These days, I don't take as many photos as I used to anymore, and my computer and hard drive are thanking me for it. Perhaps it's because I have had better luck with my exposure. The more I think of it though, the more I'm convinced that I only take photos that resonate with me now, photos that speak to me. Take the shot below for instance. Among the dozen of photos I took of our camping trip this weekend, this one is my hands-down favorite. It's an emotional photo - one that speaks a thousand words. It describes the relationship between my husband and my son. The fact that it was taken with the light of the bonfire to illuminate it makes it even more dramatic. I'm also proud to say that this photo was untouched - it's a straight out of the camera shot.




I received this article in my inbox today and this summarizes why I am drawn to emotional photos these days:

"What I really hope you can do is find your true self in your next big image. You don’t have to concentrate on breaking the rules or being gaudy for shock value (Thank you Lady GaGa) – but try to focus on what you really want to say with your camera. Do you want to make images that last? Do you want to make images that really stand the test of time? Then be yourself. Shoot for yourself. Shoot what your heart wants you to shoot. Don’t just try to be cool for being cool’s sake. Be true."

Amen!

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Like any parent, we struggle to be good parents every single day. We try to provide our children with a good home, a loving and caring environment. We discipline them. We want our kids to grow up with values and manners.

As a mom, I take pride in seeing my boys try help around the house. Kail's favorite lines these days are "Can I help?", "I want to help", "I'll do it". When he sees me preparing dinner, he would want to help out. He can drag loads of laundry down the stairs and even put them onto the washer. He helps me bring the folded laundry up to the rooms. He cleans up his mess (albeit with resistance at first).

Calix, on the other hand, is showing his type A personality this early. Whenever he sees dirt or food on the floor, he'd pick it up, hand it to me or daddy so we could throw it away. He loves to put things on their proper places. We were at a play area yesterday when he saw balls on the floor. He'd pick them up one by one, hand them to me so I can put them in proper places (and sometimes he does that himself). The moms who saw him cleaning up had smiles on their faces. I was a very proud mom!

I think that raising them up without help is a big plus in teaching them to do their part around the house. My mom taught us a very valuable lesson by not hiring help when we were growing up so we'll learn to do the chores. When I came to the US at 24 years old, I was very independent. I have no problems cooking, cleaning the house, doing the laundry, washing the dishes. I want to impart the same lesson to my children. I want them to be able to do things on their own and not rely on help to do things for them. After all, help is so out of reach for middle class families like us here in the US.

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Ali posted a couple of my layouts in her blog here http://www.aliedwards.com/2010/05/week-in-the-life-reader-submissions-part-two.html

2010 Goals

It's halfway through January 2010 and I have yet to get used to writing 2010 on my checks, LOL. I just couldn't believe that 2009 came and went like a blur in my memory.

This year, I have set specific goals for myself and having blogged twice this month, I think I'm on the right track, LOL. So, without further ado, I thereby present to my my goals for 2010:

Spend quality time with family. Though I'm home most of the time, I can say that there are times when I'm busy doing something else rather than spending those precious moments with my boys. I know that kids grow up fast, which brings me to my first goal - to spend as much quality time with my husband and kids as humanly possible. This means that my computer time would have to wait until after the kids are asleep and my husband isn't demanding that I spend time watching a movie with him. I just have to keep reminding myself to live in the moment and savor each minute with my family.

Live healthy. Okay, I'll admit, I tend to indulge myself on unhealthy foods. Can you blame me if those are the ones that taste heavenly? So, in light of the bad genes I inherited from my ancestors, I truly have to watch what I eat and make sure I get enough exercise to balance it out. It doesn't help that I live with a carnivore husband who throws up when asked to eat veggies. I have to make sure I eat enough veggies so my kids will grow up so unlike their dad in terms of eating habits, so help me God!

Blog More. I have been a bad, bad blogger last year that I think I've lost following on this blog (not that I have that many in the first place). But because this blog is also a reflection on our daily lives, part of my documenting everyday moments, I have to make sure I blog more often. I will strive for a once a week post, and more if my time allows. After all, I'm a wife and mom first, a working mom second, a life artist and photographer third, a maid fourth, and a woman fifth.

Create More. This is probably the only goal that I didn't slack on last year. I have made so many layouts last year that I have albums brimming full. Hubz even teased me that I have to rent a storage room for all my huge albums because our house will soon be full of them, LOL. Kidding aside, scrapbooking and photography feeds my creative soul so I will continue to do this as time allows.

Use my time productively. I have to make a mental note to myself not to slack off because time is gold. That said, I am big on lists. I make a list of all the things I need to do and check off those that I've accomplished one by one. It gives me a sense of satisfaction to be able to cross something off the list. But, I am just human and I tend to slack off sometimes so this is a reminder to get me back on track.

Never lose faith. With so many people struggling these days, the economy being in its current shape and form, it is easy to lose faith. Despite the many trials that has come to our family in 2009, I am truly happy to say that my faith in God has become stronger. He has been (and still is) my anchor, my shield, my protector, my crying shoulder, my strength, my everything.

Believe. I have to keep reminding myself that despite tough times, I have to believe that all these will come to an end, no matter how long or painful the journey.

Hope. I have chosen hope as my word for 2010. I choose to hope for the best and hope that after all this, I will evolve as a better and stronger person.

Before I end this post, I would like to share with you my first two layouts for 2010:

Template - Kate Hadfield; Papers - Little Dreamer Designs (blue background); Ali Edwards (all others); Cupcake Embellishments - Kristine Pocock; Fonts - Pea Jay (journaling), Georgia (title)

I got the idea to scrapbook portions of the christmas cards we received in 2009 from Ali Edwards. Every christmas, we receive a number of cards I have no idea what to do with. Now they'll be a part of our scrapbook.

This layout was easy enough to create. I used square punches, Basic Grey Fruitcake paper, Stickers for the title, pen for journaling, and some adhesive. I think I am going to do this every year.

On our last day in San Diego, we were greeted with a temperature of low 70s so it was a perfect day to go to the Beach. We decided to go to Moonlight Beach in Encinas upon the resort recommendation - being a family friendly beach and all.

The waves caused Calix to fall down a few times

So Kail, being a great brother that he is, held Calix's hand

Calix finally decided he didn't like the beach too much - water is cold, he kept falling down, and the water tasted funny, so he left

His kuya, on the other hand, had a lot of fun in the water, despite being carried by the waves a couple of times

while Calix tried to figure out how to fly the kite instead.

When Kail decided he had enough of the water, we rinsed the boys off and moved to the nearby playground where Kail had a blast with the slide and the monkey bar

While Calix was content on the swing

December Daily 2009 Album

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