Random Ramblings from a Mother of 5

Texans

2011-08-13T11:18:00.001-07:00

Not only did I see cousins I have not seen in 20 years on my recent trip to Texas, I also made friends with some of the locals.

As you can see, they were very happy to make my acquaintance.

Now, this little lady was a little harder to figure out. I’m not using a zoom lens, she let me get pretty close.

Then I think she cussed me out! That’s when I left…

Now THAT’S a big buck.

And now that’s TWO big bucks.

I am officially in love with the west central Texas hill country.

Sweet Delicious Girly Pinkness

2011-08-10T15:12:00.001-07:00

This is baby number 5 for some dear friends of ours that we have known since first moving to Columbus 15 years ago.

She is so sweet and yummy and I loved getting to take her picture this morning. I just want to share a couple of them.

I think you’ll agree that she is adorable. Congratulations Evans family. You sure make cute babies!

Just a few shots from Hawaii.

2011-07-27T20:46:00.001-07:00

I also have Texas pictures to post and a TON from our trip to Oahu.

It’ll take a while as I also have over 1000 images from a wedding to edit.

Paying clients always come before the blog I’m afraid :)

Just a little something to make you smile…..

2011-07-07T20:00:00.001-07:00

This shoot happened in less than 20 minutes as a huge storm was rolling in.

Sometimes less really is more!

Charlie was Here…

2011-06-18T11:42:00.001-07:00

Look at this face! Adorable right?

He’s a sweetie.

But, he’s also surrounded by girls ALL DAY LONG.

So we try to be patient with the occasional rebellion…

I mean really, who hasn’t wanted to do this to a Barbie at some point?

Speechless…

2011-06-13T14:08:00.001-07:00

If you know what the red stripe means, you know why :)

And They’re Off!

2011-05-21T13:46:00.001-07:00

Let the Summer Break begin!

Where DOES the time go?

2011-04-30T22:34:00.001-07:00

There Was a Little Girl……

2011-04-18T06:15:00.001-07:00

In the Middle

2011-04-01T04:40:00.001-07:00

My dear sweet middle child. This is how I see her in my mind. Happy, carefree, on top of the world with her hair flying in the wind. It’s hard being in the middle and I know she doesn’t always FEEL carefree and happy but I know she will ultimately be that girl. She has a kind heart and big dreams. Love you sweetie!

I’m Calling this Series “On the Other Side”

2011-02-24T12:15:00.001-08:00

Of the window that is. I guess this is what happens when you have a lot of free time.

I just take as many pictures of Belinda these days as I can.

I don’t know how many of you have ever seen a “Sing-a-Majig” but they are one scary toy!

The resemblance is just creepy!

Weekend at the cabin…..

2011-02-24T12:05:00.001-08:00

No phones. That’s an accomplishment. 2.5 way too short days in the mountains. Blue Ridge, GA. Fresh air. Made me say “ahhh” a lot.

Antibiotics

2011-01-31T13:25:00.001-08:00

I am thankful for them.

And, just in case you were counting, Kendall and Sierra are the fortunate ones.

Black and White

2011-01-29T14:55:00.001-08:00

In response to previous comments I have re-edited my rose photo to a truer black and white.

I had to remove the textures that I had used to create a vintage look as they added color and created the illusion of more midtones.

So, here it is again.

Practice, PRACTICE, practice

2011-01-27T09:55:00.001-08:00

It doesn’t matter how you say it, it is the thing that makes you better.

I have just started re-reading “The Digital Photography Book” by Scott Kelby. I’ve read it many times. This time I am reading one section at a time and then putting the techniques to use before I move on.

Along with this project I have joined two Flickr groups of photographers. I will let you know if ever I’m featured but that is not the point. Mostly I want the comments of others. So, if you have something to say about any of the photos I post please feel free. I need the good the bad and the ugly.

“Perfect Imperfection”

This is how it will go on my black and white photo wall when I paint the foyer:

Yeah, He’s Cool Like That!

2011-01-23T14:42:00.001-08:00

Kendall has had a “secret” project in the works since October. This beautiful Sunday afternoon afforded him the opportunity for him to complete his masterpiece.

I have been given permission to unveil it here.

Tada!

We call it “quilt therapy”.

So, yes, he made it all by himself. Yes, he entered the world of sewing blogs to find quilting tutorials.

And yes, it’s made from jeans collected from everyone in our family from 2T to Kendall’s size which I have NOT been given permission to unveil here :)

So, if you’ve been wondering if real men do, in fact, sew…………Yes, they do!

Happy Birthday Girls!

2011-01-23T13:27:00.001-08:00

Sierra turned 16 on January 6th and Brantley turned 6 on January 7th. Between the two of them there is still no driver’s license.

That’s okay.

I love how much they love each other. Sierra made some big changes over the last couple of years with Brantley in mind. Brantley is able to soothe her big sister like no one else can.

I love the glow of their faces made brighter by birthday candles.

Playing around….

2011-01-23T13:19:00.001-08:00

Practicing a bit with shooting a backlit subject. I’ve heard so many instructions on how to do it but I need it kept simple.

Best advice I ever heard was this:

Get close to your subject, meter on their face, step back and focus, shoot. Works every time.

This is straight out of the camera, no editing. I’m not loving the sunflare on her shirt, I was a little close and cold and she was bored! Basically I was not paying attention. But, it’s a sweet kind of light. You only get it a couple of times each day. The sun can seem so harsh, but you can use it to your advantage for soft tones like these.

This is the only shot I got. She’s FAST!

This would be the little girls playing around with the wireless shutter release on a rainy day!

They nailed the white balance! Composition could use a little work though……

Thank you annmariesphotography.com!

2011-01-15T13:32:00.001-08:00

Self Explanatory

2011-01-07T10:00:00.001-08:00

Ho Ho Ho!

2010-12-24T12:49:00.001-08:00

Merry Christmas?…….

2010-12-18T15:23:00.001-08:00

*walking through living room, stopping, tilting head to side*

“What the…?!?”

Merry Christmas from the Ence’s!

18 on Friday

2010-11-09T13:25:00.001-08:00

Somebody help me…………….

Really, when people say to enjoy your babies because they grow up so fast, LISTEN TO THEM! They are not kidding. Seriously.

This is just the first of many senior pictures to come. Many.

(I think I’m going to have those converse shoes bronzed!)

The Rebel

2010-11-01T17:15:00.001-07:00

Happy Fall Y’all!

2010-11-01T09:18:00.001-07:00

It’s the first day of November and I have officially worn a jacket. Now, it’s Fall!

Photo by Melanie Beal 2007

Face-painting Fun!

2010-10-27T06:07:00.001-07:00

Our neighbor across the street needed some models to practice on for a Fall Festival at her church. You should have seen the line of volunteers down the driveway! I think she’s ready!

Boredom has Many Faces

2010-10-07T08:04:00.001-07:00

So a couple of weeks ago it rained. Weird, I know. Brantley finished her reading for school and her chores and then jumped on the computer (not literally obviously). She loves “Fetch” on PBS Kids. I love watching her watch “Fetch”! I don’t think she even noticed I was there until right at the end. Must have been a good episode!

Not a Craft Blog…But I’ve Been Featured on One!

2010-08-24T12:08:00.001-07:00

So, how about that?! I’ve been featured over at Craftaholics Anonymous. I’ve even been asked to do a tutorial? Seriously? Must be all that free time I have now that the girls are all in school. I’m a crafting beast the last couple of weeks. I’ll have a skirt to share in a couple of days so check back on my “not a craft blog” soon.

Still NOT a Craft Blog

2010-08-19T13:36:00.001-07:00

I’m a sucker for Fall colors, and burlap. So, on a trip to Joann last week I couldn’t stop myself from buying a little bit of every color they had. Then the question was, “What to do with it?” Well, here is what I did with it:

Fall can’t get here fast enough!

Please!

2010-08-04T18:43:00.001-07:00

Go to this blog! It is one of the coolest things I have ever seen. Wish I had thought of it!

Mila’s Daydreams

Here’s a little teaser:

Just call me Ms. Hannigan

2010-08-03T18:41:00.001-07:00

To quote the world’s most loveable evil orphanage mother

“Some women are drippin' with diamonds. Some women are drippin' with pearls. Lucky me, lucky me, look at what I'm drippin' with…….Little girls!”

Love my girls by the way!

But COME ON! Finally we get a real honest-to-goodness boy toy and just look what happens. It ends up as a means of transportation for no less than a UNICORN! I’m sorry Spike. Your roar just doesn’t evoke the same fear that it once did.

Discovery…

2010-07-14T19:59:00.001-07:00

I just found this picture of Mallory that was taken from Emmigration Canyon in Salt Lake in March. I love the wind blowing her hair around her face. She was so excited for this trip and it was fun to see her face light up at every little (and big) thing. The mountains, snow, and moose were all new and amazing.

Look at What We Found

2010-07-10T20:33:00.001-07:00

It’s all in the eyes.

And yes, she is still a fan of electric green gum!

(which I know I could PhotoShop out but then it wouldn’t really be Sierra.)

the Last 12 Months

2010-07-01T13:01:00.001-07:00

23 plane tickets

10 rented cars

14 hotels

1 therapist

1 residential treatment center

1 private school

2 psychiatrists

1 family practice doc

1 orthopedic surgeon

2 surgeries (one for each knee)

1 very dedicated physical therapist (2-3 days per week for 5 months)

----------------------------------------------------------------

Was it painful? Yes.

Scary? Frequently.

Are we broke? Duh!

Will we recover? Some day.

Was is worth it? Absolutely!

Do I have more to share? Yep, but I will practice moderation! My head is so full right now I’m not sure where to start.

Sierra and Felicity are Both Home

2010-06-30T08:07:00.001-07:00

Safe and sound, with all limbs intact. More to come……

We need an Ambulance!

2010-06-04T21:58:00.001-07:00

Just a bit of drama here last night.

This is not good. (It looks quite painful actually) Felicity will be in a box on her way to the American Girl Doll Hospital tomorrow.

This is now an OUTSIDE dog.

Stop smiling at me mutt. Not even Daddy can save you now!

“I've now realized for the first time in my life the vital Importance of Being Earnest”

2010-06-02T10:12:00.001-07:00

I love this description of the Oscar Wilde play:

“A Trivial Comedy for Serious People”

And I love the movie version. Just watched it on Netflix and though it is silly and ultimately makes little sense, it’s got Colin Firth, Rupert Everett, Reese Witherspoon, Frances O’Conner, Tom Wilkerson, and Judy Dench. What’s not to like with a cast like that?!

Oh, and just a little something for the yummy factor!

(swoon)

A Few of My Favorite Things

2010-05-29T09:58:00.001-07:00

When the dog barks, when the bee stings, when I’m feeling sad…………………

I simply remember my favorite things, and then I don't feel so bad.

Here are just a few that make me happy right now:

Mallory’s Cartwheels. She has just learned this new trick and is upside-down more than she is rightside-up these days. I love the sound of “Mom, watch this”

Brantley! She brings humor to everyday, ordinary situations without even trying.

“I am Sam”. (2001) I’m not sure how this movie got past me. Look at how little Dakota Fanning is! And she is amazing in this movie. As is Sean Penn who I usually avoid like the plague! Maybe that’s why I never watched it before. If you have not seen this movie, stop whatever you are doing right now, including reading my blog, and watch it. If you have Netflix you can watch it instantly. And you should, watch it instantly, right now! (Make sure you have a hankie) And just an FYI- the Beatles inspired soundtrack will be on my Ipod ASAP!

My girl’s best friends. They all have one. Goofy, sometimes unpredictable, but always there for them. They have made good choices. I love their buddies.

Orange sandals! Not just any orange sandals mind you. These orange sandals from the Clark’s Unstructured line. They are waiting for me Dillards and will hopefully be mine sooner or later. My old brown sandals are already unwearable so sooner rather than later would be awesome! And yes, orange goes with anything brown would go with. Trust me.

Prom Girls

2010-05-23T12:24:00.001-07:00

Belinda attended a church prom in Atlanta (GA Tech campus) with a few of her friends. I didn’t get many details but I believe that boys were met and good times were had by all! I didn’t have time to do the full “Elizabeth Bennett” up-do but I did manage to get some pearls in her hair.

On Faith…

2010-05-21T09:14:00.001-07:00

Westley: I told you I would always come for you. Why didn't you wait for me?
Buttercup: Well... you were dead.
Westley: Death cannot stop true love. All it can do is delay it for a while.

Buy My Chairs

2010-05-19T05:34:00.001-07:00

"Every woman has her chair, something she needs to put herself into, Banes. You ever figure out what Lisa's chairs were and buy 'em? "

If you’ve seen the movie “Phenomenon” you get the chairs line. If not, go watch it.

Now, I’m pretty sure no one is reading this blog. The number of comments I get from actual people as opposed to stalkers and advertisers is so low as to be quite embarrassing. So, just leave a comment please. Otherwise I’m not sure why I’m doing this at all.

Teri

2010-05-16T21:33:00.001-07:00

The strongest, most gracious, loving, and generous woman I know. At a time when your heart and soul are aching you strive to bring peace to others. I am better because I know you. And thank you on behalf of the entire world for raising the next generation of kind, and gentle men. They love their mama and the Lord. You are doing everything right. I love you!

But the fact that you are not a saint is one of the things I love the most about you!

Hey, with four boys, what are you gonna do?

Between Here and There

2010-05-07T05:43:00.001-07:00

These flowers make me happy. Let me tell you why. These flowers are a collection of what can be found between my house and the middle school. Kendall and Brantley stopped several times yesterday on their way home from dropping Baylee off at school to collect these blooms for me. So, it took some time, and thought, and excitement, and planning, and lots of love to locate, pick, hold, arrange, and give them to me. It’s like sunshine and love on my table. That’s why they make me happy.

Shake your Groove Thang

2010-05-04T20:10:00.001-07:00

Fabulous night! The Columbus High School Chorus department had their Spring Concert tonight and it was awesome! (as usual) The theme was “The 70’s” which was a great follow-up to last year’s 60’s themed show. I’m sure next year’s theme will be totally tubular. I can hardly wait!

I think Belinda may have been born into the wrong decade though. Her disco dance moves were uptight and outta sight!

“Good Morning Charlie”

Oh my, where is the time going?

Count your blessings

2010-04-28T06:44:00.001-07:00

I am a fan of the late Dorothea Lange. She was a black and white photographer in the first half of the 20th century. Below are 4 pre-World War II photographs, taken for the U.S. Farm Security Administration (FSA), investigating living conditions of families hired to work in cotton fields and farms in Arizona and California. She was originally hired by the government to take photos of the dust-bowl landscape to be used to track the devastation and progress towards improvement but she found that her passion was the people. She began taking portraits of the people living in the areas and conditions she was hired to photograph. The government found these photographs to be as useful, if not more so, than photos of the landscape alone. These three touch me. They remind me of how truly blessed I am. They remind me to be grateful for my home, my husband (gainfully employed) and the modern conveniences that make our lives almost too easy.

For Sierra

2010-04-22T18:48:00.001-07:00

This is NOT a Craft Blog.

2010-04-07T08:44:00.001-07:00

Although I must admit to a slight obsession with craft blogs. I love to see what others are doing and creating. I have intentions to repeat everything I see and yet, I never do. Something has rubbed off on me though. I recently purchased a dress off the clearance rack at Old Navy for $1.97. I thought that if it didn’t fit it would at least make a good night shirt. I tried it on and decided that I liked it but unfortunately it was a little on the short side. I wore it that night as the intended night shirt and my dear hubby said “Hey, I like that dress. Why are you wearing it now?” *explanation ensues* Dear hubby says “Why don’t you just add a ruffle or something at the bottom?” This is what comes from a loving, kind, patient, husband who comes when I call him to say “look at this!” while I am perusing craft blogs. He said I ought to know how to do it after all the time I spend looking at tutorials for things I never make. He can be a smart alec but he’s usually right. So, I give you, the no-longer-too-short, no-longer-$1.97, brown dress: ( Sorry I couldn’t get the model to come back for the second shoot)

Before:

After:

Hypothe-What?

2010-04-02T13:51:00.001-07:00

I was in the drive-thru teller line at the bank earlier today. Brantley was waiting patiently in the back for her lollipop when suddenly from out of the blue she says “Mom, I have a hypothesis.” *jaw drop* “Really,” I said, “what is that?” She then proceeded to explain to me how the vacuum tube system works at the drive-thru. I had never really thought about it but as she was describing it I realized she was right on. After I got over how mechanically inclined she is I asked her if she knew what the word ”hypothesis” means. She says (wait for it) “Yeah, it’s an idea that you can test.” Exact quote, I swear! Well, as my very southern Mimi used to say “Smarty had a party!” I did call Kendall to see if he had been discussing this with her and his jaw hit the floor quicker than my did. When I asked her where she heard that word she said “Dinosaur Train”. Love me some PBS Kids!

So Ugly It’s Cute

2010-03-29T15:07:00.001-07:00

It’s like E.T. It’s my new office chair. I needed a chair for my office space that would not kill my back or fall apart at random times. So, I went to Ikea. I should have known that if I went to Ikea I would come with something so ugly it was cute, and I did. It matches nothing in my home and I don’t even care (and that’s big for me!). It’s comfy and I love it!

January in Utah=Cold Horses

2010-03-25T10:28:00.001-07:00

I just got an e-mail from the mother of one of Sierra’s friends at Solstice. She took this picture of us at our January Parent Seminar. Wow, I never end up on that side of a camera! I remember that morning as being SO COLD! Brantley was loving the snow. Belinda and Sierra threw snowballs to the farm dogs. Luckily they have a covered barn so the actual activity with the horses was indoors. The trade-off is that there is nowhere for the smell to go!

It was a good day. I’m glad to have a picture of it.

I’m like the grandma that gives the grandkids too much sugar even though she wouldn’t have given it to her own kids…

2010-03-13T20:03:00.001-08:00

Sugar ‘em up, take their picture, send ‘em home!

Sick Day

2010-03-07T14:59:00.001-08:00

Really people, it’s been a vomit-fest around here for the last 24 hours. Poor Mallory always seems to take it a little harder than the rest of us. Poor thing. When she was finally able to sit up and she was no longer green, she was in the mood for “Kung Fu Panda”. She knows how to get Dad to sit on the couch with her for an hour and a half. :)

Favorite from today

2010-03-06T17:59:00.001-08:00

This is pure joy right here. His mother may never forgive me!

Newsflash

2010-03-05T06:54:00.001-08:00

I must interrupt the cute photos of my kids for this important news:

I was always a huge Murdock fan, but I must say, I like the new “face” of Face.

Hey Kendall, I bet he makes a great meatloaf!

Watching

2010-03-03T18:49:00.001-08:00

Kendall was helping me with a project in the garage tonight. It was so cold but Brantley cannot stand to not be in the middle of things. She LOVES a good project. We told her she needed to stay inside, so she did, but she had her cute little nose pressed up against the window in the door the whole time. Can’t you just see how much she adores her daddy?

f1.8, 1/60, ISO 3200, vintage action

Cheating

2010-03-02T12:24:00.001-08:00

I mean that a couple of ways! This is not a new picture just a new technique. I have been trying to find a way to clear up the skin of my older subjects (teens and older) and I think I may have stumbled on a fairly natural looking way to do it. Please tell me what you think. I do not want a totally fake looking face, just a little lightening and brightening, and evening of blotches and splotches.

Can’t Get Enough

2010-02-25T20:28:00.001-08:00

I have been playing with Brantley’s pictures from this morning and have a couple more to share. First an example of what can be done in Photoshop Elements. The shadows were bad in this one. A friend suggested moving Brantley a few feet in front of the backdrop. That’s the best idea but I only had a couple of feet to work with in the space, so here is the fix:

Before:

After:

It’s not a perfect fix. It softens the hairline. But it gets rid of the shadow and evens out the background. I also added an action that adds a little pop and contrast.

This next picture I did not edit the first time through. I think it’s denial. She just can’t be this old yet. I used the same edits on this one as the one above.

Dress-Up

2010-02-25T12:27:00.001-08:00

Today Brantley and I are pretending that it is Springtime. I was set up for a newborn shoot in my “kitchen studio” but baby decided she didn’t want to have her picture taken today. It happens. So, with the pretty baby girl colors all ready to go we decided to put on Brantley’s Easter dress and snap a few. I was very clever about it being all Brantley’s idea. (wink, wink) Otherwise she runs the other way when the camera comes out.

I love actions but I have not applied any to these yet. I’d love feedback on the color and white balance as they are out of the camera.

So Sweet!

Uh-Oh…

This next one’s my favorite but you can see it coming can’t you.

Yep, there’s the look.

And here’s the bribe:

Three more clicks gets three jellybeans!

And three more clicks is all you get!

Absolutely DONE!

Thanks Brantley! That was fun. We haven’t done that in a while.

I know it’s not your favorite, but you are sweet to help me.

Love you, Mom.

The Many Faces of Homework

2010-02-23T15:18:00.001-08:00

And DONE!

P’sOTD

2010-02-20T18:57:00.001-08:00

I know some days it will be hard to come up with even one picture so I will rejoice in the days that I cannot narrow it down to just one. I should preface all following POTD posts by saying that I shoot almost exclusively in aperture priority. I am comfortable in full manual but I find that aperture priority almost always works for me.

Today Kendall and I spent the afternoon in Warm Springs Georgia. It is one of our favorite places to spend a beautiful spring-like day. Our girls were out gallivanting with their very kind grandparents all day so we enjoyed a nice southern lunch at the Bulloch House and then took a stroll down Main Street. This POTD is an adventure in speed. Kendall was the first to notice the bees buzzing in the tree overhead. I loved the new blooms as well.

f9.0, 1/125, ISO 100 50mm

The focus was on the bee. In hindsight I would like to have had the branches in front a little more focused as well but I would have lost the ability to freeze the bee’s wings. Since bees don’t pose for very long at a time it’s hard to think these things through! Had I known I would be taking bee portraits I would have used my zoom. Here is a close-up of Mr. Bee. I’d guess I was 5 feet away.

I also wanted to capture the charm of Warm Springs so I’m adding this picture of the lace curtains in the window of the Victorian Tea Room. Very typical of the shops on Main Street. I love that you can see the other side of the street in the reflection of the window.

f7.1, 1/50, ISO 100, 50mm

And just one more…

f9.0, 1/320, ISO 100, 50mm---vintage action

I have to agree!

POTD

2010-02-19T18:15:00.001-08:00

I have two for the first day. One was fort practice and the other just for fun. Serious stuff first.

Kendall and I were at Olive Garden for lunch and I took my camera in hoping for a window seat but no luck. So, I put my 50mm lens to the test in the low light at our table. The only interesting thing on the table at that point was the bowl of sugar packets. I love all the pastel colors. I had the camera on the table at first so I could use a very low shutter speed but my lens would not focus on anything. It’s a bit old and cranky (and very slow) so I moved it around a bit and tried several more times. Nothing. So I picked up the camera and to get as much speed as possible I upped the ISO. Still not tack sharp anywhere and the depth of field is quite shallow, but the best I could do under the conditions. I am wary of my higher ISO’s right now but I promise to try them over the next couple of days. I’d really like to have a greater depth of field so I guess I’ll have to. Here is what I got:

f1.8, 1/20th of a second, ISO 400

Post processing included unsharp mask and levels adjustment. I’ve been working a lot on getting my white balance right in-camera and I’m pretty pleased with this one. And the best part? I got a shoot with the family at the next table. I should probably carry my camera with me everywhere I go!

Now, just for fun:

I’m so glad they are not serving their food on the floor.

Well, everyone else is doing it, why shouldn’t I?

2010-02-18T19:15:00.001-08:00

I do not want to be left out and I definitely need the practice so I am joining the POTD (picture of the day) club. Not sure how long it will last but I am willing to enjoy it while it does. My kids run the other way when I reach for my camera so I am setting a goal to take pictures of people who actually like me, or don’t know me. (Just kidding about my kids not liking me. They know where their dinner comes from!) Really though, I would like to get out into the community more and document the southerners that I love and who raised me.

I’ll start tomorrow……. :)

Self-Explanatory

2010-02-17T18:29:00.001-08:00

I’m Waiting for you Spring, Please Hurry.

2010-02-17T16:52:00.001-08:00

In the life of a photographer the lull between Christmas and Spring can be brutally boring. I do not shoot weddings so there’s really not much to do in the downtime. So, I spend my time looking through old photos and re-editing them. Here is one I found from our first trip to see Sierra at Solstice. This vine was growing up the rails of the deck off the back of the lodge.

It has me pining for blooms of any kind.

Brantley?

2010-02-10T16:07:00.001-08:00

I came across this scene in the office today. Eerily “Wizard of Oz”-ish.

Happy Valentine’s Day!

2010-02-09T12:07:00.001-08:00

This year I have only one child in grade school. I know, crazy right? That means only one child to prepare Valentine’s for. I have been that mom before, the one who makes handmade cards for each child to give to each of the 23 children in their classes. (Makes me tired just thinking about it) I have also been the mom that buys the boxes of cards after Valentine’s Day for a quarter and saves them for the next year. This year however I am the mom who makes the cards and slaps her business name on them, making them a clever marketing tool and a tax write-off! I’m pretty sure this is the real mom in me!

This card is printed on a beautiful pearl textured paper which is shiny and does not photograph well, but I think you get the idea.

VARSITY!!!

2010-02-08T16:23:00.001-08:00

That’s right. After only one season playing jr. varsity lacrosse for Columbus High School Belinda will be joining the VARSITY team this season. First game is February 27th. I’ll keep everyone posted as to the schedule. Congratulations Bella! We are so proud of all of your hard work. You rock!

Girl Time

2010-02-07T13:00:00.001-08:00

I love Teri and Sue. My best girlies from high school. I have Facebook to thank for bringing them back to me during a time in my life that I really needed them. And even better, they needed me too! It’s been a rough year for all of us and I think the fact that we have been out of each other’s lives for so long made it easier somehow to open up and be supportive in a way that those who have been with us more recently are not able. It also helps that we have always been brutally honest with one another. If you don’t have friends like that, get some! Last weekend we stayed in a cabin at Callaway Gardens in the rain and just enjoyed being together. We talked about the hard things but we also laughed and ate and walked and laughed some more. It’s been almost 20 years since we last had that opportunity and it was just as easy and natural last week as it was then. Thanks Sue and Teri for being there for me right now. Sue, I loved your mom so much. She always let us hang out and watch questionable movies, and fed us, and just loved us. I know you must miss her terribly but you handle it with such grace. Teri, you are such a good mom. You do not deserve what is happening to you but your faith that God has a plan for you and that you will come through this stronger and better is so inspiring. I hope I grow up to be like both of you someday. Here are some photos of our time at Callaway.

Because it was raining the bird show was inside, and because that red-shouldered hawk can exert 165 pounds of pressure with each claw I did not use a flash. Sue me!

We drove over to the chapel which was beautiful in the mist.

Sue and I enjoyed taking pictures of the stained glass while Teri very patiently waited.

I love this picture of Sue and Teri. They look the same as they did in school 20 years ago! I’m very serious about that. It’s so not fair!

See, here’s proof:

Brantley Turns 5. and The Prodigal Camera Returns.

2010-01-28T11:09:00.001-08:00

I guess I should say “Brantley turned 5”. Since my camera has been at the doctor I have not been able to upload my pictures from this month. Sad, I know. But as of a very friendly delivery from the FedEx gal about an hour ago, we are back in business! Yippee!!

So, on to the big event:

Brantley’s favorite color is and always has been Purple. So in honor of her birthday on January 7th, the rest of this post will be typed in purple. We had a very last minute get together a couple of days before we left for Utah. I was very pleased and thankful that her little friends (and their mommies) came through and made it a great celebration. Here’s the whole crowd:

Some of the party highlights included pizza and games and:

A cookie as big as her head

Dad in a pink tiara

The Hedges :) I’m pretty sure they have fun wherever they go!

Really great gifts from everyone. Thanks y’all! Here are just a few:

Kittens

Purple Tea Set

And what is this from Grandma?

I’ve never seen a kid so in love with fruit! It’s like candy to her. I actually find myself saying “Brantley, put that apple away! You’ve had enough fruit today.” Weird.

So, a little about Brantley at 5 years old. She is bored for one thing. She would love to be at school with her sisters and does not think that I am very much fun. We do manage to get along really well though when I’m not doing “boring mom work and cleaning and stuff”. She loves to go to Grandma’s house and Nana’s house and I am so happy to have them so close so that she can have such a good relationship with both of them. She loves animals, even her naughty dogs. She talks and sings and moves all day long. Even when watching a movie she is moving around and in and out of the room. Brantley is the best little helper I have ever had. She likes to unload the dishwasher, vacuum, and make her bed. She never asks or waits to be asked, she just does. She wants to be everyone’s best friend and is a very good friend to all. She is tall and beautiful and has an infectious smile. She is caring and sweet and I love her. And right now she is asking if it is snack time, which it is, so see you later!

Coming Home!

2010-01-27T13:16:00.001-08:00

Well, we did it. We bought the kid a plane ticket to come home to visit! She will be here over Valentine’s Day weekend. I’m sure we will all be feeling the love!

This is not just her first home visit but the completion of an enormous amount of work on her part. Her therapist (and her parents) decided that she needed a little more motivation to move along in the program so we made the home visit dependant on achieving the next two phases. She was pretty close to one of them, which she got last week, but will only have three weeks to get the next one. This involves some rather large and fairly emotionally taxing projects. She was frustrated at first but when she realized we were really not going to back down she got busy. She has become confident enough in herself to tell us to buy the ticket, even with the condition that she would have to pay us back any change fees if she doesn’t make it.

Come home and get warm, Sweetie!

For those who are wondering what I mean by “phases” please visit the Solstice website page that explains it all in more detail. Sierra will be in “Transformation” when she comes for her visit. Please read about this phase of the program. You will be amazed at the progress she has made. I am so proud of her.

Click here:

Last words from Conan….

2010-01-23T10:17:00.001-08:00

“If you work really hard, and you’re kind, amazing things will happen.”

Amen to that.

Oh the HORROR!

2010-01-19T18:30:00.001-08:00

My poor camera is sick! I mean “going to the camera hospital” sick! Why oh why! It is so young with so much life before it. Why will it not read my memory cards? Why will it not format my memory cards? Tomorrow it will be taking a little trip to New Jersey to find out why.

I have a brand new niece being BORN tomorrow for crying out loud! Bad timing.

Oh well, it’s under two warranties so I’m really only bugged that it’s going to New Jersey without me.

(Hey Dad?? May I pretty please borrow your camera tomorrow?)

Home.

2010-01-17T17:33:00.001-08:00

So it turns out I love to be home. I like to travel, don’t get me wrong, but I also like to not travel. This last trip to Utah turned into a long week for me. We got an opportunity to take Sierra to the best orthopedic surgeon in the state who also happens to be a friend of Kendall’s dad. He is very busy and usually books appointments months in advance but when Kendall’s dad called him about Sierra and asked if he could talk to her about her joint pain he said “sure, bring her to Orem on Monday morning and I’ll see her”. Awesome, except that we are supposed to be on a plane on Monday morning. So, we changed my ticket to Thursday just in case there was anything else he needed us to do for Sierra in the next couple of days. It was a great appointment and Sierra loved him. It was the first time she felt like someone was really listening to her and that in itself is very important. She has a very common joint problem that affect teenage girls and needs some physical therapy. She will be going three days/week for a month. I took her back to Solstice on Monday afternoon and since there was nothing else that needed to be done I was looking at three days by myself! Wow, I’m thinking this is going to be heaven. And in a way I really needed it. Tuesday I was sick but couldn’t stand the nasty air in the Salt Lake Valley due to the inversion so I headed to Park City for some fresh air. It was a nice afternoon and I’ve decided I could live in the mountains. Wednesday I got a haircut at a great little salon we have found in Clearfield and then headed to Solstice for one more therapy session and an early dinner with Sierra. Then I drove back to South Jordan for a movie with my sis-in-law. By the time Thursday rolled around I was very done with alone time. I’m so happy to be home again with my family.

?That is SLC that you can’t see!OR? Which would you choose?

If you are in the Salt Lake/Layton area and ~~need~~ want salon services I highly recommend Cultures.

And what the cheap?! I mean like 1/2 what the same services cost here in Columbus!

A cute but very predictable movie. I’d wait for the DVD if I were you.

Here we go again!

2010-01-06T07:10:00.001-08:00

Fun With Puppies!

2010-01-02T07:36:00.001-08:00

I just can’t get enough of these adorable furballs! They are the perfect models for my flash practice. And Belinda is totally okay with helping me. Enjoy more pup pics!

Belinda is 17!

2009-12-30T12:32:00.001-08:00

And she’s been 17 since November 12th! But NOW we have pictures of her being 17. It’s taken a while but we finally got it done. It’s not her favorite thing but I think she’s good at it! What a beautiful young woman! And one of my absolute favorite people. The thing that makes me sad is that she is talking about college. College?!?!

Pile ‘O Puppies

2009-12-27T12:07:00.001-08:00

Well, it’s been an adventure. We took Dollie the Dog in on December 14th. On December 21st we welcomed six fluffy balls of fur to the world. I’ve actually really enjoyed watching the process. I felt Dollies’ pain during labor and birth, stayed up late worrying that everyone was warm enough, enjoyed the newborn sounds, and watched the little ones grow so much in just a week. And, like a doting grandmother I get to send them all home tomorrow! Also like a doting grandmother I will miss them. But we have play dates to look forward to.

O’ Come Let Us Adore Him

2009-12-23T08:06:00.001-08:00

I have just been introduced to this beautiful painting of the birth of our Savior. It is titled “The Nativity” 1597 by Federico Fiori Barocci. The colors are so rich and I love Mary’s halo, the adoring stable animals watching over the baby, and the sweet, sweet, baby that actually looks like a baby. It is very intimate and reminds me of all the times I watched a newborn of my own as they lay with the light just radiating from them, lighting up the whole room. Merry Christmas. Remember that this little baby is the reason for our celebrations and giving. Love to all!

Photoshop Fun

2009-12-19T19:50:00.001-08:00

Sorry to my niece, Sadie. She has great sense of humor though so I think she will forgive me. I found a new tool on Photoshop and had some fun with it at her expense.

Here’s the before and after:

Love you, girlie!

It’s The Most Wonderful Time of The Year

2009-12-04T10:09:00.001-08:00

Hello friends and family and those who are not yet friends or family but someday will be. I have been pondering the meaning of the season and how much I have to be grateful for. This year has pretty much sucked but we are ending it with much more hope than we started it with. I was whining to my mom yesterday about how my life at 38 was not supposed to be like this. I had a different plan and I am ticked off that it hasn’t worked out that way. I quite often turn on my mental mute when people try to tell me that I will come through this stronger and wiser………..don’t always want to hear that. But as I look around me at the red and green and love and peace that accompanies this time of year I realize that this really is “but a small moment”. Happiness and joy are all around us just waiting to be grabbed.

A little holiday advice that I know you didn’t ask for but I’m going to give anyway:

Slow down.

That’s it. Just slow down and enjoy the good things. Friends and especially family. A home and a job. Food and clothing.

Try not to get caught up in the little things that ultimately don’t mean that much. Let go of the things you really don’t care about just because you think there is some expectation that you will do it.

I’ll go first. I refuse to be stressed about Christmas cards this year. More of the people I love will see it if I post it right here anyway. And, I honestly don’t need to spend a penny on printing and postage.

What will you let go of?

Sierra

2009-11-29T19:37:00.001-08:00

Thanks to everyone who has been asking about the kid. We had a great visit with her the first week of November. It was our first Parent Seminar Weekend and it was H-A-R-D! But, that’s how we make progress so it’s totally worth it. (That’s what they tell me anyway, check back in a year or two for an update on that!) I’ve been a so-so blogger of late but I’ll get back to it soon. In the meantime please follow this link to a video from the talent show that Sierra and her friends at Solstice put on for the parents that weekend. Life in a residential treatment center………

Solstice RTC Girls Talent Show November 2009

Sierra and Baylee at Temple Square in Salt Lake City

I got a new toy!

2009-11-13T20:01:00.001-08:00

It’s my first real, non-kit camera lens since the “accident”. Though I must defend my 28-135 kit lens. It’s been awesome and I will still use it. But, the new one came this afternoon and I think it is going to change my life! Okay, maybe not, but I’m really excited about the possibilities. It’s really nice glass that I got for a really nice price from the used department at B&H. I’ve been saving my pennies and watching the used dept. for this lens for a while and it finally showed up. And, it’s not even used, just a return that never even got opened. Sweet! Anyway, I’ll be using it for a couple of shoots tomorrow after I spend all morning practicing with it. So, watch my 1000 Words blog for the results. I’m pretty sure I will not be sending it back.

Pumpkins!

2009-10-21T18:57:00.001-07:00

I love them!

Progress

2009-10-15T18:17:00.001-07:00

Kendall and I just got back from a trip to Utah to see Sierra. Since this was our first visit we were not allowed to take Sierra off of the very small campus. So, we spent a lot of time playing games, watching movies, making collages (a fave therapy activity of hers), staring at each other, and of course taking some pictures. We were also able to go to horses with Sierra on Wednesday morning before our flight at 1:20. It was a little icky in the morning with rain and lots of mud. Kendall and I got to the airport with mud and horse poop on our shoes and happiness and hope in our hearts. Sierra seems to be making progress. The family therapy face to face was hard but well worth it. I think the very hardest stuff has been shared and we have been able to put our behinds in the past :) Still lots to learn but now we feel like we are really on our way to being better, stronger people. Our next visit is the first weekend of November (3 short weeks from today) and will be a “Parent Weekend”. We will get to meet the parents of the other girls and get lots of education and training. We will also be able to have Sierra off campus during the daytime so we can enjoy shopping and eating at The Pizza Factory!

The photos are kind of random, but hey, that’s how I roll! So enjoy:

This is my favorite for obvious reasons!

Word?

Have you ever tried to take a one-handed self portrait with a 3lb camera?

I L-O-V-E these two. She was smiling without being told to.

The girls at Solstice take a break from being fashionistas for the time that they are there,

but they seem to be making a statement with the riding boots that they choose.

Sierra’s are the red ones. That’s my girl!

These little cows are the newest addition to the farm. So, so cute!

This is Sierra’s best friend Jo. She loves to ride her. They get along.

Nice hat!

Reunited!

2009-09-18T07:47:00.001-07:00

With all that has been going on in my life this past couple of years I have found myself pining for a simpler time and place. I’m tired of being the grown-up. I know I can’t quit my life but how about just a little break from the responsibilities? When I was in high school I had an awesome group of friends. We were tight. And to make it even better there were seven of us! Yes, seven! And that was just the core of us. We loved just about everyone and we always had room for more. When we graduated I thought the best thing in the world was to go far away to school and get on with my life. I was not good at keeping in touch. The last time I really spent time with my “magnificent seven” was at the amazing bridal shower that they hosted for me. We were all so young and they couldn’t believe I was getting married already but they were troopers and supported me. Then I had babies and my life became so different from theirs and we lost touch almost completely. I made it to one wedding, and our ten year reunion. A couple of visits through the years. It has now been 19+ years since graduation. We have been through moves, babies, marriages, divorces, loss of parents, loss of figures, illnesses, children’s illnesses, you name it. Now, through the miracle of Facebook we have found each other again. So, in my pining for that simpler time an idea was born. An idea that will see the seven of us together again for a weekend of reliving old memories and making new ones. Of completely responsibility-free time with my girlfriends, laughing, being silly, crying, and sharing. I hope it is just the beginning of a renewal of the tradition of being there for each other. I hope they all still like me! I know I still love them, if just for the fact that they didn’t laugh when I said “Hey y’all, let’s get together for a weekend in Atlanta, I need you!” Instead they totally ignored the fact that I have been a dolt for the last 19 years, that we have only seen each other a couple of times, and they embraced the idea and said that they needed us too. One more week. I’m excited and nervous, but mostly excited! See you soon ladies!

From left to right: Alicia V., Alicia C., Kim, Teri, Jenny, Sue, and Liz. And officer, I promise I never actually drove the car with everyone in it! (wink,wink)

Happy 40th Anniversary

2009-09-17T10:55:00.001-07:00

My Mom and Dad are not really old enough to have been married 40 years. But they have, and we are all so happy about that! Kendall and I want to be like them when we grow up. Their generosity never ceases to amaze us. How about being invited to spend the last weekend of their anniversary trip with them in the North Georgia Mountains?! It is one of my very favorite places to visit. It is good for my soul to be in the cool, peaceful mountains in a cabin. And when I say cabin, I mean a cabin with a hot tub, pool table, gas log fireplace, and satellite TV. That’s my idea of roughing it! Anywho, thanks again Mom and Dad. For the weekend in the mountains, but more importantly for being a great example of how marriage is supposed to be. Happy Anniversary!

The Great Moosemac in the sky.

Call for Pumpkins

2009-09-16T12:07:00.001-07:00

I’m going to use you. All of you.

I need some pumpkins. I’ve had an idea and I need pumpkins. Whimsical, elegant, homemade, cute, orange pumpkins. The pumpkins above are at Pier 1 and will be mine as soon as I save enough pennies. If you see anything interesting while you are out and about please let me know where you find it and how much it is. I will then dash to the pumpkin-mobile (see below) and retrieve it.

Now pumpkin observers…go forth and find delicious orangeness.

Thank you and goodbye.

Convertible What?!

2009-09-04T22:28:00.001-07:00

So, Kendall is in North Georgia spelunking with his brother and a bunch of other guys. So, I took myself out for date night! I had a great time just wandering around finding things to do. I had some errands and did some window shopping. A couple of things made me especially happy…..

1. A very fashionable gay guy said this to me: “Honey, I LOVE those frames!” That makes me happy with my choice. I was wearing my new “sassy glasses”.

2. A very cute couple was shopping in the bra department. She was explaining to her hubby that she needed a convertible bra. “What exactly makes a bra convertible” he asks, “does the top come off?” “No”, she says condescendingly, “the straps convert from regular to halter to cross-back to strapless” . I’m not kidding here about the next words out of his mouth, I couldn’t make this up. He says , with a gleam in his eye “ I like the kind that converts to nothing.”

It was all I could do to not spit Diet Coke all over the regular, non-convertible bras I was looking at. Seriously, I had to walk away so I could giggle out loud and not embarrass anyone (myself included) since I really shouldn’t have been listening in on them in the first place. I’m really glad I didn’t miss that conversation though. It made my weekend.

Fun with Brantley or Fun at Brantley’s Expense

2009-08-27T12:28:00.001-07:00

She really does not enjoy having her picture taken anymore. Such a pity since I don’t plan on stopping anytime soon.

Sierra

2009-08-25T07:38:00.001-07:00

Last weekend was a “Parent Weekend” at Solstice. It was too soon for us to attend but we did get to benefit from the photos taken by one of the parents.

This first photo shows Sierra, one staff member, and two parents involved in an equine therapy activity. It looks to me like they had to capture and harness their horse with their wrists and ankles tied together so that there are four people but still only two hands to do the work. Fun!

Success!?!

This last photo is from the 5k in Provo Canyon that the girls ran on Saturday morning. Sierra took first place in her age division (14 and under). The girl to the left of Sierra is Marissa, her “big sister”. The smiley guy in the back is Kyle, one of the therapists, and also one of the three founders of Solstice.

My Car and My Posse.

2009-08-18T10:54:00.001-07:00

My dad took this like totally awesome picture in 1990, just before graduation. My “papa” restored the 1966 candy apple red Mustang.

And yes, our jeans were SUPPOSED to look like that!

Regarding Sierra……and my extra 35lbs.

2009-08-17T17:38:00.001-07:00

I have decided to explain to all interested parties what is going on in our family right now. I know there have been several cryptic posts on this blog and on Facebook that no one would understand if they did not already know what was happening. So, to save me having to repeat myself I am going to do this one time right here.

Many of you know that Sierra has been having a rough couple of years. It started with some strange behavior that led to trouble with school and a year of homeschooling. I’m not sure how much actual “schooling” happened during that time but it did give me the opportunity to keep her close and discover that some things were not right with her. She was suffering, sad, even depressed which turned into self-harm (cutting) and suicidal thoughts and threats. Thus began the rocky road of therapy, psychiatrists, and meds. We got an official diagnosis of Bipolar Disorder. Two psychiatrists have confirmed the diagnosis.

I never fully understood the chaos that this experience would bring into our home until it was on us big time. It was so gradual and we were so absorbed with trying to get her help that we failed to see the pain that our other children were in. Because of this we made the decision to have Sierra move in with my parents with the hope that after a few weeks of quiet she would be able to calm down and focus. That her sisters would get a needed break. It was not a successful experiment. Over the summer her behavior has become more erratic and her manic and depressed states further apart and more rapid in their cycles. The cutting continued and her suicidal threats resurfaced. After a couple of weeks at Kendall’s parent’s house we realized that she needed more help than any of us could give her. Kendall and I flew to Utah to begin looking at residential treatment centers. We chose Utah because they seem to specialize in the type of program that treats adolescent girls with issues like Sierra’s, as well as addiction recovery, etc. We tentatively planned to fly to Arizona as well if we could not find the right place in Utah. Something about the west….We are grateful that we did find someplace for her where we have family close by that can visit her more often than we will be able to.

Sierra is at an all girls program. She will have individual therapy at least three times each week along with several therapy groups. She has equine therapy two days each week and additional opportunities for riding the horses. That is one of the things we were looking for because of her love of horses and the natural ability she has with them. The girls also tend two gardens and eat the food that they grow. They train to run in local 5K races and train with a boot camp instructor from the Air Force base three days each week. They have school Monday-Friday from 3-7 pm. She will complete her freshman year before she comes home. As far as when that will be be depends mostly on her. The girls work through a series of “levels”. The goal, obviously, is to complete all of the levels in preparation for coming home. Sierra has the advantage of having gone willingly into the program and wanting to make changes. Hopefully this will help her work through the levels more quickly, but who knows. As a family, especially as her parents, we also have assignments that we must work on in order for Sierra to advance from level to level. We have a family therapy session (conference call) once each week as well and we will all be getting the help and counseling that we need to help Sierra return home successfully.

As Sierra achieves her levels she will get more freedom and responsibilities. For now her only outside contact will be with her parents. At some point she will be able to get letters from other family members and friends that are on her approved list. Please let me know if you would like to be added to the list and I will let you know when the appropriate time comes. We also look forward to home visits in the future and the long parent weekends that we will be going out there for.

There are a lot of complicated emotions that go along with sending your daughter away so far, for so long. Please bear with us as we process it all. We appreciate the love and prayers that have been sent our way. We really have been in our own little bubble the past couple of years. A little anti-social to tell the truth. We are feeling a lot of hope for Sierra, and for our family as a whole. We look forward to the things that we will learn and plan on coming out of this much stronger and wiser. We are also ready to play more and worry a little less.

Now, as far as that pesky 35lbs……..I’m not blaming Sierra. I blame me. But at least I haven’t become a raging alcoholic! Food is a little bit better addiction and coping mechanism, but absolutely not a healthy one. I am determined to work as hard at becoming healthy as I know my sweet baby girl is.

I believe she is being tested and made stronger for a great purpose. I just wish I could know now what it is!

Sunset Over Saltair

2009-08-15T11:18:00.001-07:00

The first night we were in Utah the sunset over the lake was outstanding! Of course the next couple of nights when I had time to take pictures it was overcast. Finally on our last evening there it cleared up and we parked ourselves at Saltair to wait for the show.

More from Utah

2009-08-15T11:06:00.001-07:00

This was the day that we spent in Provo. It was fun to visit campus, eat at the Creamery, see our old (teeny) house, drive up the canyon, eat at Burger Supreme, and spend the evening on the temple grounds. Kendall and I spent many, many evenings on those grounds overlooking the MTC and Utah lake. I went into labor twice while walking around the temple. Notice how the light changed the color of the temple during the hour that we sat there.

Utah Trip

2009-08-13T10:24:00.001-07:00

Well, the reason for the trip a couple of weeks ago was not a happy one but we managed to have many happy experiences while we were there. I have many pictures to upload and edit so I will add them as they are ready. We spent our first full day at Temple Square. So many changes since the last time we were there.

Out of the Darkness and Into the Light

2009-08-02T14:03:00.001-07:00

I am starting to see hope and feel peace.

Mallory Enth

2009-07-15T19:03:00.001-07:00

Is is wrong for me to hope Mallory’s teeth take their time growing back in?

Love This Girl!

2009-07-15T16:35:00.001-07:00

I love all my girls, but I just can’t seem to get enough of this one. That stray curl is cracking me up!

Cupcakes for Babies

2009-07-02T13:49:00.001-07:00

I love a good excuse to make chocolaty goodness. Yum!

Watching the Puppy Play

2009-06-30T13:52:00.001-07:00

Isn’t she brilliant? Maybe not, but she’s always good for a laugh!