Happy Halloween 2008!

With a visit to Uncle Butch's Firehouse....

Have a Happy One!

The C Family

After a slew of toddlers, I got a brief break, and was able to shoot a lovely family of adults and teens. Everyone behaved magnificently, even the dog ;) LOL! All joking aside, this was a very sweet and laid back family, and I loved their little nook in the woods.






Thanks C family for a great afternoon!

Recents....

* Seth recently asked for a peanut-butter-knuckle sandwich. How could anyone refuse?
* We take Seth to the potty every night before we turn in, so he is extra empty all night.. and last night in his anger of being awakened, he declared "I'll NEVER go potty again!" I'd like to see that happen....
* Seth hates Beef Stew... or really the idea of Beef Stew. So I made it and called it Monster Mash... and he still hated it.
* I go on a 3 mile walk with the boys in the Double Jogger a few times a week... and will race Seth home the last half mile. My 4 year old actually runs the whole way, I'm so proud!


* Lucas is the Micheal Jackson of shoes. He will happily toddle around in just one for hours.
* Lucas also hold chewed up carrots in his mouth for hours... causing his daddy more frustration than anything. ;)
* Lucas is turning into the clown of the family. He readily does a funky dance just to make everyone giggle.
* Lucas is still very much my snuggler, and I am nervous about B3's arrival, and usurping his place for a while...

We have really been enjoying playing Cranium Hullaballoo at our house. Even Lucas is joining in and hopping around. There's this electronic piece telling you to hop, or crawl, or whatever to a square, something to eat, or an animal... there are all these little floor pieces strewn about on the floor. The game lasts 3 minutes, and a winner is declared. It is great for short attention spans, and you can play multiple times in a row. This could also be fun for Birthday parties as an activity!

14 Weeks

Fourteen weeks... when did that happen? How am I already into my second trimester? I tell you, when it's your third child and you are busy with other things in life, the time really does slip away.

My waist is definitely thickening and rounding out, though I can still hide it with empire waist shirts/ dresses. I am still exhausted all. the. time. I am craving sushi. Sushi! I need a California Roll like you wouldn't believe. I feel bad that I've forgotten to take 8 & 12 week belly photos this time around, but in a couple weeks WILL take my 16 week photo. I also can't believe that in just 5-6 weeks we'll already be finding out B3's gender.

I'm trying my best to eat very healthily, with not to big portions.. but that is hard. My body is just craving fat, and fat, and more fat. McDonald's Bacon, Egg, & Cheese Biscuit sounds good every morning, but I've withheld to only 2 in the last 3 weeks. It certainly doesn't help that we have a McD's less than a mile from our house. But the Sushi? Like 15 minutes, lol.

Another thought... why do they show food commercials at 10pm? I don't want to see a Cornflakes commercial at 10pm, b/c all of sudden, I want those cornflakes!

mmm.... its lunchtime....

A Day at The Patch....

Saturday was Nate's birthday and we decided to head out to a local "Corn Maize" Pumpkin Patch farm.


Seth had a really good time jumping on this big "pillow." And as soon as the tractor train took off (below) Lucas burst into tears. He did not like it! But had to endure it the 2 times around the circle.



Nate and the boys within the Corn Maize. We took the "short" route. And still couldn't get out. LOL! We were in there 30 minutes, turned a corner, and there was the entrance. I took it, LOL!



Me and the dudes. Goodbye hair! This afternoon I'm taking off 3 inches and possibly adding long bangs again. It hasn't been cut in forever, and needs that much taken off b/c of summer pool trips and such. OK, back on topic....

Below, the big Silo Slide.




The above is proof that I don't capture the best photos 100% of the time. ;) I wanted a pumpkin patch picture of the boys.. and well, her you go. The best of the bunch, as shortly thereafter there was a meltdown. I won't tell you who.... though I'm sure you can guess.

And... later that evening. After Nate and I had a birthday date out to a Mediterranean Restaurant, where we both had Lamb Kabobs and Greek salads. Singing Happy Birthday to him on his 32nd Birthday, with his traditional homemade carrot cake.

{Emily}

I love this girl! Miss Em is very special to me, and I was thrilled to capture just a peek into her beauty. She is gifted in so many areas... music, leadership, and I am blessed weekly with her genuine and sensitive heart.






Thanks Emily... and I mean it... thank you.

Portrait Party #3

Saturday, Oct 4 my lovely friend just over the state line in VA, helped me host another Portrait Party. Here are some of my favorites from that day, of the 4 families that participated.

As you can see, I did a big mix of both studio and outdoor stuff. I had a great time, all of the families were really lovely to meet. I'm really blessed in the sense that my hostesses know such great people. And seriously... can these kids be any cuter?

Another Stroller....

Do you realize how hard it is to actually find and see a double jogger in person? I've been anxious to get outside and exercise during the day, with the boys. The wagon was too cumbersome, and the Sit & Stand also heavy and hard to push up hills.

So I talked Nate into adding to our Stroller Arsenal. It adds to the Original baby carrier one, the Umbrella, the single jogger, and the Sit & Stand. All unique purposes, all still being used (minus the baby carrier one).

Take a look at our new InStep Double Jogger~

We had actually gone to 3 or 4 stores, including Toys R Us, and NONE had any in stock to look at and test. Nate and I can't afford the expensive Phil & Ted or Bob varieties, so those were out of the question. We found this one at Dick's Sporting Goods, for and excellent sale price! It even holds up to 100 lbs, another feature I wanted to make sure it had.

Yesterday I was able to get out and walk 2.5 miles with the boys, and it felt good! And once Baby #3 comes, Nate can push the double, while I take on the single, and the whole fam can get out.

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Interested in a Photography Challenge? I have a new one up at TDC! Come participate!

Busy....

Life has been so busy lately!

My photography has been picking up. That's really great in theory... lol! But, now I need to learn how to balance the extra editing and proofing that comes along with it. Priorities, Andrea! I'm working on a wedding still, and I just completed another Portrait Party, with 2 or 3 more sessions coming up.

I've also been compiling a cookbook for our Youth Group as a fundraiser. I'm almost done with assembly. Some yummy stuff in there!

Yesterday I had an 11-week Doctor's Appointment. It took the Dr. a moment to find the heartbeat, but once he did it was nice and steady. Though I forgot to ask the speed. I've gained 2 lbs, and they took, like, 5 vials of blood.

Pretty boring, but in this case, boring is Good!

Moving past boring....

Please pray for my father-in-law, Ed. He is experiencing some health issues and is not well. Prayers please for his health and his strength the next couple weeks.

Meet L

Meet little L... he is just a darling lil' chub. Just take a look at his lashes and lips here....


Who can resist that? And what about his face?



You just want to {{{squeeze}}} him! His mama and I have become friends over this last year, and it was my complete joy to photograph his first birthday photos.

Love & Thanks

NEW! By Andrea Burns & Eva Kipler~

Love & Thanks



Love & Thanks is a stunning collaboration between Andrea Burns and The Sweet Shoppe's Eva Kipler. Just in time for Fall and Thanksgiving, this is the perfect kit for Holiday uses, but versatile enough to use for anything year round.

Included in Love & Thanks are:
10 patterned papers and 6 solid papers. Elements include; 7 tags, 6 flourishes, 5 flowers, 5 word plates, 3 buttons, 3 bows, 3 stitched leaves, 3 frames, 2 tie backs, 2 notebooks, 2 birds, 1 frame brush, 1 flourish brush, 1 bracket, 1 eyelet, 1 leaf, 1 journal strips set, 1 heart, 1 loop, and 1 string bow. Also included are 1 full alphabet and numeral set.

Get It HERE!

Some CT Examples~



TFL!

This First Day of October

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Breast Cancer is not something that has really touched my life.

Until my sister gave me a call yesterday.

It turns out that now it does touch my life, and in a profound way. Growing up, I had a SUPER lady in my life. She was my Girl Scout leader for years, and also my Youth Group Leader. Almost a second mom in a sense. Her two daughters were close friends of mine, one of them actually a bridesmaid. My sister tells me that she has been diagnosed. Now, I'm not sure to which extent or to what severity... but I do know that they are already making plans to fight it.

Has Breast Cancer affected your life? Want to make a difference?

An Army of Women