I love what I do...

Beyond a Smile Photography by Leah

I think one of my favorite things about photography is getting to know my clients a little better through my camera lens.  It is funny how you think you know someone pretty well and then you head out for a session and you see them in a whole different light.  I have known this senior for several years now and she has the most amazing eye for photography.  I am always blown away by her work and love how she sees the little things that I usually miss.  I am not too much of a nature photographer but she has inspired me to take a different look at things, I am getting better but I am pretty sure I will stick with what I know and LOVE... which is people.  Anyway, photographing a photographer is usually intimidating to me but last night was different.  I was having so much fun watching her and her friend interact with each other that I think I just forgot about it.  I shouldn't be surprised that best friends just have a way of putting each other at ease.  The pictures I had taken prior to her "bestie" arriving have a totally different feel to them.  Once her "bestie" arrived things were just different.  There was a lot of giggling, belly laughing, climbing trees, pure silliness, karate moves, and some serious funny faces.  This quiet girl I thought I knew so well is super silly and absolutely adorable!  I loved seeing these girls really having a ball together and I got some GREAT pictures when they thought I wasn't looking.  Oh how I love my job... it just doesn't seem like work sometimes but that is just fine with me.  

I just love this one...

and another...

uncontrollable laughter at times...

karate moves...

but this is usually how I see her...behind her camera!

I love what I do...

I think one of my favorite things about photography is getting to know my clients a little better through my camera lens.  It is funny how you think you know someone pretty well and then you head out for a session and you see them in a whole different light.  I have know this senior for several years now and she has the most amazing eye for photography.  I am always blown away by her work and love how she sees the little things that I usually miss.  I am not too much of a nature photographer but she has inspired me to take a different look at things, I am getting better but I am pretty sure I will stick with what I know and LOVE... which is people.  Anyway, photographing a photographer is usually intimidating to me but last night was different.  I was having so much fun watching her and her friend interact with each other that I think I just forgot about it.  I shouldn't be surprised that best friends just have a way of putting each other at ease.  The pictures I had taken prior to her "bestie" arriving have a totally different feel to them.  Once her "bestie" arrived things were just different.  There was a lot of giggling, belly laughing, climbing trees, pure silliness, karate moves, and some serious funny faces.  This quiet girl I thought I knew so well is super silly and absolutely adorable!  I loved seeing these girls really having a ball together and I got some GREAT pictures when they thought I wasn't looking.  Oh how I love my job... it just doesn't seem like work sometimes but that is just fine with me.

Wedding of the year.......all in His timing!

Well I did something I never thought I would do.....shoot a wedding!  I was very hesitant but since they were such good friends of ours I thought I would give it a go.  I was super nervous, I didn't want to mess anything up of course and since it was my first one I had no idea how much I hadn't thought about until I had a little chat with a fellow friend and photographer.  So, I asked her to help me with the wedding and it was definitely a good decision.  I couldn't have done it without her....thanks again Shawna Peto Photography.  Throughout the day I kept telling my husband "I will never do this again" but by the end of the night I finally figured out that it wasn't that bad and I "might" consider doing it again.   The key word is "might"  There is ALOT I need to work on if I do decide to do another....flash & indoor lighting to name a few.  Different lighting situations around every corner was definitely a challenge but overall I think the pictures turned out well.  I will probably be doing some editing for a while yet but I am really enjoying going through them.

I have known Tim and Staci for a while now.  Tim pretty much my whole life and Staci for about 10 years now I think.  It is funny how things come about.  Some things overnight others seem to take a lifetime.  What we need to remember is Gods timing is perfect...and we have to remember that He is the one in control not us.  We all definitely waited a long time for this wedding and it was well worth the wait.  Tim & Staci had a beautiful Christ centered wedding.  I think so many of us don't even consider that we are vowing before GOD to Love, Honor and Cherish each other FOREVER.  It is not easy, I struggle every day to keep God in the equation of every little thing.  One thing that makes it easier for me is to just look around and realize everyday that He is the reason for my existence, everything that happens to me He is in control of and has a purpose for.  Yep, that is hard sometimes especially when the tough times come, but through it all even when we don't get it and are questioning everything, I take comfort in the fact that it is all for His glory and that alone is enough. 

Congratulations Tim and Staci.....we all are sooooooo extremely happy for guys and can't wait to see what God has in store for you.  It was a joy to be part of your special day!

Just another day...

Not my baby anymore...

Well Carlie turned nine yesterday.  Time does seem like it has flown by...it seems the older you get the faster the time passes.  Carlie and I kinda had a bit of a different relationship than my other kids in the fact that she had me all to herself for awhile.  I have to admit it was nice to just have that one on one time with her.  She has always been kind of a homebody....we used to go places and when we came home and pulled in the driveway she would clap her hands and scream "we're home, we're home."  Things really haven't changed much, she still would rather be home more than out and sometimes I can just tell she doesn't want to share me with anyone.  I can't tell you how amazing it is to have your nine year old tell you she had the best day ever..."thanks mom...I love you."  

Carlie just wanted to spend the day with her family....we decided to head to the mall since she had no idea what she wanted.  I let her pick out whatever she wanted....she did a great job!  She picked out a hat and purse, a dress for church, necklace & earrings and a webkinz puppy.  We took photos in a photo booth and then with the Chick-fla cow and oh, Justin Bieber (cardboard cutout).  We finished the day by having dinner with all the grandparents at our new favorite restaurant Chi-nnati's.  It didn't take long for her to pull me aside and ask when we could leave.  So things haven't changed much, just the fact that she is no longer a little girl.  She is growing up and even though I don't necessarily like the fact that she is no longer my little girl, I can hold on to the fact that she is turning out to be the most amazing young lady  that I am so proud of.  I love you Carlie.....don't tell anyone, but you will always be my baby! 

Alright already.....

So the past couple days I have spent in bed....it has been kinda nice minus the flu.  I like to hang out and do absolutely nothing, in my jammies with no shower sitting in the dark with NO responsibilities.  I only had to leave my heavenly haven to use the bathroom and raid the fridge.  I am not sure why I am sharing this picture with you....I probably will regret it later just like I did when I let my cousins watch my children's birth video.  I know....what the heck was I thinking.  Who does that.....ME!  So anyway I can be pretty scary when I wake up in the morning, lets face it....its not Days of our Lives or anything, we all could be gorgeous if we had a hair and makeup crew every morning.  Anyway I am going to give you just a glance of me after 3 days of no shower....why?  Because it is just funny.....I am not proud.  If I can loan out my kids birth video I can do just about anything.  It is really kinda hard to see but trust me my hair was so dirty and every which way, I knew when Mike came home and commented on my hair that "that" would be the picture of today.  Have a good laugh.....it will make you feel better and laughter is the best medicine.   (did you honestly think I was going to show you my face....NOT....you only get the hair! lol)

I thought it was funny....

I am not really sure if anyone is even reading these posts but I sure am having fun writing them.  I wanted to try something new but was concerned that I wouldn't have enough "material".  Most days I have some idea of what I am going to do but today it didn't hit me until lunch time.   This is our lunch.....pizza rolls...yummy!  I started them and of course forgot about them, so I yelled into Brandi to check on them and this is the funny part (at least to me).  She opens the oven and yells out "They're done.....they pooped!"  I lost it...."really mom, it's not that funny." Well, I had to grab my camera, this was definitely my "material" for today and I needed a picture.  Then she yells out "they are going to have diarrhea before you get your camera."  I don't know, it just struck me funny and I really don't care if no one else thinks its funny.... it made me laugh!  I always have said it's the little things in life that bring me joy.....and today was one of those little things.

Boys will be boys...

This picture really cracks me up...Will is the little guy behind Evan and he absolutely LOVES Evan.  Sometimes that is the first thing out of his mouth when he comes in..."Is Eben here?"  Evan finally has a little brother (2 actually, I forgot Joel)  to play with.  I can't imagine what it would have been like with more boys growing up.  A lot more chaos I am guessing.  It is so fun to watch how they all interact with each other.  They usually play guns and hide around the house, sometimes they just wrestle or chase each other around.  Will doesn't care what it is as long as it involves Eben!  I can't tell you how much these little guys have become part of our lives.  With them being here sometimes 50 hours a week it is hard not to get attached!   It is nice to feel needed and I really have missed having little ones around.   Evan really has been the only boy I have ever been around and now with Will, Joel and Ben around it is a much different atmosphere.   It is definitely not what I am used to, but I am enjoying it.  Boys will be boys......and I must say that I am loving every minute of it.

8 going on 16...

It seems like kids these days are growing up way to fast and Carlie is no exception.  I can't believe she is turning 9 next week.  I got to thinking a few weeks ago about just how different she is from my other girls. I remember Brandi played babies and house probably until 6th or 7th grade and I remember when I was little I played Barbies and house or school probably until I was 13 or 14.  With Carlie it is just different, I contribute it to being the baby and having older siblings as her role models.  She is always with her older sisters, doing what they are doing, watching movies, hanging out & just being a mini teenager I guess you could say.  I don't really know how it happened but she just kinda skipped a stage without me even realizing it.  She had a friend spend the night a few weeks ago, which never happens, and I couldn't believe how well they got along and actually played together.  They played Barbies, babies you name it and I couldn't get over how much she giggled.  They had the best time....it made me sad....sad that I had forgotten that she was only 8 and wasn't really experiencing the kind of childhood I thought she could be.  Today I think kids are almost rushed to grow up, between the clothes and the T.V. shows, just about everything they are surrounded with is pushing them to grow up.  I think it is my job as a mom to take some of that away, as much as I can, she is just a little girl and not for much longer.  I want her to play dolls and school and as much as I dislike Barbies I want her to play with them.  I want to hear that childlike obnoxious giggling and I don't want to ever forget it.  So my pictures today are what reminded me that my little girl is growing up and it won't be long before she knows everything and those giggles turn into rolling eyes and a great big attitude.  Trust me moms, it happens!  

 

Carlie cut out Taylor's picture and taped to to the back of her docket.  You can see what the other side is...well her response to me when I pulled it out of her bag today was "Mom, he's just so cute...I had to do something with it, it's Barbies mom."  See what I mean.....it happens to fast!

I know...I know!

That's what I have heard all evening....I know...I know...See, it's Evan's night for the dishes and he will do anything to put it off.  The ideal situation is you get up from the dinner table and DO THE DISHES....it's not that hard.  He will seriously wait until the very last possible minute before he even attempts them and sometimes will even try to slip upstairs to bed and claim he forgot.   Tonight his excuse was after "Chuck" I always do them after "Chuck" oh really......well "Chuck" is over at 9:00 and it's 10:30.  I must say he did have a lot going on tonight.  He entertained us with his Jimmy Newtron voice for hours, tried snuggling with everyone, invented dinosaur hugs (and had to give everyone one).  "Just call me Littlefoot" he said!  He definitely has a way of weaseling out of everything....the kid is something else to say the least.  I have no doubt the dishes will be done, I actually hear a lot of banging around upstairs so I am assuming that is what is going on.  You never really know with him, all I know is that I would rather have dishes in the sink and us all downstairs being entertained than a sparkling sink anyday....well most days anyway.

Yes....I'm a slacker

Friday.....Let me explain...these are mismatched gloves, about 15 or so.  I have been hanging onto them for sometime now and today I finally took that giant step.  Yes, I tossed them!  This is totally out of my character, I don't give up usually without a fight.  I am the keeper of pen caps, socks, earrings, flip flops you name it.  I truly believe the minute I throw it away it will turn up the next day.  But today I just did it.....no hesitation (except for grabbing my camera and getting a shot of them) I just did it.  However, I do know exactly where the garbage bag is they are in, just in case.....they show up tomorrow!

Saturday... I will be perfectly honest, this is not a picture I took on Saturday.  It was a pretty uneventful day, lots of lying around for me and a short trip to Costco that's about it!  There is a story to this picture I took last week, Evan's night to make dinner.  His favorite....Poppyseed chicken!  He has made it one time before and it is something I actually can make and not ruin, so I knew he was perfectly capable.  A little information about Evan, when he does something he DOES it.....no messing around and he has to make a PRODUCTION of it.  I guarantee he thought it was by far the best batch of Poppyseed chicken that has ever been made PERIOD.  I must admit, it was pretty yummy!  I love how he is using an ice cream scoop to mix it up.  Whatever works I guess, and I didn't have to do a thing but show up at the table so I'm happy!

Sunday... Right now our church's Assistant Pastor is doing a series on abortion.  This is his new baby, #6 and she is so precious.  The statistics on abortion is heart wrenching...and it is something I just can't wrap my mind around.  I really have appreciated the information he has provided and I feel I am much more prepared to defend my stand on abortion now.  I think the only way we are going to wipe out abortion is to speak up about it and most of all PRAY about it daily.  With God all things are possible and I am holding onto that with a tight grip.  The bible is clear that life begins at the moment of conception, plain and simple.   I prayed tonight that I would be given the opportunity to share what I believe and make a difference in someones life. This should be something we all should be passionate about, we can make a difference.  Life truly is a miracle, how can you not see that in the face of a child?

Quite the imagination...

I am always blown away with what my kids can come up with when they have a little time on their hands.  Today they had lots and they blew me away as usual.  Most of us want to stay inside when it is this cold...Not Evan and Mackenzie.  They really are 2 peas in a pod.  It was decided early on that after their chores were done they were headed out.  Little did I realize how serious this was.  It started with a pile of gear, everything from airsoft guns, bb's, backpacks, a shelving unit from the garage, a carpet, goggles & full blown masks and walkie talkies.  I think the only thing they forgot was food & water. What in the world... Evan made an announcement what was going to take place and only Kenzie was up for it (as usual)  So Evan preceded to tell the other girls that they "would die alone" because a man evidently wants someone who plays war in the freezing cold.  Brandi and KK just watched as it unfolded in the backyard saying "REALLY, they built forts" your kidding me.  No, it wasn't a joke!  They were out there forever....and of course when they came in Mackenzie had the best story about how she scared Evan to death (which he denied) by hiding in the window well after concealing her footprints and climbing over garbage cans so he would loose her tracks.  It was so so funny...they had a great time and I am sure have plans for another showdown if we have another snowday tomorrow.

I can dream.....

Well...I know this isn't going to happen but it sure would be nice.  I really would like to wake up tomorrow morning and find this out my back door.  Instead it will be gloomy, wet and then I am pretty sure we are going to get a blanket of snow dumped directly on us.  With all the snow expected the kids will be home early and therefore the chaos begins...not that I am complaining, well kinda I guess.  It seems lately there is less and less time to get done what needs be be done and no motivation to even make an attempt some days.  This weather certainly doesn't help my mood or make me very motivated.   The good news is in a few short months I will be looking out my backdoor at my sparkling pool, sun shining down, green grass and the kids all home....and yes chaos.  I am REALLY looking forward to that.  I need sunshine...plain and simple...I need to be able to get out of this house and take in some fresh air.  But for now....I can dream!

Problem solved....or so I thought!

Ok....let me explain this one.  We have a big problem in our family....at least in my mind we do. We have 7 people in our family and for as long as I can remember we ALWAYS have had a sink FULL of cups.  At times I swear there must be 20 or more.  I just don't get it.  It is impossible for anyone, including myself to pick a cup and use it all day.  Over the past couple of years I have tried several things, I can't tell you how many cups we have thrown away or hid away in a box in the garage, but it is a lot.  So, this time I had the answer.  I found these cups, really great cups (see the silver ones) they are called "Contigo"and they keep hot stuff hot and cold stuff cold.  They are completely spill proof....just ask my mother-in-law!  We have had the silver ones for awhile....however....my hubby has taken them over since he is completely obsessed with coffee.  At Christmas time I found the tall tumbler ones....still "Contigo" still completely spill proof but are more like a water bottle.  This was the solution....I bought 7 of them, all different colors and I knew it would be an issue so I made them pick color and stick to it.  Problem solved....what was I thinking!   It lasted maybe a week...Evan has lost his twice already and they even have a clip on them.  So I think I am giving this one up...it was a great idea but I don't think anyone else thought it was.  That is usually the way it works!  So for now I am NOT buying anymore cups, bottles, mugs, glasses or anything else you drink out of.   I am just going to keep placing them up in the window HOPING they will catch on.....a girl can dream can't she?

A promise is a promise...

Well it seems last week I made a promise...sort of a commitment I guess you could say. So today I begin my new "project". I am calling it "one.frame.a.day" a snapshot in the life of me... My goal is to document the little things, the little things in life we sometimes take for granted. Those everyday things that might not seem important at the time but when we look back just might tug at our heart. My life is so full, I think sometimes I just don't get it. I don't acknowledge just how blessed I am. I want to take more time to notice those little things...what really is important to me! I am sure some days it will take more effort than others, and other times I will have way more going on than I want to admit. Either way I am going to give it my best shot. I hope you follow along and maybe challenge yourself at the same time to just enjoy everything about your life, you only get one chance. Enjoy...

Today was CRAZY....yep, nothing new at our house. The kids were all home, Will & Joel (Brandi's kids she nannies) and then I decided to take 4 other kids pictures for samples for my upcoming Valentines Session. So after lots of running around and lots of chaos things finally calmed down, well for about a minute, then the finale.....Will vomited all over my couch. So I am thinking tomorrow will be a bit better....I guess we will have to wait and see. In the mean time here is a sample of my upcoming sessions.