Oy! Things have been busy around here!! I have been taking lots of pics and trying to catch up on my editing. All of this along with helping with Carson's class and my other part time job. I have another family shoot this weekend for one of Spencer's cousins. They have 4 kids under 4, yeah, it is going to be FUN! It is amazing what I will do to get myself out there. They are a beautiful family and it will be rewarding hard work.





This pic is a reason why I LOVE what I do. This last week in church we sat next to Hallies family. She ended up practically sitting on my lap trying to see what my kids were doing. I thought she was the most stunning child and HAD to ask her mom if I could take her picture. I am going to use one of these in my very first add and would LOVE some help! Which one do you like the best?

Today I am doing a session with a family of 7!!! It is cold and crappy outside so I set up my backdrop in my front room. The north wall is just windows and I am in love with the lighting. I actually turned the light on in that room too and it is perfect, it is diffused just right. So, today will be interesting. I can't wait to see how these turn out. The mom told me that if these don't turn out she is going to Sears. I giggled because she is going to LOVE my pictures cause I am pretty darn good for only doing this for 3 months.

This is a picture of Carson that I took to try out how things could possibly look. I was happy with the way his eyes turned out and that is all I am looking for right now.

This was my fist Senior photo shoot. I was super nervous and actually dreamt about it the night before. It was a cool dream, I was taking pics with Doug and we decided to stop and play soccer for a bit just to break up the smiling time. Anyway, it was cool, mostly cause he can't walk. We took these pictures at the same park that I did our family pics for our christmas card. It looked like crap with all of the leaves dead. I feel bad that their wasn't more to work with but I felt like I did a pretty good job.

I am still waiting to hear from him and his mom. She wants me to design a full page LO in his yearbook using some of my pics and pics of him with the football team and sky diving. Glad they didn't want me to take those pics.

This is my sweet cousins family. For some reason, my pics didn't turn out like I wanted them to, I still have LOTS of things to learn. Anyway, this house is across the street from where we live. I will be torn down soon as this area develops. When we were inside, I was noticing some of the writing on the walls. Most of it, I had to quit reading cause it was naughty but there was something really cool there. Someone that once lived there wrote how old they were when they lived in that house and how old they are now. They said, that house held some of their favorite memories. That obviously got me thinking. I LOVE taking pics in front of old barns and old homes. I want to take pics of the homes around here before they get torn down. I have a great picture of a barn that I will post when I get finished with it. I just love the feeling of these pics. I actually went back and took that doornob in the pic of Maycie. I just had to have it!!!

I wanted to post a few pics of the decor items that I have made this year. I made the witches legs a few years ago. They were inspired by a LO that my friend Kellie did for me. She paper pieced witches legs just like that and I had to make them for halloween. I updated my picture wall which was so fun. I LOVE FALL colors. I finally feel like I have been able to start decorating in our new home. The Happy Halloween took forever to make but I am so happy with the way that it turned out. The picture totally sucks but you get the point. All of the letters are about 12 inches tall. I used Chatterbox paper since I am in love with the stuff. They don't really have a halloween line so I used the back of a lot of their cardstock which worked out really well!

So, this is what I get to make me smile everyday. Madyson is such a sweet little girl. She has lots of "2 year old" in her but I adore her and her personality. It seems as though sometimes, she does what I wish I could do. I USED to dress up like this act like a huge dork but I would probably get CPS called on me if I tried this now. She and Carson are the reasons that I am still here today. They give me purpose in my life, trials when I need them and smiles to make me happy.

To get Maddy to put this Tutu on took some major mommy skills on my part! I had to get Carson to try this on so that Maddy would want to also. IT WORKED! Once I got it on her, she didn't want to take it off. So, since I got it on her I HAD to take pictures! I got a few shots that turned out cute enough to post. These are the moments that I am so thankfull to have Carson as a tag team partner.

You are the reason I bite my lip so hard

You are the reason I can't think straight

You are the reason I cry

You are the reason I want to give up

Because of you I am strong

Because of you I learn

Because of you I have joy

Because of you I am alive

Seeing how my house will never ever be clean all at the same time, I am going to post pics when I get each room just right. I am starting out with the one that I spend the most time in, my scrap/craft/ room. Hopefully I will get rid of the computer desks and build wrap around desks to work on.

Last Monday was my birthday. Can I just say that Spencer TOTALLY made up for the last few years. I am a big baby on my birthday. I want the day to be all about me with lots and lots of presents. Well, we have been pretty poor for the first 5 years of our lives and their has always been other things going on so I have pretty much only gotten the shaft for my birthday. The problem is, I pout big time! I ended up sobbing in the Wal-Mart parking lot last year cause I couldn't return some items so I could get some presents for myself. The day was NOTHING about me and I was selfish and angry. This year was very different. I got to spend it with my family and especially my mom. I understand how much she did to bring me into this world so it was nice to be with her. She made me a cute capri sun bag that I LOVE!

So, my ONE birthday wish this year was to go to the coast and take family pictures. My wish was granted with a bonus. A new Digital Rebel! Seriously, I was a little too excited to get it! I wasn't able to study it before we got to the beach so these pictures are OK, but next time, watch out! I have learned a few things and can't wait to learn more!!!!

So, today I was supposed to work at the Chatterbox wharehouse sale but they have postponed it for a later day. Since I am just getting back from my trip I am not toally broken hearted, but I am SO sad I have to wait to buy lots of yummy Chatterbox treats! I promise to post pics when I do get my loot. Please, no drooling on my scrapbook supplies. It is a strict rule that I have.

This is THE sweetest most precious baby in all the land. I am NOT just saying that. My brand new nephew, is quite possibly the most perfect baby I have ever seen. He doesn't cry. He lets anyone hold him. He is a great sleeper and a great eater. I think I have covered everything that babies do. We got to go and be there for his baby blessing and OF course I had to take some pictures. Like expected he was perfect. So here are some of my favorites!

So, I haven't posted any pics of the house all done cause IT HAS NEVER BEEN CLEAN! I swear, I need a boost of enery one of these days with NO KIDS or BOYS around.

Instead of cleaning, I have been working on projects to cover my naked walls. This has taken A LOT of my time becuase I don't have any decor. I don't want to spend a ton of money but I want my house to look nice, so I make a lot of my stuff. I'm not saying my stuff is super nice, but it will get us by for the next few years.

So here are some pics of my latest creations!!
This is a clock that I made out of one of my favorite pictures EVER of my Madyson. I used a key box and turned it into a shadow box. I used some of the blue paper from that Chalet CBX line and it went perfect with her dress color. Of course I had to turn this into a clock because 1)I never know what time it is and 2)Duh, I am late for everything.

This is another clock that I made. It is about 24 inches wide. I LOVE this clock but want to do another one already. I also painted the shelf and the mirrors. I added words to t he mirrors so that I can give myself a pep talk now and then.











This is my BIG R. I used more CBX paper cause I can't get enough of it, litterally! This R is about three feet tall. I don't know where to put it yet, but dang it, it is done!

I forgot about the BEST room in the house....my scraproom!!!

this is the nook from in the living room
this was taken while i was standing by the front door
from the nook
another one from the nook
this is just to the left of the front door