I made it!!!!

I can't tell you how loudly I squealed when I saw that I made the top Five Finalist for the Water Contest!  I am so stinkin' excited just to be chosen as one of the finalist!  Thank ya Lawd!  Anyhoo, if you wanted to be a super cool friend and score some brownie points go ahead and Vote For Me :)  Just to let you know, a thousand brownie equals a free session...haha.  For real though, take a look and see what you think...all the finalists are good.  Thanks for all of your encouragement.  Look back later tonight for a senior sneak peak...

Baby *K*

I would like to think that I am horribly sleep deprived...but I'm sure I don't come close to how tired this baby's mamma is.  The memories of getting up at the wee hours are a bit foggy for me.  I know that it sucked and I know that I did survive.  So, don't worry guys...this too shall pass :)

Funny story.  My friend didn't show that much during her pregnancy.  We had planned to do a maternity session but I was just waiting for the belly to get bigger.  Duh Ali...not every woman gets ginormous as I did during the last weeks of pregnancy.  So, thinking she had still a few weeks to go I decided to go ahead and plan that session.  Between both of our families coming in and out through the summer and my delusion that she was going to get bigger, I finally scheduled it for a Wednesday...she was 38 weeks folks.  So, where is this going you ask?  The Sunday before a beautiful baby was born.  I felt horrible.  I mean she was such a cute pregnant lady!  But, it was OK because I was able to take pictures of the baby when I like to.  Between 1 to 2 weeks.  At that age, you just set the heating pad under the backdrop and hope they don't get too relaxed and pee all over....but I completely expect it....I think I need to invest in more backdrops ;)  

This baby did so good.  I love it when they are this little because they will let you do most anything.  She laid in a bowl for me for the longest time.  So cute.  I think I REALLY like newborn shoots.  So, let all the mom's know that when the bun's out of the oven, I'll be ready.  Without further adew I present to you Kyla LeeAnn...a beautiful little lady with some hair.

David & Candace

Wow...what a whirlwind my week has been.  I'm always doin' somethin' :)  This weekend I had a fabulous couples session and my first newborn session.  I can't wait to post the images of that precious little girl, but they will just have to wait until tomorrow.  

On Sunday I attended the most spectacular summer party.  For all the other photographers out there....I went saying, "I'm not gonna take any pictures.  I'm just going to relax."  But I just couldn't help myself!  All the bright colors were screaming for some attention.  So, I took as many as I could to fill up a 1 gig card...and I shot in RAW so that was about 88 images.  My friend Sue is so talented at putting these events on.  I just can't explain in words all the awesome stuff she put together so be looking for those this week too.  I have a friend that suggested that she publish her summer party idea in a magazine.  No kidding folks...this lady is THAT good at putting on a party.  So hopefully between my photos and us girls giving Sue some encouragement, you might see her published...we'll see.

I am busy with sessions again this week.  YAY!  I have senior sessions Wed and Thurs.  Both dudes.  I think we're gonna have alot of fun.  Then I get to shoot a sweet couple around the Vaughn area on Saturday.  But let me tell you about this couple I hung out with last Saturday.

This is Superman (David) and Mrs. Lane (Candace).  We have a longstanding joke at my day job about David being superman.  It's quite funny.  Candace even had me make his ring tone when he called the superman theme song.  I don't even remember how it started...something about calling David at his office and when the secretary asked who it was, she would say Louis Lane.  

They are a perfect fit for each other.  She loves to laugh...and he is pretty good at accomplishing this task.  They had been friends for a long time.  When I heard they were dating I was secretly hoping inside that it would lead into something more...so I was delighted to hear that he proposed.  It just seemed right for these two to get hitched.  I'm so happy for you two and can truly see the delight you have for each other.  Congrats to you both!!!

I la la LOVE silhouettes!

Chad & Melissa

I was invited into a cozy home as Chad finished getting ready. "Yea, we really like the place..." he said as he hovered over to put on his socks. Then came his beautiful fiance, carefully coming down the stairs. She had that pregnancy glow...I knew from the beginning these two were a good pair. He hailed from Utah and it was destiny that he met Melissa. They knew from the start it was meant to be. The opening of a new restaurant in Great Falls is how they came here.

All I can say is this little boy soon to come is going to be surrounded by so much love. It just oozes from their smiles. They can't wait to hold him in their arms and stare at him in wonder. The product of such love...I am so excited for you and was thrilled that you let me be apart of this amazing piece of your lives...Thank you!

Ya'll were so much fun to hang out with and hope you had as much of a good time as I did :)

"A Pirates Life for Me..."

My adorable son had his first week of Vacation Bible School this last week.  And he's been singing this cute little song..."It's a pirates life, it's a pirates life, it's a pirate's life for me..." (to the tune of a merry jingle) all day today.  My church does an AMAZING job of putting this on for the kids and every year it gets better and better.  This year the theme was "A Pirates Life in Christ."  It sounds a little oxymoron-ish but nevertheless, the kids had a blast and did learn valuable truths.  

Thank you to Steve and Christel and all the VBS crew for working so hard to put that all together.  I know it's no easy task.  My kiddo enjoyed every moment of his time :)

I had taken a little break from shooting because I was working a full time schedule at the pharmacy...so now that I'm back to normal schedule I have already booked three sessions this next week.  YAHOO!  I love meeting new people and telling their story through my photography.  It's an expression of art for me...I feel blessed to be able to do this as a business.  So, it will be busy but keep watching for lots of sneak peaks this next week :)

It's been a couple of weeks since Dave and Rikki's wedding.  What a lovely couple!  Ever since these two got together my heart was happy.  I was able to tag along and see how a wedding flows from a photographer's perspective and even got the treat of taking a couple shots during the ceremony...

Isn't her bouquet beautiful?!?

David when he was little...lovin' the 'stash

A sweet time of prayer before the ceremony

I love how she is so serene here with all of her bridesmaids so excited in the background

This one is my favorite...people were looking at me funny though as I was shooting this one...

Sprawled out on the floor like road kill

What's cuter than a little orange Home Depot Apron???

...the big Home Depot Apron from behind helping. Dave came home for lunch last Saturday and told me that on the first Saturday of every month they do a a free kid's workshop. He proclaimed that the kids even got to wear their own little orange apron...and KEEP them...I was sold!

So after some freshing up, because yes....I was STILL ripping down wallpaper...I took the boys and they had so much fun. Dave was able to sneak away for a few minutes to help so that I could take a few shots. I just love these. Right now we are going through a tough time adjusting to Dave's new job and pay, but it makes me proud to know that my husband is doing his best and working hard to support our family. These pictures make me hopeful...hopeful that my boys will grow up to be hard working men just like their daddy.  

They have their clean little orange aprons and daddy has his obviously worn & dirty apron.

They proudly display the pins on the brightly colored fabric which represents the projects they have completed. My prayer is that they will be just as proud to show the world what wonderful growing men they are. Full of love, honor and faith. 

I love the men in my life and I cherish moments like these...

MIA...

yes.  I've been missing in action...wallpaper action that is.  I have been ripping down not one, not two....nay, three!  Count 'em people...THREE layers of wallpaper in my office.  About one wall into it I was asking myself, "Why in the world did I start this???"  I have to just keep telling myself that it will be worth it.  I am a visionary...I can see things in my head and then get so excited about them but I want them to happen now.  So, now that all the aged paper is peeled away from the old plaster (and cracked I might add) walls, it is time for the texture.  I have done all the re-doing-of-the-walls in our house.  After texture comes the priming, and then finally, my favorite part, the paint!  What I want to see when I walk into my office is a tan room with chocolate brown and splashes of turquoise.  Maybe even some RED.  I want it to be wonderfully mix matched and I want every piece in there to be a treasure I worked hard to find.  My chandelier for instance...I picked her up at a 2nd hand shop for 40 bucks.  Of course she needs a little TLC but she is gonna shine like no other when I'm done with her...is it weird for me to genderize (not even a word) random objects in my house?  Kinda creepy?  OK.

So, later I will have before, in process and after photos for you.  As far as sessions, I am available for some more.  I really want some seniors..so much fun!  Thank you friends for bearing with my absence...