I think that every mother can relate. About 2 weeks ago I was telling by best friend that I just can’t imagine sending my kids back to school. I just don’t want them to leave, and I don’t want it all to be over. About a week later the idea didn’t sound so bad to have some quiet time back in my life. Change in life is a good thing, and all good things must come to an end.

Swimming Lessons

Summer Camp

Sleep over’s at Grandma and Grandpas

Disneyland

Lagoon

Island Park

Fishing

Rafting

Boating

Monday Tea Parties

Playing at the Park

Playing in the yard until the sun set

Hikes

4 wheeling

Trips to the zoo

Play Dates

Tutoring Lessons

Shopping Trips

All day on the Beach

FFFFFFUUUUUNNNNNN…

Before I send them out the door, we had to do one back to school photo shoot. We had the BEST time and they were such little angels. On their list of favorites was our “school party” as I called it.

ENJOY

These might be my favorite part

A quick word on editing – like I said, everyone is different.  I believe in taking what you have and making it better, still believable and real!  I don’t like over saturation, Let me know what you think!

P.S. HELLO – is she amazing or what?  This is nothing, wait until you see the rest of these pics.  I shot this tonight and will post more very soon!

RAW – right out of camera!

Edited

Blogging… It is one of my favorite things to do. It has changed me as a photographer, it has changed me as a business person, and it has changed me as an artist. Wow, what a powerful little thing this blog is. I absolutely love the friends I have made through my blog, both client and otherwise. I look so forward to shooting a session just to create those favorite images to share with the world. It is so fun for me!

It is mostly a place for my photography, unfortunately, I am not so good with words. In fact, I envy those blogs I visit sometimes that have such eloquent authors. I don’t always have a lot to say, but hopefully I will always give you a lot to see.

I love to hear what you have to say about each entry. As always, your comments are welcome, appreciated, and rejoiced over! Weather you are another photographer, a client, a relative of a client, a fellow blogger, or even just a passer by, feel free to leave a message here! Tell me which one is your favorite and why, or tell me what you want to see more of, or if you found a new piece of furniture for me, or if you know my client by the 8 degrees of separation, or if you dig my location, or even if you have an idea of a great location, OR tell me when you want to go to lunch. What ever is on your mind, you can say it here! However, be nice to my clients – I love them all! Seriously all of them! I don’t have them as clients if I don’t fall in love with them when we meet – so as Thumper would say “if you can’t say something nice, don’t say anything at all (or say it in an e-mail to me hee hee hee!)” I do think that is a direct quote from Thumper. He was way ahead of his time…

So, as my first new blog entry here HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME…  I turned 30 something today and had a wonderful day.  It was full of fun, food, family and friends!  Thanks to everyone for all of your birthday wishes!  I am overwhelmed by my wonderful friendships!

Every year it is the same!  Home made Angel Food Cake!

Last year Dan wrapped my presents in a Walmart bag so Christmas paper is a big upgrade.  But, I don’t know, should I be offended that is says “ho”?

AND YES I TOUCHED UP THE PICTURE – IT STINKS TO GET OLD!!!

Then we did a little Bowling!!!!

Great picture Hunter!

Guess who won?

Guess who took the news kinda hard…

Thanks guys – I had a GREAT TIME!

So last week I was out of the office for a few days, and some of you guessed right, I was up in Idaho riding with my parents. But, it wasn’t the typical trip to go and ride, I was preparing for a big race this weekend in Farmington.

As many of you know I grew up riding and competing in Rodeos. I married my amazing husband when I was 19 years old and I honestly did not believe that my marriage was the demise to my rodeo career. HOWEVER, over the past 11 years of marriage I have only competed 1 time back in 1998. (WOW, I am old!)! So, I convinced my mom and dad to let me make a run for it! They have this great 5 year old horse that they have both been competing on who is still young but coming along really well. So, last Tuesday Ryen and I jumped in the car and ran up to my parents place in Idaho and did some practice runs and ran in a jackpot. It was a great time. Here are some pictures. More weekend info after the pics…

It was SOOO COLD!

Ryen Kitty Napped one of moms kittens because she did not want to leave them at the house while we were gone riding.

This is the 5 year old BJ

Some slow run patterning before the jackpot.

Ryen riding my mom’s horse.

Ry’s and my mom cooling down BJ

So, all went well at the Jackpot and I headed to Famington on Saturday to the big race. There were about 250 barrel racers. I did great my first day and knocked a barrel my second day, but ended up with this…

My husband videoed me on my mom’s camera and when I head home for Thanksgiving I will post that on my blog. I am not all that sure I want you all to see it, so I will have to do some previewing!

So, after the race on Sunday we ran down to see Dan’s family. We were not there 30 min when Ryen’s little cousins tried to lift her over a stair gate and they all went tumbling down! I knew right away there was a broken bone. So she has a couple of cracked bones in her leg… For the next 3 weeks this is our little Ryen!

So there is the story! I hope I didn’t talk too much. Amazing sessions to come!

Later!

Do you ever have those days that are full of so many life lessons, but while they are happening you don’t recognize them because you are too busy thinking about all that must be done tomorrow…

I started my day out with my family which is always, always fun. My kids are in such good moods in the mornings. They crawl into bed with me and it is so fun to hear about their dreams and all of their anticipations for the day. We always have a good breakfast together (this morning was yummy warm rice pudding). Then, Hunter was off to school and Ryen was off to her sitters and the day was well underway…

I met a friend and went over some business with her. We had a cup of hot chocolate and it was absolutly great company.

That was followed by a consultation with a beautiful girl and her mom and fiance. It was so fun to hear about their wedding plans and to talk to them about this magical time in their life.

I met a past bride for lunch and had a wonderful time with her. I realized that friends come into your life in so many different ways, and every day I am able to do what I love I am more and more blessed in life…

But this story has nothing to do about today. It is really about tomorrow…

Dale Carnegie said, “Most of us have far more courage than we ever dreamed we possessed.”

Today has come to an end, but tomorrow I am off to an adventure. One that I am sure will need a little bit of courage… I will be far too busy having fun to take too many cool pictures, but I will try to snap a couple so that I can share with you one of the TRUE LOVES OF MY LIFE. I may be out for a few days, but I will be back to share my life experiences…

I returned home to do a FANTASTIC wedding for Jaimie and Rustin. Oh I am so excited to get some of those pictures to you. Those two had an amazing day! Wednesday I have 2 shoots, one in the morning, and one in the afternoon. Busy, busy, busy.

For now, let me leave you with a couple of shots that my sister Shellee took of me while we were back east. I am typically always the one behind the camera, and it was so fun to have here there to snap shots as well! I have so many amazing shots to share with you! That will have to come another day…

I was talking on the phone to my friend Candis at Urban Floral, and driving through Smithfield, when I failed to notice a school zone. Yes, I said school zone! The cop pulled me over, and I thought, oh Jesika is setting here in the passenger seat in her wedding dress, there is no way he will write me a ticket. OH AND LET ME ADD THAT I HAVE NEVER HAD A TICKET BEFORE IN MY LIFE! So, after the cop told me I was going 21 over I knew I was sunk! He only sighted me for 9 over (Thank you Mr. Officer) and I did a Plea in Abeyance through the Smithfield Attorney and so now I must go 6 months without a moving violation! So, pedal OFF the metal. I have to be a model citizen and good driver. Wish me luck…