answers to the questions!

Alright! I have been wanting to do this post for ages, but have never really had the time to sit down and do it! First off, I appreciate all of the emails that I receive asking me questions about my work. Really - it is very flattering! :) I try really hard to respond to them, but frankly, I just can't keep up! I have noticed that most of the questions are generally the same thing, so i have decided to answer them all at once jere on this blog! I went through them and wrote some of them down, so if I missed yours let me know!:)

1. What kind of Camera do you have?
- I am a nikon girl! I only have the D70, and I want an upgrade so badly i can taste it! YUMMY, huh?:)

2. Do you use a reflector?
- NOPE! I have really thought about it, but I am too lazy to carry it around!
I would rather carry around a GREAT chair or something!

3. How long are your sessions?
- I really don't put a time limit on them. Some kids will let me bug them for 2 hours, others 2 minutes! I really just go with the flow!

4.What "ACTIONS" do you use or recommend?
- I don't use actions, mainly because I have decided to stick with my good old PSE 5.0! Yup, CS3 was WAAAY to complicated for me! PSE is really limited in the "ACTION" department, so I make it up as i go! I do know that there are oodles and oodles of awesome actions out there though!

5. Where do find your props?
- Well, I can't pass a thrift store without stopping... ( it drives Paul CRAZY!)
I don't find something every time, but that doesn't mean the next time i won't!
I also LOVE antique stores! They are a bit more pricey, but it never hurts to talk em' down a bit! in fact, i get a kick out of doing it!:)

Alright, I am tired, i will finish it up another time!
I had a few cute families on Saturday, so here are few I have gotten to so far!

good night!

"spinning skirts"

So my INCREDIBLY talented sister in law made these FABULOUS outfits for my girls! Can I just tell you how much I LOVE "Teresa presents"????? They are always over the top and so fun! I don't know how she finds the time to make such wonderful things!
most of you have already seen these, because my girls insist just about every morning to wear their "spinning skirts!" Between my mom and Teresa my girls have such fun things! Thanks Teresa! We LOVE YOU!

Ariann... I know you are DYING for those pictures of my house, but you are going to have to wait! My house is torn apart, but I did finish the kitchen cupbaords though!:) I am looking for something to put above my bed - I have an idea what yet!

Horray for SMARTIES!

This is the first thing Zach said to me after school yesterday! (Just picture him all smiles and so proud of himself):)

Mom: Hi Buddy! You sure look happy today!

Zach: Yup, I didn't even have to cry or get a tummy ache!!!!

Mom: really? What happened?

Zach: That boy with the earring was absent today AND I figured out if I give the kids
some smarties from my lunch box they like me!!!!

Mom: You gave them your smarties?

Zach: Yup, and now they like me!

So this morning he told me to pack a few more smarties so that there would be some left for him to eat! I told him that he doesn't need to bribe them to be nice...they should be nice anyway! He insisted on them, so I figured, why not? If it gets him through the day until we find a solution to his problem then smarties it is!

I want to tell you all thanks for your concern with him! we have felt so loved this week and appreciate all the advice and help! We are so blessed to have such wonderful friends and family! ***SMOOCHES TO ALL!***


A post without a picture??? NEVER!!!! these are from last night! this little guy was a fast mover! I found a new location and had to give it a try - thanks for being my testers!:)

Sometimes I wish my little boy was still a baby like this little one! Life was so much easier for the both of us. I miss not being able to protect him. My heart is aching because after an afternoon at the ER the other day, we have discovered his stomach aches are being caused by worrying about the bullies at school. I have been told by many people that his age group (not just his class) is a rough bunch of boys. I knew that from Kindergarten last year, but I had high hopes for first grade!
His teacher is an absolute doll and we are working together to get this problem solved. Please keep poor little Zach in your prayers, he really needs them. I have never seen him like this....We are so worried about him. i LOVE that he is a good boy
and wants to do what's right. It stinks that he is paying the price for not following the crowd. We are so proud of our little man.

I forgot to give this mommy a peak!

Cross your fingers...

I am crossing my fingers that the bug has left our home! We have been stuck at home for a week with the stomach flu that I thought would NEVER END! That has put me behind about a week. So those of you who are waiting for your gallery and those that I was mailing pictures to... EVERYTHING WENT OUT TODAY!!!! Wahooo...I feel like a ton of bricks has been lifted off my shoulders getting all those sent out! I am sorry for the delay, but I didn't dare leave the house with a puking kid!

Thanks for understanding! You are all the best! :)
aubrey

Dang it! Just as I was loading the pictures, Zach's teacher called to say he was doubled over in pain AGAIN!!!!! I guess i spoke too soon! :(

And the winner is....

How many pieces do you wish.....?



141!!!!!! That would make our Winner....... DAWN!!!! Oh, wait! I think we need a "booby" prize as my hubby called it! This will go to the LOWEST person! I had to laugh at miss Papparazziemamma at 49!!!!!! Way off girl, but you gave it great shot and made me laugh!:) Congrats to both!
thanks for playing with me! Email me your addresses and I will get your surprises off to you soon!

Keep checking back, I think I may have to play another game REALLY SOON!

BuBbLe GuM, bUBbLe GuM....

In A dIsH! IT'S CONTEST TIME!!!!!
I haven't done one in FOREVER! In Fact, Val, you never decided on a frame you nut!:)
Alright, on to the the directions....
I am So excited about my newest treasure (my gumball machine of course!)
I am so glad the mommy from last night was able to humor me and let me do what I wanted with the big heavy thing!:) Okay, guess how many gumballs are in the machine!
Yup! That's the game! I haven't decided on a prize yet, but I just know it will be WONDERFUL and homemade! I want EVERYONE to join in, it will make it more interesting!
So all of you blog lurkers stop lurking and play so you will have a chance to get something other then bills in your mailbox!
Let the games begin!
I will end it Saturday night! I must go count them right now, because my little rugrats keep sneaking them!:)

SUGAR & SPICE

AND EVERYTHING NICE, ARE WHAT LITTLE GIRLS ARE MADE OF!

Aren't they adorable? Emily keeps asking, "is sissy's party over?" Yes, honey it is!:) Little Girls are so different then little boys! At Zach's 4 year old party I thought I was going to lose my mind - TOTAL CHAOS!!!! Sword fighting, kicking, constant running, oh, we can't forget the screeching!!!! I LOVE little boys, i really do!
Little girls...Quiet, calm, followed all instructions! In Zach's words, "GIRLS ARE SO BORING!"

Thanks for all the advice on my post below! When I am not up all night with a puking kid, some of these ideas just might work! Thanks!!!!!

A few before bed

I seem to have this problem at night recently, that I can't turn off my brain long enough to actually get to sleep. I toss and turn and toss and turn some more. A MILLION different things, ideas, things i need to get done, or didn't get done are constantly racing through my mind... it is driving me INSANE! I wake up more tired than I was before I went to bed! Some say it is part of being an "artist" so to speak - the creative side of our brains don't want to shut off! Does anyone else ever have this problem??? How do you make it stop???? Grrrrr....

Anyway, Rachel had her first "big girl" party last night. She told me this morning that she is tired of celebrating her birthday....AMEN to that!:) She has the cutest little friends ever and they were all such good sports to dress up so pretty for her special day! Pictures tomorrow mom, i promise! Thanks for staying and helping out Kim - you saved me!:)

I will leave with a few of Friday's photo shoot! I ADORE these girls and their mama!

good night.

the stinkin CRICKET is going to DIE!!!!!

So the night before last, Paul and I woke up at 1:03 AM to the lovely sound of a really loud cricket! At first we blew it off and figured it was outside and tried to get back to sleep...YEAH RIGHT!!!!! The stinkin thing wouldn't stop - it was so obnoxious! I turned on the light and it stopped...turned it off again, layed down....it started up again!
We turned the light back on and decided it had to be in our room somewhere. We tore the room apart looking for the "dang" thing ( a few other words may have been used by this time!) Still nothing, couldn't find it with the light on, because of course, crickets don't chirp in the light! Needless to say it was a REALLY long night!

So last night I was putting the kiddos to bed and I heard it again!!!! I yelled for Paul to come and listen to see if we could tell where it was coming from. We spent a good hour digging through laundry baskets, cleaning out under the bed, you name the spot - we looked there! I forgot to mention that neither of us really knew for sure what a cricket looked like! I thought they were green, Paul was set on it being black! So in my mind I am picturing a big black grasshoppery thingy with antenna's - SICK!!!! As the last resort we decided to take down the curtains and even the blinds! I happened to look down at the blinds just in time to see this TEENY TINY little lime green bug with yes, antennas! We debated for a minute if such a tiny little thing could really be the culprit! Yes it was!!!!! Paul said it had a date with the "super sucker" (Our new super powerful toilet that my dad nicknamed the super sucker!) awww... peace and quiet at last!

Happy September!

Wow! What crazy Sept. morning, huh? I can't believe the hail storm we awoke to this morning! I took pictures, but am too lazy to get them off the camera at the moment! Well, Fall is in the air... I know this because I was so cold this morning I talked myself into turning the heat on for a minute or two! CRAZY, I know!
Anyway, here are a few of my newest goodies! I have more to come, so keep checking back! All of the cards are printed as 5x7's and will include the envelope. They are $22.00 for a set of 15. Envelopes included! The words and sayings can be changed so say whatever you want them to say!
**** No real names or info were used on these cards! Isn't weird to see YOUR picture with a strange name? he, he :)

Thanks to all those FABULOUS TALENTED photographer on 2 peas for such darling cards! LOVE THEM!