Life As It Is.

Confessions.

While I've been attempting to cut more and more dyes, high fructose corn syrup, and other junk from our lives, I do have a confession. I have developed a love for Newman's Own organic dark chocolate peanut butter cups. Yes, I said organic and chocolate in the same sentence. I know, I know, it may seem contradictory, but if you're gonna eat something fattening, it may as well be something that isn't actually toxic, yes?

I've only been addicted to these for a couple weeks now, and thankfully, I've only been able to find them at the health food store, which I only go to once a week since it isn't close by. They're pretty expensive, which is probably a good thing because that means I can't eat them too often.

So here's the good news and the bad news.

I found them tonight at a store that is right across the street from the studio. And, they're cheaper at that store than at the nutrition store.

Must. Use. Self. Control.

So, go ahead, get addicted with me. It'll make me feel better.

Sadie's dSLR.

What happens when mama gets a new camera? You get to play with the old one! My primary camera just became my back-up camera, so Sadie gets to practice with the old back-up camera. I'll have that girl shooting in manual in no time! We've reviewed the basics of aperture and shutter speed, but I suspect much reiteration will be necessary. It can be difficult for adults to grasp, let alone six year olds. She is looking forward to getting some practice in while we're in Yellowstone, so I'm sure we'll have plenty of photos of blurry buffalo!

4th of July booth for Jen Kappes Photography.

So the booth for Jen Kappes Photography came together wonderfully on Saturday. It actually takes quite a bit of work to pull these things together...getting everything ready and then transporting it, and setting it all up. Thank you, thank you to tallest Sarah, Jenessa, and Seth, for helping me out!

The morning was so perfect for a parade! It was cool and cloudy...so unlike most July days. By early afternoon, the clouds gave way to a bit of rain, which had us scrambling to get the prints protected. Thankfully it passed, and ended up being a very warm afternoon!

We had hundreds and hundreds of people come through the booth, registering for the drawing (watch your mailbox to see if you won!!), and looking through the sample books. I really enjoyed the day and meeting so many new people. The highlight for some booth visitors (i.e. SETH): the candy that looked like Smarties, but then when you chew them, they turn into bubble gum. :)

I'll have to think about making more tutus and selling them at next year's booth because we had lots of people (including other photographers) inquiring about purchasing the tutus I've made for the studio!

I didn't get around to snapping a pic of the booth until after we'd squished everything inside to protect it from the rain...but you get the idea.

Parade.

Sadie and Avery rode on our church's float in the Huntsville 4th of July parade this year. When they were asked to ride on the float, about a week beforehand, they were resistant to the idea. When I started talking to them about why they didn't want to ride on the float, they revealed that they didn't want to ride on the float because that meant they couldn't get candy during the parade. I reminded them that we weren't going to let them eat the candy they gathered anyway. Well, apparently, it is the excitement of running and getting the candy...the thrill of the hunt, that they were wanting.

They came around to the idea in the end. I was at my booth, and Seth was helping me, so we gave the kidlets over to smallest Sarah's care, and she kept watch over them for us. Pastor Terry played guitar and the kids sang songs and threw out otter pops. Seth and I didn't watch the parade, but when the church float went by, we ran out to the road to see the girls. They were waving their flags and watching the people (they seemed most interested in watching the people who were watching the parade- though they never did seem to notice us screaming their names), but then when it was time to throw more otter pops, they certainly livened up!

Seth caught a couple pics, but unfortunately, Sadie and Avery's first ride on a float went by largely undocumented.

Shoe-tying 101.

Seth took the girls disc golfing with him on Sunday while I was doing a photo session. He mentioned that night that it was probably a good time to get Avery new shoes...her hiking/walking shoes were on the small side. So Monday morning after swim lessons, we went looking for new shoes so she would have them in time for our Yellowstone trip. We had a certain type of shoe in mind...something with good traction and that would be comfortable for a lot of hiking and walking. Seems we usually find those type of shoes in the boy department.

I couldn't find a whole lot that met our criteria, with the exception of some shoes that tied. Avery hasn't had tying shoes yet, so I was hesitant. She had her heart set on this particular pair of shoes...they fit her well, she said they were the most comfortable, and they met our criteria. So I told her that if we bought those shoes for her, she would have to learn how to tie them herself. She promised she would, so off we went, shoes in hand.

That night, I showed Avery how to tie them, helped her through it two or three times, and she had it! I thought for sure that it would be a much harder process...I've been putting it off, in fact. But she caught on quickly. I worried that it might not stick, but so far, she has continued to remember how to do it, and I haven't had to help her yet. Go Avery!!

 

 

Very pleased with herself after tying her shoes for the first time.

Wrapping up the week.

I don't know how this week has gotten away from me with no blogging, but it seems that it has. Early mornings have been a rush of activity as we get out the door for swimming lessons. By 9:30am, I'm at the studio and working away. I can't seem to work fast enough this week. Sessions, editing/retouching, submitting orders to the lab, putting orders together when they come in, framing (I've had a lot of framing to do this week).

Tuesday night I did a photoshoot at Jasoh (a local restaurant) for a local magazine. I took Seth along as my assistant, which doesn't happen very often. He was a great help, especially considering all the lighting I needed to take along. We had the cutest couple that modeled for the ad. They were so fun to work with and we got some great images for the restaurant (despite the fact that the thunderstorms put the kibosh on the nice sunset we were hoping for...every time I think I can finally put the winter clothes away, another storm arrives!).

Seth is off from work today (because of the holiday)...hopefully that wlll prepare us for the two weeks he is about to have off starting next friday! We'll be going to  Yellowstone for a few days and we are all really looking forward to it.

Jen Kappes Photography will be having a booth at the 4th of July celebration up in Huntsville tomorrow. We have gone to the Huntsville festivities for the last several years (probably seven now?) and we love it. It has such a wonderful hometown-feel. So come by and say hi, enter to win some photography, and enjoy all the wonderfulness that Huntsville has to offer!

Avery's paying.

Mondays are usually my day "off", but I had a good deal that needed to be done today, so after the girls had swim lessons (they just started their second session of lessons so far this summer), I spent the morning working away. I was able to accomplish the absolute necessities and so I took an hour to just hang out doing nothing in the backyard with the girls. I think at this point they may as well just move outside because they've taken a bit of everything out there....food, chairs, blankets, you name it.

The girls have enjoyed a lazy day...swimming, then they got to hang out watching a movie while I worked. Seth rented a movie from Redbox for them on Saturday, which they watched, and apparently enjoyed a great deal. Yesterday, Avery asked if we could keep the movie for a day longer. I told her it would cost us another dollar and she immediately offered to pay the $1 to keep the movie a day longer. Avery is known for doing this...offering to pay for things. It all started one day probably more than a year ago when we were eating lunch at Honeybaked Ham. I had ordered and paid for sandwiches and one of the girls asked for chips. I said no, we weren't having chips. She said she had her own money with her and asked if it would be okay if she paid for the chips herself. I agreed, and both girls went to the counter by themselves and picked a bag of chips and paid the cashier.

Ever since then, if we go out to eat, Avery offers to pay for herself. We've explained countless times that we are more than happy to pay for her meal, but sometimes if it is a special treat or something, then she can pay for it. It's just so sweet to see her try to give us her money (she seems to think it will really help things if she pays for herself). It is a good thing that grandma keeps funding her, otherwise she'd go broke in a hurry with all her offers to pay for things!

Hello, lovely weekend.

I am ready for a weekend. I need a little break. A bit of time to be lazy and enjoy doing very little. Of course, weekends seldom ending up being like that, but a girl can dream. I'm looking forward to some fun events this weekend...dinner with my brother & his family, a baby shower, and hopefully getting some work done (I have photo orders coming out my ears...not complaining, just lots to do!).

I'm trying to keep myself awake right now for a late appointment tonight. I'm photographing a local restaurant for a magazine cover, so I'm going to check it out tonight. Unfortunately, this rain & thunder is lulling me into a sedate and tired place!

So here are some photos from a recent session. This little ladybug (the nickname her mama has for her) was so much fun to photograph. She is so adorable and she was really good in front of the camera. She was the type of subject where I finally just had to force myself to put the camera down...I could have photographed her for hours! Here are a few that ladybug's mama chose...I might have to post a few of my personal faves another time!

Falling moon.

Avery: "I had a dream about the moon falling."

Me (not sure I understood correctly): "You had a dream about the moon falling?"

Avery: "Yea. There were a whole bunch of people in a house and the moon was going to fall on their house."

Perhaps Jessi the dream interpreter can tell me what that means? :)

hello summer days.

Despite the fact that we needed the heater on this morning, they say that summer is here. You wouldn't know it from the weather we've had the last several weeks.

You know that feeling when there is SO much that you really should be doing, and yet you don't feel like doing anything? That's how I'm feeling at the moment.

We let Seth sleep in this morning, in honor of Father's Day and all. Then I made breakfast before we headed out for church. We were teaching children's church and apparently we weren't working quickly eough because we didn't get through even a fraction of the lesson I had prepared. I'm sure the children were wondering why I was shoving parsley and unleavened bread (well, sorta. Wasa is sorta like matzo, right?) at them as they rushed out the door. We went to Iggy's for lunch, which was a pleasant treat. Then while the girls napped, Seth played on his computer next to me while I watched a chick flick (read:dozed). Seth went frisbee golfing and just got back home, so I guess I better go shower him with Father's Day love.