I am currently dealing with a very frustrating computer virus. My email replies may be slow and I’m definitely not getting any image processing done today. I hope to have this rectified before getting some sleep tonight so that I’m not forced any further behind. If by chance any emails go un answered, please call me. 701 - 388 - 4177. I will update with a status report before I sleep tonight.

This virus is a result of my own actions. I mistakingly trusted an email supposedly from MSNBC which turned out to rapidly download all kinds of junk to my computer making it very hard to get rid of. For some reason it was not caught by my spamming scanner. I could just kick myself.

Please be careful about what you click on the net and in your email. Some things are very obviously a scam or  big no no but other things are just plain tricky. I should have investigated more.

IN the meantime, feel free to send me some brownies and Pepsi to drown my sorrows and frustrations. It’s amazing how something so miniscule can turn into something so overwhelming and suck up an entire day. I didn’t know my computer could be restarted so many times over and over trying to fix a problem.

Yeah, brownies sound really good about now. Maybe some ice cream too.

UPDATE: Everything seems to be back to normal. Keeping my fingers crossed that all is cleaned and gone and leaves me and my computer alone!

Some much needed family time is in order. My dad is coming to visit from Oregon which also brings my sister and family from South Dakota! Its’ been just over a year since we’ve seen my dad and almost 2 years since my dad has seen all of his grandbabies in one place. It’s going to be a super fun time! We don’t have anything special planned, just some hanging out and spending time together. Look for some pictures on the blog soon after!

I will be out of the office Thursday August 7th - 10th. All calls and emails will be returned on Monday the 11th.

Summer is nearing it’s end, I can’t believe how short it was this year and how fast it’s flying by. I hope everyone is taking some time to spend with family. Enjoy a wonderful weekend!

Submit your comments from now through August 30th. On August 31st I will have a special someone draw a name from all of those who left comments [you can say just about anything - say hello - ask a question - whatever you choose!] TO THIS ENTRY. The winner will receive a free session of their choice!

The little dear turned one! We went out for a morning in Island Park to commemorate the occasion. I can’t believe how much she’s grown since first photographing her a year ago! Here’s a little sneak peak - so many great images coming from this session!

This is a common phrase used among photographers. And it’s the truth. It’s what really grabs you in an image. And sometimes you capture them in just teh right way to really show them off and make for something stunning.

I love to get up close and personal. Sometimes I get carried away and end up being too close! It’s my style, when working one on one, to really capture those eyes and make them sparkle.

You can tell these kiddos are siblings - the two boys are fraternal twins - because all of their eyes are amazing!

Tanya wins the drawing for a free session from July’s giveaway! Tanya was the only one who entered! [where was everyone?!?!] She wins by default but hey, can’t beat free!

Tanya and I go back several years - we went to college together! We both graduated from the vet tech program but Tanya went on to vet school and now works just down the road from me! I photographed her family last fall and with their new expansion to the family arriving soon, I can’t wait for her to schedule this session!

Congratulations!

Did you miss the July Giveaway entry? Catch up on it HERE. Who doesn’t want a free session? Just leave a comment and be entered to win a free session! Comments accepted until July 30th and a winner will be chosen July 31st! Yes, a new contest will be up for August too!

I’m still working my way through all of these great imanges and thought I’d post a few more! I can’t let Heather wither away in anticipation! *smooch*

And for Nicole who loves a good walking away shot…

Taking over 1200 photos in less than 3 days time is work enough. But then sorting through and picking the best of the best is even more work. Now two weeks after the sessions I finally have a few ready to show on the blog. And all of the time and sorting is so worth it because I had such an amazing time with these families and being a part of their lives and celebrations for a holiday weekend. It was a true honor to be so included and to get to spend time with my friends at the same time. All the little ones thought the lady with the big black box infront of her face was a bit weird at times [maybe the big ones thought that too!] but I got some fun images and can’t wait to have the rest worked through and to show them all off.

These are just a favorite from each session - so hard to choose sometimes but for myself, I’m drawn to certain things so they are the ones that get sent to the blog. These are sessions only, some images from the celebrations will come later.

Family #1 - we went out to their friend’s house - they live on a beautiful, small lake and we were out late in the evening as teh sun was setting. GORGEOUS!

Family #2 - What a beautiful morning in  Central Park (Gene Leahy) Mall & Heartland of America Park. We had a fine time and Catherine got to feed the ducks too! It was a great way to start the July 4th holiday which then moved to this families home and block party. So fun!

Family #3 - This was a challenge for me, the largest family I have ever photographed. Thank goodness they were so easy going and patient - depsite the wind and cold and 4 little wigglers all under 5 years old! We got to feed the ducks here, too! And you can see that Grandma and Grandpa can smile through it all, even when the grandbabies are about done with the photgrapher! It was a dreary day in Memorial Park but we had some fun!

The little duck family that kept following us around. So cute!

Is the year really half over already? Just how does that happen so fast? I’m pretty sure we got jipped out of spring this year and it was only winter just a month and a half ago! But now, we’re in the heat of the summer. And I don’t know about everyone else but we are certainly loving it and soaking it in around our house. The kids are busy in the pool almost every day and jumping on the trampoline has become a true sport here. We love the sun and all the fun that summer brings.

To celebrate, I’m starting a new giveaway. A monthly giveaway. So if you don’t get in on it for July, you have plenty of other chances! The more playing, the more fun we have. What do you need to do? It’s easy, leave a comment in the monthly post! Yeah, that’s it. Each month I will post a new post for the month telling you what the giveaway session is and what the deadlines are. You leave a comment and your name goes into a drawing. At the end of each month - we’ll draw and the winner will win. Easy, right?

Yes, if you’re new to my blog then you have to fill out the form with your name and email address. Your name will be visible to the public,  but your email address will not. I will be able to see your email address and this is how I will contact you if you win! And even if you don’t win, there might be something in it for you anyway! *smile*

And since I love referrals, there are always sweet specials in it for those who get their friends and family to include your name in their comment!

Ready to play along? Yes you are!

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July’s Special Giveaway!

Submit your comments from July 1-July 3oth. On July 31st I will have a special someone draw a name from all of those who left comments [you can say just about anything - say hello - ask a question -whatever you choose!] TO THIS ENTRY. The winner will receive a free session of their choice!

Want to try your hand at referrals? Have people you know come and leave a comment with your name in it and the names referred will be put into a special drawing! There is a catch though - they must be NEW to the blog and not have commented before.

Ready? Set? GO!

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What’s new in July?

*The website is finally complete and the blog is too! Let me know what you think! It was a timely process that got further behind than I anticipated but I am very pleased with the results and just love them both!

*I will be out of the office July 3rd-6th while I travel to Nebraska to do a few sessions for some friends and to celebrate the holiday with them! That should be a lot of fun and also worthy of plenty of new images to show off. Be prepared for the cute!

*I am making some other business changes, minor ones, but good ones. I’m looking into some new photographic products that I want to start offering and hope ot have news on them soon.

*A ‘Fresh Faces’ contest. Look for that in the next week or so. Meanwhile, get some recent photos together of your kiddos and your pets. I’ll be looking for submissions soon!

*A vacation? I wish. Not likely to happen but it sure would be nice.  I’m thinking beachy.  *wink*

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Thanks everyone! I’m looking forward to the fun!