It was nice.

Middle Row:
It was also a tad scary because our youngest was very sick.
Her fever got very high at one point.
Everything was fine in the end, but it made this momma bear worried.
(This is where Papa Bear would say, “What DOESN’T make you worried?)
She slept on a chair in the living room and missed out on all the excitement of ringing in a New Year.
There is always next year.

(In one image, you can see Paeton trying to make her laugh
though you can’t see Aryah)

Bottom Row:
I taught our oldest daughter to finger knit.
She loved it.
She whipped up a cute little scarf in about an hour.
She gave it to her Nana.
I love to loom knit and think it will be easy for her to learn, too.
It’s our next project.

We put up a bird house this summer.
John picked the spot and didn’t realize it would be smack in the middle of my view
for my ‘Views from My Back Porch’ photos I love to take.
Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn’t.
At least it is fun watching the birds.

A small look back at what happened with RLP this year.
I did a lot of boudoir this year, too, but can’t really show all that hotness.

And I want to say thank you, thank you, thank you to all my dear clients. You guys are the reason for all these beautiful photos. You guys are amazing.

Yes, it has been a pretty great year.
I’ve said hello to some new babies,
celebrated  with couples getting married,
and spent time with some fabulous families.

But it has also been a bitter sweet year.
Emilie, the amazing mom in the above photo, lost her fight with a brain tumor this year.
I want to spend 2012 living the legacy she left behind.
“We should all be so in love with each day.”
Don’t think that is a beautiful way to live?
I do.

See you in 2012, my friends!!

I’ve mentioned my 365 self portrait project  a few times.
Yesterday’s photo was taken after a bunch of
random shots of this tree in our front yard.
I really adore it, especially when the sun shines through it.

Every year I say I’m going to take some photos of it and I never do.
I’m glad I finally did.

There is one branch, just one, that turns red while the rest is gold.
I love that little branch.

The top right photo is the one that I ended up picking for the day,
but I really like the one on the left, too.

Winter is almost here.
brr.

I think she is.

It’s been a long time since I’ve done a personal post,

and since last night I found three folders full of personal images that I’ve

NEVER EVEN TOUCHED,

I thought it was well past time!

Well, I was going to start out with the oldest, but I realized that so many of these summer photos featured him without a shirt. He is very much against online shirtless photos, so here are two that I don’t think I’ve ever shared.

Rocking out with John’s guitar.

And playing at a local playground.

And a few from this summer.

Turtle. Turtle.

That poor turtle. He wanted to keep it as a pet, but forgot to take it back home with him.
I found it roaming the kitchen and so I let it go.

This one cracks me up. He knew the shirt was on inside out and backwards, but he didn’t care.

Our little Kindergarten graduate.

We had a bit of a sad time at the end of the school year when she realized she wouldn’t have the same teacher.
She just started 1st grade this past week and is in love with school all over again.

She looks completely like her dad in this one.

The dress she is wearing is an adult dress, one I’ve kept over the years even though I can’t wear it anymore. I had actually pulled it out to donate when she spotted it and now it is in their dress up trunk.

Days before she lost her top tooth.

Just a wee bit excited about the lost tooth.

I’m a little obsessed with her curls. She’s the only one that has my curls (so far, at least, the verdict is still sort of out on the baby) and I just love them.

Hammy ham ham.

This is her standard pose.

And the baby. Sweet, sweet girl who is a tiny little ball of energy right now, so I’m just happy with anything I get from her!!

This is what she thinks of my camera these days.

And messes are her thing.

So, there you have it.

Our summer in a nutshell.

We kinda rock.

I see something old…

and some pretty sparkly things.

Her flowers were so, so gorgeous!  I loved all the different textures, colors, and shapes to the them.

The guys were hanging out in the chapel after what I hear were some intense games of ping pong.

This is about the time she was starting to get nervous. 
I’m sort of jealous.  Doesn’t that look so relaxing?  I want someone to do my make-up and put on my lotion.  Even if I’m just hanging out at the house.  Actually, I just need someone who does make-up this well because  the girls like to put lotion on my legs, do my hair, and put on my make-up all the time!  It just never quite looks the same….

The pearls around her neck were her gift from Davey.  I think they add such an elegant touch!

Waiting in the wings before the ceremony. 

I love, love, love how happy and excited she looks!!

Husband and wife!!

Stunning couple, yes?

I cracked up at the little doe and buck.

And they lived happily ever after. 

************

DJ or Band: Century Sounds
Catering:  Leslie Catering
Florist: Jackie at Floral Icing
Hair and make-up:  Gaines McNeese

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His mom told me he was strong willed and that was the complete truth!

I had to pull out all of the tricks, but it was so worth it.

I loved the way he held his little mouth while sleeping.

SO adorable.

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So cold.  I dreaded taking my daughter to school this morning in two degree weather.  She cried. 

I yearn for warmer days, beautiful evenings, and conditions much more friendly to those wanting to frolic in the gorgeous light.   Light like this:

or this:

Okay, so both of those were taken this winter for a project with a friend of mine, Kelli.

The gorgeous light still applies, though, even if it was freezing on both days.

Speaking of projects with friends, my friend and amazing photographer, Missy have decided to do a project together this year, too.  This one has a bit of twist, though.  You see, I’ve mentioned before that I’ve attempted again and again to complete a 365 self portrait project.  175ish days was my longest stretch.   I’ve hovering around 85 days in my current project, I think, but I convinced (forced under threat of torture) Missy to start one up as well.  When I first started my original project, I lucked into meeting some fantastic photographers who happened to be attempting the same thing.  It’s always more fun when others play along because you have a support system of sorts.  My 2nd attempt, which is also my 2nd longest stretch at about 148 days, I was also fortunate to have a great support group of other friends who were doing it.  Both of these two projects were abandoned because I moved.  I’ve tried a handful of times again with not much luck and I know it is because I didn’t have a group of friends doing it at the same time.  It’s so easy to just stop if you feel you have no accountability.  So, THANK YOU to Missy for humoring me by starting her own project.

When we started talking about doing some sort of collaboration this year, we thought it might be really fun to make it a self portrait project.  Together we came up with 52 themes and are really excited about some of them.  Okay, I’m excited by all of them, but there are a few that I’m REALLY REALLY excited about. 

Here is our first week.  It was a kind of an interesting way to start out the project, and it isn’t something I would have picked.  I would have picked something more exciting for the beginning, but using random.org makes it fair!

So, here you go.

Favorite Things:

Missy is on the left with her bed and iPod looking so adorable for just waking up.

I am on the right with a warm fire, cozy pull over, crochet gear, book, and watching tv.  And my camera is taking the photo, so that counts, too! 

You can keep an eye on our progress here.

This one is actually old.  It was taken during the last snow of the year.  I’m really hoping to be able to get another really great snowfall photo again this year.  Just waiting on the snow!

This odd candle holder came with the house. It has its own little charm.

This one might just be my favorite of all the back porch view photos. It was taken the week before last and I can’t get over it. It makes me oh so happy!!!

Here are a few moments that I’d like to share.

Congratulations, Shandi and Kevin!