How I spent my winter vacation!

Remember those essays we all had to write at one point or another in grade school…"what I did for summer vacation” or something along that line…? There was always some kind of fabulous adventure to write about…a new bike, a new best friend, a trip to see the grandparents in Chicago, a trip out west to see the Oregon coast for the first time (I grew up landlocked in the Midwest).

It is only now, more than a few years after grade school, that I know…I never really did anything that spectacular during those vacations, though it was surely spectacular to me at the time…never really saw anything that unique…and I know this now because I got to experience a truly spectacular, wonderfully unique place…the island of North Caicos.

I will write about it a little more, in a later post, but here is a visual preview of my “how I spent my winter vacation” essay!

It was a very cold and very windy day...

...no wonder the hardest part of this shoot was to get this beautiful, energetic family to stand still! We thoroughly enjoyed this family shoot...it is always great to see families who love and appreciate each other! And who don't mind a little fun!

Merry Christmas to everyone! Enjoy your families!

New gallery!

I have finally added a very small sampling of my nature portfolio to my webpage! www.heartandsoulimages.net I will be adding more after the holidays, along with pricing information for limited edition prints and fine art cards, but for now, just a teaser!

Happy Holidays!

"Oh my, how you've grown!"

...that is something my Grandma said all of the time...and now I find myself saying it!
Have you ever noticed that everyone else's children seem to grow up faster than your own...? Especially true of kids you don't get to see every day...they seem to age really quickly...certainly quicker than I do!? These young ladies are no exception...I haven't seen them in nearly a year and they are growing up right before our eyes! Such beauties and so much fun!

A really great family we always enjoy visiting with! Oh, and how cute is their new puppy?!

Paul

I enjoy teenagers! I really do! And this particular teenager is certainly no exception. He was a bit reluctant at first, as all boys are, but once we got into the shoot he seemed to actually enjoy it! A fun guy, with a lot going for him. Thanks Paul, and mom, for a fun afternoon!

Blue eyes!

Some cuties who stopped by....

E.K.

What a great smile! ...and a pretty nice guy too! See, Ed, I told you it would be quick and painless, and so worthwhile! More to come!

Byron and Ashley!

I had so much fun doing this shoot!! What a great couple...oh, yes, that's my daughter!!! And her future hubby! :)

You never outgrow a best friend.

I had such a fun weekend with my best friend! We've known each other since we were teenagers (so that's not that long really!)...and we've never really outgrown each other! Maybe it's because we are the keeper of all of each other's secrets!...but it is always easy to pick up where we left off and just have fun together! So, thanks Cindy, for being my friend...and for the really fun weekend!
Oh, and thanks Ashley, for this fun shot!!!

Holly!

Okay, so I really do love doing senior pictures! There is something about capturing a teenage spirit that makes me happy! This one was no exception! Holly won a free shoot as my Facebook fan! And what a great girl...and a fun family too! More to come Holly!

As promised...well, a Yellowstone teaser...

As I mentioned in an earlier post, we headed up to Yellowstone for a weekend, and came away with some great wildlife shots... It's been a busy week, so this is the only one I will post for now...but, a teaser... A nice looking black bear hanging out on the hillside...

Courtney

I have a particularly fond appreciation for young ladies who know who they are...like this one! She is sweet and a little bit sassy...a perfect combination. Oh...and gorgeous to boot! Thanks to her and her fun family for making this shoot a pleasure!

Okay, so this entry has an audience of one...

...but, we couldn't resist...!
On my first trip to Yellowstone earlier this summer we, family members vacationing together, had a conversation about our individual childhood...our best memory, our worst memory...that kind of thing. My brother-in-law, let's call him "Shawn", recalled that all of his life he was told NO! Being the youngest of 6 kids in the family, he felt that he was constantly instructed not to do this or that, as one of his older siblings had probably already done it and it had resulted in either injury or punishment! Thus, "Shawn" recalled an insistently repressive childhood...!
Along the same line, we began to notice signs, quite literally, sign posts, here and there, recanting the now familiar phrase, seemingly to "Shawn" personally...NO! Don't touch! Do not enter! Do not park! ...Whatever it is you are thinking about doing...DON'T!
On my second Yellowstone trip this past weekend, with Mike, we had such wonderful experiences with wildlife and the beginnings of Winter (which I will post later this week)...and, we noticed reminders of "Shawn" everywhere...which inspired the following montage...

...for "Shawn"...because we love you!

(Click on it to enlarge...)



And...my personal favorite, for reasons that "Shawn" will understand...

Stanley, Idaho!

I am a pretty fortunate person!

I got to spend a long, lovely weekend in the mountains of Central Idaho with my hubby...kayaking on glass, photographing nature's beauty, lingering in the solitude of hidden lakes...oh, and hanging out with the locals at the Fireman's Ball at Redfish Lodge! We got carried away at the silent auction, but, it was for a really great cause! Gotta support those fireman who are preserving our beautiful lands!

Here are a few of my favorite shots from the weekend! Beauty surrounds...on...

...and off the water...