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!

Energy

Oh how I wish I had his energy.  I wish I could bottle it up...for me.  We went to the park this morning.  I still can't believe how wild this little man can be - you'd think I'd be used to it by now.  I've been dragging myself around.  There are moments when I think drinking coffee wouldn't be so bad (you know, just for the caffiene aspect of it) and those moments have been coming much more frequently lately. 

 big yawn.

Things have been busy and are going to get even busier the next month or so.  I don't know how often I'll get to blog but I'll try to update here and there.   If you really want to know what I'm up to then just check out my photo blog cause photos are just about my life right now.  However, after November I'm taking nice LONG break.  Can't wait.

Our Family Pics

Check our family pics here by my friend Mindy Hiatt.

Thank you Mindy!  We love them.

Armoires

I seriously love armoires.  Always have, always will. 

Just take a look and you will too...

This past weekend we gladly welcomed an armoire into our home.  We had been looking for one for a little while but they are sooooooo gosh darn expensive and hard to find.  We finally found one on craigslist that was in superb condition and for a GREAT price.  It isn't necessarily the finish I wanted, but I still couldn't pass it up.  Maybe after years of wear and tear will restain it or paint it, but for know it's beautiful the way it is. 

So we went from this...                 ...to this.  Much better, huh?

It fills our living room much better than our old little stand.  Our old one looks so pathetic in the above picture.  We just love this armoire.  Leon can't reach up and turn the TV on when we don't want it on (he loves watching TV and pushing all the buttons).  It's also nice because when the doors are shut, the TV is out of sight and therefore out of mind.  I LOVE it.  Now I just need to finish up decorating the rest of the living room.  It really needs some color and needs to be lightened up.  I kinda want to paint again  (maybe a lighter neutral color that doesn't match our sofa so much) but I don't dare tell Kyle that ;)  We'll see how things look after I get some new pillows made and some more frames on the wall.

Two Peas in a Pod

I think Leon's best friend is his cousin, Harrison.  They're so cute together and Leon has so much fun with him.  They love to chase each other around.  Leon is full of laughter and smiles when Harrison is around.  It's music to my ears.  Today I'm watching Harrison while his momma goes on a field trip with his older sister.  He's so easy.  Right now, Leon is taking a nap and Harrison is watching a movie.  Every now and then, Harrison comes in to tell me something or ask a question.  He's such a sweet heart. 

Leon is so crazy.

I love Harrison's big smiles.

Isn't he a cutie?

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Harrison wrote that.