Congratulations, DD!

Well, I blinked and January flashed past.

It was a banner month for DD.  Shortly after the first of the year she had her fourteenth birthday. 

Fourteen, oh my!  I really don't know how that happened considering it was just yesterday (or maybe it was the day before) that she was born.

This is the picture we taped to the side of her brother's hospital bassinet when he was born 13 months later.  It's hard to believe that cute little, cue-ball baby is our strapping teen today!

She celebrated her birthday with three friends at a local sewing center.  Each of the four girls made skirts from bandannas.  After an afternoon of sewing (and pizza!) they modeled what they had made. 

 
I thought it was neat that each skirt came out unique even though they had all used the same instructions to create them.

Later that same weekend we attended the awards ceremony for a photography competition.  A nearby wildlife park had sponsored a contest for the best photographs taken at the park.  DD submitted two of her photos for consideration. 

She had had the privilege this summer of attending a week-long, photography camp underwritten by Canon and led by professional photographers.  She had a great time and learned a lot.   

  

 

This picture with the red umbrella is one of my favorites. I framed it and have it hanging above the desk at my office.

 

 

But I also love the soft greens of this flower.  This is the photo she chose for display at the shopping mall in town.



 

This was the winning photograph.  When the names were read DD had won second place in her age category! 

In addition to the ribbon, she won a small cash prize for her photo "Twin Lilypads."  It's exciting to see her rewarded for doing what she really simply enjoys.