Food is meant to be photographed and shared...

As a photographer I photograph everything... even food. And even though my family really doesn't understand it and makes fun of me because I do... aren't you glad I did! This was the meal we enjoyed for Father's Day Dinner.

Dinner was an hour late on being ready, my family was starving and gathered around the dinner table looking at all the food prepared and ready to eat... and I announce that everyone had to wait longer cause I had to grab my camera and take pictures of it. My mom laughed at me, maybe a few eyes rolled back in their heads... but these are the memories of my Father's Day and I wanted to have them forever.

I don't know what to get my Fathers for Father's Day. They already have everything they need! So I spoiled my FIL with food. It was also my brother's birthday the day before and so we also were celebrating his birthday too. I love my family and nothing is more special then sharing a meal with the people you love.

XOXOXO

Main Course
Chicken Cordon Bleu found here


Strawberry and Feta Salad found here


Ultimate Twice Baked Potatoes found here


Herbed Batter Rolls found here


Dessert
Key Lime Pie found here and specially requested by my Brother Matt for his Birthday!


White Chocolate Rasberry Cheesecake found here and requested by my amazing husband cause he loves cheesecake and rasberries


I also made a blueberry pie that I forgot to photograph but my FIL requested it and absolutely loved it! It can be found here

I also found homemade recipes for graham cracker crusts, pie crusts and also made homemade whipped cream... which were all so easy! I hope your Father's Day was as special and delicious as mine! :D

Movie Nights in the Park with Pigs, Penguins and Monkeys :D

I love living in Meridian! They offer so much for families to do and so many of these events are free. There is a park near my house within a mile that offers movie nights in the park on Fridays. They set up a huge screen and families just sit on blankets and watch a movie in the grass. So the kids and I met up with some friends in the park and gathered blankets, pillows snacks and pizza and watched "Babe" in the park last night.

I don't think we got home til midnight, and daddy was pretty exhausted by the time he got home cause he had worked all day and then met us at the park but the kids just had so much fun! We all went to the park an hour before the movie started and played in our Pajamas! Even I built the courage to wear my PJ's in public... but with make up of course... didn't want to frighten anyone! So here are some pictures from our evening.

My little ham Ryan. And the great thing about these pajamas is they glowed in the dark. So I could find him very easily. Which is a perk for mom cause Ryan does not always pay attention or listen to me when he is given rules.


Madison's new thing is she is very independent and does not want my help on anything. She tells me to go away now but if i get to far away she gets mad. She thinks she is a big girl... and now mommy no longer has a baby in the house... :(


and my daughter HAD to give the penguin a hug! It was adorable... most kids are afraid of these things... not her... she didn't want to leave. And then... there were also monkeys at this park....


and here are the kids settling in for the movie Babe which Madi loved the pig. Mom had plenty of snacks on hand to entertain them when they got bored.


Hope you had a good Friday Night... as you can tell we did! It was a great day out with the kids today. It seems like it doesn't happen as often as it should lately. love you kiddos!

Kids - Parks - Picnics and Cops

When you plan a nice quiet picnic lunch with your kids at the park... the last thing you expect to see is 3 cops pulling up and interviewing people. Not sure what happened but when we pulled up we heard some shouting amongst a family and the cops had to get involved. It was quite entertaining for the kids to watch while they crammed down their food.



As far as quiet went at this park... well it wasn't. I think about a hundred families were there with their kids. I guess Meridian offers free food during the week for kids at certain parks Monday - Friday and I happened to show up when they were handing out lunches. It worked out great cause the kids were so excited. I had already packed a lunch for them but we ended up saving that for dinner and it worked nicely for mom cause I didn't have to cook!! They got apples, a salad, yogurt, milk and a sandwich in their lunches. Thank you City of Meridian for buying the kiddos lunch!



And of course if you have kids you know the same old routine. Once mom sits down to eat her lunch you hear "Mom I have to go potty!" It never fails. So I took the girls potty... and as you can see the cops are still in the background interviewing some of the people in the park!?!



Here are the kids just enjoying getting out of the house. I love this picture of Madi eating her apple and her messy hair! So adorable


And the boys recently discovered the skatepark next door. They no longer enjoy swings and slides. They want to play on concrete and go off ramps and do all the crazy things that make a moms heart skip a beat... And so for their birthdays which are in a few weeks, mom has already been convinced by daddy to buy them skateboards... but mom said only if they wear safety gear... so that will be included too! Don't need any brain dead kids!



And my next topic is... do you prefer these skateboard boys in baggy saggy pants or these skinny jeans... cause Iknow that skinny jeans are in... but really on guys? I just don't get it! I just don't find it attractive... what is your thoughts ladies? I prefer the saggy over the skin tight skinnies.

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!

Finally it is Spring Time in Idaho

The long awaited winter is over. It has been a long wait. Weather hasn't been all that pleasant here but we are finally enjoying some sun instead of rain! We have spent quite a bit of time at the park and visiting with family. Jacob is now in 2nd grade! I am so proud of him. He got exceptional grades. Ryan will begin Kindergarten this year and they are trying something new too. Instead of half days he will go a couple days a week all day. For me I think it will work perfectly. So far summer has kind of started out a little rough for us.
I have been so busy and haven't spent a lot of time with the kids, so I find them watching TV a little more then I would like, and the boys have been acting up a little more then usual but I am hoping that we will be able to enjoy the outdoors a little more now that the weather is cooperating. My photography has been doing exceptionally well and I just couldn't be more thrilled. Now if God can bless me with some balancing life skills then I would be doing great! I hope everyone is doing well! Here are some pics taken this week of the kids. And as usual... Ryan is being goofy! Silly kid!

Madison's 1st Make-Up Party

Man oh man was she absolutely to die for! She ran around all cutesy in her petti skirt and put on make up and had her nails painted. We did her hair, and put on glitter. We made virgin Ritas.... danced and ate pizza. It was so fun! To see more pics of this event click here. This post will be dedicated to my princess. She sure is growing fast. She is gorgeous and her blue eyes make my heart melt. Even better yet... these images are SOOC.... with exception to a few that are "obviously" not! After this event i had 300 photos to sort through and since it was a probono event, there is no way I was going to enhance 300 photos. LOL! :D

Grandpa I know these will make your heart melt... cause they sure did make mine! Enjoy your little princess!



and at the end of the party... this is what my daughter looked like... no photoshop... I wanted too so bad... but I will just leave her the way she is. She had a virgin strawberry daquiri... sugar on her eyelid, juice around her lipsm dirt on her cheeks, and windblown hair... and still just so perfect in every way. Love you Madi!!