Mother's Day 2014

On Mother's Day this year we

had gorgeous weather.

I have wanted to go to Lakewold Gardens 

for quite sometime and walk the grounds, 

so that's what I got to do!

I feel so blessed every time I look

at this picture, to be surrounded by 

these 4 precious people, it is 

all I ever wanted...

to be a Mom and a wife!

I just pretended like this was my estate for the day.

I truly could see myself living my life here :)

even if it was 1910...I would be so happy.

My sweet little photographer

capturing her shot.

Seriously, though, how does this happen?

How did they become men so fast?

They all wrote the sweetest words in my 

card that I will cherish.

See what I mean??  This house, could you not live here?

None of this would be possible without Toby

so for him I am truly grateful!

Happy Mother's Day to my wonderful Mom.

She has walked a path that no mother should have to walk

and yet she smiles and pushes on to be the 

best Mom and Grammy we could ask for!

I love you Mom!

Goodbye too soon

On Sunday, August 18th, we had to say Goodbye to our

Sweet Smokey

he was only 8

On Friday, he was just not acting like himself

I took him for a walk and he ate, but he just layed around the rest of the night

when we woke Saturday morning

he had no use of his hind legs..completely paralyzed

it was awful watching him, 

not understanding what in the world was wrong

he used his front legs to drag himself to a corner to lay down

We got him to the emergency vet where we learned he had a collapsed disc 

that basically paralyzed him overnight.  He could feel pain, but had ZERO use of his back legs

We knew that our boy who LOVED to be chased in the backyard,

loved walks and going for car rides...would never be able to do those things again

so we made one of the hardest decisions we will ever have to make

We adopted Smokey when he was 2 and from that day he was a perfect gentleman

He adored the boys, and even though Lucy isn't an "animal lover" :)

he did WHATEVER she told him to do :)

Our hearts are broken

life here just isn't the same without our boy

♥

Family Dinner {Through Lucy's lens}

Friday after Thanksgiving we went to Aunt Deanna's for a family dinner
I brought my camera, and Lucy was the night's photographer :)
I always love seeing pictures from her perspective...and she can ALWAYS get you to smile!


cuties Ashley and Jenna (soon-to-be Mrs. Ryan J.!!)

I love her composition on this one :)

handsome Ryan

Uncle Peter and Bennett's turn

cool Tim!!

not sure if she wanted the empty wine glass or me :)

the Girls

the Girls + Lucy...she wondered WHO took this picture since she was in it :)

oh Powell..you are so funny!

Thank you Aunt Deanna for a wonderful dinner and very fun night!

Catching Up!

So..I have been a little MIA :)
Mainly due to the fact that since my laptop was stolen..(which basically had become our home computer)... we are using a very s . l . o . w  backup computer that we had, so loading pics takes for.ev.er!!

but, moving on...

I have been hard at work with my photography class homework, and it is starting to "click"
I know it is just going to take LOTS of practice, so most photos I have taken have not been blog worthy :)

Below are some of my most recent homework assignments shot in MANUAL :) using natual window light
I am pretty excited...all of them are "sooc" (that's photographer speak :) for "straight out of the camera" :),
so no editing



 for this one below, Lisa asked us to use a different perspective

and this one is a type of  pic I have always wanted to take :)

and the two below prove to me WHY I must learn to use the Manual setting...the first picture was in Auto w/out flash and the other in manual...I could just immediately see the difference..finally! :)

In other news...Toby headed over to WSU this past weekend for
Dad's Weekend with Powell...they had a great time together, took in a great football game
GO COUGS!
and geared Powell up for the snow!  He will be home this weekend for Thanksgiving break...can't wait!

Lucy received her first "book it" coupon for a personal pan pizza from Pizza Hut :)
She was SO excited!

Hard to believe we are a little more than a week away from Thanksgiving...that also means it's that time for early release days from school, conferences, Blake's 17th, Christmas music and peppermint mochas!!

My Niece and "Getting out of the Auto Zone"!!

My darling niece Makenna Riley was here with her Mama for a visit.

She loves to model for me, and once she gets going it just comes naturally.

Thank goodness I have this tree in my yard because it is my "go to" backdrop :)

I have so much to learn with my camera, and I am SO excited to be getting the opportunity to do so...I won a spot in Lisa's (The Long Road to China) photography class, 

"Get out of the auto zone"!!!

I have admired Lisa's photography skills for so long, and have wanted to take one of her classes.  She is so generous to offer a giveaway almost every session for a spot, and this time it was ME (and two other lucky ladies!!)

I am thrilled and cannot wait to switch that camera out of "auto"!!

Thank you so much Lisa!!

 (I really love how the tree is in focus in this pic, and MR is softly in the background)

(this is a shot I have wanted to duplicate so badly...I don't have the right lens to get it just right, but I love it anyway :)

Flashback Friday {on Saturday!}

Bennett & Blake - England 2005

My Father-in-law took our family on an amazing trip to England.

He rented a narrow boat and we rode through the canals of England and Wales...opening locks and bridges, and stopping at little villages along the way, for a week.  

After that, we drove to London and spent another week touring another one of my favorite cities!

It was a trip we will NEVER forget!

An Heirloom Bed and Breakfast

Meet my Father-in-law Tom, and his lovely wife Frankie

Last year they were married and moved to Comfort, Texas

They have a CHARMING home, and have decided to fulfill a life long dream of Frankie's...to open a B & B!!

Comfort Texas is 45 minutes outside of San Antonio. You can stroll through more than 40 antique stores and dine at some wonderful restaurants.

Frankie is an amazing chef who uses lots of ingredients from her own garden! Their home is warm and inviting, and filled with many wonderful antiques.

So...if your in the area and need a soft place to rest your head....

An Heirloom Bed & Breakfast

is a wonderful place :)