2011 – a year in photos

2011 Photo Recap – as always, head over to Vimeo to see the HD version.

Sometimes Rhiannon and I discuss all the things we don’t do. We don’t camp as much as we would like. We should really get around to building that container garden in the back yard. Why haven’t we finished flooring of the garage yet?

And then I actually go back and look at some pictures from the past year and I guess that we are busy enough.

You’ll notice that our pictures are kind of dominated by Brooklynn. With Artoo on the way, I imagine that she’ll have to share the spotlight a little more next year. Either that or this yearly effort will scale up to mini-documentary status. I already crammed about 620 photos into 390 seconds. At this rate, we’ll be 1000+ pics and double digit minutes. That, or I’ll actually have to edit a little bit.

This year was also the first year that our cell phone cameras have a major presence. We’ve found the saying that the best camera you have is the one you have with you to be very true. A decent chunk of the photos in this were taken by Rhiannon, so thanks to her and every one else that helped make 2011 a great year for our family.

holiday visits

Over the past few weeks from Thanksgiving to Christmas, Brooklynn has visited 3 great-grandparents, 4 grandparents, three aunts, two uncles, four cousins, and a whole slew of additional extended family. And I think if it were up to her, she would do it all agin starting next week. That would be nice if it worked that way.

Of course, she’d also want us all to just play blocks and sleep in one big room, so we’re really not soliciting firm ideas from her at the moment.

no peeking

You don’t want to peek, just in case Santa might be lurking about.

No Peeking for Santa

Santa in this photo played oh so well by Brooklynn’s new cousin, Kolton.

oh, christmas… (that’s it)

This is the first Christmas season that Brooklynn has really understood enough to be an active participant in. Last year, we decorated the tree while she was asleep and hoped that she wouldn’t get interested enough in it to pull the ornaments down. It was a successful and uneventful plan.

This year, however, has been a different story. We put the tree up while she was sleeping again, but we didn’t completely decorate it in her absence. We started while she was napping, but she woke up just a few minutes in to the process. After a quick debate, we decided to continue decorating. We have plastic bulbs for a reason after all.

She helped to hang some of the ones on the low branches and did a good job handing some to me to put up high on the tree. She was also around when we redid the mantle and she came outside to watch me put lights on the house.

She had a Christmas concert at school (she still likes to sing Frosty the Snowman) and Rhiannon just finished a round of holiday baking and treat making. I don’t know if Brooklynn has linked all of these things together as one big seasonal item yet, but I imagine she will soon enough. As of right now, she just knows we have some decorations up and everything is Christmas!

Really. It’s Christmas.

Her, turning on the lights for the Christmas tree: “I turned on Christmas!”

Her, pointing to the stocking holder Santa Claus on the mantle: “It’s Christmas. Hi, Christmas!”

Her, talking to her mom’s stomach: “Come out, baby. It’s Christmas!”

Ok, that last one actually works, but you get the idea. I guess as long as she enjoys herself, that’s really what matters.

For you, a picture of our Christmas. (tree)

2011 Christmas Tree

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