One of my goals this year is to document my family.  Wait, wasn’t that my resolution last year?  Well this year, I resolve to do better, and I have a plan.  I’m participating in Project 365, where the goal is to take one picture a day, every day of the year.  Here’s one from a few days ago (of my almost-8-year-old who just recently decided he loves to read):

Okay, so I’m about a month late with this, but Happy 2010!  I hope you all had a wonderful holiday season.

I know some of you have been wondering “Will she ever blog again?”  Things have been busy busy busy for us over the past few months.  Yes, I will blog your sessions, those of you who have been waiting.  I promise.  But I have been much more interested in getting things mailed out to people than I have been with updating the blog. 

So here’s the latest news.  At the end of 2009/beginning of 2010 I…

1) Married an amazing man, who I thank God for every day.

2) Gained two more children, bringing our combined total to 4, and a tiny dog.

3) Started graduate school again, working on a master’s in American History.  Why?  So someday I can teach at the college level, if I want to.  And because I love school and I’ve missed learning about things other than photography.

4) Had the flu.  Twice.

5) Began renovating a home to sell, and packing to move out of the one I have lived in for the past year,  and started looking for a new one with Dave that’s big enough for our family.

Whew.

So, needless to say, we have a lot going on here.  After reading all that, I’m sure that no one will be surprised that I’m taking a break from portrait sessions for the next few months so that we can get settled, because I just can’t keep up with everything.  Those of you who are already scheduled know that you’re on my calendar, no matter what, but I’m not taking any more bookings for the next few months.  For those of you who haven’t ordered yet or who haven’t paid for their orders in full, I’ll be taking orders and finalizing payments until February 23rd.  After that, the studio computer is coming down for the move, and I won’t be digging into the archives and processing orders until we’re permanently settled again.

I’ll try and get some past sessions up between now and then, and I’ll do some personal blogs, too, so you can keep up with what’s going on in our lives.  Until next time, here are some pictures from our honeymoon in New Orleans. 

And my sweet little husband on Facebook:

Just a quick holiday update: for those of you who are waiting on orders from last month, I am shipping some today and the rest tomorrow.  I am still waiting on the final round of holiday cards, but they should be here early this week.  Once I double check that everything is there, I will ship them out to you.  Please make sure I have your correct mailing address on file so they don’t end up delayed in shipping — or worse, in someone else’s hands!

Only two weeks left to take advantage of our digital sale!

I have had several people from LONG ago email me, and if you haven’t heard back from me yet, I am still going through the archives to see what I still have for your sessions.

Several of you have also said that you’d like to pay by check, and that is absolutely fine!  BUT, I need to receive those checks by September 1st.  I’ll let you know as soon as I get them in the mail, so if you haven’t gotten a confirmation from me, I haven’t received your check.  Thanks!

This has been such a great week!  I’ve gotten to spend time with long-time client friends and their kids, some photographer friends, and I got to meet some amazing new people, too.  Plus, I am getting to spend more time with my kids this summer, and that is the best part of all. I know this is a short week for most of you, so I hope you all have a safe and relaxing holiday weekend!

On Monday night I had the honor of speaking to the Austin Professional Photographers Association. What a friendly and talented bunch of people! It was a fun night and I got to visit with old friends and make a few new ones, too. Thanks, Tracey and Sue Ellen and everyone else, for inviting me out to spend the evening with y’all!

I also got to work with some clients who have been bringing their children in for years now, and I just want to say how thankful I am that you’ve let me share in their lives! I have some great images and I know you’re anxious to see them!  We were blessed with cooler mornings this week, so we didn’t end up soaked at the sessions.  I have suspended late afternoon sessions for the time being, unless they are in your home, because it has just been too hot for the little ones outdoors in the afternoons.

The kids and I also made pizza last weekend, and I took some shots of the process.  For the past few months, we’ve been trying to eat a healthier diet, and that means that I spend a lot more time in the kitchen.  We’ve fallen into the rhythm pretty easily, though, and everyone seems to feel better and have more energy.  I’ve also discovered that I really enjoy cooking when I don’t feel like I should be doing 20 other things instead, and when I know that the kids see it as a fun experiment.  There is something really satisfying about cooking from scratch, and enjoying the finished product after all that “work.”  The dough was surprisingly easy to make, and we had a lot of fun.  Here’s the recipe, if you’d like to try it at home with your own kids.

The dough, after being refrigerated overnight:

With sauce and cheese, ready to go into the oven. You can see Mac back there, asking “exactly HOW long will this take?”

Say cheese!

And finally, Charlotte showing off the finished product. I’d recommend getting more than one ball of dough out of the fridge, unless the pizza is just for you. It’s very popular at our house and that first pizza is gone before you can blink.

Summertime is here!  I hope you’re all staying cool and having fun now that the big kids are out of school.  We spent today doing all sorts of “first day of summer” activities and now I’m exhausted. I think we’ll all have an early bedtime tonight.  I am determined to work less and spend more time with my kids this summer… and maybe take a real vacation (meaning one that has nothing to do with photography or photographers!).

I know that I’ve been a bad, bad blogger. I’m caught up on orders and phone calls and processing, though, so that’s something!  I’m planning on taking the blog in a slightly different direction this summer, if I can ever get back into the blogging mood!    One big shout-out: BETH, I am getting your emails but I don’t think you’re getting mine, and the phone number I have on file for you has changed. I hate for people to think I’m ignoring them, so I hope you check the blog!

Don’t forget that we have beach sessions scheduled for near Corpus Christi the weekend of the 20th.  I do still have a space or two available.  For you non-beach clients who are considering a summer session, I’m not accepting as many sessions this summer as I have in years past so if you need to get on the calendar please call me ASAP.  We are currently accepting Victoria/Crossroads area appointments, and for you San Antonio/Austin folks my sessions in your area will be extremely limited after July.  Once school starts I just won’t be able to make that drive more than once a month, so if you want to do a portrait session, now’s the time.

And because a blog post without photos is boring… here is a snap of Bugs coloring in the kitchen last night.  I don’t often pick up the camera if I’m not working, and I’ve realized that I don’t have many photos of my kids just being my kids, so that is a personal project for the summer. 

Just a quick post to catch everyone up on our upcoming events and deadlines!  Don’t forget that our Holiday Charity Sessions are this weekend!  If you’re signed up, please don’t forget that the session fee is an unwrapped $25 gift (one for each child photographed) and that we schedule these VERY tightly, so please be on time!  I’ve never blogged our Pumpkin Patch charity sessions from last month so here are a few for you. 

The deadline for print-only orders for Christmas delivery is next WEDNESDAY.  I will be closed from Wednesday afternoon till the next Tuesday to celebrate Thanksgiving with my family and to pack and move, so I will not be taking phone calls and emails during that time.  If you have a “family share” gallery on our site, it will expire on Wednesday as well because we’re trying to launch the site redesign and the site will be down for a few days during vacation.  As of Dec 1, all sessions will take place “on location” and our pricing structure will change, so this is your last chance to book sessions or order prints at 2008 prices.

I’m really excited about the changes we have coming… I think that it’s going to make sessions a little more fun and creative and I have needed that.  Check back after Thanksgiving to see if we really DID manage to get everything redesigned and back up.    Somehow, web tech projects never follow the timeline that they should… .

We sent out a newsletter with holiday session and important news about the new directions we’re taking for the studio in 2009.  Because I talked about how we’re going to be restructuring the way we price our session fees, I have gotten several phone calls from current Little Blessings members who are worried that their prices are going to change.  If you are a CURRENT Little Blessings Member, meaning that 1) you’ve paid your membership fee already and 2) you haven’t passed your one-year “good until” price list mark, you will not be charged an additional session fee for your remaining session(s).  You will also pay the same print prices until your one-year period is up.  So, if you are PAST your one-year mark and have things you want to order from past sessions, or if you have put off ordering from your last remaining session, NOW is the time to call me about those orders.  After Dec 1, our 2008 prices will only be available to those who are still under the one year club umbrella.

Sorry to freak anyone out!  We will of course honor your remaining sessions if you’re still within your year.  Absolutely.  But if you want those to be in the current studio instead of on location, we need to get you in before Dec 1.

I am travelling to Abilene to speak to a group of photographers, so the studio will be closed till Wednesday next week.  I’ll return all phone calls and emails as soon as I’m back.  Don’t forget about next week’s Pumpkin Patch event!