Home Sweet Home!

I'm back home and back to reality. Our 8 day vacation was better than we could have imagined. We had such a great time and the kids first experience at the ocean was fantastic!

I came home to a calendar overload. Immediate orthodontist appointments...turning expanders and retainers, birthday planning for my son, Field Day and testing at school, Brownie meetings and Sleepovers at the Zoo, client updates, editing vacation pics, preparing for my photo workshop in a few weeks.......i could go on, but I think y'all get it! It is totally true what they say about losing more and more brain cells with every kid. If that's not reason enough to stop at 3, I don't know what is!

I didn't go crazy with pics from our vacation. Most of the time we were doing things that made it hard to bring a camera along. I have a few, but you'll have to wait to see. I'm completely swamped with stuff right now.

Head em' up, Move em' out...

...is what my dad always said to get us out the door. I'm so ready for those same words to cross my lips tomorrow morning at 4am.
We'll be on our way to sunny Florida for a week of soaking up some sun! We'll be leaving bright and early tomorrow morning, driving all the way to LA for two nights with my parents (Nannaw and Pappaw) and then getting back in the car on Monday morning to drive the last treck to Florida. We'll spend 4 nights in FL and then we'll head back home, but this time taking the route that will take us through Little Rock to see Grandma and Aunt Becky & Uncle Ferris, plus my sweet nephew, who I have yet to hold!

It will be tons of fun and even more driving! I think total (CO to FL) is somewhere around 28 hours. Needless to say, with 3 kids ages 8, 7 and almost 4, there will be plenty to do in the car. At least I hope! Jimmy has maxed out his Ipod with tons of audio books for the two of us, while the kids will have their own private theater in the back (thanks to Caci). The kids also have there own personal video game systems (2 Nintendo DS's and 1 V-Smile) for their own enjoyment.

I have just recently (like since wednesday night) taken up crocheting. My neighbor gave me a little mini lesson on how to make granny squares. I'm proud to say I have the pattern memorized, and I'm on my way to making the cutest little something you ever saw. The pic above shows my 2 day progress. Not bad, huh?

I also have two great books that I'm hoping to read for bookclub while on my trip. This month's book is "The Guernsey Literary & Potato Peel Pie Society" and the other for June is "The Shape of Mercy".

I won't mention the snacks that will be consumed on our long drive....just know, they will do nothing for my bikini clad figure on the beach next week.

....oh, but I did get my very 1st mystic tan today. I read and then reread the directions as to not pull the classic "Ross" from that great "Friends" episode. We'll see how I did in the next 24 hours. :)

I will be out of the office, so to speak until May 18th. If you need to book an appointment for a photo shoot please send me an email or voice message and I will get back to you when I'm back.

Day Dreaming

Lately, I've been finding myself day dreaming about my June trip to Grand Rapids, Michigan. I am anxiously awaiting my first ever photography workshop (put on by Amy Wenzel)....really, my first ever "business trip" if you will. I know, I'm a dork. But seriously, I've been a stay-at-home mom for over 8 years now, and I've never flown anywhere without the little munchkins tagging along. I'm super excited!

Anyway, that is where my mind has been today. I'm so anxious to leave and even more anxious to learn all I can in 2 days with such a fabulous photographer. Now, if I can just get my hands on that Shootsac I've had my eye on for months I'll be ready to go!

More Mini's

I've been slacking this week. I don't know why, but I have put off editing pics all week. Just wasn't in the mood. I finally managed to get around to editing another mini shoot I did last weekend. Don't you just love the hat?

My Beauties!

I seriously did this little shoot with my kids in like....I don't know.....8 minutes. It was crazy. I was trying to get out the door by 9am to head to church and I literally snapped these shots in record time! The light was poor Easter morning, because it was cloudy and rainy. Kind of a bummer, but it was all I had. Some are little jewels, but others are the best I could do without my sweet, creamy light that usually shines into my living room. On another note, this is probably one of the last pics of Peyton without her braces on. Two weeks from a mouth full of metal! Ahhhh!

Easter duds

My sweet little nephews came over for Easter. I had to get my camera out....just look how cute they are! Their personalities shine in these pics. I love all the faces!

Here Nannaw and Gigi, I know you've been waiting for these! Oh, and take a look at Finley's right hand. Lookin' good, huh?

Mini Shoots sneak peek!

My first Mini Shoot sessions! It was really fun spending most of the day behind the camera. I had a blast hanging out with all these cute kids. I was really concerned that I didn't have enough bookings, but by the end of the day I was so glad that I wasn't booked solid. There are still more to come, but I'm still editing. I'll get them up as soon as I can. My 10 minute sessions turned into a little longer than that. Shhhh! Don't tell!