http://www.ellementsstudios.com/amysthoughts/

Save this link to your favorites, because I won’t be posting here any more…. unless….. unless I think of some off the wall, random thing that wouldn’t be appropriate to post on the other site.  Not likely.    So, no, I won’t be posting on here ever again.

Now run over there and check it out.  xoxoAmy

I’ve been sitting in front of this monitor all day, stuffing my face with chocolate and pretzels and chasing it with cold coffee.  Yum. 

Not my picture, but I thought it was pretty funny.

I’m working on a new and improved blog site.  I hope to have it up in a few days.   Say a prayer for my back.  It’s sore.  And while you’re at it, say a prayer for my gut.  I’m starting to second guess my food choices this morning.

xoxo, Amy

Having a holiday on a Monday is pretty awesome.  The rest of the week just flies by.  I hope everyone has a great week.  Spring will be here before we know it. 

I don’t speak Spanish. 

One year ago today, at this very moment, I was high as a kite and wearing a diaper.   It sounds like a scene from Blue Velvet, but actually, I’d just given birth to my baby girl.  Poor girl got the short end of the stick by being born in January.  It limits how much fun can be had by all when it’s freezing cold outside.  We will “make do” with lots of sugar and some Choo Choo Soul on the ipod dock. 

She has been the easiest of my children.  Happy, social, never sick, cuddly and she loves her Mama.

I take her picture all the time.

Even when I should probably put the camera down.  *putting camera down*

She thinks I have some nerve.  Look at that face.

She thinks that looking cute will work.  “Looka me.  I’m cute.  Let me stick my finger in the light socket.”   And for the record, I have no idea how that bottle of wine ended up on my nightstand.  Actually, I use it beat myself in the head when the kids wake up at night.

She has issues with “holding”.  Her issue is, “Hold me”.   All the time.  I’m not complaining.

That may be me and it may not.  I may be wearing  pajamas and I may not.   It may be the Nanny. 

 I can’t believe she’s already a year old.

Nothing sweeter in this whole world.

My husband trumped me and asked our sister in law to come over and cut Macen’s hair. In my defense, I think I’ve done a pretty good job considering…. considering he’s 3 (about to be 4) and won’t sit still for anything. But, I humored him and played on the laptop the entire cut, peeking over the screen to cheese out on how awful Macen was acting. Just like he does for me.

Yes, his hair was in dire need of some attention.  I wish we could just let it grow, but what do you do with boys bangs when they’re in their eyes?  Hats will only get you so far.  He can’t wear a hat to church can he?  No.  Anyway….

He hates the camera.  It took a little coaxing to get  him to show me his hair.  I want you to get the full effect here.

Oh this makes me laugh!  I love my boy!  Them’s some jacked up bangs!  NO ONE can cut his hair straight.   Chris even had him in a head lock during the cut and it still didn’t work.  

The best is yet to come.

Can you see the Vanilla Ice stripe there on the side?  NOT intentional, I assure you.  She was trying to even up the sides with clippers and sure as rain, my son moves.  Not on just the one side, but on both sides.  Visions of Kid N Play dance around in my head.

If we “feather” the bangs, it’s not as noticeable…. but maybe worse in a whole other way.

Yep, that would be dust.    I took a picture of it as a last ditch effort to shame myself into getting back into my daily routine of reading it more.   I do read Chris’, but mine has been very neglected…. signing off and going to work on that.  Have a happy Wednesday friends.  xoxo, Amy

When I get nervous, or my mind wanders, or I’m cleaning, I hum one of two songs.  Singing in the Rain, or Silent Night.  I only hum the first few notes, then stop myself, and I begin to analyze why in the world those are the only two songs that come out.   I haven’t gotten any great psychoanalytical reasons yet.  Is psychoanalytical even a word and if so, do I know what it means?  No.  Moving on.

Saturday ended up being a terrible day for a shoot, but we did it- in the rain.  The light was beautiful, and the greens really popped (I’ll show you greens later.  The pic I chose today has no green.  Oh well.)

   They were troopers, we were troopers and we were all soaking wet by the time it was over.  My camera hasn’t died, so I’m grateful. 

This weekend was… how should I say it?  I’ll go with “thought provoking”.  There’s always about 10 things I’m mulling over in my head at any given time, and I’d like to cut that in half.   The best way for me to accomplish that is to work on my issue with procrastination.  There are only certain things I procrastinate about.  Dishes are one of those things, exercise is another.  So far, I’ve knocked those 2 things out today.  Hurray for me.  My brain is thanking me already.

Not a dull moment at all.  These kids really know how to party!  Super wild and super fun.

From the looks of it, you may be thinking… awww, sweet and nice.  Sweet looking maybe, but from what Mom and Dad say, this one here is the fighter.  Both his names mean “warrior”. 

The oldest of the 4, he’s very much the leader.  He said, “Yes, ‘mam.” and “Thank you.”  I adore this boy.

And finally, we have the lover.  It’s a toss up between him and his older brother as to which one is the bigger “Romeo”.  And they both hugged me without anyone asking them to, when they left…. *sigh*.

Couldn’t you just eat him up!?

Having a photography buisness is the new black. It seems like everyday more and more people are getting websites and giving it a go. It’s an exciting time. All of my experience with other photographers has been more than positive. Everyone is very eager to help one another.
We all want to be better photographers. It’s something we will strive to be until the day we die. Better. There is no day that comes, where we sit back and are just content.
There are people out there that are ahead of this game. I want to show you guys what good photography really is. And I’m not talking about MY photography. These photographers are local people and not local people.
They inspire me, I hope they inspire you.

Paul Johnson Photography - I will be attending his workshop in March. He and his very sweet wife Mechael, are local. They are one of my top 3 fave photographers. This is how it’s done.

Jesh de Rox- Saw him at Image X. I can’t even put this guy into words. Visit his site. Read his blog. You’ll see. (Recognize that song? What can I say.)

Jeremy Cowart- He’s coming out with a book about his tour with Passion. Very cool. His work is sick!

Jason Wallis- His lighting is just perfect. He did my friend, Lori’s pictures for a magazine article.

Amelia Lyon- Coolness. Pure coolness.

That’s all for today. If you like looking through these, give me a shout and I’ll do another link post next month. I love looking though good pictures.  xoxo, Amy

Enjoy!

and we’re- gonna get maaaaaaaaaried.  It was a beach wedding, but that song gives me the warm fuzzies.  Here’s a few pics.  Enjoy!

These kids were just so much fun the whole day. 

Flowers provided by It’s A Perfect Day wedding florist.

The getaway car and getaway driver.  This ex marine was NOT ABOUT to strike a casual pose.   Very nice guy and very much still a marine.

This is always the moment that leaves me in a puddle of tears on the floor.  I make quite the effort to resist sniffling during this.  Ask Ryan.  He’s seen me bawling during the Mother/Son dance while trying to take pictures….

Oh here I go again.   I’m going to have to be carried into my son’s wedding and probably medicated so I can make it through this dance. 

My best friend, Lori, inspired this shot. 

This was such a fun wedding.  I hope everyone has a great weekend.  xoxo, Amy