Memories, Dreams & Reflections 2011

Reflecting on 2011 through photography.... 

Me! -  My proudest moment was running the Vermont 50 and placing 4th woman in 8 hours and 30 min. It was less than a year after completing my last chemo treatment for lymphoma.  A cancer survivor and stronger than ever! 

I looked back at my goals for 2011... just to see how I did & I totally rocked 2011 - even though I only accomplished 4 of the 15 goals (2,3,6,10)!-- it was an amazing year. I set my goals pretty high! BUT check it out -- I am truly amazed at what I did accomplish in the first year as a cancer survivor! :)
My first Ultra - won my age group (VT50) 8:30
PR in the 5K - won my age group (Big 4th) 19:56
2011 miles total running
41 days for my longest run streak
Post Cancer PR marathon = NYC 3:26 in November

Cancer recovery and having my spleen removed in February slowed me down a bit.. :) But I am stronger than ever now. :)

Here is the link to last year's goals: 

The coolest part is I feel stronger and my goals will be even more challenging this coming year -- so excited to be healthy, happy & fit! :)

I Love You - I fell in love with this man skiing at Pico --   His love and passion for skiing is unmatched.  I married him!  As a dad, a ski coach, a PSIA examiner and as a husband who I just love to watch him ski coach & teach...  I am so proud and happy to be with this man.  I love him so very much, more and more every day. 

Still Laughing... - 

The Stingers U10 Soccer Team... so many smiles, laughs, stories from this year.  It was a great soccer season for Schuyler... looking forward to the spring!  Funny story is watching the energy of this group.  You can see Chris in the front, but they get it from their Coach Mike M. who will jump straight up about 3 feet off the ground like a giant frog!

Winter Wonderland -

In the winter I focus on ski race photography --- this is my son Schuyler skiing the Brad Haight Memorial Open in March 2010.  I am so proud of him, he makes me smile and beam with pride every time I ski with him and watch him ski and ski race.  He is really growing up to be an amazing skier -- all around --- everywhere -- Mt Hood, Snowbird and many eastern ski areas to be an incredible skier and ski racer.  He may not place top 10.  But his is number one in my book.

Birthday - 

It was my son Schuyler's Golden Birthday this year -- so much fun and surrounded by all his friends!  We played our favorite birthday games, like donut on a string & Tug-o-War.  :)  He is an amazing child, doing so well in life -- so happy -- so loved. 

Friends - 

This is Schuyler, Alexandra, Aidan, Arianna & Leah at the top of Mount Hood Timberline Ski Area in Oregon.  Skiing the glacier for the first time in his life --- Schuyler has amazing little friends.  They have this common bond and really have grown close.  I love this photo! :) 

Also sharing a photo of me with one of my very best friends from college.  Kimberly Kline Williamson - We have reconnected on Facebook and have been able to see each other twice in the past 3 years.  Her smile makes me smile and it was so great to see her during the holiday season!

I Was Inspired... - World Cup Dreams --- Truly an inspiration to watch these Olympic World Cup Ski Racers sharing the love of skiing with our children at the top of Mount Hood.  They give their time and effort to raise funds to help support the US athletes in their ski training as it is not government supported and many struggle to pay for health care costs, lodging, equipment and more.  I truly was inspired by all of these young strong and successful athletes.

Spring Fever - 

I know you all are seeing a snow theme here, but from mid November till the beginning of May our lives are all about snow and skiing --- Here is a photo of Charlie's Chase at Mount Snow -- it was the last day of the local chair in April.  Spring skiing is the best!  

Travel or Vacation - Mount Hood from our ski camp vacation in July 2010  

Summer Days - Great photo of Lucas' birthday party -- Schuyler is in the blue shorts --- he has so much fun with his friends!

A Day In My Life -

Not sure this is the typical day -- but this is the days I want to have every day -- surrounded with love and sun and drinking Cook's Champagne with the love of my life! :) 

All Smiles - 

The graduation trip to Vermont to see family I was able to get some great portraits of my niece.  This was my favorite of that photo shoot.  She is so happy in college -- I think that this was the positive beginning of her steps in the world as an adult - releasing the past and grasping her future.

Autumn Harvest - 

I know this looks like winter, but it was taken in October.  It was the best "fall" shot I got this year -- I do love the color -- and it reminds me of that freak snowstorm that took out power and cable for 9 days.  Crazy!

Family  - It was so great to have the whole family home for Christmas.   I just love this photo. :)

Celebrate!.

Here is a photo of Steve & I on our 4th wedding anniversary.  Every year we dress up in our "wedding clothes" to celebrate.  :)  Just love these photos and will cherish everyone of them forever. :)

Let's Do It Again... - I love the snow but I also LOVE the water!  Waterskiing is just such an amazing sport --- the strength that it takes to get up and then skip across the waves --- with so little time on the water to be able to make the big spray and look good is not as easy as it looks! :)  Can't wait to get out on the water again! 

I Miss You -   This is a photo of me with my Grama Hosely at her 90th birthday party.  She passed away 12/31/2010.  She was an amazing, loving, caring woman.  There are so many stories to share about the matriarch in our family.  I loved her so...

Beautiful - 

My dog of 11 years... "Toryfield Master Oakley" -- He is so photogenic and is always ready and willing to pose when the moment is perfect.  He also inspires me every day to run.  The best running partner in the world!

Dress Up -

Here is my favorite 2011 photo of Schuyler as a Webelo leading Pack 57 at the Belchertown Fair.  Another proud moment for the books!

Macro -.

I think it is the purple, or the dew or the dark background from the runs that I did in the mountains of Oregon when we were on the ski trip to Mount Hood.  I love this macro shot. :)

Holidays - Christmastime with the family really is what the holidays are all about!  IT was great to watch Schuyler open up his presents and love every one of them.  All 3 kids were home and we had Christmas dinner as a family.  It is so wonderful to have us all together!

 My Favorite - 

Every memory with my husband Steve is a favorite.... :)  I love our self portraits and asked for a gorilla pod so I could get the focus better on these shots.  Here we are with our "matchy matchy" Kuhl sweaters we bought in Snowbird.  Funny part is Oakley always tries to get in the shot and either looks perfect or messes up the framing...  but I love every photo -- every time. :)

Don't Ever Change -I love the fact that our family is such a strong skiing family.  We all work and ski at Mount Snow -- Steve (21 years) is now the J4 Competition Race Coach - I am a Development Coach in Competitions (my 5th year in Devo and 23rd year in the ski industry) -- Samantha is teaching at Snow Camp (since age 15), Stephen is also at Snow Camp and working toward all his PSIA ski levels... and Schuyler is a J5 and has been racing J5 for 4 years and skiing since he was 2!  We ski at Snowbird every year and it is something we are very proud of to have such a great skiing family!  I don't ever want this to change -- a family that skis together -- grows strong together!  This video is from late December last year -- but it shows his skiing and the benefits of having his Dad (stepdad) as his coach for all these years!  I will cherish this video forever --- knowing Schuyler will grow up and Steve won't be his coach forever, but these are the times I cherish.  

Just Because...So There! -

SO proud that 2 photos of mine were selected for national magazine exposure in 2011.

Ski Vermont chose this photo as a winner in a photo contest and then featured it in their magazine this fall/winter.  They are J4 girls that were gate keeping at the J5 Race at Stratton Mountain in Vermont. 

36 Degrees - the National PSIA magazine for Snow Pros selected and featured this photo in the Last Chair Section of their magazine this early winter issues.  

Hopes and Dreams -

I hope that my family remains happy & healthy

I hope that my running gets stronger each day & I accomplish my athletic pursuits

I hope that my kids accomplish the goals they set for themselves

I dream for a better world for our children, hope for the future to be bright and give them the opportunities that they seek.  

Multonmah Falls in Oregon from our trip to Mt Hood in July 2011.  

Here is the link to where you can see more great photography and join in on the fun of the Scavenger Hunt!

Please leave a comment if you stop by!

Happy New Year

I wish you all the best in 2012!

Christmas Letter to Family & Friends

It's that time of year, time to get in the spirit of Christmas. I love the cards, the letters, the photos ..... coming from all over the country from our friends and their families. I remember as a child receiving the letter from Aunt Pat with all the updates from each child in the family and then from the farm.... it was always a "good read" my dad would say as we got the card along with a photo, or sometimes just a card. Aunt Pat was so great about getting it out early and actually has a scrapbook where she has saved every photo and every letter she has sent out ---- every year. Amazing woman --

The family photo sharing once a year at Christmas is a tradition for many, and others just to address and sign all the cards and share their favorite chosen card with all their friends seems to fit the bill. Others take the professional photo (which this year I was so lucky to photograph a few families with my Determination fundraiser for their card) --- thanks to the Seifels, the Barbours, The O'Connell's and the Courchesne families for their donation and the privilege to take those photos!

The letters vary from family to family - some a short update, some a nice detailed message, others (like the Coelho family) out do all with the 6-7 page laugh out loud rendition of life in California. I like to get the letters and read each one --- I have many of them filed away for future reading when I need to catch up once again.

Oakley has been the writer of our letter of late. He does a great job and it is fun to take the update a little out of context. I was feeling a little rushed and behind this year, but still I was proud to do the assembly line of family photo, letter ... and I found these great cards to make the whole package. In a day when Christmas gifts to friends are not as necessary --- this Christmas package fits the times. I hope everyone enjoys our letter that I was able to mail --- and if I missed you -- I have posted it here for you!

Merry Christmas, Happy Hannukah & Happy New Year to all!

White Christmas?

MORE Christmas Music

Great music to listen to after putting Schuyler to sleep last night - - I was cruising the web and found this gem... just released from Mindy Smith - 10/2/07 called My Holiday. Her voice is a beautiful alto/soprano that I can sing along with - - and I just love it! I bought the album on Itunes for $7.99 and then stumbled on her site - - great voice -- and I really love the acoustics in the background.... I have a feeling I will be buying another CD from her soon!

Christmas Love Playlist

Creating CD's for friends with all my favorites... digging into my music collection and finding some great stuff from Barenaked Ladies and Placido Domingo - - I LOVE CHRISTMAS music... it is the best part of Christmas. We don't have a church here yet to go to, so I hope we can find a great place for Christmas Eve....

Here is the favorites... Playlist that I made for Steve. My friends all got the expanded version! : )