Exciting News

I finally got the 'okay' to share these pictures with you! At 8am on Thanksgiving Day, I snuck out of the house to go to Gracie's and take some super secret pictures. (Let me tell you... this was a very hard secret to keep!) Here are a few we took:

I am SOOOOOOOOO excited!! :)

Best Friends

Well, sessions have been rained out twice this week and I'm a little annoyed with Mother Nature. The sessions are both rescheduled for days that I know will be beautiful and perfect. (I can only wish!) So, instead of shooting today, I am busy getting ready for the Country Tractor Run this Saturday where I will be taking photographs and videoing for the DVD. You can check out the route on the Information section of their website. The tractors will leave at 9am from the New Effington elementary school, but be there by 8 for registration and get ready for the group photo this year! (Which I will be up in a cherry picker to take. YIKES!) There will be a craft show from 10am-4pm in the NE Community Center and supper starting at 5. A street dance will follow that night. This is a great event with an even better cause and I hope to see you there!

This afternoon I am also hanging out with my favorite niece, who even brought me a present today. A friendship bracelet! Now we are best friends. :)

My little best friend swore she wasn't tired, but I told her to just rest for a while and watch the CTR video from last year with me. She was out in five minutes. So while she sleeps I am busy blogging and editing and planning for the next few weeks.

Don't forget that the next newsletter will go out right away in July and if you are interested in signing up, please send an email to rapnewsletter @ gmail.com (without the spaces.) Stay tuned for more blog posts from recent sessions!

My Spare Time

Not only have I had more time for sessions this summer, but I've also had more time to do some nature photography! When you grow up in an area and see the same things everyday, I think you really take for granted the beauty that surrounds you.

My parents' backyard has been full of orioles and I staked out one day and waited to get a few shots of them.

The next day it rained all day and I was pretty much tired of being stuck inside. I was very excited when I looked out the window at about 8:50pm to find a double rainbow all the way across the sky! To the west was a dark sunset and to the east was a double rainbow. Pretty awesome!

It is finally Summer!

Well, for me at least. I am officially done with the semester and that means I am all yours until August! Besides taking pictures all summer long, I have also decided to re-read the Harry Potter series before the last movie comes out in July.

Oliver has gotten a head start...

I am SO excited to be able to focus on my photography instead of also taking summer classes at MSUM. I have one semester left in the Fall and because I will be student teaching, spaces will be very, very limited starting in September. If you would like a family, child, or Senior session, it's best to book this summer and book soon! The summer is looking like a busy one for me and you can always check out the website calendar for available dates! If you don't see a date available that you would like, still contact me because people cancel, reschedule, etc.  Be sure to check out the Facebook page for any deals. (There is one posted right now!)

I took a little celebratory summer walk around outside this morning- The birds were chirping and there was a slight breeze. Perfect weather! Rusty was a little jealous that Oliver would be on the blog and he also wanted to say "Hello" to you all.

 The flowers are starting to pop up on the farm and while I was outside this morning, I took a few photos of all the blooms.

I also want to wish all those Mom's out there a very Happy Mother's Day. I hope your day is surrounded with the ones you love and that you put up your feet and relax a little.

On Mother's Day I have written a poem for you.  In the interest of poetic economy and truth, I have succeeded in concentrating my deepest feelings and beliefs into two perfectly crafted lines:  You're my mother, I would have no other!  

~Forest Houtenschil

MSUM

Since January, I have had the pleasure with working with the most amazing people. Everyday I went to MSUM and looked forward to learning and studying with them. The semester flew by and last Friday was so exciting, but also very sad. I won't have to go to campus everyday and I won't have an insane amount of homework to do. I also won't be able to hang out, laugh, and have that support team that I have had.

On Thursday, we went out to the Regional Science Center and on a whim I decided to bring my camera with. I just wanted to share a few images from our "field trip."

 

 The Buffalo River is right behind the building and, as you can see, it is currently flooded.

Such a great group of people! Good luck everyone!

Hockey, Hockey, Hockey.

In honor of the snow storm, I decided I'd post about another type of storm. My oldest brother was in Fargo this past weekend with the Tri-City Storm and I put on my Storm gear and went to the Force vs. Storm games at the Scheels Arena. The games were great.

There were celebrations...

and uh,  almost a few fights. Saturday's game went into OT and the Force ended up with the win. Both teams played well and it was definitely exciting!

Here are a few more of the Storm boys:

I am catching up and finishing all sorts of designs and prints this week. I enjoyed my weekend away from the studio, but I'm ready to be back this weekend! Everyone stay safe in this storm! Stay home, grab some hot chocolate, a movie, and enjoy time with your loved ones.

Malane's

It was a year ago that my sister in law and I convinced my mom to start her very own Etsy shop. She had made hats and other things that I requested for the studio and they were always a big hit with my clients. So when she started the shop I knew it would be a success! She has spent the year designing new photography props and adorable hats for babies and kids. (She doesn't even use patterns, so you won't find anything like her items anywhere else!)

Now she is featured in a guest post on a popular blog that professional photographers like to follow. This may be a sign that she has officially hit the big time. You can check out her post over at Paperie Boutique and even enter for a chance to win one of her infamous rabbit hat and diaper sets!

Be sure to check out her shop often as she is always adding something new and one of a kind! Her unique designs are not only great for photography, but they are also great for that perfect gift for that little one in your life.

MC & HNY

I should have done this yesterday, but I had a busy day! (I'm sure all of you did!) 

I hope you all had a great Christmas and 

I wish you the best in 2011.

Oops.

Today, I purchased a label maker...

Things got a little out of control.

"May Kissmass!"

I am in the middle of 'Finals Week' and decided to spend the time resting/studying at my parents. When I got here last night, the tree was up! Why was I surprised? Mom said she was putting it up on Tuesday. It normally takes her at least a week to get it all Martha Stewart style and very precisely decorated, but she had it done in a day. Impressive.

Grace is spending the day here today. I was sleeping when she first got here, but was soon awoken by a very excited puppy who heard her arrive. I opened my door to see her grinning at me and she told me that she was going to jump on me to wake me up! As I was trying to wake up, she ran around and played fetch with Oliver. Then we made caramel rolls! She is a very good helper, even though she probably eats more than she makes. We don't have to worry about what to do with leftovers though, I guess!

Then, she and Grandma made a gingerbread house! Grace proves to be just as precise when decorating. But, hey, it pays off. It looks great! Again, she ate more frosting and candy than what she put on the house, but that is just one of the many benefits of Christmas!

Grandma put a few finishing frosting touches on the house and... Viola!

The finished product with the sugared up 2.5 year old in front of her "Gamma's Kissmass tree." (Notice the frosting in her mouth.)

She is currently suppose to be taking a nap, but as I type this... I can hear her giggling. Apparently her and Oliver are having a slumber party. I don't know whether to laugh or be upset that I wasn't invited.
We still have lots more planned for today, including going over to 'Gampa Gampa's house' (Great Grandpa and Grandma's house). Have a sweet weekend, everyone! :)

Santa's Little Helpers

I picked Grace up from daycare one Friday and we took some Christmas pictures! She modeled some very cute hats that are for sale at Malane's Etsy shop. Grace insisted that Oliver was in a few pictures, too. "Awver cheese, too!" We may as well keep up with our yearly Christmas picture tradition, right? :)

She has got the "2 year old" smile down pretty darn good.

This one is my desktop background. Best pals!

Grace has an attitude and she is not afraid to show it. This is pretty much proof of that. 

Grace - "I am mad."

Me - "Why are you mad?"

Grace - "Cause I'm gonna fall offa here!" 

I love that smile! 

These are my favs. She said the lights were hot. They weren't plugged in. Haha :)

"Ow, ow, ow! Dey are hot!"

In a little more than a month, you will be seeing pictures of another little one.. my nephew! He is due in January and I can't wait to debut him!

The best Christmas gift of all is the presence of a happy family all wrapped up with one another.

Me and Oliver

Last year I got yelled at by multiple people for not having a PICTURE Christmas card. I just sent out boxed ones... How could I?! Well, the lighting was great out in the trees last night (my favorite part of my parent's yard) and I asked my mom, "If I change, will you take some pictures of me?" After a brief look of fright, she agreed. After I set up the camera and a quick lesson on what to do, she didn't do so bad. Although, according to her, my camera has too many buttons. :)

Definitely Two!

As most of you know, I have a super adorable niece. She models for my mom's Etsy shop and any time I want her to. :) I always hear, 'Grace must be so easy to take pictures of!' Well, people... let me tell you something. She is two. Yes... TWO! *duh duh duhhhhhh* She is independent, stubborn, and well... two. I love her to death, but sometimes she makes me work a little more. I would like to show you a few examples from yesterday with commentary:

I asked her "Gracie, can you smile for me?" and this is what I get.

I tell her "Grace come over here and sit on the chair." and this is what I get.

I ask her, "Grace, can you put the apples in your basket?" and she says, "Mah appoos. I hold." (And please notice the puppy butt in the background.)

I tell her, "Grace, come smell the flowers." and she smells the pepper.

I tell her, "Smile at Auntie!" and I get this...

I say, "Grace, what are you doing?" She says, "I eatin'."

And this... well, I'm not sure.

I say "Grace, just one more picture." and I get this.

But then I get this....

and this. 

And I'm a happy aunt. :)