Organized Chaos

2010-09-07T17:51:00.000-07:00

I am so excited that I have moved to a new blog. I wanted to make a move so that it would be easier for me to upload pictures and make them look spectacular so that is what I did! I love it...

http://www.foreveroctoberphotography.com/blog

2010-08-30T06:17:00.000-07:00

These are pretty cute kids! How fun it was to take pictures! I have taken pictures of this family before and now they have a new addition. How fun is that for me to watch kids grow and see them change from year to year. This little boy has the most amazing eyes!
This week has been so very weird. I decided that I wanted to spend more time at home so I decided to leave Steiner Homes. It is a sad time for me because I have come to love the guys that I work with! It is such a loss for me to not interact with them everyday. It will definitely be a transition for me to not have my phone ringing constantly. I think I will definitely have to adjust.
I worry that I won't get dressed in the morning or I will spend my time eating and watching tv. I think I might do that for a week or two...but hope full it will give me more time to get things done. I thought that when my kids went to school I would have so much more time, but the older they get the busier I am...it never slows down. Now there are so many things my kids are involved in and it is hard to keep up. I also don't feel like I could give the time or attention that my job needed. I felt that I was not doing either of my jobs very well..

So we will see where my new adventure takes me! I am excited to actually get diner on the table or feel like I am caught up on laundry!

2010-08-26T19:27:00.000-07:00

I just love these pictures. I just love these two people....

I cannot tell you how much fun I had with Kim and Jonathan! I wanted to go and see Kim in San Antonio and meet Jonathan who she is fixin to be married to. I was a little nervous to go but when I found out that I got to take some pictures while I was there it put my mind at ease. I also get nervous meeting new people and being in a different enviroment. I always do fine but my initial reaction is one of nervousness.

I could not be more excited about the two of them getting married. Jonathan is one of the nicest people I have met in a long time not to mention he is a looker!!! Even Daniel thought he might have a little crush on him. Besides that he is perfect for Kim and I could tell instantly that he really loves her. Kim of course is always gorgeous and I love to be around her. She makes me feel creative even when I am not. I miss being creative with her. I think that there is one person in our life who really understands us and I think that Kim is that person for me. She is always encouraging... never letting me doubt myself.

These are just some of the day. Of course all three of us like to take pictures so you can imagine how many we took. The funny thing is we did all of it in about an hour and a half. It was a whirlwind.

2010-08-08T18:54:00.000-07:00

So tomorrow is my birthday and I get to be grateful for the people in my life. This little family of mine definitely gets me up in the morning and sends me exhausted to bed at night.

I got to take pictures of Carsons and Jadens preschool teacher there are some people in your life that are truly blessings.

Okay so I find this woman beautiful. She has been loving two of my boys since we moved here to Indiana. Oh I could not have picked a more perfect person to take care of them. Every day with the biggest smile on her face she has comforted them, loved them, taught them. You can tell just by looking at her that just being around her makes a person smile.

2010-08-01T21:05:00.000-07:00

I could have never imagined a hotter day than this wedding day! It was so humid and miserable but the day was carried out without a hitch. The bride and groom were so natural and in touch with each other. It was a privilege to share the day with them.

Love...It is such a funny thing. It takes you by surprise and defies expectations. It holds you prisoner and sets you free. Who knew that on the day that we say "I do" that love will be put to the test in so many different ways. The worst thing to do is hold back your love in fear. It is terrifying to let go and trust. Your love could not be returned.

But then I would miss...

his blue eyes

his touch

his laugh

his smell

his tears of humility

his warmth

his prayers at night in the dark...

I would jump into the darkness for him to never miss a moment of his love ...

This wedding we did a photo booth. I loved it, I thought it was so much fun. They really let their personalities out! I want to do it every time. I wish I could post all of the images that I had but I can't.

Just loved it!

2010-07-25T19:30:00.000-07:00

Wow it has been a full weekend. Never complaining though. Had a much needed girls night out. Had the pleasure of shooting a wedding. And I got to take the lovely Kimberly's senior pictures. These pictures speak for themselves... she is just stunning!

At the beginning of taking pictures I asked her if she was "ready for this." We did some breathing to relax and then Daniel showed her some very simple poses. He is getting really good at it. He showed her how to make a "S" curve with her body and how to breathe through her lips right before a shot. I love having him around.

He just makes life so very entertaining. I would not change it for anything.

I do like life being busy. It keeps my mind off how fast the summer is going and how fast everyone is growing up. My daughter got a cell phone. I knew that it would be challenging but I wanted to be able to keep better tabs on her. Little did I know that I would now be getting texts from down stairs like "what are we having for diner," or "can I have a barbie birthday cake" as she is supposed to be taking a shower. She like her father keeps my life interesting.

This week we are off to girls camp. So another really busy week. Things at my job at Steiner are really starting to go well and I am blessed that I get to do my favorite job of taking pictures but it keeps me busy. I have something else that has kept me up at night with excitement. The thought of it makes me want to jump up and down like a little girl. I can't talk about it yet because no decisions have been made but it made me realize that the world is full of possibilities and taking a leap is just darn exciting.

2010-07-21T17:53:00.000-07:00

All I can say today is Thank You!

Thank you for the beautiful weather.

Thank you for my beautiful family.

Thank you for time.

Thank you for intimacy.

Thank you for different perspectives.

Thank you for my life.

I have been taking a workshop to improve my photography skills. It is all about changing my perspectives. To add more foreground interest, to use negative space, experiment with dramatic lighting. I love doing it. I love thinking differently. I have been combing through magazines and photography books. I have enjoyed looking through the eyes of so many different people. My favorite magazine by the way is "Vanity Fair". I went to the library and checked out all they had. They have the most interesting photographic spreads out there. They are always very dramatic and I love that.

But today we went to the beach and I again am reminded why I took up photography, to capture the lives of my children. I hope when all is said and done that they will look back and remember all the wonderful times that we had. At the end of one of my favorite songs it says...

When the years are showing on my face

and my strongest days are gone

When my heart and flesh depart this place

from a life that sung your song

You'll still be the one I want

You'll still be the one I want....

They are what I want and hope that my life sings their song....

2010-07-17T22:44:00.000-07:00

I see lovers in the streets walking without a care

they wear it out loud like there is something in the air.

If they are lucky they'll get to see

and if they're really, really lucky they will get to feel...

If they are truly blessed then they get to believe

You kick so hard it breaks your bones

It cuts so deep It hits your soul

Tears your skin and makes your blood flow

It is better that you know that...

Love is hard....

Love is hard.... If it was easy it wouldn't mean nothing..

These words are just little parts of a song by James Morrison. They have become my truth. My meaning for the word love has changed for me in the last couple of months. I thought I loved....I did not know that it would take something that shattered my world to help me understand what it meant to really love. To love myself, my husband, my children. I have had to deal with my pain on my own. I have had to rely on that I am a daughter of God to get me through.

But I am turning a corner...

And now I feel lucky

I get to see.

I get to feel.

I get to believe.

Love means so much to me now.

I feel it as I write this.

I feel it as I hear my husband snoring next to me.

I feel it during Sunday morning breakfasts.

My life is different now...and I am excited for the possibilities.

Have not taken my kids out in so long to take pictures...They are truly loved by me.

I have the most of Carly because she is turning 13 and I wanted to remember her this way..

2010-05-24T08:07:00.000-07:00

Last minute shot....

cutest girlfriend ever...

I wish for every question I had an answer....

Life has gotten so puzzling lately that I don't even know where to begin.

Life never slows down. I also don't organize my time very well, so I waste a lot of it.

That is going to be my top priority this year is to learn how to use my day to the fullest. I think from now on I am going to start jotting down some of the crazies that happen into my life and relaying the stories here.

I am not going to start that yet so here are just few shots of the cutest senior ever. A lot of fun to shoot. Very casual, but we laughed a lot. Thank you so much like always for letting me spend the afternoon with you.

My fave...

It was hard to get him to look serious.....

My families fave...

Look at those eyes.....

2010-05-16T18:36:00.000-07:00

Today the kids asked me to take them to the beach. I laid there in the sun watching the clouds go by listening to my ipod and thought this is perfection. The kids laughing and running around just enjoying the day. I thought it was surreal until I noticed what they were doing that was so funny. They were filling each other's pants up with sand. Just hilarious! It did not take anything away from my moment.

I had another day of taking pictures of this wonderful family. I can never deny how much I love a tutu. I was really nervous this time for some reason. I had to calm myself midway and tell myself that it was not the end of the world if I ruined every shot. The family is so wonderful and would have been forgiving but I really worked myself up. They were so much fun to work with and the boys loved where we took pictures there were sticks to hit things with everywhere.

2010-05-15T08:03:00.000-07:00

I do remember when I graduated from high school oh so many years ago. I do remember the excitement of getting older and doing things on my own. I do miss the thought of the endless possibilities....

This one had quite the style and was not afraid.... I loved her confidence and her shopping addiction. It made the outfit changes that much more exciting. To see what she was coming up with next.....

I just had a great time. This is the best time of year because the lighting is so perfect for so long. Just like graduating I love the endless possibilities of my life right now. There are so many things to look forward to and I seem to be finding my own way lately.

The internet is not always such a bad place.

2010-05-11T19:52:00.000-07:00

I am addicted to finding new music to listen to. It could be old to everyone else but if it is new to me I just can't get enough. Right now the fave on my ipod is this guy....I am in love.....

I am also in love with this man's photography. I love reading his blog....it makes me want to live life a little differently taking nothing for granted. And make everyday like words to a song. I am in love as well......

http://claytonaustinlovestories.com/#home/

And for clothing there is nothing better than this place.

http://www.modcloth.com/store/ModCloth/Womens/Dresses

love, love, love........

I would love to hear of any photography blogs that are your favorite or clothing stores or music....Lets share the love!

I love a new lens....

2010-05-02T07:27:00.001-07:00

Now I know that a new lens does not a photograph make.....but it sure does flippin help. It mixes things up... It changes perspective a little.... makes everything feel fresh. It helps taking pictures of pretty people as well. I mean dang....

I am really loving this location. I love this grove of trees. Makes you feel like we are in some secluded place in the mountains instead of off the highway in a dirty field. I could see its potential. This will be a new favorite. I do have a great friend who does some of the dirty work for me in finding locations. He is good. He has an eye for it and it is fun to wonder what he will come up with next.

This is the first time that I have brought Carly with me to take pictures. I wanted her to help with Ava and I think she did a great job. I really should include her more in the process. I have thought lately that maybe she would like to learn, but if she never tries how will she know if she likes it.

Getting to know the families lately that I am taking pictures of is so much fun. They are all so adventurous and unconcerned about the weather and their hair as I am. And Ava what a doll.

Yesterday was just a wonderful day. From my parents coming to visit to helping friends move. I also love that I have friends who will come out to see my seven year old play baseball. It really means something to me. I love baseball season. I love the families coming out to watch and our coaches who are so wonderfully supportive. I love then taking pictures in the rain and bonding with wonderful families. Then I love coming home to a wonderful family and a home cooked meal and a movie.

I do love a giveaway!

2010-04-27T12:08:00.000-07:00

So I am posting a link of a site that is having a great giveaway today. A Uno Dvd by Lauren Clark. I am also then entered in a giveaway for the Love Affair workshop that I would love to go to.

“Check out http://www.loveaffairworkshop.com! They’re giving away prizes & a seat to their workshop on the blog this week! Go enter to win!”

I was going to die if it didn't stop raining.....

2010-04-25T14:36:00.000-07:00

I thought it was going to rain and I was going to miss this.... I thought the blooms would be gone, I thought this couple might not be able to meet with me again for a while and I wanted to take their picture. I have wanted to use this hat for a while and thought that she was the perfect candidate.

These two are absolutely stunning to me. They are funny, sweet and they were so fun to be in here with! I have been eyeing this place for a while. Daniel and I went on a little location hunt and ran across and I absolutely knew it would be perfect. Daniel has caught the fever for finding the right place we find it definitely a challenge. We have been thrown out of places, stared at, laughed at but none of that never really matters. I just love to take pictures.

Since I have not been studying photography for long. Some things are still such a challenge for me. The right light the best angles and positions. One thing stays the same for me that I really cherish the time that I get to spend with each person that I come out with. I never knew that it would become one of the best part of the picture.

These pictures I am going to use for my website which I will hopefully have up in a while. Just waiting on a logo. I never wanted to have a business but now that it is here I want it to be the best that it can be. I hope they love the pictures as much as I do.

What a beautiful day.....

2010-04-18T14:23:00.000-07:00

I love this girl. Rachel is unique and beautiful and fun to be around. She has her own style and a beauty that definitely shines through her eyes. I loved taking her senior pictures. I love that she showed up to my house and was so excited because she said "besides wedding pictures this is one of the biggest picture days of your life!" A girl after my own heart.

Yes...I took Rachel to a laundromat. Got a few stares and had to wait a couple of times for a certain person to get his laundry out of the washer into the dryer. I mean I am standing there with a camera Rachel is on top of the washers and he just stands there like are you taking pictures?

This was the longest I have ever taken pictures before. We were out for almost four hours and my hand was cramping and we are freezing but I loved every minute of it.

This is probably an over load of pictures but I just wanted Rachel to be able to see the ones that I loved so far! I really did not know she had it in her. She had a head tilt and a look in her eyes that was unexpected to me and I think she took beautiful photographs.

Look at those eyes! My friend Joella helps me with makeup and I think she does such a wonderful job at keeping the girls looking really naturally but really making their features stand out. Thank you Joella for being there for me and being excited for the girls to get their pictures taken. It really makes them feel special.

Oh what a struggle this week has been. I hope that this week I can put it all behind me and start fresh. That is the nice thing about struggles they don't seem as bad with a little time. I hope that is true for this one as well.

I can't imagine a different life....

2010-04-12T19:52:00.000-07:00

I wake up in the morning sometimes already tired from the things that I have to do that day! I wish it would slow down sometimes but then I feel restless during the times that are slow. This past weekend did nothing for my slowing down part. We jumped in the car on Saturday drove 7 hours to my sister-in-laws house in Iowa. Erik (my brother in law) is leaving for Iraq soon and they wanted family pictures. This little ones face lights up the room and his voice is music to my ears.

We also wanted to see our family so we jumped in the car and left. We had a wonderful time and the kids had the mostest fun. I fell in love with those beautiful children and wanted to take some home with me. Not all because there are seven. These are just a few of the ones that I have started to go through.

I also love my camera. I love that I have it. I love that it has become a part of me. I rarely leave home without it because I am afraid that I might miss something. I lug around that big camera because I want to--- not because I have to like a purse or your keys but because it makes me feel real in some way.

I would do this again. I would drive 14 hours stay 22 and leave again just to feel like you mean something. Just to feel real. To have connections, to have family. Jaden by the way did not bode so well on this trip. I zone out on car rides and tend to let the kids do what ever they want to keep the noise levels down. My mistake because from the amount of throw up Jaden ate quite the stash.

I don't believe I ever want to pose a family again. That is my statement here and now. I like the feel of laughing and smiling and things out of focus and playing peekaboo. I grabbed a lot of these while the kids were climbing up their slide in the back yard. So much more genuine so much more relaxing and the pictures to me mean so much more.

Lots going on this week. So I will be updating this blog more for myself to document my life. It might not always have pictures. Probably will....just saying I am going to write it down more and mean it.

Our Wonderful vacation......

2010-03-25T20:10:00.000-07:00

So kinda last minute (because that is how we like to do everything) we decided to go and rent a house in Kentucky and stay at the lake with the kids. I have never had such an amazing time. Yes there was the screaming and the occasional "don't touch me!" But for the most part everyone seemed to really love being there together!

I will have to say a couple of things about the man I married. He hates to fish. The boys love to fish. He has often said "I am not the right father for these boys." It makes me so sad because of the amount of love these boys are in with their dad. He would get up every morning and spend hours fishing with all the boys. He didn't know what bait to use or where to tell them to cast their lines but he was there. He dragged them all through the mud (which he hates almost as much as fishing) to find just the right quiet spot to catch the best fish. They caught fish. One really big fish so he is king to them.

He loves my finish product. Sometimes he does not understand how my mind works but he knows in the end it will turn out. He trusts me. He supports me. He has "turned me into somebody loved." I love this picture of him, because he is loved by me. Oh we hate each other a lot of the times and tell each other things that we don't like about each other but at the end of the day this is how I fall.

We were in the middle of no where and there was not a lot of things to take pictures of so I tried desperately to work on the light and getting the details in a shot. Not blowing out the sky or framing a picture correctly. It takes so much practice to learn how to use your camera. I cannot get enough of the sun flare. I had to switch back to my 50 mm lens to get really good ones.

The next couple of months are turning out to be exciting. My mind is twirling over the senior shoots I get to do in the next couple of weeks. I think I love those the best. They are always so excited to get pictures taken. They are willing to try different things.

Facebook | Forever October Photography

2010-03-18T21:33:00.000-07:00

Facebook Forever October Photography

Just added a Facebook fan page so I could put my pictues in certain categories. Go check it out! Show the love and fan it so I think that people adore me.

What a cold but perfect day for pictures!

2010-03-14T16:26:00.000-07:00

I mean could they be any more perfect? This couple was up for anything. Never complained that it was past the point of any type of comfortable temperature. Stand on a ledge, cross rickety platform, stand under this structure that looks questionable. I think they got the point of getting the right shot. It makes my job so much more exciting. I didn't even know it was cold til the end when I was in the car and I could not feel my toes.

These are just a little peek at my favorites so far. I was so excited to take them that editing was so easy because they are such pretty people. I took along my friends Joe and Joella and they said I was crazy for coming to a place like this. But wow! It makes for a great background. I don't think I will bring kids running around but I love it for couples.

I feel like every shoot I go on that I get closer and closer to the type of photographer I want to be. I really try to shoot from different angles and perspectives. I think it makes the photographs look so interesting and draws the attention right to the focal point.

I am so excited for them that they found each other and seem so in love.

And by the way the shoes were pretty much the icing on the cake.

I love new places!

2010-03-10T18:57:00.001-08:00

So Daniel and I had a free afternoon and after many minutes of debate decided to go to a place that I have wanted to take pictures for a while now. I am so glad that we did. I loved it. It was so unique and beautiful and you could feel the history all around. I couldn't imagine what it had been like in all its glory. Just amazing.

I love taking pictures. I love how I feel when I get my camera out and I see things so differently. I love that Daniel will go with me and try his hardest to understand.
So I have decided weekly that I want to share some of my favorite photographers here. There are so many out there and if anyone loves photography then they will love these sites. This first one is definitely one of my favorites. I love their style and I love that they are a husband and wife team. So great! Their studio speaks to me. I love it.

http://www.studio6-23.com/blog/

I also have a new favorite bag and I am trying to convince Daniel that I need it. It is so me.

http://www.epiphaniebags.com/#/stores-1/

I also have a very favorite photography website but their recent post is so amazing to me. I love everything about the grainy photos and the head pieces. If I were going to get married all over again this is definitely the way that I would go.

http://redleafstudios.squarespace.com/red-leaf-studios-journal/2010/3/7/brianne-luxury-fashion.html

The weather is finally changing!

2010-03-08T09:10:00.001-08:00

The weather is changing and I get to get out and take a lot of pictures. I have never been so happy. It is still cold but on Saturday it was like 50 degrees and I thought all is right with the world again. I have not even blogged a lot lately because I swear my creativeness slows down in the winter and I have nothing to talk about.

But Saturday I got to take pictures of this adorable couple because they are getting MARRIED in June. I wish everyone who reads this could have been with me on Saturday to see how cute they were in person. The husband to be announced that he did not like pictures as soon as he walked up to me. By the end he was a regular runway model. I just loved every minute.

This is definitely going to be picture overload because I have not taken pictures in so long.

I have to say one more thing on taking pictures. Because I have such great friends I always ask one along with me to help me with the lighting. This time my beautiful friend Barb went with me and as she is laying on top of the truck trying to block out the sun with me laying on top of her trying to get the shot that I wanted, I later reflected how lucky I am to have her in my life. I don't say it often enough how much all of my friends mean to me. But that day that memory means a lot to me and I love her for it.

I have the privilege of being able to take this cute couples wedding photos and let me tell you that I cannot wait. They were so much fun to be around and had such a great style. I love the people I get to meet.

I will have lots more to post in the coming weeks because people are getting excited that the weather is changing and they want to get outside and get their pictures taken.

The weather is no good!

2010-01-21T14:38:00.000-08:00

The weather this time of year always kills me. The days seem to last forever. I have to push myself to get up and get going. So I am going to just keep taking pictures to keep my mind working. Going to keep posting pictures so that I push myself to do more. Got out my old lens yesterday. 50mm 1.8. I find that I have missed it and can do so many creative things with it and it is so fast. Also learned how to create a tilt shift on photoshop so I am having fun doing that. I have seen a lot of photographers do it. I e-mailed one of my favorite photographers to help me with my little problem and she actually has a tilt shift lens. I loved that when I e-mailed her she got back to me so quickly. I love when photographers remember that they started somewhere and it is nice to give back to photographers with questions. Her images are amazing!

http://simplyrosie.ca/journal/

Her shots are so unique and creative. She sets up every shot so beautifully. Another wonderful photographer that I have come across lately is

http://morninglightinmyroom.blogspot.com/

She has a way of using words in her photographs that is amazing. I love the dreamy quality of each shot. Her images are actually for sale on etsy.

So thank you for all of your love and encouragement from my last blog post. We are going and I am just going to enjoy myself the best that I can. Now if anyone can help me get over leaving my kids for a week.

No pictures today!

2010-01-15T20:25:00.000-08:00

Today there are no pictures because my mind is full of anxiety and I can't take any pictures when I am in that frame of mind.

My husband surprised me with a cruise to a place far away where it is warm and sunny. You would think that I would be the happiest wife on the planet. I am not. Because it means that I have to wear less layers than I am wearing now. I have been quietly layering my clothing to cover up the embarrassment that I have felt lately. I don't know exactly when I became so self conscious.

Today I asked my husband to cancel that cruise. I just could not handle the anxiety. Who have I become? So I have realized several other things that I have been thinking lately. I have failed so many times that it is the actual fear of failure that has kept me this way.

I have also started to believe that I am LESS in some way because of the way that I look. In my mind I actually believe that I will be a better photographer and designer and mother if I were thinner. I see others around me and think how have they managed to keep themselves together when I have gotten so out of control. At one point in my life I managed to get quite thin with the help of Phen-phen. In my mind I was the happiest that I had ever been and I credit that all to being thin.

I cannot get on with my life it is a moment to moment struggle. Every minute of everyday it is a battle with myself. A lot of time I feel so blessed for a healthy, happy family and other times I want to run and hide.

I need to say this out loud even if it is to the four readers that I have. I don't want to loose any weight. I don't have high blood pressure or high cholesterol or bordering on diabetes. I want to learn that I can accomplish the things that I want to even if I am overweight. I want to walk into a new situation and be confident in what I can offer. I want to learn for myself not to measure others by the way they look. (I must measure others because that is how I measure myself.) I want to reach inside myself and learn where real beauty comes from. I want to be able to take a picture of myself and not think "what has happened to me?"

For those of you who worry I will not stop exercising. I know we need to take care of our bodies. I have to try this. I have to give up the battle to set myself free. I look at the people in Haiti and I squirm with the realization of what consumes my thoughts.

I wonder what I can accomplish if I took my mind off "how can I loose weight" and posed a new question of "what do I have to offer." I wonder how my life will change or how I can change someone else's life? I will keep my four readers posted!

My dear sweet first born!

2010-01-10T14:45:00.000-08:00

So it was 9 degrees today and today was the day that I decided that I wanted to take Carly's twelve year old pictures. I just got lost this year taking a lot of other pictures so I did not want another day to go by and not take hers. After looking at these pictures I don't think that I have really looked at her in a long time.

I put a little makeup on her and that just made her the happiest girl on the planet. I guess I had forgotten how long her lashes were. Just gorgeous! With all the day to day things to do I forgot what she really looked like. I have forgotten to tell her how amazing she is in the midst of wanting her to keep her room clean. How do you change that? How do you remember to look at her the way that God looks at her.

I feel like I have learned what beauty is from somebody else. Beauty is everywhere! Everyone says "Just be who you are" I think Carly has learned that but I am almost 40 years old and I have still not gotten it. I want to surround myself with that kind of honesty.

She really has no problem with who she is. She will wear things and I will think "are you crazy" but she will tell me she doesn't care and she likes it so that is all that matters.

I want to look at her everyday like I did today! I hope that I can hold on to that.

Christmas was the longest!

2010-01-08T07:28:00.000-08:00

Christmas was the longest month of my life but the best ever! I wish that I could have my family live close by but then again their visits would not be so much fun. I do have to say that I love decorating for Christmas. I am beginning to not have enough surfaces to decorate. I guess I will need a bigger house so I have more to decorate. I don't think that will be happening so I will just have to rotate.

Daniel's nieces from the Netherlands came for a visit and my whole family came for the week. It was definitely a house full. I never once thought it was too crowded except for meal time. Who would ever have enough seating for 19 people. Well I didn't so we sat on the couch. Not my ideal but we were together and that was enough. We even had our neighbor over for Christmas Eve. Just very tight at meal time.

It is amazing to me every time how well my kids and their cousins get along. It really warms my heart! I don't have a lot of photo sessions with this weather so maybe I will get the camera out and start taking pictures for me again. We will have to see!

I have been bad!

2009-12-08T10:55:00.000-08:00

So I realized that it has been a long time since I have posted any pictures of my family. I get so busy with pictures that I forget the people that are most important to me. This is my cute family out picking apples. And the boys being so silly with their friends. They are so cool most of the time and here they come up stairs dressed like this and having a blast.

Jaden and his little friend Wiley having a great time at the pumpkin patch. I love cute little friends. My new years resolutions are definitely going to include more fun times with friends and family.

Whatever!

2009-11-30T21:17:00.000-08:00

So I have been struggling with something for the longest time. I have been trying to figure out my style. Everything I read said that I had to have one. I was always so confused because I like so many different ways that pictures look. I just try to make the pictures look the way I feel about them. So I have decided that it is alright not to have one specific style. It has released me from a lot of stress. I can do whatever I want. At any moment I can change. I love that idea!

Now is the time that I can really let myself go into the learning process. Not so many sessions that make me tired of taking pictures. Of course I will miss it and start begging people to be my models, but for now I am very happy! Time for the Christmas season which is my favorite. Time to decorate and spend enormous amounts of time with my kids.

Consistency is my new goal for the upcoming year! I think the kids will like this one because maybe they will have food on the table at night.

Always something!

2009-11-28T21:03:00.000-08:00

I loved taking these pictures. For a family of boys that really were not that excited getting their pictures taken they really loosened up!

I said that I wanted to take a picture of the boys and this is what they came up with on their own! What very cute boys. Have a little crush on all of them.

This cute one was flying solo. He made the best of it and I got some really good pictures of him just goofing around

I could tell they had a lot of fun together and that always makes a better pictures when there is a real connection.

Thanks for spending the afternoon with Daniel and I. I had a great time.

Hey look at me!

2009-11-20T22:07:00.000-08:00

I have finally decided on how to wrap and deliver my pictures. I know you would think that this would be easy but it is not. I had to decide on color and design it was trickier than I thought. I love the colors and the packaging it just made my day when it all came together.

I also tried my hand at baby announcements and Christmas cards. Have to tell you I enjoy doing both. The photography side and the design side. It just helps me mix everything I love doing.

I wish that I was all caught up on everyone's pictures but I am not. I don't like that feeling of having something on my mind to get done so this weekend will definitely be catch up weekend. So I will have more pictures to post because I made myself a little office with things that I love and some furniture made by my favorite carpenter Joe. I just tell him what I want and he figures out how to do it and I love that.

We are having the best Indian summer!

2009-11-07T19:51:00.000-08:00

I cannot believe the weather. It is like it is the beginning of fall without all the leaves on the trees. And this family was so fun. I was nervous at first (not really) because two of the people did not want to have their picture taken. Oh for the love of a mother and a wife! I always so admire that. They know how important it is to her. They ended up doing a fabulous job. Look how pretty and fun they are!

It was funny at the last moment I saw these red sticks and I wanted some pictures by them and they ended up being my favorite. I always say that I will have the pictures ready in a couple of days but I get home and the kids are watching movies and I sit down and look at the pictures and then I really can't help myself but to process a couple.

You should have seen the look I got when I told the family that I was going to put yellow sticky notes on their shoes (except the mother--she got me!) But I think it turned out really fun. I love these kind of shots.

Look at that mother so happy and right where she should be. I love the joy on their faces and when they eyes light up around their family. Just beautiful.

Forever October--Valparaiso, Indiana--Senior photographer!

2009-11-05T19:07:00.000-08:00

I have told you once, I have told you twice that I love shooting seniors. This grown man was no exception. He was very into his favorite hat and his very stylish sunglasses. Just a nice all around kid. People so think they are not photogenic but I truly believe it is how you feel when you are getting your picture taken and the way your picture is taken.

Today I signed off of facebook. Things are getting chaotic and I thought the time I spend on there could be time I spent doing way more things with my kids. I will admit was hard not to go on and check things out.

It is so difficult to decide which pictures to put up.

There are the ones that are smiley and happy and the ones that are moody and different. I like them all so equally that I wish I could post them all.

The weather has been cooperating with me so well. I can't believe it. A week or two ago I had to come to the conclusion that my season was at an end. But luckily for me I still have more time and people to shoot.

You really have to admire this one. Soon he will be enlisting in the military. His father is about to ship off so I guess he is following in his footsteps. What a difficult decision to make for some and so easy for others.

I hope he likes these as much as I do. I love the people with so much character.

I don't think I have mention how much I love Seniors!

2009-11-01T17:16:00.000-08:00

Well everyone knows that I love taking pictures of Seniors! I love it. You can be as creative as you want! I also found this new location and I love, love, love it! the texture and the color is insane. I wish everyday had this kind of light. I am really in a groove right now trying to shoot from different angles and I love the perspectives that I am getting. I took one of the pictures through the wood and I think it frames it wonderful. Now the grandparents might not understand this shot but I dig it! I don't know how much longer I can shoot with the weather but I am going to keep pressing on.

This platform was actually up high and my sweet, supportive most of the time keeps his opinions to himself husband had to lift her up. Her comment was only "this seems a little sketchy." I think maybe it is going to be my new phrase. I loved it!

I will also have to say that the eyes of this one came straight out of the camera this way. No enhancement of any kind. Her eyes reflected and shone and when she smiled it lit up her whole face.

I love the Kitners!

2009-10-31T21:15:00.000-07:00

They never fail! I always get the best pictures and love being with them! I like to call them "good people!" This was our second time out because of rain and I just loved this beautiful day! I can't wait to finish looking and finding great shots! Thank you guys so much for letting me take your pictures--just a joy.

The eyes are killing me!!

2009-10-29T19:27:00.001-07:00

I don't know if I have ever seen eyes quite like this before. I could not stop looking at the color and the eye lashes and the deepness! I loved this family because they could laugh and walk and talk and were so comfortable around each other. I was looking at the pictures on the computer and my daughter was walking by--she stopped turned on her heals and came back to the computer and asked "Who is that?" Oh she was trying to be casual but I could tell. She then asked "does he go to my school?" I sadly had to tell her no to which she responded "dang it!" Just a funny moment of realizing my twelve year old is definitely a teenager.

Did you see the eyes?

What am I going to do when the leaves and all this color is gone. I am sure that I will come up with something.
I loved this shoot and I am looking forward to taking their sons senior pictures! I have a boy and a girl coming up and have some fun ideas churning in my head.

I wish I had some of these myself!

2009-10-28T19:03:00.000-07:00

I am the least photogenic person I have ever met. People say that about themselves but it really is true about me! I wish I was because I would have someone take pictures like this of Daniel and I. I am so very grateful for the owner's of this property for letting us take pictures here. I promised them some pictures of their land and here they are---just gorgeous! The days are getting shorter and might light is getting less and less. I hope that it stays warm enough to get the rest of the shoots done!

Some days I worry that I am going to loose my creativity. That one day taking pictures is going to be old hat, but the last few shoots have made me realize that I not only enjoy taking the pictures but getting to know the people that I take pictures of. I look at their faces for so long that I feel like I know them intimately. It is a nice place to be!

New Experiences!

2009-10-27T19:46:00.000-07:00

This is the first time that I have ever shot in the rain. It was not supposed to be raining and I was bound and determined that it was not going to get in my way. Ultimately it did and I talked Barb and Kyle into coming out and getting wet! And if I do say so myself I am so glad they did! I love friends who are willing to try something new and these two are my favorite subjects. I did not get many of the kids but that will have to be for a rain free day!

I am still loving the color of this place! I wish that I could bottle it up and keep it like this for a long time. It lasts such a short time that I feel if you blink you miss it!
Today I felt the old excitement to try something new and to really set up a shot the way that I want to see it!

I know its picture overload!

2009-10-25T22:34:00.000-07:00

Well it has been busy here at Forever October. Not that I would ever complain but it just seems like I am not the only one whose favorite month is October.

I think this year the trees have a lot more color to them. I am always amazed by the beauty that surrounds me. I had a great time photographing this cute family. I got my work out in but it was well worth it.

I also got to try my hand at babies again. I cannot say that I have that down yet! I am my own worst enemy when it comes to that. I have so many ideas in my head it is hard for me just to relax and see what the baby wants to do. But oh my goodness look at that hair.

This year I cannot wait for Halloween. I am going to really enjoy everything about it. I just hope it is not raining. I have one goal this month and it is to reconnect with people that I have not been very good at keeping in contact with. So watch out world someone might be getting a phone call from me.

I have some doubts!

2009-10-20T14:01:00.000-07:00

I am at a time in my life where I truly feel blessed. I feel so blessed and so disconnected from everything around me. The business of life sets in and I feel like things will never be the same since I started taking photographs. I love what I do and look how beautiful these people (and dogs) are, who could not love it! I just wonder when I start feeling like me again. When do I recognize the person in the mirror. I got the chance again to work with two amazing families. The little boy in the top pictures was the cutest thing ever and a smile that never stopped. The family in the bottom pictures has a mother that even though she worries I get her because she thinks like me! Who wouldn't like to work with that. My journey continues on this week with more amazing people to photograph. By the way just in case anyone was wondering I do still do the laundry, cook (occasionally) and try to keep my house clean. What fun!

Life is screaming by!

2009-10-17T17:27:00.000-07:00

So for the past two week life has been a lot busier than I ever would have wanted. I keep telling myself that it will past and the dreary winter months will be here soon. But in the moment I can barely keep my head on straight. The last weekend was filled with traveling to California to take pictures of a 20 year class reunion and a great family with two of the cutest boys.

Then when I got home I had two more families to photograph and loved every minute of it. I have not processed their pictures yet! Sorry! But something else that I got to do this week is be the chair person for the elementary school Harvest Festival. I have never been so stressed in my life planning a part for 300. It all worked out fine thanks to my parents and my very supportive husband who raced over from work to help me clean up!

But one of the funnest things I got to do which explains the donkey picture is take pictures for County Line Orchard. It is one of my favorite places and I just love being there so I loved every minute of seeing all the people make the donuts and the apples behind the glass instead of in front of it! If you have never been you have to check it out!

http://www.countylineorchard.com

Anyway! Things keep moving here and while I am grateful I hope that this next part of our lives will slow down a little so we can enjoy all the moments that I don't want to miss with our own family!

What a weekend!

2009-10-04T21:53:00.000-07:00

I had the pleasure of photographing some amazing women and their families this weekend. Both are strong and amazing to me. This is the part that I love most about what I do is getting to know the families a little bit better. I get a couple hours where I get to see the love they share and the connection that they have between each other. I am definitely not a writer and never can seem to express how each and every person that lets me take their pictures is truly an honor. I love every minute.

These are just a few because it is late and I am tired but I can't sleep until I make sure that I have what I want. It is such a comfort!

Sometimes I forget!!

2009-10-03T15:58:00.000-07:00

Never thought old bottles could be so pretty.

Some of my favorite things are old windows and doors.

Sometimes I forget why I started taking pictures. I used to carry my camera everywhere and take pictures of everything I saw. That slowed down when I started taking pictures of people. So today I did it. I took my camera with me to one of my favorite haunts and I just started snapping. It felt good. I remember what it feels like to see something and want to capture how it feels to me. So indulge me why I show my random shots of the day!!

The day is growing shorter and the light is getting less and less crisp. I love this time of year but it also makes me a little lethargic. Not so eager to do the house cleaning or garden or clean out closets. This year I promised myself that I will keep up the photography even when the months are quiet with people wanting me to shoot them. I can learn so much during this time.

It takes me forever!!!

2009-09-27T19:56:00.000-07:00

Happy Fall everyone!!

I cannot believe it is that time of year again.

I am such a terrible procrastinator!! I go in spurts. I do a lot of editing in one night and then I have to take a break and do something different because it can drive you insane. The kids also expect diner once in a while as well. I have to say I have really enjoyed the sessions I have been having lately. Having such beautiful people to work with really helps. I wanted to get up the two sessions I did this weekend for a little sneak peak for the families. I have got to say I love when people are willing to use "the couch" it never gets old for me and it is always new to someone else.

I have taken Daniel's family pictures before and I will have to say that he is one of my favorites to work with. He is one of the calmest people I have ever met. He puts me at ease every time I take his pictures. His senior pictures are no exception. He just is wonderful to work with.

I have so much more to post like I have actually taken some pictures of my own children. Can't wait to finish those. I am also very excited to be traveling to California in October to be taking some fun pictures of a high school reunion. Makes it even more fun to be traveling to new places doing what I love.

I love me some babies!

2009-09-11T16:43:00.000-07:00

I will say the most challenging thing I have ever done still is take pictures of newborns. You would think that it would not be that hard but it is. I will say I love this hat and have used it on everyone I know. I also bought this new fuzzy blanket and love it! I love etsy!!! I did not think that I would love these pictures as much as I do but this little girl just made such wonderful pictures!

This week has been a very challenging one! A lot of ups and downs in my life and I hope to start off next week with a brand new attitude. Life throws some weird things at you and it really defines your character as to how you are going to handle them.

Just FYI my very funny friend Adam has volunteered after some coaxing to help me design a web site. I am very excited about that! It will just be a new avenue for me and I am always interested to see where new things lead me.

I will have to say that in the last couple of months I have taken some awesome people's pictures. I just wanted to give an example of some of my favorites!

Where does the time go!

2009-09-04T21:47:00.000-07:00

All of sudden fall is here and I don't know where the summer went! My kids are in school and I really do enjoy spending the time with Jaden. He starts school next week and I think he is definitely ready! The weeks have definitely been busy and we have been blessed to have wonderful people come and stay for visits. We would enjoy anyone else who like to come also.

So I had my first shot in the dark this week. I have never tried to do creative things with newborns and it did not go quite as planned. I actually dyed the baby's skin orange. (don't even ask) I am actually nervous to give the mom the shots!

Boy this was a beautiful baby! I hope that I get to keep practicing my skills with these cute little ones. I have so much still to learn!

I just recently took to the park to take these pictures of this adorable little girl. I think her parents were nervous at first at how she would sit and look pretty. Instead I let her run around and try to grab as many as I could. The parents were really great and I think that we all had a good time. Here is a little sneak peek for the parents. I was so excited about these that I took a few moments to process some really quickly.

I hope everyone has a great labor day !

So much fun!

2009-08-11T21:08:00.000-07:00

So I am having so much creative fun with the pictures I am taking lately. Found a place that restored old cars and they were everywhere. I love the cars with Seniors. This is just a little sneak peak at Zach's shots

Since I got kicked out of my favorite place I was a little worried. I also had never taken an older boys photos before so it took me a little while to get the hang of it. I don't know if I ever did but I gave it a good effort!

I cannot believe school starts next week. I am ready for some type of schedule but I sure will miss having the kids running around. Jaden will be gone three days a week and it just makes me sad. The other day he asked Carson "Do you find me attractive." I mean who could do without all the witty things he says all day!

ooh I love a newborn!

2009-08-09T21:13:00.000-07:00

So the first time ever to shoot a newbie. Just around two hours old. I did have to sit and just hold her for a while but I really loved every minute! I cannot wait to take more pictures of this little one!

These are the times I love being a photographer! Thank you guys so much for letting me be a part of your day!

So I am finally rested up from a week of camp and I am off for new adventures this week. I am trying to keep my blog updated a little more so we will see if I can keep it up. I am not the best blogger in the world but I love being able to show all the wonderful and inspirational people that I meet through photography!

Got caught trespassing!!!

2009-08-04T05:13:00.000-07:00

So my life is not that exciting but this week while taking pictures I was kicked out of my favorite spot to take pictures! I have not been this bummed about something in a long time. It was my favorite, beautiful texture, beautiful light and just my favorite. I am going to have to find a new place and it will not be easy! So these are some of my last shots in this place unless I love it so much that I am willing to risk jail.

This family is so cute and I wish I could have gotten about a billion more! Thanks guys for letting me take your pictures. Here is just a little sample of what I have gotten so far

So I am off to camp with the girls for the rest of the week. Very excited! It is Carly's first year! She packed about a week ago if that gives you any idea of her excitement! And for those of you dropping by and not leaving a comment and you know who you are. Where is the love?

I love Seniors!

2009-08-01T13:15:00.000-07:00

Lindsey, Lindsey, Lindsey!!!!!

Always wanted to take pictures in a grassy field and now I have accomplished my goal. I had beautiful light and a lot of helpers holding reflectors. I never knew how much work went into a really good shot. I used to hear from other photographers to set up your shot and make it work for you. So I guess just hoping that pictures turn out doesn't really work.

I have to admit that I love to take Senior portraits. It allows me to express myself creativly and have so much fun. They are up for anything. Stand here, put your hand here or lay down here. This one was especially fun because she is such a fun girl. I love taking Lindsey's pictures because she just radiates. It helps that she is so gorgeous! This time I had lots of help from my fabulous friend Barb who helped pick out the clothes to Joella who helped with the makeup, it just was perfect

I think this was my favorite of the day. I am experimenting with light and it really seems to be working out for me. The red dress helps a lot!

Lindsey was one of my two senior spotlights for this year. I hope that she had as much fun as I did. There have been so many times where I have wanted to put down my camera and not take pictures anymore because of the time and energy that it takes. I just can't. I think about it at night and in the morning and when I am driving down the road. I hope this drive never goes away. I am going to start taking this little interest of mine to the next step so wish me luck!!

Already gone!

2009-07-11T23:32:00.000-07:00

I cannot believe the summer is already gone. I feel that way anyway! We have had so much going on over here I have had barely any time to think. We started the summer with camps and going on a vacation to Boston to visit my brother! The kids absolutely loved playing together. We are all blessed that the get along so well

Then I have been keeping very busy doing my favorite hobby of taking pictures. I had to take a little break for a while but I seem to be getting my groove back! I have been taking a lot of just beautiful families and gorgeous children. Even had my hand at a couple of maternity shots!

I always feel like I am gone so long and then I post and I have a million pictures to share. It is ridiculous.Daniel ran his first triathalon and we are very proud. Soren does his first one next week so I will keep you posted.

So tired!

2009-05-20T21:44:00.000-07:00

So the last couple of weeks have been long and busy. I got to take some beautiful pictures at a wedding! I got to take some fun senior pictures and I have decided that between my work at Steiners and taking pictures my life might be a little too busy! Don't get me wrong I enjoy doing both but I cannot keep them both up. I guess I have some big decisions to make!

I cannot believe that school is almost out! I cannot wait for the summer. There are so many things that I want to do with the kids. Time goes so fast and I feel like I cannot waste any more time! I have so many ideas always turning in my head. I wish they would all come together so I could figure out the direction that I want to go!

I have to admit seniors are some of my favorite subjects. They sit still and smile pretty and usually like themselves in the shots afterward! I am off to bed and try to get up early in the morning to exercise. We will see how that goes!

More pictures!

2009-05-05T12:15:00.000-07:00

So if it rains another day I might go crazy! We have had such nice weather it is hard to go back to the bad. I have such better days when the kids can be outside playing and getting their energy out.

No swine flu here! We thought for a moment because of the media that Jaden had it. And that we would single handedly take down the Valparaiso school system. But we didn't thankfully.

Not a lot going on. Just working and playing and hanging out with the kids. Took some pictures this week that I wanted to share.

Soren thought he looked so good in this outfit that he would wear it to school. Not long into the day the vest and the tie came off. When we asked him why he said "kids kept asking me where the funeral was." He even started to tear up. We asked him who said it and he said "this boy who was wearing cut off sweats and a pajama shirt." Needless to say we worked out that he shouldn't listen and wear whatever he wanted.

This week also in the post tribune I have a write up about me and what I do at Steiner. It was very exciting for me. It was a whole two paragraphs and I am pretty sure the words "very talented" were thrown around in there. Just had to toot my own horn for a minute.

This week is full of exciting things. Mothers day for one. hint hint Daniel. I get to shoot the cutest senior and a fun family. I love when my weeks are full like that.

New inspiration!

2009-04-14T21:36:00.001-07:00

So just when I think I have lost my mojo I go out with my camera and realize it was there all along! I have things to work on-- like my confidence levels. I get so worried about what other people my think of me that I forget to experience things fully. But this week I took that camera out and just had some fun doing things that came out of my own little brain. And I love what came out! Most people like to step out of the box and do fun things.

So this little family that I got to work with was priceless! They were fun and willing. I also got one of my favorite subjects to come and pose some too! That means you Barb! I have actually asked Barb on occasion to act like a cat and she did it! She sees my vision.

Life sometimes takes a toll on me and my creative side suffers. I have take the advice from my friend Kim to put myself out there and take risks. I like living in my comfort zone where I know where I belong. How I am ever going to find other wonderful things if I don't try!

One little piece of my life is that Jaden a couple of days ago said that his girlfriends think he is "hot" and a really "cool dude!" He never ceases to amaze me! I know Carly is teaching him this stuff. But to hear a four year old say it could never be cuter.

We had a wonderful Easter. My parents came in and had a candlelit diner it was really wonderful. I tried really hard to emphasize the meaning for the day and bring down the Easter bunny angle. No big gifts just simple.

I also have found my new obsession. Last year on American Idol David Archuleta amazed me but this year Chris makes me want to replace him as my husband. Not to worry I go through that with every singer that I like. It started with Josh Groban. Daniel is used to it. He is replacing me with Pink so there!

Here is last picture but this is definitely one of my favorite! If you have not noticed I have finally found a tutorial that works for me to lean how to round photo corners.

http://www.photoshopessentials.com/photo-effects/rounded-corners/

My little one!

2009-04-08T20:30:00.001-07:00

So my baby on April 1st turned four years old. He still seems like such the baby but he really is getting to be a big boy! He is such a joy to have in our home. He really brings us laughter and togetherness that we would not know without him. Today he came running down the hall when he got out of bed "here comes your chicken love!" I don't of course know why we say that to him but we all do! He is our "chicken love!"

So today I dolled him up and took him outside to take his four year old pictures. First warm day or I would have done it sooner! At first he wanted no part in it. I promised gifts candy and nothing helped.

This was just an example of the faces I was getting. I still love the picture but I could have been happy with a little more joy! So I decided I would do what I do with other kids I take pictures of and play games! This made all the difference. We played hide and seek and this became my favorite picture of the day.

I even got Daniel in on it and got some great shots of Daniel and Jaden together! Daniel is usually my assistant holding up reflectors and diffusers, but I do love it when I get put him in with the kids!

I know this is an overload of Jaden pictures but your birthday only comes once a year! I love this little guy more than words can express. Happy Birthday Jaden!

Spring has begun!

2009-04-03T15:54:00.000-07:00

I have to say that I am so happy that warmer weather is here. I know it was only about 50 today but it feels great! I feel like I can get out and feel like a human again! The only thing that is bad is that the kids want to be out all the time too. Jaden is still a little young to be running around with the big kids so it makes me nervous!

I am just spreading a little spring time love with these flowers. My whole kitchen table is full of them!

Have a wonderful weekend!

I feel like singin!

2009-03-30T21:39:00.000-07:00

Okay so one of my favorite movies is the color purple. My favorite part is when one of the women say "I feel like singin!" That is what I feel like right now. My grass is turning green the kids can play outside and I feel better. I feel a whole new enthusiasm for things. I have decided to make my life easier I am going to enlist the help of people that know what they are doing. I had the feeling that if they learned how to do it so can I. Well I have also decided that somethings are not worth my time. I like to have someone occasionally do it for me. So I have found some storyboard actions. I am addicted. I went back and put pictures in them so I could see what they looked like. I loved this one!!

I have decided story boards are wonderful. You can print out so many images at once. I love the idea. I know that people have been doing it for a long while and I am behind on the curve--but it makes me "feel like singin!"

My life is about to get stupid crazy. Baseball and swimming start up and I get to take pictures at another wedding and have already started getting e-mails about spring pictures. Work is still busy! I do really enjoy my job even though it is sometimes stress full. I have big plans for the summer so the job makes that all possible.

I can't wait to see people outside again and playing with the kids at the park and sitting with a good book watching baseball. See what I mean "like singin!"

Finally!

2009-03-22T20:35:00.000-07:00

So excited about the new blog. I finally got tired of figuring out how to set up my own crap so I had someone do it for me.

http://www.theblogfairy.com/

She was great and very patient with me. I wish I would have done it sooner!

I have changed that header so many times it has given me a headache.

I am also very excited about the upcoming spring break. I am going to spend a lot of good time with the kids, take a week off from work and put down the camera and join in. Sometimes I forget that! Carson has his picture taken a lot by me because he likes it. But even Carson is getting tired of me asking him to sit over here or stand over there. These are the faces I got from him this time.
I did have the best experience at a wedding that I got to take some pictures at. Boy it was the best learning experience I could have ever had! It was fun and exciting to do something different. I also have the pleasure to be doing another one in May.

Here are just a few shots from that day!

She was absolutely beautiful! The whole thing taught me so much about myself and how I like to take photographs!

I feel so blessed that I have found something that I enjoy so much. Now if I can just figure out the balance in my life. I think things will start coming together. I am always battling with keeping who I am alive and sacrificing for my family. I have such big dreams and I just need to be patient.

my word for the year!!

2009-02-19T14:52:00.000-08:00

So my friend Becky inspired me to pick a word for the year and here goes!

So I picked gratitude because it seems to fit me this year. I have been very introspective lately and have definitely realized what is most important. My kids definitely make me grateful everyday. Lately in our house we have had to have a continue flow of apples because Jaden says it makes his heart feel better. Carson is always making me laugh by his endless energy!

I am grateful for my sweet daughter. She keeps the boys in line and never ceases to amaze me with her willingness to spend the day just with the boys.

So that is my word. I hope I can always remember the important things so the stupid things don't seem so big.

Ahh!! The sun!

2009-02-01T17:42:00.001-08:00

I have to say that it was gorgeous weather in Texas. You could go outside and feel the sunshine on your face. It has done wonders for my spirit. I also got to see so many people and I love that. I got to stay with Melissa for the first couple of nights and I followed that baby around for two days snapping shots.

I have to say that she is one of the cutest babies I have ever seen. And yes I find her very advanced for her age. It was so fun to use my camera again and have the sun pouring through the windows and even going outside.

She had fabulous curls that I did not think looked at all Jewish Orthodox. I just had a wonderful time. The rest of the weekend was spent with my sister and we did things that you would think that after living in Texas for so long that we would have done before.

This whole weekend made me think about a lot of things. About how I wanted to be as a mother and how I wanted to tell stories through photography and things I wanted to change about myself.

Sorry for all the pictures but I just had so much fun. I did miss my kids and realize every time I am away from them how much I miss them.

Hello out there!

2009-01-21T13:44:00.000-08:00

I cannot wait in a week I get to fly to Texas to see my sister and as luck would have it my friend Melissa moved to Texas along with my friend Paula. Makes it convenient for me. My friend Becky Jean will also be coming along. I love having things to look forward to. I can guarantee it will be full of laughter.

Another thing I look forward to is free things. Especially when it comes to photography. At www.thepioneerwoman.com
she gave away a set of her actions. I just found out that she gave away the second set of actions that she made. Completely free. Oh how I love actions. They sometimes really make processing pictures easier. Since I have not been taking a lot of pictures lately I tested them out on some of my favorite shots.

There is a sharpening action and a warming and just all kinds of fun. The next shot is an example of her seventies action. Do love that one!

I love messing around with this stuff especially since it has been so cold and snowy here. There is always something more to learn. I am going to be taking an online course about lighting. Very excited.

By the way Amy you should see how long my hair is getting. I am showing you right now as I type!

Excited?

2009-01-13T08:08:00.001-08:00

I think I am excited to start something new. It is called project 365 on flickr. I am supposed to take a picture a day and post it to flickr. I think that it will push me to be more creative and take pictures of more things. I am starting off with this one. Carson is always so funny to me and this is a classic look.

I am also excited because I am going to start to get ready to hike the narrows this summer. I decided I needed a warm destination to get me looking forward to something. So here goes. Did I tell anyone that Jaden's new word is moron. He calls everyone it. And to my suprise he uses it appropriately. I know that he has not heard that from me because I like to call people stupid. Then when he calls someone that I of course say that is not nice. So then he always backs it up with something french like "excusem wa." Another favorite of mine.

So long winter blues!

2009-01-05T14:45:00.000-08:00

Well the blues are gone hopefully for good. I was able this year to change the way I think. Don't get me wrong I wrestled through plenty of ice cream. I am just trying to stay busy! My kids help a lot because they keep me busy. I have also been taking a lot of walks. So I have been trying to take the camera on the walks but chasing kids and a dog who likes to roll in poop (a whole long story) I try to capture what I am seeing. I have decided as long as I am outside that helps a lot. So we bundle up and go. Today it was just Jaden and I walking along paths through trees and it was the best time I have had in a long time. He is so fun to talk to and just talks about anything and everything.

I love that there are trails. It is through a lake and a forest and I just love it. Taking pictures is helping me appreciate so many little things that I never even considered beautiful!

There is never enough time in the day though. Because if I stroll through the grove laundry does not get done. But I would never change it. I am looking forward to so many things this coming year and one of them is just to spend time with the kids--I mean look at this face. I don't think that this is just a face only a mother could love--he is just lovable!!

The hardest time of year!

2008-12-27T20:39:00.000-08:00

I have to admit that this is the worst time of year for my craziness. I get seriously depressed. The Christmas rush is gone. The weather is terrible and my schedules are all over the place. I hope this year I can keep it together. The day after Christmas I got a case of serious blues. I think I am going to start tanning. I have heard that it helps. I have also heard that exercise helps. I cannot image that getting on that stupid treadmill is going to help. I shall give it a whirl.

I have also been working on my indoor photography. I have to say that it is terrible. I don't know how to just get a regular picture of my kids around the tree anymore. I hope that gets better because all that will be in their scrapbooks will be pictures of frozen berries, trees and snow. Daniel took these last couple of pictures and I really liked them. See he always thinks that I have to be the one to take the picture.

We hope everyone has a safe and happy New years!!!

I am so proud!

2008-12-21T11:10:00.000-08:00

I am so proud that I figured out to refigure my blog. I did not like the look of it so I had to change it up. For those of you who read the post I just deleted I guess I don't have the uploading of pictures locked down yet either. But this is what we woke up to Friday morning. Right now it is -1 outside.

I have been doing a lot of photography editing and printing out pictures. I never get around to printing out our own. I am feeling really isolated because of the weather so this helps me stay happy.

I hope all of you have a wonderful Christmas. I plan on eating alot and exercising very little.

What a pain!

2008-12-18T08:58:00.000-08:00

Well I definitely like blogger better than typepad. It just was not as user friendly so now I am back here. I like it here, I feel comfortable here, I know how to post photos here. Well the Christmas season is really catching up on me. I have found a solution though and it is spending a little time at night making a family journal. I got the idea here.

http://tara_pollard_pakosta.typepad.com/

I love how she has combined scrapbooking with journaling every day events. I used to find scrapbooking so over whelming with the page lay outs and making it just right. I love that on some pages I just write and use other things very simply. I just love the whole idea. I hope that i can stick to it.

My kids never cease to make me laugh. Jaden is a true believer in dresses but this is what I found him in at my moms house.

I mean what a drama queen from dresses to air guns.

He is the one that encourages him with the goggles and all.

I have not been taking a lot of pictures lately because of the weather. We might have a nice day when the weather might be in the high 30's. I guess this is when photographers start taking their inside pictures. I am just not far enough along for that.

Moving!

2008-11-04T07:44:00.000-08:00

I have decided to move myself over to my photography blog and save precious time. I thought that people were getting bored with my photography so I wanted to seperate it. What I decided was that photography was a big part of my life. I can't seperate it. So I am going to find a permanent home over there and I hope everyone still can visit.

http://www.foreveroctoberphotography.typepad.com/

I am so addicted!

2008-10-30T22:56:00.000-07:00

So I have figured out why I don't want to run. I am addicted to taking and processing pictures. I love it! It is in my mind all the time. I love catching a great shot! I spent this evening in a new location taking pictures of some of my favorite people. I just had a wonderful time. So then I had to come home and look at them and then it is 1:00 in the morning and no running done. But here are some of them that i got. Why would I trade this?

I love them, I love them, I love them! Some of my favorites that I have taken all year!

So when taking pictures slows down in the winter, I am sure that I will be able to get on track! So I am giving myself a reason to not be so hard on myself!

So Hard!

2008-10-28T21:30:00.001-07:00

It was so easy for me to learn how to take pictures because I really enjoy doing it.

I love learning how to use light and figure out how to frame a face best. I am so not in love with exercise or eating right! I am not the least bit interested. How do I make it fun? How do I learn to like it? How do I make it important to me. How do I not got to a restaraunt and not order the mashed potatoes? When do I stop thinking of it as such a huge sacrifice?

I wish I knew! I wish there was some magic answer. I wish it was as interesting to me as taking pictures.

New attitude!

2008-10-27T16:46:00.000-07:00

So my friend Becky Jean has been here for the last week. Let me tell you she just fits right in and jumps in and gets her hands dirty. We absolutely love having her here. Probably one of the busiest weeks of my life. Between my job with Steiner taking four family portraits and the craziness of childrens schedules--I really feel like I need a break this week. So today I worked from 9:30 to 6:00. Not really a break. It was also Becky's birthday on Sunday and we had a little get together--because my friends here in Indiana already love her!

So my goal this week is to exercise every day. I know I can do it. I got up this morning and ran three miles. Once I start doing it I know that I can keep it up. It is just the initial getting going! I have to admit though that I am not really a runner and will have to start from scratch. My friend Becky is a runner (if you didn't know) so she is my inspiration. (I want to be able to call myself a runner too).

I loved taking pictures of Lisa and her family! I know them so I was so relaxed and able to really try to capture who they were!

I also took pictures of this cute family in my ward and got some great shots!

Sorry that is an overload of pictures but I loved them all so much that I could have posted a lot more. It has become such a part of me that it is hard to even talk about my life now without showing pictures. It captures a little part of what my days are like. I also get to spend so much time with such wonderful people. It is a lot of fun for me! This week I am getting out and taking pictures of my own kids. I have two families set up for this week so I just hope the creativity will still be there!

I feel lost!

2008-10-18T14:35:00.000-07:00

I got up this morning and I am feeling a little lost. I just cannot seem to get on top of things. I always feel like I am running around trying to catch up. I feel like I am one step behind the pack. I try really hard to get a grip and then something like taking pictures comes up and it throws me all off. I get so engrossed in taking and processing pictures that I get behind at everything else. I wish I could have some balance.

I have taken the diet coke out of my house and that seems to help a lot. I have only had a couple this week. Feeling lost does not help the weight loss cause because then you want to eat to feed the lost. A vicious cycle. I am very excited because I am getting to build quite the portfolio with all the people that I get to take pictures of.

Sometimes people are too pretty. That is definitely this family. Just cute!

So this week I am going to slow down and try to get centered. I am going to take some time just to watch television. I think everyone needs a little television time. My kids are so cute right now. That I want to enjoy them a little more. Especially since this Halloween my little one is going as a pretty, pretty princess. Fun for a girl but we will see what looks we get when they realize he is a boy. We tried dinosaur, monster and a jedi but nothing. He wants to wear a dress.

Just a side note. I love this couch!

My progress!

2008-10-13T16:45:00.000-07:00

Okay so today I went for a jog. I only had one diet coke. I figured I was drinking about four a day! Can you believe that. My head has hurt so much when I went cold turkey that I thought I would cuss. I am so addicted! So I am going to go even slower. So pathetic! I am thinking about exercising maybe another time this week. No pressure for myself--just thinking. Baby steps! You can't change all in one day.

This weekend I took pictures of the funnest people. I have said before that I love taking pictures of teenagers. This time it was boys so it had to be a little different look. Let me tell you that I am definitely not cool any longer. I tried to be funny but I don't think they thought it was so funny. But really I am funny--who wouldn't think that I wasn't funny?

Both the boys were really musical so I tried to throw in their instruments everywhere I could. Everyone was very photogenic so that really helps.

I love when the lighting is just right and the family is so willing to try different things. I wonder what goes through their mind when I ask them to meet me in a stinky alleyway behind downtown and I want them to sit on my vintage couch. Everyone seems really willing to try just about anything.

This week I miss my friends I spent last weekend with. I wish we all lived closer! That is such not life though. Some of my favorite people I hardly ever get to see. Very hard!

FYI I am putting more of this family on my photography blog just in case anyone wants to go over and take a peek!

A New Day!!

2008-10-07T18:07:00.000-07:00

I am out and about taking pictures like a mad woman. I have so many ideas and so many things going through my head!

Since my husband is becoming an iron man I am not feeling so good about myself. I always thought well I have a hobby so I don't need to take care of myself. Well as I watch his transformation. (He is asking me to feel his biceps all the time) I have decided it is time for a change. I have also decided I cannot change all at once or I go into a panic and eat more than should be legally allowed. So I am going to start slow. I am not going to eat after 7:00 p.m. Going to try really hard only to drink diet coke once a week. Small changes. You can only eat an elephant one bite at a time.

I will keep you all posted with what I am going to do for my next bite. Any suggestions would be helpful--so don't be shy and tell me like it is.

What fun I had!!

2008-10-05T15:27:00.000-07:00

I spent this weekend with my oldest and dearest friends from highschool. Christy and I have been friends since the fifth grade. So over 20 years. I cannot believe it. We had so much to catch up and so much to talk about. Some of us have not seen each other in over two years. This is what I felt like most of the time. So much laughter it hurt.

When I am with these girls I feel like I am home. My friend Amy's hands are so familiar. When you touch them memories come flooding back and her smile lights up the entire room. She is the coolest mom and no one can make me laugh like she can.

Christy has beautiful optimism that makes you want to try harder to be a better person. She is so willing to try new things (except for a pony tail with a double headband). I love the person she is and how she has so much inner strength.

My life with Shelley has had so much laughter and so many tears. I have felt so much for her that sometimes I have crossed the line. I love you Shelley more than you will ever know.

Thank you girls for a terrific weekend and thank you for letting me take your pictures. That makes my day. I am grateful for our friendship and will try harder to pick up the phone and make a connection.

A blog post about blogging

2008-10-02T16:34:00.000-07:00

So my friend Kim is doing her first ever online class! It's going to be on blogging. She has designed my banner for this blog, as well as, my photography blogsite. She will be teaching a 5 day class for first time and existing bloggers on easy tips to designing and inspiration for writing and marketing.

Her class is only 14.95 and she is teaching it through Scrapinstyletv.com

You don't have to be a member to take this class. So if you want to learn how to blog better or add to what you already know, click on the banner below and it will take you to the boutique for more information...Her class starts Monday so sign up by Monday!

It's going to be a blast!

Things to remember

2008-09-27T05:20:00.000-07:00

Since I have been taking pictures I have so many things that I want to remember and now can. The feel of where my parents live and all the memories there. Most of my flower pictures have been taken on their property.

Since I have been blogging I can record little details of my life like this one. Jaden has become such a character. My favorite thing right now is his love of barbie dolls. Daniel was putting Jaden to bed and putting "his girls" he calls them in bed next to him. Jaden sat up and threw one on the floor. Daniel asked him "Why don't you want that one in bed with you." Jaden replied "Her is not fabulous." Well this particular barbie had undergone a bad hair day. Her hair had been cut really short. So it just was not up to Jaden's standards. I know that he gets the word fabulous from me but that a three year old knows how and when to use it cracks me up. Also my friend Joella has beautiful long blond hair. I swear to you he is in LOVE. He strokes he hair and tells her that she is beautiful.

To switch subjects I have a new little project, besides decorating my house. I started my own little photography home.

http://www.foreveroctoberphotography.typepad.com/ .

Now I have a place where I can send people who are just interested in my photography and a place where I don't have to bore all 12 readers of my blog with all my photos. Now this site will be on my little cards. So check it out when you have a minute and give me your feedback on what you think.

I love the fall!!

2008-09-21T17:35:00.001-07:00

Our favorite pumpking patch!

Hello friends and family!! For any of you that know me this is it for me. I am the happiest when October comes and I can decorate and I even start to bake (a little). Went and picked up some pumpkins. They finally came in. We get them from a little farm where the kids in the family grow them to earn extra money. And boy are they cheap. I feel guilty sometimes only paying three dollars for the one Soren is carrying. The kids love it even if it does smell like cow poop.

Then I spotted from across the way a great place to take pictures. So I made Daniel go up to the farmers house and ask. I think they were a little confused at first so they came out and watched. Never had an audience before. But I will have to say that it is my new favorite place to shoot. So I guess I will be talking to that farmer a little more.

The kids liked the truck shots the best. I liked the old barn wood and all the different textures.

Loved! Loved! Loved this place.

This time of year I also start to miss my family. Things were so busy over the summer that I have not stayed in touch the best I could. So I am looking forward to trips to Boston and Dallas in the next couple of months. Love the free flying thing.

Being a little crazy!

2008-09-16T20:42:00.000-07:00

Sometimes I think I am a little crazy. Most of you reading this will say "a little" who are you kidding. You are huge crazy. So I have been struggling with the thought that if I am a little crazy does that make me not loveable. But when I have tried to change my craziness in the past it seems to steal a little bit of me away. I found this thought on one of my favorite photographers blog.

"at what point in growing up do we learn to do things so halfheartedly? when do we forget to move, breathe and live with our whole body? when do we start practicing saying things we don't mean? when did we settle for being so much less powerful than we really are,,, for using such a small percentage of our natural potential? why? when? i'll tell you exactly when: when we start becoming conscious of the spit flying out of our mouth, and how it really is a ridiculous amount of spit, and o no, what will the people around me think of me now that they've seen all this spit, and will they take their love from me because of it???the fear of rejection is so strong, so deeply ingrained in us, that we imprison the best parts of us in a misguided attempt to keep them from harm. the greatest gift in the universe, traded for fear."

I do have a fear of what others might think of my oddities that somehow they will take their love from me and so I tend to be the one who backs off first. I want to live a life that I believe in myself -that I do not need others approval to let me know that what I do and say is not crazy. Alot of this has to do with my journey with photography and friendships. (I know that Daniel thinks I am crazy and he loves me anyway). I have needed approval with almost every shot I have taken. What is that? Where does that come from? It takes away from my joy. I need people to feel I am fabulous and funny or they will take their love away.

I want to learn to feel this--

"really? so what if johnny thinks you have too much spit, you're alive!!! alive, and no one can take that from you, no one can lessen the glory of that in any way. If something is worth doing, it is worth doing with everything you have. if it's not, then why are your spending precious moments of your life doing it?"

I think fall is coming!!!

2008-09-07T18:03:00.001-07:00

Today at church one of the little girls in our ward came outside with these in her hands. I say yipee!! I love the colors. My beautiful friend Kim came up with the name Forever October photography. I do think it would be perfect for me. Because it is my stinking favorite month. I have a apple pie candle going all year long and pumpkin spice in my fragrance flowers from Bath and Body. So how perfect for me.

This week has been fun but full. Daniel has started playing softball along with his iron man training. The man has never even seen a game before but he thought he would give it a whirl. I was very surprised at what a good hitter he was. We will have to work a little on the catching. I found myself being very protective. Like "you want to say something. Bring it on. I will take you down to china town." It is not an LDS league so it was a little different. But I kinda liked it.

These are the kinda of pictures I get to take in the fall. Kim recognize the belt. Her favorite by the way. I always hope that people don't mind that I am on their property. But what a perfect barn and lake. One day I am going to be looking down the barrel of a gun because I just hop out of my car and take a picture anywhere.

This weekend I am going with some of "my girls" to St. Louis for time out for women. There are seven of us going and needless to say I probably won't get any sleep. I think I am going to take some drugs because I am getting old and last year it took me a week to recover. I am really looking forward to it. We even went on a test drive in my van to make sure all the luggage fit. What dorks we are!

This is my last shot of the day for you. This little girl kills me. Yesterday at the ward party she wrestled a greased pig to the ground.

My grove is all messed up!

2008-09-02T19:42:00.000-07:00

These are the things that are throwing off my grove!

My husband is training for a iron man. Not a little 5k but an iron man. Who does that?

My little baby went to his first day of preschool.

My daughter wants a cell phone so she actually trying to get good grades! (that is her reward for straight A's)

My work at Steiner is slowing down!

Gas prices are causing me to stay home more.

I still have not figured out my camera! I thought I was getting it but come to find out not in the slightest.

Jaden is my new constant companion now that the kids are gone. What do you do with a three year old all day long.

I hope I can get back into my grove because ice cream has been calling my name all week. Normally I would not care but one weekend very soon in October I get to have a reunion with some of my best friends and two of them happen to be fitness icons. So I keep telling myself maybe I can loose 50 pounds by then. Then there is more pressure so I tend to eat more. It is a vicious cycle. I know they love me for me but for goodness sake!

I did get to take some pictures yesterday for my sweet neighbor Lisa and her sister. Lisa is one of my biggest supporters. She always, always tells me how wonderful the pictures I take are even though I doubt myself all the time. She will never know how much it means to me. I hope she doesn't mind me sharing these here but these were some of my favorite.

I am lucky that people want me to take their pictures and how fun it is for me. The very thought of taking someone's picture is so exciting for me. So for those of you who will be spending time with me in the future just be prepared that I probably will be making you and your loved ones pose for pictures!

My neighbor George!

2008-08-27T18:46:00.001-07:00

I have to tell you that I have never met a sweeter man than my neighbor. My kids adore him and I think that he adores them. I was so touched when each and everytime my Carson goes to the bust stop for school he is waiting with him. The other day we received a phone call from George asking the boys to come over. He had for each of them a baseball glove and a ball. He taught them how to take care of them rubberband and all. I am very grateful for him and could not wish for anyone better in my kids lives. We absolutely love him!!

Well school has started and almost every day of the week I am swapping babysitting with friends and so I have even more opportunities to practice taking pictures. This is my favorite one. Gracie was telling me that if I took her picture she got a treat. Oh she has been with me before. She was not so happy that it was a cheese stick. I think she was looking for something much more exciting.

I am blogging maniac!!

2008-08-22T19:30:00.000-07:00

First week of school was stressful but a welcome change. Been thinking a lot about what makes great people great. Take Michael Phelps for instance. My goodness. They say he burns 4,000 calories a workout. Sometimes the thought goes through my head why can he push himself and I do not seem to have the inner ability to get up 30 minutes before my kids to work out. Or to eat right. Or to do something for myself spiritually everyday. I have decided it has to start with desire. I don't know if I always have the desire to do those things. So what I am going to start working on is creating a desire to better myself.

I know I can do it. Since I have become interested in photography and feel like I have become better at it in the past months, I feel like lately I can accomplish a lot more. The time and energy it has taken me to learn how to shoot manually and learn all those stupid hard things in photoshop has taught me that if you want to get good at something or have a desire you have to push yourself to be better. So that is my word for the school year is desire!!

I want to create it in myself and my family.

And just to throw in there because no blog entries would be complete without some shots. I got spend an evening with mosquitoes and four fabulous people. Here are some of my favorites.

Loved every minute of it. I appreciate them letting me use them to practice.

I also decided that it is time to start working on Halloween. I will making some fun things soon and I will try to remember to post them.

Need an opinion!!

2008-08-19T18:48:00.000-07:00

So anyone that might have stopped by my blog knows I really dig taking pictures. The only problem is sometimes I think they look fabulous when I take the shot and later I hate them. Well I am trying to learn settings on my camera so I have been taking pictures of things that are still and I can get my exposure right. So if anyone would like to share their opinions good or bad of my recent flower shots I would really appreciate it.

I have so much more to learn and I don't want to get stuck taking the same old pictures. This is also not a solicitation for praise. I just want to know what people think.

What I am craving!

2008-08-17T14:25:00.001-07:00

I have to say I am just a little bit dizzy with excitement that school is starting. I am not that excited that my kids will be leaving but just all the things that begin with school starts like routines. I am craving them. Cannot get enough. I want to get up in the morning and have something structured to do. Maybe then I can get back into excercising. I am craving that also. Done with camp, done with vacations, done with ignoring diner.

This morning I got up at 5:30 to make sure that I was ready on time for church. Can you believe that I was still really late. I really do not want my kids to think that we just do not go to that part of church. I want to get my spirituality where it needs to be. I am craving it. So I thought as long as I am late I can stop and take some back to school pictures of some of the kids that were willing to participate. I have to say that Soren looks particularly dashing.

I have to say that I am so into the olympics. Michael Phelps is so amazing. Not ashamed to say that I have a little crush. Not enough to stalk him which I have been known to do, but enough to say that the races do not last long enough. I hope to be an olympic swimmer. That one lady was 41--it is never to late to begin a dream. Daniel had to laugh at that one. I told him I had swimming lessons when I was young it should not take me that long to get back into the groove.

I am craving hanging and talking with friends and having quiet moments. I should be getting plenty of those. Until next time...

What a wild summer!!

2008-08-03T12:27:00.000-07:00

The summer has gone by so fast, it seems like I have not even stopped to take a breath. We just got back from the beach with our friends Joe and Joella. Had the most fun ever, spending the days at the beach and evenings in the pool. We even got to spend Carly's eleventh birthday there. Just thought I would share some shots of her to remember how big my little girl is getting.

I worry about her all the time. Especially at night when my thoughts are running through my head. Have I done enough. I think she is amazing but will she? She is looking forward to her birthday party this year at the water park. Not my favorite place to hang out in my bating suit, but I guess anything for your kids.

This week will not get any easier. I leave for girl camp, it is my birthday, Carson's birthday and we are going to my moms. I try to throw work in there somewhere also. There is also school registration. I cannot believe it is time for all that again.

So if I have neglected any friendships, I am sorry(especially Kim who has been sick) but things will slow down and I hope I can get back to my normal life.

I also wanted to share this picture of Soren. I thought it was so beautiful and just reminded me of pure innocence. I absolutely love it!!

Always learning.

2008-07-16T13:18:00.001-07:00

I have decided the only way to get really good at something is to practice over and over. So lots of new families have been asking me to take pictures. Just a word of mouth thing. I love that!! So I love the practice. I am learning all kinds of different ways to take pictures. I am truly starting think and this is way out there for me to acually write it down and put it out there that one day I would like to have my own photography business. There I said it!!! So here are some of the the day with the Moritz family!

My sister is coming tomorrow and we have lots of days of fun planned. I just hope I can get all my work obligations taken care of.

Carson crawled into bed with us this morning and the first thing he said to us was "Lets talk about our dreams." In his dream he was a hunter of bears and wolves. Just very cute.

My crazy life!!!

2008-07-10T14:00:00.000-07:00

I have a hard time keeping all my ducks in a row. I hate the fact that when I have so much to do my feeding of the family suffers. I do not plan ahead and I feel like they are learning bad eating habits. I guess I will figure it out. I have just had the pleasure of two weeks with Becky Jean and like I said I had the best time. So relaxing to have her here. She just pitched in and became part of the family.

Work is getting super busy but I did have time this week to take some pictures of a friend of a friend who needed resume pictures. As always I am nervous because I have my doubts of my abilities, especially around people you don't know and you are asking to pay you. But he was very nice and I instantly liked him. Here are some of my favorite shots.

I am again nervous because I have a fun family scheduled for the beginning of next week. I am going to have to get my brain moving so I can be creative. They seem willing to do anything that I ask so I will have to share some of those.

I am still really enjoying having the kids home. Some days are better than others but they are having fun playing with all the neighborhood kids. The summer just seems to get busier every week. Maybe it will slow down when we go back to school, or maybe this is my life with 4 very busy kids.

I love Becky Jean!!

2008-07-03T07:53:00.000-07:00

I have had the pleasure of having Becky here for almost two weeks. I love having her here and wish she could stay forever. I know she has her own life, but it sure would be nice. We talk for hours and never seem to run out of things to talk about. So we took some pictures of her beautifulness and I thought she looked fabulous if I do say so myself.

I hope everyone has a wonderful fourth of July. I hope someday to not be so busy and catch up with all my blogging friends. I was just thinking how fast the summer was going and how much I have enjoyed sharing it with family and friends.

Trying to update more!!

2008-06-22T18:27:00.000-07:00

So I am loving the summer. The kids are really busy with scout camp, birthday parties and playing with friends. We did take time out to pick strawberries and of course I had my camera along for the ride. I have been busy with work and having family in town. My goals from last week are still in thinking about them mode. Maybe I can make them a reality. I am very excited because one of my favorite people is coming to stay with me for two weeks. Becky Jean the dancing queen. I hope she has a good time and does not get annoyed by how many times my kids will probably say her name. That is all for now. Except today in the car Jaden said "That is awesome dude." It is amazing to me how the youngest matures so much faster than the others because he has so many wonderful examples. Right now everyone is a poopoo head. I just love that one. I cannot help but laugh.

I have added some wonderful new music. I do have a favorite new artist. She is in Canada so the playlist does not have her. Her name is Amy Seely. She has some just beautiful music. It is so peaceful that I could sit and listen to it all day.

I am a genius!!

2008-06-15T15:12:00.000-07:00

Okay so for the last couple of weeks I have had no sound on the internet. It has made me insane. Not having any sound also made all of the blogs very slow. So I did just give up a little. I am glad to be back and have my music back. I have been a little busy with family visiting from the Netherlands for the last two weeks. I have also been taking a lot of pictures and working still at Steiner Homes. Life just gets busier and busier.

So here are the things that I am wishing to accomplish this summer.

1. Teach my pre-k child how to read.

2. Teach my second grader the multiplication tables

3. Get Jaden not to have his pacifier

4. Teach Carly not to blank stare me when I ask her a question.

5. Teach Daniel that if your wife buys a new outfit the best thing is to compliment her on it and then not say "but you really should do something with your hair."

6. Learn how to shoot in the manual mode on my camera.

They are lofty goals but why not shoot for the stars. I also am very grateful for a lot of things lately--Here goes!

1. I am grateful that Daniel never asks me to pack his suitcase before all of his trips.

2. I am grateful that my mom lives so close.

3. I am grateful that I have so many wonderful friends who know that I still love them even though I do not call all the time.

4. I am grateful for my wonderful friend Kim who opened up a whole new world of creativity for me, and even though she is a superstar has never made me feel less than she is. Thank you Kimbolina.

It has been a lot of fun lately. I have taken lots of pictures of my kids, others kids and others teenagers. So here are some of my faves.

I also am going to try to update more. So until next time...

I love long weekends.

2008-05-25T20:32:00.000-07:00

I love long four day weekends. I love them partially because they end and the kids continue their routines in school. I am nervous about summer because I love a good routine and that goes out the window. My mom took the kids for three days and that us always wonderful for me and let me say I think the kids need a break from me sometimes too.

For the first time since I started taking pictures of the kids I took pictures of people I had never met. It was a scary, exciting, nerve racking experience for me. Of course the family was wonderful, but I lost a little of my confidence I thought the pictures turned out really good but just a little nervous about them. So I grabbed my favorite guinea pig family to recover some of my mojo. I have to say that I love some of these pictures so much that I might frame them and hang them in my own home. This is my favorite.

I have to say the Kitners are so much fun to take pictures of. They did anything I asked. Even when I asked Kyle to sit there while Barb crawled up to him like a cat. Barb goes "I don't know what you mean, you show me." You should have seen the look on his face when he thought I was going to crawl up onto his lap. Priceless. This one of Gracie is just one of my favorites too.

I am just having so much fun creating things. I am excited to get up in the morning and try something new. I wish I would have done this a lot earlier in life. No regrets though.

The day finally came!!!

2008-05-14T20:52:00.000-07:00

This day will go down in Dekock history. I cannot tell you how many times I have taken my children to participate in sport teams. Each and every time praying that my children won't bring the whole team down with them. One time I was almost embarrassed enough to leave. You name we have tried it. Volleyball, soccer, basketball anything and everything. But today, today we were triumphant.

CARSON CAN ACTUALLY PLAY BASEBALL!!! I deserve to be able to say without a shred of humility that he was the best on the team. The man behind me said "wow." About my kid. I had to go around the corner and whisper in the phone to Daniel "he whips everyone's butts babe!" First time in the history of our marriage I have been proud of a Dekock in a sporting event. So I had to take his picture and put it up. Don't worry my other kids don't read my blog and by the time they want to when they are grown and reading through my journals, they will have already had the therapy needed to deal with this.

Anyway this day ranks up there. Just thought I would share.

Things are good!!

2008-05-06T22:11:00.001-07:00

Didn't even know that frogs lived at the beach. When Noah (a family friend) found this one swimming through the water we did not believe him. But here he is and I am sure that this solidifies that the beach is the coolest place to be.

This weekend I had time to myself while Daniel took Carly and Soren to Germany and my mom had the boys. So I decided to paint a couple of rooms. Well my paint choice was not the best and it is the color of FLESH. I am hanabal and have wrapped the whole room in skin. I paid a lot of money for that paint so we are keeping that color.

Jaden's new quotes for the day are:

1. You are such a whiner

2. Carly, you are such a jerk

3. I can't pee in the bushes it is too dangerous.

I have decided that spring is the best time to take pictures and if I don't share them here where else do I have to share them. So you will all just have to grin and bare it.

See that was not so painful. Well it is late and I am off to bed.

This week

2008-04-27T18:35:00.000-07:00

Flowers are killing me!!

This week is all about flowers. I have tried to take pictures of flowers and it has not turned out well. I take much better pictures of people so in all my flower pictures are little pieces of people. I just can't get into it. I think they are lovely and some of them will be gone soon but I just can't seem to capture them well.

I have also tried different textures on my pictures and some of them I like and some of them I do not like so much. I love this one of Soren though he looks so pretty. He loves it when I say that.

Today Carson said "Dad is going to turn 100 and then go live with Jesus and I will really miss him. I said hopefully you will have a family of your own so it won't be so bad and he said he wanted to live with me forever." Then five minutes later he said he wanted to live with grandma if our house burned down. What a fickle child. The things that come out of his mouth. Lately the only way we can get him to do anything is to tell him it is the way of the Jedi.

Well I finally got my mantle the way that I wanted it. With a little help from one of Kim's designs I really like it.

Love the beach!

2008-04-20T04:39:00.001-07:00

Since the weather has gotten a little bit warmer we have been to the beach three times. There is no where that we have ever lived that I feel like when we go there time stops and we are happy just being together. The kids are not asking to play with friends. The dog has the time of his life. Daniel and I just talk. The kids are nice to one another and just play. It is a beautiful thing. I always take the camera and try to capture what I am seeing. The lighting was perfect last night and so I had to do very little processing. I am finally beginning to be able to take pictures that I want to, that look the way I see them.

This is a rare moment of the boys beign together.

I love the feeling of sand between my toes.

I always see Daniel in the kids, but in this one I really did.

I loved every single one of these and I am going to bore you with a little more, but I can't help myself.

I have so much fun. Sometimes at night I will lay awake and think to myself how I could make a picture better or wake up with an idea for another. I hope that never goes away.

Should I wait?

2008-04-14T18:36:00.000-07:00

So I have been wondering--should I wait until something exciting happens to blog about? I have been sick so I have spent either time in bed or time just catching up on things that need to get done. Daniel has been having it hard being mother and father. I had one exciting night where I felt a little better and a group of friends and I went and saw Blue Man Group. Well I have to admit that I was a little nervous to see it because of their freaky eyes. I really enjoyed myself even with most of their show being about ways to cram things in their mouths.

I found a new program (to me that is) called lightroom where I can edit my photos. I have to admit that I love it. I can edit so many photos at once and they all look great. Well I hope they do. So I will be sharing some of those. I hope my friend Lisa doesn't mind me sharing some of her boys but they are so cute. To those of you that ask I do carry my camera with me most places just hoping to catch something that is interesting, but I do not sleep with it to those of you who were wondering. But you have to practice to get better at something (that is what they tell me).

Not in the best focus but that really is the face he gives me a lot so I thought I would share that with all of you. Mom can you play baseball with me for five hours? I will want to only bat and have you chase the balls all over the neighborhood.

The rest is the some of the kids in out neighborhood who have graciously let me take their pictures. I am sure the whole time wondering why?

I have really found a great hobby for myself, but I really have to watch myself not to get consumed. I really have to prioritize my time. The craziness of schedules is about to happen again with volleyball, scouts, baseball and everyday swimming. If I don't get my days straight then it seems like no one eats and our life is in chaos. I really enjoy my photoshop class not because I am learning in leaps and bounds but it gives me time to really sit and use my brain to learn something. I like that feeling. Well enough of my ramblings.

What a baby!!

2008-04-07T20:40:00.000-07:00

Well--he finally made it to the magic number three. What a fun sweet baby that can drive me crazy. We had a little birthday party for him and he seemed to really soak it all up. He of course loves the attention and had to blow out the candles 13 times and we had to sing to him each and every one. Hard to get his picture most of the time, even harder to get him to wear his crown. Can't believe he starts preschool this year and I will actually have 5 hours a week all to myself. That hasn't happened in going on 11 years. Every child has been a big learning experience, but also so much joy. Wouldn't trade it of course.

Too much fun.

2008-04-02T20:38:00.000-07:00

So now that it is getting warmer, I forgot about my other drama. I have to be outside with Jaden because we do not have a fence. So I just kind of wander around after him for hours. So today I decided to have some fun and take pictures on the trampoline. I must of taken over 100 pictures of the kids and they wanted to see them after each one. I am working on actions in photoshop so I added that to them and I think they turned out fun. Carson kept saying "watch my moves." The kids had lots of fun doing them. We ended up with neighbor kids wanting to do it too.

My great friend Kim made me this beautiful header something it would have taken me hours to do. So thank you tons.

Sometimes I really love this man.

2008-03-29T20:52:00.000-07:00

I don't talk about Daniel much but I just really want to say that he really is my biggest fan. Everything I do he thinks is just amazing. What more could a woman want. When we aren't talking about money or his ego we have the most fun together. I can honestly say that sometimes even after 12 years he can walk into a room and I still get butterflies. Usually he has his pilot uniform on, but that is besides the point. I love him the most when I catch him looking at his McDreamy hair.

Just spent spring break down at my parents house and we just had a wonderful relaxing time. The kids were able to get outside and not have their brains turned to mush from video games. Of course I tried to get out and take some pictures, but sadly I was not feeling that creative so here are just a couple of the week.

This last one is for my friend Shelley who loves a good chocolate. I am in quite the mood so I am going to do a little redecorating. I am going to add some color to the house and redo the boys room. I am not going to be so afraid. So I will upload pictures of the living room and the boys room when I am done. I will try to remember to take before and after shots. These two pictures are my mom and I making pillows out of napkins from Pier One for two dollars and my mantle. It needs some color so any suggestions would be nice.

Not so much fun!!

2008-03-20T18:24:00.000-07:00

I am not so much fun today. I feel like I let the kids down to day. Bought Easter treats for Carson's class, drove to school, ordered some vinyl, jumped on the trampoline, pushed on the swing, did some Easter Egg dying, gave a Easter lesson, drove to drama, gave baths and worked on some pictures. But some days it feels like it is never enough. Ate too many chocolate covered raisins, drank too much diet coke, even had a doughnut. Nothing makes you feel better about yourself than over eating.

I did have some fun yesterday when I was babysitting and I decided to take some pictures of Jaden's friend Gracie. Had to feed her jelly beans for every picture and by the end she kept telling me it was not her birthday. (Her mother explained that comment later) But I thought they turned out nice and it is always fun to see what you can create with your camera, a cute child and photoshop.

I also bought some presets off the internet today and thought I could figure out how to use them and an hour and a half later realized that I did not know how to use them. I am very glad that I am taking a photo shop class in April. Also found a new site that I love because they really combine all the elements of photography that I love and the people there love to share their photos. http://pinkinkstudios.com/blog/

Faking spring!!

2008-03-17T16:52:00.000-07:00

Well it is the gloomiest day ever here in Indiana so I decided to take a picture of my centerpiece for my kitchen table and pretend it was spring.

I really do not know how much more of this I can take. If the sun came out I know I would be thinner. We had 11 minutes total of sunshine in January. How can you sustain life that way? I have tried to stay busy but I can tell the kids even feel it. I have never let them play video games so much in their lives. There is only so much inside play I can think of. Any suggestions just in case there is no end in sight?