OUT OF TOWN!!!

Hello everyone! WEW... all I can say is 2010 has already had so many blessings and has found a way to occupy all of my time. Leaving little to no time for blogging and any extra photo work!

I am gone from the studio till May 1st as my twin sister had her baby this weekend!!! I am an auntie to an adorable little girl!

So... as I am typing I am watching little Brooklyn sleep!

I can't wait to share some photos with all of our family and friends who have been waiting anxiously to see Brooklyn!

In the mean time.... please enjoy the beautiful spring weather we have and always take some time to spend with your family! I know why I cry every time I leave my sister... cause it's so awesome to spend time with her and her growing family!

Take care and I look forward to some future blogs when time allows!

I'm off to give my niece some loving for all the family not here!

xoxoxo

My BIG News!!!

Well... I guess to talk about my engagement story I would have to say it started out with a WARNING.... :)

My fiance was to be in court and when he texted me saying he was running late, but that I should meet him at my house instead of waiting, I packed up for the day and left the studio. The studio is across the street from the court house so I see lots of law enforcement personal and always try to make sure I am not breaking any traffic violations! hee hee

I was driving along to my house when I noticed the police vehicle that had pulled out close to when I did, was still behind me. I kept going and when I turned onto my street I glanced back and didn't see them anymore. Then to MY SURPRISE... his lights came on! So I pulled over. He asked for my licence and registration. (as always... I didn't have it organized and was giving him papers like my oil change! ha ha) He asked if I knew why I was pulled over.... I replied that I had no idea... he said my right brake light was out. Well shoot... I thought!!! I better get that fixed and I had no idea! He went back to his vehicle to enter my information.

I sat in the car thinking... maybe I should text Dan (my boyfriend at the time :) and tell him I was going to be late. Ohhh wait maybe I should tell him (since he is a police officer!) that I was pulled over and I may "need" some of his help!!!! I decided against them and just sat there and cleaned my car while I waited!!!

When the officer came back he handed me my information and told me he had just given a warning but that I should get my light fixed right away! Then he asked me if I had ever had any speeding tickets, fines or broken any laws before. I SAID NO! He replied with... "Well there is someone in Nebraska with your name and birth date that has a warrant out for their arrest! and... "Did I know anything about this?" NO.... I didn't know anything about this! He kept looking at me and I starting thinking this was a joke... so I kinda laughed and said "Are you serious?!?!" He proceedes to tell me, "I'll need you to step out of the vehicle." OH NO!!! It was crazy I was so confused and so I asked if I should turn off my car or leave it running. ha ha

While we were walking back to his vehicle I notice the back passenger door open, I looked at the police officer and back at the opening door to see DAN!!! At first he and I both agree that I thought it was just a terrible joke! Then I realized he had flowers and a BIG grin on his face. He walked toward me and I kinda started walking back to my car cause I was crying at this time from all the emotional feelings rushing around!!! LOL He caught my arm, got down on one knee and ASKED ME TO SPEND THE REST OF MY LIFE WITH HIM! Well... that's at least the gist of it! I really didn't know what he said till we watched the video! I could hardly stand up I was so nervous, then upset (yes, that's a mean joke!), and then excited!

YEP YEP!!!! It was very memorable and I couldn't ask for more!




Here are a few photos of the ring for all of my family and friends who aren't here and are excited to see the outward first steps leading up to the marriage! OH... and I couldn't leave out the WARNING ticket that I got for a little memory token! hee hee It's official too... even have the brake light in there and then WILL YOU MARRY ME! Just so you know... my brake lights work just fine!! It was funny afterwards... I asked Dan if my break lights really did need to be fixed!!! LOL


I better get back to work! I wanted to share with everyone the exciting news and look forward to keeping you up with the exciting details!!!

IF ANYONE ELSE wants to share their engagement story let me know!!!

Cheers!

Merry Christmas

MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE and Happy Holidays!!!

I got home late last night to my dad's and I'm excited to get my snow boats on and head outside where all the trees are perfectly covered with frost! It's absolutely breathtaking out here at the Hahn Ranch to see the snow covered hills and frost covered trees. 

I have been looking at the weather and pray that everyone gets safely wherever you are heading for the holidays. Spending this time with your friends and family is really the true gift of the season. 

I know children are anticipating the final countdown to Christmas morning.  I have always anticipated the Christmas Eve service with candle light and the traditional carols that uplift and bring a smile to everyones face. It truly brings "joy" to your heart! 

Drive Safely...  Celebrate the Season... and Merry Christmas to you all!

Family Session

the family...

Here are some of the photos from the sessions!!! There were so many wonderful images I had a hard time grabbing a few to share!

Family Sessions

Happy Tuesday!!! What a great time of year it is! I mean I can't help but to sit here at my desk and smile... SMILE... SmILe! I love Christmas lights, trees, stockings, nativities, and oh... the wonderful smells of the holidays!

Yes, if you need a little get away stop by the studio... I have candles burning (they are awesome!!!), the tree lit and it's pretty cozy!!! After today with the weather changing... I think I'm in the perfect place to stay warm.

Today was such an amazing day. I got to meet Nathan and Jennifer's addition to their family... Shawn!!! What a complete sweetheart he is! I loved getting to cuddle him! Such a happy and cheery baby. We tried really hard to get smiles out of him during the session, but we struggled. It wasn't until he was packed up for the car ride that smiles came out... ahhhh :) that's how it goes!!! hee hee

Then this evening Matt & Jenna (I hope I am spelling that right! I forgot to have you write it down for me!) stopped by with their two year old and their little baby boy! Avery loved my bubble blower and the "pretties" around the studio. aka... jewelry!!! Ha ha what a fun time she always has. Carter just hung out most of the session, with bright, wide open eyes. A wonderful family! I just keep smiling at how great it is to see such happy families. To see the love that is still in the parents eyes. The way they work together with the children.

ha ha ha...
and the best... how silly they are willing to look along with me to make their children smile!

Thank you for trusting me with such precious moments in your lives and the lives of your children.

Cheers!

Photos to come!

Happy Thanksgiving...

Happy Thanksgiving everyone and Happy Holidays!

I can't believe how fast this year has went. I mean I'm already feeling behind on my Christmas shopping. hee hee  Yes, I am one of those who likes to get their shopping done... oh about a month or two before Christmas!  It works great for the ones I can't wait to buy gifts for. When Christmas gets here I find more gifts I want to make or get for them! 

But more than gifts... this time of the year is about what we have to be thankful for. For spending the time with our family and friends and celebrating in the real reason for the season!

I got home after a wonderful thanksgiving meal with my boyfriends family and sat down thinking about all that I have be thankful for. This year alone I have been blessed in so many wonderful ways. I was worrying about not making time in the past few weeks to be able to blog and share all the great sessions. That's when I realized... WHAT A GREAT "problem"! 

THANK you for being the wonderful, supportive family, friends and clients that you are! I have been blessed to meet many of you for the first time this year, to celebrate with you on the enormous moments in your lives and to capture the memories. 

I have much, much more to so say thank you for, but it is time for dinner. I am off to take share in a meal with family and friends in town for the holiday!  

Take care!  Thank you!

family...

These two are the closest thing growing up that I had to younger siblings! I remember changing both of their diapers, packing them around sporting events and best of all... cutting their hair for the first times!!! Actually for his first hair cut my sister held his head so he wouldn't move and we put in a move for him to watch. Placed the chair right in front of the tv and before we knew it he was fast asleep and drooling all over her!!! HA Ha Good times! 

 WE had lots of fun and spend lots of nights sleeping over on the coach! Their big sister, was my twin sister and I's really good friend and high school classmate.  Thank you for coming up and allowing me to capture their warm smiles and cute mischievous grins!!!

I miss you all very much!

Joe & Linda's Family

Wow! I know it's been a week or so again! I think everyday... "I need to get some of the photos uploaded and what a great story I have to tell about the session!"

... then... I run out of time! So... I will start with one session and try to catch up on all the others!

Joe & Linda came up two weekends ago and we met and drove up to Sylvan Lake in Custer State Park! The day was wonderful!!! We actually were talking on the drive up on how some snow would have been nice and then we found some!

They have four great children. We hiked all over the one side of the lake. Climbing up on rocks, going through the narrow passage ways and walking over icy pathways. I laughed a lot at all the various comments from the kids. They were eager to show me new places to take photos. Ha ha!

It was wonderful to catch up with all of them! My last years of high school Linda was my study hall teacher and I miss our little chats! We also shared a love of volleyball and it was fun to chat about that too!

Well... here are a few of their kids!!!

... more on Carter!

So... these are the photos of the two little loves of my life right now!

James is a little over a year and a half now and Carter is 4 days old in these photos. It was a quick little session with the attention span we had to work with, but they did great!!! James is such a wonderful BIG brother and loves to rub the babies head and give him kisses. He's at the time where he is learning so many things and one of them being parts of his body. He's mastered where his nose and eyes are... and likes to show where his little brothers are!!! LOL He just isn't quite gentle enough!

I had to attach this last one here of James as he is pouting!! LOL :) OH it makes me laugh every time!! It was like he was doing great and then all of a sudden he was done. ha ha
My brother has him already getting ready for football with his..."down, set, hut, hut... HIKE!"
It's too cute!!!

Thanks to my amazing sister-in-law for helping me with these. You are the best!

To my BIG brother.... I couldn't be more proud of you as the wonderful daddy you are to your two little boys! Love you!

Well... now that I have shared a bit of what's been going on in my personal life... I'll get back to some amazing senior sessions I've also photographed this week!

Thanks for reading and have a wonderful weekend!

Carter Matthew....

Here's some of the photos from the quick little "studio set-up" we came up with at my brothers this week!

A beautiful Trick or Treat night...

I think last night has to go down for one of the nicest nights for the little trick or treaters!!! It wasn't windy, it was warm and a clear sky to enjoy the almost full moon. The Halloween's I remember as a child we were bundled up and driving through snow storms lots of the time. ha ha! The things parents do for their kids!

I hope everyone enjoyed the night last night!

Last week went by so quickly I realized I hadn't even sat down to right a little note. I spent a majority of the week designing Christmas Cards and then finished the week off with two great sessions.

Friday morning Kinsie and her mom drove up from NE for her senior session. The roads were a little slick most of the way but when they arrived in Rapid we didn't have slick roads to get through but... wind!!! Lots of wind!  Kinsie toughed through it though and we have lots of fun images from the outdoor session!  Thanks for making the trip... You did a great job!

On friday afternoon, Colton and Summer came by for their engagement session. I was thinking the night before when the weather wasn't very good that their trip from Minnesota may not happen, but they made it! I haven't gotten to look at all the photos from the session but they did such a great job that I know there will be lots to pick from! You two have a great relationship of giving and taking and getting through obstacles and distances. I wish you so many happy memories planning this wedding and for all the years after!!! Congrats once again! I'm smiling thinking of how exciting it will see Summer in her wedding gown walking toward Colton and the look that will be on his face!  You two look at each other in a way that makes anyone smile if they see it. Thanks for sharing this time with me! 

The other exciting news this week...

I am an aunt again!!! My brother had his second child! I look forward to sharing some photos of Carter when I get back on Wednesday. Yep... I'm heading over to see them after my session tomorrow!!! I have a two little boys to spoil now and take my job as an auntie... Very, VERY, vErY seriouslY!!!!  Take care till next time!

Mini Vacation!!!

Hello Hello!

Yes, I have to admit I took a mini vacation last week. I was really starting to miss my twin sister and so... I packed up my bags and hit the road! It was an amazing few days. I stopped in NE to "help" my dad buy calves and visit him for a day then drove over to my sisters in WY. We enjoyed catching up and really not doing much at all together besides cooking some amazing meals. ha ha... you know you try hard to not just eat when you are with your family but it never seems to go that way! We love to cook so that really gets us going in the wrong direction too! LOL

I attempted to work on some editing and designing there, but was not successful when it came to sending any of the work. Yes, I know in big cities you pay for internet at a coffee shop, but not where I live. So... after I paid for a block of internet service it was terribly slow. Needless to say I don't have a lot of patience for slow uploading and decided that work would just have to wait.

Before the final trek back home I was excited to make a stop off at my brother's home and visit him and the growing little family! My nephew is growing so fast and talking like crazy. I think we got to read the new farm book to him with the pop up photos at least ten times. Everytime he would make the noise for all the animals!!! So darn cute!!! I loved it!

Now I'm back and excited to share with all of you the fun and exciting photos from the past week or two.

Today I will be uploading some photos from Rachel's session that we finished yesterday. The first day her session was scheduled the weather was rainy and cold. We worked on her indoor photos and then post-poned the outdoor till last night. Let me tell you... if you weren't out last night it was a shame. It was absolutely beautiful. There was no wind and the colors are so warm and well kinda cozy!!! Rachel has one of the most natural smiles and cutest little nose wrinkles when she laughs really hard.
I had such a fun time on your session and was picking out stickers last night after we got back from the session. I hope you didn't have as much poking going on as me! Thanks for your free spirit and easy going with all the weather delays. I look forward to hearing from you in years to come with all you chose to pursue! Remember... You don't have to know what you want to do or be... you just follow your heart and start with the basics! You'll get there, I'm sure!!!

Great Families!

Here are the last few photos from the families that I had the privileged to photograph in Chadron! Thank you for the opportunity to spend some time with you family. I have lots of fun stories to go with each of these sessions but I will just leave you with some fun photos!

Cute Family

Willie and Libby brought their two little sweethearts in on Sunday evening. It was so great to see the two of them and how their family is growing. The girls are their entire life and it shows in the ways that they look and play with them. We had lots of fun and I was made aware of what a three year old really knows. They can actually know meanings to words! HA!!! It was great! Then when things were about to wrap up I asked the cute couple to come take a few shots with the sun going down with just the two of them! The photos still make me smile at how much you two really love each other. You two have what lots of others long for! Great to see you and spend some time with your family.

Hally, Hayden & Ransen

These have to be three of the most adorable children there are!  I still am in AW every time I see these three little cuties!

They have the most spectacular eyes and their sweet personalities.

...well at least during this session! I know their mom would agree that they can be little stinkers too.  Thank for bringing them in Jill! Great to see you all and see how BIG they are all getting.

 

Grant Family

Thanks for coming in and letting me meet Parker! He is adorable with all that curly hair. Grandma you were great being very energetic and helping in more ways than I can thank you! Here's one I started to work on of the cute couple! I'll get more up later and have your proofs on too.

Thank you!

Family Photos at Circa 1900

Today I've had two great families come in for sessions! We played around a lot and got some great images for them!  Circa 1900 here in Chadron has some great props that we were able to use and wonderful locations right around the building. Thanks for coming in with your three children Debbie and Tyson!  You have an adorable family!  Here's a sneak peak at a few...

NEW Engagement!!!

OH! I couldn't forget to mention that my wonderful friend and room mate for a while longer is also engaged to be married next year!!! YIPPIE!!!  We were able to be a part of the engagement celebration while we were in California. Her wonderful fiance, who is from CA, invited us to surprise her on the night he told his family that he would no longer call her his "girlfriend!"  I wouldn't have missed that for the world! It was so great to see her and share in the celebration! So... congratulations to Tim and Renee and I look forward to hearing all the wedding plans as they unravel!!!  You two are truly meant to be. You have endured more struggles and distances than any couple I know. I am so happy for you both!  Hip Hip HURRAY!

4th of July

Independence Day, what a wonderful day to get together with family and friends to celebrate!  This 4th of July we cooked some amazing kabobs, fruit pizza, blended up some fruit smoothies for the kids, enjoyed some chips and dips and great company. I would have to say after a weekend with family and friends and lots of food, I am ready to go on a seriously long walk!  I also have had the privilege to work on my bean bag skills! If you aren't familiar with bean bags then I will try to give you a little information about the game.  It is a game that consists of two teams with two people on each team. Each team has four bean bags that are a little bigger than the palm of your hand. There are two boards that are at a slant with the ground and have a whole cut in the top part of them.  The gist of the game is to try to be the first team to get to 21 (not go over 21 or you start again at 11).  It's lots of fun and kept all of us entertained for hours! My cousins are the best celebration dancers EVER! Thanks Mike for the victory lap around the block! Ha ha

Also when I was home for the 4th with my family we worked my dad's yearling steers. I enjoyed riding the horses and getting up early to enjoy long full days with my family and how it used to be. If you have ever worked yearlings though, you will understand the frustration that comes with those young steers and the first time they have to be rounded up. I think it took them about 20 minutes to figure out that the open gate we pushed them to was for them to go through. ha ha Also what a fun time!!!

I hope everyone had a wonderful 4th of July and enjoyed some time with their family and friends! If you have a fun story to share PLEASE DO!!!!