What an honor....

It really is such an honor to have your photo chosen as the winner for Boise's I Heart Faces Photowalk. There were so many amazing entries and many photographers that actually knew what they were doing... (Ooops did I say that out loud!) :D

I think the greatest thing about this photowalk though wasn't winning the challenge but just meeting local photographers in the area and sharing tips, locations, photo ideas and just sharing a compassion that everyone equally shares. I didn't choose to be a photographer (I was going to college to be an accountant) but photography chose me. It is a passion that has only gotten stronger over the years. Thank you to everyone who supported me through my journey.... especially my husband who has probably (with a smile on his face of course) sat through hours and hours and hours of looking at photos and giving me advice.


So here is the photo that was chosen. It was actually taken with my 17-55mm Sigma lens (which I no longer own!! What was I thinking!) I am trading it in for the 11-14mm Tokina lens so hopefully I can capture even better panoramas of Boise!



Here is me in action! I didn't even know these photos were taken so it was pretty funny to find them on Michelle's blog who lead our photowalk.



If you look closely at this photo in David's camera you will see I am looking at this photo. Isn't that a cool photo! So creative and I didn't even see this as a photo opp!



And here is our Group on the Blue Turf! Everyone know Boise as Potato Farmers and Football Players with the Blue Turf! And for all those that don't know already.... yes we have street lights here... and yes I have been asked that question!

Be careful where you sit...

or you may sit in front of someone who had eggs for breakfast... sorry... but it was painstakingly true...

So anyways yesterday my son received an award from his 1st Grade Teacher. He got the Academics award this year! Can you believe my son is turning out as smart as me. Okay actually he gets his brains from his dad... but that's another blog.

I am so proud of him! He really is one of the most intelligent and mature little boys for his age. At this moment the only thing that would make me even happier is when he tells me he asked Jesus into his heart... then I would officially know that maybe I didn't go completely wrong in raising him!

I LOVE YOU JAKEY... I AM SO PROUD OF YOU!!!


Madi didn't have a very good day yesterday... a little fussy but still cute in the process

Ryan was happy to take a picture for me... I had to bribe him... "I will let you stand on that rock if you take a picture....!" That is a photographers secret... you have to bribe your kids....

Best Blog Award

I received this award from teenytinytaylor. She is one of my favorite bloggers that I follow. Thanks so much for my award! I feel so special!

The rules for this blog award are as follows:
1. To accept the award, you must post it on your blog with the name of the person who has granted you the award, and a link to their blog.
2. Pass the award on to approximately 10 other blogs that you recently discovered, and think are great! (Mine are not necessarily recently discovered, but I love them)
3. Contact the bloggers to let them know they have been chosen for this award.
So here are the 10 blogs I have recently found that I wanted to give the award to....

Julie @ http://julierivera.blogspot.com/ because of her photography
Jen @ http://themcneilclan.blogspot.com/ because of her photography
Me-Mo @ http://memosphotography.blogspot.com/ because of her photography
Rebekah @ http://kaishon.blogspot.com/ because she is my comedian, has an incredible son, and because of her love for photography
Sugar Ed Productions @ http://sugaredblog.blogspot.com/ my newest blogging inspiration... and my tool to better cake creations
Kyliee @ http://wesandkylee.blogspot.com/ because I get to see my two nieces grow up!
Amanda @ http://photographybyamanda.blogspot.com/ because of her photography and she is from the coolest city on earth!
Izzie and Emmy @ http://izabelandemilyjack.blogspot.com/ because of her photography
Jules @ http://touchoflovephotog.blogspot.com/ because of her photography
Amy @ http://welcome2myfrontporch.blogspot.com/ because I love her Martha Stewart creativity, because she is a personal friend, and also because I know she actually loves her awards I give her! :D

So I love everyone I follow I am just trying to pick those I haven't already chosen...

Gorgeous Blogger Award

Even after my pathetic attempts to write blogs these days... I am still loved in the blogging community!! Thank you Taylor and her Mommy!

This was given to me by one of my FAVORITE bloggers at The Adventures of Teeny Tiny Taylor. If you want to see one of the cutest little girls ever go visit this site.

You have to write six things about yourself that you haven't told people. So here goes.

1.) I am a clean freak.... if my house is a mess I am stressed out. If one item is out of place I get annoyed. Everything has a place in my house. With three kids it is impossible to keep things organized. Every morning I spend at least 2-3 hours cleaning my house. I have a schedule and bathrooms get cleaned 2 times a week, floors vacuumed daily, mopping at least once a week, and I even steam clean my carpets, couches and wash sheets and comforters once a week. It seems to get worse as I get older too. My rule is I don't leave the house unless my dishes are done... and I always keep my dining room table neatly decorated and my bed made daily... It drives my husband crazy because he doesn't' understand why I even bother.


2.) I love to do yard work and mowing the yard. And even though at the very moment you cannot tell because my yard is a wreck this spring I will be out weekly pulling weeds and mowing my yard. I love to plant bulbs such as Tulips and Lillies.

3.) I only buy kids movies. I know a lame fact but I have gotten to the point where I LOVE pixar films and only think those movies are worth buying. My kids and I have a movie night almost every Friday night and we LOVE to watch Disney movies! I have also recently became a action fanatic and LOVE moves like Transformers, Wolverine, and GI Joe! Especially in Blu Ray!

4.) I am artistic. I have a natural talent at art. As a child I hated this talent. I wanted to be talented at singing, dancing or cheerleading... but I have no coordination and a TERRIBLE voice so I was the nerdy student in all the art classes. I have become very appreciative in this talent as I got older. It has helped me with my photography, my crafts with my children... and just little things like baking cakes. It just comes easy to me. I don't know why... it just does.

5.) I am not an animal lover. Weird huh? Since I own a dog... on my own account too! But seriously... I don't like pets. They stink. They are dirty and always in the way. This is a fact that I am not proud of but I will share anyways... since Josh and I have been married we have managed to rid of 6 dogs and 2 cats.... so when we brought Adda home my family lectured me about actually keeping this one for once!!! So far she has managed to survive our household for 6 months... and as much as she drives me crazy... she is a part of my family now and my kids love her... so she will stay... unless she eats my camera again... then I will just beat her with my camera... LOL! (And I am only kidding about beating her with my camera!)

6.) I love my alone time. If I EVER have a break from my kids and my husband... my idea of fun is cleaning my house (HA HA back to #1 on my list of 6 things) and then staying at home in a nice quiet, and clean house! I really love spending time alone. I love my friends... but there is something about only having to worry about yourself that is so appealing...

7.) And just for fun... one more fact about me... I LOVE NINTENDO AND COMPUTER GAMES! The other night... I played Lego Indiana Jones till 3 in the morning with my boys... I love computer games, board games, card games... But especially Nintendo games... It was something my dad and my grandma and I did together growing up (Yes my grandma played Nintendo too! She was a pro... and we played Zelda for hours on end!!!) Those were the days. My dad and I would play Mario Kart every weekend till like 2-3 in the morning... My dad is coming in town for Thanksgiving and we have Command and Conquer Generals tournaments against each other on our laptops...

So there you go... 6 facts about me!!! Now lets hear about you...

Now to pass this award on to 6 other bloggers... and a reason why I chose them
1.) Melissa @ http://clem4fam4.blogspot.com/ - thanks so much for all your lovely comments and all the updates on your family!!!

2.) Kimber @ http://kimberjepperson.blogspot.com/ Thanks for sharing all your pictures with us!

3.) Jules @ http://touchoflovephotog.blogspot.com/ Can't get enough of those little girls... and congrats on #3

4.) Life with Kaishon @ http://kaishon.blogspot.com/ Thanks for all the laughs!

5.) Amy @ http://welcome2myfrontporch.blogspot.com/ Thanks for all the creativeness and recipes

6.) Beth @ http://justinbeth.wordpress.com/ - Thanks for just being so wonderful and being there for me! Your are a wonderful friend!!!

Now you have to pass this award on to 6 others and also share with us 6 fun facts about yourself!

I Heart Faces Amy's Pick...

I finally got picked! So excited about this! My husband helped choose this shot for me... maybe he will have to help me pick out for next week too!

Amy’s Pick

I love the look of triumph as this girl rides the wave all the way to the shore! I love surfing and this made me happy and want to go surfing again myself:-) The vintage look and border is really cool also. What a great shot to frame! ~ Amy

Lovely Blog Award

Michelle over at Lollypops and Lizards has given me this sweet award :D

This will be my first blogging award! I guess I am moving up in this world!

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The rules are: Accept the award, post it on your blog together with the name of the person who has granted the award, and his or her blog link. Pass the award to 3 other blogs that you've newly discovered. (I was actually supposed to pick 5 blogs but I decided to only do 3 for now) Remember to contact the bloggers to let them know they have been chosen for this award. So here it goes.

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I am going to do this different. I want to also list why I chose my three!

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1) The Adventures of Taylor Tot - This is my new found blogging buddy! She has a daughter my age and is such a great mommy! She is always taking pictures of her precious little girl and doing all kinds of fun things. Go visit her on her site! Taylor (her daughter) loves to tell you all her stories.

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2) Dea's Blog- She is so young and full of energy. I wish I were young like her again! She loves photography (which immediately grabs my attention) and so I just love going to her site and seeing what new pictures she is posting

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3) Home is where your story begins... - I love meeting new moms and also families who live for God. Being a Christian it is just nice to meet other young mothers so you can see what they do in their daily walk with life. She is a great mother and has two adorable children.

Okay so that is. I hope these ladies enjoy their award! They deserve it!