The Way I See It

Snow People

2010-01-19T12:44:00.003-05:00

While on my fantasy trip to Lakeshore, I was so excited to find out that Saturdays are "Make and Take" days. My friend and teacher-next-door, Mrs. Allison, joined Ben and I on our Lakeshore adventure. When we arrived at Lakeshore we were greeted with the Make and Take recruiter. Allison was more excited than Ben to get to play with new stuff. This day they were playing with Air-Dry Lightweight

I love my john deere

2010-01-18T20:37:00.000-05:00

Enjoyed some great weather today and took the family out to the park to walk. Ben took his bike and rode it over 1 mile, then walked another mile. Little trooper! It was gorgeous, I took tons of nature photos, I worshiped God, relaxed, enjoyed my family...it was a near perfect day!

Quite a bit of excitement

2010-01-08T14:40:00.001-05:00

We woke up to a fantastic thin blanket of snow, and because this is Georgia, school was canceled. Michael, Ben, and I bundled up and set out to walk and explore, teaching Ben about things he had only read about in books like animal tracks, snowballs, frozen streets, crunchy boots, and possibly a miniature snowman. We played in the yard a while. Minnie Belle loved the snow! She was running in

I own this

2010-01-07T06:12:00.002-05:00

I own this, originally uploaded by tlc4ben. I have gotten really bad about not picking up my cameras, so I'm participating in a 52 week challenge, called a "Pick Me Up Challenge". Once a week for the next year, I will pick up my camera and take a picture. Other people post the topic and I interpret and photograph something that symbolizes the topic. This week's topic was "the future". My

Ice Ice Baby

2010-01-06T20:38:00.001-05:00

Here in Georgia people get really excited over cold weather, especially snow. We get our fair share of frost, and even ice, but snow is a magical experience that happens once in a blue moon. But wait...i DID see a blue moon a few days ago, so THIS MUST BE OUR LUCKY YEAR! In the mean time, I'm using our Artic Chill weather for some fun science activites. In the morning the kids got a

All Decked Out

2010-01-04T21:48:00.003-05:00

For years I had a beautifully decorated Christmas tree. Every few years I would change "themes". The first few years of marriage we had an "Angel Tree", and it was gold and sparkly and delicate. Then we had the "Macy's Tree", which I based off....the Macy's tree. It was bold, artsy, interesting. Then we had the "Woodland Tree". I really loved this tree, and basically went buck-wild (pun

Mr. Bojangles

2010-01-04T06:27:00.002-05:00

Mr. Bojangles, originally uploaded by tlc4ben.It might sound like noise, it make might you want to stick your head in a bucket, or hide in a closet, but kids need to make music. It is rhythm and patterns, it is math. It is sound exploration, it is science. It helps them fine tune their listening skills, and that improves literacy. It is creative and expressive, and it stimulates their minds in a

Which is sweeter? The cookies or the smile?

2010-01-03T12:14:00.009-05:00

During our Christmas vacation we made a TON of cookies. We made 3 batches of Drop Cookies. 1 batch of "Cracker"Cookies, and 3 batches of sugar cookies that Ben and my neice Gwyneth had free reign to decorate. This is their creation.mmmm...sparkly goodness.She is so serious about her work.He is not.She thinks he is silly. Isn't this a great smile?No, THIS is a great smile. I can still hear the

slim pickins

2010-01-02T09:42:00.003-05:00

2009, originally uploaded by tlc4ben.I went back to pick my favorite 25 photos of 2009, and had to narrow it down to 20! This is what happens when you don't pick your camera up enough. So, guess what else is on my "These are not Resolutions" list....more photos to follow. :)

I will begin dating in 2010

2010-01-02T00:39:00.006-05:00

2009 ended with my family and I spending 2 weeks at home on "the farm" in North Alabama. Like families tend to do, we spent this time being close..sharing...including germs. We were sick most of this vacation, but we definitely got enough rest. My grandma was hospitalized, and is still in the hospital trying to recuperate. She is 83 and proving to be much stronger than any of us thought she could

Fragile: Handle with Care

2009-12-15T18:35:00.005-05:00

Children are so marvelous. Sometimes they are so tough, I swear they are made of rubber. They will fall and bounce right back up to their feet. Sometimes they are made of steel. Another child will dish out an insult and they will hold their chin up and march on. Sometimes I think they are made silly putty, they are so flexible. Their ideas, their play, it all just changes and meanders and they

Oh no he didn't!

2009-12-14T16:56:00.004-05:00

Ben says: "Look Mom! They're kissing!"I say: "Uh, yeah. They are....."I think: They are doing more than that!Ben says "She must not be a good kisser".I say "Maybe he has to go to work".I think: Did I just see a see horse wham-bam-thank-you-m'am?long pause...I shriek: OH GOOD LORD! There is schtuff floating around in there now!please note schtuff. ;)

where to start?

2009-12-12T23:29:00.004-05:00

Evidently, I'm unable to teach and blog at the same time. So here is a visual update.More to come...i'm rethinking the purpose of my blog.

Box Tops for Education

2009-09-13T15:32:00.003-04:00

This year my class is collecting Box Tops for Education. If you would like to help, please save at least 10 box tops, and mail them to me at school. We will be mapping where our box tops come from, and you (or your child) will get a "thank you letter" from a grateful student in my class. This will be a fun way to use maps, encourage writing, practice counting, and it earns $ for our school.Thank

We're back!

2009-09-03T06:32:00.003-04:00

Yes, I have neglected the blog. Yes, I have neglected my camera.But...life has been good and full in every way. I began a new school year and have fallen in love with 20 amazing little people. They are delightful and inspiring. Ben loves school and our days are so full. We are in a good routine now, so the blog should pick back up. Maybe I have a reader left out there!So, we are back!

today my child is 3

2009-07-05T16:44:00.006-04:00

tomorrow he will not be a 3 year old any more. i think because i teach 4 year olds and see them as children capable of so much and being so independent that this birthday is a doozy for me.so, this post is just for me, for posterity's sake.Ben at 3....calls firecrackers "firecookies".calls egg drop soup "Humpty Dumpty Soup" because humtpy dumpty fell into the soup and cracked, and he tastes "

photo tip: don't shoot from your chair

2009-07-02T19:00:00.006-04:00

i get messages that go something like this...'how do you get your pictures to have such pretty light?" or "how can I make my pictures look like yours"? I learn something new about photography every single day, so I am not claiming to know everything, but one thing i have learned, is i can't get those great pictures sitting in my lounge chair on the beach. I have to move around a lot. I can't ask

sunshine, on my shoulder

2009-07-01T16:31:00.006-04:00

makes me REALLY happy!i LOVE sunshine, i love pictures with sun flares, big circles of warm bokeh, pretty highlights in hair, and how leaves seem to come to life as sun pours through them.I got to work some sunshine magic on my friend Jackie and her family recently, just for fun. Jackie was a parent volunteer in my classroom a couple of years ago. She volunteered 3 days a week i think, maybe it

how much is that doggie in the window?

2009-06-29T21:00:00.004-04:00

She was $20 to be exact. 5 weeks old Minne Belle joined our family Friday. She got a clean bill of health today at the vet, and is well on her way to being the little princess our family is lacking.She was 1 of 8 puppies born to a "minature spaniel". Dad's whereabouts are unknown. Mom was not feeding her pups so the owner took the mom and all 8 pups to the animal shelter. Minnie Belle was the

Bobby and Whitney's Wedding

2009-06-24T18:36:00.005-04:00

My baby brother got married recently and I worked with Jilly Kay Photography to photograph the wedding. There are too many images I love to just post a few. Some of them I love as a photographer, some I love as a big sister, some I love as a person who is in love her self. So, hopefully you will find one that tugs at your heart strings and gives you a smile.best wishes to you bobby and whitney. I

death and life

2009-06-23T22:06:00.005-04:00

both death and life have been heavy on my mind lately for reasons I can't really put into words. a lot of loss in my life and my loved ones lives lately. a lot of reminders about how sometimes the hole a person leaves in your heart is never filled by anyone else. Despite all the sad things going on, there are big and small miracles every day. There is love all around me, even in the lowest

ready. set. blow.

2009-06-18T15:44:00.004-04:00

r e a d ys e tb l o w

Being Selfless

2009-06-17T08:17:00.008-04:00

My Dad has the best neighbors...let's call them Mr. & Mrs. Selfless. They have a daughter that is 1 year younger than me, and we were growing up, I spent a lot of time at their house. Jennifer and I rode 3 wheelers (she loved mud as much as me), we went on walks to abandoned farm houses, barns, in search of "relics". Once we found an old blue ford truck (like really old) in the middle of field

better than siblings

2009-06-15T09:07:00.005-04:00

My wild child brother became a daddy back in February 2003. She was a complete surprise to us, but I can see now that she was always in God's plan for my brother's life. She really did save is life in a lot of ways. She is his world, and she IS love, and that's a good place to live, ya know?She is also ben's most favoritest person in the whole wide world. When we go shopping, he always finds

Where are you going?

2009-06-14T10:09:00.006-04:00

Something is happening to Ben right before my eyes. I've watched him go from a pink, wet, angry, beautiful mess to a waddling, chunky, serious, drooling, giggle in motion. Now, he is lean, and coordinated. He climbs like a squirrel. He hits like a girl...and i mean that in a GOOD WAY! (rock on ladies!!!) He has empathy, and conversations. He can put on his own sandals, and buckle his own "

be still by book worm heart....

2009-06-13T12:42:00.007-04:00

This year the Neva Lomason Libary is hosting a summer reading program for kids. Beanster and I went to the opening event last week and i was so happy to see the huge turnout. =) It really did my little bookworm heart good to see so many families chillin' out surrounding by books and music. The library did a great job, and Dan the Fiddlin' man was fantastic. He told stories from his childhood in

yummy candles, delicious price

2009-06-12T18:20:00.004-04:00

I went shopping today for a few birthday presents for upcoming birthdays and walked by Bath and Body Works on my way to Gymboree, on a mission to focus on the kids, when low and behold I spotted a 75% off sign in B&BW. It's their semi-annual sale. I really had NO idea. Honestly.So I got 2 bags full of this big candle, normally 19.50 each for 4.70ish a peice! They also had the room sprays I use in

hello there mr. green jeans

2009-06-11T13:47:00.005-04:00

found this little guy on our deck this morning. very cool looking, love the spots. I woke ben up to see it, he touched it (i was detaining the dogcat so no pictures of that) and went to whisper something to it, and it took a gigantic leap off the deck into the yard and was gone. I asked him what he said and his reply:"you wanna come in my room and pway trains wif me. pwease. it will be bery fun."

Old Black Water Keep on Rollin'

2009-06-10T16:18:00.006-04:00

yeah, the doobie brothers get stuck in my head once in a while. it's a great song, and it came on the radio a few days ago while i was riding along in hubby's truck, windows down, warm breeze whipping in, sun drying up an summer afternoon thunderstorm. I had taken this picture weeks before and kinda tossed it, but the song brought the picture back to mind. I do love me some funky dixieland....

He's Quite a Catch

2009-06-08T20:36:00.005-04:00

He loves fishing. I go to take pictures, chase the kid, and watch him. It's the total opposite of when he coaches, he is quiet and he smiles. I love seeing him like this. I hope I see this guy a lot this summer.

Focus

2009-06-03T08:46:00.004-04:00

Words of Wisdom for today. Focus on the things in your life that matter the most. We all have a lot of "stuff" in our lives, but the things that truly matter, will be few.

My baby brother is getting MARRIED!

2009-05-29T11:45:00.005-04:00

My baby brother isn't a baby anymore, and he is getting married! Bobby is such a sweet kid, errr...i mean young man. He is fun-loving, easy-going, kinda goofy, so easy to love. He reminds me so much of our mom. I am a proud big sister if ya can't tell. :) Whitney is the sister I've always wanted. She is fun, sassy, tough, honest, and totally lovable. I love you both, am so happy for you both,

I heart summer

2009-05-28T12:16:00.007-04:00

i <3>So today is my first official day of summer vacation. No students, no teacher work days. Just me, the beanster, and the coach. It has been a lovely day, despite me forgetting to turn off the 5:15 am alarm on my cell phone. I tried to go back to sleep, but I was wide awake and out of bed by 6 am. This sounds like torture to most people, but i love mornings, so i was glad to have some quiet

Summer Kid Show Series

2009-05-27T15:10:00.007-04:00

So this is a rare occasion for me...I'm not teaching summer school this year. The year I was pregnant (think 9 months pregnant in July) I did not teach, but i was very busy nesting the first half of the summer, then loving my newborn the 2nd half. This year, it's me and the kid, alone, on a tight budget (insert Dave Ramsey debt reduction plan), and michael is finishing graduate school this summer

cute alphabet site for kiddos!

2009-05-26T21:43:00.005-04:00

T is for turtle, and this is what you get at Bembo's Zoo! If you are a fan of Word World, then you will love this site. You click on a letter, and the word of the animal pops up, the letters rearrange themselves to make the animal. Let me know if you check it out, and what your....ugh, i mean your child's ;)...favorite letter is!

then your face will surely show it....

2009-05-26T06:05:00.003-04:00

Found this smiley guy on Saturday afternoon. :) Sunday morning on my way to church, I noticed he was in full bloom. To think, I almost missed this, and shudder to think about all the other small blessings God pours out around me that I never notice. Even if we don't notice the small things, God does. His eye is on the sparrow, the rose buds, everything! Have a great day and let me know if you

Preschool Musical

2009-05-25T08:21:00.004-04:00

Ben graduated from First United Methodist Preschool in Bremen, Ga. last week. Thank you to all the teachers for a special night, and for taking such good care of my little man these past few years. He loves school because of you!Such gusto! If it matters they were singing a part of a song they were so supposed to sing very loudly. Ben loves being loud. :) All the children looked so sweet all

Camping in the Backyard

2009-05-24T17:24:00.006-04:00

A few weeks ago we decided to try camping, and felt the backyard was the best place to start this new adventure. I must say, I loved it! Michael collected a bunch of rocks and made the campfire. Ben and I collected sticks from our huge amount of pine trees in the backyard. The only thing pine trees are good for is for burning, and we have plenty. :) We had a small tent given to us a few years ago

Being Soulful

2009-05-12T20:23:00.007-04:00

Ok, the name of the restaurant was really "The Whistle Stop Cafe", but after watching all of ua pig out, the Gravy Train fits it so much better! They didn't have menus, just the meat and veggies written on dry erase boards. It was down home, southern-comfort cooking at it's best. The fried green tomatoes would make grandma blush they were so good! It's Soulfood defined.The only thing better than

I hear that train a comin'

2009-05-06T17:59:00.008-04:00

" The General" The crowing jewel of the museum. Very cool.It's comin' round the bend, I aint seen sunshine since...I don't know when....and I'm stuck inside on a rainy day, and time keeps passing by.So, I have time update my blog and my deepest apologies to the late-great Mr. Cash for butchering his song. A few (ok several) week ago I met up with my super cool artist friend Adrian, and we took

I dare you....

2009-04-19T18:37:00.007-04:00

A few weeks ago Michael and I rented "Fireproof"and watched it. We have been married almost 15 years and it has been full of ups and downs, really dramatic highs and lows and sometimes we were at rock bottom for months on end. Marriage is hard and it takes work. You have to put forth effort to make it a good marriage, it doesn't just happen effortlessly for 15 years. So, this movie came out and

Their First Apartment

2009-04-17T01:55:00.005-04:00

My friend Allison and her hubby Joel just moved out of their first apartment into their new house. Before they moved out, Allison invited me over to take pictures of their first apartment, and in return she made my family dinner. It was a great night!Here vehicle and her apt door.Rockin' OutBen's turn...gulp.HOLY MOLY! Proof of a man helping in the kitchen! SCORE!Is it ready yet?Some details from

He is just so wishy washy

2009-04-15T17:08:00.005-04:00

Just a quick little post. Sometimes, the simplest things can make ya happy! :)Loving the light from my little kitchen window too!

A Good Egg

2009-04-12T22:48:00.005-04:00

Having fun at the egg hunt.Notice the gigantor bandaid on his arm. That was all mom. :/He knows all these letters, and sat so still to string them by himself...or as he says "I do it all myself".This is the face I get when I say "Don't say 'cheese' baby". :( He thinks he is in trouble.A pin he made...and mommy wore. He was really proud of this!He really is a good egg. He had a great time at

somber saturday

2009-04-11T22:59:00.006-04:00

With so much going on with Good Friday and Easter Sunday, Saturday is kinda overlooked. It had to have been the the saddest day in the history of time. Jesus was gone, God was mourning, humanity was full of doubt and pain. Joy was right around the corner, but man could not see what was coming. We all have dark days, with not a sliver of hope, where Love has disappeared. We all have somber

Good Friday Goodness

2009-04-10T20:18:00.007-04:00

This is the first Easter that Ben is aware of Jesus, and seeing it through his eyes is humbling. Here is a typical resurrection conversation at our house.Ben: Why did Jesus go to jail? Was He a bad guy?Mommy: No, He was a very good guy. He went to jail because he loved me and you, and because the people didn't understand Him.Ben: Why was He on the cross?Mommy: Uhhhhh, that was like his timeout.

Not-so-sweet sweet potatoes

2009-04-10T17:21:00.006-04:00

To make up for the 3 month hiatus from blogging and photography in general, I am sharing a great recipe for sweet potato french fries. Great because 1) it's cheap 2) it's relatively healthy 3)it's darn good eatin'!First, let me say, I hate sweet potatoes. I never eat sweet potato pie, or sweet potato casserole, or candied yams, etc. A sweet potato is sweet enough, then we stuff half a box of

kid music that adults can handle

2009-01-11T17:20:00.003-05:00

I have more children's music than any other kind of music, and I have some really good music, and some really bad music. I recently ran across Frances England from a commercial on Sprout, and from a song on a photographer's website. Her music is clean and contemporary, and I like it. On her site, you can listen to all of her songs, so when i ordered Family Tree, i knew *i* would like it, but i

a bucket full of rain

2009-01-06T05:46:00.008-05:00

Remember those stories where your knees or your back starts to hurt when it's going to rain? he said & I nodded & then he said, they're not stories & he got up and walked away & I started to make a list of all the things I want to do before I die because it's never really that longfrom: storypeople Like a joke only a teacher would remember, the last day of school before christmas break it

vacation ends

2009-01-05T19:57:00.006-05:00

Today was the first day back after Christmas vacation. The best part of the day was lunch with my friends at my favorite restaurant, Little Hawaiian. Great food and great company helped me get over my bad attitude really quick. What also helped is being reminded by Joe that some people are losing their jobs, begging for jobs, and here we all are with a steady paycheck and people we like to work

we are all just hanging on by a thread

2009-01-05T05:46:00.004-05:00

as I was processing this last night my darling husband was watching the history channel and they were talking about the hopi indians and how their calendar, and the mayan calender end after 2012. part of me thinks this is very cooky and weird, but part of me knows that nothing lasts forever exactly how it is, everything is constantly changing, even if it's very slowly.they also mentioned

movie review: bedtime stories

2009-01-04T17:16:00.004-05:00

Ben (my 3.5 year old boy) and I needed a night out. We have seen Bolt, so the choices were Bedtime Stories or Marley and Me. I had heard that Marley and Me was a real tear jerker so we loaded down with popcorn and skittles and settled in to watch Adam Sandler. I needed a good laugh...not a trip to the pound to pick up our own version of Marley.I was entertained throughout the movie, but Ben only

Best of 2008

2009-01-04T10:14:00.004-05:00

2008 was good to me. I have thousands of photographs from that year and looking through them to find the ones I could call a favorite was near impossible. I can't say thank you enough to my friends and clients who let me be the one they trusted to capture a few precious moments for their family. So THANK YOU.click to see it bigger. bigger is better.

hug of war

2009-01-03T15:33:00.007-05:00

“I will not play tug o' war. I'd rather play hug o' war. Where everyone hugs instead of tugs, Where everyone giggles and rolls on the rug, Where everyone kisses, and everyone grins, and everyone cuddles, and everyone wins.”~Shel Silverstein~Yes, he is all boy.Yes, he will always be my baby.He is everything good and everything golden.He is every sunrise, every sparkle on the water, every ounce of

a gift from a friend

2009-01-03T09:23:00.004-05:00

my friend jaime sent me a Christmas gift this year. It's jewelry AND photography AND ben all at the same time! come on....it doesn't get much better than that! She also sent me the first Twilight book. I had been refusing to read them, well, just because everyone else is doing that and I try to avoid my urge to be a sheep. I totally caved and read it...and ended up reading all 4 in just 6 days.

Purging

2009-01-02T13:39:00.006-05:00

way back in 2001 before we moved to georgia, life brought me one of the best friends of my life. Adrian is honest, goofy, lovable, brilliant, gorgeous, and one of those people that make you feel good about being exactly who you are. she is also an artist and a teacher.she taught a small art class for a group of girls and during that class i learned a) everything i draw looks like a teacher drew

a healing garden

2009-01-02T13:21:00.004-05:00

there is a park not far from my house with a great walking trail, old mossy bridges, canadian geese, paddle boats, and every time i go, i find something new. God is amazing. He never stops giving us gifts. I walk by them all the time with my minds so full of nonsense or worry that I don't notice them as often as i should. Luckily, on this day, I did notice them. Every day is a gift from God, and

Christmas 2008

2009-01-01T22:26:00.003-05:00

Opening his favorite gift-GeoTrax.His teacher, Ms.Anne, reading him a story at his class Christmas party.Listening to the story.I've been quiet lately, huh? *One* of my new years resolutions it to pick up the blog again. My goal is to post a couple of times a week. If I start to slip, please beat me with a wet noodle. It makes me feel loved. :)

Dr. Jones is in the house!

2008-10-19T19:48:00.003-04:00

We are gearing up for Halloween! Ben loves Indiana Jones and loved wearing his costume today. He would wear it all day every day if he could. He also loved hitting mommy in the bottom with the whip (it's a real good target) and chasing the Buck the cat with his whip. Don't worry...the whip is just foam! Check out my little Dr. Jones!

Uncle Bob's Farm

2008-10-12T21:53:00.005-04:00

Yesterday, we were lazy all day and barely left the house. Today, I had no excuses...I was rested, the laundry was done, and the weather was perfect, so we drove to Newnan to visit Uncle Bob's Farm. They had gardens, a nature trail, bee hives, bats, puppet shows, story time, hayride, mazes, a petting zoo and of course pumpkins. We spent several hours poking around this farm with friendly people

Catch me if you can!

2008-09-24T20:38:00.004-04:00

And she did! I've been tagged by the super duper Sara Beth of Images by Sara Beth.The rules are posted below along with my response. RULES: 1. Link the person who tagged you 2. Mention the rules on your blog 3. Tell about 6 unspectacular quirks of yours 4. Tag 6 following bloggers by linking them & leave a comment on each of the tagged blogger’s blogs letting them know they have been tagged. 6

I carry you...

2008-09-24T20:09:00.005-04:00

I carry you with me into the world,into the smell of rain& the words that dance between people& for me, it will always be this way,walking in the light, remembering being alive together ~story people

North Alabama Fair

2008-09-16T17:10:00.007-04:00

We visited the North Alabama Fair in Huntsville, Alabama earlier this month. Going to the fair is expensive now and the thrills don't last long enough, thankfully we had a good sunset and that made for some good photographs. I wish I could write a lovely little blog post about the wonderful weather, the good friends we spent the afternoon with, and how much fun my family had...but, I'm just going

Urban Session: Sneek Peak

2008-09-14T21:52:00.003-04:00

Ali and I had a great time shooting together for this urban session. She is so easy to work with and so dramatic...such a GIRL! I had a hard time narrowing down their gallery because Ali is so expressive. She can change her facial expression and it totally changes the feel of the image.

Meet Mater

2008-09-13T21:23:00.003-04:00

Meet Mater! He is our beagle/mut mix furbaby, full of personality and oh so adorable! He has totally eating my covered glider, loves to drag stuff out of the garage, and even has stolen the neighbor's cleats twice-that we know of. He *climbs* our fence, and sits on top of his dog house, just like snoopy! If he wasn't so loveable...such is the case with all children I suppose!

JCPenney won't do this!

2008-09-11T19:54:00.004-04:00

I love so many things about photography. I love the science of it, the math of it, the art of it, the business of it....and I love the joy in it! I did this session a while ago, and it was a success. Not just because of the happy client (that is always a big plus!) but because when I think back to that session, I smile. It was hot, hot and humid-it's the south in the summer! The mosquitoes were

14 years and going strong...

2008-09-10T19:17:00.005-04:00

Today is mine and Michael's 14th wedding anniversary! Hoorah! I could do a whole separate blog on marriage, but most people are working so hard on their own, they really don't want to hear about mine! Hopefully you can hang with me a few mintues for the abridged Cliff Notes version...Michael and I met in 1980! Seriously!!! We met the first day of Kindergarten at F.E. Burleson Elementary School in

It's great to be a Mt. Zion Eagle!

2008-09-09T18:21:00.004-04:00

My hubby is the coach of the middle school football team. They had their first official game last week against a school with a lot more students and in the end, we lost...but the boys fought so hard! I know their coach was proud of them...trust me, he really is. I have heard him say it. If you haven't heard it, you can see it on his face....Be proud. Take a knee, lift your head.No

My Family-Just for Fun

2008-09-08T06:13:00.003-04:00

We are overdue for a family portrait...how did i do?? I do love black and whites, and don't you love how i got eye contact with everyone! Even the dog! Wow! :D Do you think it's good enough for a canvas over the fireplace? =PCreate your own family sticker graphic at pYzam.com

Ever love some one so much.....

2008-09-07T20:32:00.004-04:00

you want to pinch them, hug them, squeeze them, laugh and cry at the same time. That's how i feel about these 2 kids, and how they feel about each other. Gwyneth has no idea how much ben loves her. When he is at home, at his happiest playing with his trains-he calls me "Gwynnie". When he is outside playing with his loved puppy (Mater) he calls him "Gwynnie"too! He asks to go see her at least once

Wildflowers and Weeds

2008-09-06T09:29:00.004-04:00

While the family was playing golf I had a field day taking pictures of random things on the golf course. I will eventually add pictures of the family playing golf, but to me these weeds are more interesting! Snort!

Family Time!

2008-08-24T22:13:00.004-04:00

(click to see the images larger) I had a great shoot a few weeks ago with one of my favorite families. These 3 kids are just GOOD kids. We had a blast and poor mom is going to have a ton of pictures in her gallery to chose from! I promise it won't be easy!

The Georgia Aquarium-Part III

2008-08-03T13:29:00.003-04:00

(Click to see it larger)We have season passes the the Aquarium and every time we go, Ben has a favorite "manimal". This time he loved the sea lions. This one particular sea lion was honestly playing with Ben. He would swim up to the glass, swim away, jump up and circle back around...he must have done this for 5 minutes. A crowd gathered to watch! It was amazing seeing the two of them interact...

The Georgia Aquarium-Part II

2008-08-01T18:13:00.004-04:00

The beluga whale was really putting on a show, swimming, flipping, jumping, but my favorite thing was when it seemed to bask in the streaming light. It reminded me of the line from Raffi's "Baby Beluga"..."heaven above and the sea below, just a little white whale on the go".See! Even seaweed can be beautiful with the right lighting!Ben loved the aquarium. This was his thinking spot.

Georgia Aquarium-Part I

2008-07-31T21:35:00.007-04:00

We visited the Georgia Aquarium last weekend and had a blast! I have a lot of photos I want to share, but since school has started back I have so little time...so I'm going to be sharing these photographs in segments! (You can click the pictures to see them BIGGER)!Can you believe that giant sucker is a CATFISH! And it's real and alive and swimming in a tunnel over your head!! Icarumba! I have

Life's a Beach

2008-07-22T17:06:00.003-04:00

Here are some images from our trip to Panama City Beach, Florida.for Cara...and it wouldn't be florida without a gator....

Like sands through the hourglass...

2008-07-21T09:15:00.004-04:00

Sand (Helen H. Moore) Sand in my swimsuit,Sand in my hair,When I go to the beachSand gets everywhere!I wonder, I wonder,Oh, how can there beSand left at the beachWhen there's so much on me?We had a great time in Panama City Beach, Florida this year for our family vacation. Ben loves the sand and the water. He is so easy to please! Michael went deep sea fishing on the one day it rained all day,

The Birthday Boy

2008-07-20T18:57:00.004-04:00

Ben celebrated his 3rd birthday on July 6. We celebrate his birthday with our family in Alabama, and it is always a challenge to plan a party out of state! I decided to use a store bought cake this year, but went ahead and made a cake before we left to keep up the tradition (and let's not kid ourselves....to eat a homemade cake!) So here are a few pictures of the cake Ben and I made and

playing catchup!

2008-07-19T15:24:00.004-04:00

I have been out of town for about 3 weeks so I have a lot of catching up to do! I hope I have a few people still out there reading, but after going so long with out an update to my blog I wouldn't be surprised to hear crickets chirping!So out of guilt I am sharing a few...they are old, but off the card and ready so I hope it wets your appetite for birthday pictures, beach pictures and a few

"J" Family

2008-06-27T12:58:00.003-04:00

This was a fun shoot! How can you spend time with 5 great looking kids with great personalities and NOT have fun!?! This family is a "blended"family, but they are all so close and love each other, and it shows! I love the wardrobe choice too!

Deangelo McDaniel

2008-06-18T20:32:00.004-04:00

I had the incredible experience of following around a wonderful photographer at my cousin's wedding. I know the name "Deangelo" from years of reading the newspaper. His photojournalistic style of reporting and photography are right up my alley. I love seeing how he applied this style to weddings. He walked around with his Nikon around his neck and just snapped. I get pictures of belly buttons

Nick and Sunshine

2008-06-10T14:01:00.004-04:00

This past weekend I attended a very beautiful wedding. My "baby" cousin Nick is now married! As if this happy day wasn't good enough...I got to shoot with and shadow their photographer, who I have nicknamed "The Generous Genius"! I'll talk more about him later, today I just want to focus on the bride and groom. Sunshine was MADE to be a bride. She had every detail planned out beautifully, and she

Blonde Ambitions

2008-06-06T17:47:00.004-04:00

I was overdue for a trip to Belle Rae Salon to see my Stylist Lynn (hi lynn!!!). My hair had gotten thick and busy and a lot grey was beginning to take over. Being summer time, i wanted something blonder, thinner, and shorter, so I got a cute little bob!Before:During:Got my eyebrows waxed!After! Voilaaaaaa!This is my stylist, Lynn. I spend an hour or 2 with her every couple of months and she has

Poem: Raising Boys

2008-06-05T06:19:00.006-04:00

Raising Boys (Roberta I. Teague) I scrub the wall of fingerprints,Pick up the mounds of clothes.I sweep the dirt that shoes track in-Wish I could use a hose! Meals are served from dawn to dark,Dirty dishes crowd the sink.Just when they're washed and put away-Everyone wants a drink! The washer pulls the dirty grimeFrom pants worn thin and patched.They look so very neat and clean-Yuck, look what

gnats, mosquitoes and flies...oh my!

2008-06-04T06:05:00.004-04:00

We are a family who loves fishing. Well, Michael loves fishing. Ben loves playing in the dirt and throwing rocks in the water. I love the lighting that comes with late afternoon fishing, and spending time with my boys. Occasionally I will throw a line in, but I secretly I always hope I don't catch anything...I hate seeing a a little fish with a hook in it's mouth, and i really hate trying (or

Good for the heart...

2008-06-03T06:41:00.003-04:00

I am taking a Dance Aerobics class at the Mt. Zion community center. The instructor is Candace Clayton and it is held on Monday and Thursday nights from 6:30-7:30. I know the exercise is good for my heart, but the laughter is the best part! There is a great group of girls in there. It's no small thing to do this, it was a hard routine for people who have never done a dance routine before.

The Garden

2008-06-02T06:14:00.004-04:00

This is our first year to have a real vegetable garden, and not growing vegetables and herbs in pots! We are growing better boy tomatoes, grape tomatoes, straight neck yellow squash, zucchini squash, cucumbers, and red,yellow, orange bell peppers. Michael did all of the really hard work, like running the tiller to break the ground, and digging the holes. I raked through the dirt and threw out

Just a Country Store

2008-06-01T09:30:00.006-04:00

I grew up on a small farm, surrounded by other small farms and country people. In our community there was an old country store, where the wife would be up early making biscuits to sell, and the old guys would sit around and read the paper and play checkers. The teenagers would get gas and cokes and put it on their parent's tab. A tab! Can you believe it! When we moved to Georgia 6 years ago we

Ben graduates!

2008-05-31T06:51:00.005-04:00

Ben has been attending our church preschool for the last few months and he really loves it. He wakes up in the morning and says "I wanna go to church!" Music to my ears! He was in the 2 year old class, and I think he was the only child that was still 2 at the end of the year, so he still looks like a baby compared to them, and that is perfectly fine with me!Here they all come in a line, making

Krysta and Matt: Part II

2008-05-29T15:30:00.009-04:00

Ok, so almost a month as gone by and my sore aching muscles are rested and I am singing a different tune. I kinda like this wedding stuff. I do want to shoot more, as a second shooter for a long while, and learn slowly...with less pressure! So I owe Krysta a thank you! Thank you for being so persistent with me, and being so sweet when you asked me to shoot your wedding. I was honored (and

~Cat~

2008-05-28T20:35:00.009-04:00

What a girl! You hear the expression "one in a million" every day, but this is no everyday girl. *Cat* is beautiful inside and out. She is smart, and has that dry wit that only really smart people get. I love this kid! Our shoot was *supposed* to be a couple of hours, but I had so much fun photographing her, I just keep dragging her to different locations, and she was such a good sport! That

Momma Jean

2008-05-27T19:29:00.003-04:00

I've been really quite lately haven't I? In the last few weeks, my mother in law (Momma Jean) has gotten really sick, and last week she passed away. I am one of the few wives who can honestly say I love my Mother in Law. Jean and I have always been close. She lost her mom when she was about the same age I was when I lost mine. She loved the beach, pools, water, even a big bath tub~just like me.

Krysta and Matt

2008-05-14T20:41:00.003-04:00

I shot my first wedding on May 3 to a sweet, sweet, sweet couple, Krysta and Matt. I have finally finished proofing all the images and am so excited to share them with the bride! I just had to put a sneak peek up on the blog to drive her crazy! Haha!

Tennessee Valley Railroad

2008-05-08T05:58:00.004-04:00

I am probably going to sound like I get paid to advertise for the Tennessee Valley Railroad in the post, but I just love this place. The people that volunteer to work at "Day Out with Thomas" are some of the nicest people I have ever met. The weather this day was less than ideal, but they really did not let it dampen their spirit. After riding Thomas we rode the Tennessee Valley Railroad through

What's that squeaking in that weird looking tree?

2008-05-02T16:22:00.005-04:00

I really loved Rock City. If you have never been, you really should "SEE ROCK CITY". We loved it! One thing we loved was this tree. We walked around it and talked about the weird little puffs of flowers growing off the limbs, and I kept hearing a squeaking sound. I thought a sprinkler was stuck, or a child had a squeak toy. I got my 28-200 out and zoomed in to investigate. Then I noticed what I

a weekend in Chattanooga

2008-05-01T19:47:00.004-04:00

The next few posts will probably be about our weekend in Chattanooga. We went to see Thomas, and while we were there we did a few other fun things I will share!

She's got you in palm of her hand!

2008-04-20T18:11:00.006-04:00

Sara and I had been emailing back and forth different ideas for this engagement shoot. We were supposed to meet last saturday morning, but typical spring weather made us postpone a week. When Sarah asked me if she could bring her dress, my chin hit the floor! My engagement session is now part bridal! I was so excited! I would LOVE to showcase the shots of Sara in her dress, she is so beautiful!!!

The girl next door

2008-04-17T21:44:00.002-04:00

ok, she's across the hall...but this is my friend and partner in crime...i mean fellow educator, Allison. She is a first year teacher and she has done a fantastic job in my opinion! This time of year is busy. We are assessing, planning special events, squeezing in field trips, getting progress reports ready, and managing our student's behavior...and even 4 year olds can just *sense* that summer

Spring in the South

2008-04-15T18:59:00.001-04:00

Lots of pretty things in trees lately...buds, blossoms, birds....but the bad thing is the pollen. We went fishing (yes, AGAIN) and I found some really pretty blossoms in some trees...and some really nasty looking scuzz (pollen) in the pond. Grab a tissue...these will make you sneeze!

Make a splash baby!

2008-04-13T19:39:00.001-04:00

The worst thing that can happen is that you get wet. I have come to realize that I am a risk taker. I don't know if it is age, 13 years of marriage, or if it has just come out of necessity, but I am not afraid to take a risk and fail. I am not afraid to speak my mind and be criticized. People who knew me years ago would probably be shocked. I was quite the wall flower at times of my life. I want