sayonara seashells...

This morning at 11 am we officially became the owners of a beautiful home in Hudson! Unfortunately we have to say adios to the lovely pale pink bathroom with gold seashell decor......although we will miss waking up and digging through our closet the size of an icebox, we are thrilled to move! All the boxes are all packed and tomorrow is moving day!

subzero

So....this past weekend I ventured up to Camp Shamineau with the crew from Ground Zero on their winter Junior High retreat......150 junior high students, 40 adults, a ton of coffee & kickin worship was in store! It was definately high energy! I even had the opportunity to get beat up playing broom ball....the best part was that I did the splits on the ice within the first 5 minutes and totally split my pants open in the back....that was awesome! Don't worry because I got back on the ice after changing into a fresh pair although I walked away feeling like an old lady with bruises up and down my legs! I left the weekend super early on Sunday morning (4 am....and people say I am not a morning person) to trek back for the perfect wedding fair at the IMS building in Minneapolis.....but more on that later....here are some of the snaps....

Ray...or should I say Hoof Harted hosted the best game of Family Feud I have ever seen!
A beautiful family portrait!
My wonderful husband, Aaron, was amazing to see in action...and he is clearly amazing at posing for the camera.......um???

my 101 things...

"Duuuuuhhh----Duuuhhhhh" (do you hear the triumphant music as you read this, because I do)

I have compiled a list of 101 things that I would like to accomplish on or before 1001 days pass. I am officially starting to accomplish this wonderful list today!

The reason you ask? Why not. Itsn't it fun to do random things that make fun stories to tell around the dinner table? Well, I think so......

Start date: 02.14.2008

End date: 11.12.2011

1. Travel to Ireland
2. Blog everyday for a month
3. Invest in real estate (not just my own home)
4. Shoot a wedding on another continent
5. Shoot a wedding across the country
6. Open a studio space with a storefront
7. Get 2 pugs and walk them at least 3 times a week
8. Cook dinner once a week for 6 months
9. Take a picture for a day for at least 30 days
10. Get a tattoo
11. Go on a picnic
12. Be published photographically
13. Take a class on something new
14. Volunteer for something worthy
15. Style my hair different for a week
16. Learn a new Photoshop technique everyday for 30 days
17. Apply for a TV game show
18. Go fishing
19. Throw a dinner party
20. Pay off student loans
21. Attend at least 3 photography workshops
22. Brand a signature product of some sort
23. Enter a print competition
24. Finish a painting
25. Meet 5 photographers I admire
26. Plan a surprise party
27. Give flowers to my neighbor
28. Buy a fish-eye lens
29. Start a recipe box with dishes I might actually make
30. Learn how to make a cake like Duff on Ace of Cakes
31. Travel to Seattle
32. Get up at 7 am everyday for one month
33. Knit Christmas stockings
34. Go skating in Rockefeller center
35. Buy a new point and shoot camera
36. See a live taping of Conan
37. Hold a super sweet contest
38. Buy a plant and keep it alive for 6 months
39. Invest in an outdoor sculpture
40. Plant a garden
41. Fly in a hot air balloon
42. Take a trip with my girls for a weekend & have no distractions
43. Read at least 1 book a month for 6 months
44. Organize paperwork
45. Rearrange my whole house
46. Wear my watch for a month
47. Have a role in a play
48. Keep fresh flowers on my table for a whole summer
49. Learn how to grill
50. Go sledding
51. See Brett Favre play
52. Go to Lambeau field to enjoy the Mecca of football
53. Learn about wine
54. Wear every old article of clothing or actually get rid of it
55. Write thank you notes to everyone I need to thank
56. Go for a hike
57. Turn my phone off for a week and relax with my husband
58. Second shoot at a wedding for someone I admire
59. Go to an actual spa
60. Have lunch with another wedding professional once a month for a year
61. Get a fancy phone
62. Shoot a wedding for free
63. Learn sign language
64. Go on another cruise
65. Read the entire Bible
66. Find 10 new photo shoot locations
67. Donate blood
68. Visit The Image Is Found (my favorite photographers on the planet) www.theimageisfound.com
69. Go for a walk everyday for 2 weeks.
70. Reupholster a new piece of furniture
71. Go strawberry picking
72. Go on a road trip
73. Buy a wacky couch
74. Make a quilt
75. Go blueberry picking
76. Learn how to make homemade ice cream
77. Sell something
78. Visit Europe for leisure
79. Go to Colorado
80. Be featured in a local magazine or press article
81. Give away his and hers ipods
82. Learn how to tile a bathroom
83. Sew some curtains
84. Learn how to manage money better
85. Have a lime tree
86. Take a picture of everything on this list
87. Cook a really good steak
88. Fill a whole sketchbook with ideas
89. Get trendy sunglasses
90. Do something for a deserving family
91. Vote
92. Create an album of Aaron & I
93. Buy a lottery ticket
94. Shoot an engagement or bridal session in a barn
95. Learn how to make kickin smoothies
96. Eat breakfast everyday for a week (as see how I like it)
97. Visit a friend out of state for the weekend
98. Use my own artowork in my house
99. Send out Christmas cards
100. Journal memories about my mom
101. Attend an art opening

samuel turns four!!!

One of my favorite little boys just turned four! Samuel is dear to my heart because I knew this little rugrat when he was just a baby...we spent many hours together when he used to only eat fruit and crackers for lunch! Samuel loves spiderman and his little brother micaiah....he is also very excited for his new little sister gracie who will be coming in June!

jessie / mommy to be

Jessie and Joel are glowing with excitement to welcome their little one on March 25th! This is their first & they are all ready with names, paint colors, & baby stuff for the little one. We had such a great time in the snow, fortunately it wasn't as cold as the weather man was telling us! It was a beautiful winter day with huge fat snow flakes falling all over....although it wasn't enough to make a little snow man!

new years love...

Jon & Meredith shared their vows just before the 2008 year hit with tears of sheer happiness & smiles from ear to ear on so many faces. Jon's 2 sisters had created a covert mission called "operation sisiter-in-law" with Meredith ever since the 2 became friends in High School. Jon's plans were put on hold when Meredith took off to Ecuador & then to India to qwench her love for other cultures; but they weren't out of the question! They are 2 people very much in love and ready to conquer the world.....their day was absolutely beautiful while everyone danced the night away........