photos

When I started this project at the beginning of the year, I was hoping it would improve my photography and give me a great record of what I knew would be an epic year in the life of the Butz family. It was a lot of fun at first and I got some good shots from it, but there were a lot of days when I would sit in a chair and think, "Is there anything I am currently viewing which is picture worthy? No? Then forget it." As you can see from below, I have resorted to standing on my deck many nights to capture the back woods. They're an easy target. I confess I'm feeling lazy and don't plan to put these in any kind of order. Suffice to say they were taken some time this month. Ta da! Done. :) The view from our driveway looking south. Ish. Love the light through the pines Yeah, you've seen several of these. This is the lake two blocks from  the house which I posted a few days ago. Scout found mud on her flight of freedom. Oh, so THAT'S the color of the driveway! Fling me daddy! Sunrise on a morning run (obviously I had stopped running at the moment) The house! You can see it better now that we cut down the tree in the middle. Fun with the power washer Her new playground Christmas dinner with the Brennas The aftermath of family Christmas So this is what it looks like if you walk into the woods and look up playing around with a long exposure shot so our kids look like ghosts Add caption Nope, it really wasn't warm enough Haircuts! Three of them Golf cart parade. Yep. Seriously. The moon likes to rise right behind our woods See what I mean? This was a long exposure shot And another one. Moonlight through the trees. Why do homework inside in your clothes when you can be outside in your pajamas? In the hammock no less. Add caption

Ok, so this month I wanted to try harder to take a picture every day again, but at the same time I had to pack up all our belongings, including everything of ours that's been at my parents' house for over a decade while we were overseas, and drive cross country to our new home. So I focused on getting "everyday" shots and managed to get one most days. My experiment with homemade laundry soap A country road on the way up to the Cities Ethan taking cover with his new Nerf gun cozy and peaceful An almost daily sight with Megan hamming it up Which stain do I want? My bedside - notice the library stack! The last blooms Read aloud Baking with my sister The heat was broken so school was often here Or just bundled up But then we had a glorious 70 degree day One of my many books this fall A special treat A familiar sight - dropping Erik off to go to Orlando Minnesota Our cake pop adventure My sweet grandma Too many road trips! Preparing the van Leaving bright and early from Milwaukee Another early morning Trees on the grounds of Graceland Early morning fog

So it appears I forgot where my camera was for most of the month of October. What I have is a sad little offering of the few pictures I did take, mostly in Florida because my camera really wanted some sun and surf. Who wouldn't? Anyway, I blame transition. the cloister at the local convent tomatoes ripening on the windowsill Homecoming at my high school playing in the leaves for the first time ever we found a turtle! a joyful reunion sunrise waiting for waves intercoastal waterway our lemon tree sunset I heart Trader Joe's (and Milwaukee because two of my favorite people live there) a walk in the woods that time of year

 It's hard to know why Ethan wanted to crawl into this hole.Or stay in it when this happened. A further mystery as to why he decided to let his dad and our friend bury him in that position. Completely.Why he waited for this with excitement.As it swarmed around him.And crashed over him.While still really enjoying it. But he did.

rainy days A fitting last shot of China Up early with jet lag And NOT having to fight jet lag anymore Freedom! The backyard, instagram style Evening practice Most mornings one of them is here reflection of the house fog rising off the lake ripe for harvest driving the boat pondering boating at night I'm in love with Minnesota countryside Seriously, I am bonfire My first time at IKEA in the States! hard at work contemplative Loki loves laps Sibling wrestle time, with a side of dog He had fun but boy was he cold afterward! art class bridge in the woods I did not enhance the color of sky in this picture Ethan's creative shot of Megan She OWNS that ball Look familiar? I thought I'd get each season