200th Post

Just because people make a big deal out of 200th posts and 1000th comment kind of stuff, I thought I would at least make mine straight form the heart. This one is for Jalena Carlisle. This post is for you to look back on and have all sorts of amazing memories flash before you! This was a picture that you drew when it was Dad's Day at your Pre-K class.). And the wings below are what you and Daddy made together and he wore them the whole next day while he worked. You have the most amazing Dad and I know there might be times when you think he is being too hard on you, or not understanding of you, but I need you to know that above all he loves you, and he only wants the best for you. (I know every parent says that:) I also know that you will look back on little things, when maybe you are a parent yourself, that Dad does that most Dad's don't.....he brushes your hair and tries to put it in ponies. He went to your gymnastics this morning instead of work because he just wanted to smile. He tucks you in every night. He absolutely glows when he talks about you (the list goes on forever). He has been active in your life in EVERY way that I have from day 1. For many families there are defined roles of each parent, but with us those lines are very blurred. He is a modern Dad, that is so hands on and I know you are going to have many amazing memories of your own to tell about him! We love you.
By the way...you taught yourself to mirror-write your name. That's pretty cool.

Hey Jacque...

...you're so fine, you're so fine you blow my mind...Hey Jacque! You all know and love her. Usually she is accompanied by the beautiful Christina as well. For those of you who don't know those two household names...they are our everything:) Jacque and Christina watch our kids for us very often and sometimes overnight to give Jake and I the much needed "date nights" that we are getting way too used too. I don't know what we are going to do when these girls leave us or worse...get family's of their own. I know that they will never know how much they mean to us until they have kids one day and some savior does the same for them. They never ask for payment and they clean my house, bake cookies, crafts with the kids...oh, and did I mention that the kids LOVE, LOVE, LOVE them! Thank you both a katrillion times, we love you. These are pictures that Jacque asked me to do for her Senior (college) announcements. We wanted to do a corny, old school front that screamed silliness. When her roommate looked at this image, she didn't get it at all, and said that it was a nice shot. We scrapped that idea and went with a more modern feel to the card. Thanks for all the laughs and all that you do for us Jacque:)
I thought the shot above was hysterical, but apparently people still do these type portraits, so I can't knock them. Below is the cover we went with (without the logo).
Inside. She graduated on the Dean's list of the nursing school....stud!
And the back.
And one more, just because she looks hot!

Friends

What makes me happiest in life besides my kids?.....Friends! There is of course the best friend that I will ever come across in my lifetime....John Jacob:) He just makes it easy to be a friend and teaches me so much about being a friend. Then there is Shannon...who has taught me how to be a good girlfriend. There are so many more friends in my life, that I can't even begin to talk about what each one brings to my life. You all know who you are and you are and I thank you from every piece of my heart.....how else would we get through life without friends and family? The easiest friendships are with family. But there is something different about friendships outside of family. They teach you how to grow together without the inbred, unconditional love. I have been hangin' with my friends Amy, Shannon and Kristy and I think the best thing that girlfriends bring to my life is laughter. I LOVE to laugh and these girls are dang funny! Here are a couple shots that we took when we went out the other night to watch Amy play with her new Upright Bass Player, Brandon. They were amazing together and she played a couple of her new songs on the record. She is going to blow your socks off!


This was a shoot that Kristy, Shannon and I got together at our friend's (B-Mac) studio. Shannon was smokin' hot and it was so fun to play with light. I love this shot of Sha' or Shathy. She is an old soul and her eyes tell an amazing story. Thank you for being such an incredible friend, sounding board, mentor, and for making me laugh.
This is me testing light. Kristy didn't even know that I was taking a picture....or that she was doing such a cute soda ad:) I love when she comes to visit us. She has the most calming, beautiful spirit of anyone I know. There is something about her energy that is contagious and she makes me laugh. Tell me that isn't the fixins of a god friend.
This is scary Brian:) We weer playing with a diffuser and I got this crazy, horror movie shot! Have I mentioned that I love to learn, and play with different looks. Thanks for playing Brian.

LIFE

So many of you know Jake's "Oprah" story....well, we lost Willie a few days ago:( We were blessed to have him in our lives for the short time that we got to know him. Tré took it very hard the day that I told him, and that was the hardest part. After losing my Grandma last month, then Willie, and now my Dad being in the hospital, life has been a BIG pill to swallow. The hardest part is that life goes on. The daily tasks are still there. You laugh through the day, you cry, and you run errands. Life goes on...and for a few moments of your day, that sad feeling creeps up and you remember your loved one with sadness in your heart. I want to get to that point when you think of them, and it puts a smile on my face:) I know we all have stories of loss...some more than others...and I have been very blessed in that department...So today I am thankful for all of you in my life and for my faith that the loved ones that have passed, are in a better place. Willie lives on in our hearts and I pray for his family to find the strength to get through these difficult days.




I am pregnant with Jamison (whom carries Willie's last name) in this picture.

Hollywood

I have renamed this senior 'Hollywood' because he has a look about him that you have to train models for years to understand:) This shoot was incredible for me because of one reason....passion. You know me and all my talks of passion and loving what I do. Well, what if I would have found all of that when I was 17 or 18. Marcus is doing what he loves and he is really great at it. He got Rookie of the Year for Washington this year. I am guessing that that means that he excels at what he does (being a cute fireman) and that he is going to shine one day in one of those hot fireman calendars:) Thank you Marcus for sharing your beautiful spirit and for perusing one of the most needed and honorable jobs out there! I was wondering if I could hire you to teach some of my clients "the GQ look" that you have mastered:)
Caution....man in uniform....remember this is a senior shoot:) He's just a baby, so no taking screen shots!

WPPI

Where do I begin. Let me try to use some descriptive words for my first trip to Vegas....Overwhelming, bright, loud, crazy, fun, chaotic, massive, tons 'o' peeps, and did I mention overwhelming! I told Jake that the bad news was that I went to Vegas for the first time without him, but the good news was that I didn't see ANY of "Vegas". Can I just say that I thought the weather is Vegas was spectacular and the sky was so brilliant. It didn't dawn on me until we finally left the hotel for the first time on 3 days, that the sky I was looking at was painted on:) Don't ask me what I actually learned about photography while there because Shannon and I spent a lot of time at the Mime Convention. Who knew there was so much money to be made in miming;) Don't knock it until you attend. No......we learned a lot and I am sure that I will remember just as soon as I detox fully from my Vegas Shock! I met so many amazing people and I got to do my favorite thing in the whole world, network and people watch. I didn't take pictures of everyone, but these were a couple fun ones. I borrowed the photobooth ones from France's site. The first and best party that we went to was for the kick off for the sweet new photographer's must have item....the Gobee (shown below). You have to go check it out on the Amazing Sara France's site.
My new BFF, Irwin. Actually I can't steal him from Sara, but I think she has an amazing friend. It was a pleasure dancing (I mean chatting with you).
Let's play "where's the red nose". Good job Shannon!
Quick, everyone look like a deer in headlights. You win again, Shamone!
The ever so lovely, Willow, Willow, willow (best if you sing her name).
Let me let you in a little secret of Willow and Shannon's (just incase you end up with them in Vegas, or anywhere, and there is a camera near). They might tell you things like, "o.k., everyone blink your eyes", or "show the camera your fish face". Well, don't listen to them. Really, they just want to be the cutest ones in the picture and you'll just look like a jackal:)
This is a story that will stay in Vegas, but the memory of this man is forever etched/burned into my retinas! Hopefully my memory is as bad as I always say;)
New friend Ryan and just as important...proof that Shannon and I actually went to the tradeshow.
Peace out Vegas. A special thanks to my dearest Cindy (you all know her from my site). I think you are the most amazingly, beautiful soul on this planet. Your smile can light up a room within seconds before you actually enter. Shannon and I couldn't have asked for a better partner in crime on the trip and I miss you dearly. Tell Matt, thanks for sharing:)

Believe You Me

I finally sized the videos of Shannon and I going Olympia for the Jason Reeves concert. The first one is a bit long, but it was the start of a joke that I was creating on the way up there as Shannon was introducing me to Jason's music. It was a roadtrip and we had to have something funny on camera (roadtrip rules) so I busted out my camera and filmed Shannon, "Jason" and I headed up North.


The joke got a whole lot funnier when Jason and Billy made it come to life! The second video is a little dark, but you get the idea! They were hysterical and real sports for only meeting us minutes before all of this. Oh, and a shot of how the rockstars roll just incase you didn't think that they were down to earth. Thanks Subaru Boys.