All the cool kids are doing it

I know you are all in withdrawl- a week of daily blogging and then this?? I've had a loooong topsy-turvy week and it's safe to say I am WIPED OUT.

I plan to recover this weekend and be back blogging with a vengeance next week. In the meantime, want to make me smile big? I'll give you an easy way. You don't even have to *gasp* leave a comment on a post, the most painful of all requests I could possibly make of you (although it would earn you bonus points).

Just click on that fun little "FOLLOW BLOG" button at the very top of your screen and set yourself apart as a TRUE fan. It will give you the option to "Follow Anonymously" or "Follow Publicly" and show that you're a loyal reader. I know you're out there (at least, I tell myself you are.) If you love me, let me know!

And while I am sure it is quite terrifying to admit to the world that you read my blog, choosing to follow anonymously kinda sidesteps the whole make-me-smile thing. I would offer a reward for your bravery, but I don't have one. Other than my eternal gratitude of course, which should be enough for anyone.

Enough of that, and since I haven't posted any images I'll end with a shot of this sweet little chunkster wearing a Tot-Topper (for your bottom.)

Switch-a-roo

Like most photographers, I really prefer staying on MY side of the camera. But every now and then it's a good idea to make yourself presentable and switch sides.

I love photographing families and kids because they change so quickly, and if you aren't careful years just whizz past you.

Dylan and I have been married almost two-and-a-half years, and all the pictures in our house are from our wedding. It's been such a short time yet it has gone so quickly, our lives have not changed much yet they are not at all the same, and if I'm not careful we are going to be 42 years-old with a bunch of kids and a goldfish and a minivan and nothing but our (gorgeous, I must say) wedding photos.

We went on vacation a few weeks ago with some of our closest friends, Wes & Sara Parker, and rectified the situation by trading photo sessions. We woke up before dawn two mornings in a row to photograph each other because we couldn't resist the Florida sunrise as a backdrop for our images.

It will be a little longer before I have their shoot ready to share on the blog, but Sara is out of control and got ours processed in no time. She is an AMAZING photographer and friend and we are so excited to have such awesome pictures. Hop over to her blog to check them out, and if you don't get enough there just come by our house soon because our walls will be covered floor to ceiling.

P.S. Be prepared, the images might blow you away. Yes, of course you can have our autographs. Let's face it, these shots will make us famous.

TreeKittens

Let's play a game called "Guess what woke Karin up Saturday at 6:15 a.m."

Can you see the answer?





If you guessed "wild kittens playing tag on the front porch that have now taken up residence in your plum tree" you are correct! We call them the TreeKittens.





No, I am not kidding. Dylan and I have long suspected that wild cats live under our next-door-neighbor's house, and on occasion have been concerned that they might have moved in under OURS. (So far I think we're safe.) But it turns out those wild cats had (at least) three little wild kittens, and it turns out that the rocking chairs and tables on our front porch provide hours of clumsy, noisy, jungle-gym-like entertainment, and it turns out that kittens wake up early.

And when those TreeKittens get tired around 7:30 a.m. (or get startled that actual humans come out of the house) where do they retreat for the rest of the day? Why, to the small plum tree conveniently located by our porch of course!

Don't act like I am making this up. What cats do you know that DON'T nest in trees all day like birds? Well, I guess I shouldn't exaggerate. They don't stay there ALL day. Right around dinnertime they pop out for another romp on the porch.

So far I haven't been able to sneak out with my camera while they are playing. I can only get them in the tree. But do I hear nominations for Cheesy Kitten Calendar Image of the Year?

I'm back! (sort of)

What happens when two photographers go on vacation together?

A whole lotta this:











And what happens when they come back? Lot's of catch-up editing to do.


More pictures soon!

Mission accomplished

How long is a week? Logic and a basic elementary education would say seven days (translate: blog Thursday through Wednesday.) But announcing on a Thursday that I am going to blog every day for a week sounds like I'm going through the next Thursday (translate: bonus day!) Ah, one of life's many mysteries...

Regardless, I did it! And no, I have no plans at this moment to make one of those blog-every-day-for-a-year promises you hear of. (No tears please.)

So anyway, in order to celebrate my accomplishment I am in Florida! No really, it has nothing to do with my blog. That's right, just another vacation. Don't hate.

I'll be back on Monday with plenty of new photos to share, but no promises to blog while I'm here!

Secret recipe

Ingredients:
1 precious two-year-old
Really tall weeds
Assorted bugs (butterflies, dragonflies, "jumping bugs", etc.; avoid bees or ants)
Abandoned structure
100+ degree weather
Minature tuxedo
Cheese cubes and sippy cup
Stuffed Tigger

Directions:
Make sure the bugs, weeds, and abandoned structure are in one spot. Allow temperatures to rise quickly, and be sure the humidity is at least 90%. Place precious two-year-old child in minature tuxedo, reward with cheese, and begin photographing.

Replace tuxedo with polo soaked in water from spilled cup. Place child in tall weeds. (Abandon all notions of carefree child frolicking in field. Child will be unable to walk or see mommy through grass, so photograph quickly before panic sets in.) Use assorted bugs to keep child's attention away from the Stuffed Tigger you just took out of his arms. Retrieve child periodically and reward with sippy cup. Repeat procedure for 45-60 minutes or until images are delicious. Continue to add in exciting new bugs as needed. (Thank goodness for bugs.) If necessary, make up bugs that aren't even there and enlist Stuffed Tigger to "help find" them.

Note: If it turns out someone delivers a newspaper to your "abandoned" structure during the shoot, do not alter recipe. Procede with haste and be glad no one caught you unintentionally tresspassing.

Quickly on his way to blog stardom, here's Jesse who just turned two! I was so excited when Kate came up with this location- I've been looking for something just like this.





I think everyone should model a little formalwear for their birthday sessions. Fabulous.




















Sidenote: Kate is running a Tot-Topper giveaway this week! Visit her blog for more details.

One big happy family

I think by now you already know this family pretty well:



Doug and Neely and their kids are by far the most photographed people on my blog, in my computer files, and possibly in America.

But do you know the REST of them?





Doug's entire family got together for vacation last week in Hilton Head- brothers and sisters, nieces and nephews, parents and Grandma all made it.

I spent an afternoon shooting the kids just being kids, and then rejoined the group in the morning for a beach photo session. When you're shooting that many people you end up with a lot of great images. Here are a just a few.

















Doug's grandma lived most of her life in Ohio, and has only traveled to the coast twice. For the first time in 86 years she got to feel the ocean on her toes- how cool!

















This family was a blast to hang out with. Thanks for letting Dylan and I crash your vacation and capture your fun!

Off to bed. Night.