New Memory Cards

I am sure that this reveals a nerdy side of me, but I was excited when a delightful surprise came for me today: 4 new memory cards. I had no idea my husband was going to surprise me with these babies, and it was so sweet. The reason behind him purchasing the cards was what touched me most. He wanted me to have plenty of cards to take with me on my trip to Mexico next weekend because he knows how important it is to me to document this trip. Isn't that sweet? Or do you have to be a photographer to appreciate such a gift? Either way, it was a wonderful surprise.

For the week I will be gone, I won't have access to a computer to download images, so the the number of cards represents the total number of images I can take. And it is true, "I don't wanna to miss a thang." :)

Thanks, honey, for the surprise. I love you!

Our Dryer's Heating Element

So, when you saw this photo did you know exactly what this was? I wouldn't have.

This week our dryer decided to stop working. Did it do it right after I had finished the laundry at least? No, actually, I found out right after I had finished the first load of 10 that I needed to wash. And with perfect timing that only my little Emily can have, she said, "Hey, Mom, did you know you have a lot of laundry to do?"

I took a deep breath, was tempted to call the dryer some very inappropriate names, and may have thrown some clothes at it. Or maybe I just remained calm and collected—the latter sure does sound better. After a few minutes of dealing with the brief flash of intense emotion, my brain started to work again. Then I did what any girl would do that has a wonderfully smart husband; I called my father. ;)

Greg is truly brilliant with most things that would be labeled technological, but being "handy" is not what I would label him at this point in our lives. Ha. (Although he does get an A for effort.) My father, on the other hand—and Greg's father too, as a matter of fact—is incredibly good at figuring things out and fixin' what breaks. So, I called my father, and sure enough, he figured it out and had it fixed in no time at all. And what had been the pain in my gluteal region, albeit temporarily? A wire coil! That's right, one broken coil stopped my dryer's clothes drying magic. It is funny how something that weighs less then a pound can really put a crimp in my life.

So, today, I am thankful for electric dryers and wonderful daddies. :)

Anna Allowing Ariana to Give Kisses

This was such a funny moment! Ariana asked Anna for kisses, and Anna said "Yeaaaah" and turned her head and offered sissy her cheek. I think they both got a giggle from it, even though it wasn't exactly what Ariana had in mind. Maybe that was Anna's point? Ha!

Me at Home at Age 5ish

Some have asked me when I started becoming interested in photography. The answer can actually be traced back to my Mom. She was the first lifestyle photographer that I had ever seen, although it never became a business that she pursued. I was about 5 years old when my mom decided to take a photography class. And now, 24 years later, they are my favorite photos from my childhood. They tell so much about me, not just what I looked like.

One look at this picture brings back so many memories. I remember living in that house. I remember how the bricks of that fireplace always remained cool to the touch year round, and I remember the year that the fireplace kinda caught on fire. I remember how poor we were and how excited I was about getting those jeans I had on and my hand-me-down doll that I am holding. It also helps remind me of how my mother and I would battle over my hair—long, fine, golden blond hair that my mother never wanted to see cut.

I also remember the first time I actually saw these pictures, back during my freshman year of high school. It was like finding a precious hidden treasure that I never had known about. I remember being impressed. My mom had learned how to do it all—manual camera, manual development, the whole shebang. After that, I started really playing with photography. Ya know, with my 35mm, $5 special. And that is how it remained for a very long time.

It would take a new level of hunger for me to be motivated to try and really learn about photography. That came after the loss of our twin daughters and a desire to keep searching for the beauty that still existed in this world. It took all that time for me to find what I love to do: capture people, in their real lives, being who they really are. It is beautiful. Real life can truly be beautiful, and it is full of so much you really do want to remember. :)

Thanks, Mom, for letting me copy your capture, for taking the pictures, and for being my original inspiration. I love you!

Random Car Dealership In Town

This year is going to be full of all sorts of changes for our family. One of those changes involves changing up our car. It is time to downsize. It seems strange to me that I would have such mixed feelings about something so trivial, but I do. We currently have what we affectionately have referred to as a "bus," simply because it can hold 9 people. It has been a great car, and it has served our purposes, but we no longer have the need for 9 seats. In fact, any more we only need 5.

That means that we have way more options as far as vehicles are concerned, but it makes for a giant headache for me. I really hate car shopping. I don't enjoy trying to figure out what would be the best choice for our family after looking at a variety of factors—safety being the biggest. I am also not a die hard fan of any particular make and model. I look at a car as a tool, a tool that decreases in value like every other tool. And because it is not just me anymore, I can't simply choose based on my desire—so the Ferrari is out. ;) This is one of those things that I wish I could just delegate out.

So, dear internet readers and awesome clients, what types of cars would you recommend we consider?