It is one of the things that every kid talks about and dreams about.   “What do you want to be when you grow up?”  I am pretty sure that I wanted to be a nun.  Yep.  From the time I was in 4th grade and a nun visited my classroom, then solidified when I saw the movie Sound of Music, and not dying off until 8th grade or so when I somehow came to my senses.  Then my answer became “artist”, although I always told myself  I could never make a living at it so I better come up with another plan.

My sister Danielle is just a few years older than me and we grew up together, in the way sisters do.  Pulling hair, scratching with nails, throwing each other into doors, and….most importantly…dreaming together. I always admired that about Danielle when we were kids.  She was so good at escaping the reality of the day, and taking us off into another land.  She even got the nickname “Dreamer” and wore it proudly, no shame.  I love that.  I love that she was never afraid to dream.

Danielle’s answer when you asked her what she “wanted to be” was always something involving fashion.  Either that or living in a castle and marrying a prince.  But “fashion” was an answer that definitely stood the test of time.  For many years now she has been putting in her dues, climbing the ladder that started as “sales girl”, pursuing her dream in the fashion industry.  Now the ladder has lead to an amazing company where she is the director of the kid division and gets to help do some design for the military inspired children’s line of Alpha Industries.

If I were to go back in time and talk to teenager Ginette and tell her that Danielle is living her dream in fashion, and I living the dream of being a PAYED artist, I would have never believed it.  I have always been logical and analytical, almost to a fault.   BUT, here is my first fashion shoot, all clothing by Alpha Industries, all styling by Danielle, and all photography by me.

Now I can say, TAKE THAT TEENAGE GINETTE.  Turns out that logic doesn’t always win, dreams CAN come true.

AND the models are all my nieces! Aren’t they ADORABLE????

Thank you to everyone who helped make this shoot happen!

So it is a BIG day in our house here.  No, not a birthday or an anniversary, or a party of any kind (though maybe we should).  It is the day that I got my daughter to WEAR A PONYTAIL.

If you don’t know my daughter, this may not seem like a big deal to you, but let me assure you, IT IS.  I have tried (since she had enough hair to do it) EVERYDAY.  I have tried everything.  Yes.  Everything.  While she is watching a video,  bribes of candy, food, favorite things, toys, etc.  Peer pressure (“all your friends are doing it”).  Creative play (“do you want to look like a horsey or a piggy?”)  I am pretty sure if you think you have a “trick” I have tried it.  Don’t judge me.  I just really wanted to put my daughter’s hair in a ponytail.  Up until today she has batted my hands away, cried, and claimed I was “hurting her very much”.  But TODAY…today was the day.  What was the trick?  None!  I just asked, and she responded, “okay mama.”  Perhaps she finally sensed my desperation.

So today’s December Photo Project picture is definitely a picture of Dayla’s first ponytail.  Note, it only lasted 5 minutes…but she did keep it in long enough for me to cheer with glee, jump up and down, and go and grab my camera.  Thank you Dayla bear, you made my day.

Yeah, this is her in a sink. It started actually as a game we were playing. Don’t ask. All that matters is….it ended up in getting a ponytail!

Day 15 of the December Photo Project and it was time for us to get a tree. We headed down to the trusty Home Depot and let Dayla choose. She gave this tree a thorough inspection and let me carry it, and her, out.

Today while I was working on the computer I felt so blessed. I am surrounded by flowers that were given to me for my birthday…and each arrangement beautiful…and each representing someone I love and treasure in my life. So for the December Photo Project today, here is one flower I had forgotten how much I love::

Every year we have a Christmas party with our bible study group. In the beginning it was just young married couples. Now it’s crawling with kids. Dayla is staying with Grandma this weekend so we were sans child this time. In this pictures are Dayla’s friends Ellie, Tabby, and Yzzy. They were quite concerned that Dayla wasn’t with us tonight.