Investing in puzzles!

"To often we choose to spend our time instead of investing it" -author unknown


Everyday I realize that I am one step closer to sending this guy to school and being home alone! I'll admit, there have been times when I have longed for the peace and quiet. However, I have a feeling that I will be begging for the business of five year old life when this time comes. In face, I KNOW I WILL!!! I love our time together... just the two of us. I treasure these moments as much as anything in my life.

The hours this guy spends doing puzzles astounds me. He goes from one to the next and then asks if we can find another. Many, many, many days he sits next to my desk and puzzles while I work. I love looking over my shoulder and watching him. Often he is singing to himself or rattling on about some super-hero's powers.

I love having my very own super-hero to keep my company. I am also very thankful for PUZZLES!

I also know that this time we get together is an investment! It will be one of my greatest investments!!!

You're gonna miss this...

"You're gonna miss this. You're gonna want this back"

I can not tell you how many times these song lyrics play through my mind. My two children are growing up right before my eyes and I worry that I am going to want ALL of it back.

I have mentioned a few hundred times on this blog that my daughter is my sunshine. She always has been and always will be. She could teach us all a thing or two about enjoying the journey. She lives to enjoy each moment of every day. She does not want to miss out on anything that might involve fun. She dottles along everywhere she goes, smelling the roses you might say. I have yet to see her in a hurry unless it involves getting to the "fun" part. In my preschool class I was reading a book called "Where's Ruby". It is about a little duck who takes her sweet time on their outing. She stops to look and explore everything. All of the other ducklings are in a big hurry to get to the end, but not Ruby. The other ducklings push and prod her to hurry. A storm comes and the ducklings become lost. They are not sure which way they should go to get back home. Ruby, however, remembers each step of their path home. She remembers all of the wonderful things she had seen along the way. Every time I read this book I think of my daughter. She will remember it all and I have a feeling SHE won't miss a thing or want anything back. She is enjoying her journey to the fullest; humming sweet little melodies to herself as she goes.

I persuaded her to let me take a few pictures of her tonight. Even this became a learning lesson for me. I wanted to "make it quick". I wanted a few priceless pictures to replace a few around the house, but I wanted it done quickly. You know, there were things to be done. SHE on the other hand decided if she were going to be my victim she would get some say in how things would go down. She wanted her doll to be in the pictures with her. Okay, grab the doll and let's snap them. Well, the doll was dressed in her cowgirl outfit and that wouldn't do. So she wanted to pick out an outfit to match and then take fifteen minutes getting her all re-dressed. I couldn't help but think how unnecessary this all was; after all, I just wanted pictures of her. I didn't care what the doll looked like. Well, looking back at all of the images we took the TWO that I snapped with the doll are my favorites. Her desire to make every situation count and to take the time to enjoy the details in our lives has taught me yet again that if I do not stop being in such a hurry I AM going to miss this.

I love this little girl for everything she is and for everything she teaches me!

*romber and accessories by Ruby Blue
*outfit by Persnickety
*Thanks Jess for your help on the backdrop! This is my new favorite. :)

A brand new day!

Whew, am I glad for TODAY! I had tonsil and adenoid surgery last Friday and TODAY if the first day since that I haven't felt like I wanted to die. It has been the longest week and I am so grateful for a bit of energy today and a glimpse that things are looking better. It has made me appreciate my health and the fact that most of the time we can run 180 mph. :) I will be getting to all of my emails in the next few days and working on sessions that are waiting for their images. If you do not get an email back from me by Monday please re-send your email. It seems I had a couple of days with internet trouble while I was sick and have had a few people tell me they had emailed when I didn't get an email.

Thanks to everyone who sent get-well wishes. I appreciate you so, so, so much!

These images are from a session that I did the night before surgery. I have many more wonderful images to share.

Summer Reading

My daughter and I decided to create an outdoor "reading nook". The recipe included an old blanket, tying sheers in the trees, a favorite doll, and the BOOKS (of course). It was the perfect spot to spend our afternoon. We had just gotten everything settled when we spied one of our chickens coming in for a closer look. They are usually quite timid and stay their distance, but for some reason this little hen wanted to be a part of story hour. She came around the tree and right up to the blanket. My daughter, wanting to squeal with delight, held perfectly still as I ran to the house for my camera. What a PERFECT picture I am thinking. I was gone for all of three seconds but as I flew back out the door everything had changed. Staring at our brave, little chicken was our ornery mother cat and our 150 pound great dane, both with all kinds of ill-intent. I even watched as our cat licked her chops. Seriously!!! My first thought was in rescuing the little, red hen from becoming chicken dinner and my second thought was to save the photo. What happened was mass chaos... one daughter screaming and chasing the cat, one dog barking at the excitement, one chicken running for dear life to her coop, one photographer very, very sad. :( Needless to say that chicken told the other chickens and they all went in the coop for the rest of the night. They are probably STILL talking about the near death experience at story hour.

So I didn't capture the image that originally sent me running for my camera, but I did mange to capture several that I love just as much. :)

I'm baaack!

Has it really been two weeks already? :( It went so quickly and I enjoyed every minute of it. We have been vacationing for almost a full two weeks. It felt like a breath of fresh air. I have so many fun pictures and even more wonderful memories. Once I get all of my editing caught up I will post a few!

I will be answering emails and getting sessions out as quickly as I can.

Many more sessions to hit the blog soon!!!

Oh, and as promised- more of Miss P in the post below.

Favorite Things

All of the images that came from this orchard set were styled by Trisha of Ruby Blue. She designed each one of the hairpieces and they are AMAZING! She has talent coming out her ears!!! I can not get enough of her designs and love, love, love what they add to a session. She also made pieces to match the darling dresses by FaithWorks4U.

You have got to visit her site if you haven't already. She will soon become one of your favorites as well.

More... Because I LOVE THEM!!! :)

Mother's Day Bliss!

Happy Mother's Day!!!

I told my husband all week that the only thing that I wanted for Mother's day was for THIS shoot to happen. I have been swamped with sessions this spring which is a very good thing, but I haven't had time to shoot FOR ME in a long time. I had asked Trisha of Ruby Blue if she would style for me as well as let me borrow her two little girls as models. I was nervous all week that weather wouldn't hold out for one of my senior sessions and I would have to use Saturday as a make-up day. WE LUCKED OUT! All of the stars aligned just perfectly and my Mother's day wish was granted.

So Trisha shows up with a trunk full of darling clothes and, of course, her amazing accessories. Every one of the pieces in this shoot are her design and you can find them on her site. Adding her work to a shoot changes EVERYTHING. It is like a photographers dream. Beautiful little girls all dressed up ready for their turn at the camera. Ahhh.... MOTHER'S DAY BLISS! My sweet, amazing sister drove over from a busy, hectic day so that I could add her girls to the mix. I am so grateful to these two amazing ladies for all their help. I can not wait to get all of the images up.

And to all amazing Mother's today I hope you have a wonderful day. I know that as moms we are very hard on ourselves. We work like crazy, love our families, and have the greatest desire to see the people that we love succeed. All of this and we still feel ourselves wishing we could do more and be more. It is a tireless and selfless job. One that can only be rewarded with a kiss, a hug, or an "I love you mom". These little moments are what make it all worth it.

And to my amazing Mother... I LOVE YOU, MOM! You are one of the most loving mother's the world will ever know. You have amazed me time and time again with the selfless acts you do for your FIVE daughters. You have worked so hard for us and I want you to know that we HAVE noticed. You are the first person I think of if I need advice, a tripping buddy, or a good shoulder to cry on. You are my dearest friend and have been a beautiful example to me of what a Mother should be. Thank you!!!

Love to all of you... Enjoy your day!

More from RUBY BLUE!

Okay, if you have not visited Ruby Blue, you should do so NOW! I am in love with Trisha's work. This is just a sample of the fabulous line she has to offer! And even better, I now have these pieces to offer when you schedule a session. You are welcome to use any of them that will add to your look!

Trisha, thanks again for trusting me with such a fun project. I can not wait for the fun things to come!!!

And thank you a million times to my darling nieces who came to model for me. They were so good to play along. They are all so beautiful and I am one lucky photographer/aunt to have them in my life. I love you girls!!!

I am in heaven... product shots for RUBY BLUE!

I was asked to take a few product shots for Ruby Blue boutique. I opened the box and have been in heaven ever since. Trisha has the most amazing talent. Each piece she designs is exquisite. I was so impressed by the detail and the quality in her work. I am loving what these pieces add to any look. They actually become the centerpiece of the entire outfit.

I was going to wait to post all of the shots at once, but I couldn't. I am having so much fun with these and had to share. I am just getting started and can't wait to show off all of the amazing things she sent me. Keep watching!

Make sure you check out her site!