February | 12 on the 12th

My friend, Jill Stuart, got me started with this tradition back in 2010. I have been pretty consistent with taking 12 photos on the 12th day of each month. It is true- I sometimes don't have 12 pictures or I sometimes don't remember to do it on the 12th, but I have a good representation of our family life over the past 5 years- in pictures. NOT so much in words.

I guess I thought I would remember better. Or that I would journal the photos sooner. Either way, I am left wondering why there was a computer screen in the middle of my sidewalk and if I locked Ethan out of the house on purpose...

I don't want to forget any more, so I'm coming back to posting on my blog because I already know how to use it. I'm using PhotoScape to make my collage, since I no longer have PhotoShop to use the original template. Technically, my collage has 13 photos, but it's what I can find that works for me and will allow me to get the job done. I suppose I could change to "13 on the 12th" or "13 on the 13th" but I feel like "12 on the 12th" has become a part of our routine and anything else just sounds wrong.

1. This is what I came home with from my Valentine Exchange last night. Not the best year in my opinion. Especially when mine took me so long to make- a whole season of Revenge to make 12 pair of heart balls!

2. Ethan loves the computer. He played a game while waiting to go to school.

3. Boxes in the pantry with stuff to make lunch for school. One for chips/crackers. One for fruit. One for dessert. I made sandwiches and cut veggies for 5 lunches this morning.

4. Institute. We ended abruptly when a woman displayed symptoms of a heart attack and an ambulance was called. Turns out it was severe food poisoning and she's going to be okay.

5. Sarah Lee and I went to Rumbi Grille for lunch but received a text from Steph Easton...

6. so we got lunch to go and went to Steph's to eat! We ate outside- it was dreamy weather today, especially for February! And so nice to chat with these wonderful friends.

7. I was debating recreating a nap picture when Soren said I should just take one of him instead. "Cheese."

8. I worked on some 12 on the 12th collages. This project makes me so happy!

9. Dinner. A new favorite for most my kids- pesto tortellini with grilled chicken and garlic toast.

10. Kelly, Soren and I watched 127 Hours on the ClearPlay. I am NOT a survivor.

11. Read Man's Search for Meaning by Viktor Frankl while the kids got ready for bed and...

12. Ethan prepared his Valentine's.

bonus photo 13. The adorable Emily, showing off a hairstyle by her friend, Hannah. She was a model for Hannah's Instagram account @hannah_hairstyles which has over 10K followers!