Senior picture favorites

Julie took some amazing pictures of Rachel a few weekends ago in the Portland area, she is so sweet. The picture in the Abercrombie sweatshirt is Rachel's favorite shot, but I like the one in the striped sweater just because it has some interesting lighting, not necessarily for the yearbook but it is a nice shot of her. I also really like the bright pink t-shirt shot, her smile is adorable. I am totally loving the things I am learning through the process of taking her senior pictures. My friend, Seth, has helped edit the pictures posted here and has taught me some Photoshop basics that I will be using in the future. Julie gave me Photoshop 7 but it is so overwhelming I think I may just use the Elements program instead, it's super easy.The new Canon Rebel Xsi is scheduled to deliver today and I am so excited. I plan on spending the weekend learning how to use it and taking random pictures. Wish me luck!!

Good morning Sunday

This is what I was greeted with this morning when I went into the living room to watch the morning news and drink my coffee. Cameron was totally zonked out in the chair and had been there all night. He stayed asleep through then news and Lucy licking his face a few times. He finally woke up when Jim picked him up to move him. Good morning Cameron.

THS Homecoming 2007

Tonight is the Tenino High School homecoming dance. Rachel and her friends got ready at our house and happily posed for pictures on the porch. Taking pictures on the porch before every dance has become one of our traditions. This is Mike's first year at the high school but he decided not to go to the dance, maybe next time. I cant wait to get pictures of him and his dates too!! I'm sure he wont be nearly as willing or patient when it comes to posing for me.

Nancy pants

Here's a layout I did of Nancy and me from my birthday party in 2003. This is one of my favorite pictures and I'm glad I finally got a chance to scrap it. I bought this paper this weekend at a cool store in Utah called the Heartland Paper Company. While I was shopping I was lucky enough to run into the amazing Margie Romney-Aslett. I've been seeing her at conventions and taking classes from her forever, it was fun to see her out and about in the real world!

A few more favorites

Senior shots-take 2

Here are a few pictures form our Senior shoot today. We went to the Olympian Capitol Campus and down town Olympia too. Morgan came along and we had fun picking places to pose and taking shots from different angles. Probably the funniest thing was when we were in an alley trying to get the graffiti shot. A guy came walking up and said"pose that shit"- pretty sure he was high or drunk!! We all looked at each other and decided it was time to get out of there!! We stopped one more time, in the same alley, and took the shots with the orange chair and the graffiti. I think I like the crossed legged shot in the pink and white shirt the best. Hopefully she picks one of these, if not, we'll be back out again looking for new spots and trying again. Anyone have a favorite?

Weekend Wedding

This weekend we went to Port Orchard for Jim's brother Scott's wedding. Jim was the best man so he got to wear a tux. This is the first time I have ever seen him in one and my heart skipped a little beat when I first saw him, he looked so handsome. I took lots of pictures of everyone and I'm glad I did, it was a beautiful wedding. Thankfully the rain stayed away! The bride, Shawna, and her daughter, Kira, had dresses that almost matched. Kira stole the show when she announced, during the ceremony that she was hungry, wanted to take a nap or play with her soccer ball. She's so darn cute. Morgan lined up to try to catch the bouquet, after I offered her $50 if she caught it (thank goodness she missed). Mike tried for the garter ( after an offer of $20)but didn't have a shot against the one grown man that was up there after it. All in all it was a fun afternoon.

Safe in Africa

There she is!! I was so excited to find this picture of Rachel on the Global Expeditions page. I had looked at a group photo a few days earlier but I couldn't find her (for sure) in the group. No problem this time- there she is on the left, smiling her smile and looking really happy. She called this morning and we both cried a little, it was such a relief to hear her voice. She is having a great time, making lots of friends and changing peoples lives. She has been staying in a church 6 hours outside of Johannesburg. She said there is no running water or toilets and they are sleeping on the ground. She also had to go a whole week without a shower, hard to believe our Rachel going a week without a shower! And when they finally got to take one it was at the local high school and it only had cold water. Brr. Apparently the food isn't so great either, lots of Cream of Wheat and peanut butter sandwiches. She's been eating from her stock of granola bars and snacks but is quickly running out. She's definitely homesick, she mentioned wanting to come right home after they get back to Texas. I certainly don't mind- I can't wait to get her home. We miss her terribly.

South Africa -Here she comes!

As most of you are aware, Rachel has been accepted to go on a Christian Mission trip to South Africa. She is so excited and we have been working like crazy to fund raise. She is required to have 50% of the total amount needed for the trip by next Monday and though the generosity of our friends and family she has met that goal. Thank you to everyone, we are so grateful!! We have plans to hold some fundraisers to help her get the remaining amount and we are confident she's going to meet the final goal too. As parents, we are all so proud of Rachel's desire to go on this trip. She has recently been interested in a career that centers around helping people in one way or another, her current plan is to go to college for Social work. This trip should open her up to the needs of other countries and expose her to people that are in need of the basics of life that we take for granted. I couldn't even imagine being able to do something like this when I was 17, I don't think I would have even considered it. As her mom I am a bit scared for her, Africa is a long way away and I wont be able to talk to her every day like I'm used to. But I do realize that she's growing up and I have to let her find her own way at some point, for her, this is the point.

Blue eyes and kids

Morgan and Cameron both have Jim's beautiful blue eyes. Those eyes come their Grandma Twyla's side of the family and are one of the things that first attracted me to Jim. I got the idea for this picture from the wife of one of my co-workers and I tried to recreate it by standing above them on the trampoline and taking about 20 shots. The kids are so used to me taking pictures that they just do whatever I say as far as posing and they usually don't complain(until about the 20th shot!). I think all of the kids like to see themselves in pictures and then in the scrapbook later.
Rachel showed up after I had finished with Morgan and Cameron so I had her jump up for a few shots too. There was mostly giggling going on at that point but I got some really nice shots of the three kids when it was all done.

Welcome to the Love Shack Scrap Spot

Yippee, my first post on a blog. So here's a little info on me. I've been scrap booking for about 11 years, so long that I remember meeting Lisa Bearnson at a convention in Salt Lake City years ago and she was surprised that anyone would want to have their picture taken with her. Look at her now! I have the most amazing scrapbook room. It's separate from our house but close enough that the kids come out to play in the yard and jump on the trampoline just a few feet away.

There's tons of space for all of my stuff and room for friends to come over and crop too. I'm finding that I am actually getting more done now that I have my own space. More to come soon with some layouts and pictures.

I cant end this first post without thanking my friend Tiffany. She and I met in Nashville at CKU and her blog was my inspiration to start one of my own. I'm so glad we met and hope that we can look forward to many years of friendship.