lynsey peterson photography: the blog

fresh babes

2009-11-09T14:06:00.002-07:00

Also last week I photographed this sweet family--just as fresh and juicy as they come. :) Mom set this up LONG before he got here and I was thrilled I got to meet him as soon as I did. Big brother is a doll baby as well! :)

I do still blog. :)

2009-11-09T13:26:00.003-07:00

Clearly I am a bit behind. :) I photographed this adorable family over a week ago and am just getting this up now. Ridiculous! They were every bit as fun as they look. It was the day after Halloween, meaning that my bribes were pretty worthless, yet the kids still put on a really nice show. :)

quick note....

2009-10-30T22:05:00.001-06:00

....to say that I am going through emails as fast as I can and schedule the last of the sessions I have left. If you sent me an email after my blast on Wednesday, I got it and I will get back to you asap. Related note: I've always thought people who say "asap" are annoying.

Notes Girls Write

2009-10-26T19:54:00.002-06:00

A while ago I set out for a session that I wanted to be a bit more different than a regular photo session at the park. I asked two of my favorite families if they would be game for me coming into their home, invading their space, and taking pictures of all their sweet craziness of a regular day.

In trying to give ideas of what we would do for these pictures, I vaguely mentioned that the kids could write a note of some sort for me to photograph. What they came up with was beyond my wildest expectations; two heartfelt notes from adorable sisters, each one exactly where they are in the young lives and each one perfectly summing up their thoughts in just a few words. I posted the images on Facebook and titled the album “Notes Girls Write”, because in all honesty, I couldn’t come up with anything more clever.:)

Then Melodee came along. Oh sweet, crazy Melodee. My dear friend. My creative soul sister. I would say that she is the yang to my yin, but the truth is that we are both pretty yin, not much yang.:) She commented that if I didn’t make this a photography essay project, she would steal the idea and do it herself. And, I wouldn’t put it past her…..she is always stealing my ideas. So, my choices were to let her steal it—an idea so brilliant that I didn’t even see it, or somehow force her into us doing it together, convincing her to do the hard work, while I get the glory. I opted for the glory. Always opt for the glory when given the chance.:)

So, I present to you, Notes Girls Write......a collaborative project between me (glory-seeker) and Melodee Tonti (hard-worker). A photo essay about sharing glimpses. Funny, beautiful, sometimes sad, sometimes silly peeks into the minds of girls…told through their own writing. (Go on...click over....you know you want to. :)

But what, pray tell, will we do with this? Well, if you believe Melodee, this time next year her and I will be on a book tour, stopping in Chicago long enough to jump the couch on Oprah. Isn’t she cute, that Melodee? Such a believer, that one.

No matter where it goes, it’s been a fun ride and it’s just starting. So write your notes, girls and join us, won’t you?

hugging puppies

2009-10-20T20:22:00.002-06:00

Recently I started taking Cymbalta. The primary reason my doctor prescribed it was for the joint pain I get from my crazy “Lupus” condition (that I clearly haven’t come to terms with or I wouldn’t have to call it “my crazy “Lupus” condition”), but both my doctor and I thought the added bonus of….you know….more anti, and less depression certainly wouldn’t be such a bad idea. :) It’s been a rough.....year and I am no stranger to a little depression here and there. And I am certainly not above actually saying that depression and I have a relationship, even to the WHOLE WIDE WORLD via my humble little blog.:) I am also not above getting whatever help you can, whatever way you can get it. I am one of those that thinks if we could just talk about it, maybe it wouldn’t be so bad.

Today a letter arrives from my medical insurance company (marked PERSONAL AND CONFIDENTIAL) telling me that they see I have recently filled a prescription for (magical) Cymbalta—a drug that has yet to have a generic and is quite expensive-- and that they have a couple of things they would like me to know about taking it: use as directed, inform of side effects, seek medical help as needed. The best part however is the enclosed pamphlet entitled “When It’s More Than A Bad Day”.

This not being my first rodeo I am used to how depression gets talked about—especially by an insurance company who is starting to feel like I am quite a drain on their profit margin. Still, how great is this: “antidepression medications are widely used and effective treatments for depression” …..but you should know that “stomach upset, agitation, and sexual or sleep issues are often side effects” of these medications. Also, “for mild to moderate depression “talk therapy” alone can be an effective treatment”. Last line: “Remember, you can feel better!”

My father, who was not a big “talk therapy” kind of guy used to say “can’t you just hug a puppy or something?”. Kid you not, because you can’t make that stuff up. I’ve spent years in “talk therapy” trying to recover from the aftermath of that one. I still have not had any luck in the Puppy Hugging department, but if any of you have a magical puppy, I would suggest contacting insurance companies and offering to undercut the price of antidepressants for allowing people the chance to hug it. And then we can rename the pamphlet they send out “Have You Tried Hugging A Puppy First?”.

Happy Tuesday.:)

You spin me right round

2009-10-17T18:00:00.003-06:00

Yesterday when I showed up at the park (and pulled into my favorite parking spot:), this family was already there waiting and the mom immediately waved to me from her car like we were old friends. People never do that. It’s always this strange ….are you Lynsey?..... sort of situation and many times I have approached a well-dressed family in a park, assuming they were my clients when actually they were just taking a stroll in their khakis.:)

We became fast friends, as I am a sucked for a family with good energy, did the session and at the end, this Mama asked if I ever take spinning classes. And after I picked myself off of the ground after falling in a fit of hysterical laughter, she said I should come take the spinning class she teaches. Now, we all know that would never, ever happen. But, if I were gonna take a spinning class, I would totally take hers. This family is lovely. But I would rather drink wine with them.:)

This is the first shot I took. And it cracks me up.

Flair + leaves :)

Going in for a big smacker....

She's The One

2009-10-15T20:25:00.003-06:00

Every once in a while, carpooling to a session comes up. And just so you know, while I appreciate the offer, I will always refuse. Not because I hate the environment (or the people offering to share space with me), but because I have a whole thing I do before I shoot. And it requires that I be totally alone and in my own car. First, I call someone, usually my mom, for a quick talk. It’s just part of the routine.:) Hate to think what would happen if one day no one is available to chat at the exact moment I need them.:) Then, the music goes up and I yell at the sky until I arrive.
“Don’t you DARE rain!”….or “stop glaring sun, I so don’t need that right now!”. Usually there are a few colorful words tossed in there, but I’ll give you the G version tonight. And music is always one of two choices: the nastiest, dirtiest, most awful rap or metal you can imagine, or........ the soundtrack from A Chorus Line.:) There is no dictating which it will be, but it will always be one of those.

I don’t make fun or your rituals, so don’t make fun of mine. I also am particular about where I park at favorite locations, but let’s tackle that another night.

Yesterday when I shot this family, it was A Chorus Line. One, to be exact (do I really have to mention….sheeeee’s tttthhhhhe ONE!). And I still have it in my head. Maybe you do now to. So, you’re welcome for that.:)

This mama has been so good to me—baking me the most fabulous cherry pies for the fundraiser, doing some desert catering for a party I had. The woman bakes. And, boy does she bake. Thank god she doesn’t live next door, or I would be 500 pounds. You might say that when it comes to baking….she’s the One. You like how I brought that around for you?:)

Doing these for her sweet family is the very least I could do. And I could just eat them up. Much like her pie.:)

The world is just so very brown right now. But we got amazing leaves and this amazing light.

daring to stir the pasta

2009-10-12T13:36:00.008-06:00

Many moons ago, during one of those “off” periods of mine and my husband’s decade and a half love affair:), I dated a nice guy we’ll call Rico. He was so not a Rico, but he said that if I was going to write about this, he wanted to be called Rico. And I am all about keeping people happy. So I can blog about them. :)

Rico lived several hours away and I went up once to visit him over a long weekend. Somehow I got the crazy notion to make him dinner, even though I had made dinner for a man exactly zero times before. I made spaghetti, by which I mean I boiled pasta and warmed-up a jar of Prego. I am “cooking”, we are chatting , everything seems to be fine, but the night takes a turn and it becomes really clear that he is very irritated with me. After begging him to tell me what’s up he finally admits that he is irritated that I “stirred the pasta”. He felt that pasta really should be left alone to cook in a pot without any stirring.

I dared to stir the pasta. I am a pasta-stirrer.

You know why I stir the pasta? Because I think if you are just sitting there, talking in the kitchen, you may as well do what you can to help along the process. :)

So, we broke up....you know, because I stirred the pasta:), but it all worked out: He went on to marry a beautiful woman that has the patience of a saint, and either doesn’t stir the pasta or has enough wonderful qualities to make up for the fact that she does:), and I married the love of my life who has no time to worry about the fact that I stir the pasta because he is busy worrying about me painting linoleum flooring, getting a pet pig, or deciding randomly on Saturday night to get my nose pierced. Which brings me to……….

I got my nose pierced. :)

I think I briefly mention it on here, but never gave it near the attention it deserves. Because paying someone to shove a needle through your nasal cavity just so you can have a little extra sparkle is befitting of its own blog post. (Much like someone breaking up with you because you stirred the spaghetti.:) And I love it—it’s what’s been missing. I think it really brings home this unstable yet exciting look that I am trying to convey, without having to cook or paint or buy a pig. :)

There is a perfectly good reason why I am holding a To Do list, but we’ll save that for another post.;)

I think the perfect send-off to this post would be if I shared my spaghetti recipe with you here. And I would, but it’s really complicated and I just don’t think that many of you blog readers would be able to pull it off. You have to warm-up the Prego just right. And the spoon used to stir the pasta is really specific.:) So, instead, I share this recipe for Pumpkin Chocolate Chip cookies. There is no pasta stirring involved and if you happen to eat the entire batch in just two sittings, feel free to email me to tell me about it so I don’t have to feel so bad about doing that myself.

Happy Monday. :)

blast from the past...again...

2009-10-11T20:04:00.002-06:00

I know I have said it before, but it’s wild to see a family grow right before my eyes. Even wilder when I knew one of the parents when he was just some punk kid that I used to hang out at the bowling alley with at 16. I was reminded of just how very long ago that was when this baby girl said “Guess what Miss Lynsey, my dad is 32!!”. Oh kiddo......I know. I know he is OLD because I am OLD. Half my lifetime ago if you told me that this guy….this guy who used to drag Elkhorn and play pool with the not-squarest crowd….which squarely included me……would marry a gorgeous and amazing woman and have this lovely family that I would end up photographing 15 years later, I would have laughed, but here we are.:)

And it’s ever so sweet to see just how and where his path took him.:)

So, sometimes kids don't totally dig me. I know--I'm as shocked as you are. Baby boy liked me fine when I photographed him as a newborn, but this time did not dig me. I still thought he was pretty darn cute. :)
Favorite.....

because I mean it

2009-10-09T18:17:00.004-06:00

I have photographed this beautiful family before—this Mama can pull of a theme like no one else.:) They are my summer sunglasses girls and now they are my fall cowgirls.

I photographed these guys on Wednesday morning, right when I was on the bend from my little flu battle and we joked that we would just stay an arm’s length away from each other, as it was too beautiful of a day to cancel just because of a little flu.:) At the end of the session she said “I wish I could hug you!” and I had a big laugh because, as I may have mentioned, I am not a hugger....no smiley face here, as I am being totally serious. To relieve her guilt I told her about how I don’t like to hug anyway because I think it’s just gotten tossed around like this casual thing, and here we are all, expected to hug people that we wouldn’t even pick-up for when they come up on caller ID. She said that she only hugs if she means it.

And I would have hugged her because I just love this family to the moon and back. Maybe next time. :) Dad probably spent many high school years with girls hanging on him....things haven't changed much.

Mama is so lovely.....she is the sunshine of this family.:)

My favorite. 3 beautiful girls. It's like a photographers dream. :)

sneak peek...last one for now :)

2009-10-07T20:22:00.004-06:00

This little cutie is in my sons class and I have every intention of marrying them off. If only so she can teach him to have a conversation. I know grown women who can't talk as well as this girl. I mean, they don't talk about lollipops quite as much as she did, but still. :)

sneak peek...what number are we on again?

2009-10-07T20:17:00.002-06:00

My brothers are 9 and 11 years younger than I am, so I could really relate to this beautiful family and just loved big sisters connection to baby brother. I can remember my brothers thinking I was so cool. Now I am only really cool when I am willing to employ them as almost slave labor for extra cash, but still. They like me. :)

sneak peek 5/8

2009-10-07T20:11:00.003-06:00

This Mama is my new friend. I met her at a slumber party. Yes, one of those types of slumber parties. Let me tell you.....you meet people at something like that and you are just instant friends. She knows more about me than she could possibly want to. :) She is also my neighbor and a fellow mom of two boys--we are a special group of tired, tired souls. But if she is as tired as me, she hides it well under her beauty. :)

sneak peek part 4/8

2009-10-05T10:22:00.003-06:00

This was my first time meeting dad, as when I did a session for these sweeties before, it was a surprise gift for dad. Oh, Dad......bless his heart. :) This is a lot of girl to be watching after but despite what this mom and dad think, these girls were very sweet and well-behaved and no where near my Top Ten Hardest Ever. :) I would just eat these sweet faces with their hair flying if I could. :)

I took a shot of these sisters in front of this same creek over a year ago. This one is a totally different vibe. :) And I love it.

I was going to show this cute picture of all four of them here, but then I came across this one, and I am sorry, but I just have to share it. Now, I consider myself somewhat of an all-star when it comes to Carrying Children. I easily hoist 95 pound o' kid in numerous positions. But, she puts me to shame with this one. This shot is totally this Mama.....with her cute sunglasses and sassy purse.....and 90 pounds of kid dangling from every spot. :)

quick takes part 3/8

2009-10-05T09:14:00.002-06:00

This sweet girl and I go back--way back. Like all the way back to August.:) She is in my kids class and when she showed up we were old friends. And because I know about things like sticks and cars, her brother and I can totally hang too. :) This Mama has been so sweet about this photo session--very excited and didn't know how I would get everyone to smile. :) Clearly she had no idea just how AMAZINGLY FUNNY I am. :) And I can't wait to work on the very important Halloween party with her. :)

quick takes part 2/8

2009-10-05T09:09:00.002-06:00

This is the second time I have photographed this sweet family. Mom says that she doesn't think they look alike....I say they are twins separated by 18 months. :) They are beautiful and full of spunk. Dad is probably about 10 years away from quite a heart condition--getting two gorgeous girls through high school, but they are just lovely and adorable now. :) Mom is going to be mad about us forgetting to take off the sweater. But I like it. :)

quick takes part 1 of 8

2009-10-04T19:08:00.003-06:00

This weekend 8 incredible families helped me raise over a thousand dollars for this sweet little school that I credit with literally saving my life. Over two years ago I was desperate with a baby and a 3 year old who wasn't real fond of the idea of school. I mean, like really didn't want to go. And they took him. And he loved it from day one. Okay, day two, but still. I credit his ability to learn and love school completely to the fact that we fond the perfect school for him. They eased my fears, his fears, and gave me back a little bit of my sanity in 3 hour chunks 4 times a day. :)

I do these mini session events twice a year for a non-profit I feel strongly about and this was the obvious choice, as my youngest is now in his first year there. Plus, I felt that maybe this would keep me from having to do snack duty for a good couple months. :)

When this family signed up I was thrilled. Though I only know them through pick-up and drop-off communications :), this year I have ended up behind this Mama a couple of times in the drop-off line and each time I watch her son tumble out of the car happily, walk to the top of the steps, and look back and give her a big smile and the I Love You sign. It's about the cutest thing I have ever seen. I may have tried to copy it and get my own kids to do it.:) They won't, so I get to just enjoy this families connection each morning. :) And, are they ever connected to each other....

Sweet big sister at one point had a couple of tears rolling down her cheeks and I asked if she was crying because she was so cold and she said "No! I'm crying because I am so happy!". I mean, seriously. Love the concentration in this one.....

last minute quick takes opening

2009-10-02T12:52:00.004-06:00

I had one spot come available for a quick takes session on Sunday morning. This quick takes!....with a twist benefits a sweet little not-for-profit that is very near and dear to my heart. Quick takes sessions are 30 minutes and generate a minimum of 15 images, given to you as high resolution jpg files on CD. The cost for this session is a $150 donation.

Also, I am wait-listing people for a quick takes session event for a weekend at the end of the month. If you interested, shoot me an email. I just have to plan this road trip to Draper, Utah for an Ikea trip and then I'm all about it. :)

Speaking of sweet little things that are near and dear to my heart, I could just eat this little guy. Photographed this family since mom was pregnant with baby sister. Not to get all mushy on you or anything, but getting to see a family grow is probably one of the coolest parts of my job. The second coolest part? Not having to take off 2 weekdays so I can drive 7 hours in a minivan to get some cheap Swedish need to assemble furniture. :)

gelato and skydiving, road trips and nose piercings

2009-09-30T10:45:00.004-06:00

Everyone should have a friend in their life that calls you up on a Saturday night at 6:30 and says “Let’s go get our noses pierced tonight!”. Or at noon on a Wednesday and says “Let’s go out tonight for shots and gelato.” Or, “Can you go skydiving this weekend?” Or, “Heck yeah, I want to go on a road trip to Draper, Utah with a U-Haul to shop at Ikea! I’ll been wondering when you would ask!”. I have been on the receiving end of all of those calls from one of my dearest friends, Brandy.

Our friendship has seen a lot in the couple years we have known each other. New houses, new babies, new jobs, a really crazy trip to Vegas, and now, nose piercings. There is nothing in this world I wouldn’t tell her and there better not be anything she wouldn’t tell me.:) She is one of my dearest friends and should this marriage thing not work out for either of us, we are committed to moving-in together and raising all 5 of these kids like it’s a village.

I just love her, her kids, and even that husband of hers that isn’t able to do anything but roll his eyes at the whole thing, to pieces. I didn’t get to do a session for her last year as I got too busy and then she was too busy and all of that. I was sick over not making that happen and I vowed that this year, come hell or high water, we were doing pictures. When we went and pierced our noses the night before, I was sure that we had totally messed up the plan and both of us would wake-up with these red swollen noses—me unable to hold a camera to my face and her not up for having a camera shooting her face. That didn’t happen and instead, as though we were 12, we now have what we refer to as “matching friendship piercings”. And neither of us knows why we waited so long to get them. But I think it has something to do with needing the right hand to hold. :)

Well, that, and the threat of a 400 gauge needle being shoved in our noses.

It only made sense to do these pictures at their home, with their horses and barn cats, and everything that just screams....them.

Sure & Shine

2009-09-27T19:52:00.004-06:00

I am not a sentimental person but, occasionally things give me warm, fuzzy feelings. Don’t get all excited—no matter what I‘ll always dodge hugs like bullets.:) But every once in a while a family sort of takes me to that place where I am truly in awe of their connection and I am suddenly not as hard as nails.:) This was one of those families. They had such peace about them--- such beautiful energy.

At one point little man took a tumble and his mom asked “Sure and shine?” to which he grinned all over his face and said, “Sure and shine, Mom!”. When I asked about it, little man said it was what you say when you are “happy all over your whole body and your whole heart.”. Kinda makes you want to get all warm and fuzzy, doesn’t it?

Want to hug it out?

She asked what I thought of using apples in the photos. I like it. I like it a lot.This is actually a book that their great-grandmother wrote. Also moms idea.
Baby sister told me that what she liked most about her brother is that he is "big and generous". What is she feeding these children to make them so kind and polite???? Can I buy some for my own children??
They sure do shine. :)

Mom celebrity

2009-09-21T13:03:00.005-06:00

Several years ago at the encouragement of a friend, I joined Longmont Moms—a yahoo group, almost a forum for moms in the area, providing support, ideas, and a basic platform for moms helping moms. I really didn’t want to join another moms group—most of the groups in my area--email or otherwise-- I have been a part of tended to be a bit hypercritical….weaving their own cloth diapers made out of organic homegrown hemp……breastfeeding their children to the age of 5………living by a strict code of ethics that ban tattoos and drinking before noon…….and judging those of us who, for whatever reason, don’t.:) But I was desperate to find a babysitter and was told that this was a place I would find one. And at that point, I would have joined a cult if it would have promised me a chance at securing the occasional kid-free morning or date night with my husband. So I became a member.

Now, there are a couple of crazies in this crowd, but on the whole it’s a wonderful group of over 400 hundred women (and a couple of really nice men) who I am always thrilled to meet out and about—in Target, at the park, at school--matching their faces to their email addresses. The group has a calm and fair quality about it, which is completely due to the wonderful woman who has the thankless job of being the moderator---a volunteer position that is the equivalent to being a playground attendant. She knows everything that is going on and makes sure that no one is throwing sand in each others eyes. Right away I enjoyed her smooth way of coming in there and telling everyone to just settle down and be nice to each other. And her skilled and experienced tone that always knows what kid-friendly activities are going on---where to pick apples, buy a baby gate, go for story time, and what restaurant in town is most willing to put-up with the general awfulness that is going out to dinner with children. I have found babysitters, bought and sold kid stuff, asked for and received advice on parenting issues, and used this group as a platform for shameless plugging of the various oddball projects I have going on at any given time.:)

Among moms, she is a shaman and I’ve spent many a frustrating day helped and comforted by what she has done—create a community of parents who are all doing the best we can and want the best for our kids. Even with the crazies, she has introduced me to My People. As a friend of mine once said, we would all probably still be hanging out at Target in the diaper section every morning trying to meet other moms if it wasn’t for her.:)

I was thrilled when I found out that she was friends with some of my friends and has children in Maddox’s school. It meant, not only would stalking her—a task I have grown really good at-- get a whole lot easier, but that if I played my cards right, I could maybe even con her into being my friend, and that starts with a photo session. My evil plan is already really working for me. Plus, now she will never be able to ban me from the group, even if they find out about my tattoos.:)

So yesterday, in the biggest wind storm ever, I headed out to their home/farm. They have....wait for it....goats. I know, riiiight? :) But they were nice goats. Made me reevaluate what I have said about goats.

She runs her small farm totally as a hobby and is a true animal whisperer. :)

Fav family shot.....possibly ever....

This tree is, like, a million years old or something. Her only request for a picture was to include it because she is worried that some day it will fall. She said this with such sadness for the tree which cracks me up, because SOME DAY IT WILL FALL.....MAYBE ON A CAR OR SOMETHING. But she is worried about the tree. :)

Still hate feet.....still love this shot......

She is probably not going to like this on the blog, but can I just say that if my stomach looked like that, I would walk around all day without a shirt on. And I would point it out to anyone who would listen: yeah...seen my flat, stretch-mark-free stomach??...go ahead and admire...you know you want to.:)

re-gifting

2009-09-19T16:15:00.003-06:00

A while ago I took a trip to the Northwest. This trip would not have been at all possible without my wonderful cousin, Katie, who arranged for me to photograph her friends while I was there, who put me up in her wonderful guest room—where flowers and chocolates had been left for us—who took me and my mom to dreamy Seattle for a day, who made us meals that included vegetables from her garden, homemade bread, and homemade cheese. Yes…..she made cheese. Seriously, I didn’t even know that you could made cheese. Those are the kind of things that I don’t put much thought into. As far as I know there is a giant cheese tree somewhere and some kind, kind person picks the cheese off of it and ships it to King Soopers so I can buy it and place it promptly in my belly. :) But anyway….

She was the most amazing host, which was no surprise because she is the most amazing cousin. With a handsome and kind husband, and adorable children to boot. Obviously I was all about taking pictures of them while I was there. When they were in Colorado last year we tried to do a session in the 30 degree weather and some cute stuff came of it, but they needed a session that was all about them. In their home, doing their things. Like making cheese. :)

So, I got home and started editing the sessions I did while I was there and doing the mountain of work that had piled up a little while I was gone. And spending some time with these kids of mine that seem to require so much of it (shouldn’t we be at some sort of “water and feed only” situation by now?). And as her friends sessions were shipped to them, she was ever so patient never once mentioning her own session. And as it became weeks since even her friends sessions were done, she still has not once said “Look Lynsey, I let you stay in my house….I make you cheese…you gonna send my pictures or what?”.

You know when you get to that place where it’s actually too late? Where you get a gift and you totally love it and you have every intention of sending a thank you note, and you think about it daily, but yet it doesn’t get done, and there you are…..2 months later….wondering if other people have this issue? Because as far as you can tell, it’s just you being a total ungrateful jerk, no one else?

No? Just me?

Here is her slideshow, featuring the images that are finally on their way to her. My dear, dear friend Beth wrote a song for me. Let’s stop for a minute and just let that soak…..she wrote and recorded a song just for me (oh man, did I send a proper thank you for that??). It’s going to be on the new website that will be finished just as soon as I figure out how to get these kids to a “water and feed only” situation. I had no intention of using it for a slideshow, but there really isn’t a more perfect family for this song or a more perfect song for this family. So, I am re-gifting it. Wrapping a big bow around these images and this beautiful song and shipping it off to my wonderful cousin and her family and saying what I should have said in a proper thank you note days upon my return:

You’re truly the best and I just love you to pieces. I miss you and wish we lived closer, but am grateful that we get to share each other’s space for days at a time when we can. Thank you for taking such good care of me. I can’t wait to return the favor. Love, Me.

Good Energy

2009-09-14T20:26:00.004-06:00

Some people are just so wonderful that it’s all you can do to not eat them. These are people like that. I photographed this family last year and they just had such an incredible energy about them that I have surrounded myself in their images. I love it when these faces stare up at me from my business cards….my website……the walls of my home.:) And I never tire of them.

But luckily if I did, I got to photograph them again yesterday and they were every bit as delicious as last time. In fact, possibly more as this time since I got hang with them on their turf. And she made me jalapeno poppers. Homemade ones. On the grill. And showed me how she organizes her shoes in her closet. Both of these things rendered me speechless. If I were single, I would marry her, like, today. Which brings me to….she is single. And she promised me that if I find her The Man, I get to be a bridesmaid. I have never been a bridesmaid, so this would be HUGE for me. I need us all to pull together now and make this work, okay? It’s for the greater good.

Let's start with the closet images, shall we? If you are an organized person, this is practically porn for you.........Let us not hold her beauty....or her organizational skills, against her. :)

Part of a little side project that is coming to life in the next couple weeks.......

You see why they are one of my Model Families....

He has awesome hair. He mentioned this. Maybe once or twice. :)

You know those days when you feel like your kids are just jumping all over you?

New favorite....oh, baby girl how I adore you!

fake smiles

2009-09-09T21:39:00.002-06:00

Little girls are just so foreign to me. Their sweetness is totally different than boys. And watching moms mess with hair and dresses just cracks me up. Probably out of jealously.:) This little one did about the cutest fake smile laugh thing you have ever seen. It was clear that she was willing to play along with my silly games for a while, but inside she was saying......don't push it, woman....I still think you are crazy.

6 sense

2009-09-07T14:04:00.003-06:00

14 years ago I met this guy. I had actually seen him many times before since we rode the same school bus—a particularly long ride at over an hour each way—but I had never talked to him. He was in high school and I was in the 6th grade, and middle schoolers were only allow to sit in the first 6 rows, while high schoolers sat in the, much cooler, back rows. This part of the story doesn’t have any real bearing on anything, I just enjoy telling it because it makes our 3 and a half year age difference sound so………illegal:).

But, years later, me at 15 and him at barely 19, we had a conversation in the bowling alley parking lot in Estes Park, Colorado that would change the course of my life. I wouldn’t see him again for a couple of weeks (though I am sure at that point I was already writing his last name with my first name and planning our wedding…..which I knew would happen just as soon as I was old enough to marry him, you know, legally:). The next time we would run into each other would be at a party-- we would illegally consume Boones Farm (Strawberry Fields—no joke) and talk about life and the meaning of it all in a way that only teenagers can. It was February 24, 1995 and if you would have told me that more than 14 years later I would still be talking about life and the meaning of it all with that same dude, I would have completely believed you. He was a really cute guy, he made me laugh, and I think he even had a job. And at 15 I was smart enough to know that this was a killer package deal.

In an attempt to move out of a town I hated and get to that promised better life already, I talked him in to us getting an apartment together in Longmont. I was 16, he was 19. We were incredibly stupid. We had lawn furniture in our living room. The kitchen of our sweet little apartment was a gold vined pattern shag. We ate cookie dough for dinner. We thought “rent due” was a real loose term that didn’t necessarily apply to us.:) It lasted about 4 months before we drove each other crazy enough to move—him to Michigan to finish school, me to a different Longmont apartment and a different crappy job.

We stayed in touch here and there. I admired how nothing scared him…….except for maybe me.:) But, life would happen and we moved on. Him with a girl that his parents still call The One That Got Away and me into a brief marriage with a nice random guy I met in Greeley (Lynseys been married before??!! The shock! The utter dismay of it all!!). But neither of those things worked out for very long and one day in 2001 I got an email from him and he was back in Colorado. And in some weird way, we picked up where we left off, only this time older, slightly wiser, and with better taste in furniture and wine.:)

We were never going to get married. Living together suited us each fine and the guy had to figure that if I was willing to move with him to Manitowoc, Wisconsin when he got a job there in 2003, I probably wasn’t going to be easy to shake off. Then

…..SURPRISE!!!!!!......or, as we call it around here: Maddox. :)

6 years ago today, knocked up and happily still in love with that cute older guy I once rode the bus with, in front of no one we knew, in the tackiest chapel in Vegas, I told him that he was as cute then as he was in the bowling alley parking lot in 1995. Today I’ll tell him that he may be even cuter.:)