Caution

I prepped the boys all week, especially Easton, about getting pictures taken - they both had too much fun in the water to stop for mom to snap some shots. Luckily, the few I got I really like. Matt and I both saw the yellow sign and immediately knew that had to go in the picture! Perfect warning about our boys!

A day at the Beach

We spent the afternoon at the beach - photographing one of my best friends and her family! Kirsten and I met in college and have been friends for 11 years this month! I can't believe it has been that long. Despite the rain, we were able to get quite a few pictures!

More photos

Sorry I haven't blogged for a few days - busy getting ready to go back to work TODAY! Evan only has 3 more days left of summer school, and then back to school on Tuesday. Hopefully Easton is ready to go back to the babysitter's house...after being home with me all summer, it is always a big adjustment to make (for both of us!).

I was asked to share these pictures from a recent photo shoot. The first one was Hayden's idea - he wanted all the "men" to walk out of the corn!

I LOVE this photo of Hayden! He had a fun ride in the sky!

Horizon of Hope

On top of everything else I do, I have been selling Longaberger for over 6 years. For the past few years, our branch has held a Horizon of Hope event. This year was exceptional! Dr. Denise Murphy spoke once again on breast cancer prevention, and we had an actual basket weaver attend and weave 8 special HOH baskets (that we gave away as door prizes). We raised $500 that we will be sending to the Longaberger Company for them to donate to the American Cancer Society. On top of that, Longaberger donates $2 from the sale of each Horizon of Hope product to the American Cancer Society. What a great cause - so glad I was able to be a part of it! Thanks, too, to all my friends and family members that attended!

Dr. Murphy...
One of my tables of guests...
Here is Margie, a Longaberger basket weaver, putting the handle on one of the eight baskets she wove at the event.

Zoo

It has been extremely hot here the last few weeks, and of course we picked a hot day to go to the zoo...the lions and the monkeys were all relaxing and the kangaroos weren't even jumping!

We still had a good time, though! Easton was thrilled to ride the train (but wanted nothing to do with sitting in the driver's seat)! Evan loved the snakes, because of course they freak me out! I think the best part was the milkshakes at Steak 'n Shake afterwards !!

Blogs

Anyone who knows me knows I spend way too much time reading blogs...usually scrapbooking related! A few weeks ago, I went to CHA Summer with my mom (a trade show in Chicago), and was so excited to meet IN PERSON some of the people behind the blogs I stalk!!

This is Jody Ferlaak - she and her family have an amazing story...I recommend to everyone to take the time to read about her! She is fairly new to the scrapbooking world, but was a SOY finalist! She has a real spunky style that totally matches her personality!

This is Becky Higgins - I tried about 4 times to win her new idea book(a Sketches book), but had no luck (I think maybe someone very close to me won, and I entered her name!!).

I was thrilled to meet these two great gals! I first talked to them at the Creative Imaginations party, and then was honored when I won their new organization book (me? need organization??). This is Aby Garvey and Wendy Smedley - so friendly and sweet, and just down to earth gals!! Be sure to buy their new book - it is AWESOME!! Hopefully, it will help me out!

This is Christy Tomlinson...she was once with Chatterbox and now is a part of the Making Memories design team as well as Better Homes and Gardens scrapbooking magazine. I have bought some awesome class kits from her! She is a mom with lots of kids!!! Awesome personality and just sweet as can be!
I was also fortunate to meet CD Murkowsky (Creating Keepsakes SOY - scrapbooker of the year), Kelli Crowe, Rebecca Cooper and Jennifer Ditz-McGuire. All so nice and each took the time to talk to us! What a blast! It's amazing all the talented women out - and just so sweet!

Have a good one!

Myrtle Beach

Today I wanted to share a few of my scrapbook pages with you - we went to Myrtle Beach this past April for Spring Break (the first family vacation the 4 of us have been on!!).

This is the cover of my American Crafts album. It is a 3-ring album, and I love that I can mix up the sizes of my page protectors within the album (for this one, I used 12x12, 8.5x11, and 6x12).

One of my favorite rubber stamp companies is Fancy Pants - the large stamp in the top right corner is from one of their big sets!

This page also has stamps by Fancy Pants...

This is one of my favorite photos from our entire trip - my little guy did not like the ocean at all - so he and I spent the entire afternoon building sand castles together! It's hard to see, but he sat on a towel the entire time with his feet wrapped up under him - he was unsure of the sand as well!

My oldest son (soon to be 9) took this picture - he is quite the photographer!

Chad

This guy was a riot!! He had a comment for everything - I hope I was able to show his personality in these shots! Good luck your senior year, Chad!!

It's All About Family...

Today I shot pictures of my largest group yet! The weather was perfect...and the results turned out great! (Julie, giving her dad the bunny ears, told me she was the awnry baby of the family :) - lucky for Julie her husband and her sister both have their eyes closed or I'm sure this photo would show up on her parents wall!)

Thanks!!

Turning 2

This little guy will soon be turning 2 - he was such a trooper the day I took his pictures...it was so hot and he warmed up to me pretty fast (helped that his mom was acting silly behind me :)

Happy Birthday, Hudson!!

Family

A dear friend of mine has really helped in getting my photography business up and running...I took pictures at her son's beautiful New Year's Eve wedding, and also did a family shoot for her. Here are just a few photos. Thanks, Susan!! You have been a true blessing!

Senior Session

Here are just 2 photos (from over 300) that I recently took (this is my cousin who will be a senior this year!!).

Hello!

Well, I've done it - I have started a blog. Some of my customers have asked when I was going to start posting pictures via the internet...so here it goes!

I've always enjoyed photography, and last winter, I shot my first wedding! I was so nervous, but the pictures turned out great (and the bride loved them, which is always good!). Since then, I have done numerous senior photo shoots and family shoots.

I will post some sample pictures later!

Thanks for stopping by!!