Barbie Jeep Dream

september 7. 2010

It was a shade of pepto bismal pink, creamy white, with lavender details, went five miles an hour, and at the age of six meant a freedom I never had tasted before. Wind blowing through my hair, peddle pushed to the ground, I had arrived, my dream of my very own Barbie Jeep had come true. I was no longer the perennial passenger in my cousins jeep, I had one of my very own. A jeep that had come from the proceeds of lemonade stands, raking leaves, and vigorously searching the couch cushions (i secretly think my dad actually put money there for me to find). My little dream had led to reality.
My camera arrived today. A year ago I (stole) my dad's camera and started to see things in a different way. I started to see the beauty of life through a lens, captured at hundreths of a second, creating memories of moments. I liked what I saw. I felt like it sparked something in me and I went into Barbie Jeep mode. This is a beginning to a dream but it feels good that there is a beginning. There are so many steps, who's kidding, giant leaps ahead of me I need to take, and honestly, I'm overwhelmed. But at the same time I know with hard work, sacrifice, and a lot of encouragement being a photographer will become a reality. It will be even bigger than my Barbie Jeep dream.
And since I know the road ahead will have a steep learning curves and at times will be discouraging I decided to start with a list of why for myself.
Why I want to be a wedding photographer.
1. I love love!
2. I love stories and one of the greatest stories you can tell is two peoples love story
3. I love making people feel beautiful
4. I love raw emotion
5. I love seeing two people vow crazy things and actually mean it
6. I love happiness
7. I love dresses, shoes, jewelry, flowers...basically all things wedding
8. I love performing under pressure
9. I love looking at my own wedding pictures, remembering.
10. I am passionate about it

Here is to the road ahead!

Sarah- 3 months

september 4. 2010

At three months old she's already such a girly girl. Having a boy and a nephew I know that from a very young age boys make little grunting noises and are naturally drawn to destructiveness. Sarah makes these cute little high-pitched girly noises and coos and at her "can't-sit-up or hold-my-own-bottle" stage knows that a tutu, though uncomfortable, is a style must. She is precious and is such an easy going baby especially if she has her cute pink heart paci, seriously I thought Corbyn liked his paci, not even close to how much Sarah loves hers. I love documenting sweet Sarah as she grows and changes and can't run away from the camera quite yet =).

She's so beautiful!

This beautiful delicate green dress her Nana wore when she was a baby, how awesome is that?!


This tutu her Aunt Natalie made, its sooo cute!


Sarah and her mommy both wore this yellow dress for their baby dedication
Attempt at getting a cousin picture, all three blue eyed babies!

Big brother Ry-Ry!
Best buddies!

Christmas?

august 31. 2010

The stockings arn't hung, the Christmas tree is not twinkling, and there is no egg nog ice cream in the freezer but it feels like Christmas in my house tonight as I have taken the leap and bought a new camera! I am officially invested.

Well-Oiled Machine

august 29, 2010

Ringtone number 6 goes off at 5:30 in the morning, on high, I do not hear this sound as it is my other half's alarm. My alarm then goes off at 6:30, snooze, 6:35, snooze again, 6:40, yup snooze again, 6:45 I am up and in the shower. No, I don't go say good morning yet, I'm not awake nor in a pleasant mood. Out of the shower and I'm a totally different person, it's like the water has magical powers. Good morning to my hubby and then the glam squad comes out. It's about this time the little guy starts to wake. Some happy groans in the monitor and then I hear the door open to Corbyn's room and can hear my hubby and lil guy exchanging good morning hugs and kisses, life is perfect at this moment. Wil then brings Corbyn to me and I get the little arms wrapped around my neck and kisses on the cheek and lips, best part of the morning, I think so.
Corbyn sits with me, Wil gets ready. Corbyn helps me make the bed. We make our way to the kitchen, Corbyn sits in his highchair eating breakfast watching me pack all our lunches and Wil gets the dogs fed, watered, and stuff in the car. I set out Corbyn's clothes. Wil comes back in and gets Corbyn dressed. In a rush I grab anything else I need for the day, telling myself over and over don't forget your cell phone, don't forget your cell phone. And we are out the door, hopefully only a few minutes late to work.
We are a well-oiled machine. And when one half of that machine is out of town your left with a frazzled, putting makeup on in the car, forgot the boys shoes, dishes in the sink kinda morning.

One and a half

august 16. 2010

He quietly but purposefully reached across his high chair tray with outstretched arms. I looked at him asking "what do you need, buddy?". He had his food, he had his sippy cup, even had his ketchup on the side of his plate already. But he looked right at me and then at his hand. Then he looked at his daddy and did the same thing. So we took his hands and with a big grin on his face he exclaims "Aaa den!" That's Corbyn for "Amen". I cried. This story describes so much about him, his precise observance, his awareness of others, his language, his sensitivity, and his ability to love. He's so full of joy, laughs, kisses (seriously he will kiss anyone and anything), spunk, sweetness, love and a little bit of stubbornness. This is my Corbyn at one and a half.

This is his "I'm going to do something naughty face"

I just love his smile, its like his whole body can't contain his smile so he smiles with everything.

I love this little pensive face!

This is seriously my brother 22 years ago.

Melissa + Jeremy Wedding

august 10. 2010

It was Her wedding day and not only was she the calmest bride ever but she was walking around the bridal suite making sure everyone else was comfortable and complimenting how wonderful everyone looked. But that's Melissa, selfless, sweet, beautiful inside and out. And on this day her heart was calm and content because she was marrying her best friend, and his hers.

Jeremy and Melissa met in Wisconsin and shortly after he traveled across the US to AZ for a firefighting opportunity. Melissa, well, Melissa followed, thats what you do for your love and best friend. And with that a few years later they toasted their love and danced all into the night surrounded by friends and family.

Melissa and Jeremy, it was an honor to stand up with you as a bridesmaid at your wedding. Thank you for being the type of people who will watch our baby at a minutes notice, come to our house at 10:00 at night to ease my electrical fire fears, and just live life with us. You are lovely friends!

Here are just a few photos from your day, I wanted to get some more but my camera didn't really go with my bouquet haha.

The wedding party going up to the highest point in Waukesha, WI.
Kissing on top of the tower =)


Melissa you are beautiful!
Me and the beautiful bride!

Welcome to the world Sarah

august 10. 2010

This is my new niece Sarah. 8lbs.12oz. She is beautiful. I love newborns scrunchy swollen faces. And perfect lips. And little hands. And how they sleep. And smile in their sleep. And their toes. Sarah is so precious she makes me forget about what it was like to barely sleep, nurse all the time, and constantly smell like spit up haha. Here are just a few pictures from the first time we met little Sarah.

Perfect little hands.


Ry loves his little sister, Sarah is getting used to all his kisses.