spring-elicious

Well, it wouldn't be a real blog if I didn't include a picture of the squirrels.
Nathan took these through the back door and caught this one enjoying the kids leftover Oreos.



If chocolate is dangerous to dogs, what does it do to a squirrel...or is that a myth about the dogs?
Anyone?

another first.

Last night I took the kids to see The Last Mimzy.
The story is that the future humans have sent their last Mimzy (an artificially intelligent rabbit doll.) to communicate that they need help. The Mimzy will die if the little girl (whose name is by the way, Emma.) doesn't send it back in time.
Toward the end of the movie, I looked over at Emma to realize she was sobbing! I think this is the first time she's cried during a movie. Well, if that wasn't sad enough, she cried for another HOUR!!!! She was sad that the Mimzy went back to its planet even if it was happier there. She found her own Mimzy when we got home and I snapped these this morning.



Death grip on her rabbit just in case it decides to leave this earth.
I wonder where she got her emotions?!

shiny cars

I don't know much about cars, but I know when I like one.
I love taking pictures of cars. They make the best models.
They are patient and don't get tired of posing
This is our friend Evan's Corvette.









These are not Evan's...
They're Erin's RED HIGH HEELS on Jamie's new bike.

cake and cake

cake from Nathan. (my favorite...cheesecake)



and cake from the girls. (my favorite....cake)

introducing anna-banana

Well, I know she's already been introduced, but here she is in her stage debut.
Anna invited me to her school play. She's a natural, but we already knew that.
She did a great job. Great costume design also!








This is Anna's brother Austin. He's so photogenic, but he's becoming a bit reluctant as he gets older.

early celebrating

Last night Jacob suggested that we skip Tae-Kwan-Do and instead go to our favorite restaurant. I thought that was a brilliant idea and we headed down to Penguin Eds. It's the best BBQ in the whole world.
This was a mini-celebration for my birthday since tonight I will not be here. I'm going on a trip to Springfield, MO for some MK training with the girls. B/T the training, I've been told there will be balloons and cake and whatever other birthday must-haves there are.

Here are the kids posing with their favorite penguin.





It was a little chilly.

I've been shooting weddings as a second photographer for a little while now and I love it so much!
It's a little unfair to the real photographer because I get to do all the easy stuff. I don't have to worry about
getting all the important pictures. I also get to stay behind with the bride in her very final moments before she turns the corner to walk down the isle. Today, I was fortunate enough to work with Larry Plumlee on one of his weddings. I always learn so much.

After the wedding we grabbed a much needed cup of Joe at Iron Horse on the square. They were so great and let us stay an hour after closing. Larry took this time to answer a lot of questions I had about my camera and an old flash I have.

Here's a practice shot I took of Larry when I was figuring out my flash. (I need lots of practice with this.)



I usually like being behind the camera more than in front of it, but I had a lot of fun being a practice model.
Here are a couple of my favorites.




Ash & Michelle

My friend Michelle asked me to take a few shots of her
and Ash. They're getting married this summer on the beach.
They were so fun to work with. I may ask them to come back
in full wedding garb after the big day for some cool photos.





tea time

Emma's tea party was a hit. We had so much fun.

Thank you to all the girls and boys who dressed up and used such good manners.
Thanks for all the great gifts Emma got. She has really appreciated all of them.
I have to say that my favorite is the tea cup and saucer from Grandma Lowery.









the big 4

Emma woke up on her birthday and stood right in front of me as tall as she could.
She said, "mommy, is this four" I waited for her to put up four fingers, but she didn't.
She wanted to know if "this" was what four years old looked like.
She did seem a little taller. I'll post pictures of her tea party soon. We had so much fun!


She carefully applied her make-up before breakfast.

this is a "T-Rex" according to Emma