the 31 Day Project
After coming home from living on the Caribbean island of St. Martin, I found myself somewhat bored with my favorite hobby. In an effort to re-kindle my spark, I decided to challenge myself. For an entire calendar month, I would take my camera with me everywhere and shoot photos of everyday life, trying to capture ordinary moments in not-so-ordinary ways. Then at the end of the month, I’d select one photo to represent each day.
The month I selected, May of 2014, was eventful. My teenage daughter spent a week in the hospital, and we went to a Holm family reunion in Lake Tahoe.
May 1st
On the first morning of the challenge, I saw these two snuggled up in bed, and I knew this would be the shot for the day.
May 2nd
Friday night movie and popcorn. Grandpa Holm is famous for his hand-popped popcorn, and for good reason… it’s the best popcorn ever. He pops it in a kettle over the stove, and shortly thereafter, the only thing left is buttery fingers.
May 3rd
Piper on Grandma’s stairs
May 4th
One of the highlights of every week was teaching this motley crew each and every Sunday at church. Leaving this class was one of the hard parts of the move away from St. Cloud.
May 5th
He had a streak last season… 4 games in a row where he got a hit at every at-bat.
May 6th
Piper *loves* to snuggle
May 7th
First day in the hospital. She is getting prepped for surgery, being told what to expect. Nerves. Scary. But the people at Children’s Hospital in Minneapolis are outstanding, and they helped put her, and us, at ease.
May 8th
One of the nurses gave Pipe’s some toys.
May 9th
Much needed rest and recovery.
May 10th
Mom taking a break while Andi sleeps.
May 11th
Notes of love.
May 12th
Finally up and around.
May 13th
About to go home, feeling social and lively. Aunt Michelle, who might as well be Andi’s sister, paying a much-welcomed visit.
May 14th
The most brutal winter ever was still clinging to life by mid-May.
May 15th
I enjoy driving the kids to school. Gives us time to talk. But the kids did not particularly appreciate the omnipresence of my camera all month. After I took this pic, Tanner turned to look at me and rolled his eyes at the site of the camera pointed at him.
May 16th
Bonfire with friends
May 17th
Not really warm enough for a lemonade stand. Didn’t stop them.
May 18th
Muffins. Pretty sure Tanner made them.
May 19th
Working out.
May 20th
If nobody else is available, snuggle with George.
May 21st
Homework. She had to teach her friend how NOT to pose for a candid shot. “He wants you to just act like he isn’t there” she said, in an annoyed voice.
May 22nd
First day in Tahoe. Cousins at play in the backyard of our rented house.
May 23rd
Got up early to catch the sunrise over the lake.
May 24th
Cousins
May 25th
Got up early and went for a hike. Found this guy fishing.
May 26th
Piper and Lyla
May 27th
Carina’s Brothers
May 28th
Dinner with people I love
May 29th
Wonderful Women
May 30th
Cousins around an iPad. No idea what they are watching.
May 31st
I counted the photos and found there to be only 30… then realized I had failed to include a pic from the best event of this trip: Beach Day! I had several hundred photos (literally) just from the day at the beach, and picking only one was brutal. I tried to pick one that showed the energy of the group.