Sunday Photo Fun!

While the boys were out working in the yard, I decided to have a little photo session with Brielle before I started processing orders and getting information packets ready for mailing. I found this really cool black distressed 'cottage chair' at a local antique shop and had to see how it would be for pics (although from the pics I posted below, you can't really see the chair). Anyway, I was in too much of a hurry to take B to an outdoor location for a shoot so we just did a few in the house.

I let her choose what tutu she wanted to wear, and she choose the red petticoat. She sat very sweetly in the chair but then suddenly decided that she wanted to strip off everything and put on her Dora underwear - which she readily found in her armoire (how does she know where I've put them?). Now it looks like we're potty training today since she won't put on a diaper. So far so good... but we'll see what the day holds :)

Anyway, I was playing around with one of the images and vintagized it (like that word?).

Okay, now I've got to get back to my very long to-do list. :)

Teamwork! Yard Transformation...

Our yard needed some serious lushness (I know, that's not a real word)! It we have a lot of yard and not a lot of bushes, trees, etc. So we're adding a lot of greenery and some architectural details...two arbors and white picket fencing. Jeff has been working from dawn till dusk on the weekends on the yard and Tyler has been his little helper. Here's a couple pics of Tyler finding worms, and these ugly white bugs - he's collecting them in a bucket ;-)

And there's one of Jeff being goofy - jumping on the shovel at the end of the day.

We're finally starting to get healthy again in our house! I'm so relieved the kids are getting over their colds and I'm sure they are too!! It's been a lengthy one too...poor kiddos. Now Tyler has gotten into the habit of coming down to our room at about 1am and quietly tapping me on the shoulder asking if he can sleep with us. I open the covers and let him stay for just a few minutes... okay more like 30 minutes, but that's it - I have a hard time sleeping when he's in bed with me fearing I'm going to nudge him off our tall bed. Then I walk him (and sometimes carry him if he's really feeling rotten) to his room and I lie with him for a while until I know he's asleep. It's so cute, he loves having his back rubbed before bed. I wake him up in the morning by rubbing his back too... I think it soothes him. Anyway, if he's awake and hears me getting ready to leave after taking him back to his room, he'll whisper, "Can you rub my back for 'one' minute before you go". And of course I do...
Gosh, I hate that I haven't made a post in so long! I've been a busy mom, photographer, wife, and nurse (to my kidlets) ;-)
Today, my daughter woke up from her nap asking to wear something 'so pretty'. I showed her the closet full of tutu's (pink, red, white, more red, more white...) and she saw the pink petticoat and assured me that was the one she wanted to wear.
She was playing with her little pink elephant on the bottom step of the stairs in our house when I took these pics. Gasp... she actually looked at me and smiled even with a camera in my hand (she usually waits until the camera is out of sight). I was amazed - maybe she's starting to like my camera... We played for a while on the step, she fed me pretend apples, and showed me her pretend animals. When it was time to take off her petti and get her brother from school, the tears began. Hence the picture below... the one of her standing by the stairs is when she was trying to get away to avoid taking off her petti. The other one, melts me with her big teary filled eyes.
I'll post more pics soon from sessions and of big brother.

Tag! I'm it!!

There is a silly game going around the internet world of photographers called "Tag". If you are tagged, then you tell 8 things about yourself that not many people know about. A friend, Rebekah, from Nashville TN, tagged me yesterday! And I know if I don't respond now, I'll completely get side-tracked and forget :)

So here are eight things you didn't know about me :)

1. I'm double jointed in my wrists and my hips. I know, very strange. It's fun to see eyes pop out when people see the wacky things I can do with my wrists {wink}...
2. Before having children, I was an auditor with Deloitte & Touché for several years and then I worked for Microsoft in Executive, SEC & Financial Statement Reporting. I know, wild that I'm now a photographer (something more creative)- way on the other side of the spectrum. But honestly numbers just aren't for me... I like using the left side of my brain and being on the artsy side of things. But I learned a lot and have something to fall back on if I need to ;-)
3. I'm a neat freak (except for my closets - they are completely disorganized)! I can't go to bed until the house is clean and the counters are cleared. But I'm getting better about letting things go - my kids are teaching me that one {grin}.
4. I don't like public speaking. In fact, I'm terrified of public speaking and even considered taking 'Toast Masters' to overcome my fear. I dropped out of the one required public speaking class in college 3 times before I finally stuck it through the last semester of my senior year. My palms are starting to sweat just thinking about it.
5. I love to sleep - when my kids take naps, so do I (except for right now, I have way too much to do so I'm drinking caffeine to avoid from dozing off). Pathetic, I know. I've just always loved naps and loved to sleep - even though I'm somewhat of a night owl.
6. I love to write! I love technical writing - which I did a lot of at D&T and MS before the kiddos were born. There's something about organizing thoughts and processes on paper...such a nerd.
7. Going to the gym is my stress reliever...that and cleaning.
8. And finally, this is a biggie... I still sleep with my baby blanket {gasp...}. Yep, it's true. It's the ugliest thing ever, but I love it! I don't take it out of town with me... it never leaves my bedroom. I'm thankful my husband is so willing to put up with my need to keep it close to me each night. My kids are very into sleeping with a special blanket each night too. If it's in the wash and they can't have it when they need it, tears begin to flow. I wonder if I passed this on genetically ;-) ?

There you go, 8 things about Kara you didn't want to know but now you know. Now I am tagging the following 2 photographers:
Kelli
Brenda

Under the Weather...

I haven't been able to post in a few days... my family is ill :( . My son and daughter have ear infections and my husband has a little bug too. So far I've been able to avoid getting sick (maybe it's my daily dose of 'green stuff' and airbornes). Anyway, I've been on nurse duty so I haven't had an opportunity to add posts. I'll be back to bloggin' soon (fingers crossed). :)

Little Bundle of Cuteness...

I don't think that's really a word... but that all I can think of when I see baby Hayes. Here's some more pictures of the adorable little boy.

My Little Super Hero...

A 4 year old's imagination...

Adorable Hayes - only 10 Days Old...

Oh my, I was so lucky and got to photograph a 10 day old, adorable, teeny baby boy. He was an absolute angel during the entire session. I wanted to give his parent's a little sneak peek. Here's sweet baby Hayes!!

Field of Fun...

Here's my little man jumping in a nearby field...I can't believe he's going to be 5 in 2 short months!
Other parents have warned that these early years go by so fast, I never could relate...until now. Sometimes I wish I could freeze time, but these pictures will have to suffice.

Thank you Tyler for being my precious boy.

New Name! Kara May Photography!!

My art and business is growing and evolving rapidly. As such my business name has changed to allow room for this growth and fun new things in the works. My focus is still children, but I have some other ideas and plans that I'm working on. You will see changes to my blog, and my website during this transition. Please bear with me during this exciting time of change. My new URL is www.karamayphotography.com . Thank you!

Feeling the music

We woke up this morning and cooked our weekend breakfast of pancakes with fresh cut fruit. In the background daddy had his Ipod going and the kids were dancing in their chairs to the music. I love that they have such a connection with music. When a country song came on daddy took my hand and asked me to dance - I danced. Once the song ended Tyler asked if we could play another 'cowboy song'. He ran upstairs and got his cowboy hat and began dancing, Brielle saw and joined him. It was so cute to see him mimic daddy and I dancing by spinning Brielle around. I grabbed my camera that was sitting nearby and got these pictures - not the best quality or composition but at least I caught a little bit of that moment.