My LOGO!!

Lookie what I got! An official logo! Custom designed by the very friendly and talented Erica Hernandez. She is closing up shop and has some great deals for any of you fellow aspiring photograhers out there. Can't wait to get some business cards and marketing material. So, which do you prefer, green or blue???

As for other happenings, Eli had rice cereal for the first time last week! He enjoys it VERY much and gobbles up every last bit! Hope to post some pics soon of this "first". I don't if I've mentioned this before, but he is a *blankie* boy! He loves to hold his blanket just before bed or nap or when nursing. And, he can ususally be found cuddled up with it. He has 2 favorites, one is knitted from my mother. He likes to put his fingers in the holes. The other is soft on one side and silky on the other. Guess which side he likes... the silk!

Mackie had a great bday weekend last week. There is actually a girl with more spunk in her than Mackie. One of her bestfriends, Katie! Whew! From the minute that girl walked in our house it was a whirlwind. She kicked off her shoes on the mat and was off running and screaming with McKenzie. Guess what McKenzie did the Friday before her bday party. She cut her hair!!! It was drama. It was quiet (a sure sign of trouble). I walked into the girl's room to find Mack with scissors in her hand and a pile of hair on the floor! I over reacted and started crying. So Mackie starts crying saying "what did I do?" Then, Schuyler starts crying "will McKenzie's hair be okay". Mark walked in wondering what in the world was going on. The good news, it's not as bad as I thought. She cut bangs plus a little more. It will take a while to grow out though. On a brighter note, if you get a chance, ask Mack to say sunscreen. It's hillarious. She says scrunscreen or scrunchcream!!

Okay, pics of the kids to come! I promise!

Mackie turns 3!!!

3 years ago this day, our little McKenzie was born. She was our father's day gift that year. I had been having contractions that a.m. but we managed to meet Mom and Dad at Hy-Vee for breakfast. Everyone, but myself ;-), enjoyed a nice, but quick breakfast. Schuyler stayed with them while we checked in. Labor was a breeze and she arrived at 2:09 p.m. I remember the first thing I noticed was her sweet little dimple chin. Happy bday Mackie!! We had to already open 1 present this a.m. Schuyler "urged" her to open a specific one b/c she remembered it from several months back when we bought it. A Cars slip-n-slide. Mackie took rice krispie treats to share during snack time as well as pictures from when she was born.

Other odds and ends. I was able to shoot a 15 yr old last week as well as a darling little 6 month old. I can't wait to share. The field trip on Friday to the nature center was a success. I took my girls and another friend from their class, Amelia. Amelia is a bit of a personality too! On multiple occassions she said "this is taking too long". We all touched the snake and turtle (yes, myself included). Schuyler was the teacher's pet! Not only was she front in line for everything, she had answers to a lot of quetions. For example, she knows what a cold blooded animal is. Amazing! We had lunch with daddy and went to Star City Shores in the afternoon. Mom met us there which was awesome b/c I would have had my hands full!!! Papa took the girls in the evening for a work celebration where they had a good time! Sunday was father's day and Mark's bday. He celebrated with a golf lesson and round of golf on Saturday. We took him out to lunch Sunday and I made a homemade strawberry cheesecake. It was delicious. NOTE: to anyone with baby, do not feed him/her cheesecake. Yes, Mark thought Eli should share in the celebration. Maybe I should have made him get up with him in the middle of the night = )

As for Eli, he is quite the little talker. He exercises his voice at the most interesting times, usually church and when we're out to eat. Alos, he is, for the most part, sitting. A little assistance is required at times.

Another busy week and weekend ahead. Just one of my little birthday girl!!

Mackie Stories

Well, as many of you know, our little McKenzie has enough personality and spunk for 2 or 3 people and she has been letting it shine! My photo friend had rented a lens and I wanted to give it a try before returning it for her. I have an upcoming shoot at Wesleyan campus, where I've never shot before. So, I grabbed the lens and kids and headed to Wesleyan. Schuyler was in photo mood, which is rare for her. I'm snapping away when I hear a blood curtling cry coming from Mackie. I'm expecting to see blood, however, it is no more than her pointing to a bug. She is deathly afraid of bugs. Rollie pollies and lady bugs are fine, anything else will elicit one of these horrendous screams from her. In fact, the guard came out from the building I was shooting in front of to make sure everything was okay. I was slightly embarrased. Needless to say, I didn't get many shots of Mackie. The ride home was terrible! There was a bug on her window. We listened to the scream/cry all the way home. Schuyler tried to ease her worries by offering her this advice, "McKenzie, don't worry. Only a mosquito will bite you and it doesn't hurt, it only sucks your blood." This makes matters worse, and Mackie starts cyring even harder, to the point where it's hard to breathe. "I..... DON'T..... WANT..... IT.... TO .... SUCK.... MY.... BLOOD". I have to laugh to keep my sanity. This is quickly followed by "DON'T LAUGH AT ME". I think she stayed inside the rest of the night!

Ready for another (shorter) story. Last night marked the beginning of swim lessons. Both girls enjoyed them but Mackie LOVES them. She was center stage. When ever a volunteer was needed, she was first in line! She is actually a very good little swimmer. I imagine after this session Schuyler and Mack will be in the same class. There were tears afterwards b/c she didn't want to leave swimming lessons. And, she was upset b/c Schuyler's class got to jump into the pool and her's did not. Oh, the drama!!

The week will continue to be busy. Violin lesson tonight, I have a photo shoot (if it stops raining), and a visit w/ a friend I haven't seen in a year or two. Tomorrow is swimming again. Friday I'm taking the day for a field trip in the a.m. and celebrating Mack's bday (a few days early). Dad is taking the girls that night. Hopefully, I can play catch up on some photo stuff. Saturday will be a 6 month shoot. Sunday is Mark's bday and father's day. Whew!

Here are a few images from my Home Portrait Party this past weekend. Cute, cute kids! These are 2 of the families.

purchased the tickets

We are officially going to Savannah, GA in September. The plane tickets are purchased and I think we have arrangements made for Schuyler and McKenzie, who will be staying here. We are taking the little man with us! I'm excited and nervous all at once. I have never been the one "leaving". We left Schuyler when she was 11 months with my parents to go to AZ for one of my best friend's weddings and it was all great until Sunday, when all the festivities were done with and we didn't leave until Monday. I remember coming home that Monday night. Dad was at our house and she had just woke up. She was in yellow pajamas (imagine that) and she was so happy to see us! I've never left Mackie. She's spent the night at my parents or down in Missouri with her cousins. I'll just not worry about it until the time comes.

On the other hand, I'm excited to see some beautiful historic areas and stay on the beach. I think we'll be staying in a beach house. Tybee island is very close. I've stepped foot on a beach on our honeymoon but it was cold, rainy and night time. I'm hoping this experience will include laying under an umbrella on the beach!!

This week has been rather calm. I had no shoots last weekend and no activities during the week. It was a nice break before this busy weekend. I have a home portrait party. My first ever. We'll see how it goes. Mark is in a gold tournament on Sunday. Next week swim lessons will begin for the kids.

Eli is a rollie pollie man!! He figured out the tummy to back roll a couple of weeks ago and since then there is no stopping him. He's trying to get his feet going to. So much so, that the other day when I picked him up from daycare, he had rubbed part of his big toe raw from trying to push off of it. I need to get him some new shoes!!!

Remember that fun family I got to shoot. Here they are!!