1. I’ve been feeling totally uninspired lately when it comes to photography.  I’m sick of shooting in my house.  Sick of it.  Green grass, please hurry up!  Thank goodness the weather has warmed up, and I can see the end of winter in sight.  I’m not going to actually say it is over yet, though.  You never know around here!

2.  The thought of spring makes me anxious for spring photo sessions!  If you are thinking about scheduling one, now is the time because, as always, my time is limited and they fill up fast!  Also, I’ve added a “what to wear?” section in the top header with some links to my favorite places to shop for my kids’ clothing.  I always think a big part of the fun of a photo session is seeing what the kids wear, and anyone who knows me knows I LOVE shopping for kids clothes!

3.  Over the weekend, Rory and I did some fun Easter activities.  We made these egg rice krispie treats.  Rory is always up for anything involving sprinkles.

4.  Diet eggs.  I thought it was so funny that she thought that’s what I was saying.  I really didn’t even want to correct her!

5.  I always love pulling up images that are so similar and in the same time frame.  It makes me a little sad, actually, seeing how much she’s changed.  2009 to 2010…

6.  Speaking of change…her forth birthday is just around the corner.  My gosh, it doesn’t seem possible!

7.  Poor Cohen has an ear infection.  He has just not been his normal, laid back self, so I knew something was up.  On the way home from the doctor today, we stopped to pick up his antibiotics.  While waiting for the prescription, we did a little shopping, and he got to ride in the cart for the very first time!  My gosh, he was just so cute sitting in there, checking things out.  And he looks so small.  He was clinging tight to his nose drops.  I just had to snap a photo with my cell phone.  I barely even notice how bad this photo is because that smile is just so great.  How do I get a face like that out of him?  Just by saying, “Mama loves you!”

8.  Remember this couple?  Rory gets to be the flower girl in their wedding!  As of right now, she really doesn’t even know what a flower girl does, thank goodness.  When we got her dress, I was afraid to let her try it on for fear that I would never get it off.  Isn’t it so pretty?  I love it!

ETA:  After a few emails, I thought I should mention that the dress is from CrewCuts.  Link found in my “What to Wear?” section!

9.  I’m pretty sure I’ve been looking forward to this short week/long weekend since Christmas.  Okay, maybe just since New Year’s!

10.  I’m in love with this song and this video.  Amazing harmonies,  locations, and lighting.  I have listened to/watched it no less than ten times just tonight.

Very wise words.

Just a couple days over eight months old today.  After mastering the army crawl about a month ago, he never really ventured too far, and stuck to the living room carpet.  Now?  He is all over the place!  Leaving a trail of drool behind him and almost crawling right out of his pants!  I’ve already heard, “No, no, buddy!” and “COHEN.  NO!” about ten times from his sister this afternoon, and the baby gate went up yesterday.

The other day, I ran downstairs to put in some laundry.  When I came up a couple minutes later, he had all the remotes and dvd’s torn out of the cabinet, and had pulled the throw hanging off the end of the couch down on top of himself. 

He still doesn’t have any teeth, but he is a maniac when it comes to solid food, and shakes with excitement when he sees it.  He also loves the Jumperoo.  Watching him in that thing is pure entertainment for the three of us.  Love it!

Wow, people!  I never expected to get nearly 400 votes in this little ole’ contest!  Thank you all.  I thought it was so much fun.  Okay, so the most important part…the winners.

It was a very close race.  This image came in first by only 16 votes!  Congrats to the M family!  Your custom image box will be on your doorstep soon!

Coming in second…

And just because I’m in the giving mood, and I know how hard they tried, I am going to give the H family a set of three of these super cute mini accordian albums.  These are another one of my favorite products.  They are the perfect little brag book to keep in your bag or give to the grandparents!

And the winner of the free session and $100 print credit is…

Congrats to all of the winners, and thanks again everyone for participating!  I hope you all will keep coming back to check out my work!

Click here to become a Facebook fan of Everyday Art Photography!

It amazes me all the things this kid can do in five minutes.  It really makes you wonder what is going through his little brain!  My favorite part is where he lost his paci, so he first tries his hand and then quickly moves on to better things…the highchair tray!

Be sure to become a fan of Everyday Art Photography!

I’m so excited for my very first blog contest and giveaway of 2010!  And it’s a big one, too, with almost $800 worth of prizes!

{the details}

Below, I’ve posted one image from every session I’ve done in the past six months.  Clients, tell all of your family and friends to come here to my blog to vote for your photo.  If you don’t know any of these people, just leave your vote for the photo you like the best.  To vote, all you need to do is leave a comment on this post only, with the image number you are voting for.  I will not count votes that are emailed, left on Facebook, or entered somewhere else, so that is very important.  One vote per email address is allowed.

{the prizes}

The client with the winning photo will receive one of these beautiful, custom designed image boxes containing all the images from their session {$500 value}.  These are one of my most favorite products!  They are a wonderful way to display your images.  In addition, you will receive 50% off a portrait session fee to be used toward a session in 2010 {$62.50 value}.

That’s not all, though…when the voting ends, I will randomly select one of the voters, who will receive a free portrait session in 2010 along with a $100 print credit {$225 value}!  Session must take place within 40 miles of the Bismarck/Mandan area.

So, here you go!  VOTE, VOTE, VOTE!  Contest ends Tuesday, March 16th at 5:00 pm CST. 

ETA:  If you’ve never commented on my blog before, your comment will not show up until I approve it, so no worries if you don’t see it right away!  And clients, you can definitely vote for yourself if you want!

Click here to become a Facebook fan of Everyday Art Photography!

That’s a nickname that was given to Rory a looooong time ago (Well, long for her almost 4-year life span anyway), and it seems to have carried over to this guy.  I got this hat for him before Christmas, and I pretty much thought it was the cutest thing I’d ever seen.  And I can’t even count the number of “where did you get that hat?” comments we’ve had.  I just couldn’t wait until he was sitting up so I could these shots!

So, on Saturday I did my first little mentoring session with a new photography friend that I’ve made, Erin.  It was the perfect opportunity to take some photos of Cohen in his bomber hat!  I was a little worried before hand because I’m not so sure I am the best at teaching, but I did my best, and it was great to hang out with her for an afternoon and talk photography.  I think Rory made a new friend, too!  Erin brought her a nice little gift, and Rory was eager to show off all the stuff in her room and play.  Thanks, Erin for a fun afternoon and for the gifts for the kids!

He’s getting to be such a big boy!  Sitting up all on his own really well now, army crawling all over the living room floor and SO close to crawling for real, shakes with excitement at the any sign of food, and never short on drool.

These two were taken one right after the other.  Notice the swinging drool?  Too funny!

Erin took this one.  (Thank you!)  I just loved it, so I had to edit it.  He was keeping a close eye on dad.

It seems like I have been working on this forever, but I finally got my official website done!  I love how it turned out, so I guess it was worth it.  Click the image below to check it out!

Also, make sure you become a Facebook fan of Everyday Art Photography so you can stay up to date with my business and my blog!  I’m doing my best to get it all figured out, but seriously, Facebook does not make it simple, so bear with me.

Oh, and to all my clients from 2009:  watch for an awesome contest/giveaway for you as well as your friends and family next week!

Rory is really starting to learn so much at preschool.  Sometimes I don’t even realize what they are learning there because when I ask her she says she doesn’t know, but then she surprises me with something.  They made their own Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? books and I just loved it!  The letters that she was trying to write on each page and the drawings…I just got a huge kick out of it, so I have to share.

The book is on our normal bed time rotation, and I still remember Mrs. Huber my grade school librarian reading it to me.

FYI…I have no idea how to get this video on the web without losing all of the quality, but I guess this is better than nothing.

Brown bear

Red bird

Yellow duck

Blue horse

Green frog (Love the tongue!)

Purple cat

White dog (Just trust me.  She insists.  Oh, and notice the hearts, too!)

Black sheep

Gold fish

Teacher (Just so you know…those are her knees.  LOL!)

I don’t know.  I think she could give Eric Carle a run for his money! )