eventful

It most certainly has been an eventful week!  Nothing huge and earth shattering.  Just lots of little stuff.   Monday and Tuesday were days spent with nieces and nephews and shopping and coffee.  My kind of days.  Thursday a friend and I went to a bakery auction in Manhattan.  Totally fun.  This place was adorable with tons of charm.  Too bad the cafe and bakery located within didn't quite make it.  Ballet and a visit from the little charlie man rounded out our eventful week.  Perhaps some sewing this weekend yet?  One can hope?  I think my machine may throw a hissy fit because I haven't spent any time with her since Christmas!

kc movement

I had the amazing opportunity of photographing a performance by KC Movement this weekend.  What a glorious way to spend valentines day!  This modern dance troop moved us in so very many ways.  I was really pushed to take photos and not just watch!  The music choices, the costumes, the raw emotion.  No words.  Just amazing.

My girls are blessed to have one of these company dancers teaching them on weekends.  It was truly a treat to see her dance.  Her grace and strength are an example for my girls.  They have taken lessons at a very classical ballet studio for so many years, it was nice to stretch their view of ballet a bit with professional modern ballet.

And did I mention?  We brought 5 kids with us!  To Kansas City.  On Valentines Day.  Enough said about that!  

an artist of the culinary kind

I have recently begun to admire a whole new form of artwork lately.  Don't get me wrong, I have always enjoyed a good cupcake.  And by a good cupcake I mean every cupcake is a good cupcake right?  Then I met Allyson.  She is a serious artist dealing in sprinkles and sugar and chocolate, oh my!  

One of the things I love about her is that look on her face while she is baking.  I mean how can something turn out poorly when you smile like that?!  One of her employees noted that she smiles each time she finishes a cupcake.  

She bakes it all from scratch.  No boxes around this place!  The cake is awesome but the frosting is insane!  She goes from vanilla to chocolate to lemon to strawberry without skipping a beat!  

This week I did a bit of photography work in the bakery.  Getting ready for Valentines day and all.  What a pleasure.  All of these cupcakes went home with me.  I will totally work for cupcakes anytime.  Well maybe not anytime.  My rear end will be as big as a house if I keep this up!  

If you are in the area check her out.  Or just drool over her web page!

toothless wonder

If you ask me there just ain't a whole lot cuter than a little one with no teeth!  Poor kid doesn't have much on the bottom either!  

Okay.  Not much of a post.  We are all beyond exhausted here.  Hope everyone else is fine.  Happy February!

::12::

The oldest, you see, was 12 yesterday.  I can't even begin to tell you how I feel about this.  There is of course the whole "time marches on" and "I can't possibly be old enough to have a 12 year old" thing.  I thought that would be a big deal.  Believe it or not, that's not what has been on my mind the past few days.

She really is an amazing gal.  Bright and talented, you know, the thing every mom says about her daughter.  But there is something else.  This child, or young lady, is just that.  A young lady.  No longer my babe.  No longer my adorable little toddler.  As awesome as she was as a babe and a toddler this is so much better.  She is intuitive and sensitive.  She is funny and more shy than most would think.

Her and I started this journey together.  I was only 21 years old when I found out that she would be joining me.  I can't imagine now how I managed it that young.  Through all of my mistakes and my learning we have grown up together.  I am proud to call her my daughter and my friend.

So happy birthday Abby.  I am so very proud of you.  Thank you for being my first born.  I can't wait to see what your life has in store!

ps...the cake above was OBVIOUSLY not made by me.  it was however made by my dear friend Allyson over at Daddy Cakes.  If you are in the area you must must must try her stuff!  Seriously ridiculously good cakes and cupcakes!

history

So I decided to keep the kids home from school today to share history with them.  I told them they would be home schooled for just a few hours (i am pretty sure that would be the total number of hours i would be capable of homeschooling them anyway).  It was worth it.  Seeing them listen so intently to the oaths of office.  Watching their own future open before them.  Collectively coveting the clothes and shoes of the First Lady and her babes.  They were mesmerized by YoYo Ma.  They were moved by Aretha Franklin.  They were inspired by our new President.  God bless you and your sweet family Mr. President.  We are ready.

live with new website!

I certainly hope and pray that the holidays have found you all well this year!  Above is just a bit of what has been keeping us hopping over here!  We have shared the Christmas spirit and a lovely little flu bug around here this holiday season.  Go figure.  A quiet little Christmas was just in order this year.

The first website I published when I started my new business was, uh, slow and looked like an amateur threw it together.  The pictures looked grainy and you couldn't adjust the size of anything.  The purpose of having a website was served, but the thing bugged me from the start.  

Without further ado, check out the new site.  Let me know what you guys think.  The flash technology is over my head, but I really think I love it.  

nutcracker 2008

So we are drawing to the close of another Nutcracker season here with the Wise 5.  For the first time ever all of the offspring were in the production.  Little man asked the Artistic Director if he could audition too.  He figured he would have to be there anyway.  She wound up casting him as the rabbit in the battle scene!  A pretty big part for a pretty little boy.  Here's the notes for the above picture.  The mowhawked rabbit is being lifted by the mouse king.  Abby was a Mouse Queen attendant (in this particular cast) in the green shirt on the right.  Miss Mo is a cadet with the sweat pants and rifle in the back.  This was the only pic I had of he three of them together!

As crazy as the holidays get, we really do feel privileged to be a part of this production year after year.  I was granted permission to take photos during performances.  The only camera granted permission.  I will have to share once editing is done!  Hope you all have a great holiday!

one of my favorite subjects

My sweet nephew Charlie that is.  I figure I am about due for another post.  Been about a month.  How did I get to be that kind of blogger?  I would love to be able to sew and blog a bit over the holidays.  Keep your finger crossed for me will ya?  The gallery show was fab.  I hope to get a few of those shots up on flickr soon.  There was wine, cheese, chocolate, and art.  Oh and did I mention the live music?  We had a great time.  I felt a bit out of my league.  The other three artists were art and photography professors at the University of Kansas!  And I am a mom from Topeka.  Geeeez.  

So does everyone have all of their Christmas shopping done?  If you do...I hate you.  I have never felt so random and unorganized during Christmas before!  And on that note I will sign off before the rambling starts.  Hope to write again sooner rather than later.

topeka's got it good (food at least)

So when I decided to make photography my living and not just a hobby I thought it would be a slow increase at first.  I was SO wrong.  I have been crazy busy!  I have a strong initial client base, and my phone has been ringing off the hook with referrals!  And because that might not make me crazy enough, I was chosen as a featured artist in December at a local gallery!  Can you believe it?  Part of me is excited about the new adventure we are on, and part of me misses the rhythm of my life just a few months ago.  Time to find a new rhythm I suppose.

The pictures are from our favorite restaurant here in town.  It called the RowHouse.  A tiny place tucked into a rowhouse by the capitol.  One menu.  Many wines.  Unbelievable food.  Best service I have ever had.  In Topeka.  Man I'm in love.

that time

I have been watching all of you venture out (yes I have been reading even if I don't comment or write) to get your fall pumpkins and gourds and such.  But first it was too hot here.  You can't get pumpkins in the heat.  Right?  Then the heavens opened up to rain for DAYS!!!  But all of the stars lined up yesterday (including my hubby being home).  The wind had a chill and a bite.  Jackets were needed.  The sky was a crisp and clear blue without haze in sight.  Ahhhh.  Perfect pumpkin weather.

We have brought the kids to the same pumpkin patch for the past 11 years.  When my first was just a babe we came here.  Parker was only a few weeks old on his first trip.  The is history here and a sense of the changing seasons of our lives.

Only in the past few years would they attempt this jump.  You see, my gals really are pretty wimpy.  Parker, not so much.  Note Morgan plugging her nose like she does when she jumps off of the diving board!

And a ballerina jump from Abby.  Anyone surprised?

Hope you all are enjoying these first real days of autumn!

a lovely day to fly

I was truly blessed today by a dear friend who took me flying.  He called to see if I wanted to go to lunch...in southern Kansas.  I said YES of course.  We made the same trip a few weeks ago and I forgot my camera.  I wouldn't make the same mistake twice.  (more pics on flickr by the way).  Ever since I was little I have loved to fly.  The feeling of soaring above it all.  Free.  No phones.  No email.  Just sky.  It helps that Beaumont Kansas doesn't have a cell tower!  Or a paved landing strip.  You land on a grass strip and taxi down a public street to a quaint little hotel and restaurant.  A little town stopped in time.  

Just south of this small town is a HUGE wind farm.  I didn't get as  clear of a shot as I wanted (below) because the haze was a bit of a problem.  If you have never seen one of these in person I highly suggest it.  Its like leaving a town caught in the past and then suddenly flying over the future.  It makes me happy to Kansas on the forefront of the surge towards energy independence!  They look so clean and elegant against the green of the earth and the blue of the sky.  I hope you all had a good week, or at least as relaxing of an end!

life as normal

Life around here is back to normal.  Normal being a very VERY relative term.  Thank you all so very much for your kind words for my friend.  She did pass away on September 11 after a long and courageous fight.  Your prayers and thoughts were definitely felt around here.  Please continue to keep her husband and two small children in your thoughts as they transition into a new and scary life without mom and wife.  

And because life isn't crazy enough around here, we decided to get a puppy.  Meet Sadie.  She is about the sweetest thing I have ever seen.  She's a Yorkie Maltese mix (a Morkie).  I wanted to name her Mindy.  The kids didn't get it.  Sigh.  

Trying to catch back up with my life and yours.  What's new out there?

the big ::c::

(A drawing is coming, promise)

I haven't felt much like blogging lately. I wish I could say that I have been too busy (i have) or that I really didn't miss you (i did).  But I have had a cloud around me lately.  A very dear friend of mine was diagnosed one year ago with stage four ovarian cancer.  She was admitted into a hospice program a few weeks ago.  I wish you all knew her.  She is fabulous!  Strong and stubborn.  Sweet and still more than a bit of a smart ass.  She has kids that are 9 and 6.  She could be one of the coolest moms I have ever met.  And she is dying.

I have been sitting with her while her husband is at work about three days a week.  I don't have words for any of this.  Just sadness.  In no world is this fair.  I spend my days thanking God for every second I have with her and for every second I have with my own children.  

Will you all do me a favor?  Pray for her.  Pray for her sweet family.  Pray for every minute and hour that she has left.  And pray for me will you?  That I can be strong when she is not.  That I can show grace when there is very little around.  She has taught me so much.  

::three::

Three years.  Wow.  Has it really been that long since I started this journey called blogging?  I started this blog to keep family and friends up to date on our daily goings on.  To show off baby pictures and loose teeth and trips to the park and the zoo.  In some ways that is what it will always be. How was I to know what was to come next?  

I will never be able to put into words what all of this has meant to me and my life.  Everyone who has read or reads this blog has effected me.  Some have inspired.  Some have made me laugh.  Some have consoled me when life has simply gotten too tough.  Some have become sweet acquaintances.  Some have be come dear friends.  All have made my life richer.

Because I have been blogging for three years, there will be three giveaways.  One will be fabric from my stash (a generous selection), one will be vintage pillowcases, and one will be a pattern and some fat quarters.  Leave me a message and let me know which one you want.  I will draw the names on Monday.  

Thank you all for being such a huge part of my life.

where have we been?

Well to grandma's of course!  Getting ready for school to start next week.  Losing my mind.  Big giveaway later in the week.  Dude.  I guess it is already later in the week.  Maybe first if next week.  I do have a blogiversary coming up! Hope this makes you smile!

can't wait

...to get to know you better.  My mother-in-law brought this gem to me over the weekend.  She is a bit dusty and well worn.  But she has completely stolen my heart.  She belonged to my husband's late father.  The best I can figure, she was born in 1966.  

Look at the view finder!  I know it will take time to figure out all of her quirks.  Time I look forward to taking.  As much as I adore my Nikon 3, there is something about being forced to take my time.  Set the shot.  Wait for the developing.  No immediate gratification on his one.  God knows I need a bit of that in my life right now.

I will post pictures when I get her cleaned up and figure out how to load the film.

belly dancing is awesome

And so is this gal!  Me and my gals, along with a few friends had the absolute pleasure of seeing her dance on Saturday night.  And let me tell you, she is really really good!!  Lori, I am totally in awe!  She said after the show that belly dancing is what ballerinas do when they get old (did I say that right lori?).  I don't know about that, but this old ballerina is ready to GO!  However the world may not be ready to see anything that has to do with this post-three-kids-and-a-few-too-many-donuts belly I got going on.  I'm afraid it may keep dancing when the rest of me has stopped.  If you live in the Lawrence KC ish area and missed this you really did miss something great.  

Speaking of something great...you guys are awesome.  Thanks for all of the love about my new business.  I have been a bit of a nervous nellie and you really did perk me up.  Any area folk heading over to the Anthropologie shin dig Wednesday?  

new

There is an awful lot of new around here these days.  A new friend was born early this morning.  A dear sweet soul who came into this world after a long and emotional year for her parents.  So sweet.  So perfect.  So pure.  Welcome dear friend.

And something else is pulsing over here.  I appreciate all of your patience.  No, I'm not pregnant.  This has brought with it almost the same type of anticipation however.  I would like to introduce you to ImageWise Photography.  After years of playing and dreaming about being a professional photographer, I have made the jump.  Eyes closed, peeking through my fingers.  Will you guys hold my hand?  So many people who read this blog have made this reality.  Everyone of you inspire me.  From the creative awesomeness of other bloggers to the close friends and family who allow me to shoot their pictures constantly.  Here we go!

hello

Have you guys ever felt like everything in your life is going waaaaay faster than you can keep up with?  Yup.  That's me right now.  I have about ten pots boiling on a stove that only holds four!  Aaaack!  

Not that I am complaining.  More like whining.  All of the things in my life right now that are driving me to pull my hair out are the things that are also giving me the most amount of sheer joy.  

Is this post cryptic enough for you?  Curious?  Why don't these pics match anything about this post?  Trying to create mystery I suppose.  Actually just not quite ready to let you all in on my new little secret.  

The pics are from the state capital building here in Kansas.  In case you were wondering.