Alaska State Fair

It doesn't really matter what the weather has been like leading up to it. It doesn't even matter what the weather forcasters are predicting. Every time my family goes to the Alaska State Fair, the sun comes out. I'm just saying.

This year we drove Rory to the fair on Friday evening, spent a couple hours playing, then spent the night in the grand RV lot. We awoke in time to be one of the first people in the fairgrounds Saturday morning. Oddly enough, it was at that moment, when the fair was at its most empty, that we lost Jordan. We found her though. So it's all good.

Here are a few pictures of our exciting, sunny day at the fair. I think the pictures sort of speak for themselves so I won't interrupt this one with commentary.

Busy Bee!

I have been doing SO much photography lately! It has been amazing to spend time with so many great people and capturing a little slice of their lives. I get such a thrill out of uploading a new photo session and seeing all that we've created. I REALLY love it when I hear back that my clients just loved their portraits!

Over the past few weeks I've had the pleasure of photographing families, babies and high school seniors! It's been busy, but so incredibly fun.


Jessica was a blast. She was up for whatever I wanted to do. I drove my RV (RORY) to the different locations so that she would have a place to change her clothes. It worked out very well, especially since we were shooting in public locations without changing facilities. It was raining during this shoot but we still managed to get some great shots!
This little one was SO sweet. She smiled the entire time. I just followed her around the park and tried to keep up!


This family needed some shots done in a hurry because their oldest son was leaving for college the next morning. So I made them hike all over the place and got a bunch of fun shots.

Looking Back

Forgive me but I'm feeling a little emotional and nostalgic today. So I created this collage of my Bubba through the years.



Last night I was packing his very first school lunch and when I was done I decided he needed cookies. So I whipped up a batch at 10pm. The boy needs cookies on his first day of school!

The Day Has Come

Well, I did it.

I dropped my baby off for his first day of kindergarten and I did not cry...in front of him. I cried a bit the night before and a bit in the car after I left him though.

Jake was such a trooper! He was so excited to be there and he had lots of friends in his class with him.

Frosted Mini Wheats (Frosted Milliweeds) the breakfast of kindergarteners!

Don't want to be the stinky kid!

Heading out to the car with our stuff!

Grandma came to watch the other kids so I could drive Jake to school. She's looking a little weepy!

Toting our stuff to class!


We're in the building!


Daddy and Jake heading to find his teacher.


Found his name on the list!


It's our friend Trinity! So happy we have friends in our class!


Taking our seat.


Getting out our new supplies!


This is Jake's teacher, Mrs. Anker.


Look, our friend Trinity sits at our same table!


Saying our final goodbyes. Time for me to leave him. *sniff*


My besties and I all dropped our babies off at kindergarten today. Then we went to Starbucks and had a good cry together. At least we aren't going through this alone!

Last Sleep Before the BIG DAY!

Night night Bubba. When you wake up tomorrow, you'll be in Kindergarten!

George Castanza Would Drape Himself In This Cake

On Friday I attempted something epic.

Not only did I bake my very first ever cake from scratch, but I tested it on my wild and crazy friends, some of whom are the most culinary, crafty, Martha Stewart-y people on the planet.

It all started with my cousin...in law. She KEPT posting pictures of these Red Velvet cupcakes she'd been making for all these birthday parties she'd been throwing. They looked so yummy and beautiful! I'd never seen Red Velvet cake before. I was intrigued.

Then my friend Lucy decided to have a girls' night at her house. Then the rest of us realized it was almost her birthday. Then we decided to surprise her with some hooplah. I offered to make the cake and so I did.















My friends said it was WONDERFUL! Or maybe I just have really wonderful friends.

Earthquakes

I must be immune to them now.

Yesterday a 5.0 earthquake shook Anchorage and I didn't feel it. At work, Darrin said it was a pretty rough one. It happened at 10:19am and I'm pretty sure I was driving from Michael's craft store to Fred Meyer at that time. That's fine though. I don't prefer to be aware of them.

Product Shout Out

HOLLA!

Seriously people. My friend Candice introduced me to these the other day and then I polished off her whole stash.

COCONUT M&Ms!!!

Are you kidding me? Where have these been all my life? If you are a coconut fan as I am, then you must get yourself a pack or ten. I was just telling someone today that if I could, I would roll around in a pile of shredded coconut...well, let's just say I really love coconut.



The bad news is, they are only available for a LIMITED TIME! So RUN RUN! You're going to miss out!

Candice says, "you're welcome."

New Haircut for School!

For the first time ever, Jakey got his haircut by a professional. I just wanted to do something special for school. As always, he's a handsome little thing.

What Are You??

I have been spending some serious time organizing over the last several days. Right now though, I'm definitely in the "it gets worse before it gets better" stage. I have grand ideas. They'll happen eventually.

I spend some time each day looking at organizational tips online. Today I stumbled on something pretty much unrelated but still fun. The following link is a style quiz. If you need to know once and for all what your home decor style is, this quiz will tell.

I took a bullet for you all and tested it's accuracy. I am and always have been a country casual kind of girl. This quiz confirmed it. Along with your style profile, it also gives you some quick tips on organizing "in your style."

Have fun!

Home Style Quiz

Jakety Poo

I was just printing some pictures for Darrin's new classroom and stumbled across this one of Jake from a couple months ago. Too cute, had to post it.

Happy Birthday to My Main Squeeze!

Today Darrin celebrated his 33rd birthday. He celebrated in style too...at jury duty. He came home with some funny stories but no jury selection.

We had dinner at Chili's and then he was off to see the new GI Joe movie with his buddies.

I made him some brownies (because he doesn't like cake) but he and Jake cut into them and ate some before I had a chance to put a candle or two on and sing Happy Birthday! I guess he's just to old for that sort of hoopla. But not too old to let me hand out real GI Joe party invitations to all his friends!

Holy Handsome Batman

All dressed like daddy for church today. Darrin was the only one who made it all the way through church with his shirt tucked in though.

Fusion Alaska

Tonight was opening night for Fusion Alaska 2009. Every year at this time, our church hosts this statewide youth conference for three days. Kids come from all over to take classes to help enrich their spiritual lives and every night there is a message and a concert.

Tonight Brandon Heath rocked the house.
Before his concert though, I had the honor of being part of a skit called, "Spiritual Starbucks." Four years of high school drama don't fail me now! I played the part of Customer #2.


Candice and I backstage before our big debuts. She was Customer #3.


Darryl ordering up his Buddha Berry Frap and Hare Krishna cookie.


I opted for the special with a shot of caramel cult and a sprinkling of idolatry. Yum. I also ordered some justified sin biscotti at the last second. All it cost was my eternal soul. What a deal!


Candice tried to order a quad shot of straight up Jesus but the baristo was giving her some trouble. Obviously if they start serving that, nobody will ever thirst again. He tried to talk her out of it but she persisted. That is until she spilled it. Then she realized that it was too much work and trouble and she ordered the special, just like me. Not many people can handle Jesus straight up like that.


Backstage daycare because our husbands were too busy WORKING out in the building somewhere. Darrin was flying a blimp I think.