Creation Fest....

Brett, Brian and Heather are having a good time at Creation Fest. It's rained a couple of times - downpored actually! And Heather says she saw a funnel cloud. They discovered that the tent leaks and Heather has a nasty sunburn. But they are making the most of it and enjoying the concerts and speakers.

Things Jessi and I have been doing while they are away....

Tuesday - We went miniature golfing. Jessi won a free game!!! She did this by getting a hole in one on the last hole. How cool is that?! Then we went to visit my grandmother. It was nice visiting with her again...

Wednesday - We went to see Nancy Drew. Jessi LOVED it!!! Instead of popcorn we got Coolattas from Dunkin Donuts. YUM!!!!

Today - Jessi went to her cousins birthday party and I stayed home and worked on pictures. (I know, what else is new!)

Tomorrow if it rains we are planning on going bowling. If not... maybe hiking... not sure. Also the dogs have a vet appointment and I'M GETTING MY CAMERA TOMORROW!!!!!! I'm just a tiny bit excited about that - can you tell????

It's HOT Out There...

And I'm LOVING IT!

Took a bike ride tonight. Maybe 15-20 miles. I've probably already been on the bike more this year than last year altogether! Gotta get myself back into shape as I'm feeling rather lumpy from the winter. UGH!!

Tomorrow Brett, Brian, and Heather head to PA for Creation Fest. Jessi and I have a few plans of our own.... Biking, bowling, miniature golfing... she wants to see Nancy Drew and has a b-day party to go to....

Oh... and I ordered my camera tonight. It's not the Mark III after-all but the 5D. After much prayer and debate Brett and I and my partner and her husband all thought that was the way God was leading us. It should be here by the end of the week. Just in time for me to learn it (hopefully) for the wedding in two weeks!

Happenings...

Things that have been going on at our house - other than photos....

First off, Teena had her bandage removed on Tuesday. (or was that a week ago Tuesday? It's all a blur!) She's still supposed to be taking it easy - but she IS a puppy and well.... she and Romeo can really go at it. Her tail is up most of the time now when she is out - so she's a happy girl!! Sorry for a waaaaay overdue update GMJ!!

I went to the dentist yesterday and had two more fillings. Sorry Rachel, but I really HATE going to the dentist! Every time I go they tell me I need more fillings. And the dentist tried doing one without numbing it. YIKES! He gave up and then for most of the day I felt like someone had punched me in the side of the mouth. And I couldn't drink through a straw without spilling it all over myself. I was rather pathetic. My lip is still a tad swollen. And my teeth hurt more than they did before going.

Both cars have gone to the garage. Mine was leaking power steering fluid all over and Brett's needed ball joints. The kids have had to ride their bikes to work every day. Thankfully it hasn't rained at that time of day! We should get Brett's back today.

I had my hair cut and colored. It's a midlife crisis thing. Sorry - no picture yet! By the time I get to it maybe the color will be completely gone. It's a temporary color and will wash out in 5 weeks or so. We'll see if I decide to keep it....

You know about the ear piercing....

I bought 4 new shirts and some jewelry to go with them.

I took my kids to see Fantastic Four. Not my kind of movie really - but it was good to get out with my kids. And parts of it were really funny. Parts of it... well... you know how movies are!

I haven't cooked dinner in eons! Or gone grocery shopping - except quick, expensive, run throughs. My family either fends or we get take out. I know - it's terrible! But... how do I fit it in especially when I haven't had a car? I just can't seem to figure this one out.... maybe I don't want to figure it out. Bad attitude.... someone slap me will ya?! (Cyber slaps don't hurt! ;)

The house is falling apart.... need that cleaning bug....

Tested this week. Gotta get that in the mail and get my final quarterlies done.

Getting cell phones in the mail today.... 4 of them. Can you believe it? My kiddos finally talked us into it. They are paying for theirs but I still won't like the bill that comes with these things. How do people do it??? Admittedly there have been many times lately when I've wished I've had a cell.

Discovered that I might not want the Mark III after all... still very confused as to which camera to buy!

Hmmm.... that about covers it!

Engagement Shoot

In August this beautiful couple will be celebrating their 20th wedding anniversary by renewing their vows. Today we took their "engagement" shots at Forman Park. You would have thought they were newlyweds! :)

I just want to say... I really DO know that the wedding ring goes on the left hand. BUT, the first time I took that last shot, there was a big, beautiful ring on her RIGHT hand and well... I shot that. After several shots I realized my mistake and much to their delight we did a retake - meaning they got to do some more kissing!!

Here they are with their son.

I can't wait to shoot their wedding... What a celebration that will be!!

Odds and Ends

I haven't had any Diet Coke since Thursday and no Excedrine for 2 days now. The headaches are tolerable...


Still working on senior pix. I was hoping to have them done before my 'engagement' shoot but I just took too many pictures!! My downfall I suppose....


I'm struggling to keep up with everyone. So sorry! It's not cuz I don't want to! I love all my blogging friends. And miss you all when I get this busy...

First TTD Session!

I took Heather out on Saturday for our first Trash the Dress session. What fun! I took her down to Charlotte for these pictures.

A little story about the dress... Heather heard that prom dresses were 75% off at Sears so we headed over there to see what they had. When she found this one and tried it on she loved it. So, we went to pay for it. The cashier, an older lady, said, "Oh, what a beautiful dress." And me... I couldn't help myself (well, I suppose I could have but I didn't want to!), I said, "It won't be!" And she looked at me funny and so I told her what we planned on doing with the dress. And she said, very seriously mind you, "You're breaking my heart!" She really did NOT want to sell us the dress!! But of course she had no choice in the matter. She did, however, take one of my referral cards. Wouldn't it be too funny if she called for pictures?!

We didn't really want to trash the dress yet so we were very careful. We have serious plans for this dress and so we need to make it last for several sessions! Stay tuned for more TRASH THE DRESS at a blog near you.... After I finish processing senior pictures - oh and an engagement session on Wed.... Busy, busy, busy!!

Many Sides of Heather

I took Heather out yesterday for some pix. I get extra practice taking pix while she practices her modeling/acting skills. She plays everything from

Soft and sweet....



to this????




She liked playing the part of a rebel a little too much! YIKES! But I really like the last picture. I love the shadow play on her face.

Early Start

I wasn't planning on having my midlife crisis for another year and a half.... but I think it has begun!!

Addiction

Well, I've gone and done it! After being off of Diet Coke for two years I have slipped back into the habit. An addiction I just keep going back to.... UGH!!!!

New Camera!

Well, I've made a decision and I've ordered a new camera. I've been all over with this decision... go cheap, knowing that I will upgrade as soon as weddings pay for it, go middle of the road and eventually use that camera as a back-up, go top of the line.... We don't have the $ for ANY of these cameras and know that we'd be going into debt (unless God miraculously supplies the $) - so it's a matter of how much we go into debt! Last week we decided to go CHEAP with the intentions of upgrading in the very near future. I picked up the camera and did an engagement shoot with it. When I processed them they were TERRIBLY NOISY (digital form of grain). I can not tolerate that level of noise!! And there is no way that I could sell these photos as stock. And so... back to the shop it had to go and back to the drawing board on this agonizing decision. Everyone has a different opinion and of course they are all right!! Well, today hubby finally said - we tried going cheap and it didn't work - just go and get the one that you want. YIKES!! What a turn around. So, today I put in the order for the Canon EOS 1D Mark III. It has some AMAZING features - which I suppose it should for the price tag! Haha! It will give me the ability to shoot in low light situations without a flash. It's the worlds fastest camera! And it will allow me to shoot a greater range of tones than other cameras on the market. A great feature when shooting white wedding dresses next to black tuxedos! Now comes a lesson in patience as I wait it's arrival....

Trust in the LORD with all your heart...

What does that mean practically? When there is nothing you can do except continue to pray, when your heart is breaking into a million pieces and everything 'feels' hopeless.... how does one trust?

Trash the Dress

I'm dying to try a Trash the Dress Session! Anyone game? Or know of anyone who would be???

Modesty

Just Duckie!

Proud as a...

Reptile House

Wrinkles

Naked and Unashamed!