Don't have to DREAM...

...when you can just look out the window and enjoy a VERY white Christmas!

While we are bummed about not being able to go out and see and celebrate with family, we are SO enjoying being snowed in, baking cookies, watching movies together, laughing together, and opening and playing with presents. On days like this I realize anew that these are the golden years of our family. All our children under one roof, everyone healthy, and so many blessings to enjoy. Mostly, the ONE most important blessing to be thankful for today.

Wishing you all a very safe and happy CHRISTmas.

Thankful today...

....for my many many blessings. At the top of my list:

1. God....ever faithful, loving, patient, powerful, awesome, merciful, just, good, tender, HOLY.
2. My family.
3. My friends.
4. My clients! I sincerely hope you have had the opportunity to celebrate the most important blessings in life this Thanksgiving!

Looking ahead to fall!

I can't believe how long it has been since I made an entry on the blog!! Today I want to make a quick post to let you in on the latest.

Lots has happened in the last while...a wonderful family vacation, four weddings, a bunch of sessions with precious babies, families and a couple high school seniors, baseball, summer rec, 20 year high school class reunion, driver's ed, and just SUMMER! Yes, it has been busy! As you can tell, I am terribly behind on blogging my sessions, but I will be sure to post some favorites from each session in the coming days. I am so excited to show you what I have been up to!

To be honest, this summer has ended up being even more busy than I planned, and while I am steadily plugging away at all my orders and albums and correspondence, I have managed to fall a little behind. I truly appreciate you, my amazing clients. You have trusted me with making portraits for you and will get you what is yours as soon as I possibly can!!

Another thing in the works is a new studio! Most of you know I have run my studio out of our home for over four years. That is all about to change, as we are converting a barn on our property into my studio. Because we have been extra busy with working on the studio, I have decided I will not be shooting any sessions in November or December this year. The deadline for placing Christmas orders or cards will be on November 14, and all orders will be back by December 1.

I have been getting calls and emails asking about fall sessions, and I will be getting back to anyone who has called or emailed with the openings I have left for fall. If you have contacted me and have not heard back from me by this weekend, please give me a call on Monday. There have been a couple of instances where my email went into peoples' email junk or spam folder, and I want to make sure everyone has an equal chance at booking the remaining sessions for 2009.

Thanks for taking the time to read this.....I promise the next posts will be less text heavy, and loaded with lots of images of wonderful people!!!

David....

...pride and joy of Liz and Jon!

I so loved meeting little David...what a sweat pea!





I couldn't help myself from grinning from ear to ear while preparing these images. This little guy is so loved....congratulations, Liz and Jon! I had a blast photographing your family!

This girl has got STYLE....

...and I got to make her senior portraits!

I happened to see Amy's prom dress on Facebook and was excited that she chose to wear it for a few of her senior portraits! So pretty!

Amy enjoys neutral colors, but I could not resist this colorful shot of her downtown!

I'm loving the contrast between the textures of the dilapidated door and windows and Amy's elegance.

We had an absolutely gorgeous night for outside portraits, but it did get very cool at the end of the evening. I asked Amy to lie down on this COLD metal door thing....brrr! Then, a police officer stopped by after seeing me and Amy's Mom bent over a lying down Amy. He was concerned she was hurt! First police encounter while shooting pictures! Or ever, for that matter. Actually no...I have gotten two speeding tickets in my life. When I was a high school senior I think. Sorry...I am rambling!

Thanks so much for making the session so enjoyable, Amy!

I hope your mission trip to Haiti went well! Hope to hear about it soon!

M is for Maggie..

A few weeks ago I had the privilege of photographing little one year old Maggie.

I have never been so aware of the sound of my camera's shutter as I was during this session. Maggie did not like the looks and sound of my camera. Not even one little bit!

The reason why she looks relaxed and like she is having fun is because her Grandma Renae came along to sing to her! :-)


Thanks so much, Kara for bringing Maggie for her one year portraits! What a little precious person you have!

Sugar and spice...

...and everything nice

...that's what these two little girls are made of!


Miss Payton

...and Miss Kate!

It's been a few weeks already since these little cuties came to play. Thanks for having fun with me, girls!

I simply love it...

...when I get to see families as they grow and change over the years. Do you remember this family from last year?

Here are some of my favorites from their recent session...enjoy!

Mr. Blue Eyes...

...came and paid me a visit not long ago.

Okay....actually his name is Marshall. I like the name, like this baby even better! :-)

Marshall gave up some big smiles and coos, and then he fell asleep.

Once asleep, he was out like a light....so sweet.

There is nothing like a sleeping baby.....so peaceful.

Jill and Chad....engaged!

Recently I had the chance to get together with Jill and Chad for some engagement portraits. The forecast was for rain, but thankfully it was dry!

Jill and Chad's wedding will feature the color black and so we wanted to use the black and white damask backdrop for a few shots. I just LOVE the dress that Jill has on here!

Chad is an outdoorsy guy who loves fishing. We went to a local pond to get these next outdoorsy shots. Engagement shoots are a great time to capture images in a more remote location that you would not have time to access on your wedding day.


On the way back to my place we stopped here for a bit of a different look.

We shot in our pasture area....I love the yellow /flowers weeds that are blooming right now!

I will leave you with this image...isn't the ring gorgeous? I love the smell of these blooms too. These bushes are already bloomed out now...I can't believe how fast summer is going already!

Jill and Chad...I am sure this summer will fly for you as you prepare for the wedding in September! I can't wait! :-)

Today I get to show off...

...the first in a series of one year olds that I have photographed in the last couple weeks. Meet Lily!

Such a pretty smile!

Lily is sooo independent! she has been walking for a few weeks and is so proud of herself...it is the cutest thing! Here she is taking a little rest...

Loving her mischievous little face here!

I think Lily is going to be a track star...I really do! She was such a little mover....going, going at lightning speed all the time, never stopping!

Thanks for coming over to play, Miss Lily!