My Gorgeous Friend

Yesterday I had a photoshoot with my friend, Tari... she's my first in a series of Beautiful Mom photoshoots. (I'll explain more about that on my photography website later.) Anyway, we had so much fun, and it was SO easy to get gorgeous shots of Tari... it's obvious why. :) I also got my new reflector/diffuser in the mail yesterday, so we had fun experimenting with that too! Thank you so much, Tari! You're the best! :)

Post for Brandon

Brandon said it was time to update the blog, because this is how he keeps up on what's going on around here. (Also, if you are the author of one of the blogs he looks at, you need to get a new post up asap... he's getting upset at all of the slackers. ;)

I guess I'll just make this a random thoughts post, since that's pretty much the only kind of thoughts I have.

This photo was from a shoot I did on Wednesday. I love these kids. They're good, good kids. Brandon didn't like this particular photo because he said he couldn't see the other kids' faces. Oh my goodness... I can't believe I accidently cut their heads off! I better practice some more... ;)

I took the kids to the fair today and yesterday. We made a bunch of crafts. (Yes, we... even I got in on the fun!) We made artist trading cards, sewed felt needle holders, tied flies, made sock puppets, bookmarks, cards, zentangles, and the boys entered lego contests. This was the start of my "cramming everything we should've been doing all summer into one week" week. We're also going to go swimming, go to the museum, and go on a trip to Arches. Wish me luck...

I can't think of anything else. Oh! I love you, Brandon. I'm glad you're home! :)

Oh Boy... it's More Family Joy!

I finished editing the pictures from our little family photo shoot (the one you might remember didn't go over so well...) Aubrey took me swimming this morning and taught me some stuff. I'm not a good swimmer, but she's a good teacher... she taught me more than I've been taught about swimming ever in my life. I think I swallowed about half the pool though...

Look! Sometimes my kids look like they're getting along! Thank goodness I captured this to cherish forever! (Notice that Tyler isn't in the picture...)

Tyler's usually my best poser for pictures, but he just wasn't feeling it that day. He finally decided he could quit pouting, and got out of the car and let me take a few.

He even smiled for a few of them! See Tyler, life isn't so bad after all. ;)

This boy is the king of the scowl. He wasn't even mad at me... I think his face must've got stuck this way. Let this be a lesson to you all...

He spent half of the photo shoot with the straw hanging out of his mouth. This boy needs a farm. This boy's dad needs a farm.

I found another decent shot of me! I had to dig through a lot of scary ones, and there were a few times I thought I might cry, but finally, finally, I found one!

And this guy?

I'll love him 'til the cows come home. (We don't even have cows, so that's gonna be a long long long long long time!)

p.s. I resized all of these before posting, because I was having problems uploading to blogger, and now they look all yucky quality... do they look bad to you guys? They look okay when I click on them to make them bigger, but for some reason they look weird on my screen.

Giveaway at Apron Girls

I wanted to let all the people I love know about the giveaway at Apron Girls.... go check it out! You don't have to be a member of the blog to win... anyone can win! :)

The Blanket in Action

Yes, I got a newborn photo shoot already! I'm pretty persuasive, huh? ;) Katherine wasn't really thrilled with the whole modeling thing, but she's adorable anyway, and I got to hold her for a little bit. Sigh... newborn babies are so sweet. (More on the photography blog, of course! ;)

Family Pictures are Torture

Lynda, my wonderfully sweet mom-in-law has been asking for pictures of all three of the kids together. You'd think with me being a photographer that wouldn't be a big deal. Apparently, it is. You would've thought I was lining my kids up to be exterminated or something. Sigh. See, I let pictures of me be taken, and I even posted one. One. That's all you get. I don't know how I can look so bad in so many pictures... NO fault of the photographers! (Aubrey & Brandon) Luckily this one wasn't too embarrassing.

Now, if I looked as hot as Brandon does, I'd pose all the time! I'm going to get to see this guy a lot more often... he got a job here!

This was one of the better ones. Seriously. I know what you're thinking... what the?? But if it wasn't one crying or pouting or looking away or sniffing or refusing to get close to each other or kicking or looking down or looking up, it was another!! There are a few more on my photography blog if you're interested. Hopefully one of them will be good enough for Grandma's collection...

Thanks, Mom!

I thought maybe I shouldn't post this, because you'd all cry from jealousy because you don't have my mom-in-law, but I HAVE to show you what she made for me and sent in the mail today... I showed her some soft bulky afghans that photographers have used in newborn photography, and asked if she thought she could make one for me... (I found one for $100 and just couldn't pay that right now. This one is even BETTER than that one! :)

The next thing I knew, this was in a box by my door... it's SO soft, and SO perfect! She found some yarn and just whipped it up.

I can't wait to use it... If anyone needs baby pictures, let me know. I'll give an "I'm desperate for a model NOW" discount. :)

Camp ROC 2009

This year's camp theme was Rely On Christ. Every ward was a different decade, and we were... the '80s. Yes, we were awesome.

Our girls from our ward were amazing... seriously amazing. They got along so well, participated in everything, "spiffied the biffys" THREE times... and they worked together on the challenge course like nobody else.

I had to include this picture of me, because first of all it shows how much fun I had. Second of all... who doesn't want to show off the flattering harness butt cheek look?? ;)

Now, why would all these gold balloons be floating in the sky?

Each balloon represented a girl's promise to be MORE virtuous...

This was one of my favorite parts of camp. What a beautiful sight... and one that the girls will hopefully remember always.

Do you see what we had to put up with? These girls were completely out of control. Completely. Out. Of. Control.

And the leaders? Perfectly well behaved... yes, we might've had a little bit too much fun with the camera timer... Oh, I love these girls!!! (I'll be posting a few more scenery photos on my photography blog if you're interested... just click the button on the upper right side.)

Slow as Molasses

I have been trying to get things done all day... pack for Girls Camp, clean the house, prepare a lesson, do all the laundry... and I feel like I haven't accomplished much of anything! Maybe it's because I couldn't resist editing a few of the pictures from today's photo shoot... and do you blame me??? Look at this face! (More on my photography blog, and more coming later.) Actually I did get the laundry washed and folded, just not put away. :) I have my stuff on my bed for Girls Camp, it's just not in a suitcase. I have cleaned my house... a few times... it's just messy again. See, I've got some stuff done! :)

The Joy of Being an Aunt

An impossible thing happened... Hannah & Jake (Brandon's sister) moved to our town. I would NEVER have believed that I would be lucky enough to live this close to a sister, even if it's only for a little while. We've already gone to the stores together, eaten meals together, gone out to dinner together, dropped in at each others' houses, just for fun... it just feels right.

They've only been here a couple of weeks, and those girls already have me wrapped around their little fingers. The photographer in me can't stop thinking of gorgeous photo opportunities. :) They always run up and hug me and say "Mindy!" whenever they see me, and I can't even say how much joy that brings me. :) I'm pretty sure it's just because they love me, and has nothing to do with the fact that I give them an ice cream cone almost every time they see me... ;)

New Boys!

I feel like I've just found two cute new boys in my house... you wouldn't believe how shaggy they were getting! Aren't they handsome? Thanks, Kim, for cutting (or maybe it was mowing...) my boys' hair! I put a couple more pictures on my photography blog if you want to see them. I might be a little bit biased, but I think my boys are quite the lookers. ;) While you're over at my photography blog, if you like it... follow it, link it on your blog, whatever you feel like doing to help me get the word out. :) (Oh, do I feel dumb asking that... I hate obvious pleas for blog attention, and here I'm doing it... I'm just going to say I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'll try not to do it again. Or very much, anyway. ;)

Weekend of Epiphany

I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith. -2 Timothy 4:7

I need to be able to say that I HAVE fought a good fight... that I've kept the faith, and not wavered because of hard things... I want to be proud of the way that I acted through trials, not ashamed.



My son, peace be unto thy soul; thine adversity and thine afflictions shall be but a small moment; And then, if thou endure it well, God shall exalt thee on high; thou shalt triumph over all thy foes. Thy friends do stand by thee, and they shall hail thee again with warm hearts and friendly hands. -D&C 121:7-9

Moment... that word really stuck out to me. The scripture emphasizes that it is a SMALL moment, but the thing that seemed most important to me, is that it is a moment... a piece of time that COUNTS, that MATTERS. Am I going to endure it well? Or muddle through? And boy, do my friends ever stand by me... how blessed am I? If ever there is tomorrow when we're not together...

there is something you must always remember.

You are braver than you believe,

stronger than you seem,

and smarter than you think...

but the most important thing is,

even if we're apart... I'll always be with you.

-Winnie the Pooh

This poem was on the program for the funeral I attended on Saturday for a good friend, great man, and wonderful husband. I had so many thoughts... how I don't want to waste one more day of my life being apart from my best friend, my husband, but if I do have to, it isn't forever... it isn't even for the rest of my life... it's only for a bit. And I can be braver, stronger, and smarter than I think I am. He'll always be with me. For eternity. How great is that?

Please remember, this life is tough and has challenges, but we can still choose to be happy. We can still choose to be kind and loving and charitable. We can still choose to contribute. We can still choose to be a part of what matters most- our relationships with our families and our Father in Heaven and His Son.

This was written by a cousin... I hope he doesn't mind that I posted it here. It was such a huge reminder to me that my wallowing in self pity has been a CHOICE. Yes, things are tough. Yes, life kinda sucks right now, but I can CHOOSE if I'm going to be happy through it or not. What if I choose not to? Will this time go by faster? Will it be a more meaningful experience? I'm thinking not. This is a time when I can grow closer to my Father in Heaven... do I want to waste that precious learning experience?
Come, come, ye Saints, no toil nor labor fear; But with joy wend your way.

Though hard to you this journey may appear, Grace shall be as your day.

'Tis better far for us to strive Our useless cares from us to drive;

Do this, and joy your hearts will swell- All is well! All is well!

Why should we mourn or think our lot is hard? 'Tis not so; all is right.

Why should we think to earn a great reward If we now shun the fight?

Gird up your loins; fresh courage take. Our God will never us forsake;

And soon we'll have this tale to tell-- All is well! All is well!

Welcome to My Happy Place

Ahhhh... now don't we feel better? :)

So Bad, it's Funny

It's one of those days... those days that are so bad that you have to laugh, or you will cry. Or you've already cried so much that you can't tell the difference between laughing and crying.

It's been a rough couple of days because of the loss of a dear friend... so that's where all the crying has been coming from.

Then this morning we got another call from Animal Control. We've got a bark collar on the way. They don't care.

Then the police came to the door. He asked if a certain guy was here. I don't know the guy, never have, but we've had problems before, like this guy called a locksmith and told them that "his sheds in the back needed the locks cut off". Apparently he is wanted for thievery, and I should "keep an eye out" and "be wary". I have no idea how this guy is connected to our house, or to us. I'm scared.

Then I went to donate blood. I was there for 2 hours (mostly waiting in lines) and they can't even use the blood they got. First the needle-sticker pushed the needle too far, so it went through my vein on the other side. She said "veins don't like two holes" so it was going really really slow. After 15 minutes of them trying, I was almost there. They needed 470 cc's? and I was up to 453. She got impatient, messed with the needle, and pulled it out on accident. There was blood spreading on my arm like crazy. So, they had to stop... 17 cc's to go, and they can't even use my blood. I almost cried.

THEN I get home, and realize what the big thud was I heard this morning. This huge dead bird in my flower pot... if that's not a crazy symbol of the way I feel today, I don't know what is.

I was talking to Holly today, and she said that I helped her feel better about her life. So, I figured, if I share my day, it might help someone else. Or at least give you a big laugh. Or cry. I can't tell the difference anymore.

Beauty Passed By

Do you know who this is? If you don't know, read on to find out...My cousin sent me this email, and it really got to me... perhaps because I am a violinist, but I think mostly because I know I often am too hurried to enjoy life... BUT, this I know... I would've stopped and listened.

Washington, DC Metro Station on a cold January morning in 2007. The man with a violin played six Bach pieces for about 45 minutes. During that time approx. 2 thousand people went through the station, most of them on their way to work. After 3 minutes a middle aged man noticed there was a musician playing. He slowed his pace and stopped for a few seconds and then hurried to meet his schedule.

4 minutes later:The violinist received his first dollar: a woman threw the money in the hat and, without stopping, continued to walk.

6 minutes:A young man leaned against the wall to listen to him, then looked at his watch and started to walk again.

10 minutes:A 3-year old boy stopped but his mother tugged him along hurriedly. The kid stopped to look at the violinist again, but the mother pushed hard and the child continued to walk, turning his head all the time. This action was repeated by several other children. Every parent, without exception, forced their children to move on quickly.

45 minutes:The musician played continuously. Only 6 people stopped and listened for a short while. About 20 gave money but continued to walk at their normal pace. The man collected a total of $32.1 hour:He finished playing and silence took over. No one noticed. No one applauded, nor was there any recognition.

No one knew this, but the violinist was Joshua Bell, one of the greatest musicians in the world. He played one of the most intricate pieces ever written, with a violin worth $3.5 million dollars. Two days before Joshua Bell sold out a theater in Boston where the seats averaged $100.

This is a true story. Joshua Bell playing incognito in the metro station was organized by the Washington Post as part of a social experiment about perception, taste and people's priorities. The questions raised: in a common place environment at an inappropriate hour, do we perceive beauty? Do we stop to appreciate it? Do we recognize talent in an unexpected context?

One possible conclusion reached from this experiment could be this: If we do not have a moment to stop and listen to one of the best musicians in the world, playing some of the finest music ever written, with one of the most beautiful instruments ever made.... How many other things are we missing?

Miss You

The other day all three of my kids were sitting on the floor, drawing, talking, smiling... and getting along. Yes, this was an occasion for the camera! This week Aubrey will be at Retreat for Girls (an EFY-type thing for girls 12-15). She babysat like a madwoman (girl?) and earned the money to go.

Tyler was invited to spend the week with Grandpa and Grandma Howell, and the evenings with Brandon (he's staying there). He's going to help around the yard and keep everyone company.

Cooper's spending the week on the farms... first at Grandpa Lauritz's and Grandma Lynda's, then at Melissa and Landon's place. Believe me, he'll be in his element. He packed two pairs of wranglers, his belt with the big "C" stamped on it, and his boots. He also made sure he had a cowboy shirt in there. He was worried about me, sweet boy... wondering if I'll do okay without him. :) I'll do okay... I'm looking forward to cleaning the house once and never having to do it again the whole week... I'm looking forward to no arguing or fighting, and some good peace and quiet. But, darn it, I miss those three kids already.

Must. Get. Suitcase.

See this suitcase? See how cute it is with a baby in it?? And those men's shirts? With a baby on top of them? Don't you think I really really need those? So... if any of my amazing family and friend DI shoppers finds me one or two suitcases like these, I'll pay you for them, or give you a free photo session, or WHATEVER. I just have to have one! p.s.... and beanies too...

Happier Things

*I got to take pictures of this adorable little guy... it was a joy from start to finish. (More pics on my photography website.)

*I did another newborn shoot the same day, and will be editing those tomorrow. I also took a few of her other two kids, and boy, were they all cute. I wanted to bring them home with me.

*I'm doing a photo shoot with two of my favorite little princesses tomorrow morning. (Yes, I should get to bed.) I just need to think of a really good place to take them by 8:00 a.m. None of the places I've done before seem quite right.

*Hannah, Jake, Molly, and Annie have finally moved here!! We helped them carry some boxes in today, and I can't believe that they're actually here!!!! It seemed like this day would never come. I can't wait for all of our fun adventures.

*Brandon will be here tomorrow!!!!! I feel like I've had a huge part of me missing, and I'll finally be complete... for a couple of days anyway.

*I ate an ice cream cone today. Chocolate. :)

*Tyler cleaned the whole house while I was teaching at the gym so someone could come see it right after I got back. He's a good kid.

*Speaking of Tyler... my friend Kim is going to give him an awesome haircut tomorrow. Believe me, Tyler's hair getting cut is a very happy thing.

*Did I mention Brandon's coming home tomorrow?

Please Help

Is there anyone out there who would like a dog? I'm serious here... I don't know what else to do, and this is the best thing I can think of. Animal Control has come to our house multiple times, because they've been getting complaints that our dog barks early in the morning. I can tell you why... it's because another dog runs loose, and what dog doesn't bark when there's another dog running around in the yard? (We've also had prairie dogs and cats...) Anyhoo... we're at a point now where we're going to get a citation if I don't do something about it, and I really don't know what to do. They say to get a bark collar... um... we have no income right now. They say to put her inside. Are you freaking kidding me? She is an outside only dog. NOT happening. They said I could sign ownership rights away and they can take her, but I think I know what will happen to her then, and I'm already crying. If some family wanted her, that would be a lot easier to see her go. So.... if someone has room in their family for a german shorthair/lab mix named Tess, please let me know! The picture above is of her, but she's grown up a lot since then.

4th of July in a Nutshell

I really love the 4th of July! We had a great day in Huntsville... mostly. I was really ornery at the parade. I'm not a big parade fan. Well, the parade is fine... I'm not a fan of the children watching a parade. I'm such a grouch. I also don't like being sprayed with big huge water guns that spray the dirt in front of me and get mud spots all over. Twice. Not a fan.

Once I got over the fact that I hated the shirt I wore, and got past my grumpy parade attitude, we had a great day! I got to see my roommate from college, who is an awesome photographer, we visited some friends and had an amazing wonderful inspiring time... I'll post more about that later...

We saw skydivers, a hypnotist show, ate ice cream, good food, and had fun dreaming of the life we hope to have someday.... sooner would be better than later. :) Happy 4th of July!!