule - school is back in full swing and soccer starts up the week after next... before we get super busy again, we wanted to take the opportunity to let Daddy know we are thinking about him.... 

Daddy, 

(I lost the link but I cannot take credit for this clever photo idea - I found a photo with a similiar concept on the web recently and thought it was cute - so I mde it work for us!) 

See you soon Daddy! 

Love

Your kids (and wife, too!) 

Interrupting the Normal Dead Blog Space to Announce .....

Those of you who know me know that I have been interested in photography for most of my life; always the one with the camera handy, I have documented most of my youth, young adulthood and lord knows my kids are tired of having the camera in their faces! (They call me the paparazzi and run away when I show up, camera in hand - all except Brody, who has perfected his "cheese face").

I am constantly reading and playing with the settings on my camera - one of my favorite places to visit is MCP Actions. Jodi provides easy to understand information on photography and photo editing and fun to use actions! 

This year, MCP Actions is hosting Project 12. What is Project 12, you ask? 

MCP Project 12 gives photographers the opportunity to take more photos, be creative and have fun. Hobbyist and professional photographers can join us by capturing images based on our monthly themes and share with the MCP community.

At the beginning of each month, for the next 12 months, we will introduce a theme on our blog. You will have up to a month to brainstorm, develop your ideas, and take your photos. If you prefer a weekly challenge, like Project 52, challenge yourself to use the theme in multiple ways.  You may upload up to four images per month.

Am I participating? Heck yeah, I am; but even better, Jodi has asked me to help organize and "lead" the project (moderate, etc)! 

You can check out the theme for January HERE - The theme is RESOLUTION - Did you make any resolutions for this year? 

I always do - and they are pretty much the same year to year... why mess with a good thing, right? 

Resolution #1 

Hope you will join Project 12 at MCP Actions! It will be an amazing journey! 

Goodbye 2011; Hello 2012! Part I

Goodbye 2011; Hello 2012!

Where did the year go? 2011 is a blur. We started the year with cold hands and warm hearts and ended it with warm hands and lots of great memories.

Here are the highlights from our year in photos: 

January 2011 - Brody's "cool man" handshake. This handshake took on various forms from a fist pump/explosion to an elbow bump/high five. The "cool man" handshake continues to evolve to this very day! 

February 2011 - Celebrated Grandma's Birthday and Valentine's Day, complete with homemade Valentines! 

March, 2011 - We celebrated the Luck of the Irish and visited Virginia Beach where we cheered Uncle Brian through his first full marathon finish! 

In April, 2011 - my Holly turned 7, the girls played soccer for Fayetteville Soccer Club and we had a visit from the Easter bunny! 

 

May, 2011 - We busted out the boat and had some fun in the warm Spring air! Brody "graduated" from Preschool and we made our yearly pilgrimage to the strawberry picking farm - this year we tried to make freezer jam - not so tasty - next year we will make the real stuff! 

In June we got out of school! and got busy having fun. We visited Disneyworld, Sea World, Discovery Cove and Grandma's house in Fort Meyers - and then 

July, August, September, October, November and December still to come! (Typepad is hating my photo heavy post and has stopped cooperating!)

What will 2012 bring? I do not know, but I am excited to find out! I am hoping for a little snow to round out the seasons, a smooth school year finish, a relaxing week at the Outer Banks, a restful summer, Aaron's safe return from Afghanistan, a wild trip to Disney and another healthy happy holiday season... not too much to ask, right?