Lean In

"How"...

I picked up a little Indian from  preK today...

Apparently they are doing something called "The Indian Child" at their Thanksgiving program because she launches into it all the time..and it has motions..this is another motion..lol..very cute...

Actually got my Halloween decor put up today..I KNOW..and put out a few Thanksgiving decorations..I really need to get a cute turkey..can't believe I don't have a turkey or something..I have a vintage turkey platter that I adore (brown transferware) and a few turkey plates, but no turkey? and my Mom has some OLD turkey salt and pepper shakers that were her grandmothers that I have been trying to swipe for many years now..one day they WILL be mine...they are beautiful..maybe I need to take a few pics of my "Thanksgiving" decor?..but it will only be out for a few weeks..I'm actually getting the itch to start putting out a few Christmas decorations..I think it's due to the decorating blogs I frequent? 

Winding up the photography whirlwind, as far as actually doing the sessions..now just lots of editing to do..ending the season with a bang this Saturday with a wedding..oh forgot, I actually have two other sessions to do too that were cancelled due to our down pouring of rain thanks to Hurricane Ida..so one more family shoot and a newborn shoot..and THEN I'll be done..and then WE have to get our pictures taken..going with bright fun clothing colors this year..check my photog blog for new session sneak peeks being added every few days..I have a few friends (ahem, not mentioning any names) that are about to bust to see some pictures, but like I reminded them, they must wait their turns..lol..

Night..

Dabbling on the "dark side"...

Of scrapbooking that is..I made my first all digital layout last night..kind of took me forever..really, it was trying to find a paper that went with these pictures in the digital papers I already had, and ended up going with a distressed white..it was the only thing that looked right..anyhow, I used a super simple digital template from Debbie Hodge's site to make this..had to start easy, you know? and did a little shopping at Designer Digitals during their sale..I have to say, I love the instant "shopping and having" gratification that digital scrapbooking offers..and not  having to photograph and edit the picture when I create a layout to share here..what else? Oh, never running out of title letters, the undo button...etc

So, anyways, don't laugh...

 

Back later with pictures from Chaz's football team's end of the season party...if I don't float away in all the rain today!

He didn't find this amusing?

The new B&H catalog came the other day, and I have a birthday coming up in December, so I thought I would make it easy for Brad to get me a gift..no thought and he could just go online and hit the "purchase" button...

But all I got was "this is a joke, isn't it?"...

I miss my scrapbook room!

So, due to the flurry of photography business (which I am thankful for..not complaining), I have become a slave to my computer editing pictures...and haven't been in my scrapbook room in ages! I miss it..it keeps calling my name every time I walk by it...

I went on that scrapbook retreat several weekends ago and finally photographed a few layouts that are finished. There are still several more in different stages of completion..

Thought I would post these so no one forgets that I do actually scrapbook!

(click to see the layouts larger)

This was from our short little trip down to Savannah back at the beginning of they year..I used Kate Pertiet's digital photo clusters for the pictures and then cut it out as one unit..the flourish is a Silhouette cut I had laying around that worked perfectly...that picture with the trees looks better in real life..apparently is had some sunlight reflecting on it when I photographed the layout..

and this is from trick or treating at the Avenue LAST year..we didn't get to do it this year unfortunately due to a football game..I used a Becky Higgins sketch for this, altered to fit my pictures..and this is much brighter and happier in real life? 

Ok, gotta go hop in the shower and get moving...!

I finally made one! (and Paula, don't look at this post!)

A Shutterfly book, that is! I went and volunteered to make one for our football coach for his gift cause I needed one more thing to do, right? But once I got started, it went really fast! And I had SO many good pictures, they had to be shared..also, a few other parents had some great pictures too..so I used some of theirs too. We're giving this to him at our end of the season party on Sunday and I think  he's going to love it! I do..and several parents have already ordered one for their family...sweet..it came today and I am thrilled with it!

Click here to view this photo book larger

There, that's better...

Got a picture of Mimi tonight before we took her out to eat...lol...

We stuffed ourselves with some good country cooking...

Happy Birthday to Mimi...

who, I had a really hard time finding a picture of for some reason? One by herself is really hard to come by, so I liked this one with all the girls...I'm  not going to mention what number birthday this is because she would kill me, but let's just say it's a significant one..a beginning of a new century for her! 

I definitely am blessed with the best Mother-in-law in the world!

Happy Birthday! We love you!

Trick or Treat..

It rained pretty much most of the day on Halloween, and that evening it was that nasty mist/sprinkle, but we didn't let it stop us,NO WAY..We went to my in laws, per tradition, and tried to get there early cause I was stressing about getting pictures before it got too dark outside..it was really cloudy all day..

Out came the "face paint" (I can't call it "make up"..that upset Chaz...lol) and we transformed both kids..

Brad worked on Chaz, spraying his hair black first, then doing the face painting..we aren't Picasso by any means, but we did ok..Chaz had a hard time with the make up, because I kept hearing Brad in there yelling at him to stay still...

and this was the final result..lol..

 

Would you even know this was Chaz? 

Bailey's face painting was much easier..and I did hers..lol..

 

She was SO cute..and did much better in the rain in her costume..poor Chaz had black hair spray running down his neck after awhile..lol..but it didn't really bother him that much..it was dark by then..

Love this picture...had to get the cute little tail in..

They were peering out the window, dying to get going..watching the other trick or treaters that had already started..

BUT, we had to get the obligatory family picture first..I know, mean Mommy..

 

It makes me really annoyed that this picture is blurred..the only one I have of both of them together..but what can I say..I refuse to use the flash and should have changed my lens on my camera..

Sorry that all these are so blurry, but when I use them on a layout, they will definitely be very small prints..lol..I love this house..it's always so cute, but the kids were sprinting from house to house so fast, I couldn't get there and get set fast enough to get a good shot, so this will have to do..

 

man, I was glad to get back to Mimi's house..

 

I wish my Halloween pictures looked like Karen Russell's..sigh...are those not awesome?..with the cute neighborhood and fall trees.. I love the "feel" of her pictures..was feeling very jealous looking at them..lol..

Anyways,  this week kicked off with ANOTHER mild case of pink eye for me..dang it!..why do I get this so much? So, I'm feeling my way along with my old, scratched, crooked glasses instead of  my beloved contacts for a day or so..I still have some of the eye drops for it, thank goodness..I REALLY need to get some new glasses and had sworn THIS year, I would, but still haven't..grrrr...and I have a bit of a cold, which is giving me a sinus headache..ughhhhhhhh, I'm so fun, aren't I? lol..

I had a really good photo session last Wed and yesterday evening..hope to get those peeks up soon..check my photo blog..I put a new peek up this weekend from last Sundays' shoot...

Is the whole Christmas thing stressing anyone else out? Geeez, I like to enjoy Thanksgiving first..and we may be doing something a little different for Thanksgiving this year..will share when the plans are firmed up..and I've got to get Chaz's birthday plans in order..it'll be here before  you know it. 

Happy Monday and first of November!

This pretty much sums up last night...

lol..back later with more pictures..

Happy Halloween!

It's going to be a soggy one here, but we'll make due..can't wait to get pictures of my little Dracula and Spot!

Be safe!