Snow Day & First Ponytail

Today was the second snow day for the kids here.

It finally got above 12 degrees, so they got to go out and play.

Poor little Presley kept looking out the door for them,

begging Grandma Pam to take her outside too.

We bundled her up in her snowsuit, put on her warmest hat

and out we went. It wasn't what she thought it would be.

Hmmmm, the brightness is a bit much for my big blue eyes.So this is what all the fuss is about?

Putting on all those clothes, searching for dry mittens,

matching boots, scarves, and snowpants

just to sit in this cold pile of soft wet mushy stuff?I don't even like the taste of it!

See? I told you it was cold and gross.

I want to go back inside to my warm blanket

and fuzzy soft toys.
Now, isn't this better? I'm all dressed up, warm and dry.

Mommy even made me my very first ponytail so I'll look pretty

when my Daddy gets home from work.

He'd better not tell me I look like Minnie Mouse.

Calling Nana on the Banana

Little Miss T is one of my favorite small people.

She moves her hands in time with her mouth,

adding emphasis on what she wants to tell you.

She is such a character!

While we were trying to get her adorable little brother to

sit still for a clear shot, she picked up this banana

and decided she would call "nana on the banana".

She cracked herself (and me) up!

She's such a sweetie! (and a great salesperson, a budding scientist

AND an all around great kid!)

Here is her baby brother. Didn't I tell you he was ADORABLE?

He laughed and smiled (and cruised) the whole time I was there.

Curiosity got the better of him when I stood on a chair.

I think he was trying to figure out how to do that too. :)Finally - we got him still for just a minute to get this cute shot.

I love the emotion it shows, how very happy he is

and how much his big sister loves him.

Just look at her gorgeous hair!

It was a fun morning with the two T's.

Thanks for sharing your little ones with me, Mandy.

Off subject, I just have to share this that my friend sent me today. Get ready to LOL!

Freeze Frame

These girls were such a delight to shoot. I love my job because I get to meet people that are fun to be around. I would love to go shopping or have lunch with E & E anytime.
They were also good sports posing outside in the 15 degree weather we had today.
I think my fingertips are just now thawing.
Here's a few of my favs from the shoot.

Thanks for a fun afternoon girls! Hope your dad is happy with his birthday surprise.

Mini version of Swan Lake

The littlest ballerina came over the other day.
She was needing some publicity shots for her
upcoming ballet "Swan Lake".
Knowing that she is yet too young at only 6 months old
to get the lead, I didn't want to discourage her.
I pulled open the drapes, got out my camera
and shot her while she went through her
routine.

CabrioleExercises 'a la barre
Petit

Bras Bas

Battement Frappe'

Rond de jamb 'a terre

En Face

Coda

Personality #23

DON'T SCROLL DOWN IF YOU ARE a) my children or b) my grandchildren or c) my children's in-laws or d) any other family member who might bring this to a family reunion or e) any members on the Committee to Elect Me Mayor
...........................................................................................................................................................................
STOP RIGHT HERE
...........................................................................................................................................................................
DO NOT GO ANY FURTHER
...........................................................................................................................................................................

okay - so now you know what I do on Friday afternoonsshe couldn't bear to look

EDIT: Photo removed for publication.....

but all ended well.

Back to Personality #7 - the sweet side of me.

ps............#23 has been put to rest.

Post-birthday Gratitute

I was so rushed out of the house on the morning of my birthday, that I didn't have time to grab my camera. My friend, Lisa, said not to worry - she had hers.
I was going to wait to do this update until I got some of her photos, but am worried that I might leave something out (or may want to leave something out).
Lisa, Sandy, and Kayte (who also celebrates her bd on the same day) picked me up and we headed to one of my favorite places, Blueberry Hill down in Delmar Loop.

As we were entering the establishment we met a charming biker, Jose. They told him we were there to celebrate mine and Kayte's birthdays so he wanted to pose with us for a photo. Somehow (and I really don't know how it happened) I found myself on the back of his Harley to take a spin around the block. Thinking my girlfriends had set this up I felt that it was a safe thing to do. As promised, Jose delivered me back safe and sound. Mark another thing off of my "100 Crazy Things to Do Before I Am 100" list.

Walking inside the restaurant, I was anticipating biting into one of BH's famous burgers, when I spotted 3 of my FAVORITE FRIENDS IN THE WORLD who drove in from KC for lunch!!!!!!!
(btw - I believe I'm relatively safe in the stress test area as I could actually feel my heart pounding with excitement and I didn't drop over, foaming at the mouth).
What a wonderful, special, fabulous surprise that was! I was so stunned that they were actually there! We had a wonderful lunch followed by a walk down the street to Craft Alliance then back down Delmar to Jilly's Cupcake Bar where we indulged in yummy filled cupcakes, topped with heavenly butter cream frosting. Guess who came in and sat at the table next to us??????
Rachel, from Cupcakes Take the Cake! She was there with her grandfather who had just finished a reading from his memoirs of WWII at Left Bank Books. It was a privilege and honor to meet both of them.
One last stop at Red Lead with the KC girls. It's one of my favorite stores and we like to take them when they are in town. Got the goods for making Valentine cards. (oops, guess I'd better hurry up and get those Christmas cards in the mail!) As we left the store, we said our goodbyes on the parking lot as they had to head back to KC and I had another party to go to.

Part(y) 2.
Now this is the one that I don't think I will be able to share any photos. My kids set me up good. We went to (Tales and Whales?) I don't remember the name, but it was a dueling piano bar.
Holy cow! What a FUN place that is! Especially on your birthday when you are there with a group of 24 - my sweet family and more friends. Joey & sweet Abby got there way early to lay across two large tables so we'd have seating right by the stage. (I'm thinking that was part of the plan). The kids had arranged for me to SIT ON LUPIE's LAP while he played some version of some inappropriate song (which I'm sure I'll be able to review later on video). He was very nice until I started playing the piano with him. He apparently wanted to be the star that night, so I was only allowed to work the stage lights with the foot controls. My brother-in-law generously sent me test tubes of a dark liquid, which tasted like apples, so I guess I got some fruit servings in for the day. My dearest Glen and thoughtful son gave me some delicious tasting shots of something with pineapple (which they know I love) everyone kept the beer buckets full. It was SO MUCH FUN! I really enjoyed having my folks with me and loved watching them have as much fun as I had. All that was missing were my little people.

Part(y) 3.
My little people sang to me last night with the last Jilly's cupcake.

And so ends my birthday week. It was INCREDIBLE!

But wait, I still had some birthday money so after purchasing this tonight my week is officially over.

Wait. There is still another celebration to come. My very best friend, Colleen, and I share the same birthday as well. We still have to get together to celebrate our special day.
THEN it will be officially over.........until next year.

THANK YOU TO ALL OF MY FAMILY AND GOOD FRIENDS for the cards, gifts, wishes, and time you spent with me. I love you all!
nite.

Mom gets the shots

I set my mom up with a Canon Digital Elph about a year ago. She's the one who captures all the memories around here and it was time to get her up to date with her camera equipment.

A minor detail I forgot to think through. She doesn't know how to "download" or what a "CF Card" is or where it goes for that matter. I'm just happy that she's finally figured out how to recharge the camera's battery.

Last night I retrieved her card and downloaded 199 photos from the end of November until this New Year's eve. I sent them to Costco (who does a beautiful job) for printing. Amazing that they had them ready to be picked up after noon today. They are a great lab!

Looking through them, I realized that she captures shots that I am too tired to get, or just miss because I have to haul my gear out, or don't see because I'm doing something else. Here are just a couple of the ones I would have missed.......

Winter drive-in movie night. They have to drive the "mini-van" indoors because we don't have room for double parking inside. Plush blanket, soft pillows, popcorn and they are set. This was taken on New Year's eve. I was cleaning up the kitchen. Mom got the shot. Two of my very favorite baby girls. Sweet baby Grace got to hold our little Presley. She was so gentle with her. Of course I was in the kitchen cooking so I missed seeing this. Mom got the shot.

Another night my little pal came over in one of my favorite shirts. I was too busy washing my hands so I could hold her. Mom got the shot.

I am marking my calendar to upload her photos every two weeks from now on.

It makes me smile to see the things I missed while busy with other things.

I'm glad that my mom gets those shots.

Welcome 2009!

No words today. Just a couple of photos I shot when I met up with a small group of photographers yesterday. It was a very relaxing day and fed my creative soul.
This shot of the trees was my favorite. I loved the contrast of light and dark as well as the contrast of woods in their various stages. May we all have a good 2009.