365: DAY 365!!!! Last day!!!

I figured it was only fitting to end my Photo-a-Day Project the opposite way I started it! Day 1 of my project on January 1st, 2013was a picture of the tropical beauty of Puerto Rico. Today's picture, and my final picture of my project is of my dad snow blowing in -4 degree Houghton, Michigan (a.k.a. the 3rd snowiest city in the U.S.).

 

365: Day 364

My sweet little niece, Edyn.

 

365: Day 363

Celebrating my nephew's 4th birthday. As you can guess, he is obsessed with Spiderman. Happy birthday Buggy!

365: Day 362

My beautiful mom and grandma out to lunch at The Michigan House.

 

365: Day 361

Awesome sunrise in the backyard.

 

365: Day 360

Celebrated Christmas with our "family-by-heart". They are more than just close family friends, so we call them our "family-by-heart". This is my nephew Jackson and the Hunter and Gabrielle.

 

365: Day 359

My littlest  nephew Silas is such a happy baby! He loves to drool, giggle, fake cough, grab his feet, and smile.

 

365: Day 358

For Christmas Eve this year, we rented out the "Nara Chalet" and had a big family sledding party, complete with cocoa and a fireplace to warm up in afterwards. Here is a great action shot of my mom and nephew going down the hill!

 

365: Day 357

 

Making Christmas cookies! My grandma is home with us for the holidays. I love this picture of my nephew Jackson (in his Spiderman suit, of course) with his great-grandma. He doesn't want to leave her side!

 

365: Day 356

It's so great to be back in Upper Michigan with my family for the holidays.

The birds love the feeders in my parents' backyard. I took this picture just as something scared them all away.

 

365: Day 355

Taking a break from cleaning and backing before my trip home to enjoy a cup of cocoa by the Christmas tree.

 

365: Day 354

Got together with friends to watch the UNH vs. North Dakota football game.

 

365: Day 353

Enjoying dinner and drinks after work with friends before we all leave for the holiday break.

 

365: Day 352

Christmas Pointsettia

 

 

365: Day 351

Chilly morning in New Hampshire.

 

365: Day 350

The annual Smith Hall holiday party. Here are all of my lovely co-workers.

365: Day 349

I flew back to New Hampshire and had a layover in New Jersey. We flew right past the Statue of Liberty and had a view of the NYC skyline in the background.

 

365: Day 348

After a hard couple of days, it was so great to be with family. This is my mom and her siblings who were cracking up about something. I know my grandpa would have wanted us to all be smiling and happy!

 

365: Day 347

As hard as my grandpa's funeral was, I was so glad I could surrounded by family. After the funeral, 24 of us all went back to my grandma's apartment to share stories and memories. As we were doing this, my niece decided to try on my cousin's high heels and walk around in them. It was a great way to get us all to laugh!

 

365: Day 346

I flew into Grand Rapids to be with my family after the loss of my grandpa. As hard as it was, it was comforting to see all of the wonderful things he did with his life. It made me so proud to say he was my grandfather. Miss you grandpa.

 

365: Day 345

While staying in Keene for the night I received the phone call that my grandfather had passed away. It was a whirlwind of emotions; the obvious sadness of the loss of a great man and an important influence on my life and a relief that he went quickly without suffering. My grandma asked me to sing one of my grandpa's favorite hymn's at his funeral.

 

365: Day 344

Another evening spent driving to Keene for a work event. As we pulled over to put more windshield washer fluid, I took this picture of the beautiful sunset.

 

365: Day 343

My sneaky little elf-on-a-shelf decided to toilet paper my Christmas tree.

 

365: Day 342

My first Manchester Monarch's hockey game.

 

365: Day 341

It was another great holiday party! This year was a Gatsby theme and the girls went all out!