Capturing Everyday Life...

Steven & Pam: Engaged! {Owensboro, KY Wedding Photographer}

2012-02-15T02:40:00.000-06:00

You know I'm excited when a session starts out with this...

I love when my couples feel free to have fun and just enjoy being together, even during a photo shoot!

Gorgeous couples make my job easier...

*sigh*

Pam, you are going to be an amazingly stunning bride...

And the groom? Not so bad either...

Love my job...

A little bit of ring detail...

I love love love this session...

Pam = rawr...

:)

I can NOT wait for their wedding in March! I'm so in love with these two and am looking forward to capturing more amazing moments like this...

Steven & Pam, your wedding is fast approaching and I know it will be insanely fun! You two are amazing! Thank you for allowing me to be a part of your special day!

The Hudson 5 {Owensboro, KY Family Photographer}

2012-02-13T08:06:00.000-06:00

Meet the Hudsons! Actually, you might remember them from THIS POST earlier last year. Such a gorgeous family and they are so much fun! I had a great time hanging out with this sweet family one afternoon this past fall for their family session.

Little Man kept wanting to turn around so dad joked about lining the kids up on the wall as if they were under arrest. So as we posed the kids, I also posed dad then started shooting before he realized what was going on!

He's a great sport and went along with it. And that image still cracks me up!

My goodness these are some cute kiddoes...

They were so full of smiles while mommy was fixing M's headband. Their daddy is hilarious!

They were so good, I told mom & dad to jump in the pic but then Little Man decided to take off on his own... (love everyone's expressions!)

You two are so beautiful - inside and out!

And yes, I loved this session so much I recreated it for our own family session a few weeks later!

Baby G at 6 months...

2012-02-11T08:56:00.002-06:00

I posted about this little man's session in a brief sneak peek last fall but never came back to post more on the session. It's what happens when wedding season is still going on!

Little Man G came in for his 6 month old session and I just could not get over how a kid can get even cuter! Isn't he the most adorable thing?

I could just eat him up! But instead we put him in the tub to play...

This kid is happy smiley no matter where he is or what he's in...

(heehee, this outfit was his Mimi's idea! Mom wasn't excited about it at all but after seeing him all duckied up, we couldn't stop giggling and telling him how cute he was!)

Back to being all boy...

*sigh* those eyes... and those cute little toes... *sigh*

He also loves pumpkins...

And his own toes...

And he for sure loves his momma...

And who wouldn't love his beautiful momma?

Thanks, Baby G, for blessing me with some time with you again! You are growing up too fast!

Waiting on Tinley... {Owensboro, KY Maternity Photographer}

2012-02-10T08:26:00.001-06:00

I just love love love this little family! Jon & Melissa share a love for each other that could be turned into a romantic chick flick. Always thankful and complementing each other... just so considerate and accepting of each other. What a blessing to know them!

Melissa contacted me about this maternity session and I could not be more excited! She was a bridesmaid to one of my fabulous brides and it's been a joy to get to know her more this past year!

Cute little family, last month as family of three...

Love sessions like this...

Beautiful momma...

Jon is such a great guy, always there for his ladies...

Big-sister-to-be will not be left out of the spotlight...

Beautiful little Miss B...

Melissa, you are lovely!

Miss B, you're a stinker!

That girly seriously kept me laughing the whole session with her little words of wisdom. :)

My goal...

Part of the journey to that goal...

Miss B forgot about them for a moment...

But that didn't last long...

"Hey! What about me?!"

Don't worry, she wasn't left out...

When she ran off to collect more flowers, I got to capture this little moment...

(love my job!)

This one made me giggle...

For a brief moment, I was mesmerized by someone other than the maternity session...

Perfect capture of the real life them...

Then a couple indoor shots of mommy in waiting...

<3

Love it!

2012-02-07T16:16:00.002-06:00

Gotta love free stuff! Like a new camera bag and a new lens! <3 <3 <3

PurePhotoshopActions Giveaway!

Check our PurePhotoshopActions for some really cool actions and other goodies HERE!!!

A Moment In Time...

2011-12-14T12:32:00.000-06:00

Joshua loves Daddy...

Last Chances...

2011-12-07T16:59:00.003-06:00

The last chances are sneaking up on me. These moments I thought wouldn't be a big deal are turning into milestones, digging into my heart and pushing hard in an attempt to make a lifelong indention, an impression into the deepest parts of my quickly aging heart...

Today at lunch, Jeremiah suddenly looked up at me quite surprised and confused. "My tooth is broken!" My first thought was "Finally! The boy is going to lose a tooth!" I smiled at my big seven year old and asked to see his tooth. He unwillingly parted his lips a crack and I quickly gave it a little wiggle and sure enough, it was wiggly! He was very distraught at the thought of a part of him coming out to be lost forever, even after the years of my preparing him (because I just *knew* he'd be distraught about it!). Thankfully, there were several older kids eating lunch with us and they all chimed in with the excitement and fun of losing a tooth. This seemed to help a little.

Once we were home, I asked again if I could see his tooth. He opened wide this time and I saw something I missed at lunch - another tooth already poking through right behind his wiggly tooth! He said he didn't notice until today that his tooth felt "broken". He was immediately upset again at the thought of losing his tooth. This time he said he could not let it come out because it was his "lucky tooth". Since when? haha

When Daddy came home, I left him with Joshua so Jeremiah and I could take a special trip to Hobby Lobby to look for a special jar just for his "lucky tooth". I opened up the van door and he hopped out, immediately grabbing for my hand. We walked towards the doors talking about what he did in school that morning. As he chattered on, I couldn't help but notice the tiny fingers I held in my hand. The smooth, young skin, the way my hand seemed to overwhelm their tiny-ness. I suddenly wanted to soak up everything about this moment. I wanted to swallow up every detail, using every one of my senses to gather up all the goodness I could of this moment. A vision of us walking together a few years into the future flashed before me and it caught my breath for a fleeting moment when I saw that we were not holding hands and I knew that the time was near when we would not longer walk hand-in-hand together. My heart wanted to break at the thought. And so I squeezed his hand a little tighter, hoping it would make an indention into my hand to remember this time in our lives, an impression on my heart to remember the love I feel for this little guy in these moments, these last chances of enjoying my little boy as a boy. My last chances to love this little 7 year old boy and feel his love through the simple act of tiny fingers curled up into my own. Maybe if I spent more time looking at life as 'every opportunity', I would not feel the pressures of viewing them as 'last chances'. Maybe I should start now, before these fingers get too big to be held in my own. Maybe I need a little jar for my own lucky tooth so full of boyhood memories to be cherished forever...

Macro Monday: Rings...

2011-10-17T01:32:00.002-05:00

One of my favorite things to photograph at a wedding are the details, namely the rings. Here are a few shots from some of my 2011 weddings...

Mushrooms...

2011-10-16T01:18:00.000-05:00

Why, yes, I was the crazy lady crawling around in my neighbor's yard...

:)

DIY Fleece Scarf: 15 minutes, Sew Easy!

2011-10-15T09:03:00.002-05:00

{Yes, you can tease me for the word play in the title.}

I started with some warm red fleece from Hobby Lobby (LOVE that store!) and cut it into 2 and a 1/2 inch wide strips, I believe I used 4 strips for this. Obviously, cut it on the longest side of your fabric. I just got 1/3 of a yard and have plenty left to make some other stuff I'm Pinterested in! :) I first sewed the strips together making one insanely long strip.

I tried pinning it but then decided that was too much work when I could just jbunch it as I go. But pinning it gives you an idea of how I bunched it up to make it ruffly...

Random sidenote.... My sewing workstation makes me so happy! My Mother-In-Law's sewing machine and my grandmother's sewing table full of her old sewing notions and odds and ends. Makes me feel like I'm sewing right there with them. :)

Sewed up my ruffles...

Then I twisted up the scarf so it kind of resembled a DNA model. Yeah, I'm nerdy enough to think of that when I first started twisting...

Voilà! Now you have a cute little scarf to keep you warm...

And random thought for the day... Did you know that if you sent Micky & Minnie Mouse and invitation to your wedding, they'll send you an autographed pic of them?

Check out this: CLICK HERE!

Have a blessed day!

State Capital Game...

2011-10-14T01:17:00.002-05:00

I found this free printable game with cards to make learning state capitals more fun for Jey.

{CLICK HERE FOR LINK}

It worked! Jey is competitive enough to enjoy this. He came close to winning the first game but I didn't fake it and let him win like a nice mommy would. Instead I used it to get him to study the capitals again so he could try to beat me the next time. Worked like a charm. :)

There is a game board you can print out but it didn't have enough spaces for me. I was only using the cards for the states we have covered so far and it was less than half. We went around the board and didn't go through all the cards. We played it again the next day and I changed the rule so we had to go around twice. He was okay with that and we were able to use all the cards this way. I was afraid he'd get board of the game before we got through all the states in the coming weeks but was pleased to find that he drew his own game board! It had lots of spaces and he will most likely be up for creating a new game board when we get tired of this one. Love my creative kid!

He chose some lego minifigures as the game pieces (I chose the one with no head since I didn't feel I need to go without a shirt)...

You can absolutely make this game on your own and change it up as needed. :) The best was finding Jey studying on his own just so he could try to beat me. I didn't even have to make him study! I'm always up for that!

This House on Thursday: Halmony Time!...

2011-10-13T05:56:00.001-05:00

Way too many pics in this post but it was so fun to take the boys out with my mom to attempt some pics of the three of them. Enjoy!

Math + PE...

2011-10-12T09:46:00.000-05:00

Learning is more fun when you combine the two...

{Skip counting while bouncing up and down the hall}

Sneak Peek! {Owensboro, KY Baby Photographer}

2011-10-11T09:14:00.000-05:00

Little Mr. G was quite the charmer today. He's easy going and those eyes! **sigh*

Just a little sneak peek for momma - more to come soon!

Macro Monday: Beauty Around Us...

2011-10-10T02:11:00.003-05:00

I fell in love with these images for some reason but never posted them! This is from May! I'm sure they got lost in the shuffle of wedding season.

I love the buttery-smooth blurred background and how that makes the subject pop in the image.

*sigh* I love this lens. :)

Enjoy!

Texture...

2011-10-09T02:17:00.000-05:00

What is it about the texture of a rusty old doorknob that makes you stop and admire?

Font King...

2011-10-08T08:54:00.000-05:00

I get a different font every day from this kid...

Brandon & Lauren: Engaged! {Owensboro, KY Wedding Photographer}

2011-10-07T01:41:00.000-05:00

This couple is amazing! So much fun and two of the kindest people you'll ever meet. What an honor to capture these special moments with them!

Brandon & Lauren, I've been excitedly waiting for your big day to arrive and it's almost here! Congratulations and many blessings for your happily ever after!

We started out in Whitesville, KY. They drove around scouting out locations and found this great old house! It was a perfect location to start us out...

Lauren, you are stunningly gorgeous. Rawr...

How appropriate to find a "B" on the door. Perfect for the soon-to-be Mr & Mrs Brooks!

Dudley tagged along with mommy & daddy...

Brandon custom designed this ring for her - BEAUTIFUL!

I could not resist this beautiful light...

These two are just so cute...

If you'd like to see how Brandon & Lauren got engaged, you can watch the entire proposal unfold in this episode of Say Yes To The Dress! I cry happy tears every time I see this episode! So happy for these two!

Or CLICK HERE!

This House on Thursday: I Love Apples!

2011-10-06T00:31:00.006-05:00

I really wish I could have titled this post "We love apples!" But I think I'm the only that does. Joshua will eat them but I wouldn't say he loved them. Jey? Well, we don't expect much added to his edible "like" list anytime soon.

Regardless... I joined some other homeschoolers for a field trip to Reid's Apple Orchard this week. It was a perfect day! We picked apples then watched how they cleaned/stored the apples and learned how they made apple cider. Then we took a wagon ride to the pumpkin patch where they each picked out a little pumpkin. The best we saved for last - some free time in the play area! They have some cool things set up there including humongous slides, a corn maze and some other cool things that I have no idea what they are called. You'll just have to go check it out for yourself!

I did remember to bring my camera this year and tried to get at least a couple shots from our trip...

Shorty needed some help picking apples...

(Photo courtesy of Cherokee Parker - thanks!)

Jeremiah missed out on the fun by whining about how it smelled like apples everywhere. He also reminded us often of how he did not like apples. I finally got him to stop whining so he just walked around with this face instead...

Then he found a rock he thought was cool and that seemed to cheer him up for a bit...

I found this tiny flower and it cheered me up...

We all walked down to the Wishing Well and took a peek. I'm not posting those pics because there were a lot of kids in those images. But I did manage to capture this sweet moment before we left the area...

I asked them to sit together on a big rock and they snuggled up on their own. *swoon* Then they stayed snugly for a little bit as we headed back to the barn...

Even though we were last in the pack already, I could not resist stopping to capture the boys between the rows of trees. It was a perfect location and I'm so glad I did...

I think I need to bring them back here for more pics soon!

Cleaning and sorting the apples...

Mmm... fresh apple cider!

Picking out pumpkins...

I'm a terrible mom for doing so, but I laugh when I see these pics! Jeremiah picked up the one he wanted and then he complained about how he couldn't hold it. I thought he was just whining again so I didn't really respond. Then Joshua almost dropped his and he started to complain so I took his from him and OUCH! The stems were still very prickly! Poor kids were enduring pretty well and here I was ignoring their complaints when it actually mattered! This makes a good teachable moment... like the story of the boy who cried wolf!

I put my camera away after the end of the tour and just enjoyed some fellowship with other moms as the kids played in the play area. Fun times!

My Little Cutie...

2011-10-05T09:42:00.000-05:00

I heard a strange noise and turned and saw this...

Such a sweet little face! I wanted to grab him in this moment and hope it never ended! The cute little mischievousness grin, his tiny features, those long long lashes... *sigh*

It took me a moment to register what he was doing. lol He found my yardstick (again) and was hitting the pulls on the ceiling fan. I cringed but encouraged it some more, just long enough to capture what I saw from my original angle. Thankfully, I got my shot before he did too much damage on the light bulbs he was reaching for!

Lydia & Jeff: Married! {Owensboro, KY Wedding Photographer}

2011-10-04T02:52:00.000-05:00

It could not have been a more gorgeous day! In fact, everything was perfect! Lydia and Jeff flew back to KY to get married on her parent's farm, bringing some friends and Jeff's family with them. Their wedding was lovely and intimate with beautiful details everywhere.

This wedding was also special to me because it's family. I watched Lydia grow up into a beautiful woman who is dedicated & determined but as sweet and kind as they come. What a blessing to be a part of her amazing day!

Thank you, Jeff & Lydia, for allowing me to capture these special moments for you! Congratulations and many blessings for your wonderful happily ever after!

I walked in to look for her dress and found this...

How fun to start with some awesome boots!

Lydia, you are stunning...

The ceremony took place in her parent's gorgeous garden...

Handsome Groom...

The lovely ladies! Lydia surrounded by her sisters - old and new!

Kidd was a great ring bearer...

*sigh* I love weddings.

Macro Monday: Moth...

2011-10-03T01:33:00.001-05:00

Tiny little thing posed on my van for me...

Taylor: Class of 2012... {Owensboro, KY Senior Photographer}

2011-10-02T01:41:00.001-05:00

I know I always say this but I have the most beautiful clients! Taylor is a gorgeous girl and my camera really loved her!

Taylor, Best wishes as you complete your final year of High School and head out to College next fall!

Snuggle Buddies...

2011-10-01T09:17:00.000-05:00

I love it when I happen to find the boys snuggled up, unprompted...

So much easier than me nagging them to get along. :)

Outdoorsman...

2011-09-30T10:53:00.000-05:00

I'm not looking forward to long winter days locked up in the house feeding our cabin fever. Joshua LOVES to be outside! The insanely rainy season this past spring about killed him!

Ah, the simple childhood joys of a busy little boy!

Enjoy the fall weather!

This House on Thursday: Coin Critters, Spinning Sentences and Lego Math...

2011-09-29T09:42:00.001-05:00

Saw this on a teacher's blog a while back and thought it was super cute! I try to keep practicing money stuff with Jey because he seems so uninterested I'm afraid it'll slip right out of his head (as it sometimes does!). I knew he's like this since it involved drawing..

I wrote some random numbers in the side and he had to find the coins to add up to the amount. Then he had to turn the line of coins into a critter. He thought it was hilarious and was eager to make some interesting creatures. Seriously, if I can turn every lesson into an art project, he'll be the happiest camper! So you know we are doing lots of crafts and drawing around here every day!

I found this next idea here: Lory's Page. Free Printable! I printed it out then realized I could alter it so I pulled it up in Photoshop (where I'm so comfy! haha) and erased the words. Then I printed the new blank page and put contact paper over it so I can write in my own words and change them out as often as I like. Laminating would work as well but I had contact paper and no laminator the evening I prepared this. I can write in ink or sharpie if dry erase markers wipe off too easily. Did you know that an eraser will erase sharpie from smooth surfaces like dry erase boards? Or you can go over it with a dry erase marker and it'll start to come up. :) Or you can probably put it in a gallon baggie and use that as the plastic, reusable surface. The spinners I made from a piece of paper and split pin so you can probably thread that through the plastic from the baggie and it'll hold it in place for continued use.

This is called Spin-A-Sentence...

Language arts is not Jey's strongest but this was entertaining enough to keep his interest. Well, that and it also involved drawing. lol He spins to get his three words: noun, verb and adjective. Then he has to come up with a sentence using the three words. The reward for Jey is that there is a box at the bottom of the page for him to draw a picture of his sentence. This is how Jey expressed himself more comfortably so it is a treat (relief?) for him to get to draw what's on his mind as well as writing it out. The tricky part for me is to get him to restrain himself long enough to write the sentence out before he starts to draw. It is such a temptation for him -all that empty space! :)

Lastly, another favorite around here: Legos!

It dawned on me to use his beloved Legos for skip counting! These were taken a while back when we were doing 3's...

I love that Legos come in more shapes and size options than when I was a kid! He's memorizing them much faster this way than trying to remember a song. Today we reviewed 4's and I showed him a multiplication chart and his eyes lit up as he made the connection. I was surprised since multiplication isn't on the radar for another year or two as far as scope and sequence charts. I know I didn't learn them until at least 4th grade but I'm sure they've moved it up since then. Anyway, I was kind of thrilled but then math just clicks with this kid so why am I so surprised? Today I would take a few and toss them at him and he'd have to race to tell me how many "bumps" there were altogether. Each block had four so he could multiply and come up with the answer quickly.

So proud of my boy!

Cute Little Cutter...

2011-09-28T09:24:00.001-05:00

I had quite a bit of this paper laying around. It was a huge part of some grey seamless background paper I had that had gotten wrinkled and was therefore no longer good for use as a backdrop. I just cut off the unusable portion and roll out some new paper for the next session.

But you know I didn't just toss out a large piece of paper! It's been so handy in so many ways I'm thinking it might be worth it to buy a roll just to use for school and crafts! :)

One day I had them each lie down on the paper and we drew their outlines. Then we decorated their bodies with crayons and markers. Then we played body part games with it. One they liked was where I'd call out a body part and they had to toss a bean bag to that body part on their body. Jey just liked tossing things around in the house and Joshua did too not realizing it was a trick to get him to learn more body parts. Mommy is evil to bring education into fun stuff, I know...

This particular day, Joshua was begging to use the scissors. I had just bought Jey a new pair that fit his hands better than the kiddie sized ones but wasn't ready to pass those small ones down just yet. Then I remembered I had this plastic pair. So I told Joshua that these clear, blue ones were his and he seemed pretty proud to have his own pair of something previously so forbidden. His eyes bulged with excitement as he scanned the room for his first victim. I nervously followed his eyes around the room seeing tons of precious books and important paperwork before my eyes settled on the big roll of once-thought-useless grey paper.

A-Ha!

I rolled out the "Thunder Grey" paper and his little eyes lit up with excitement of something so huge to chop away at. He attacked it and I knew it would keep him busy long enough to not wander to other things in the room. After a few basic instructions and tips, I let him loose and off he went! Who knew his first time with "real" scissors would be such an adventure! With how many words I used to describe this moment, you'd think it was the greatest milestone a 3 year old can experience! Therefore, I'll be quiet and let the pics tell the rest of the story.

Enjoy!

Get In My Tummy Tuesday: Oreo Cookies & Cream Cupcakes!!!

2011-09-27T06:24:00.000-05:00

You know it's going to be good when you start the recipe by putting oreo halves in the bottom of the cupcake liners...

(I know, I desperately need need pans - don't judge!)

The batter was HEAVENLY!!! It was like eating Cookies & Cream Ice Cream (one of my faves!!!). In you go, little lovelies...

Mmmmm... I can hardly wait to cool them so I can frost them with the yummerific frosting that enhances the ice cream dreams swirling in my head...

Yay! Time to sample...

At first, to be honest, I was a bit disappointed and thought I should have just kept eating the batter! But that is how it goes when the batter is so amazing, right? It's hard to eat the finished product after consuming so much sugar right before! Licking the frosting spoon probably didn't help either. Just sayin'.

I frosted them a tad early and my frosting was starting to melt so I popped them in the fridge to chill out. The next day I tried another and OH.MY.GOODNESS. It was amazing. Like Wowzers. I knew I should not eat the whole batch (because now I know I would!) so I shared a bunch with some friends at church. Made the guilt of eating 10 by myself hit a little easier.

(Just kidding on the 10!)

The bottoms were a fun surprise to the unsuspecting recipients. :)

Num-Yummy!

Macro Monday: Tiny Purple Flowers...

2011-09-26T07:07:00.001-05:00

The whole thing is not as big as a blade of grass. So cute! And so tiny that I didn't really notice the fur-like things until I spied with my macro lens. :)

Cityscape, Scrap Style...

2011-09-25T01:55:00.004-05:00

A couple weeks ago I was battling a nasty sinus infection -bleah! I knew I had to prepare an art class for Jeremiah's homeschool group and decided to ditch the one I had planned at the last minute for something a little more simple. Armed with a headache, congestion, magazines and scraps of construction paper, we tried out a collage idea at home the night before. It was a hit! Jeremiah has been making these often since!

The "hard" part for Jeremiah was that he was not allowed to draw. He could only cut out shapes and such from the magazine and paper. It's good to learn to express yourself in other ways now and then! :) The goal was a cityscape and here's how we started...

(It's nice to get some extra help and a hug in the building process!)

Fun! My house is the one with the blinds, next to the bread store. Jeremiah decided he wanted to live with me. :)

Inspiration...

2011-09-24T04:44:00.000-05:00

I've been Pinspired. :)

The boys helped and it makes me happy to see each morning as I enter our schoolroom. It reminds me of our goals and purpose in our homeschool. It's not about passing the state tests or getting better grades than your classmates. It's learning about life and loving the journey of it all. In the end they'll know more about the things that matter... how to treat each other with respect... how to be thankful and content... how to handle difficult situations with confidence...

And they'll still be the best automatically. :)

Let me know if your Pinterested! ;)

Avery: Class of 2012 {Owensboro, KY Senior Photographer}

2011-09-23T01:17:00.002-05:00

I have taken far too long to blog these as we took them back in AUGUST! Wow, time flies!

Avery is the sweetest! We had fun wandering downtown with her mom and best friend. Miss A, thanks for allowing me to capture this wonderful moment in your life! I know you will succeed in so many ways, you are off to a great start already!

This House on Thursday: Family Wipeout...

2011-09-22T09:46:00.000-05:00

It's a tradition around here. When Wipeout is on, we gather before the big box of moving pictures and enjoy some good laughter at the expense of others. Ok, that makes us sound horrible!

The boys love it and their favorite thing to do is re-enact the stunts during the commercials. This particular evening's episode was Family Wipeout and so Jeremiah talked Joshua into wearing the Mario Bros Costumes so they could participate appropriately.

So here you go, Mario and Luigi, the Plumber Bros, as contestants on Family Wipeout!

Someone lost their hat on the course...

Aren't they super cute in those costumes? heehee

Someone was pooped by the end of the show...

Mmm...

2011-09-21T04:22:00.000-05:00

Totally not flattering food pics but WOW are these yummy!

It's a Pampered Chef recipe I found way before I had kids and it's still one of my favorite recipes ever. Seriously, it's so yummy, I'm amazed it comes out of my kitchen!

These are called Tuxedo Brownies. They are really white chocolate raspberry brownies!!!

Super easy to make!

Prepare brownies as directed from your favorite box mix. Bake. Cool.
Spread seedless raspberry jam over cooled brownies.
You can add some fresh raspberries here, just take a handful or so and toss them about atop the raspberry jam. :)

Next you need the following:
2 squares white chocolate for baking
2 tbsp milk
8 oz cream cheese, softened
1/4 cup powdered sugar
1 cup thawed, frozen whipped topping

Combine white chocolate and milk in large microwave-safe bowl; microwave on HIGH 1 minute. Stir until smooth; cool slightly. In large mixing bowl, combine cream cheese and sugar; mix well. Gradually stir in white chocolate mixture until smooth. Fold in whipped topping.

Spread this over the raspberry jam/raspberries. Refrigerate for about an hour. You can also garnish with fresh raspberries.

IT.IS.AWESOME.

I probably could have taken better pics but we really wanted to eat them instead! And we munched on the fresh raspberries and didn't have enough to garnish each slice, haha!

Bon Appétit!

Dem Bones, Dem Bones...

2011-09-20T01:12:00.004-05:00

Yesterday, we reviewed the axial skeleton. I ran across a really cute skeleton craft that worked perfectly for this! Of course this is the best time of year to find some great skeleton craft ideas, right?

*Side note*
A couple weeks ago, I made little pockets for each kiddo. I had originally planned to leave them "mail" - some love notes or funny things for them to find each morning. Kind of like sending a note in the lunch box. Since we are home all day together, I thought this might be a great alternative. I attached them to the handles on the drawers of their desk (for lack of a better place for now!)...

Sometimes they'll get a love note, other times a funny picture or something to review from their schoolwork. Sometimes a sticker, little puzzle to solve or a corny joke. I found a great idea the other day about a mystery box. The teacher said she used it to have the kids ask questions and inquire about what was in the box by feeling the weight of it, listening to it rattle around, etc... The object in the box had something to do with an activity for the class that day. I adapted this idea and started using their little mail pockets for this every now and then.

Back to scheduled programming... Today, Jeremiah found a Q-tip in his mail pocket and was very curious. We talked about what it may be all about but he didn't get to find out until halfway through his schoolwork when it was finally time to work on some craft time. So I broke out the Q-tips and off we went!

Joshua was really excited to join us! He was with me when I cut up the Q tips and made my example the night before. He couldn't wait for his turn!

Jeremiah really enjoyed this as well. He loves anything crafty or artsy!

After arranging the "bones" and gluing them down, he made labels for the bones that made up the axial skeleton: cranium, vertebrae, ribs and sternum!

Jeremiah is just soaking all of this info up. It's amazing how much you can plug into these little sponges! I think it's better than a sponge, it's more like a shammy!

Our art displayed on the window shelf...

Macro Monday: Shoo Fly!

2011-09-19T06:20:00.002-05:00

Found this in my yard while out searching for something new to shoot. Wish I was shooting it with more than a camera, he's even more yucky up close!

Staring at me with all those nasty little eyes... ewww.....

{Mommy Moment}

Joshua was helping me look for bugs to photograph. He'd give me a minute or two to shoot it then he'd whack it with his baseball bat. I guess that's how we roll... I shoot things, he beats them to death.

Grandparent's Day...

2011-09-18T04:41:00.000-05:00

Last Sunday was Grandparent's Day and we love the grandparents! To celebrate, the boys drew some pics and wrote some notes. We added them to a little felt pocket and presented them with a box of blueberry muffins...

>

How did you celebrate?

Chicken BLT Pasta Salad!

2011-09-17T09:32:00.000-05:00

I've been trying out some new recipes lately and this one seemed somewhat healthy (except for the bacon!). It was ok but I wasn't overly impressed at first. The next day I tried the leftovers with regular Italian dressing and liked it much much better! So I guess the dressing didn't turn out right when I tried it? Anyhoo, it was fun to try Orzo. I had never eaten it. It was a strange texture at first: a combo of huge rice and broken spaghetti! haha But, yes, I'd eat it again! :)

Found the recipe here: Chicken BLT (or Bacon, Spinach & Tomato) Pasta Salad

Chris & Chelsie: Married! {Owensboro, KY Wedding Photographer}

2011-09-16T09:17:00.001-05:00

They made their vows on a beautiful beach but continued the celebration upon their return from their honeymoon. We took a moment before the reception started to get some special images of just the two of them and then joined the party to celebrate their union with friends and family.

Chris & Chelsie are such a fun couple! So full of life and joy! Contagious laughter filled our gorgeous location as we walked around capturing the love that was growing by the minute between these two.

C&C, thanks so much for allowing me to be a part of your special celebration! It was a joy to get to know you two and spent time with your close friends and family! Congrats!

This House on Thursday: Art Gallery...

2011-09-15T04:33:00.001-05:00

I feel like I live in an art gallery! Everywhere I turn there is a sculpture of some kind constructed of Legos or marbles... And the drawings! They are everywhere!

They even show up on spelling tests:

Random notes left for me to marvel:

His perception amazes me. Most art schools have to teach you to see things this way. It's just natural for him.

Even Joshua is getting in on the deal! He drew a pic of Mommy:

heehee I love when little ones focus in on a certain characteristic and it stands out in a funny-looking way. Right now, Joshua is very observant to how long your hair is on the sides of your head. He's so obsessed about that aspect, he forgets to put hair on TOP of your head! Otherwise I'm looking more like Michael Bolton these days... YIKES!

Unification of Upper and Lower Egypt...

2011-09-14T01:47:00.000-05:00

(Another school post!)

Jeremiah has begun memorizing his history timeline and included in that is The Unification of Upper and Lower Egypt by Pharaoh Menes. To help with his memorization, there are hand motions. The hand motions for this include putting your hand down when you say "Upper" and put your hand up when you say "Lower". Does that even make sense? Well, I'm glad you asked because it does! :)

First we made a physical map of Upper and Lower Egypt...

Then he told me all about it...

Then we decided that his presentation was so good, that grandma should be able to see it from her home in California. So we videotaped his presentation to post here. It makes me laugh but then I'm so proud of my little smarty. He's like a sponge and makes everything so much fun! Don't mind the bedhead and try to ignore the little brother asking for a refill in his cup towards the end. This is just real life, folks. :)

Have a great week!

School, School, and More School...

2011-09-12T23:54:00.003-05:00

We have been doing a lot of school lately! Between school and sessions... well, there isn't really time for much more between school and sessions!

Here is a random post of some things going on around here. This is a variety of things from the past couple months...

Trying to keep organized...

Found this great idea for Story Maps...

This has been great for dissecting stories.

Jeremiah felt that we should honor the bat characteristics by posting the answers upside down since we read about a bat...

A couple of the books we've done this with recently...

I also have him pick out one character and do a character map...

Since Jey loves to draw, he looks forward to this part of the story mapping!

Language arts is definitely not Jey's favorite/strongest subject. But I've been finding some fun ways to make it more interesting for him. Like Sight Word Swap. I mean, really, who wouldn't want to be able to whack away at things and call it school?

I printed out a lot of little pictures of flies with a sight word printed underneath. Since our fly swatter has been used on many a fly, I deem it disgusting except for the use of swatting flies. Therefore, I thought I'd make my own that might not hurt as bad if he decided to turn it on his brother. (Hence the cheap fly swatter made from a paper towel tube and piece of cardstock. haha) I cut these flies/words (flypaper? lol) out and scatter them on the floor. I call out a word and he finds it and swats it. Easy peasy. Oh, make sure to have him hand you the "dead fly" each time so you don't have to spend more time cleaning later. :) I also put some easier words in there so he wouldn't feel discouraged starting out each time.

I found this idea here: Sneaker Teacher It's a Kindergarten teacher's blog but this idea works for lots of grades and subjects! I am thinking of using it also in math - print out answers to math problems and let him swat the answers to the problems I call out.

Joshua has been working on his shapes and colors...

But he's not always so thrilled when I decide he's so cute and we need to document this moment...

He really does love it and is awfully proud of himself...

Love my Stinker-Roo!

Love you!

2011-09-06T04:10:00.001-05:00

It was our anniversary yesterday (13 years!) and Jey sang "Happy anniversary!" all day long. He's such a sweetie! He kept asking us why he didn't have school and Daddy reminded him that it was a holiday. Then he'd remember and sing the song again. Labor Day, Schmaber Day... apparently our Anniversary should be the national holiday! :)

Macro Monday: Life Schooling...

2011-09-05T08:58:00.001-05:00

We took a break from schoolwork to explore the world outside. Jeremiah was very impressed with the neighbor's magnolia leaves blowing into the yard.

He liked that they were thicker than the leaves from our maple and oak trees...

We also talked about how velvety they felt on the backside...

We discussed how the top side looks leathery when viewed up close and had a mosaic look...

I liked the contour of the leaf...

The boys found some tiny acorns under our oak tree and so began a conversation about how we had two oak trees but had to take one out because it was damaged and how that led to less acorns in our yard (which is SO nice!). Touched on the fact that there were boy and girl trees but he's only in second grade so we didn't go too far into why we'd refer to them as boy and girl...

Some treasures from our little walk...

Joshua found some monkey grass near the bushes and was excited to point out "poo-pole fowas" to his big brother...

This isn't with my macro lens but I did try to get as close as possible...

Jey was not impressed with the flowers, he was too busy exclaiming, "I found an eagle feather!!!"

Which lead to a discussion of where eagles live and how big their feathers are and how this cannot be an eagle feather. He had fun speculating what kind of bird it must have come from. We talked about birds and their wings last week so it was great review to look at this closely and examine how some feathers are soft and downy and others are good for keeping the bird from getting wet. Jey was very interested in how the feather was designed to help it fly.

Ahhh... homeschooling at its finest. :)

The New Schoolroom: Where We Homeschool...

2011-09-03T08:00:00.002-05:00

The Schoolroom is complete! We LOVE it!

Here it is! This is where we are now schooling...

The hugacious desk (6 feet long!) and the HUGE dry erase board we built...

You can buy a 24x36 inch dry erase board for $40 or you can spend around $30 and make a 6x4 foot mounted dry erase board and have some to spare! The board was $14 for a 4x8 foot sheet. I had it cut to 4x6 to fit the space and then the rest cut into a 2x3 foot piece and two 12"x12" pieces to use as lapboards. The huge one I plan to use as a bulletin board. I'll post things up that we are working on. The smaller 2x3 foot piece we will use for normal, everyday use. I like having the lapboards for them to work problems. This saves paper for things they write over and over again for practice. :)

The other side of the room...

Lovely freezer that we have yet to use for homeschooling... :) However, it's metal so we can use it for our magnet stuff and not have to put something else up in the room. Although, I was considering getting a oil drip pan from the automotive section ($9) and mounting it for magnets. But now I don't have to so it works out. Even though the oil pan would look so cool, don't you think? :)

Surprisingly, the homeschool books and tools fit nicely into the organized shelf (I love organization!). But then, we're only into 2nd grade so we have many more books to come!

Joshua loves the snuggly reading corner. :)

Got the leather-like storage ottomans on Amazon for FREE! Gotta love reward points that you didn't know you were accumulating. :) They hold a surprising amount of stuff! We fit all our games in them and have room to spare. It's the mad organizing skills I have...

We put doors up to cover the water heater and furnace, and there is just enough extra room in there to store a vacuum and hang up brooms and other cleaning items. YAY! Behind the curtain is the laundry area. The doors would just get in the way and I knew it would be open most of the time with all the laundry that goes on so I was okay with a curtain. Thankfully, the opening was the exact same width as a bathtub so a shower curtain fit perfectly! It's not quite long enough but when that really bothers me, I'll sew some extra on. Maybe a stripe or some ruffles. :) Although it's not my usual style, I'm happy to see a rug my grandma gave me. She bought it in 1978 (!!!) and never used it! Seriously, it was in original wrapping. It was $125 (so says the tag) and is super nice wool. I feel fancy...

So there you have it! Our new schoolroom! I'm SO happy! Yahoo for organization!!! Still working on putting my office back together. Then maybe I'll be ready to get back to business! :)

Have a great weekend!!!

Post-It Decor...

2011-09-02T21:36:00.002-05:00

The boys found the Post-It notes.

So I found them on the washer...

and the desk...

and the wall...

This last one cracked me up because of the bone...

Have a happy weekend!

This House on Thursday: Almost There!

2011-09-01T13:01:00.003-05:00

Slowly, but surely we are getting to the end of the renovation - YAY!

Just a quick update!

I took a couple pics of the room. It's pretty much finished, just have to hang some doors and let paint dry. We were actually able to put some furniture back in last night and this morning (YAY!) so it's coming together. I snapped a couple pics before we moved the furniture in to post an update. I'll post more when the room is really, completely done!

Love the pale butter-yellow walls! So sunny and warm! View of the new wall...

View of the other side of the room...

See the door that is slightly ajar? That is the door to my office. You saw my make-shift office in a previous post (on my kitchen table!) and now you'll see what my actual office room looked like for almost two weeks...

The strangest combination of things! In the middle of the room is our deep freeze and a huge cabinet. Stashed all over the place are random things that had been stored in the garage...

Now you can understand why I have been walking around like I've lost my mind. So thankful my house doesn't look like this all the time! How can one stand to live with so much clutter?!?!?! They must have a lot of patience. I just know that I feel better when my home is organized and de-cluttered. The funny thing is that when I go to someone's house that is cluttered, it really doesn't bother me all that much. I don't really take notice, I guess since I'm there to visit them, not their home. :) I just pray others feel that when when they come to my home!

So there is the latest update on our new "school room" (at least that is what I'm calling it!). It should not have taken this long but we had to wait on others for things like carpet installation and random things out of our control. Otherwise it was a pretty smooth operation!

Oh, and in the midst of all of this, I was without a washer for several days. we were able to hook it up again over the weekend and I was so happy!!! I did 10 loads of laundry! I was finishing up the last load before he came back to finish the tile and grouting (and needed to unplug it again) and it was then that my washer died. It filled up with water and then went kaput! This house is cursed with something to go wrong with every renovation. It was filled with towels so that was a booger to wring out! However, I had to smile while wringing it out and praying for God to provide. I was so thankful that we had such a luxury and I thought of a Missionary family in the Philippines who live across the street from a stream where the locals get their drinking/cooking water. This stream is also where they dump their waste and sewage. I prayed for the people of that village of people and their unclean water and thanked God for his abundant blessings. I need to post a pic of that family in my laundry area to remind me just how exceedingly I am blessed!

Here is a link to their website to learn more about their missions: Courtney Family

Macro Monday: Grasshopper...

2011-08-29T04:49:00.000-05:00

Found this little guy hanging out on John's mowing shoes. He was eyeing me, every time I moved, he turned with me...

But he didn't seem too scared of me since he just walked around...

I thought maybe he was hurt and could not jump and just as I thought it, he jumped up onto the wall...

And then he twitched a bit. Then he pooped. Not something you want to see when you're zoomed in so close. Glad I missed that shot...

Num Yummies...

2011-08-27T02:07:00.000-05:00

Had a blast with some girls in my youth group for a Bible Study. One sweetie from the group showed up the night before to help me make some goodies like the most amazing grown up chocolate cupcakes and some sugar cookies with dreamsicle frosting. Oh yum.

Miss M did a fab job icing the cupcakes...

Mmmm, cookies...

Brotherly Love...

2011-08-26T02:15:00.001-05:00

or just Candy Love...

I finally used a gift certificate for a massage (Scarlet is the BEST!!! and so is Deanna for the gift certificate - YAY!!!) and came home to find a mess and this...

So sweet in so many ways... :)

This House on Thursday: Homeschooling...

2011-08-25T00:07:00.003-05:00

I love homeschooling! Here is one great reason...

9am: cuddling with the boys in our PJs reading about spiders. :)

It's so important for me to be organized with homeschooling. In fact it drives me bonkers when things get disorganized. And if you read my last post, you know that I'm a mental wreck this week while the remodeling takes place! ACK!!!

I like to lesson plan week by week. I do an overall survey of what needs to be learned for the school year by collecting scope and sequence charts from a variety of sources: homeschool curriculum, online teacher resources, public school charts, etc... I gather them all, compare and contrast, then compile my own scope and sequence for the year. I make a master list of things the kiddos need to learn for the year, then I create my lesson plans around this. I prefer the weekly lesson planning because if there is an area that Jeremiah masters quickly, we do not need to keep hounding it for another week or two. I will quiz him periodically over the next couple weeks to make sure it's still mastered but no sense in drilling the same info when we could be moving on, right? Weekly planning also allows me to take more time on a subject he is slow to master. If he needs more work in one area, we can take more time on it and not just move to the next because the book wants us to stay on track with it's time schedule for completion. Or maybe I do all this because I love control. lol

I planned to spend the first week reviewing last year's teachings. Jeremiah remembered everything! So we breezed through review and dove into this year's lessons. See where the perks of weekly planning come in to play? :) Here is some review of last year (he always has to doodle on his work and likes to check off his answers!)...

Joshua just turned three so he still has a ways to go before his formal training begins. In the meantime we're studying a letter a week and reviewing colors and shapes as well as numbers and counting. He's doing really well! This year he's more capable to do some things on his own (like tracing his letters) so I have more uninterrupted time to spend on Jeremiah's lessons. Last year, Joshua wanted to be a part of everything and usually ended up making a mess everywhere. This year is going much more smoothly! :)

(We're still working on proper pencil handling)

He's always so proud of himself! The first week, he kept acting like he didn't know how to write "A" and always wanted me to help. I knew he could do it so I bribed him with an M&M and he wrote it perfectly! Stinker. Later that day, he asked for paper to draw and I heard him cheering and clapping. I turned around to see several A's on his paper and he looked up at me with his proud little face and said "Candy?" Stinker. Rest assured, he now knows I'm on to him and no longer requires bribing.

Here are a few snapshots that tell that story. Joshua finally writing them on his own...

The motivation...

Practice makes perfect!

What he drew that afternoon, unprompted...

He's so cute.

When Daddy comes home for lunch (lunch with the principal is a big deal around here!), I usually have things for him to quiz Jeremiah. Joshua, not to be left out, will sometimes get all excited to draw his letter of the week for Daddy. Its the most wonderful thing for a little boy to be so happy to please his father. These boys love their daddy and they have a great one to love! I am so blessed!

CHAOS...

2011-08-24T12:50:00.005-05:00

At least it feels that way to me. Two aspects (of many) that need organization to run successfully are our homeschooling and my business. Right now, those two things are feeling very chaotic! Due to the renovations going on, the main components of my office (homeschooling and photography biz) are now piled on my dining table...

Homeschool in a box...

Here is our garage during demo...

Seriously, who glues brick-looking linoleum onto a garage floor?!?!?! I'm SO happy to see that going away!

And nasty wood paneling - SEE YA! John ripped out all the old paneling and cleaned out the so-called insulation. It was like sparkly kitty litter. Strange and highly annoying (not to mention MESSY) to get out!

The door is out and the boys were really happy to see the Pink Panther on the wall of the house...

We now have more of the wall complete and drywall up inside - woo hoo! It's coming together really quickly! If you are looking for a great contractor, I'd highly recommend Jimbo Mourning of Men at Work here in Owensboro. He does an amazing job and is so considerate of the client's needs. He's done most of the work in this parsonage and it's all been awesome!

Here is today's update. Siding going up...

Drywall up...

Yay!

This House on Thursday: Where are the Fowlers?

2011-08-18T03:27:00.001-05:00

I know there has been a huge void here on the ol' blog. The lack of posting really does have a good reason behind it! We've been so busy around here with a wide variety of things. Church stuff like Youth Retreats and ministry in general - so many needs! God is so good to us and it's a blessing to be used of Him to help others. Even if it takes up blogging time. :)

We've also been making plans to do some renovations. The way the street drains affects how our driveway drains and that in turn affects how the inside of our garage looks after a hard, fast rain. Years ago, we added a room to the back of our little garage so we could accommodate our exchange student for several years. She has since graduated and moved to NY to attend Parson's and the room was turned into my office - a much needed space! My office is crowded (to put it mildly) with business stuff, craft stuff and school stuff. I have things organized in every nook and cranny of this space!

So when the talk of fixing up the garage came up, we discussed returning it to a garage or making another room. You can guess what I was hoping for! Being the church parsonage, we do not make the final decision, just contribute our ideas. It has been years that we've put up with the water and now the water damage. Thankfully, the church board felt it was now a necessity to fix as it was doing damage to the structure as well. We decided to get rid of the garage completely and make it an extra room. Then the talk went around about how we'd use the room. It already houses our laundry appliances and deep freezer so we'll keep those in there. The more we thought about it, it seemed to be needed the most as the school room. This would help with the overcrowding in my office and will give us more room to better organize our days. YAY! I can't wait! Renovations are already beginning as we clear out the space and prep it for the demo that begins on Monday. It's been a bit chaotic around here with even more stuff crammed into my office and preparing to take a huge chunk of it out of my office and into the house as I will not have easy access to my office for about a week. But it'll be so worth it! We've got some fun ideas planned and I cannot wait to be organized again!!!!!

We also started school August 8th so that has been keeping our mornings full. Jeremiah is doing really well and catching on to things so quickly that we are completely finished with his school work by lunch time. I used to feel guilty about that but he's on track (and beyond in some subjects) so I will just be happy to have the extra time to get everything else done around here! Joshua has been doing great also. Of course, he just turned 3 so we're only doing preschool work, but he's been impressing me left and right and I'm so proud of my little guy! I plan to post more about our homeschool days soon but we'll see where that lands on the priority list of things to do around here!

I've had many weddings and sessions going on and it seems the schedule gets filled up even more each week! Lots of fun, but also more to do. I've been trying to keep a good balance between work, home and play. God is so good, He blesses me at every turn and I'm always filled with Peace.

It has been super busy and I'm sorry, regular readers, for slacking off on the blogging. Meanwhile, know that we are alive and well, just very busy!

And since a post is not as much fun without pics, here are a few from our summer...

Playing around with panning...

Summer means lots of bubble blowing...

Playing with the warm evening light...

Big second grader...

Knock Knock...

2011-08-02T15:55:00.002-05:00

No, you cannot come in!

One evening the boys were playing outside working up a sweat. I went in the house to get something and when I returned to the door, Joshua was coming to the door to come in as well. I took one look at him and shut the door. And locked it. lol

I wanted to get something to clean him off before he spread his "charm" all over the house! Daddy was outside, don't send social services over. It was just hilarious so I also grabbed my camera for a quick snapshot. I have no idea what he did to get so dirty so quickly! These pictures do not really do his look justice. He had streams of black sweat from his head and his hands and feet were black from all the dirt he gathered from somewhere.

Stinker.

Macro Monday: Surprise!

2011-08-01T08:00:00.000-05:00

Sometimes while shooting macros you will notice tiny things you never saw with your naked eye. Like the day I looked through my viewfinder and it was then that I saw the tiny black bug crawling on the teeny tiny white flowers on the bush...

I swatted him away so I could get a nice neat pic of just the flowers. :)

Then sometimes you don't notice things in camera. Sometimes you are halfway through your editing when you notice someone was watching you the whole time. I think he tried to wave through the petals...

Gives me the shivers every time I see this image now! ACK!

Photography Fridays: Flashed!

2011-07-29T04:48:00.000-05:00

I often get questions like this...

Why do my pictures look like the background is so dark? How can I take a better picture of my child indoors?

You know, like this...

The trick is a technique called dragging your shutter. Basically, you set your camera settings to properly expose the background and let your flash take care of your subject...

If I did not use my flash, that image would have shown a dark subject, hidden in the shadow as the lamp is behind him. But that little bit of pop from my flash lit him up perfectly to to create a more natural looking image.

I bounced my flash behind me where the ceiling meets the wall to create a huge softbox type of light in the room. Kind of like turning my wall/ceiling into a big light. This will light up your room and give you all the light you need. The very top image in this post, I had the flash aimed directly at my subject and so the area behind him did not get illuminated properly. This DIY softbox effect lights up the entire room and does the job nicely.

For a little more depth to your image, you can bounce it off the wall to your side as well as sligthly behind you and create a softbox off to your side that illuminates the room well and gives a little dimension to your subject by creating very faint/soft shadows...

Much nicer, don't you think? :)

This House on Thursday: Our New Nanny...

2011-07-28T08:51:00.004-05:00

Her name is Dishwasher. :)

Our dishwasher died. How can replacing one tiny metal piece cost more than a new dishwasher? Really?!

We went to Lowe's (I love Lowe's!) to pick out a new one. The kids LOVED opening and closing all the dishwashers. I started to fear we were going to have to walk out with several broken ones. Actually, they weren't that bad. My kids are pretty good, I just like to make these posts more dramatic at times. It's what entertainment is all about, right? :)

The problem with looking at dishwashers at Lowe's is that the kitchen models are right next to them and WOW does that make a girl fill with lusts of the world! All those clever contraptions to make your cabinets store more of your junk smarter and easier! Bliss! And the non-slamable doors and drawers! Ahhh.... a mother-of-boys's dream come true! But my favorite was the sliding drawer thingies for the corner cabinets - genius!!!

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Just so you know, the last two paragraphs have absolutely nothing to do with the images contained in this post. Resume programming...

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This box (not surprising) was a HUGE hit! Big enough for the two of them, they played in and around it for hours! They even came back to it later for more entertainment! I'm thinking of replacing all the toys in their room with appliance boxes. :)

I am calling my dishwasher the Nanny because she keeps the kids safe (in a box, but I'm not one to judge), she keeps them entertained, she also washes my dishes. She's awesome!

My refrigerator apparently suffered extreme depression at the loss of our previous dishwasher and attempted suicide. Thankfully, we caught it in time and mended his heart (at least the defrost thingie) and he is now good as new and seems to be bonding with the new Nanny nicely. This is wonderful news considering the cost of a new fridge and the huge box it would come in... I may not see my children for weeks!

Kentucky...

2011-07-27T00:07:00.001-05:00

is a beautiful place to live.

A view from my backyard...

50mmmmmmmm...

2011-07-26T00:16:00.003-05:00

50 mm 1.8, I love your bokeh...

Mmm... yummy.

Macro Monday: Eww...

2011-07-25T08:00:00.001-05:00

Found this creepy little guy watching me as I shot some flowers. So I shot him, too.

Another Self Portrait...

2011-07-23T03:39:00.000-05:00

Steph & I rocking R&R's wedding coverage

Photography Fridays: Why are Photographers so Expensive?

2011-07-22T08:39:00.003-05:00

There is so much I have on my mind to say on this topic, that I really can't put into one simple post. So I'll spare you a large novel and just give a little shout out on the subject of why Professional Photographers charge what they do. Hopefully, this will enlighten some on why they need to charge appropriately and maybe also shine some light for others who have just always wondered.

CLICK HERE ---> Why Are Professional Photographers So Expensive?

And since a post is no fun without pictures, here's a snap of my little man running to his favorite person in the world - me. :)
(At least that is what I'll tell myself!)

This House on Thursday: Tie Dyed...

2011-07-21T07:59:00.000-05:00

Last weekend, I took Jey to his little friend's bday party where the theme was Tie Dye! He was very leary of the whole thing because he hates to get dirty on purpose and all those colored dyes would have freaked him out for sure! He seemed okay with dictating to me where to tie and what colors to use although he was still convinced it was all just lame.

The next morning I rinsed the shirts and washed them and he was quite amazed at the end product! We also made one for Joshua and little man thought it was pretty neat as well. Even without cars or anything sports related! lol

They decided to wear their shirts and I wanted to take a snapshot to let the party hostess know we were thrilled with the shirts. The boys ended up dancing around and jumping everywhere and having a blast that I got a little carried away on the snapshots.

Enjoy!

After all the jumping and dancing they were pooped and enjoyed some cookies...

"Mfcookies mfrf are mfpf yummmmmmmy..."

xoxo

Wordy Wednesday...

2011-07-20T08:52:00.004-05:00

{Mommy Moments}

While looking through a picture book with Joshua, I pointed to a nickel because it's so dang cute to hear him say "Money"...

Me: What is this?

Joshua: Ummmmm... Coin!

(I was impressed, never heard him say coin)

Me: Oh, yes, it is a coin. Good job! Did you learn that from Super Mario?

Joshua: No. It's a coin. Ummmmmmm..... Money!

Me: Yes, coin is money.

Joshua: Yes! Coin is money. Good job, Mommy! You're right!

*********************************************

A fire truck sped by so Jeremiah said a little prayer:

"Dear Lord, please take care of the people the firetruck is driving to. Heal them. A flea probably started a fire at the house and it will burn down so take care of the people and the house, Lord. And send an amblience if they get hurt. Thank you. Amen."

I guess this is another reason to make sure your pets are free of fleas. And I'm thinking it takes more skill to say "amblience" than "ambulance" but what do I know.

*********************************************

We were saying bedtime prayers and Jeremiah wasn't in the mood for his turn and tried to pretend he was sleeping. The fake snores gave it away. Joshua wasn't convinced either so he jumped on Jey and screamed inches from his face, "Joe, pray now! NOOOOOOOOOOOOOW!!!!"

*********************************************

Joshua didn't want to take a nap and started playing with a small toy dog. I told him the puppy was sleepy and needed to go to sleep. He looked at the puppy and said, "No, puppy not go bed. Puppy play! Joshua go night night." Whatever works, kid, I'll take it!

*********************************************

Driving around in the van running errands, I looked at my boys in the back seat...

Me: Jeremiah, you're so cute! I wish I were as cute as you.

Jeremiah: Yeah, me too.

*********************************************

Overheard Jeremiah talking with my mom on the phone...

"A kid is someone who matches his parents."

*********************************************

Have a blessed week!!!

Rick & Rachel: Engaged!

2011-07-19T08:55:00.002-05:00

There is something special between these two. Rachel looks at Rick with admiration and peace... Peace in knowing she is safe in his arms, secure in his love for her.

And then there is Rick. He can hardly take his eyes off of her. Not only for her stunning beauty that surpasses those around her, but for her beauty within and how she makes him feel complete and whole.

Their love is deep and true. They light up each others' world and their love lights up the world around them.

I met these two when Rachel's sister booked me for her wedding (Sara & Byron Engaged, Sara & Byron Wedding) and fell in love with the family. So you can imagine how thrilled I was to join them again to celebrate with them again!

Rick & Rachel, you two are an amazing couple and I am blessed to capture this magical time in your life! Thank you for sharing your awesomeness with others!

These engagement images were taken in the spring and they were fabulous, my camera loved them! I recently captured their wedding and will soon be posting those images so keep an eye out for some GORGEOUS wedding pics!

We ran all over downtown, a variety of locations! Enjoy!

STUNNING Rachel...

I seriously have the most gorgeous brides.

And the grooms? Hello Handsome...

Macro Monday: Sea Of Green...

2011-07-18T08:00:00.000-05:00

*sigh* My yard is once again overrun with clover.

Photography Fridays: Distortion Part 2...

2011-07-15T08:00:00.001-05:00

Its really sad how much I miss my lens when it's away for repair. Since I wasn't sure if it would be back in time for my next wedding I rented one. It arrived today and I'll admit I was a tad giddy to have this replacement! I didn't have much time to play but I thought I'd take a few more images as better examples for the distortion topic last week.

Obviously these are a bit dramatic in their differences but I'm hoping that it further demonstrates what I was trying to explain...

Here is my cute little stinker as he is in real life...

(75mm)

And here is quite distorted at 28mm...

And here is an example of how a shorter focal length distorts the depth of an image...

Look how huge his feet look! That was 28mm again.

Here he is looking a little more proportionate 75mm...

Things that are farther away are much smaller... Can you tell what is behind his head?

A whole TV cabinet! He's obviously not bigger than the TV cabinet. He didn't move position at all, I moved back to use a longer focal length...

He had a lot of fun posing silly for me...

Although I typically avoid shooting portraits wide angle, it is sometimes fun to play around for some different types of shots. It can be very storytelling or photojournalistic...

Have a great weekend!

More From the Bday Bash...

2011-07-14T08:44:00.003-05:00

Due to the craziness of how things were turning out this summer, we talked the boys into having a joint Birthday Party. Jeremiah wanted a Super Mario Bros Theme. Usually, the kids have a blast playing in the yard so I didn't plan any games. Then it looked like it might rain so I whipped up a few games. Then the rain held off so we only played one. lol But they had SO.MUCH.FUN. with all their buddies running around the yard in the 99% humidity and were all a hot, sweaty mess covered in icing and big, happy smiles by the time the party came to an end.

I tried to keep it simple and thankfully, Jeremiah wanted simple cupcakes - primary colored icing topped with simple star sprinkles and picks with Mario Bros characters. I made (don't laugh) a bean bag toss with Bowser that they all ended up really liking. I also made a Pin The Mustache on Mario that never made it out and I also made a human gameboard game that also never made it out. I guess we need to have Mario Playdate so we can make use of those games! The decorations were easy - none. lol Well, I did set out some new toys around the cupcakes but that was about it. The theme showed up on the plates, cups and cupcake toppers and on the goody boxes.

I forgot to add the pic of the boxes to the slideshow so I'll include it here...

They were filled with candy, markers, mini Super Mario Bros coloring pages, a bouncy ball, water guns and maybe something else I can't remember now... I also included a little note that says "GAME OVER Thank you for coming to Jeremiah and Joshua's party!" and the other side says "CONTINUE? Call for a playdate this summer!" and had our phone number.

The kids had a blast and Jeremiah is already talking about his birthday next year! Here is a wrap up of the party in my best snapshot talent I could muster in the midst of the chaos! (I also got some special help from my bud, Lindsey!). During the present opening, paper was literally flying everywhere and I ended up at the bottom of that pile! Jey sat with Grandma to open them and I think she was pooped by the time it was all over! But then, so was I!

Enjoy!

Birthday Party "Photobooth"...

2011-07-13T08:56:00.002-05:00

So not really a photobooth since I had to hunt everyone down to do this but the concept is still there and it was so funny to see everyone with a mustache! lol

There are just a couple people missing but almost everyone that joined us for the boys' party is represented...

More bday pics tomorrow! :)

Macro Monday: Busy Bee...

2011-07-11T08:00:00.000-05:00

It's kind of how we've been feeling around here!

Photography Fridays: Distortion...

2011-07-08T17:40:00.004-05:00

It's something not everyone sees but once you do train your eye, it'll bug you like crazy when you do see it!

Today, I'm talking about distortion due to focal length. Basically, the shorter your focal length, the more distortion you'll get in your image. When I say distortion, I'm talking about the messed up proportions of an image. Sometimes it has a cool effect that you can use to create some fun images. But when shooting a portrait, you would want to avoid it as much as possible as it's not very flattering.

For example, I know my kids have big heads atop their long, skinny bodies but I don't always want to emphasize this...

(Shot with 50mm on a full frame sensor)

His neck and shoulders look extra scrawny! To capture him more proportionately, I would use a longer focal length...

(Shot at 200mm on same camera)

See? His ears are much more proportionate to his face - big. lol And as cute as it is to have such huge eyes on a little kid, it's still not proportionately accurate and there will be something about it that just doesn't seem right. This may be something you have to train your eye to see or you may see it right away in this example. The distortion will cause whatever is closer to the camera to appear huge and whatever is farther to seem much smaller.

I also had him sit down and take pics with his feet in view and one closer to the camera...

(shot at 50mm)

The red footprints I stamped on the image are the exact same size. If you don't believe me and have time to waste, get out your ruler and check. This is not the best example as 50mm is my shortest lens on stock today (2 lenses in the shop this week!) but I hope you can tell a difference in the distortion. Also, notice the tiles are dramatically angled to a point behind him. With a longer lens, they would look a bit straighter and the objects behind him will be more proportionate in size. I'll do that part of this another day. :)

Just for fun, here is a shot taken 2 ways. Can you tell which is the 50mm shot vs the 200mm shot?

If you're looking for some fun distorted images for a whimsical feel to your photojournalistic style, then this pose would work out and be fun! However, a longer lens will capture the scene as it is in real life and this pose is not very flattering as most people aren't looking to shorten their leg length!

Happy Shooting!

This House on Thursday: Far Away Family...

2011-07-07T01:29:00.001-05:00

In the midst of all the busy-ness of the past month, the boys and I took my mom to see some relatives in Cincinnati for a couple days. It was SO good to see everyone! Sadly, I had not been there since before Joshua was born! The boys did so great on the long drive up there and had a blast playing with all their cousins! It was great to see my cousins again and they all came over to my Aunt's so we could catch up and meet all the kiddoes. They are all growing up so fast! We all felt sloppy and unprepared but felt we needed a group shot since we were all together. So here we are!

And for my dad to help figure out who we all are:
At the very top is my cousin, Stacy. The row below her is me with Joshua, my Grandma, my cousin, Melissa, and my cousin Doug's son, Brian. The next row is Jeremiah, Stacy's son, Jordan, my Aunt Carole and the three teen girls are: (Missy's) Makayla & Miranda and then Megan (Doug's). The bottom row is Molly (Jen's) and Jen (carrying baby & due very very soon!).

Wasted on a Boy...

2011-07-06T10:54:00.003-05:00

I often wonder how this child can see anything...

“What I have to say is far more important than how long my eyelashes are.” ~Sir Walter Scott

Happy 5th of July!

2011-07-05T07:53:00.002-05:00

Why should we only celebrate our freedom on the 4th? :)

Actually, I'm just going to post this on the 5th because on the late eve of the 4th, I'm tired and need to go to bed. It's been a long few weeks and so busy busy full. Good and bad but full nonetheless... I hope to be posting regularly again as I have a lot of things to blog about! Thanks of being patient with me, blog stalkers!

Here is a shot of our crew the night of the 4th...

Tip:
* If you want to take pics of people when it's practically pitch black out, remember that your flash batteries are empty from the wedding you shot over the weekend and you should have brought some fresh ones along. Otherwise you have to chance it with a super slow shutter speed and some crazy wicked photoshopping skills.

We took a little walk down the street to the park where we met up with some friends to watch the Country Club's firework show. It was fun and I actually brought my camera this year. I don't know that I've ever attempted to photograph fireworks.

Tips:
*Bring a tripod.
*Don't sit on a rickety picnic table with a dad bouncing his baby son.
*Don't sit near wiggly kids.
*Don't try to get alone by sitting in the wagon, it only lasts for 2 seconds.
*Don't giggle at how cute three year old is when he says "ooh, ahh, wow!"

Following this advice will allow you to get some perfectly executed shots of beautiful fireworks. Not taking heed to these tips will get you this:

Which are still kind of cool in their own way. So if you like this then ignore all the tips posted above. :)

So as not to bore you with a continual stream of firework images, here is a random slideshow of the good, the bad, and the freaky:
Fourth of July: 2011

Macro Monday: Calla in Black & White...

2011-07-04T08:41:00.000-05:00

Checking In...

2011-06-30T22:14:00.003-05:00

Sorry for the lack of posting lately. For the past couple months our family has been through a whirlwind of emotions and events. Thankfully, through it all we have all been surrounded by tons of family.

We've enjoyed weddings and birthdays, celebrating new beginnings and milestones. We've visited with far away relatives and caught up on sharing our love to one another in person and met some family we have not yet had the chance to hug before. We've also experienced difficult moments with several family members in the hospital in precarious situations on several occasions. And this week we mourn the loss of a treasured loved one.

Please pray for the Johnson family. We will miss our Uncle Bobby dearly but are blessed to know that early Monday morning he began his eternal rest with His Heavenly Father. Nothing brings more peace to your heart than to know that a strong man of God has finally made it Home.

We are so blessed to be a part of this family. To share in the joys and hold each other up when times get rough. I'm also including our church family. I am so thankful for you all - blood ties, adopted ties, married ties, and spiritual ties. Thank you for being there for us all this year.

Happy Birthday, Littlest Buddy! {Joshua is Three!}

2011-06-27T08:32:00.002-05:00

Remember this chunk of chubs?...

He turns THREE today! Although, since he did everything so early it seems like he's been this big since he was 10 months old! Happy Birthday, you little Stinker!

Joshua at three...

* LOVES anything that has to do with a ball - basketball (he has a great jump shot!), baseball, golf, tennis... LOVES it.

* Crazy about anything Toy Story, Thomas the Train, Cars - basically anything with action or wheels (although I do catch him enthralled with Dora now and then!)

* When he wants to ask what you're doing, he says "What are you doing now?" as if it's all one word and he sounds so angry when he says it although he's perfectly happy! lol

* When something is taking longer than he thinks it should, he says "Come on, come ON!" as if he's in a hurry. A habit he picked up from his brother that we're working on but it's also stinkin' cute when he does it.

* Loves to cuddle and snuggle. He still sucks his finger and his new comforting habit is playing with the skin on your elbow. Although I'm glad he's moved on from picking my fingernails, it's still kind of strange to have him randomly run up to you to play with my elbow! Sometimes he'll want to snuggle up next to you for a long time and other times, he'll wander in and ask for a drink and while he's waiting, he'll try to rub my elbow then run off like it's a perfectly normal thing to do while waiting for milk! If he gets tired while riding in the car, he'll cry out, "Mom! Hand!" which means he really wants my elbow.

* If he doesn't know your name, he'll call you "Deanie" which is John's Aunt. Even when he's playing with toy figures, he'll have them refer to each other as Deanie. She thinks it's hilarious. And it is.

* He'll come to you and hold up two fists saying "Pick one!" and when you do, he'll open up two empty hands and say "Magic!"

* He showed my mom where the games were on the computer and how to play them.

He's still my stinkeroo and I wouldn't have it any other way!

Flying...

2011-06-21T08:00:00.000-05:00

Did anyone else catch this a couple weeks ago?

Macro Monday: Symmetry...

2011-06-20T08:25:00.001-05:00

I love the symmetrical patterns found in the center of these flowers...

And I love how God took note to intricately create tiny details even though they will be missed by so many and unappreciated by even more. He knew that it would be pretty amazing for every flower to do this naturally and He knew I'd like it. Hope you like it too!

Happy Father's Day!!!

2011-06-19T08:42:00.001-05:00

John's Father's Day gift from the boys...

This is what it actual looks like as the end product (please excuse the wonky coloring from my kitchen!)...

Love the raised images!

And dang it, those are some cute kiddoes!

Outtake...

2011-06-18T07:57:00.000-05:00

First shot of the session. Thankfully, it got much better! Tune in tomorrow to see the final product!

Photography Fridays: Perspective...

2011-06-17T04:48:00.001-05:00

I shoot a lot of people (I just love to say that) and sometimes I feel like I get into a rut. It's times like this when it's good to get out and shoot something completely different. And it's a lot more fun when you can find some friends to play with!

Some good friends (and a new one!) met downtown for an evening of just shooting and talking photography. We spent the first 10-15 minutes just standing around talking and looking around wondering what in the world we were going to shoot!

I decided that I was just going to start off finding random things and trying to make them into an interesting image. I think we all started off kind of awkwardly but within minutes we were clicking away like crazy. I took a lot of interesting shots - to me anyway. I also took a lot of really un-interesting shots. Some were just dumb, really. lol But overall, we had a blast and ended up with some really neat things. It was also fun to see everyone's perspective on the same subjects.

So what is my point in this Photography Friday post? Get out there and shoot! Try to explore different things. Play with the light on inanimate objects so you and learn more about how to light up a live body. Look for shapes and textures. What about those images do you love? Why do you love it? This will help your eye to see things differently and this can then be applied to your portraits. To just shoot a person and focus on their expression will result in a cute snapshot, at best. There is so much more to an image than just getting a smile from your subject. Sometimes shooting random objects will take your focus off the emotion tied to the subject and then you will see other things you need to work on. You will see other things that need to be part of the image, or not. So when you go back to shooting that cute little niece, you'll not only see her cute smile, but the pole that looks like it's growing out of her head, or how the shadows fall on her face and make her look like a raccoon, or that she's completely out of focus... take the time to really learn photography at it's highest standards so you are producing more than just a snapshot.

Capture memories, not just randomness.

Those memories are no less priceless even though it ended up blurry or poorly composed, but why not take it to another level? Why not capture what you want to remember and how you want to remember it?

"A picture is worth a thousand words."

But only a thousand so don't use up those words with clutter and unskilled technique if you have a choice. You didn't pay extra for a fancy camera only to produce the same quality as the one your neighbor got at a garage sale. That is just silly. If you want to learn, then learn. If you are happy with your snapshots, then be happy with your snapshots. There really isn't anything wrong with snapshots. I take them all the time and love those moments of my family. But for those of you who think you want to be a pro, remember that your clients can take their own snapshots and they expect more from you. Deliver more because they are worth it and so are you.

And since a post is just no fun without a picture, here are a few from our little outing the other evening:

I was looking for fun textures, shapes and colors. Found some on various fireplugs (as my grandma calls them!)...

This pole had a lot of texture...

But was more interesting shot this way...

Goofing off...

Happy shooting! Please leave a comment so I know who the awesome visitors are!

Chalk It Up To Summer...

2011-06-16T08:00:00.000-05:00

This kid is growing up too fast. That statement has nothing to do with this post, just my heart.

Mommy throws in some Preschool review while playing with the new box of chalk and her favorite 2 year old...

He decided to trace his hand...

"You toon, Mom!" (Your Turn)

Not sure why he calls me "Mom" sometimes. I'm not ready for that. He's already growing up too fast, let's not rush it all! And he sounds so big saying it. Even if it is with his little 2 year old lispy thing.

What happened to my little chunky monkey with his funny comb-over?

*sigh*

Summer Colors...

2011-06-15T07:45:00.000-05:00

Perfect start to summer break: Sidewalk Chalk!

Daddy hates the mess it makes but I feel like we can't go a summer without them! It's so fun to hang out with the boys, decorating the driveway with brightly colored drawings... it just oozes childhood!

It's also a great way to review some things so the past school year doesn't seem like it went on in vain!

The Ones They Didn't Get...

2011-06-14T07:37:00.000-05:00

I know... it's not Macro Monday. But I was hoping you all wouldn't mind.

There is something so magical about these, especially up close like this. So dainty and delicate looking. Unfortunately, it's a weed that can destroy your perfectly manicured lawn. Hmmm... I think there's a sermon in that. But for now, let's just focus on the beauty of this tiny little thing...

Closer...

Macro Monday: Been There, Done That...

2011-06-13T07:27:00.000-05:00

This is (was?) a wishstick (dandelion). Guess my kids beat me to it. Doesn't look so soft and fuzzy anymore, does it?

Have a great week!

Cooling Off...

2011-06-12T08:44:00.000-05:00

Nothing like a blue slushie from DQ on a hot summery day...

Happy Snack!

2011-06-11T08:26:00.001-05:00

Joshua loves the sugar snap peas. And I love that he loves them. :)

Photography Fridays...

2011-06-10T09:39:00.003-05:00

I did this for a while and it seemed to get a decent response so maybe I'll try to start it up again.

Anyone game?

Typically, I'd just do a little post on some basics of photography. You know, stuff like how to make your snapshots a little better and how to improve your memory capturing skills. I think I might also start incorporating some other things related to the photography industry. Leave a comment of some ideas you have that you'd like to see here, K?

I get inquiries all the time from people wanting to start a photography business and they are asking advice that requires more than a quick line in a text or email. Maybe I can spread some of that out through some Photography Friday posts.

I wish I had the time to help everyone get started but it's overwhelming sometimes! I have a life outside my business. Really, I do! I homeschool my crazy little guys and I have a house to maintain as well as love my kids, hubby and my church. Oh, yeah... and that photography business tends to take up some of my time. :)

One thing that has been fresh on my mind lately...

I recently read about some "newbies" getting upset about some professional photographers "bashing" them. Actually, the "newbies" were bashing the pros! It was quite ridiculous and wasn't going to help them, it only provided evidence of why pros are getting so frustrated with "newbies." They were comparing apples with oranges and blaming pros for their problems. Like I said, ridiculous.

If you know anything about me, you would know that I offer lots of free advice. I have been blessed to get to know some amazing photographers who have taught me some very valuable things and I pay it forward and give back where I can. I meet with people and do free mini workshops and all kinds of things. Some people take advantage of this and some people just take advantage of me.

I get frustrated when I hear about "newbies" (those new to photography) whining about pros not giving them the time of day when they ask for help. It's not that they don't want to give help. Well, maybe some don't. But not all so let's grow up and not generalize, okay?

Like I said, I give a LOT of my time to helping others. What's frustrating is the lack of respect for the industry. This is the bottom line for me. This is where the rubbing starts going the wrong way and I get highly annoyed. Not all, but many people that have come to me for advice have turned around and chosen to not listen. They are unwilling to learn from someone who has been there done that. Now I know that each person has their own path to take, but there are also some steps that you would be better off not taking and you would be wise to heed precious advice! I am NOT a guru on all things photography. By ANY stretch! Trust me, I have so much more to learn as well. But there have been some pitfalls where I wish I knew better and I have learned the hard way. I've also taken wise counsel to heart and avoided some situations much worse than I could have imagined. My heart wants to see you succeed, not to fall. So why would I lead you astray?

I am not one that feels threatened by newcomers to the industry. If you want your piece of the action, go for it! More power to you, good luck, best wishes, I'll celebrate with you! Unfortunately, not all have taken my help as encouragement. I've even had one person with no experience ask for help starting her business. I asked some probing questions about how she'd handle certain situations and she had no clue. I let her know these were important aspects of being a professional photographer and she needed to know them before starting a business. She left in a huff and badmouthed me to others saying I told her she shouldn't ever start a photography business. I have no idea where she is today and I hope that if she did start a business, it is doing well and that she did learn how to handle those kinds of situations because they will come up.

Another note... I don't mind people asking for help, but you have to understand that I can't do it all for everyone! I cannot hold your hand in every decision you need to make. And when I do answer a question you have, please listen and don't come back month after month with the same question. If you are not going to listen, why waste all the time asking the same question and having me answer the same answer?

"Insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results."

- Albert Einstein

My point in all this rambling is that a poor attitude will make you an unsuccessful photographer. If you are unwilling to learn and take some criticism now and then, you will never grow. You will become stagnant. Starting out, you'll have your faithful followers, your cheerleaders - your family and friends. You will start out charging next to nothing and be only remembered as the cheap photographer. In the meantime you will ruin your business, cheapen the value of your work and bring down the industry. Please don't do this. The photography industry is an amazing thing to be a part of. If you love photography as much as you claim to, give it the respect it deserves. It's worth it, and so are you.

My desire of these posts is to help others that love photography to grow. To learn something new that will give them the skills they need to capture the moments of their lives with more meaning and purpose. If this is something you'd like to share with me, check in now and then and let's feed out passion for our love of the capture.

And since a post is not so much fun without a picture, I'll include a recent self portrait...

This House on Thursday: Going for a Walk...

2011-06-09T15:17:00.003-05:00

I decided to document one of our many many trips around the neighborhood these days...
(warning: snapshot heavy!)

Typical us...

Already complaining about the heat...

"Me too!"

Hmmm, let me take a creative shot? I can't quite get down far enough to look through the viewfinder so I guess I'll wing it, but quickly as the neighbors already think I'm nuts...

Um, FAIL. Let me try again. Again with the random aim...

Ok, never mind. Let's keep walking before anyone sees me crawling around in the neighbor's yard.

My kids love to find wish sticks...

But I'm sure the neighbor's are not fond of my kids' obsessions with blowing the seeds around...

"Me poowit, Mom! Me poowit!"

Uuuuuggggghhhhh....

"Joe, out!"

Oh, forget it. Just drink your water...

Joshua hears a big truck somewhere in the distance... "Wassat?"

Joshua has the coolest fashion style. Overdo the Croc charms and wear them on the wrong feet. Its all the rage in 2 year old fashion mags this year...

Another random attempt at a small group shot...

Did you notice the enthusiasm? So much interest that I decided to try a more complete group shot...

Ooops. Oh yeah, that fail was a repeat. Maybe I should try to learn something. So I crawled in my neighbor's grass to attempt to correct my composition and get my desired subject in focus. This time I ignored the carpet cleaner guy that came out of the house and waited for me to finish so he could dump out the dirty water into the street we were posing on...

Even though I'm sure I looked like a complete idiot setting up this shot, it makes me smile to look at us in our everyday selves. And it makes me smile that the carpet cleaning guy didn't decide I was a complete fool and chose to dump the water anyway.

Happy Trails!

Miss Z: Brand New! {Owensboro, KY Newborn Photographer}

2011-06-08T10:35:00.004-05:00

Little Miss Z was just 11 days old and sweet as she can be! She slept like a rock and was so adorable posing like a little miss!

*swoon*

Macro Monday: Vines...

2011-06-07T14:31:00.003-05:00

Love love love the textures...

Just a slight turn in camera position and I can get a completely different background...

What is this? Tiny vines on the chain link fence...

Colleen & Kevin: Married! {Owensboro, KY Wedding Photographer}

2011-06-03T23:28:00.001-05:00

I love weddings! I look forward to each and every one of them and after capturing their engagement session, I fall in love with the couple and end up all teary when the wedding begins.

*sigh*

Colleen & Kevin, thank you so much for allowing me to capture the moments of your day. Everything about the day was so beautiful and full of love! It was amazing to watch you two become Mr. & Mrs. surrounded by your family and friends. You two really are perfect for each other and I know you'll love happily ever after!

The dress...

Colleen was so amazingly stunning!

Love it when there are little details! "My One True Love"...

Yes, Sir, I have the most beautiful brides ever!

*love*

Congratulations!

With Love, From Korea...

2011-06-01T14:56:00.002-05:00

I have no idea how to express the feelings I feel when I look through these images. My heart is so full! I met the Hudson family through our homeschool group and this past school year was full of weekly updates on their adoption process.

Their acceptance to adopt.

The gender of the child they will adopt.

Their first pictures of their little man.

The final word giving them permission to bring him home.

The love that was growing between a family and a baby boy half a world away.

Christella and John, thank you so much for allowing others to be a part of this journey. Cheering for you and rejoicing with you has been a huge blessing, filling our hearts with joy and love! While your sweet bundle of boy is finally yours to keep, he is also a part of our families - those of us who were allowed to share these moments with you. Thank you!

I was thrilled when it worked out that we could meet them at the airport, bringing him home from South Korea! We waited not-so-patiently for this...

Searching for the first glimpse of the family of 5!

Waiting with anticipation and excitement!

Love this sign!

So many emotions arriving home to friends who are just as excited about today as they were!

Miss M was excited to see everyone, too!

Welcome HOME, little man!

Macro Monday: Pine Tree...

2011-05-30T06:31:00.000-05:00

Ella Grace: Brand New! {Owensboro, KY Newborn Photographer}

2011-05-28T10:17:00.003-05:00

Miss Ella Grace was such a sweet little angel! Smart cookie didn't want to got to sleep until her belly was full to overflowing but once she did, she was down for the count and we had so much fun playing! She was a teeny tiny thing weighing in a whopping 6lbs 9 oz at birth. But super super precious!

Here is a little sneak peek from her session this week...

Little Diva...

Ashley & Tim, thanks so much for allowing me to capture your beautiful little princess! She is so blessed to have you as her parents! *love*

Live and Learn...

2011-05-27T10:11:00.000-05:00

Ran across this image of Jey from 2 summers ago. He loves those boots and wore them all the time (still does). This is from his first time fishing. The first thing he did was get too close to the water and, of course, he fell in. This was also the summer he learned the value of those boots...

This House on Thursday: Air Joshua...

2011-05-26T06:25:00.001-05:00

Colleen & Kevin: Engaged! {Owensboro, KY Photographer}

2011-05-25T10:50:00.003-05:00

(Yes, another session from last fall - sorry!)

Colleen & Kevin, I am beyond thrilled to be a part of your special day this coming weekend! You two are so much fun! Even more so, you two are truly in love with a lasting love that will outlast the tests of time. What you two have is so special and rare, it is to be treasured and cherished. I'm so happy for you guys!

Scenes from their E-Session...

Colleen, you are stunning...

Handsome guy + beautiful girl = gorgeous couple!

Love you guys!

To see more from this fabulous Engagement Session, CLICK HERE for the slideshow!

Brad & Danielle: Married! {Evansville, In Wedding Photographer}

2011-05-24T13:08:00.003-05:00

Such a special day! I'm so excited for my niece and her HUSBAND, Brad! It was a gorgeous day and the wedding was beautiful! Here are a few images from this past weekend...

Getting ready...

I love ring shots!

They were married at Neu Chapel on the campus of Evansville University where she graduated just two weeks earlier!

The crew...

Can you tell the ring bearer is the photographer's child? lol

The happy couple...

Goofing off in the limo...

Cake smash! I'd expect nothing less from these two!

First dance as Mr&Mrs...

And they'll love happily ever after!