A family in the trees

Yes, I take full responsibility for that corny clever title.

As you know from yesterday, I got to shoot another family. They’re good friends that have some history with G-man before I ever came into the picture. I’ll always remember when I first met them when G-man and I were first dating.

They said they liked me right off since I was giving G-man such a hard time at dinner. Imagine my normal sarcastic self x10 at that time. I didn’t let anyone off the hook back then.

Oh those were the days. I never would have imagined years later, I’d be taking their family pictures. Funny how things work out but I certainly had a good time hanging out with them in the orchard.







I was joking around with him, saying there was something inside my camera. He was working real hard on seeing it.



I’m smitten with how the boys are looking at me while the girls cuddle.






These little feet! Her tights with those ballet flats…my goodness, adorable!






Just too cute for words.

I’m already slated to do another friend’s family picture in a couple weeks, so give it about 2 months {since clearly that’s my track record} and you’ll be seeing those as well. It should be a fun one, especially since she told me she didn’t want to be like other’s with the pretty pink blossoms. She wanted all green. Well, green she will get since that’s all there is.

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Turn that leaf over

People, I’ve turned over a new leaf! Please have a seat as I explain the amazingness that I am now.

I walked the 1/4 mile to the high school track to workout! Oh my word, I did! I didn’t drive it like I always do…I walked!!

Can we all just pause a moment to soak in the magnitude of this statement?! – NO? ok, fine.

I realize a 1/4 mile is really pathetic to drive each and every time I wanted to workout, but I blamed it on the concrete..and the cold (and then the heat)..and the fact that if I wanted to workout before and after I actually planned on working out, then I would..but I don’t. Let’s be real.

But this whole stupid $4.29 a gallon junk is keeping me from driving around all willy nilly. I’m a willy nilly driver, guys! And now, I can’t be. I walk to the post office 5 blocks away now. (those are big blocks, okay?!) I no longer drive it. I figure that if I’m going into an adjoining city, to do more than the one errand, so I’ll conserve on gas.

I still drive fast(er), so my mpg isn’t where it could be, but I believe in baby steps and sacrifices.
Ok, so the leaf might not be completely turned. All in good time, I suppose.

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A gentle reminder that one week from today is the link up for the self portraits. A few of you have jumped on board, there’s plenty of time if you’re wanting to have fun with us..only with yourself since we won’t be there, but you get the idea. I’m getting more and more excited to see everyone’s pictures next Wednesday! ..and yes, more and more nervous of doing mine. {tis true}

If you’re wanting to know what kind of poses you should do, check out this website. It offers great ideas on poses.
via Digital Photography School
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Awhile back I did a friend’s family pictures and can’t wait to show them, for now here’s their absolutely beautiful adorable lovable daughter. She’s my favorite..she’s everyone’s favorite, actually!

Since I can’t decide between the color and black and white, I’ll let you decide which you prefer most. I love them both!
her lashes…I covet.

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When the situation calls for a gun

Guns do come in handy sometimes. I have footage of a C/O (correctional officer) sitting on his front steps with his girlfriend when a guy walks by real slow, stops right in front of them and shoots the C/O at point blank range. Fortunately for the C/O the guy was a horrible shot and got him in his foot. Unfortunately for the guy, the C/O had his gun and shot and killed him.

~ ~ There’s been few instances where I’ve needed to grab a gun.

Working up in a ‘booth’ watching a very dangerous inmate getting escorted back to his cell, when he turned on the cop and began a heated argument. There I stood with 2 weapons in my hands to use. A launcher that shoots less lethal rounds and the rifle that shoots lethal.

Thankfully I didn’t have to use either but it was the closest I came at work to using one.

Another time I was driving down a highway, coming upon a red light, when a car full of ‘questionable’ guys comes along side me. I had my gun put away in its case, but pulled it out and set it next to me because I had such an odd feeling with them.

And then there was just last week.

Hanging out watching tv one night, when I get a loud knock on my door. Its after 8pm and its dark outside. No one and I mean no one knocks on my door at night. I asked through the door, ‘who is it?’ and a guy answers that he’s giving away free newspapers. {…at 8:15 at night..right.} I told him, ‘no thank you.’ He says, ‘you don’t want a free newspaper??’ All I say is, ‘thank you, no’ and I hear him mutter something to another guy as he walks away.

I stand there for a second thinking it over and immediately grab my shotgun from my room.

They didn’t knock on any of my neighbor’s doors. Just mine.

My mind works in funny ways. I didn’t peek through the blinds to get a look at them, because the light was on my back and they would’ve seen me seeing them.

I didn’t think to call the cops to report suspicious activity in my area.

I didn’t think to double check my locks until after I grabbed the gun. {they were locked, by the way}

All I did was walk in the back room, grab my gun and take it off of safety to have it ready in case I needed to use it.

I even slept fine that night. I debated locking my bedroom door, but didn’t. My guns were by my side the whole night and have been since. I don’t know what would have happened if I’d opened my door. I’m a suspicious person by nature and can imagine the absolute worse but thankfully I have the mind to know when something just isn’t right.

I hope you have that mind too. It isn’t always the wisest to grab your gun but rather call the cops if someone is lurking around your home or if you hear something suspicious. They say robbers know to make one sound only because often times if we hear a crash {like glass breaking} we’ll pause what we’re doing to see if we hear the sound again. And when we don’t, we continue on, thinking we ‘were hearing things’.

So don’t count out what you heard. Proceed with your safety in mind. If all else fails, call the cops and say ‘this is not an emergency’ first before describing the reason for your call. I do wish I’d peeked to see what they looked like, I do wish I’d called the cops so they’d drive around, but I chose to be Jane Wayne instead.

It worked this time, but that’s not to say it will the next.

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A thankful me - 13

Its Aaapppppppppppriiiiiiiiillll!!!!! Can I get an AMEN!!

What was it about March that was just.so.miserable!?!?! I was doing my best, but darn! that was a rough month! Now I can happily wait a whole year before experiencing it again.

Something good that came out of March.


Before I get to the nitty gritty,  I have to get you guys to look at something. My friend’s friend’s kid (still with me?) had her first birthday and my friend’s pictures are up on her blog. I thought they were great until I scrolled to the last and about lost myself. Maybe its just me, but darn if I didn’t see it coming. Clever I say…oh so clever.

Check it out and then come speeding back…cause, you still got more to read!
{if you wanna follow her blog, go to the very bottom of her page..she has the best pictures and is a hoot and a holler!}

So about that thanks. I’m thankful for a butt load. yeah, seriously said a butt load…

- 1 1/2 year old chocolate. Its been a serious lifesaver these past few weeks, gnawing on these things every night. Although word to the wise…snickers..not so good over time.

- controlling flyaway and snapped hair by stopping the towel rubbing and brushing of the wet hair. I’ve heard this before, but never cared until I couldn’t take the flyaways and viola! my hair has been tame and even has a nice wave to it. {the vlog I did was air dried no combed hair…you’re welcome}
- LeAnna telling me that if I buy and read a book within 7 days on Amazon, I can return it for a full refund. Ummm, thank you Hunger Games for free!
- Erin always always helping me out with my editing in PSE9. That stuff is tough, guys!! And good ol’ Erin is ALWAYS to my rescue with step by step tips, advice and CC (constructive criticism).
- making a profit off an ex-con. Oh yes I did!! Money exchanged hands and it never felt so good….{because of the profit.} Stay with me here!
- selling my pull up bar off of Craigslist to a couple where the guy just got out of prison. (don’t know what you guys were thinking a second ago…I ain’t no dirty cop!)
- baby E being released from the hospital. He has some therapy to do but is doing and looking really good!
- the “safety” of my guns. …more on that later this week.

So, to recap:
I’ve given you 3 chances to check out my friend Erin’s blog.
Money, guns and inmates were all mentioned in one day.
Not to mention “free” books, chocolate, unfrizzed hair and a healing baby.

…did I miss anything??

what about you?

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10 years to the day

Its my niece’s 10th birthday today. She’s 10! This is crazy. What’s crazier is by next year, I’ll have a teenage niece! I’m sure my brother finds that crazier than I do…being that she’s his kid.

Don’t you remember when you hit double digits? It was the best feeling ever. 10 is such a big deal!

I remember this itty bitty baby.


..and then an adoring big sister.

This little girl is all girl, full of smiles.


..and charm.



She is so fun and silly to be around.


A long time had gone by since we last saw each other, I admit I was nervous she wouldn’t quite remember me like I wanted. I heard she was upstairs in my other niece’s room and nervously climbed the stairs. The moment I open the bedroom door, she sees me and exclaims “Auntie” and runs, giving me the biggest hug there is.

At that moment, my heart literally melted, my fears were gone. She remembers me just as I hoped.
I can’t say I’m amazed she’s turned into a beautiful growing fast-not so little-girl.


But she still keeps her silliness, which I love about her.



Happy 10th birthday, sweet niece.

And happy weekend to you lovelies!

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You’re in for a treat

It’s a vlog! Could you have asked for anything better on this Thursday? I didn’t think so.

A few things; Its my first…so be gentle. I say ‘stupid’ a few times..and ‘and then’ no and then... and I giggle at my own answers. Its just how I roll.

Picture of the feet…as I mentioned. Red from them heating up.

My favorite verses:

1 Peter 5:8-11
Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.
But resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same experiences of suffering are being accomplished by your brethren who are in the world.
After you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory in Christ, will Himself perfect, confirm, strengthen and establish you.
To Him be dominion forever and ever. Amen.

Thanks again everyone for the questions. If you want to ship me Dunkin’…remember, I’m happy to give my address.
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Rise to the challenge

An idea has been forming over here. Not an original idea since I’ve seen it all around the internet, this blog does it ever other week, but one I want to participate in and encourage others to do.

Self portraits

What I want to do is to get us women more in front of the camera. By a silent raise of hands, how many of you new and not so new moms are ever in front of the camera?? How many of you are actually in the pictures with your kids…or your husband??

Or even just have that solo shot of yourself?

I can hear the majority of you now…I’m just not comfortable in front of the camera, I don’t think I look good, I’m not where I want to be body wise and having a camera pick up on that…bleh, no one is there to take the picture for me, and blah blah blah blah blah.

Yeah, I get it. But remember this…your kids will look back at all those pictures and think, ‘how come mom was never in these?’ ‘I don’t have any pictures of me and mom.’ {trust me, I say this now and its sad as the kid.} …sorry mom.

I’m singling out you moms but its for you single gals as well. Get in front of that camera! Pass it off to a friend, your man, or a stranger to get you in that picture. Its going to be OKAY that you won’t look 100% perfect all the time. Life isn’t 100% perfect so why should you think you need to look that way in the picture??

What am I proposing? I want to do a one time link up of us and our self portraits.

The rules are:
- You  must take the pictures yourself, whether its by timer, remote or arm stretched out (but only if you have mad arm stretching skills).
- No cell phone pictures
- Any poses or expressions you’d like (in the PG range). If you can pull off the pouty look, more power to you! (I always end up looking like an open mouthed mad woman)
- Any setting. Home, field, lake, building, by trees, holding a kid, with flowers, pretty much anywhere EXCEPT BATHROOMS. –let’s be real.
- No nudity –again, let’s be real.
- have fun with it.
- embrace how you look right now

This is open to everyone, even those who don’t have blogs can participate. All you’ll need to do is email me your best (to you) picture by the date given below and I’ll include it in my own post.

No more eye rolling…are you with me??! It can be a lot of fun if you let it. And just think, you’ll finally have that picture of yourself that you’ve secretly been wanting but too embarrassed to admit.

In case you’re wondering, I’m already planning mine in a room that gets great light. I’m a generally shy person, so the thought of doing it in public scares me a bit. So no need to feel intimidated with this, stay indoors if that’s where you’ll be most comfortable.

The link up will be on April 11th. That gives you 2 weeks to take those pictures and create your post of your favorites. I really really hope you’ll join me, let me know in the comments. Just the thought of seeing your beautiful faces is getting me all excited!!

And remember, you aren’t the only one that feels they’re awkward in front of the camera…

SPREAD THE WORD!! Pin It Now!