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!

I just love these three. It really doesn’t get much cuter than this right here. The twins are growing so fast! I hadn’t seen them for a month and they already look so different! Alexa is a good big sister too, always willing to help out. She was a good assistant to me too!

If you’re currently trying to get to the website, it is likely you’re seeing a bunch of junk! I’m uploading the new website and it’s giving me a few fits. And now it’s almost midnight and my brain is starting to deteriorate. I hope to have the issues solved before I have to go to sleep toinght. If by chance it still looks all wonky in the morning, know that I’m on top of it as soon as I wake up. I hope that won’t be the case. I’m really excited about this new site. It looks quite swanky! The blog should continue to function correctly, I have that moved over now. But it will be getting a makeover tomorrow!

10am update: Everything is loaded but for some reason the thumbnails in the galleries aren’t showing up. The slideshow is still working though. I’m working on the problem and hope it’s fixed soon!

10:45am: All thumbnails are loaded and working! Take a peek around and let me know what you think! Now to move onto the blog!

I can’t believe how fast time has gone since being in Texas. I had such a wonderful time and going through all the images just keeps that all so close. That little getaway was just what I needed. I only wish I could have stayed an extra day or two so that I could really photograph the area outside of the workshop setting.

Taken from the car on our way to the first day of workshop. I love the wide open spaces – they’re different than the North Dakota wide open spaces.

Their horns really are long!

Working in available light.

Doing some studio work.

Working at sunset was so great. We did a lot of silhouettes and used the lights for an extra awesome effect.

You won’t find these guys in North Dakota!

And what a great time I had in Texas! I arrived home at midnight on Monday night and wanted to spend the bulk of yesterday getting back into the groove of being home but instead we went out to the Red River Valley Fair. It’s been a busy time around here.

The workshop was amazing! I learned so many new things and now I have all these great ideas running around in my head and ready to make their way into my photography and into my business. I can’t wait to pull it all together! But I’m glad to be home with the kids and the dogs and the cats. A little break from it all is always nice but once we get home we always realize how much we missed our loved ones.

It was HOT HOT HOT in Texas but that didn’t stop us from taking great pictures of scenic Texas, longhorn cows, an amazing sunset and some really great people. I experienced southern hospitality at it’s finiest. I have some pictures to show off but I’m still sorting through all of them. I will hopefully get them posted in the next couple of days. But for now, back to the processing and the implementing of fun new things!

The office will be closed Thursday June 12th through Tuesday June 13th. Please feel free to email me if necessary but I will be out of town and my response may be delayed. I will return any voicemails when I return.

I’m taking a little break from procrastinatory packing. Bright and early tomorrow morning I am getting on a plane to meet up with my friend Laurie in Denver and then we are flying together to Texas where will will meet up with our friend Heather to attend a photography workshop! I saw Doug Box speak when I was at the convention in Orlando in February. He really inspired me. And I was so fortunate to win a drawing to attend this workshop at his ranch. So that’s where I’m going in the morning! I’m looking forward to more inspiration and education and fun!

It’s going to be a swelter down there. For the next several says the forcast calls for 92-93* and the lows to be 72*ish. Fargo HIGHS have hardly been near 72*!! I suppose I’m in for a little awakening. But honestly, anything is better than the downpours we’ve been having here. At least I might get a chance to wear my shorts instead of just keepign them in the closet!

I hope to come back with plenty to share, pictures too! If I get some down time during the weekend I’ll try and post a little update. I added a new feature over there in the left sidebar. It says ‘Twittering”. www.twitter.com -  I may be updating that a little here and there and you can find out what I’m up to! They change as I update.

Happy weekend everyone! Texas, here I come!

 Last week I had the pleasure of photographic some of my favorite clients again. The first time I met them was for a Celebrating Adoption session when baby Lola was just a few weeks old. She’s now a few weeks shy of being one! I was invited to come to the courthouse for all the adoption finalizations and then back to their home for a small family celebration. I’m so honored to have been a part of such a wonderful day. The rain kept us mostly inside and little miss cutie had missed her nap so only hung out a little while before needing her beauty sleep. It warms my heart so much to meet such amazing people who open their hearts and their homes in such loving ways. I just adore this family and look forward to seeing them again in a month!