Bye-bye Bo and Max!

We are all going to the lovely state of Idaho to visit my husband's family...We will be gone for three weeks. I love this picture with the dogs because it portrays just the way they are...loyal, kid-friendly, and love to snuggle in with the family! (This photo was taken two years ago when they were about 7 months old and still puppies- they are lab/border collie mix). My poor dogs will be so sad. We will miss you Bo and Max!

I Love Play-Doh

Play-doh is great! There's nothing better than a fresh can of play-doh. We have always some at home and I use it in my class all the time. (Great for getting those little fine motor muscles ready to grasp and write...) I love to see the endless creations my kids will make. As for the clean up - we get the majority and then sweep up the little pieces as they dry -that's the easy way.

First Wedding and Cute Baby...

It's been about four years since Magnolia Photography graciously entrusted me to shoot my first wedding. It was seriously an adrenaline rush and I was hooked...Since that first wedding experience I have shot many weddings and still enjoy each and every one. Unfortunately I am not as advanced as I should and would like to be (as far as having my own business) but someday I will get there....
Due to the fact that I haven't ever had anyone sign a release I am stilll unable to post alot of my previous work (science teachermommy I am still trying to dig up your cute babe's CD) . So for now I am still posting some older shots but I have always liked this one "What in the world are you doing lady"? look.

Just for Fun...

Kindred Spirits....

Baby Love...

I have an obssession.. I have since I have been a little girl. I thought it would eventually fade bit and it has at some points in the last few years but it seems to be raging again full force. No I am not having another one but sometimes I still have that fantasy (like I did as a child) that a baby will just be left on my doorstep. I have found several ways to curb this...photographing babies and borrowing babies at church but sometimes I want more. But then they grow up darn it! I truly love my four at the ages they are...It definelty has it's pros but I will always hold fondly those precious baby love moments when I could just carry them around all day and smell their sweet angel breath. Good thing my teacher friend right down the street is having a baby soon!

And few more recent shots...

New Camera and My 4 Yr. Old...

I finally got my second camera...It's taken some experimenting and messing around with but I am finally starting to feel comfortable with it. It will never take the place of my fist baby (my 10D) but I am hoping it will eventually come close. I know this sounds crazy but when I got my first camera I would get so excited just to hold it. (Okay don't take that too far.) It has been a good faithful companion for years. Unfortunately my "work horse" of a camera kept breaking and it was costing a ton to keep having it fixed. (Also..I have turned down weddings because I did not feel comfortable only using one camera) I wanted to replace it with the same one but the camera guy said that is a pioneer and they don't make them anymore. Therefore, my new 40D will work side by side with my old faithful...I took my 4 year old along for the first photoshoot. Can you tell she has an older sister? I love how she crossed her legs and gave me some serious attitude along the way. Hopefully my pictures will continue to improve as well as my "tech expertise" over the next few months and years.

Strawberry picking and 12 yr olds...

We all went strawberry picking several months ago. This is always such a fun trip. I always tell the kids to eat up - get your weekly intake of fruit (and my $$ worth) It cracks me up how my 12 year old got all dressed up for the event. Of course she ended up with strawberries on her new shirt even though I had told her to wear grubbies...I love natural consequences. I think it's interesting how this age regresses back to the two year old stage..egocentric, all about me, etc. etc. You've got to love this age! Anyway back to the strawberries...we got home and made some yummy freezer jam. Fun day!

Two more days!

Yeah! Only two days left of school...I can hardly wait! The last two weeks are always crazy. I am so excited to spend time with my family this summer. That is one advantage of working full-time outside the home...somehow my time at home has become so much more valuable to me. Even though we all go to the same school (My hubby teaches at the same school and my three youngest attend there as well) I so enjoy my weekends, holidays and summers. It's funny because before it was "Can't wait to send everyone back to work and school". Now it's the opposite. Here we come summer!