Slides at Nana's!

My MIL recently had water slides built at the edge of her pond...now how cool is this? Party at Nana's!

Recent Photo Contest Wins

Another round of recent Photo Contest Wins...four photos, two little girls. The models made these pics :-)

"Little Friends" Digital Image Cafe People Photo of the Day 7/29/09


"My Girl" Shutterbugs Black and White Photo of the Day 7/28/09

"Quack!" Shutterbugs People Photo of the Day 7/15/09

"Repose" BetterPhoto Finalist, People category June, 2009

Meet Another Photog Friend

This past Thursday, I had the pleasure of meeting up with another photographer friend to do her family portraits. Judi M is not from Michigan, but visits every summer so we made plans to hook up while she was here. She invited my kiddos too, and I took the girls with me. Judi's family was a joy to work with - I can always tell the difference in photographers kids...they emote on cue LOL. Her little ones are sweet, charming, and oh so cute!!! Once the family pics were done, we turned her kids and my girls loose to play - they swam and fished and had a good ole time. When it was time to leave, Riley asked if we could come back tomorrow....then on the way home she said she wished C lived in Michigan so we could hang out with them more often. :-) Here are a handful of Judi's family pics, as well as some snaps of the kiddos playing.... (Judi's DH took the pic of Judi and me together)

LOVE my Photog Friends!

My friend Trula visits Michigan from Missouri every summer, and we always make an effort to get together while she is here. Seems like it gets harder every year - but I am so thankful that Trula fits me in to her vacation schedule! This year, I am especially thankful, because Trula took the time to do my family pictures for me....no easy feat when there are SIX of us (one of which is a "terrible two", and another a teenager LOL). Patience is a virtue, I know, but I am on pins and needles now until I see those family pics...I am soooo excited, because these will be the first ones since Robby was born that will have been taken without the self timer. And as any of you photogs out there know...self timers are, um, "difficult" with any age group that does not "get" that they need to look at the camera until it clicks LMAO.

SO - I don't have any of MY family pics to show you (yet), but while we were together I also took pics of Trula and her daughter Sarah. Two of the kindest, sweetest people you will ever meet. Every time I see Trula it makes me wish she lived closer, and Sarah might just be the most charming young lady I have ever met! Below are a few pics of them. Love and Hugs Trula!!

Mackinac or Bust

Just a couple short weeks ago, my Allie and I took a 'mommy-daughter' trip to Mackinac. I was so excited to get so much one on one time with her - she is such a charming, FUNNY little girl and I had her all to myself. :-) Allie wasn't quite prepared for the length of the car ride, but on the way there we broke it up with a couple of fun stops. First on the itinerary was Deer Acres Amusement park in Pinconning, Michigan. I had never been there before, so I wasn't quite sure what to expect. Allie was excited about the story book scenes all through the park, like the three little pigs - a few of which she could become part of the scene like the one for Little Miss Muffet. I had a hard time getting her to sit there on the "tuffet" though, because she was afraid of the spider LOL. We rode the antique cars together, and Allie rode the carousel while I took pics. She really enjoyed the "jungle walk", complete with life size animal statues that she petted and hugged. We had lunch there at Deer Acres, then continued on to our next stop - Sea Shell City in Cheboygan, Michigan. Sea Shell City is really just a gift shop in the middle of nowhere, but you'd have thought that I'd brough Alex to Disney she was so excited. She picked out some shells for herself, and a Dolphin statue for her "Wiwey" (Riley). This was a shorter stop, and when Allie finished her shopping we headed to the St. Ignace Mystery Spot. Alex was a little young for most of their demonstrations, but participated anyway (with nervous mommy standing by!). Allie was ready for more touring, but mommy was tired so after we finished the Mystery Spot tour, we headed for the Grand View Resort in Mackinaw City, which would be our "home" for a few days. We crashed early, to get ready for our first "real" day of vacation. On our first day we ferried over to Mackinac Island for a whirlwind day of a carriage tour (Alex's highlight was when the horse pooped and "tooted" - we were in the front seat LOL), the butterfly house, multiple museums and SHOPPING. Allie and I got matching sweatshirts - I know, cheesy, but Allie thought it was cool and I took our picture with them on. :-) She was really excited to go see the butterflies, but once we got in there she was scared and wouldn't get near any of them. You should have seen her face...oh wait, I got a picture, check it out LOL. We ferried back over to Mackinaw City around dinner time and toured some of the historical spots on the mainland...then stayed up hoping for a grand sunset pic of the bridge, but it wasn't meant to be...I mean, the sun set of course, but it was not spectacular. Darn. Beach time, pool time, miniature golf, play time and relaxing time rounded out our last full day of vacation, and in some ways I think Allie may have enjoyed that most of all. She was so incredibly cute playing in the sand, and running up and down the beach....I think my favorite part of this trip was getting to know my little girl for the individual that she is, and seeing glimpses of the "grown up" she will become. It was a reminder that I need to make the effort to spend one on one time like this with each one of my beautiful blessings...