no carseat, no diapers, no binkies...

I took more mental pictures this weekend than real pictures.  I had my camera with me but decided I would just enjoy my weekend and remember it, not document it.  It was actually pretty nice.

Saturday, this girl and I...

Went here...

So we could spend the night here...

 Cause we had ticket to listen to these women...

  

And this man...

Speak here...

For the General Relief Society Broadcast Meeting. 

(thanks to Google Images for all the pictures but the first one)

My darling friend Jes and I decided to get a girls weekend in before her sweet little baby arrives next month.  It was so much fun to talk girl talk and just do girl things.  I've never left Emmy for a WHOLE NIGHT before, so it was hard to leave without my little buddy though.  There were a few tears, by me, but once we were on our way I felt better.  Of course I missed my little girl, but I knew Brian would take good care of her and they would have fun together.  It was relaxing to know Jes and I could go anywhere to eat and not have to worry what to feed Emmy, I didn't have to plan my day around Emmy's nap and I didn't have to carry extra diapers or clothes in my purse!  THANK YOU BRIAN FOR WATCHING EMMY WHILE JES AND I SPENT SOME MUCH NEEDED AND APPRECIATED TIME TOGETHER!

I had such a wondeful time with Jes, which is no surprise.  She is one in a million and I love her to pieces.  I laugh with her, learn from her, cry with her and we have made so many memories together.  She is an amazing person and I am blessed to call her my friend.  She's going through a lot these days and has shown strength I'm not sure I could have if I were in her shoes.  I admire her and love her like a sister! 

JES, YOU ARE BEAUTIFUL INSIDE AND OUT AND YOU WILL BE SUCH A WONDERFUL MOTHER!  THANKS FOR A FUN GIRLS WEEKEND!

family picture time

Family picture time and fall really seem to go together!  I've had so much fun the last few weeks taking pictures of some darling families. 

Want to see more, come on over HERE and check them out! 

Maybe it's the light, maybe it's the weather, maybe it's because we get to break out those fabulous fall colors and styles...no matter the reason I love taking picture in the fall!  

Now, I just need to get a family picture of US!  Can you believe it, Emmy is 16 months old and we don't have a nice family photo of the 3 of us!  Sure we've got snap shots here and there, but nothing nice for a frame.  Funny how I have more pictures of others families on my computer than I have of my own.  

I'm going to have to do something about that.  SOON!   

HAPPY BIRTHDAY

Yes, two posts in one day..within a matter of hours in fact.  That's because it is my sweet sister Holly's birthday today!   

Hurrah for being 20!!!

We love Holly so much and miss having her around all the time! 

Hope you have a SUPER DUPER BIRTHDAY Holly and we can't wait to see you when you come home to visit!

This is Holly and I in 1991.  I'm going to guess it's April because my mother strategically placed Easter candles in the picture.  She's a smart mom!  :)  That makes Holly 7 months old here.  Isn't she the cutest!  Love the headband.  I bet Heather or I "dressed her up."

This is Holly and Emmy in 2010.  Looks like we've gone full circle!   We just need a fancy workout headband for Emmy! 

Luv ya Holly!

cinderella

Maybe "Cinderella" isn't the right term.  I don't MAKE her do chores.  She just likes to!  It's more like "Mom's little helper."

It's amazing how quickly Emmy is picking up on things these days.  She sees and she does so we have to be careful.  I've never actually "taught" her to do any of the things pictured, she's just seen Brian or I do them and now she does them too! 

I think it's great that she likes to pull weeds in our driveway, and other people's too when we go for walks.  It's pretty funny to watch because she takes it so seriously and she even makes a sound like she's pulling really hard! 

 

Feeding the dogs is something I almost wish she wouldn't have picked up on.  She notices when their bowls are empty and goes to the cupboard with the dog food and points for me to open it (we had to child proof that cabinet!).  She usually puts the dog food in the cup with her hand (yuck) because she can't quite figure out how to scoop it, then she has a tendency to pour the food out before she gets to the bowl.  This time she did pretty darn good though...except by the time I had put my camera down she had picked up the bowl of food and dumped it out so she could fill it again!  Oh well. 

Emmy knows where just about all the garbage's are in our house and she's real good at throwing things away.  I don't know if she's put anything of value in the trash yet but I am missing a sippy cup?  Hmmm.  She knows the trash is "yucky" and says so as she opens the cupboard door or sees one in a room.  She says "cucky."  She likes to blow her nose (well she doesn't really blow) and then throw the tissue in the garbage.  I actually think it's pretty cute.  And if she finds a little piece of scrap paper or crumb she'll pick it up, bring it to me, say "cucky" and I'll tell her to put in the garbage and she's off.   What a good little cleaner-up-er!

Emmy loves our dogs and thankfully they seem to love her too.  She saw Brian brushing Gunner one night and figured where we put the brush mitt.  This time she pointed to the cupboard for me to open it, got it out and then wanted to go outside with it.  She figured out how to put it on all by herself and Gunner was a good sport to let her try and brush him for a short bit. 

  Emmy likes to help sweep and swiffer.  Once when I spilled cereal I said, "Uh oh, we better clean it up."  She went right to where we keep the broom and wanted to sweep.  What a smartie!  She also likes to get down on the floor with me when I clean up with a rag.  She has to have a rag too so she can help.  I love my little helper. 

This picture is my current fav of Emmy.  I think she looks like a super star the way she's posing with the swiffer!  Gosh I love her!

Emmy's also good at doing the dishes, unloading the dishwasher, wiping off the counter tops, putting her clothes away and she even does some dusting now and then!  So, if you need a helper give us call.  We'd love to come over!

best birthday present ever

I felt like I hit a wall in photography. 

I knew I had so much more to learn but wasn't finding the right resource.

I had taken some Photography Classes from Brooke Snow awhile ago and loved them!  I knew she was just the person I needed to spend some time with.  She does one-on-one mentoring sessions and I put that on my "to save for."

I love that my sweet sweet hubby lets me talk photography with him.  Whether he's really interested or not, he lets me share my pictures and thoughts about them.  He picked up on my frustrations and my need for more instruction and got me a private mentor session with Brooke for my birthday! 

It's been on the calendar for about a week, in big letters, "MENTOR WITH BROOKE."  Yesterday was the big day. 

IT WAS FABULOUS! 

You all need to know Brooke.  Whether you need a piano teacher, photography instructor, spiritual giant or just a friend...she's your gal!  She's so patient and such a great instructor.  She is humble and excited to see others succeed.

My darling sister and her hubby were our "willing" models last night and were so patient as Brooke and a talked between shoots and she helped me learn so many wonderful things.  It was very refreshing!

I drove home on a photography high!  I felt very capable!  I had this wonderful new found knowledge and I just wanted to go photograph everything I could (had it not been dark and if I wasn't so anxious to get home and show Brian my pictures, I just may have). 

So, thank you sweet, loving, generous husband of mine.  I LOVED LOVED LOVED my birthday gift and I LOVE you.

Thank you Brooke for sharing your time and talent.  You are such beautiful and talented person and I am grateful to know you.

Thank you Derrick and Heather for being my models!  You are such a fun couple to photograph because you are so in love and so photogenic!  Luv ya!

I know there's still a lot for me learn, but it just feels good to have more confidence and especially more knowledge about how to really create the image I want with my camera instead of relying on an editing program!  WOW, lots of time saved there!