Meeting Santa

As you can see, it really didn't go that well.

O Christmas Tree

We usually go to a Christmas Tree Farm to pick out the perfect tree for our home.  This year was especially fun because it was right after the first real snow of the year and everything was so beautiful. We had so much fun.

The tree we picked.  It was perfect and petite.

My favorite thing about our tree this year are these little cardinals that I put on it. 

Photo Collage

I've been planning a photo collage for a living room for sometime now and we finally got it up.  There's still a few twicks to make to it but for the most part I'm so happy with it.  It really brings something to that wall which just had a puny little shelf on it before and it's nice to finally have some of my favorite photos of all of us up on the wall.  It took a lof of planning and  most of the afternoon, but it was well worth it.  Take a look at our process.

Cutting out papers the size of the frames and then arranging them on the wall helped so much.  It really elimated a lot of measuring and frustration.

Actually getting some of the frames up. 

Leon is helping Kyle who is making sure the measurements are just right.

And the final product:

We actually had plans for another row but we quickly realized we were not going to have enough space.  This is what we orginally had planned:

The living room is really starting to look like I've wanted it to.  It's so nice.  I just have to make a few pillows and finish decoring the fireplace mantle it will be pretty much done! 

LOVE

I've been feeling the love in my home tonight - really feeling it.  I've been just been listening to giggles and observing Leon and Kyle play together.  I feel so blessed.  Leon seriously does have the cutest giggle in the world and it just lights up my whole world when I hear it.  He's a coolest kid.  Kyle started teaching him how to do somersaults last night and this evening Leon did some all by himself.  Kyle and I just looked at each other, gasped, looked at Leon who was smiling ear to ear laying on his back, and then we clapped and cheered.  I'll try to get it on video - it's impressive for a 22 month old.  22 months?  Gesh.  Where has the time gone?  Leon came and sat in my lap after he was given some milk.  I wanted to sit there like that forever.  I don't want him to get any bigger.  It breaks my heart a little to know he will.  I love him more and more each day and it is amazing.  Kyle is such a good dad - and husband.  I've been feeling a little under the weather and he's been taking such good care of Leon for me.  I'm just loving everything about our little family.  I'm so grateful for them.  I'm grateful we know how important family is. I'm grateful for the knowledge that I can be with them forever.  That's everything.

(all images taken by Mindy Hiatt Photography)

I'm loving this winter.  I'm loving staying cooped up in the house and having a break from working.  I don't know how long that will last though.  I've been getting so much done - things I've actually wanted to do but just haven't had the time for.  It's been so nice to just have a break.

P.S. check out my lastest winter photo blog posts.

My Dream

I have this dream of what I want my portrait photography to be.  I have a tough time describing it, but I want my portraits to show love and passion and emotion and timelessness, but to also to be real and unique. I've loved so many of the session I've done this year but I sometimes feel like it's not me and it's not exactly what I want my work to express. I feel like a lot of times I'm just doing what everybody else is doing or wants. Well, a few weeks ago, I finally did a session that I feel reflects me as an artist.  The images turned out amazing.  While editing them, I was so incredibly grateful to be reminded of what I want.  Take a look and please really see these images.

I'm so looking  forward to this little break of mine.  I'm really going to take the time to evaluate what I want in my life and for my work.  I'm going back to my roots and rediscovering what made me want to do all of this in the first place.  I'll let you know how it goes.

because I feel like it

There's about a billion things I should be doing right now, but I just feel like writing and I'm going to.  Everything else will just have to wait.  Things have been so crazy, but there is finally light at the end of the tunnel from all the business and I'm really, really looking forward to it.  I'm pretty much done with portrait sessions for the year.  I'm selling some of my art work in a local craft fair in 9 days and that is what is keeping me busy right now.  But after the 20th, I'm done.  I'm really looking forward to this little break to recuperate, work on my house, spend quality time with my son, and I have a few fun projects I going to work on.

It's been really nice the last few days.  It's been sunny and 70 degrees which you just can't beat for November.  Leon was getting a little restless in the house - he's be banging on the door or running to get his shoes so we could get outside but it had been too cold.  I needed the nice weather as much as he did.  We took a little walk at the battlefield again the other day.  The above picture is from our walk.  It was nice to get out and wander.  It's still beautiful out. 

What am I going to do about Leon this winter?  Any thoughts on how to keep a little guy busy during a long winter?

I've been loving being around my Leon so much lately.  I feel a refreshed perspective about motherhood and it's made life much happier and easier.  There are still bad days (like yesterday) but I feel like I'm handling them much better.  I'm loving seeing Leon grow and learn.  He's getting quite the imagination.  We taught him how to say "I love you" by pointing at his eye, hugging his chest, and pointing at us.  It's so cute.  He's also quite the little dancer with lots of funky moves.  I love to hear him crack up - it makes my world go round.  I can't believe he'll be 2 in just a few months.  It really does fly by like everyone says it does.

Well, I'd love to keep writing about...well, everything, but I shouldn't.  There's so much to do.  Hopefully I'll be back to write in a few days.

Cowboy

Leon was a cowboy for Halloween. 

He really wasn't the best at being a cowboy, but he sure was the cutest!

I made his chaps out of some left over felt I had.

Shooting daddy.

It was a FUN halloween.  We really enjoyed it. Now, I'm just stuck wondering where October went.  I seriously can not believe it is November already!