rANdOm POsT

My neighbor told me I needed to get over to her backyard before these beautiful peonies lost their color.  She has all sorts of pretty things that I don't even know the name of.  Apparently, these will only have their vibrant color for a couple of days.  So, when she reminded me the 2nd time, I headed over there with my camera, 3 kids and a spray bottle to spritz them with.  They are pretty flowers, aren't they?

I delivered my first birth announcements today.  It was exciting!  They turned out cute.  What do you think of my idea to deliver cards on a cookie plate like this rather than in a gift bag?  Cheesy or cute?? 

Lastly, I wish I could go to Pier 1 and buy a complete set of this polka-dot pattern for our everyday use...they're so fun!  I think this might be frowned upon since we already have our wedding everyday set plus another all white set I bought a couple of years ago.  You should have seen Rich's face when he saw my bags of polka-dot plates before I explained "Oh, don't worry...these are for my business."

Daddy Daughter Dance

Tonight was the big night.  It sounds like they had a lot of fun dancing and seeing friends.  I'm so glad the school has this event...it is so sweet.

90 Years

A very special lady turned 90 years old this month...our Great Grandma 'Wiggles'.  If you want to read more about our American Idol-loving grandma, check out this post again.  She had 3 different birthday parties because she is one popular gal.  The family party was held on Easter day. 

Everyone worked hard to make a special page for her surprise book...

We gave her the book at her party...

She had fun looking at the book...it was overflowing with love...

We had cake...

This was so cute...when we sang happy birthday to her she would point to herself everytime we said her name during the song.

May all your wishes come true...

Cheers!

Dates with Daddy

Emmie went to work with Rich yesterday.  It was the official bring your child to work day.  They left around 7 am and came back after 6.  Rich said that she wasn't ready to leave.  She spent some time with him and some time in activities the company had planned for the kids.  They also went to lunch together.  She had a lot of fun and said that she wanted to go back with him again today.  However, she did state that she had to meet way too many people, ha.  Katie and Allie will also be able to join Rich at work when they are in the 3rd grade.

Tonight Rich has a date with Emmie and Katie to the school's daddy/daughter dance.  Katie has a birthday party this afternoon where she is getting a 'makeover' for the dance...you can just imagine how excited she is about this!  Then, the girls will be going out to eat with Rich and neighbor friends before the dance.  I can't believe that in 2 years, Rich will have 3 dates to this dance because there will be one year when all 3 girls will all be at the same school.  :)

Make new friends but keep the old...

If you live away from family and where you grew up, once in awhile you get this deep-down feeling of missing home....wanting to spend time with someone who has known you for a long time.  Those days are getting fewer and farther inbetween but I just had one last Friday.  I want to call up an old friend and go to lunch and chat....lunch involving chips and salsa. 

My friend Christina and I went to college together and lived together in Cincinnati after college.  I moved on to Cleveland and she was moving to Kansas City.  At the time, I wasn't quite sure what that meant.  I didn't even know that Kansas City, KS and MO were the same area.  When I called her about our potential move a few years ago, she said that the winters here were much more mild than Cleveland...I was sold.  :)   So, when we moved here, I would call her up at work and ask if I could come pick her up for lunch....on a weekly basis for quite some time.  I was lucky because that saved my sanity as we were living in a 2 bedroom apartment with 3 kids and didn't know anyone in the city. 

Last week we met for chips and salsa on Monday and to take pictures of her sweet daughter on Sunday.  Here are a few pics...this sweet girl sure knows how to have fun (and also when to stop and apply chap stick and brush her hair).  You can view the slideshow here.

A Little Photography Lesson I've Learned

No....I don't consider myself an expert worthy of giving technical advice.  I just wanted to share that I'm finding my that my favorite pictures are always coming from unexpected/unplanned times.  If I try to plan something, it doesn't happen.  It is in the unplanned moments.... like today when I was checking the lighting before a newborn session and Katie and Allie came running over and put their heads down on my bean bag....that I get my favorite pictures.  In these pictures there are strands of hair going across their faces, there are dry lips and there are play t-shirts on...but I love these pics.  They were running over to ask me more questions about my 'new job' and they saw a soft bean bag...the end.

Easter Weekend

We spent Easter weekend in St. Louis.  It was a very fun and very busy weekend.  Friday, Saturday and Sunday included spending time with our family, having an afternoon photo shoot with my nephew Jack (see the slideshow here), putting together a very large scrapbook for Rich's grandma's 90th birthday, Easter egg coloring, a newborn photo shoot, baking at 1 a.m., an Easter egg hunt (with more picture taking), Church, Easter lunch with family and the 90th birthday party.  I'm sure I'm forgetting something...

Thanks to Rich's parents for their hospitality.  We had a wonderful weekend!  Here are some pics taken before our little egg hunt....too bad the only time we had was at noon....too much bright sun for pictures.  More pics from the egg hunt and birthday party coming soon...

Come Hang Out...

I gave just a little thought about whether or not to have my photography blog together with our personal blog or separate.  I pretty much knew that I wanted them separate though...I want this to remain our little family 'scrapbook'.  However, I may just make a few references to the other blog now and then.

This post is just a reminder to check out my other blog if you are bored and want to see pictures from sessions.  Also, sign up to be a 'follower' of the blog if you can...it will make me look important, just joking!

cookie clicks photography blog

Thanks!

Happy Easter

We just returned from a very busy and fun weekend.  More details soon...