Wide-open country…and lots of it.

John Deere EVERYTHING…

not to mention mosquitoes, crickets, fishing, hauling hay, and COWS.  The boys have their very own cow named Sparky and every year she gets bigger.  They love Sparky, but she doesn’t want anything to do with them.  Still, they follow her around like lovesick puppies. 

The point is, we love visiting the land where “Grandma” grew up.  It’s a lesson in history for my two, sweet boys who love the country.  While we’re there visiting, it’s not hard to notice that “Grandma” is in her element.  I think if we’d all move back there with her, she’d be gone in a second.  BUT, she’d never leave us for Kansas.  She loves us a tiny bit more, I think.

So, every chance she gets, she talks us into a visit to her home.  AND, we tag along watching her soak it all in, breathe it deep into her soul to savor until she can return.  It’s awe-inspiring.  It’s not hard to see how she became who she is today.  It’s why we love her…

especially these two.

They get to explore it all from creek beds to riding in the farm truck to catching and frying up their own fish (yes, we did) to picking all-you-can-eat blackberries.  This time around Ty even came home with a big cow skull to add to our place.  Nice.

I’m so very thankful they have a grandma who truly loves to spend every second of her time sharing stories with them and giving them hands-on knowledge of who she is.  They will forever remember this and be able to share her stories with their own children.

We’re mostly down to the inside updates until they start bricking and rocking the outside.  Not sure when that’ll happen, yet.  You’ll be the first to know when it does.  BUT, for now, we have windows and shingles on the roof!  WAHOO!

The trim is primed and ready to go.  We just have to come to a FINAL decision on the color.  I think we’re going with a chocolate brown for the fascia and a lighter color on the rest, but we’re still deciding exactly what that lighter color will be.

Get a look at my back porch!  We’re even installing a fire pit complete with lava rocks and plumbed with gas!  I think I’m almost as excited about that as I am my BIG windows!

They’ll be installing the electric this week, they’ve got the well drilled and septic is coming soon.  We’ll meet with the alarm guy (not for an alarm) to decide on how to do a MAIN hub for all the TV receivers and speaker systems throughout the house.  I’m having built-in speakers on the back porch and hopefully throughout the house for music!  YAY!

OH OH OH…big news!!! I picked up my “Sonic” style ice machine today!!!  It’ll be built-in under counter in the laundry room right off the kitchen!

Anything cool I might be forgetting?  I only plan to build once!  Come on!!  Leave me some comment suggestions!

This year we celebrated Independence Day (yes, this post is a bit late) for about two weeks.  Josh and the boys would set a handful of fireworks off each night before bed which was all leading up to the HUGE celebration/party we attend every year at the home of our good friends, the Wedels. (I left my camera in the car ON PURPOSE and it was nice to actually get to participate in the fun)

This year they rented a margarita machine, thanks Kristy.  I’ll be dreaming of that machine for weeks.

The point is after our party at the Wedel’s, we usually lay low for a week or so to recover.  BUT, this year, my folks and Josh’s folks wanted in on the action, too.  They don’t think it’s fair that we ignore them on the 4th of July for friends, fireworks, and LOTS of margaritas.    I do understand, which is why we decided to have a 4th of July bash at my mom’s house, too.

Instead of REALLY big fireworks, we decided on some of the fun, smaller stuff the kids could help light.  Who knew the men would be just as bad for those as they are for the big ones.  Just look at the TORCH Josh and the rest of them took turns carrying around.  Lord, help me.

We did have a great time and I DID bring the camera since the boys (the little ones) were in on all the action.  Here’s a recap.

Just getting started…

Do you really need a TORCH to light a tiny paper chicken?

The boys got to light a few.  Yes, I’m a bad mom.  I’m over it.

Even Carly and Will enjoyed the craziness…

Will a little too much, me thinks.

The rain sprinkles came and went more than once, so the umbrellas and towels were always nearby.  I just kept thinking it was a good thing since the men were trying to burn the house down.

Wes didn’t wanna miss something exciting by running to the potty.  I can’t really blame him.

The sparklers are always fun, too.  Although, Ty says it was more fun to light the short ones all at once and watch them burn on the sidewalk.  Whatever floats your boat, kid.

AND, we ended the night with homemade ice cream delivered to the scene of the destruction by Karri and Steve.  YUM!

We had a TON of fun!  Wes is still asking why we can’t buy more fireworks every night of the week.

All you ladies out there who keep calling me with baby news, BACK OFF, will ya!  What exactly are you trying to do to me anyway?

I mean, really, just look at this little guy (as if I need another boy around this house).  Parker belongs to a boy (now a man) I taught back in the 6th grade.  Now, Parker’s daddy is all grown up and I get to be the lucky photographer taking his son’s photos.  Wow!  I guess that means I’m old, but it’s totally worth it.  Who else gets to snuggle with these little beings on a regular basis….

I got to spend a couple of hours with Parker and really didn’t want to leave.  Luckily, I get to look at all these cute shots of him for as long as I want.  Here are my favorites from our day together.

I’m so glad I was able to make it work, too, because I had SO much fun getting to know them all.  Talk about a family with lots of little boys.  I felt right at home!  I even suggested ending the session with Icy Pops all around!  Perfect.

Here are my picks!

I told you there was a bunch of them!  Happy Thursday!

AND, don’t forget his big sis who’s pretty excited about his arrival, too.  This time around I met up with the gang at a local park for some hot, sticky, but fun shots to help tide us over until the little man gets here.  As usual, I had a great time hanging out with the Precure family.  I go home with sore cheeks every time I see them.  I can’t imagine how big I’ll be grinning next time.

For now, here are my favorites!  Amy, you look beautiful in EVERY shot!

Meet Carter.

I met up with Carter and Finley at their house in Edmond.  Little Carter, who I hear loves to sleep, decided to stay awake for nearly our ENTIRE session.  In fact, I got to hang out with his family for nearly three hours in hopes of catching some sleepy baby shots.  This was the closest we got.  You almost can’t tell he’s awake, can you?  HA!

Either way, he’s a complete doll!  Just ask Finley!

Speaking of Finley, she’s pretty adorable herself.  She ran from one end of their house to the other giggling the entire time.  The best part was she spent some of that time running straight to me for BIG hugs!

I love me some HUGS!  I can’t wait to visit again.  Maybe I can talk her out of some more…

AND, of course, I had to end the session with a family shot in the backyard.  Thanks for a great time, you guys!

Still, check it out.  It’s coming along!

The photos aren’t nearly as pretty this time around.  We’ve had a TON of rain the past few days and it’s been overcast for nearly a week.  Luckily, most of the outside is already finished.  So, the crews keep coming even when it’s wet out.  Yay for that!

Shingles will come sometime next week.  Back windows are in and even a couple of the small ones in front.  All the big ones will be installed anytime (I’m guessing before the week is up).  The siding is going up nicely.  We’re still deciding on what color to paint it.

Josh was worn out and has a major sunburn as proof that he did all that taping on the roof.  Poor guy.  I felt for him while he was slaving away up there on the roof.  I even took the boys to a movie, because I couldn’t stand to watch.  Heh…heh.

It really is becoming a house, isn’t it.  It’s so hard to believe I’ll spend the holidays in a place that actually has room for a Christmas tree.  Amen to that!

AND…

THIS is my office!

It will have French doors and a really good sized closet.  It can always double as a bedroom later on, if needed.

I know I haven’t really shown you many photos of the inside.  So, here are a couple more to tease you.

Walking through the front door toward the great room.  See my big windows?  Oh ya, that’s what I’m talkin’ about!

Here’s a couple more of the Great Room showing the cathedral ceiling.

and one of the kitchen/dining area.

Okay, that’s enough for now.  I’ll add more next week!  Happy Thursday!

This year, I noticed how much they’d grown.  This year, they were talking my ears off and laughing at my jokes.  I love that!

I’ve been photographing this little bunch of gals for three years now and, just like with any other client I’ve been shooting a long time, it’s so cool to notice the changes in each of them.  To be able to see them improve in their ball skills and to see the way they’re all becoming great friends.  It really is awesome.  I can’t wait to see how they’ll all look and act when they are playing 10 years from now!

For now, these will have to hold me over.  Here are a few of my favorites!

I talked the moms into jumping in a few shots, grabbed some shots of the coaches, and yes, even parents, too!

But, my TOP shots are always the action ones.  They rule!

I’m hoping to catch one of the games in their post-season tournament this week (if they don’t all get rained out!).   Wish them luck!

Michael is my nephew.  He lives all the way over in Iowa, which seems like across the entire country from me.  I don’t get to see his sweet face very often.  This time around I was lucky enough to get to snap lots and lots of photos of his gorgeous mug!  He wasn’t really THAT excited, but I was giddy enough for both of us.  HA!

In case you haven’t noticed, he looks a bit like Taylor Lautner.  Don’t ya think?  Well, I do.

AND, since I’m smitten with the new movie and Taylor (He’s the HOT Werewolf in the Twilight series for those of you living under a rock), it was extra fun to get to shoot multiple photos of my dear, sweet, Taylor Lautner look-a-like, nephew.

[Yes, I do know that Taylor is about a million years younger than me.  It doesn't make him any less hot.]

Okay, so back to my dear, sweet nephew, Michael.  He’s completely and totally adorable in a quiet, shy kinda way.  He’s very subdued, but it’s really nice to see that these days when everyone else is going bonkers with piercings and tattoos and who knows what else (yes, even I have a tattoo – so no judgment there).  I like him just the way God made him.

I know he’s going to do awesome this coming year and will make a rather H-O-T senior.  So, watch out girls.  He’s looking good.  He’s the complete package!  We love you, Michael!

Here are my favorites!