Krista

While family was here for Thanksgiving, my sister-in-law asked if I would take some pictures of her daughter, Krista, to create a portfolio for her. Yes of course! You don't have to ask me twice to pick up my camera. I had so much fun with her! Tanner who came to tag along, ended up being a valuable 'assistant,' (and has been given that job for any future shoots.) I love some of these pictures I got for her. How relevant they are to her portfolio needs, I don't know. But we had fun, and got some pretty pictures!

In related news, I'm shooting my first paid wedding! Day after Christmas. I'm excited, but I'm so nervous! Eeek!

I love this first picture.





























This is my favorite picture of all of them.



I absolutely love this picture!

My Life According to John Mayer

Using only song names from ONE ARTIST, cleverly answer these questions. Pass it on to 20 people including me. You can't use the band I used. Try not to repeat a song title. It's a lot harder than you think! Re-post as "My Life According to (BAND NAME)"

Pick Your Artist: John Mayer

Are you a male or female? Daughters

Describe yourself: My Stupid Mouth

How do you feel: Dreaming With A Broken Heart

Describe where you currently live: Home Life

If you could go anywhere, where would you go: Come Back To Bed

Your favorite form of transportation: Stop This Train

Your best friend is: Comfortable

Your favorite color is: Another Kind of Green

What's the weather like: Covered In Rain

Favorite time of day: Heart of Life

If your life was a TV show, what would it be called: Split Screen Sadness

What is life to you: Only Heart

Your current relationship: New Deep

Looking for: Clarity

Wouldn't mind: Your Body Is a Wonderland

Your fear: Something's Missing

What is the best advice you have to give: Good Love Is On The Way

If you could change your name, you would change it to: Victoria

Thought for the Day: In Repair

How/when I would like to die: Why Did You Mess With Forever

My motto: Wait Until Tomorrow

Dark and Stormy Night

Seems like here in Texas, we never get a gentle afternoon rain. We either get drought, or a severe weather event. I wasn't used to that coming from NM, where we hardly get any weather at all. Well talking to my neighbor last night, who's been here three months, I realized I'm now a seasoned veteran after 8 years here. I feel more prepared, but it's still scary. About 6 years ago, we lived ten blocks from where a tornado touched down. It tore trees out of the ground, roofs off homes, power poles down. Nothing to make national news, but plenty unnerving. We watched the clouds swirl around above us, forming a funnel then going back up, numerous times. Amazing to see, breathtaking. This time we weren't able to see the clouds, the sideways and swirling and pounding rain blocked anything beyond the porch. It was *loud.* I kept thinking, is this loud enough to be that freight train noise people always say they hear? I hated the not knowing; at least watching a funnel come toward you lets you feel more aware. We do have a planned safe spot (the pantry under the stairs) but no one mentioned going there, at least not outloud. Ivan was on his laptop, trying to get up-to-date info, but couldn't get enough signal. I had a pocket radio scanning for info, but only found music. My biggest source of worry was the fact that Cameron wasn't home; he was a block away at a friend's house. Although I trusted the mom, and was texting with Cam, not having a child within your reach at a time like that is a horrible feeling.

Our neighborhood had some broken trees, some fences down, lots of shingles blown off. We lost some small branches, the grapevines suffered some, but we were very lucky. Our roof held up, and only lost a few pears off the trees. Cameron was planning on spending the night with his friend, but as soon as it had blown over and was safe, the mom was dropping him off. lol.

Just before the sun set, the clouds parted, and we were rewarded with some patches of blue sky and beautiful colors, and reassured with a full rainbow. I took pictures that night, and the next morning.

We were without power until about noon the next day. Just long enough for the kids to get really bored, then realize going outside and using their imagination wasn't so bad. Ivan picked up a generator from work for the fridge and freezer, so my biggest concern was solved. It's kind of fun to change up the routine sometimes. ;)

I didn't change any of the colors of these pictures, I only cropped.




They hung in there!



The boys were fascinated by the lamp and the flame.




Brushing teeth by lantern light. Never so much fun!



In my room. I thought the shadows on the wall were interesting.

Safety in numbers. They all decided to sleep in Tanner's room, I think because it's downstairs and less scary then upstairs...even considering mom and dad are upstairs.


Sunrise the next morning. No air conditioning, so we slept with all the windows and the sliding door in our room open. Listening to the constant thunder all night was awesome. Waking up to the humidity and feeling like we slept in a sauna was not. Ick. Overnight another set of storms sprung up and all morning towns east of us had massive flooding, high water rescues, evacuations. We just had some light rain, and a view of a fantastic lightning show.




This was the next night's sunset.

Baby Miniatures

More Pictures

This is the view from my favorite window in the house, pictures can't do it justice. I love to just stop and observe; the roses, the grapevines, the crepe myrtles, the birds, the sounds. It's just unfortunate that this window is in my bathroom.


Pears beginning to form.

Fig tree starting to bud.

Baby fig.

I love the little arms on the grapevines.

Crabapple blooms.

Our first spring rose.


Blooms on bradford pear tree.



Mean, mean knife set.


White has always been a good color on Tanner.




Mother's Day flowers.



I love this soap dispenser I found at Target. Yellow is kitchen hand soap, purple is dishsoap.

Jalapenos I found at a little store here. They're HUGE! We stuffed them with cheese, wrapped them in bacon, and grilled them. MMMM!


I found Max sleeping on the stairs.