i heart faces - best face in january

This week at I Heart Faces the challenge is the to post the best face you captured in January. This is one of my favourite shots from this month.

day 341 - hello victoria road $

The city of Guelph has been under construction much of the year. The city has had more work done than Joan Rivers under the "Guelph Remastered" banner. After having to abandon my usual route for most of the year, Victoria Road finally reopened this week.



Overall, I'd say the improvements are pretty good. I may never actually see a snow plow on Victoria between now and March, but I am happy to finally get back to my old route.

day 340 - my charlie brown christmas door $

Maybe it's because I have fond memories of my grandparents listening to it, but usually all it takes to get me in the Christmas spirit is a little bit of the Kenny & Dolly Christmas album. Not this year. In fact I've been the complete opposite. If Kenny Rogers approached me on the street and serenaded me, I would punch him. Yes - I need some Christmas spirit and I need it stat.

At work we are having a door decorating contest. Names were exchanged and the contest is a great success but I was having a hard time finding the time to do the door I had to do. I'm tired, just getting over the flu and it's another item on my to do list.

When I got to work yesterday for the Christmas party, I saw that my door had been decorated. My initial reaction was "Wow. Somebody really doesn't like me." The next day I came back to my office to find Aimee very carefully sticking the bow back on that had fallen off.

Things at work are crazy busy right now as we head into the holidays. There isn't enough time to get the necessary stuff done let alone find time for decorating. Thank you Aimee. I know you are busy and haven't had much free time on your hands. Thank you for my Charlie Brown door. It makes me smile and I'm feeling a lot better about Christmas being just around the corner.

day 338 - the rembrandt brothers $

I didn't take many pictures today. I'm still not feeling the greatest following the stomach flu and my appetite isn't quite back yet. Great news in the weight loss department though and I might hit the number that I thought would be nice to hit but never would in a million years.

Today was the McDougall family Christmas. I'm always surprised when I hear that people read my blog and that they read it regularly. When we got to Christmas, several people had already read about what from here on out will be referred to as "the incident". As a result, the boys have a new nickname - "The Rembrandt Brothers".

Only two years old and already legends. The rest of their childhood is going to be interesting.

If I survive it.



Anyway, it's funny how the dynamics have changed. The pool table has always been dominated, but the players have steadily shrunk over the years to the point where they can barely see over the table.




A small request to my son (Ethan). A half an hour earlier your brother beaned me in the side of the head with a rubber dog toy from the other side of the room. You picking up a pool ball and holding it like that gives me a heart attack whether you intend to throw it at me or not. Cut it out.



(He didn't throw it and I don't think he ever intended to but it sure looked like it and screams of panic from bystanders resulted in the ball being returned to the table and rolled across instead.)

day 324 - christmas pictures $

Now listen up kids. Both of your grandmothers have requested new pictures of you guys for Christmas.

It's time to put on your brand new Christmas outfits and get your smiles ready.



No amount of arguing is going to get you out of this.



I want nice smiles and no "cheese".



Not an ideal pose but I'm flexible. We can do a couple of these. Not too many or your face will stay like that.



Rule #1. I'm the art director on this shoot. Opinions will be heard but not necessarily followed.

Please be on your best behaviour and maybe we'll get something we can work with.









And if we're really lucky, we might even come up with my favourite. picture. ever.



(Owen left, Ethan right)