In this economy...

Times are tough.. We decided to put the kids to work. Well not really. In reality they begged Shana and I to let them have a sno-cone stand. Okay, they begged Shana and Matthew got in on the Biz

Huddy was the cookie salesman. This was genius it turns out.  People who came to buy only a sno-cone looked at his little face and took a whole dozen{including Mike and I}

Could you turn this face down?

Matthew had the syrups covered.

Kaden was the money man! 

It was such a success that they actually ran it for over 5 hours! I think each boy made around $7.00. Shana and I won't tell them that we probably had more than that into the syrups and cookies.  

Matthew knew right what to do with his money. It went into his duct tape wallet that Mike helped him Make.

Ever wonder...

Did I really do this?

Just had to show you a picture from my latest shoot. 

I ❤ curly haired little boys

Matthew actually offered to be my guinea pig tonight for an idea I had.  Look at those curls! Do you think he will hate me some day when he sees this photo? 

Summer berry fields...{anyone missing seeing pictures of Matthew}

Matthew and I went berry picking with the Horner's this morning...

I think they ate as many as we bought.  

Happy Summer days:-)

Hayfield Minnesota

It all started with Becky{Matthew's teacher} I really love her and I thought she was one of the nicest people in Minnesota.  Then she introduced me to Kris{Molly's mom} and then I met Molly and Liz and I was starting to see a common connection.  It seems that there is something in the water in Hayfield..besides the normal Minnesota Misquotes. It actually reminds me a lot of home. Hayfield could have a new slogan..."Missing Montana, try Hayfield!" Okay all cheese aside.  I had the pleasure of photographing another incredibly fun family from there the other day.  The youngest had just turned one and Donna{mom} wanted some shots of her. She asked me if I would not mind taking pictures of the other kids while I was there...MIND??I live to take pictures of new subjects. 

I loved every minute of this shoot.  Here are a few of my favorites:-)

I so love this shot. I think it is one of my top from the day{I could say that about all of these though)I just love how the dad was so excited to get sports shots of the kids.  I hope he loves these pics...I know I do!

I have to admit I was a little nervous taking some of the archery shots but I have always wanted to take them and I totally trusted Cam.  

Cute Cute Cute kids!!!!

I love this photos so much. I think it makes Cam look a lot older than he is.  All of us moms know those pictures that we get every once in a while.  The ones that give us a hint into who our kids will be someday.  I also love this because Cam was very new to wearing braces and this smile reflects his new hiding something smile.

This is a mom favorite.

This one reminds me of a Minnesota magazine cover.

A few more fairy wing shots

I hope I get to know more people in Hayfield...or at least pass out the water they drink there:-)

Okay.. a few more that I love

A few more favorites from today {perfectly imperfect}

I have had a very crazy day. I had a follow up at the dentist...as Mike was going in to get his wisdom teeth pulled. We had tornado warnings and flash floods all afternoon.. Despite all of it I want to revisit a few more of my favorite shots from this morning.

Let me start by telling all of you that this was by far the most challenging photography assignment I have  ever had. Thankfully Sam was willing to be poked and prodded and receptive to it all.  The challenge came from a small space with lots of other tiny babies close by, lighting that was not ideal, and then the wires and tubes. I left the hospital thinking "Well at least I tried" ...I usually think that though.  Then I get home to find a few favorites.  This top photo is my absolute favorite picture of the shoot. I love that it is taken through the glass that encases little Sam...I love that he was yawning...I love the wires and tubes. Not that I don't want him to be free of them, actually I know he will be.  I just like that this is Sam's story and all this is a part of it. He is like the pictures I am posting {perfectly imperfect}. 

This one is another one of my perfectly imperfect shots. My focus fell on Molly's arm and poor Sam ended up just out of focus..somehow I still love it.

This was Brian putting the wire back on his tiny little foot....*sigh*

I took this picture to remember them paused before continuing on with the norm of the day. Then I noticed something else.  With every visit they are given a badge to wear when they visit Samuel.  The badges add up fast as you can imagine with multiple people and multiple visits...multiple days..They have started plastering a wall in the laundry room with them to show the multitude of visits to see Sam. Brian does not know what yet..but he has a plan for them. Maybe he can build a desk for Sam and seal them on the top. That way when Sam is struggling with his way to the top of this world he can remember how he started it fighting and that he was destined for greatness. 

Fighting from the start...

I have a friend named Molly...if you read my blog you met her and her family here

Molly and Brian are partly responsible for my P90X injury...as they are the ones who introduced me to the program. However, Brian takes no responsibility as he said I am smart enough to know that a hook should be anchored. 

A few months ago Molly told me an incredible story about how she was expecting and that the baby, now known as Samuel had already survived great odds to be here.  Right after my whole "shanked in the face" incident I received an email from her updating me on the birth of him.

It seems that baby Sam was in a big hurry to get into this world after fighting so hard just to stay inside his mom in the first place.  He was born on July 22 weighing 4lbs and 4 oz surprising everyone. 

Now in addition to the regular duties of life Molly and Brian find themselves making regular visits to the hospital to see baby Sam. 

I find

I begged and pleaded for Molly to take me along. I adore this little baby and who he is will become.  Molly was actually thrilled at my offer. I hope I lived up to your expectations.

he is a beautiful beautiful boy...

Did you know his feet are the size of his dad's thumbs!!!

I told him he was going to be someone special and he gave me a high five on the glass.."you got it sister"

Then we picked up the rest of the fam...and it was back to life as normal for Molly...home but not complete. 

I am sure this is not the last you will see of baby Sam on my blog.

Hannah Dawn...

I am sorry my postings are slow. Most of you probably think I am taking it slow after my whole shanked in the face incident:-) But really I have not slowed down at all. In fact I have been growing...growing..and growing. My photography has been kind of front and center this week. I had a vision that I wanted to run with on Friday night so I grabbed Hannah and Jenny and started shooting.  I really think I captured her and her imagination as it is right now. These shots to me are perfectly Hannah. In fact all she really needs is a book in her hand.

I know this one is a bit silly but I can't help but love it!

I also had another photo shoot with the nicest family out in Hayfield last night. I can't wait to share a few shots.  I just need to get permission. 

Let me know what you think of these Fairytale shots. 

Oh, and I know arranged marriages are against the law(or are they) but I think Mark and Jenny might go for a bribe! 

Molly and Liz

I think my heart has been stolen... I am so in love with photography.  I love everything about it...including the fact that I still have so much to learn about it.  

Matthew's teacher(whom I adore...as you all know) introduced me to a friend of her's that had a daughter who needed senior photos.  She could not find anything she was looking for and she asked I would give it a shot.  When she told me about Molly I knew it would be a perfect fit.  What she wanted and my style of shooting sounded perfect. We shot all day yesterday and all over Rochester and Hayfield.  I also had her bring a friend so she would have more fun and be more comfortable.  Liz got to be a part of the shoot too.

This is Molly

and this is Liz

and this is my favorite shot of the day..thank you Shana for helping set it up

We meet at 5:45 am to get amazing sun like this.

another one of my favorite shots of the day

my favorite shot of Liz..well one of them

This is probably my favorite favorite

or it could be this one...

or this one...

These girls were so much fun.  I loved doing this so much. This is such a small fraction of our pics.  Let me know what you think of them?