Quick Post

Yep, we are still here and I certainly have not abandoned my dear blog. Just merely put it on the back burner to simmer for a bit. I thought I'd briefly catch you up on the last couple of weeks.

We had some visitors come stay with us and as usual my camera, blog and I take a break while we make memories. My mom and dad came for a visit. During their stay, we took a trip to the apple orchard.



One would think, by looking at this picture, that this child actually knew how to read by the seriousness and focus on her face. She's just a really good actress.







I was even able to sneak away for a bit to do a photo shoot with a dear friend and her family.







How cute is this little guy?

 

This year my parents were here for Halloween and joined us for Trick-or-Treating.



It didn't take Madison long to figure out the whole knock-on-the-door-get-candy thing. At each door she would hold out her candy bag and would occasionally and quietly say "trick-or-treat". It was sometimes followed up with a "thank you" and even a "you're welcome" now and again. Hey, a "you're welcome" might not be the appropriate thing to say when you're receiving candy from strangers but at least she was being polite.





Once the candy was placed in her bag, she quickly turned around and yelled to those waiting on the sidewalk...."More tandy!" It was as if she couldn't believe that they had done it again. Someone else had placed more candy in her bag and all she had to do was knock on their door. I can see how this would excite anyone. Heck, I was even thrilled when I saw a Reese's peanut butter cup being dropped in amongst her loot. It was wonderful experiencing the thrill and excitement through our little gal.

Also, while my parents were here, they got to celebrate their little gal's birthday. And who is their little gal? Well, it's me, of course. Yep, I celebrated another year and another great year it was. I again look forward to what is yet to come.



And what did I get from my wonderful husband and daughter.......this isn't just a bag or a plain old purse. It's actually a camera bag. How cute, awesome and stylish is this?



Speaking of birthdays.......we're celebrating another one this weekend. Madison is turning two on Friday followed by a party with her closest friends. Well, my closest friends who have kiddos, who will in turn become friends with my kiddo because that is how we Mama's do things. I've been planning and crafting getting ready for the big day. So, be looking forward to our next post in which I will share the love, joy, excitement and celebration of our little Maddie O.

Bye for now!

Leaps of Faith

Well hello there. 

Things are good around here.  Things are really good.

Last weekend I had my first two professional photography shoots.  I guess I can be called a professional now, I have a business card.    I have to say that I was so nervous.  I haven't felt nerves like this since speech class in college.  I've put myself out there and claimed that I can capture those special moments with my camera lens and people are paying me for it so now I have to deliver.  I know that I can do it.  Shoot, I do it on a daily basis with Madison but now it's more real.  As soon as I got home on Saturday night, I hooked my camera up to the computer and downloaded all 150 images of the Ott family.  And I smiled.  Here is a bit of what I saw:














I called Ryan on my way home after spending an hour with this family. He asked "How was it?" It was awesome! I loved every minute of watching this family. Mama trying to get her boys to participate and Dad anticipating when I say "Okay, big smiles, last one!" After I got this first shoot under my belt, I was anxious for more. Luckily, I had another family lined up for Sunday. Again, same as Saturday night, as soon as I got home I quickly downloaded all 150 pictures and I smiled.











I have delivered. I've delivered these special moments that I captured of these families to them. They were both so happy and pleased with the results. It makes me feel good and again, I'm anticipating my next photo shoot.

I'm not the only one around here doing big things. Ryan had to go and one up me. As I have reported before, Ryan works for a not-for-profit company that employs mentally and physically handicapped adults. The Special Olympics holds several fundraisers throughout the year and Ryan was chosen as the participant in this most recent fundraiser. It was called Toss Your Boss. His company, employees, co-workers, friends and family raised $2060.00 for the Special Olympics and the prize......they got to Toss Their Boss over an eighteen story building in downtown Indianapolis.

We watched him sign his waivers.

 

And suit up.

 

He received a quick tutorial on how to work the equipment.





Then he got to practice on a thirty foot drop down the side of a parking garage.





Of course, Ryan's three favorite girls were there to watch and cheer him on.









After the practice round, it was time for the real deal.







And we looked on, or up I guess as Madison exclaimed 'Here he comes!"







He lowered himself slowly to the ground.



Once there, Madison ran right under the caution tape and up to her Daddy. It happened so fast that I didn't even see her do it until I saw the fireman looking at me as if he was asking "Who's kid is this?"



We were all so proud of him. He did something that many people couldn't nor have ever had the opportunity to do. It was a huge accomplishment. Way to go Ryan!



While downtown, Madison got a special surprise. We saw Boots and Dora the Explorer. Because it's so completely normal to see her favorite characters just walking down the street, right? Anyway, these two were just hanging out and we were anxious to get some pictures of her with them but she totally freaked. Like grabbed my neck, gripping so tight and screaming into my ear freak out.





She preferred to look at them from afar.



When we were walking away she did give them a high five and knuckles and yelled "Bye, bye! See ya later!" But suddenly her story changed and she got really brave. In the car, on the way home. She said "See Boots. Dora hold you. Hug Dora." In her memory, she was in Dora's arms and gave her a hug. Weird how stories change in your memory. Maybe she's going to be a fisherman one day.

A little lipgloss goes a long way.....

I'm in party planning mode. I think non stop about the upcoming event. I am woken up in the middle of the night by thoughts of crafts, decorations and attire. I'm interrupted by thoughts during the day of invitation ideas and the guest list. It's on my brain twenty-four seven. The party I speak of? Well, our little girl is going to turn two in about a month. I know....holy crap, right?!?! Two already!?!?

Yep, two and I'm working a doozy of a party for her. More to come on that once I get some thoughts wrangled in and put together.

So, our almost two year old has discovered the joys of lipgloss. After her modeling debut, where she got to wear real lipgloss, not the real kind that I pretend to put on her but actual lipgloss our gal has been obsessed. I had an old empty tube of MAC lipgloss in the drawer. I was saving it because if you have five empty MAC containers you take them back in and you get a free lipstick. Well, I thought it was empty. Someone discovered otherwise.....

 

The lipgloss is applied with such precision.



She wears her gloss with pride and as if it is meant to be worn on your chin as well as your lips.



A lipgloss wand is much like a paint brush. She paints with only green, because she thinks every color is green, but actually she uses the red, blue and yellow paints too.



She even provides her daddy with instruction and tells him exactly where to paint. She's a bossy little, lipgloss wearing thing.





Along with party planning, I've been working on a little something else. It's big! It's huge! It's very exciting!

 

I've started Kimberly Bethel Photography. Creative name, huh? I made some business cards and named my prices. That totally makes me official right? I even had my first shoot as a professional photographer with my Maddie Cakes.

 

Since, I'm a professional photographer now, I have to put my name on my pictures because that's what all the cool, professional photographers do.





I totally understand why photographers put their moniker on their pictures because nothing is worse than having a picture cropped, recolored and totally changed after you spent time editing it to perfection. It's sort of like a huge slap in the face.

 

When we were gearing up to leave for this little photo session, I told Madison to tell her Daddy goodbye. She said "Bye Daddy. Pictures. Cheese!" This kid knows what's going on.





This sweet, photogenic child is mine.  There isn't any doubt and this right here proves it.



So, call me! I'm open for business and I'd love to have other subjects to add to my portfolio. Goodbye for now!