This weekend was full of photo shoots. I feel a little naked without my camera around my neck right now. I had a shoot with Mista Nug and his parents on Saturday. I cannot wait to edit those! He was adorable in true Nug fashion. Then yesterday was mini shoot day in Lafayette Park. I ended up doing 5 minis and 2 regular shoots. The weather was great, we found a few perfect places where the leaves were gorgeous in the park, and got some great family photos for my clients. It was a long day, but I loved it!

Now, I have created a mountain of editing for myself, but that is just part of the deal. But before I can even get to sneak peaks of Sunday's shoot I must introduce you to little Addison...

She came over on Friday for a newborn shoot and she brought her whole family with her! Mom, Dad, both Grandmas and one Grandpa all came over to see Addison at her first photo session.

It was so cute. They are all in love with that little girl.

And can you blame them?

Congratulations Jacksons!

you still smell

Last Sunday I met this cute couple at Forest Park for an engagement shoot.

It was a little hard to get this guy to smile. He wasn't all that excited about getting his picture taken to be honest. In fact he tried to cancel the shoot all together earlier that day but I made him come anyway. Not that he doesn't love his fiance to pieces, he just doesn't love the idea of a photo shoot. I can tell you all this because he is my brother and this cute lady is my sister in law to be, Erin.

One of the reasons I love Erin for my brother is she really makes him laugh. He can be a bit of serious chap. Lets just say his favorite TV show may or may not be Antiques Road Show. But Erin makes him giggle. I love that.


He warmed up after a while and then this shoot was a breeze because they are so cute together. He didn't even freak out when I made them kiss a bunch.


Can't wait to have you for a sister Erin. Gavin, you still smell. We used to write that on everything growing up. Any spare corner of paper would read "Gavin smells" or "Erin smells" just waiting for the other to find it. We also used to rewrite any song and replace the main word with "fart". We were polite little kids huh?

Oh what a wonderful wiz he was?

So, its official, Monkey Pants is an all American kid. I took her to McDonald's last week for her first happy meal. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Don't write me comments about how unhealthy it is. You know you like it. I had aspirations to feed her lentils and tofu her whole life but I tried both, she hated them.

It was a long day and Shane wasn't coming home for dinner before school so I knew I had a long evening ahead of me. And dinner time is rough. Marlie is a pretty picky eater these days. She screeches at me a lot, and I get tired of scrubbing dried up food off the wood floor. So, I saw McDonald's in the distance on my way home from Beth's and it was calling my name.

She loved it in there. She was enthralled by all of the interesting people. Arguing over the maximum amount of double cheeseburgers one was allowed to buy, pointing out the dead fish in the tank, and trying not to slip on the ever greasy tile floor. Good people watchin. And of course she loved the food. I couldn't help feeling like I was changing her chemical makeup with each bite. Once you've tasted that stuff you are never the same. Everything in moderation right? But it was so cute, seeing her kick her feet as she ate her hamburger and drank her milk, and feeling like we were on a little girls night out.

Then I reached in the happy meal bag (don't you miss the box?) to see what toy she got and this is what I found.

What in the world? It looked like something from "Children of the Corn" or "Chucky". After some investigating I found out it was supposed to be a Madame Alaxander doll version of the Wizard of Oz, the Wizard himself. I cringe to think of what the flying monkey toys look like! I showed it to my friend yesterday and her immediate response was "Oh no, that looks like a child molester. Get rid of that thing!"

Luckily Marlie isn't scared by it, she thinks he's great. I'm just saying though, you might want to look in your kid's happy meal bag before they do because what if they get the flying monkey?! Scarred for life.

wuv, sweet wuv

Last night I met this cute couple at Forest Park. I get to shoot their wedding next spring so it was so much fun to get to know them better and get some great photos for them in process.

I love that Christina wore a dress and heels. I have kind of been wanting one of my bride's to show up in a cute dress and heels just for something different, and there she was!



Great fall weather and a photo shoot with a cute couple. I love it. Thanks Christina and Matt!

Ok, I need to pay better attention to this presidential debate now. Sleep tight.

apple pickin

Yesterday we went to Eckert's apple and pumpkin farm. Last year Marlie was too little to appreciate everything so it was really fun to see her take it all in this year. I love this one of her checking out the squash.

They had Pony rides and she was so excited. When rode past the people watching at the fence she waved and said "Hiiiieeee!". She's so friendly these days.
Then we loaded up on the tractor to go apple picking. We went for the golden delicious, my favorite.

Monkey's first apple she picked...

and ate...

and shared with Daddy.

She was passed out on the way home.

I love you fall. Thanks for a great family day.

Anyone want to take me along on their Eckert's trip? It would be so fun to do a photo shoot there!

Ahh. Monkey Pants took yesterdays letter to heart and slept until 7:00. Thank you my sweet. I am sitting here with my Chai tea, still in my slippers with my feet up. Shane's mom is going to start watching Marlie on Fridays so that I can have a whole day to do work and today is the first day. I think this is going to be life changing and might just keep me from staying up way too late every night working! So, I am going to work really hard this morning and cross a bunch of stuff off of my to do list that has been staring at me for some time now. And then this afternoon... shopping! I know, I know, what happened to a whole day of work? Well, my mom called and asked if I could go with her and she has a really good reason. You see, she is getting married in December and we are still looking for the perfect dress. Opportunities for Monkey free shopping to not happen very often so we are taking it! Plus, I am her matron of honor of sorts, and well I love her.

A few weekends ago I made mom and Frank come to my hood for some engagement photos.

I made them do some poses that they weren't so sure about. And I'm pretty sure Frank thought I was nuts for even wanting to take photos in an alley.

They just laughed at me and it made the shots even better.



Pretty cute eh? Frankly I like these people, they are Franktastic. I'm very Frankful for them. OK, I'm done.

Then we walked over to the park and I surprised them by having the whole family there for a big photo (My brother and his fiance, and Frank's kids and grandson). They have a cute new house and I thought that they would like a photo of all of us to hang up. Jodie met us there and got some great ones.

I never really thought that I would have stepbrothers and sisters at age 29, but here we are. Life always surprises you doesn't it?

Then of course I had her take a few of our little fam. Thanks Jodie!


Well, I better get my rear in gear. Have a good Friday and a great weekend!

It is with my deepest admiration for you that I write this letter. My Love, 5:30 is not a good time to wake up in the morning. Mom and Dad are so very tired and when we hear your little squeals before the sun has risen it makes us hope we are dreaming. We love to feel your little body next to us in bed and feel your paci breath on our necks. However we could do without the swift kicks to the stomach and waking up because you are sitting on our heads. Especially when you have a morning toot on Daddy’s face like last week. Maybe you could hang out in your crib with your baby doll for a few hours. She seems like a laid back gal who probably wouldn’t mind a few kicks or toots. I know you are excited to start your day. There are many cabinets to rummage through and rolls of toilet paper to unravel, but let’s start at 7:00 instead. I love you to pieces, Momma