I just have to say that I am completely in love with The Shops at Station 8 in Columbia Falls.  I have driven past it a million times and always admire the beautiful things on the porch, I also always have a load of kids in the car so never did stop until last week.  I’m so happy I stopped.  As soon as I walked in the door I felt a peace wash over me.  It smells delicious for one and they have everything laid out as if it was in your own home.  The antique shops that I have been to in the past are stuffed full, they’re dark and honestly I’m not in love with the smell.  ha ha.  This one is spacious and bright and every direction I looked was beautiful.  Eye candy really.  If you are ever near Glacier National Park or Columbia Falls in Montana please stop in and say hi.

A small sampling of the way to many pictures that I took while I was there…

I am always feeling the need to challenge myself in my photography.  Sometimes life gets too busy and i don’t seem to find the time.  Normally this is the time of year that i am attending workshops and tradeshows to improve my skills but this year i have decided to attend one in June instead.  Soooo… that means that i am here reading and learning as much as i can so that i can try some new and different things and remain passionate about photography.  I love my work and the people i get to meet because of it.  I always want to love it and i really believe that i will if i continue to learn and grow and not let things grow old.

Here are my experiments from today.  Water droplets taken at my kitchen sink.  The water droplets are reflecting objects directly across from my camera.  I’m going to try some more tomorrow i hope!    Enjoy….

Sometimes it is just nice to be outside, by yourself, enjoying the wonder of the world and destressing.  Today was one of those days for me.  Ryan and Tasha, these are for you.  I wish you hope and strength.

Adam was beside himself with excitement yesterday morning because he had his Christmas concert at preschool.  He called Gramma to remind her of the time and asked if his stuffed elephant could sit on her lap so he could watch too, and willingly showered so he would look “hansomer” (handsome).  He told me he was going to sing really loud so we could hear him.  We got him dressed, put on his new sock monkey hat and mittens (made by knitwits) and stopped for 2 minutes on the way out to the van to snap some pictures because he looked so cute of course.  :)  We got there and guess what?  He pretty much stood there staring at the audience the whole time and barely sang a word.  He was amazed at all of the people that were watching and forgot to sing except for a few words of Jingle Bells and a few words of We Wish you a Merry Christmas.  Watching 3 year olds sing is the cutest thing ever and guarantees to put a smile on everyone’s face.

Soooo… here is my adorable little  sock monkey in his DeLux hat that I bought while at a workshop in Victoria earlier this year.

the drive to school