Approximately 3 foot drifts

It might have been a little more - it has melted substantially since our snowfall last weekend. However, I hear we have some more coming! AH, March!

Project: Birdhouse

Today as part of our school lesson, we built a birdhouse. Even though the weather outside is pretty wintry, I know their will be a wonderful sparrow or finch that would love to make it's home in this birdhouse!

Winter Wonderland2

We really haven't had hardly any snow this winter and we are pretty assured of a late February/early March snowstorm so this doesn't really surprise me. We had some wonderfully warm weather early last week and all the snow we did have had melted. Just in time for the weekend's blizzard. Nestled in our warm house, it wasn't bad - we just have some 4 foot drifts around our buildings that are rather spectacular. When the boys and I go out to go sledding we'll take some photos. What's nice is that it really is pretty warm - around 30 degrees so if you shovel or plow, it melts off the walkways and roads.

I guess I don't mind - I'd like to ski once this year and build a snowman. But also I'm glad Spring isn't too far away. These snowstorms almost are a signal that Spring is just around the corner!:)

Dinner with Grandma

We had the great honor of having dinner with my grandma this Sunday and got to deliver her birthday photos to her! We really have a blessed family!
Love ya grandma!

Inspiration

The past two months have been something of a soul searching exercise to really get a focus on our photography business and how that business will fit in the context of our family goals. Our family is our priority and we have some pretty specific ideas of how we want to prioritize our time.
In the past month, I've really been seeking the Lord and I feel like I am beginning to get some clarity. Or if not clarity then, direction. One thing I've been doing is reading other photographers blogs and forums. In doing this (I know I'm slow) I've realized, HEY they are a lot like us! They have children they want to have more time with, they have business issues, they have life issues. And overall on the blogs and forums, they are incredibly generous. Thanks guys! We are new to all this and have already made a lot of mistakes but I hope we are looking at them as opportunities to grow and improve. We also have some work to do but I'm trying hard to be more balanced and patient. Make a plan, sow the seeds, weed, mulch, harvest, save. That's sort of my outline. And tonight I read a quote from Denis Reggie that is going to have me thinking over the next few weeks.

"If you don't know what makes you different in this industry, then you need to either do some serious soul searching or get out of the industry."

A similar thought came to my mind that I heard Mike Colon say, "God made me unique just like He made you unique. Really you don't have any competition because there is only ONE of YOU!"

Just in the past year I owe a lot to photographers I've had the pleasure of meeting and others I only know from their blog and websites. I have been challenged and I feel energized. It's kinda cool. It makes me want to be a better mom, a sweeter wife, a more benevolent person in addition to improving my photography. God is good.

And we are getting a nice big snowstorm (just after all the snow melted) so we'll be "snowed in" over the weekend so I am forced to just think and love. Well that's good too. We have a long way to go but it's a good journey. A great journey. I feel like when I climbed my first mountain and felt the strong cold wind at the top. It took your breath away, but then again so did the view. Here's to the mountaintops and the valleys. May you all be blessed in the journey!

Wedding

We were not contracted to do this wedding but they are friends of ours so Doug did a few shots during the ceremony and reception. Aren't they a beautiful couple?

Feeling Better

Simple Family Minute

For the past few months we've been keeping watch on Dane Sanders Simple Photo Minute weekly podcast and what a great guy! We read the blogs of these awesome photographers and I'm hoping that someday we'll get to meet them in person (we did meet David Jay at PPA briefly:)
Anyway, Dane's "simple" approach to all things photo related and in life in general has been a great inspiration.

After a hospital stay with my baby and being sick with a nasty cold ourselves, I've spent my week cleaning out and working to make our lives simpler as well. Way back when I first was married, we had this deal where anytime we would buy something new - we would give away or sell something so we wouldn't be burdened with too much stuff. The past few years we forgot to do that and now we're in the process getting back to that habit.

What a process - but a good one. I am excited to see the progress of things we can give away and it is freeing to clear out the non-essentials so we can focus on things that really matter. And I know now that getting things in order will be a huge blessing to our photography business, even if it means I have to be patient as business builds.

And I'm keeping tabs on Gary Fong's blog (a former famous wedding photographer) to see how his diet/weight loss program goes. I'm working on that as well. I'm a little behind on my Tae Bo since I've been sick and caring for sick little ones.

So, anyway, start thinking SIMPLE.

Birthday & Valentine

Well, my oldest just turned 6 (how did that happen?) and we had a little party for him last night. In a week we'll have his "big" birthday party but being as we all have colds and our little hospital stay, we thought we'd postpone the festivities until everyone was up for it. But I can hardly believe 6 years have gone by since we got our first little guy.
And of course, tomorrow is Valentine's Day - and my wonderful husband surprised me with a bunch of roses and chocolate a day early! It's hard to believe this is our 11th Valentine's Day together (10th married). I'm not a big Valentine party girl but I do love it when he remembers roses (same color as our wedding roses). It reminds me too how faithful God is and how much He loves us. Even when circumstances are less than ideal, we have His Love to carry us through. I find it hard to let go sometimes - I like to try and control my circumstances but I know looking to Christ is where I will find my peace. He always remembers me in the midst of all our daily toil. It's the little moments that count. I am so blessed. May you all have a wonderful Valentine's Day.

Birthdays

Today I did a photo session with a little girl that shares Josiah's birthday (today). I do have photos of our little birthday party for Josiah too but this little girl was too cute not to add a few photos.

Hospital Trip

If you haven't read Doug's blog, then you probably don't know I've spent the past 3 days at the hospital with Jayden. I took him to the ER (the second trip this week) on Wednesday for a bad case of Croup. He was pretty scared (as was I) but the good doctors and therapists at River Falls took good care of us. The bad news was they had no rooms for us, nor did another closer hospital so we were sent to Minneapolis Children's Hospital. And I've been there since Wednesday night taking care of him. Doug has been doing double duty at home, working and taking care of the other boys. Tonight we switched roles and I am at home and he is doing hospital duty.

It definitely puts some perspective into your life - sitting in the hospital, that is. Although Jayden is sick, there were lots of other children much sicker than him there. To all the parents and family members who have someone in the hospital my heart goes out to you. And to the doctors and nurses who work so hard, thanks.

As soon as Jayden is feeling better and things are looking up - he should be heading home. Home is a really good place - even if it is a little messy and sticky at times. :) Have a great weekend everyone!
--Amanda

Grandma's Birthday

For family members! If I don't have your email you didn't get an evite to the site link with the group photos (and a couple candids). You can order right online what you want. I do not have 4x6 size on there - if you do want that size, just email me. For better pricing I have to order those separately (anyway, they are about the same price as a 5x7 size so my suggestion is just order that size:).

Grandma's Photos

Let me know if I can help you in anyway. If you post here, it might be a few days before I check it.
--Amanda

My baby turns ONE!

Mike Colon Rocks!

I read through a few blogs every day and Mike Colon's today was great. You should go to it and read it but here is my favorite quote: "Even if I fail miserably at my business because I've spent too much time with my family, at least I didn't fail with my family spending too much time with my business." If you don't know, Mike is an awesome Christian guy who is also an awesome photographer. I haven't met him personally yet but hopefully at WPPI we might bump into him (if we go).

Sometimes we just get so focused on "stuff" and forget the really important stuff. Like playing in the snow with your children, or reading with them, or helping them learn how to count or teaching them about Christ. Read Mike's blog if you get a chance. He's always inspiring. I'm going to go PLAY legos;).

San Antonio

No we didn't go back. I had sort of a bummer day so I went back through the few photos we took in San Antonio. It does look nice there - especially since our highs over the weekend are supposed to be hovering around ZERO degrees (F). I might post more tomorrow. But doesn't it look like a cool spot. The first few are the Alamo (which was closing) and the rest on are the Riverwalk. It would be an awesome place to do engagement or wedding photos. Anyway. It was nice - I want to go back sometime with my boys.
Later!