Lori Riggins Photography

M.I.A.

2012-01-26T06:47:00.004-06:00

I'm lazy, OK??? That's my excuse! I know it's not a good one, but it's the only one I have. I've been missing in action from here because I haven't been shooting anything lately (it's the after-Christmas lull), and even though I've got some blog posts rolling around in my head, it's just been easier to lay on the sofa, watching Family Guy or How I Met Your Mother instead of organizing my thoughts and writing them up. I'm looking forward to the weekend, I'll be shooting an engagement party, AND I'll be going to the annual Pancake Breakfast. Hopefully, that will jump start me a little and I'll get my creative juices flowing and be ready to shoot some (I've got a brand new macro lens that I've NEVER used)! And as hynotizing as Netflix is, I'm just going to have to get off this sofa...

In the meantime, no post is complete without photos, so here's some shots I took last fall. I've always loved the look of deserted carnival shots, they just seem so desolate and mysterious. Catch up with you soon!

Thad

2012-01-09T06:49:00.002-06:00

Thad was my final shoot of last year, we squeezed him in right under the yearbook deadline! Enjoy the rest of your Senior year, Thad... and then it's on to Lubbock! Wreck 'Em Tech! :)

Christmas Goodies

2011-12-24T12:34:00.005-06:00

This time of year I am transformed into something that I'm normally not, sort of a combination of Betty Crocker and Martha Stewart. I spend hours looking at holiday magazines, reading recipes and cruising the internet and Pinterest for food ideas and crafts to make and mix up for Christmas. These are just a few of the goodies I made this year (with Becca's assistance) - sugar cookies, Hug and pretzel snacks, dipped peppermint oreos, and my grandma's Martha Washington candy. Of course I didn't get to everything I wanted to make, but at some point you just gotta say "ENOUGH!" Happy Holidays!

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Powell Kiddos

2011-12-19T11:51:00.003-06:00

These two cuties are waaaayyy different when it comes to photos. HE wants nothing to do with it, and SHE loves the camera!!!! :) Maybe he'll come around one day!

It's Kind of Their Thing...

2011-12-11T22:42:00.001-06:00

These girls LOVE the jumping pic!

Diaz Family

2011-12-09T06:15:00.003-06:00

These were the HAPPIEST kids! So much fun to shoot!

Where is He Now?

2011-12-07T05:43:00.006-06:00

I know what you're thinking... Ryan's birthday was yesterday, sooooo Lori's being sentimental and posting his first baby picture. Wrong. I have absolutely no idea who this baby is. But I often wonder about him.... 20 years ago, I did give birth to a beautiful baby boy. And like most of the parents, we bought a photo package taken in the nursery of the hospital of "his 1st photos." A week or so after we got home from the hospital, we received our packet. I was so excited that we got it in time for Christmas, and I went out and bought a bunch of photo frames, and gave all of them out for Christmas gifts! Never once did it even occur to me that.... this didn't look like Ryan at all, but instead I thought "oh my goodness, they just change so quickly." And I had been drugged up pretty good, so what did I know? And it also never occurred to me that I had never seen the sleeper he was dressed in, but I just assumed that was something the nursery had put on him for the photo. And I didn't think it was odd at all that the baby in the photo had a REALLY red rash on his face that I had never noticed on Ryan. I was a first time mom, it didn't seem unrealistic that his skin might be broken out one minute, and completely cleared up the next. So, Christmas presents were given and everyone ooohed and aaahed appropriately.

Fast forward to the week after Christmas. I received ANOTHER photo packet in the mail. With these photos. That were CLEARLY my sweet baby boy. He looked just like his daddy's baby picture, and he was wearing the same clothes he was wearing when they brought him out of the nursery to me. Yes, I am Super Mom and couldn't pick my baby out of a lineup. BUT IN MY DEFENSE neither could anyone else!

So I do often wonder about Baby Number 1, and what he's doing today and what kind of young man he's grown into, or if he's EVEN A BOY... And I hope that he brought as much happiness to his mom as Baby Number 2 did to me!

Speaking of Baby Number 2, here's the Birthday Boy! I hope that your 20th Birthday was the best ever, and now the Countdown to Vegas begins!!!! Have a great year!

Three's Company!

2011-12-05T16:42:00.003-06:00

More fall family photos... with the Smoot kids!

Brown Family

2011-12-04T20:04:00.003-06:00

These guys were troopers... it was COOOOOLD during their shoot!!! Poor Jett's chin was quivering! But these cold kiddos still managed to be SUPER cute!

Fifteen

2011-12-03T07:42:00.004-06:00

Baby Girl is 15 now! I can't believe it... just yesterday she was watching Dragon Tales and I was reading "Charlotte's Web" to her every night... Gone are the days of Barbie Dreamhouses and Crystal the stickhorse.... (by the way, she named EVERY toy or stuffed animal Crystal...) We're on to bigger things now, like Drivers' Ed! YIKES!!!!

Enjoy your year, Becca, you're only fifteen once!

BirthDaze

2011-12-01T06:14:00.006-06:00

Today begins the official Riggins Family Birthday Month. Before this month is over, not only will we have celebrated Christmas and New Year's Eve, but also all 4 of our birthdays. To say it's a busy (and expensive!) month is an understatement!

The festivities kick off tomorrow with Becca on the 2nd, then Ryan on the 6th, Mike's is on the 10th, and I finish it off on the 21st. We celebrate in inverse order of our ages. Yes, I'm the oldest.... but for 11 glorious days Mike and I are the same age!

People often ask if we planned it. Um, no. Ryan's birthday just worked out that way, and Becca wasn't planned at all! Both of the kids' due dates were Thanksgiving Day, and they both stubbornly held off until December. When Ryan was born, after my due date passed, we thought it would be kind of cool if he was born in December like the both of us. I was thinking more like December 1st, but he waited 8 long days past his due date to show his sweet little face and conehead. Then with Becca, lots of people weighed in with "I hope she's late, it would be so awesome if she had a December birthday like the rest of you"... I, on the hand, being 32 years old and feeling 18 months pregnant, wanted my doctor to induce me on Halloween. My mantra was "get this dang baby out of me!!!"

So the four of us have suffered through trying to plan parties around holiday events, and gifts wrapped in Santa wrapping paper, but the truth is - it's the best time of year for birthdays! Who cares that we never get to have swimming parties or cookouts - we get to celebrate when all the halls are decked, and people have a smile on their faces and a Christmas carol in their hearts. Some have suggested that we celebrate our "half-birthdays" in the summer, but what would be special about that? We'll just keep on singing "Happy Birthday" amidst strains of "Jingle Bells" and baking birthday cakes alongside Christmas cookies!

Have a happy December! We will! :)

Barnes Family

2011-11-29T07:14:00.002-06:00

Gorgeous family! I love little boys, and these brothers were the best - they did a GREAT job in front of the camera!

For all of this and so much more...

2011-11-24T07:40:00.003-06:00

I've been participating in the "Countdown to Thanksgiving" on Facebook, and it's made me really consider all the things I'm thankful for and all the things that matter most to me. I've heard it said "what if we only had the things we thanked God for", and that's an overwhelming thought. I want to be better at giving God all the glory for the tremendous gifts in my life, and on those days when I'm down and feeling sorry for myself, I will come back and look at this list and see how truly blessed I am.

Day 1 - At a time when so many are looking for a job, I'm very thankful to have one that I enjoy coming to every day (well... most days!) I spend as much time with these folks as I do my family!

Day 2: I'm thankful for music. It's always been a big part of my life, when I was little I remember my mom and aunt always listening to their country albums. Then when I was older I took guitar and piano lessons and was in the marching band. After high school I was in a rock band, and even today I always have some kind of music playing. I'm excited because it's time for my favorite - Christmas music!!!

Day 3: I'm thankful for my sisters! When we're together, we laugh until tears run down our legs! And if it's just two of us, we're most likely making fun of the other one.... but it's all good because we usually text them and tell them what we're saying! ♥ ya', Denise and Clydean!

Day 4: I'm thankful for modern conveniences! How often do we take for granted how wonderful it is to have running hot water, or microwaves, or cell phones? Those types of things haven't been around too terribly long, and they definitely make my life easier! I would not have made a good pioneer woman!

Day 5 - I'm thankful for coffee! I didn't become a coffee drinker until just a few years ago, but now I gotta have my two cups in the morning... add pumpkin spice creamer and I'm in caffeine heaven!

Day 6 - I'm thankful for all the joy my pets have brought to me over the years! I've told a few funny stories about them, and I'll admit to being a crazy cat lady, but through my life I've shared my home with dogs, cats, birds, fish, lizards, hermit crabs and mice, and they've all been part of the family.

Day 7 - I'm thankful for my Mama! She raised 3 daughters practically on her own because Dad traveled in his work, and she did a pretty good job! :) She's going to be 80 in 2 months, and still takes care of all of us. And as a side note, with Thanksgiving coming up, I'm particularly thankful for her cornbread dressing!

Day 8: I'm thankful for memories of my Dad. He worked hard all his life to take care of his family, he was funny, sometimes loud, ALWAYS opinionated (so I come by it naturally) and had a softspot for grandkids and little dogs. I grew up without ever having a grandpa, and so I'm happy my kids were able to be close to their PaPa.

Day 9 - I'm thankful for H.H.S. Our school is amazing, we have wonderful teachers and staff there that truly care about our kids. Ryan's a graduate, and Becca's a freshman and I wouldn't want them to go anywhere else! And I'm proud to be a Bearcat, too - Class of '81! Go Cats!

Day 10: I'm thankful I woke up early enough to take the world's longest shower! I'm the one who has to get moving first in the morning, and don't usually have the luxury of time. The shower is where I do my best thinking, and I needed some brain time this morning!

Day 11: I'm thankful for all the men and women thoughout the years that have served to keep us free. My dad was a veteran of the U.S. Navy, and on this Veteran's Day I want to send good vibes out to my nephew Chance Bloodworth, who's serving in the Navy today - love and miss you! Anchors Away!

Day 12: I am thankful for Clay County Memorial Hospital. Not only is it Mike's employer, but we are fortunate in our community to have a place filled with wonderful doctors, nurses, EMT's and staff to take care of us! Not all cities the size of Henrietta are as fortunate!

Day 13: I'm thankful for my big extended family, that's getting bigger all the time! Today is our family Thanksgiving at my sister's house, and I can't wait to see all the outlaws and inlaws!

Day 14: Today I'm thankful for good books - To name a few, all the Harry Potters, To Kill a Mockingbird, all the John Grishams and Zane Greys, Charlotte's Web and Bridges of Madison County when I need a good cry, and of course, it all began with The Bobbsey Twin mysteries oh so long ago. I've always been in awe of writers who could weave together words and ideas, sentences and characters to create the fabric of a captivating story...

Day 15: I'm thankful for Alka-Seltzer and Advil PM! They help me make it through most nights! This getting-old thing is getting old.....

Day 16: As I get ready to head out on a 6 hour drive to San Antonio by myself, I'm thankful for my iPod! With it I can listen to audiobooks to pass the time, plus I've got all the groovy tunes I love on it... Non-stop Christmas music and Bay City Rollers and Partridge Family to my heart's content!

Day 17: After being gone for 2 days, and spending 13 of the last 39 hours behind the wheel, I am thankful for my home! It's not the biggest or the fanciest house, but it's comfortable and warm and happy, and filled with people I love!

Day 18: I'm thankful for all my friends! Oldies, newbies, besties.... you each hold a special and dear place in my heart!

Day 19: Today I'm thankful for all the mistakes I've made, all the wrong turns, all the mishaps and missteps (and there have been plenty), and all of the hard lessons learned. They've helped shape who I am and I'm a little wiser for them. Some of them have been easy to overcome, and some much harder, but they're all part of me now, and I would be incomplete without them.

Day 20: I'm thankful for Dallas Cowboys Football! I've bled blue and silver all my life, I've been there for Superbowls, and I've been there for 1-15 seasons... Doesn't matter - Win, Lose, or Tie, Cowboys Fan 'Til I Die!

Day 21: I'm thankful for Ryan, my firstborn, the baby who falls on angel's wings. Even if he wasn't my son, he'd be my friend. Somewhere along the way when I was teaching him to tie his shoes and pick up his toys and say his ABC's, he taught me how to be a mom. He's my heart.

Day 22: I'm thankful for Becca, my oopsy-daisy baby, friend to all things furry. Becca is who I strive to be like, she's sweet yet strong, never says unkind things about others, and definitely marches to the beat of her own drummer. She's beautiful and smart and funny. I'm so glad God knew best, and sent her to us. She's my joy.

Day 23: I'm thankful for Mike, my best friend. Thankful for a man that changed career paths once - to better his family, and twice - to better himself. For a man that loves his children fiercely, indulges me in everything, mows the lawn, folds the whites, holds the dog when he gets his nails clipped, holds down the fort when I'm traveling on business, and holds my hand. He's my world.

Day 24: I'm thankful for all God has given me, but most of all my salvation, grateful it was given to me by grace and not by works, because I would have fallen woefully short. Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours! :)

+ One

2011-11-21T20:51:00.003-06:00

This sweet couple will be making an addition to the family soon! Just in time for Christmas!

Oh, Baby!

2011-11-19T21:56:00.009-06:00

Holy cow, is this one of the most beautiful babies ever, or what??? Meet my new great-nephew, Jonathan Kaid!

Galbert Family

2011-11-15T19:35:00.004-06:00

I've said it before and I'll say it again, sometimes my job is too easy! Not only was this family a lot of fun, they were SUPER photogenic! Thanks guys! :)

It's All Relative

2011-11-14T12:08:00.005-06:00

These folks hailed from all parts, and were able to get together and take some pics! Big families are the best!

Appreciation

2011-11-11T06:50:00.005-06:00

Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, Arlington Cemetery

Veterans have touched us all - in all walks of life. They've sacrificed their time with their families, sometimes part of their own childhood, being there when their babies were born, being there when their parents passed away, coming home for holidays, the comfort of their own homes, eating home cooked meals, and too often their own lives. I would never be able to truly show how much I appreciate all these sacrifices, so I'll just say "thank you."

Unbelievable

2011-11-06T20:05:00.003-06:00

So we had an earthquake here Saturday night, crazy stuff. Stranger than that, though, is the fact that I made homemade biscuits. From scratch. I know - bizarre right? Couple that with the fact that I'm nearly caught up on laundry, and it's almost unbelievable. Truth really is stranger than fiction.

Wood Family

2011-11-02T06:16:00.004-05:00

I had the opportunity a couple of weeks ago to shoot one of my very favorite families! We haven't done family photos since Kooper was teeny-tiny! He's definitely not a baby anymore - he's all boy!

All about the Pumpkins

2011-10-30T21:42:00.004-05:00

If we have one tradition, it's carving Jack O'Lanterns! Here's this year's crop. Happy Halloween!

Something Wicked

2011-10-24T05:54:00.006-05:00

One old gown from the thrift store + one old spooky doll from the attic + 30 minutes time between the Cowboys and Rangers games = some quality mom and daughter time! I've had these creepy cemetery photo images in my head for awhile, and I didn't have to twist Becca's arm too terribly much to get her to play along.... We both love Halloween, and creepy, ooky, scary stuff. Later this month we'll be going to the Riverside Cemetery Haunted Ghost tour and watching "Paranormal Activity 3"... Halloween rocks!

Peace, Love and Volleyball!

2011-09-04T10:26:00.001-05:00

Gotta love those Lady Cats!

First Day as a Freshman!

2011-08-22T12:02:00.005-05:00

I can't believe this day is here! Today is the first day of Becca's Freshman year, and on the drive to school, I gave her this advice... "Smile a lot, be friendly, don't worry about what other people think of you, and have fun, because the next four years are going to fly by!" She, of course, gave me the requisite 14-year-old girl eyeroll, answered "Okaaaaay, Mom!" and I'm sure she thought to herself "Four years is gonna take FOREVER!" She's so wrong...

Good luck to the Class of 2015!!! Have a blast!

Katie

2011-08-12T17:36:00.006-05:00

The first of the 2012 crop of Senior Girls! We took these at an old, historic house south of Henrietta, and it had so much charm and character! Good luck, Katie! Enjoy your year! :)

Waiting for Oaklan

2011-08-07T11:22:00.003-05:00

I remember when the summers when I was pregnant, and how miserable I was, and my kids were born in DECEMBER! I can't imagine being 8 months pregnant THIS summer, when the temperatures are INSANE! But Samantha was a trooper through this, I think she handled the heat better than me! :) Good luck Sam, and try to stay cool until Labor Day! (Isn't that the best due date?)

Kolten

2011-08-03T20:59:00.005-05:00

Kolten kicks off the Senior Class of 2012! It was BLISTERING hot for this session, but we all made it through! Have a great Senior year, Kolten! And Go Cats!!!! :)

Just some Harry Potter ramblings...

2011-07-16T08:47:00.012-05:00

Harry Potter is like a member of our family. He's like that favorite cousin that comes to town every year and a half or so, and just pops in while we're eating dinner, and we're all so excited to see him that we get up from the dinner table and forget about our roast and mashed potatoes. He breezes in, hugs and handshakes all around, visits for a short time and breezes out again.

HP came into our lives when Ryan was about 7 or 8. My mother-in-law was trying to think of what to get Ryan for Christmas one year, and asked me if he would like to read the Harry Potter books. I wasn't sure that he would at all, they'd been out a couple of years, and he'd never shown any interest in them, but I told her we'd give them a try. So shortly after the holidays we began reading "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone". Together. Side note - I always loved reading to my kids, and was sad when they got old enough to want to read all by themselves... Anyway - we read the book - and LOVED it. We were hooked. So after we finished, we read "Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets". Again, together.

The third book is where we parted company on reading. Ryan was old enough to read big books on his own, and I was more than a little sad about it. What I was mostly sad about was that I had to wait for him to finish so that I could read it myself! This was also around the time that the first movie came out. We were shocked to learn that we had been pronouncing Hermione's name wrong the entire time! It took two or three more books before I was able to hear "Her-MY-uh-nee" in my head instead of "Her-MEE-uh-nee" when I read her name.

The movies gave life to the characters we had grown to love. AND to hate. They were perfect.... All the red-headed Weasleys, Snape and his greasy hair, HUGE and lovable Hagrid, and Dumbledore. Dumbledore was perfection - he was THE MAN! And McGonagall, and Sirius Black, and Dobbie... they were all special to us.

When Becca was 8-ish, she and I started reading them, (and I pronounced Hermione RIGHT this time). She loved the books too, except for the part about Aragog the giant spider. She STILL hides her eyes during that part when we're watching the movie!

And yes, we were that family that went to the midnight book releases, and bought all of the gimmicky stuff like Bernie Botts Every Flavor Beans. And we still watch the HP marathons on Saturdays on the ABC Family Channel. Through the years we've all four read all seven books AT LEAST once and had LOTS of conversations about them. Both of my kids are avid readers, and I believe with all my heart that Harry Potter was the reason for it. I never understood all the controversy that surrounded the books. I know many people felt very strongly that they were inappropriate. All I can say to that is, those people must never have read any of them, for they were truly wonderful stories.

So now the 2nd part of the 7th and final movie awaits. Looming out there for us to go and watch and be done with. We'll go as a family, of course... (even though Ryan couldn't wait and has already watched it once) And as we move on past all the Harry Potter chapters, we would do well to remember what the wisest wizard said... "It is our choices that show what we truly are, far more than our abilities" Thanks for everything, Dumbledore.

I remember

2011-07-05T22:17:00.003-05:00

...when my babies were two years old. It was a time in my life filled with many emotions - love, happiness, frustration, impatience, etc... But mostly joy. I know, I know, that sounds a little cheesy, but that's what it was. Pure, unadulterated joy. When Ryan was two, his favorite thing in the world was his stuffed Baby Bop, or "Boppy" as he called her. Barney - he could take or leave, but "Boppy" was a pretty big deal. When Becca was two, she wanted to live at MeMa's and PaPa's. She couldn't say Becca, she said "Gugga", and if you asked her what her name was, she would say emphatically "Gugga STEWART"!

These wonderful "2 year old" memories make today's events simply unbelievable. I, like many of you, sat and watched over the last few weeks as lawyers in Florida recounted the life of another 2 year old. Then today, we learned there was to be no justice for that life which was cut way too short. This ordeal has been painful to many, but the people I feel the most for are the mothers that have had to watch this unfold that don't have their babies to hold ... the mothers that have lost their babies to accidents or illnesses... mothers who would never discard their child in a vile, uncaring way. They're the ones that have to be hurting the most.

Poet Rabindranath Tagore said "The butterfly counts not months but moments, and has time enough." And like a butterfly, this beautiful little two year old angel only had moments, but had time enough to touch the heart of a nation. Godspeed, sweet Caylee.

Flags Flying over H-Town

2011-07-04T17:34:00.007-05:00

Happy Independence Day everyone! We may not have fireworks in Henrietta, but we have plenty of patriotism!

Withdrawals

2011-07-03T16:21:00.005-05:00

Hello, we're the Riggins Family and we're addicted to fireworks. This fireworks ban that we're under is warranted, important, and we certainly intend to abide by it.... but to say we're disappointed is an understatement. Yes, we're the family that gets about 58,000 free mortar shells because we spend so much $$$ at the fireworks stand. And don't forget to throw in our free sparklers because Mike's a volunteer firefighter! The pictures here show just a few of what we had LAST year... But all that being said, it's entirely too hot and dry to even consider lighting fireworks. To risk people's property and homes for a fireworks display would be selfish and irresponsible. So please, have a wonderful Fourth of July, cook out, throw a party, have a blast.... just be smart. And if you just gotta have fireworks, watch the Casey Anthony trial like me!

Katie Jo

2011-06-27T22:48:00.006-05:00

It's less than 3 months until Pioneer Reunion, and that means that Katie has to give up her crown soon. Hope you had a fabulous year as Clay County Rodeo Queen! :)

Fred the Frog

2011-06-10T06:08:00.003-05:00

Yes, some people would say that we have a petting zoo at our house. No, we're not bringing a frog in from the backyard and making a pet out of it, much to Becca's disappointment. That did not stop her, however, from naming it Fred. And it didn't stop the frog from hanging out on the back door all evening. But it did give me a chance to try out my brand new macro lens!

Pretty pretties...

2011-06-08T21:45:00.005-05:00

I love pretty flowers, but I'm death to them. Seriously, my mom can bring completely dead plants and flowers back to life, but I can look at them and they wilt. I have -zero- houseplants, and absolutely no outside flowers. But I love to take photos of them! These shots are from my photo getaway weekend back in the spring...

"What a long strange trip it's been"

2011-06-05T20:32:00.005-05:00

I know lots of my blog readers are arachnaphobes, and really get the heebie jeebies looking at this kind of stuff... but honestly... doesn't this guy remind you of Jerry Garcia? All he needs are some wire-rimmed glasses and a Grateful Dead tshirt...

Grady

2011-05-31T22:37:00.004-05:00

And last, but not least.... Grady wins the prize for being the LATEST senior session ever!!! Congrats to Grady and all the rest of the HHS Senior Class of 2011!

Rebecca Noelle

2011-05-28T23:30:00.000-05:00

She walks in beauty, like the night
Of cloudless climes and starry skies;
And all that's best of dark and bright
Meet in her aspect and her eyes...
Lord Byron

I still can't believe how Becca has grown up! She has really turned into a beautiful young lady, so I thought this was the perfect opportunity to quote a few lines from one of my favorite poems...

"The dog may be wonderful prose, but only the cat is poetry." - French Proverb

2011-05-26T20:36:00.009-05:00

She had lots of names.... Bluebell (her given name) Kitties Kitties, Creeper Cat, Sweet Kitty, Biggie, she even went through an embarrassing phase of being called Raiders by Ryan and his friends, but after Little Cat came to live with us, Bluebell became Big Cat. Even after both Little Cat and Littlest Cat out-ate her and eventually out-sized her, she was still our Big Cat.

She healed my heart after I lost Isabelle, my feline friend of 18 years. Bluebell joined the family a few weeks after, and gracefully wound her way into our lives. The last thing Mike said to me on the phone before I went to the shelter to pick out a kitten was "just don't get a Siamese, they're loud!" But when the vet said "I have just the kitty for you" and put her in my arms, it didn't matter one bit that she was part Siamese. I instantly fell in love with her, and so did the rest of the family. And she wasn't loud, she was much too dignified to be loud.

She was a little unsure of her new home that first night, and hid in the leather pocket of Mike's pool table, but it didn't take her long to become accustomed to her surroundings. Before too long, she was bathing JJ, turning her nose up at canned food, and shedding enough white hair all over the furniture to create a herd of new cats.

When Little Cat (Trixie) and her bad attitude joined the family, Big Cat looked upon the whole situation with annoyance for awhile, but then reluctantly started letting Little Cat share her sunbeams by the back door. It wasn't too long before they started curling up together on the back of the sofa. Then when Littlest Cat (Nermal) came along last year, you could just almost hear Big Cat sighing and saying to herself, "Good Lord, they've brought another one home," but she resigned herself to being the wise and graceful matriarch of the Riggins kitties.

She became ill a couple of years ago, and we thought we were losing her soon, but she just wasn't ready to go. She lived much, much longer than we thought she would, in her quiet, serene way. And when it was time to go, she left in the same quiet manner. She just slipped away, I'm sure she felt it would just be undignified to stay and have a fuss made over her.

The house will be empty without you, Sweet Kitty. And when we're missing you, we'll just say "oh, she's around here somewhere...."

"The pyramid will be the next big thing in photography...."

2011-05-23T22:12:00.004-05:00

Or so says Dad... Hahaha! I'm not sure the girls agreed with him, but it's always fun to shoot this family, they're up for anything!!!

Becky

2011-05-18T06:33:00.003-05:00

We had a heck of a time shooting this session, the wind was RIDICULOUS! But it was fun! We hunted buffalo, went to the Holy City and the Parallel Forest, and had a Meers burger along the way! And it was awesome to get to shoot Senior photos of an old friend and fellow HHS '81 graduate! :-)

Prom 2011

2011-05-10T06:36:00.002-05:00

I L-O-V-E pretty dresses and tuxedos! :)

Lolita and Jeff Part II

2011-04-26T06:54:00.004-05:00

Here's a few more of a very HOT couple! I love shooting Seniors and families, but it was a lot of fun and a nice change of pace to shoot something a little bit different!

Ben

2011-04-24T20:55:00.004-05:00

I've started my crazy end-of-the-school-year rush on Senior pictures! Ben's is the first, with a few more to follow before Graduation!

Have a Hoppy Day!

2011-04-24T14:51:00.004-05:00

I rarely make "pretty food"... so I had to show off the cake Becca and I made for Easter! It was a doctored up cake mix recipe, but with made from scratch cream cheese frosting.... Soooooo sweet, but soooooo good! Great end to our traditional ham and scalloped potatoes lunch that we have every year. Happy Easter, Everyone!

My New Favorite Spot

2011-04-21T21:42:00.004-05:00

Anybody who shoots in this area knows we are limited on cool "spots". I have some favorite spots, and I use them frequently because they're pretty awesome, but I'm always excited to stumble on a new place. My latest subjects actually suggested this place, and I LOVE it! It has the best lighting! I took a BUNCH of shots of them, so here's round one of Lolita and Jeff.... I'll post more tomorrow in my "regular" places!

2011-2012 Cheerleading Squad and Mascot!

2011-04-04T21:33:00.002-05:00

I went through football photo withdrawal last season, but next fall these girls may be the most photographed cheer squad ever! ;) Congrats girls!

Curly Q's

2011-03-31T06:39:00.003-05:00

These are from the Butterfly Exhibit at Fair Park in Dallas. There were so many gorgeous plants and flowers, and this AMAZING vine that was growing everywhere!

Black and White Nostalgia

2011-03-29T21:19:00.003-05:00

I love old black and white street photos... When my sister and I had our photo "excursion" a few weeks ago, we sort of got lost in downtown Dallas, and while she was driving, I was shooting out the window. I really like this shot of The Majestic, it looks so 1940-ish...

Winter Guard

2011-03-20T08:07:00.004-05:00

This is the first year Henrietta Junior High has had a Color Guard, and they had their first competition performance last weekend in Midlothian. I had not even seen them practice yet, and I was completely blown away! They were the only "Cadet" (Junior High) guard that was entered, and they scored in the same point range as some of the high school guards! That was completely unexpected, since their elements were not as difficult, but they executed them beautifully! I'm such a sucker for "band stuff", being a former band member myself, and I can't wait until they perform again. All in all, it was a pretty good weekend to be Becca, not only did her Winter Guard do great, she tried out and was selected for the high school mascot position! Yay, Bec!

Full Moon

2011-03-19T22:50:00.002-05:00

This Old House

2011-03-06T08:26:00.004-06:00

At least once a month I work at our Archer City location. On my drive there and back, I pass this old house. Something about it just speaks to me, it seems so desolate sitting out there on the prairie alone, like it's straight out of the movie "Places in the Heart". Everytime I go by it, I always wish I had my camera with me - this time I did!

Tryin' to Get the Feelin Again

2011-03-04T06:04:00.003-06:00

This. This is what I've been shooting lately. Nada. Zilch. Void. Zero. A big bunch of nuthin'.... Now, granted, this is the slow client season for me. I completely understand that no one wants their Senior or Family portrait made with dry, dead, yellow grass and a barren, leafless tree as the backdrop. Things should be perking up soon as trees bud out and the world becomes green again, so that's just a temporary thing. However, I should have been using this time to let my creative juices flow since I have no deadlines to meet. Yeah, creative juices - notsomuch....

It isn't because I haven't tried! I carried all my gear to a softball game yesterday, because I LOVE shooting softball and baseball, but it was so dang windy and dusty I hated to have my camera out. Dust works its way into crevices and dirt and cameras definitely don't mix. A couple of weeks ago I went on a manager's retreat to The Cliffs Resort at PK Lake, so I took my camera hoping to get some great shots of wildlife... I honestly didn't see very much - in the bar... So like the great Barry Manilow says, "I've been up, down, tryin' to get the feelin' again... All around, tryin' to get the feelin' again.... It seemed to disappear as fast as it came...."

But today - no more excuses! I'm headed down to Arlington for a couple of days to see my sister Clydean! (Shout out to our sister Denise, :( who wanted to go to but can't) She and I are going to explore DFW and see what kind of trouble we can get into, and hopefully shoot some great shots along the way! So come hell or high water, rain or shine, bar or no bar (okay, there will probably definitely be a bar at some point) I'll have some actual photographs to put in that blank space very soon!

Blast from the Past

2011-02-14T21:23:00.005-06:00

Last night was the Fifties Dance at HJHS, and Becca won the costume contest in her poodle skirt! She also wore some Keds, bobbie sox, cat eye glasses and her dad's senior ring around her neck... I was so glad she decided to get in the spirit and dress up - she looked awesome! AND she won a $20 Walmart gift card!

My Valentine

2011-02-14T18:24:00.001-06:00

"If you live to be a hundred, I want to live to be a hundred minus one day, so I never have to live without you." Winnie the Pooh

Pretending It's Summer

2011-01-30T10:01:00.002-06:00

When faced with the possibility of winter storms in a couple of days, I'm amusing myself by recalling some images of summer.... like these sunflowers growing beside a dirt road outside of town.

One Creepy Guy

2011-01-28T20:37:00.003-06:00

Not sure what kind of critter this is, but he looked pretty imposing out on my carport! And he definitely cast a scary shadow!

Still waiting...

2011-01-18T07:23:00.003-06:00

With the chance of more wintry weather looming on the horizon, I continue to be obsessed with Spring coming! Here are a few more images from the Butterfly Conservatory that I took last year, but didn't even look at until recently....

A little bit of Spring...

2011-01-15T20:47:00.003-06:00

"The day the Lord created hope was probably the same day he created Spring." Bern Williams

I love the changing of seasons, and I'm so looking forward to dragonflies, the smell of fresh cut grass, warm breezes, robins in my yard, and honeysuckle. Winter, you're like an old friend that's overstayed his welcome. Best be on your way, so Spring can come blowing in like a dandelion wish...

Ladycat Ballers!!!

2011-01-09T20:58:00.003-06:00

These girls lo-o-ove a jumping photo! Here's our Ladycat Basketball team, good luck with the rest of the season, ladies!

Mom

2011-01-04T06:55:00.002-06:00

My dad told me once when it was just him and me around, that he thought my mom was the prettiest girl in town when he married her.... I can see why he thought that! Happy Birthday, Mom!

A Resolution for 2011

2011-01-01T09:33:00.006-06:00

It's a new year, and we are required by law to make a resolution, right? I've thought about all the things I would like to improve or change about myself, considered the usual - shedding extra pounds, trying to be more punctual, actually being nice to people... But the one thing that would probably make the most positive impact on my life and on my loved ones, is to {Stop Losing Things}.

I lose everything. Really, I do. Sometimes I find what I'm looking for, sometimes I don't. For instance, just these last few days, I've lost my keys, a gift card, my nerve, my phone, my debit card, my keys, my patience, a Christmas gift, some money, my keys, control, a bag of red and green m&m's, earrings, and my keys. Do you see a trend here? Once I even lost one shoe. At a gas station. That I was wearing at the time.

Over the years, I've lost some things that were very precious to me, some things I still hold on to hope that they'll turn up after years of missing them. For instance, 20+ years ago, I lost the diamond necklace Mike gave to me our first Christmas together. A few years later, while packing away knick knacks to make room for Christmas decorations, I lost a lead crystal egg that I had sitting on the mantle. Both of them, here one moment, gone the next. But I still hold out hope that one day I'm going to be cleaning out a dresser drawer, or reorganizing a closet, and there they'll be, stuck back in a corner or tucked in a jacket pocket of a coat not worn in years, (I'm not sure why I would have put a crystal egg in a coat pocket, but you never know.) Once, I even lost the diamond out of my wedding ring in the ball pit at Chuck E. Cheese.... but by golly, I stayed and pulled balls out of there until I found it...

This affliction has caused disruption in our happy little home here on Rosalee Street. Because in the panic and rush of trying to find something before walking out the door in the mornings, I invariably as a last resort call Mike at work, just to simply ask "hey, Honey, I know you're busy, but do you remember seeing my _________ before you left?" (fill in the blank with just about anything). But it never comes out that way. It always comes out "I'M LATE FOR WORK, AND I CAN'T FIND MY _________ AND I KNOW YOU TOOK IT, MOVED IT, OR DID SOMETHING WITH IT JUST TO SPITE ME!!! TELL ME WHERE IT IS RIGHT NOW!!!!" Oh, and interject some swear words in there, too. Poor Mike.

But I'm going to change all that. I'm going to be better about putting things away where they belong. I'm going to be more organized and calm. I'm going to find things - I know I can do it. I'm leaving for the bookstore right now to purchase a self-help book about organization, but I'll have to write a check for it, because I still haven't found my debit card. And has anyone seen my keys?

Mr. and Mrs. Higgins

2010-12-27T08:32:00.002-06:00

My sister and I shot a wedding just before Thanksgiving and it was a blast! You guys know how to throw a party! :) Thanks for being patient during the holidays. Good luck and best wishes for a long and happy life together!

"Beginnings are scary, endings are usually sad, but it's what's in the middle that counts..."

2010-12-21T10:08:00.003-06:00

Anyone who's ever had an Oreo knows that it's the middle that makes it delicious. And as I sit here smack dab in the middle of this Oreo I call my life, there's absolutely no doubt that it's what's in the middle that counts. I'm blessed beyond measure with wonderful family and great friends, a past that's taught me lessons, and a future to look forward to. I love my life!

Line 'em up and shoot 'em!

2010-12-14T18:06:00.003-06:00

When a few senior boys waited until the last minute for yearbook photos, that's what I did! Lol! Believe me, I know how it is to never know when a deadline is, Ryan was just a senior last year, and I don't think in 4 years of high school I EVER saw a picture order form! But we had a cattle call, so to speak, and got all these boys together and had a group session. Hope you all have a great senior year, guys!

The World Series Experience

2010-12-11T07:46:00.006-06:00

Now that Mike's birthday has passed, I can share one of his gifts on here, (his other gift was some monster tool from Lowe's, that I have no idea the purpose for). Mike and I were lucky enough to get to watch the Texas Rangers in a DLCS game against Tampa Bay, we also got to take the kids to see an ALCS game against the Evil Empire, and a World Series game against the Giants. And even though they didn't win the championship, the excitement and the atmosphere at those games was something that I'm so glad we were able to be a part of. I knew I wanted to capture some of that for Mike in a collage for his birthday, and this is the result.

Just to highlight some of the photos:

Top left corner - Rookie of the Year Neftali Feliz
Top right corner - Tailgating at the Ballpark - A BLAST!
2nd row, far right - Not one but TWO past presidents!
Bottom left corner - the Dot Race!
Bottom row, middle - MVP Josh Hamilton
Bottom right corner - a family friend, Invisible Man (he's been on many travels in the 15+ years he's lived with the Riggins family, someday he may even have his own post)

This season was a blast, and we can't wait for opening day - April 1st!!! Go Rangers!

A Birthday Wish

2010-12-10T05:35:00.004-06:00

To the man that:

Sticks his finger in my ear in one of the few decent pics of us together...
Is the best at doing stupid toothpick tricks...
Has been to the state fair EVERY single year of his life...
Rewashes loads of clothes that I just washed and haven't dried yet...
Spends a small fortune on fireworks every year...
Not only forgave, but married the strange girl who stole his beer, used it as microphone, then spilled it on him on that New Year's Eve long ago...
Loves his pickup more than he loves, well anything...
Is the only one that can hold our vicious chihuahua still during nail clipping...
Would eat chicken-fried steak, gravy and mashed potatoes every day if he could...
Likes for cats to lay on his feet while he naps to keep his toes warm...
Is so competitive that he would never even let the kids win at Candyland...
Loves Pittsburg Hot Links...
Suffered silently and with a smile on his face while his new wife learned to cook...
Knows that there hasn't been any good music recorded since the 80's...
Barely remembers the 80's...
Makes to-die-for chocolate milkshakes...
Wouldn't dream of letting someone else drive during a long roadtrip...
Is Table Monitor during any family card game...

And is the best dad/hubby any family ever had...

.... Happy Birthday!

Nineteen

2010-12-06T08:58:00.004-06:00

How does one learn to be the mother of an adult? One of my favorite songs has a line in it that says "Life's about changes, nothing ever stays the same..." And that pretty much sums up how I'm feeling today. It would be so much easier to focus all my parenting skills on life events like what to do when the dog chews off Batman's legs, or the consequences of staying up past a 9:00 bedtime, or even throwing together a rock collection display at the midnight hour for science the next day. But those types of dramas are behind us, and together we've moved on to the real world.

Remember, as much as these are unchartered waters for you, they are for me as well. So try to be patient with me, as I stuggle to figure out where I fit in to your world now; and I'll try to be patient with you as I remember that I raised you to make good decisions, to be kind to others, to have your own opinions, and to live a life that makes you happy, one you can be proud of.

Happy Birthday.

Farr Family

2010-12-04T23:51:00.004-06:00

I'm pretty sure I'm going to insist that everyone from now on wear this shade of blue in their photos, because I LOVE it! And the shot of the boots making up the star was all their idea - too cool, and one I'll definitely use again! :)

Brady

2010-12-04T07:42:00.003-06:00

Brady's the middle brother of 3 boys, and a great kid!

What She Is and What She's Not

2010-12-02T06:26:00.001-06:00

She is.... a beautiful young lady
She's not.... really into make-up, hair or clothes

She is.... a lover of all things cuddly and furry
She's not.... a lover of anything girly or pink

She is.... quietly confident, determined, and stubborn
She's not.... someone who wants to be in the spotlight

She is.... a "Twilight" book fan
She's not.... a "Twilight" movie fan

She is.... hysterically funny.
She's not.... someone who makes fun of people (well, she does make fun of Ryan, but we all do)

She is.... surprisingly competitive
She's not.... afraid to get up on stage, or in front of people

She is.... crazy about ramen noodles, cotton candy, and gum
She's not.... ever going to eat a bean in her whole life

She is.... kind and considerate
She's not.... ever bossy or mean

She is.... a crazy cat lady in training
She's not.... a sports fan like the rest of us

She is.... a great cook
She's not.... a great housekeeper

She is.... an individual
She's not.... concerned with what most people think about her

She is.... fourteen today
She's not.... a baby girl anymore (except to her daddy)

A Christmas Confession

2010-12-01T05:23:00.007-06:00

Hello, my name is Lori, and I'm a Christmas-aholic... I love Christmas. And I don't mean in the way everyone else does, in more of an obsessive way - just ask my family. I start listening to Christmas music, oh, usually sometime in July or August. And I consider Labor Day to be the official start of the holiday season. Other shoppers get upset if Christmas decorations are out in the stores before Thanksgiving, I get upset if they're not right up there with the jack-o'lanterns at Halloween.

As far as my own decorations, I have a Santa collection, a snowman collection, a Christmas mouse collection with enough mice to fill a china cabinet as well as decorate an entire tree of their own, enough regular ornaments to fill up my big tree (this year I've expanded to hanging 30 or so on some garland strung around a doorway), of course a nativity scene that I'm hoping makes it through the filming of "Attack of the Giant Kittycat", not to mention the yard stuff, i.e., 12 foot Santa. At one time, we had seven Christmas trees in our attic.

I've always been this way. It's never taken much more than a little sprig of red and green plastic holly or strains of Peanuts characters shouting "Merry Christmas Charlie Brown!" to set me to humming "Hark the Herald Angels Sing". One of my earliest memories is visiting the Burns Fantasy of Lights display, when it was still on the Burns property. And of course I still have to visit it every year, and my favorites will always be the bubble-blowing robot and the ferris wheel with Snow White and the Dwarfs.

My obsession spills over into my personal life and relationships. My birthday is on December 21st. Most people say "oh, what a terrible time for a birthday!" but I don't agree.... it's the BEST time for a birthday! Who wouldn't want a birthday during such a festive season? And to top it off, my entire family's birthdays are in December! Mike - 10th, Ryan - 6th, Becca - 2nd... Oh, and by the way... Ryan shares a birthday with St. Nicholas, and Becca's middle name is Noelle.... I just can't help myself.

So yes, I'm a Christmas-aholic. You may think I need some sort of 12-Step Program or an intervention with my friends around saying "Lori, just put down the candy cane and step away from Santa's lap", but I disagree. For you Scrooges out there, I'll say a Christmas prayer for three ghosts to come and visit you in the night and bring you some holiday spirit. And to those of you who are like me - Be brave, come out of the closet with all the wrapping paper, come over and have some cider with me... we'll sing some carols and bake some cookies, and look for Rudolph's red nose streaking across the sky on Christmas Eve....

Seigler Family

2010-11-30T06:35:00.003-06:00

There are lots of challenges with gathering a big, extended family together for photos, which is exactly why my family has never done it! I'm pretty sure we would kill each other before the session was over... But this family managed to do it, and they were still smiling at the end of it all! Even the guys, and men are notorious for hating to have their portraits done! Thanks you guys, it was fun!

Daisy

2010-11-24T09:11:00.003-06:00

Daisy's a senior girl who shares one of my passions - photography! Enjoy the rest of your senior year!

Maddie

2010-11-15T20:35:00.004-06:00

Gotta love those Senior Girls!!!! We'll have to finish up with Maddie in the spring on second base... ;)

Be careful what you wish for....

2010-11-13T17:28:00.008-06:00

Remember last Christmas when the blizzard hit? I do.... and I remember how Mike was stuck on the side of the road in an ambulance for a couple of hours on Christmas Eve. And I remember how I couldn't get to the grocery store to even buy milk. And I remember how Ryan got stuck in my car in a snow drift and worked for more than an hour trying to get out and nearly froze to death. And I also remember how the snow got so heavy that our carport caved in! All of that was really terrible, but then I remember how excited I was to see all the white flakes, and how much fun it was to make Christmas goodies with Becca while watching it snow, and how beautiful it looked with the sun glistening on it Christmas morning, and when I think about those things, the not-so-great memories fade. Yes, I admit it... once again, I'm dreaming of a white Christmas.

Hunter

2010-11-04T20:57:00.007-05:00

Boys are so easy!!! Don't get me wrong, Senior Girls are fun, and like having their picture taken, and are up for anything.... but boys are a breeze! Maybe I feel that way because I've always had a herd of them at the house, and lately, Hunter's been one of the ones that's been in and out.... Have a great year, Hunter!

A Halloween Poem

2010-10-31T07:55:00.003-05:00

The Riggins home was dark
On All Hallows Eve,
The porchlight was off
No candy to receive...

The pumpkins stood unlit
Within them was no flame...
For the Riggins were not home,
They had traveled to the game!

They had gone to cheer their team
The Rangers they hold so dear,
The World Series was in Texas
For which they'd waited many a year.

So trick-or-treaters pass on by,
Pranksters don't be too mean!
Keep your claws and antlers up
And have a Happy Halloween!

Dunlap Family

2010-10-29T05:49:00.003-05:00

When we first moved back to this area, Ryan was just about this little girl's age. And it used to totally blow his mind when we would run into someone and visit, and after we went on our way I would say "that was your cousin"... because it pretty much happened all the time! He always said "is everyone in town my cousin?" That might have been the way this little gal felt to find out that their photographer was her cousin! I love huge families! :)

Zombies need love too....

2010-10-26T18:37:00.004-05:00

Tonight is the annual Junior High Halloween dance... and Becca went as a Zombie Prom Queen! She is a Halloween FREAK (kinda like her mama) and loves all things Halloween... Her costume, courtesy of the Treasure House, consisted of an $8 dress and $2.50 shoes..... but when she put it all together she looked like a million bucks!

LuisMari

2010-10-22T06:10:00.005-05:00

It was taking me FOREVER to edit these photos, and I couldn't figure out why, until I went back and counted the proofs! I took soooo many, 'cause this chickeedoo was so fun!

Oh, Brother! :)

2010-10-16T20:49:00.006-05:00

We had a HECK of a time taking this little guys photos! He didn't feel well or want to cooperate at all when we shot him and his sister, and we had to reschedule a couple of times to get some decent shots.... He was definitely suspicious of the camera! Luckily he relaxed a little at the last shoot!

Little Diva

2010-10-13T07:43:00.010-05:00

This cutie patootie was ALL about the camera!!! She loved posing, smiling, and hamming it up! I've done her photos before, and she didn't like it so much when she was younger but that's all changed! Now if some of that could just rub off on her little brother.... he wasn't thrilled with having his picture taken AT ALL! His photos are coming up in a few days!

Little Cowboy

2010-10-04T05:27:00.003-05:00

Kooper is one of my favorite little guys! He's one of those guys around town that EVERYONE knows! :)

"You have brains in your head, you have feet in your shoes..."

2010-09-10T07:25:00.003-05:00

"You can steer yourself in any direction you choose.
You're on your own and you know what you know,
You are the guy who'll decide where to go."
Dr. Seuss

Shaw Family

2010-09-05T22:25:00.004-05:00

You can tell this little guy has had the camera pointed at him a time or two! He was TOTALLY up for the shoot, and Mom and Dad could get him to do anything! Too, too cute!

Curiosity {nearly} killed the cat...

2010-09-01T18:27:00.006-05:00

So, I posted on my Facebook page a couple of days ago about a near tragedy at the Riggins house. It wasn't very funny at the time, but after a couple of days it's less upsetting! Still don't think it qualifies as "funny" but it is pretty much par for the course around this place! Let me set the scene....

Becca was browning some taco meat on the stove for nachos on Saturday, and I was overseeing the process while loading the dishwasher. Ryan came into the kitchen and started talking to me while I was working, so I was a little distracted. I finished the load, poured in the Cascade, shut the door and hit start. Checked on Becca, continued talking to Ryan, nothing out of the ordinary. Heard some clunking in the dishwasher, much like when there's tupperware on the bottom rack moving around, didn't think anything about it.

In a few minutes though, the three of us heard a terrible sound. It sounded sort of like the cats fighting (a noise we've become used to), but not really.... more like a wail. JJ was sitting in the kitchen entrance, and Big Cat was over at her food dish. Little Cat and the Littlest Cat were nowhere around. The three of us looked at each other, then looked at them, Becca said "I think that's JJ making that noise", and I knew it wasn't because I was closest to him. We looked around for the other cats, then I realized what it was: The Littlest Cat was in the dishwasher! She's nosey and I had already shooed her off the open door twice! I yelled, Mike came running, I jerked open the door, and there she was, trying to balance on the bottom rack.... looking quite literally like a drowned rat! Fearing that she was getting burned (because the dishwasher gets SO hot) I jerked her out, and she was drenched! Poor thing was so traumatized she didn't even hiss and run like a cat normally would, but just laid shaking in Mike's arms wrapped up in a towel..... You have to know when that water started spraying she was thinking "What.The.HELL!!!" Luckily, the water hadn't heated up yet, so the worst part was that she had soap in her eyes....

We dried her off and she fell asleep for the longest time on top of Becca - I think she must have been in shock and it wore her out! She was VERY fuzzy after she dried, and smelled really good! Next day, she was none the worse for wear, back to her old self and terrorizing Big Cat and Little Cat. The Littlest Cat is already not crazy about me for some reason, so she's got even more motivation to bite my ankles now! I'm betting that Big Cat and Little Cat probably dared her to get in there....

Anyway, there's my story for all the interested parties. I had a friend tell me after hearing it that we should post cameras around the house and do a reality show because this kind of chaos goes on ALL the time. I'm thinking that might not be such a far-fetched idea....

The GIRLS of Fall!!!

2010-08-22T18:44:00.004-05:00

Here's our Ladycat Volleyball team!!! Can't wait to watch some v-ball this fall!!!

Love is like a butterfly...

2010-08-21T07:19:00.002-05:00

I'm kind of having an affair with butterflies lately... It's been a good season for them, I've seen a bunch! This one was taken at the Butterfly Conservatory at Riverbend Natureworks, if you haven't been there you should go, but wait until it cools off some!

Let's hear it for the cheerleaders!!!

2010-08-19T06:42:00.002-05:00

Such a fun group of girls - you guys made me LOL! Thanks for doing what you do!

Thomas Family

2010-08-18T09:54:00.004-05:00

Such cute kiddos, but such a hot, sticky day! They were troopers about it though, and were soooo sweet!

Just because...

2010-08-15T18:28:00.002-05:00

I've got a family session I'm in the middle of editing, and I need to be starting the varsity posters, but I'm feeling VERY non-creative! So, I thought I'd play around with something fru-fru to get the creative juices flowing!

Always pointed in the wrong direction...

2010-08-12T05:08:00.003-05:00

The next couple of nights, if you go outside waaaaaay after dark - look up! You might see a falling star! It's time for the annual Perseids meteor shower, so of course, I got up at 3:30 this morning and sat in the road with my camera and tripod trying to photograph a meteor. I saw plenty! But, like the title says, I never had my camera pointed the right way at the right time. And that's pretty much the story of my life, always being focused on the wrong thing, when important things are happening all around me. Although I did get a nice photo of the small constellation Andromeda (that's the little cluster on the right), it wasn't what I hoped for.... But, just like in life, all I can do is get back out there tonight and try again! :)

Long time comin'.....

2010-08-10T06:55:00.004-05:00

My sister and I shot DeeDee and Jimmy's wedding a couple of weeks ago, and these are some of my faves! You guys are such a precious couple, and I'm so glad I was there when you FINALLY made it official!!! :) Good luck, best wishes, and I hope you have years and years of happiness together!

You must remember this, a kiss is still a kiss....

2010-08-03T04:46:00.004-05:00

I've been working on DeeDee's and Jimmy's wedding pics, but had to jump ahead and post these because I love the little details! :)

For no good reason...

2010-07-22T07:00:00.003-05:00

Just that I'm caught up on a sessions...(dare I say that out loud?) So I've been playing with some recent shots from the butterfly conservatory. What I like about this shot is how everything is sort of hazy and ethereal, but the tip of its delicate wing is in focus so your eye is drawn to it. My sister and I are going to be opening up an Etsy shop, so I'm trying to get some items ready to put in there! (If you don't know what Etsy is, go to Etsy.com, they have really cool stuff!) Watch for more random shots coming soon! :-)

Boyd Family

2010-07-19T06:36:00.004-05:00

We certainly had less than ideal conditions for this shoot! This family took time out of packing to leave for Connecticut the following morning PLUS the weather couldn't decide if it wanted to sprinkle, pour down rain, or just be hot and unbearably s.t.i.c.k.y.... but they were troupers and we made it through! Hope you enjoy them! :)

Jaxon

2010-07-14T06:12:00.006-05:00

I LOVE little boys! :) Jaxon was precious, and SUCH a happy little guy!!!

Karina

2010-07-10T23:07:00.008-05:00

Meet Karina plus her mom and dad! She's such a little doll!!!! She was happy right up until the end, when we made her wear that scratchy tu-tu, so I had to include a mad shot! Ticked off babies just make me laugh!!!

Independence Day

2010-07-07T06:44:00.001-05:00

Hope everyone had a FABULOUS 4th of July holiday!!!

DeeDee and Jimmy

2010-07-05T07:34:00.003-05:00

Every long, lost dream led me to where you are
Others who broke my heart, they were like northern stars
Pointing me on my way into your loving arms;
This much I know is true...
That God blessed the broken road
That led me straight to you.

My favorite couple in the world - won't be long now!!! Love you guys!