did i mention..i discovered something.

did i mention the time when i went to the park with all the grandkids?

i didn't??...........

well, it's a silly story actually. i discovered something. you see, i thought by going i would have so much fun, i would feel like a child again. my mind would burst with all these memories of my younger days, and i would indeed enjoy all 5 foot 9 inches of my adult body going down the once "big" red slide i slid down several years ago.. 

the "thoughts" i had, failed.

lets be real. i didn't feel like a "child again."

i wasn't full of overjoyment. the red slide was rather akward and uncomfortable actually. those childhood memories and "good old days" had their time.

it made me realize,

i like being an adult.

it took me a while to face this fact, since "what i want to be when i grow up" had finally arrived and i wasn't sure i was ready for it.

i think i am, i'm ready for what life has to offer as an adult. i like the respect i have now from other adults. i like being one of the examples for my nieces and nephews and all the little ballerinas i teach. i like the fact that i can make my own decisions. you see, being older is wonderful. i am more creative, more knowledgable, more independant.

i finally feel like i know who i am.

i just needed a simple day at the park to discover this.

...and you know what

i liked it.

i got to photograph a beautiful wedding all day and night saturday. loved it. wittnessed true love.

today was crazy to say the least...

but it still brought me pure joy and true laughter.

the day felt long, and well lived.

here is how it went (summerized of course)..

-woke to a flat tire.

-dad took car to shop for tire repair.

-then, my car wouldn't start.

-battery died at shop. repair men rescued again.

-got to drive dad's truck instead.

-photographed a ceremony.

-got goosebumps.

-continued with luncheon.

-photographed some more.

-laughed a lot (hilarious groomsmen)

-drove a golf cart.

-ate some cake with the worlds smallest fork (so cute).

-rushed to UVU for a dance performance.

-ran out of UVU, drove back to reception, walked in, started running upstairs..

realized my shirt was on backwards (can't believe all the people i had seen, not one said a thing haha.)

-ran back down stairs, reversed shirt.

-sweat running down my face.

-made it back in time for cutting cake, dancing, sparklers, & balloon infested car.

-biffed it, running UP stairs (minor knee burn) risking my body for my camera.

-chewed 10 pieces of bubblegum because at the end of the day, i deserved too.

     

      all in all, i loved every second of this crazy day. i live for days like this, really. very productive and not only that but i gave my time to someone else for their big day. i didn't have time to think about myself (not that i shouldn't.) i really smiled. i honestly laughed. i didn't care about the calories i ate. i just was there, capturing nothing but positive, happy moments.

i think i could get use to this, yes indeed.

xo.

a little, lot of denim.

found this good looking group of kids laying around the house.

i'm the little girl in this pic.

favorite things in this picture for sure have to be..

one. ryan's (my little brother) "bowl hair cut"

two.  the total lack of denim. there could have been more don't you think?

three. ok, ok, the whole photo is my favorite.

xo

we all have these days..

but honestly...

          i don't think i look half this adorable when i'm having a bad day.

         (i don't think following her around with the camera helped much...)

                             

                                or did it??

                          oh myyyy. i love her.

lesson learned: when someone has a bad day, it doesn't always have to bring everyone down around them too. just following this little one around...

 and capturing her anger...

made me smile and chuckle a bit.

(she then caught on, and laughed along too.)

oh, the stresses of being small... i'd take them any day.

xo.

p.s. i still don't even know why she was upset. (she probably doesn't either)

oh, just a house..i drive past 4 times a day.

each day, as i make my commute to ballet..

i drive past this lovely, green house.

without even thinking, i stare at it until i can't look any longer.

then i have to ask myself, why?? why does this house intrigue me so much??

so, of course (with my mom's driving skills) i snapped a photo of it.

i wish i dared get out and photograph all around it.

it has silly/quirky things on the side of it.

i'm a nerd.

(it's my camera's fault though..)

xo.

the way genetics work..

haha i found this photo trying to google search "striped wallpaper"..

i liked this result the best.

i'm guessing it is an example of how genetics work.

thats the best description of it i could think of...

i apologize.

please forgive me for photographing this child too much.

i can't help it, she is too cute.

and..she askes me on a daily basis, wait..she BEGS me on a daily bases,

"janika, you wanna take my pickter."

...

i give in everytime.

happy st. patricks day!

i woke up this morning and saw my niece madeline.. 

wearing her little green outfit!

haha she wanted to go outside and play with susie (family dog)..

so we did..i was laughing a lot.

susie was hyper and attacking her.

it was funny.

she was stoked..(her and her uncle had the same shoes on)

(they did sneak in a smooch...)

.......................

oh, and don't worry..

i wore my green too.

p.s. if your irish, do you still have to wear green??

....or does it just count as the same thing?

journal talk.

i've always been one to keep a journal...

i find it calming and exciting writing my life down!

that fact that something significant in my life happened and i didn't write it down stresses me out...so i've always kept one.

i'm a big one on memories, always have been, always will be.

(hence, why i have this blog!!)

..........................................................

today i photographed all my journals/diaries i've kept since i was 8.

the white one that is turned the opposite way from all the others is my first journal.

my grandma and pa anderson gave it too me on the day i was baptised..

i was 8. i'm now 21.

these are my journal/ "stuff" books i take everywhere with me..

the biggest book: my journal

the green/bird book: my photography inspiration

the "stuff" book: my to do list's go in there. ( i'm a crazy list maker.)

xo.

Legend of Timpanogos.

have you ever learned about the legend?? AMAZING.

Utah Regional Ballet performed this ballet{my most favorite ballet} about a week ago. if you have never seen it, make sure you do. i know we will be doing it again in the future so consider it now.

i absolutely LOVE performing. it makes all the hard work and sacrifice worth it.

these are just a few pics..

the Cheif in the above picture is a real native american. he is so great. i got to go perform at elementary schools with him before the performances went on.

he is an amazing man of character. hearing about his culture and the symbols of things from the ballet were touching. i have a new respect for native americans. they are a neat, passionate and loving people.

what an amazing spirit there was on stage. i will forever love this ballet.