Fun times @ the beach

Since being layed off, I have been trying to make the most of it and take this opportunity to spend some much needed time with my boys. So we have been spending a ton of time at the beach. Now, if you know me well, you know that I HATE the beach. No really, I do, can't stand it. So much so, that when I have friends in town and they want to go, I give them directions. I know it sounds mean, but I just can not stand all the sand and unfortunately there is no beach that I know of without it. I KNOW, crazy!

So now when I say I have been spending time with my boys, at the beach, you know what a big deal this is! LOL! Anyway, great friends make it much easier to stand, and of course I am getting some much needed sun, another great benefit!

Here are a few of my favorite shots from this past week. Aren't they just about the cutest things!

Don't they look so sweet standing there together?





He is just getting SOOO big


This is a "flyin horsie" I'm sure you've seen one but in case you haven't now you have.

Rain, a Church and a belly

and pretty much in that order. I had a session this week with a beautiful young Mom to Be and we had planned a beautiful location to shoot at, unfortunately as the day wore on, the weather looked less than stellar...... ok, so it really wasn't all that stellar to begin with but I had high hopes( I was really excited to shoot at this location. The weather held out all the way to the meeting spot and as we neared our destination, the sky opened. I mean really, it was like it just was NOT meant to be. Fortunately for us, the sky looked good ahead so we continued on to a fav local of mine and carved out about 45 minutes before the rain followed us. Normally, I would have rescheduled but this young lady is moving to OK and we were out of time, so I am thankful for the time we had and I can wait to meet her little one soon :-)

Here are a few shots from the day:

12 Years and counting......

As you might have guessed, today is my Wedding Anniversary! So, in honor of that, I thought I would tell you all the story of how we met ;-) I know everyone has a story and ours is not so different from a lot but special to us nonetheless :-)

It was my freshman year in High School and he was actually a Junior. I thought he was cute, and sweet and he liked me. I mean, COME ON, he was a JUNIOR! LOL! Anyway, as fate would have it, we "dated" for about 2 weeks during which time I thought he was just as sweet as he could be. He walked me to classes and carried my books, he had a car and gave me rides home. It was pure bliss..... for 2 weeks. I mean I was just getting started with High School and I was such a snob! You see he wasn't considered cool by any means and that was super important to me at that time so being the inconsiderate, bratty, snob I was, I dumped him. I mean I could try to make it sound all pretty and tell you we parted ways as friends, but that would be a lie. We didn't. We were far from it, because he knew what a snot I was and so it just wasn't pretty.

Fast Forward to MY Junior year and he had graduated but his steady girlfriend was in my grade. They had been together for a while and so he was always around after school. Again, as fate would have it, I missed my bus one afternoon and he JUST happened to be around and offered to take me home. AND seeing as how I had no choice I accepted the ride. Well, of course he had a GIRLFRIEND and I was not that kind of girl anyway so it was nice of him to offer:-) Well, lets just say that it was not the last ride he gave me. Apparently, he and his GF were not on the best of terms and so they split just a few days after that and as they say, the rest is history :-)

He has been the BEST thing that happened to me and I am so very thankful for missing the bus that day! ;-) 12 years and 2 beautiful children later I look forward to every day God gives me with him. There have been many ups and many downs but through it all we have been there always together and for that I am so very thankful. I could not have asked for a better husband or father for my boys! I love you G! Happy Anniversary!

and because no post is complete without a picture here's a preview of a post coming up, check out this beautiful momma ;-)

The first Day of many......

So today is the first day of my unemployment. I have never been here before so I must say it is a touch unnerving, to say the least. Of course most of you know that I am a Photographer at heart and I do practice my photography but I also have a full time job as well....... or at least I HAD one ;-) I have been employed with a cabinet company for the past 2 years and I have enjoyed every second of it! Unfortunately, due to the economy business has been slow and like many other companies we had to do lay-offs. Being a lowly Office Manager/Photographer on staff, I was the first to go. Fast forward to a week later and after many many tears and much praying I have come to terms with the facts and am moving forward to whatever the Lord has in store for me next.

I am looking into a few different options and when things are more certain I will be sure to share the details with all of you! For now, I'll be muddling my way through the trials and details of unemployment while being prayerfully thankful for the time I have been granted with my boys :-) They say that all clouds have a silver lining and you have only to look for it, so this is my silver lining. My boys have about 3 weeks left before summer ends and school begins and I plan to make the most of it. They are especially happy about the beach time they'll be getting!

So for now I'll leave you with one more recent from the session with the 3 yr old, because it makes me smile.... and really guys, is there any better reason:-)



Now, this shot just screams to me- "FINE, just ONE MORE shot! I really want to play;-)

VERY happy 3 year old!

This little boy was the epitome of happiness, I mean he really was. He had so many different expressions it was just unbelievable. I loved the fact that even after a morning spent on the beach and a short nap he was wide open. I think he could have run a marathon and not even blinked! I really need to figure out how to bottle this energy to use on the days I would rather not get out of bed. Anyway, on to the session, he was as cute as can be and he really looks almost the same as he did when I did his pics last year.

But boy what a difference a year makes! He was just as energetic but not quite as talkative, and his favorite showed has changed from spongebob to Wall-E, and of course he's just as cute as ever!

But I have to admit, he was quite a challenge to photograph, there was not a single moment he stopped unless mom held him down. So I had to be very fast and get lots of shots on the fly. Thankfully he did manage to acknowledge my presence for a few shots and I think mom will be pleased! I had a great time although it was quite warm.... ok HOT! but he was a trooper so of course the adults couldn't let him show us up ;-)

So, here's just one for now......

Short Week!

How exciting! I simply can't wait for Friday- a day to spend time with my family, just the 4 of us. With a husband in law enforcement who works nights it is not often that we get a day off together since I work M-F til 4:30 and by the time I get home, you guessed it- he's gone :-( So I am really looking forward to this day! It will be so much fun. Anyway, enough of that- I don't think I ever blogged about my baby sisters graduation day!

I know! Shame on me. You should never be too busy to have a moment to bask in the glory of your baby sisters graduation! What an awesome day it was, hot too, of course, it always is in SC in the middle of June so it was expected.

My dad and step-mother were absolutely thrilled! I was just so excited for her- and she is off to the University of Virginia this Fall to pursue her degree in Forensic Science. So very happy for her, and beyond excited to see where she goes. Ok, Ok I'll stop babbling and move on to the real reason you're here....... the pictures:-)

I <3 Faces! Contest:-)

This photo is from the one wedding I've done (for friends) as I am NOT a wedding photographer....but it was a wonderful experience and I got some great memories for the couple to remind them of their special day. This was one I caught when i heard the bride ask this sweetie for a hug. I happened to look over at just the right moment :-) I just loved the simplicity of it in all the chaos around them, it was as if time stood still for that one special moment.




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