Back by poplular demand-Family Volley Photo Challenge

You might remember how at the beginning of the year we started a Photo Challenge here on Family Volley. The point of the challenge was to slow down, gain new perspectives, and capture more of the everyday family moments that make up our lives. We took a break over the summer, and it has taken me too long to get things running again. 

Thank you to all of you who have inquired about the challenge, and held me accountable. The time has come to get moving again.

I hope you will all join in.

The Family Volley Photo Challenge will be once a week. Every Wednesday we will post our picture for the week. I will post prompts in advance, so you have time to think about it. (You can find the prompts for November at the bottom of this post)

There are a few different ways to share our photos.

Instagram.
Are you on Instagram? If not, you should give it a try. You will "instantly" be hooked. A lot of us use our phones to take our pictures, and Instagram is a great way to share those photos quickly. You can find me @familyvolley. I would love for you to follow me, and I would love to follow you.

Leave your Instagram name in a comment on this post (or email me) so I can follow you.
We will use the hashtag #familyvolley and #fvphotochallenge. That way we can all find each other each week and follow along.

Flicker
I have created a Flicker Group for everyone to share their photos and leave comments. If you don't have an account, don't worry. It is so quick and easy.

To join our Flicker group, just click here on Family Volley Photo Challenge 2012. It will take you right to it. If you don't have an account, create one really quick and you can upload your photo. You can also find the group by logging in to Flicker, and then search for Family Volley Photo Challenge 2012 under GROUPS. Should pop right up for you. (If you have any trouble, let me know and I can send you an email invite).

Share on your blog and leave a comment with a link
You can also share your photo on your blog, or other social media site. Leave a comment so we all know to click over and check out your photo.

This is such a busy time of year. Let's all take a few minutes a week to slow down and capture more of the family moments that we want to remember.

Family Volley Photo Challenge

This weeks Photo Challenge (June 6) is - "On Your Mind"

Can't wait to see what you come up with. Be sure you upload your photos to the Flickr group so we can all see what is "on your mind".

Family Volley Photo Challenge

This week's Photo challenge (May 30) - "A Number"

Can't wait to see what you come up with. 

Family Volley Photo Challenge-Week 15-"Something I Made"

It is a miracle. I am actually getting the Photo Challenge up on the right day? That hasn't happened in weeks. :)

At first I thought I would take a picture of our children. They are something I made, right? But instead I decided to photograph a passion of mine. I don't know if I have mentioned it much on Family Volley, but I love to sew. Really love it. I even dream about it. My love of sewing explains my guilty pleasure.

My mom taught me to sew years ago. Her mom taught her. I remember sewing my first big project when I was twelve. My mom helped me sew a family of teddy bears, and a pillow that included a cross stitch. I can still see my mom and grandma sitting at their machines making and mending. I know that part of the reason I love sewing so much is because my mom and grandmother both sew. I want to be like them.

When I make time to sew, I feel rejuvenated. I have come to realize that when life becomes overwhelming, and I feel out of sorts, if I can take a few minutes to sit at the sewing machine, I am able to pull things back together. Sewing lifts my spirits.  

I made this dishtowel. It is not just any dish towel. With some simple embellishment, it ties onto the oven door, which is where I love to hang my towels. I love the color it adds to the kitchen, and I love that little hands can't run off with it, or pull it to the floor. It is always there when I need it. I already have a few others ready to make so that I can switch them up.

It is fun to watch our daughter dry her little hands. She loves the towel because it "always stays hanging up", and our 10 month old likes to drag her hand on the dishtowel as she races by in her walker. Laughing if it brushes her face.

Looking at it reminds me how good I feel when I slow down and rejuvenate. And how important it is that I teach our girls how to sew. I hope they will love sewing too.


Next Weeks Challenge (April 18) - "Something Old"

Family Volley Photo Challenge-Week 12-"Patience"

What does a brush and comb have to do with patience? When you have 3 girls, everything. The one part of my day that requires more patience than any other is when I have to use that comb and brush to get the "snags" out of our 7 year old's hair. It has really taught me to slow down and be patient. Very patient.

When do you have to show patience?

Next Week's Challenge - March 28th - "In My Bag"

Family Volley Photo Challenge-Week 11-"Favorite Color"

For as long as I can remember, it has been yellow. It has always been yellow. 


Don't get me wrong. There is nothing like a great red shoe or the perfect navy skirt. I am drawn to pink because we have three girls, and my husband looks great in greens and browns. As hard as I have tried to have a new favorite, I always go back to yellow.

Yellow and white are a match made in heaven. I can't resist when they are together. Yellow is happy. White makes yellow happier. Yellow is sunshine and warmth and reminds me of my childhood. Memories of growing up are happy, sunshiny, and warm. Even love to me is yellow.

This is the centerpiece on a small child size table at my parent's house. My mom keeps it decorated for each holiday. My grandpa made it when I was little. I used to sit at the table with my mom and play. Now my mom sits with our kids at the same table and plays with them. There are tea-parties, art projects, picnic lunches, make believe, and lots of loves and laughs. The yellow and white pieces belong to the battleship game. Our daughter likes them better in the vase. So do I. 

What is your favorite color?

Next Weeks Photo Challenge - "Patience"

Family Volley Photo Challenge-Week 10-"What I Ate"

I have eaten this exact same salad for the last 7 days. I am consistent like that. 

A few weeks ago I realized that it had been a long time since I had eaten lunch. Sure, I put food in my mouth, but I was always standing and it was an after thought in between caring for little mouths. I decided I needed to take a few minutes each day to actually sit down and eat.

Back in college I created this salad. 

Lettuce

Turkey (Shaved)

Carrots

Croutons

Catalina Salad Dressing

I loved it. I would eat it every day. I think I am a creature of habit. 

Last week when I committed to doing a better job with lunch, I knew exactly what I was going to eat. 

It has made a huge difference in my day. Instead of standing behind the counter while our daughter eats, I make this salad, and sit down right next to her. We laugh and talk and sing. Lately we have talked a lot about when she gets to start school, and about the upcoming summer swim season. 

Lunch is now one of my favorite times of day.  

Yum-O!

Consider yourself warned. It is addicting. 

Do you eat lunch, sitting down or stand up?

What did you eat this week?

Next Week's Challenge (March 14) - "Favorite Color"

Family Volley Photo Challenge-Week 9-"Peace"

As I considered a photo for this weeks challenge, my first thought was to take a picture of our baby sleeping. Nothing says peace like a sleeping baby. Even more peaceful is holding a sleeping baby.

Then today it started to snow. It was quiet outside and you could hear the snow fall. Before this challenge, I would have noticed the snow, and probably gone outside to watch it fall, but I would have been worried about all the things I wasn't doing. I would have felt guilty. Not today, today I sat on the porch with our 3 year old and we watched the snow fall together. She talked and I listened. It was very peaceful.

After more thought about what peace was to me, I found myself driving down the street with our kids this afternoon to the Provo Temple. We are members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and the temple brings me peace.

I have a testimony of temples. The temple represents God's love for me. It represents eternal families. There is great peace in knowing that I can be with my family for eternity.

 I couldn't decide on just one picture. 

I like the colors and dimensions in this one, and how the Angel Moroni appears to be rising out of the trees. 

I love how the Angel Moroni is "in the clouds".

I know God lives. I know he loves me. I know he hears and answers my prayers. I know I am a daughter of God.

Next Week's Challenge (March 7) - "What I Ate"

Family Volley Photo Challenge-Week 8-"Childhood Memory"

I am very late in getting this challenge posted. But...better late than never, right? It seems that some weeks, family life takes every single minute of every day. It means other things have to be put on hold. I appreciate the kind emails checking up on us, to make sure that everything was okay. Those emails make my day.

Last Week's Challenge was "Childhood Memory"

I use these in our girls hair all the time. Our girls use them in their dolls hair too. They are the same baretts my mom used to use in my hair. Every time I see them, I am reminded of the great memories my mom and I shared as she would do my hair and get me ready for the day. I learned a lot sitting with my mom getting my hair done. I learned about a lot more than just doing hair.

Do you remember these?...

This Weeks Challenge (February 29) - "Peace"


If you are just learning about the photo challenge, or are feeling behind. Don't worry. You can jump in at any time. And even if you are not taking photos, come look at the photos that are being posted in the Family Volley Flickr group. They are fantastic, they will inspire you to jump on board.


Feel free to invite your friends and family to join us in the challenge. Post it on facebook, twitter, pin it. The more the merrier.

Family Volley Photo Challenge-Week 7-"Close-Up"

Hard to believe that we have been doing this for 7 weeks already. I have been so thankful for these posts each week. It is working, I am slowing down and enjoying the everyday family moments more. I hope the same is happening in your house.

If you are just learning about the photo challenge, or are feeling behind. Don't worry. You can jump in at any time. And even if you are not taking photos, come look at the photos that are being posted in the Family Volley Flickr group. They are fantastic, they will inspire you to jump on board.

This week is all about CLOSE-UP, and this photo is really really close up. This was a very happy moment. It was just the baby and me at home. As I looked at the two of us in the mirror, I was overwhelmed by gratitude for the opportunity to be a mother, and for her sweet spirit. When she is asleep I miss her and want her to wake up, when she is awake I can't hold her close enough and don't want to put her down.

  Next Week's Challenge (February 22) - "Childhood Memory"

Family Volley Photo Challenge- Week 6- RED

These RED sleds are a glaring reminder that we haven't had any snow this year. At all. They have been abandoned for the tree swings. I think the kids have given up on sledding for the year. They are already talking about the swimming pool. 

I went out to take the picture by myself. It was quiet. It is the first picture I have ever taken on Manual setting. I don't know if it made a difference, but I like it. 

Next Weeks Challenge (February 15): CLOSE-UP

Family Volley Photo Challenge-Week 5-Guilty Pleasure

This Week's Challenge-Guilty Pleasure

I am a very poor example of slowing down this week. Hence the reason this post is just going up. I finally just put everything down, enlisted the help of our 3 year old and asked her to help me build a tower.

"Yay yay, I love building towers." she said.

"What will make a tower?" she asked.

"Fabric" I said. 

Yep, that is my guilty pleasure. Although I have not been able to fully indulge my guilty pleasure yet, I pick up what I can here and there. One day I want to have a room bursting with fabric. In fact, I daydream about sitting at the sewing machine and making skirts and blankets and doll clothes, pillows and drapes and gifts for the neighbors. 

Fabric is my Guilty Pleasure.

Ahhhh! Look at the colors. 

Can't wait to see your guilty pleasure.

In honor of the Month of Love, Next Week's Challenge (February 8) - RED

Family Volley Photo Challenge-Week 4-Your Daily Routine

This Week's Challenge: Your Daily Routine

My Daily Routine starts and ends with this little one. And the trail of toys she leaves behind her. 

I love all the colors here. It is how I feel about our kids. They bring so much "color" to everyday. Sometimes I get moving so fast I miss out on their vibrant energetic spirits. It is moments like this, when I look back at the photo, that I can see, color is all around. Color makes me happy. 

Next Week's Challenge (February 1):Guilty Pleasure

Family Volley Photo Challenge-Week 3-Hands

This Weeks Challenge: Hand(s)

This hand belongs to the blue eyes below. She had fallen asleep in her car seat. Instead of hurrying to get her out and in her crib like I usually do, I SLOWED DOWN and took pictures. I couldn't resist her little hand wrapped around the handle. I usually worry about taking pictures when she is asleep, for fear it will wake her up. Not this time. The moment was more important. 

Only 3 weeks into this challenge and I am already realizing, the moments will never return, I must take the time to "see" them now. 

We spend a lot of time together, she and I. We see each other at least every three hours, day and night. :) I love it. 

She likes to hold on to my hands when she falls asleep, one on each side of her face. When she nurses, her little hand slowly wiggles at my back. When she is full, and still, she puts that hand on my collar bone. That is when I know all is well and that her little body is content. 

Her little hands remind me of what is really important in my life.  

Next Weeks Challenge (January 25): Your Daily Routine

Family Volley Photo Challenge-Week 2-Your Favorite Shoes

Wednesday has become my favorite day of the week because of the photo challenge. I loved last week. Be sure you join us, and check out the flicker group to see the self portraits from last week. Use a camera, use your phone, anything goes. Just SLOW DOWN for a few minutes and gain a new perspective by taking a picture. And if you want to upload more than one picture each week, go for it. Sometimes it is hard to decide, or you have two different perspectives that you want to share. Go for it.

I had lots of thoughts for this week. First I went with a pair of our three year old's shoes. I LOVE THEM, and find them on the floor next to her socks eve. ry. day. Ultimately, I went with a pair of shoes I have had for 10 years. They were the first thing I ever bought on eBay. They have seen happy days and sad days. They have never failed me. Just looking at them makes me smile.

After I took the picture, our 3 year old put my shoes on. She laid on the floor and started reading. I SLOWED DOWN and laid down next to her and we read and laughed together. When we were done, she gave me a hug and said "you are my best mommy ever". Yep, made my day. Shhhh, never mind I am her only mommy.

Next Weeks Challenge: Hands (January 18)

Love these shoes!

Our little girl decided to wear them around for a while. She is reading behind that tutu. 

I wish they made these in my size!

Happy Wednesday. Can't wait to see your favorite shoes.

Family Volley Photo Challenge-Week 1-Self Portrait

What an exciting day. Today is the first week of our Family Volley Photo Challenge. I hope you will all join in. If you missed the announcement, and want to know more about the challenge and why we are doing it, check out this post. (Think SLOWING DOWN, new perspective, and capturing everyday family moments that make up our lives). Don't worry if you didn't start today. Jump in any time.

I have created a Flicker Group for everyone to share their photos and to leave comments. If you don't have an account, don't worry. It is so quick and easy. Just ask Mighty Sweet Mama, she signed up on Monday and was pleasantly surprised at how easy it was too.

To join our Flicker group, just click here on Family Volley Photo Challenge 2012. It will take you right to it. If you don't have an account, create one really quick and you can upload your photo. You can also find the group by logging in to Flicker, and then search for Family Volley Photo Challenge 2012 under GROUPS. Should pop right up for you. (If you have any trouble, let me know and I can send you an email invite).

This Weeks Challenge: Self Portrait
I should probably only include one picture, but I couldn't decide this week. SO, you get two.
Next Weeks Challenge: Your Favorite Shoes (January 11)

This week's challenge gave me an opportunity to SLOW DOWN and look at myself. With 4 kids and all the other things we have going on, I don't really ever do that.

I realized, I like my hair line, and my hands look like my mom's and grandma's. I like that too.

Can't wait to see your photos.

How did you SLOW DOWN this week?
What do you like about yourself?

PEN Ready Project and My Own Photo Challenge

With the New Year upon us, I have been thinking about the things I want to do differently this year. 

Call them Resolutions, or Realizations, either way. 

(That's a whole post in and of itself).

One thing I would like to do this year is to SLOW DOWN. I have not worked out all the details quite yet, but I want to make it happen. 

I decided a few months ago that I would kick off the New Year by taking a photography challenge. Not because I am a photographer, far from it. But because taking a picture requires me to slow down, be more thoughtful, and take a minute to see things from a different perspective. I am hoping this new perspective will set the tone for the rest of the year. (I am including the challenge at the end of the post. Let's do this together!) 

I am not the only one who has decided to take a photo challenge. I recently heard about the PEN Ready Project from Olympus. 

Olympus sent out teams to 6 different U.S. cities and handed out over 1,000 new Olympus PEN cameras to over 1,000 unsuspecting people. These are people just like you and me. Regular people who happen to be walking down the street. Can you image how cool it would be to have someone walk up to you and GIVE you a really nice, new camera? Boy do I wish I would have been one of the recipients. You too? :)

It is so fun to see all the different pictures taken by the same camera. I hope my new perspective is as fun and fascinating as PEN Ready.

I am going to make it a weekly challenge. Do you want to join me? There is no need for a fancy camera or elaborate poses. It is all about slowing down to gain our new perspective. I will start a flicker group so we can share our pictures. There are very few rules. Only that you cant use a picture you have already taken. That's cheating. :) 

I am working on figuring out how to make a pretty printable for you. Until then...here are the first three challenges. Put it on your calendars, and let's have some fun. 

January 4 - SELF PORTRAIT

January 11 - YOUR FAVORITE SHOES

January 18 - HANDS

Take a minute to watch the Olympus video. It will inspire you. It did me. 

This post is sponsored by Olympus. The challenge is all mine and has been on my to-do list, for this New Year, for months.