The smile on her little face was most definitely priceless when she saw me walk through the door with a baker’s dozen of balloons.  It was Christmas all over again.  Jilliann is disreputable for accidently letting go and waiving bye-bye to her balloons.  First and foremost I needed to capture some shots of these fabulous balloons for a contest submission in my photography club, then they are all hers!!

Once I finished my little balloon session, Jilliann couldn’t have been more ecstatic to have all those balloons in hand.  The first balloon she received lasted quite awhile, but then surely and slowly eat balloon was soaring through the Tri-Cities bright blue sky.  As each balloon left Jilliann’s chilled little hands you heard her sweet little voice say……. “Bye Balloon - Bye Balloon”!  Once again, she brings a huge smile to my face.

So I thought I would share with you some of my balloon pictures! 

I love nothing more than popcorn in a bag, a huge comforter and my sexy man all together while watching my favorite movie so far this year.  I am so notorious for falling asleep during almost every movie I watch at home.  But as we were watching “I am Legend”, I not only stayed awake through the whole movie but I couldn’t keep still.  I was frightened at times, nervous and completely petrified.  When I watch a movie that has me doing all of those….. I know it’s a good movie.  If I recall correctly, I even had to remove my heart from my throat on a couple of scenes.

After renting this movie, I had to kick myself in the behind because when it first came out Leo and I went to the theaters to see a new movie.  We were unsure as to what movie we wanted to see but kept our options open.  “I am Legend” was playing on 6 different screens in the same theater (that should have been my first clue), but instead we paid to see another movie - BIG MISTAKE!!  I wanted to poke my eyes out that movie was so bad!!  And on top of that, Leo and I can’t remember for the life of us the title of that movie.  So all I have to say for future reference, if one movie is playing on multiple screens at the same theater - SEE THAT ONE!!

And lastly, if you haven’t had the chance to rent this movie I HIGHLY recommend it!!  It’s been one of the best movies I’ve seen in a long time!!

HAPPY FRIDAY YA’LL!!

As I’m finalizing all my Mississippians photo orders, I keep coming across this one picture that was taken of me while vacationing there (see below).  I know what ya’ll are thinking and no it’s not Napolean Dynamite’s sister or the little Annie at age 27, it’s actually crazy ole’ ME.  I know, I know ~ what on earth was I thinking.  Trust me it’s not  permanent!  It’s just one of those pictures that no matter how many times you look at it, you always and I mean always CRACK UP LAUGHING!!  So I figured since it gave me such amusement, it would only be fair to share it with all my fabulous bloggers.

Prior to me posting this picture, I had it up in my CS2 for downsizing and my little Jilliann walks into my office and says, “Momma, who’s that?”  I reply, “I’m not sure, who do you think it is?”  Jilliann states “Is that Grandma?”……. and OMG I just died laughing!!  GRANDMA, GRANDMA —– is this what I’m going to look like when I’m a grandma with just an extensive amount of wrinkles???  So Jilliann looks at me again in total puzzlement and says “What’s wrong with HIS hair?”  That’s right, she repeatedly kept saying HIS…..

So to only make me feel better, I posted a new self portrait of me to remind myself (and hopefully all my bloggers will too) that I don’t look like a HE!!! :)  Everyday I have these crazy, funny moments with Jilliann and I all can say to myself is “KIDS SAY THE DARNDEST THINGS”!!! 

She has an imagination that’s gone wild.  Not a minute goes by our busy little days when I’m not smiling or laughing at something she says or does.  Sometimes I’ve actually stopped dead in my tracks in absolute shock with some of things that come out of her little bitty mouth which came from that enormous imagination!!  She’s truly amazing and I’m always looking forward on what she’s going to do next.

It wouldn’t be a vacation to Mississippi without some candid moments at the beach.  With just a slight windy chill in the air and some bright sunshine, I was so excited to capture these moments for my girl Robyn.  Her family is absolutely beautiful and I couldn’t have been more honored to share these moments with her.  It’s definitely times like this that really proves how much I enjoy the world of photography.

Thanks again Robyn and the family for allowing me to capture these moments. Much appreciated!

We arose to quite the gloomy day for being Easter Sunday.  As we rushed all morning to get to the early mass, we were struck by a little surprise from Jilliann ~ a sour belly.  There is nothing more pitiful than seeing your little one all helpless and totally not excited about her new bike she received from the Easter Bunny.  Throughout the early morning she started to feel better to at least go outside and try to ride her new pretty in pink and purple bike. 

Although we would have loved to spend this holiday with our families, Leo and I are extremely blessed to have the families that we have and hoped that everyone had a wonderful and blessed Easter.  God Bless.

Happy Easter Ya’ll!!! 

Born March 14, 2008 at 9:50 a.m. weighing in at 7 lbs. and 19 1/2 inches long.  And I have to say, what an adorable and precious gift that has been added to the Verhulp family.  I had the distinct pleasure to take Jaeger and Big Brother Marec’s pictures and they couldn’t have been more sweet.  Marec - the proud new brother that he is - was quite the ham in front of my camera.  I couldn’t have been more pleased on how well he did in front of the camera.  And plus his big brown eyes can make any photographer just melt!!

Jaeger is quite the content little one - so calm and peaceful.  He’s been eating and sleeping so well for mommy and daddy which I can just imagine how heaven-sent that is for both of them!!

Thanks again Verhulp family for allowing me to be apart of such joyous and proud moments of your lives.

Here are some shots of the week!  With all the Mississippi posts, I didn’t want to be lack-there-of in the Jilliann photos.  I know how disappointed she would be….:)!!  As we all are approaching quite the busy weekend with Easter and all I wanted to remind everyone that SPRING has finally arrived and the smell of freshly bloomed flowers is in the air!! :)  I couldn’t be more thrilled!!

Don’t forget to have your cameras handy this weekend as I love nothing more than the COLORS OF SPRING!  Spring is a time when my camera goes OoooooooLaaaaaaLaaaaa!

Happy Easter Ya’ll!!!

Prior to me leaving for Mississippi Kristine and I were swapping e-mails trying to find the best time for us to get together to get pictures of her and the family.  The days that I were available….her and the kids weren’t.  So I told her….”Don’t worry girl - I’m not leaving Mississippi without getting your family pictures.”  Finally, the day before I was flying back home Kristine left work at 5:00pm, picked up the kids so we were able to spend about 30 minutes outside our girlfriend Barbara’s house and get some quick snaps in before our dinner reservations at 7:00pm.  And OMG……I absolutely fell in love with all her pictures!!  See girl….. I told you I wasn’t leaving Mississippi until I captured some family portraits.

I’m usually a basket case when I don’t have things planned….like my session location, the perfect outside lighting time!  But for being completely unprepared and not knowing what to expect, I ended up being so pleased with Kristine’s pictures!!  Spontaneity can be a great thing in photography!

I of course had to get some fun shots of the girls! :)  They were so much fun and up for pretty much anything!