My friend!

Last night I went to work on editing some of these.  I LOVED this one and had to put it up today.  I'll get to more of the family ones later.  But for now, isn't she HOT?  Thank you for giving into my demand to do family pictures NOW and not wait another day, week or month!  You are so gorgeous and I love you Suzanne.  Seriously, what would I have done without you this past year.  You're the bestest!!!

The day after Thanksgiving...

wasn't about shopping.  I did a little online at 12:01am, but then went to bed and we slept in.  Later that day I met this darling family.  It was a beautiful day and what a gorgeous location!!!  I wish this was MY backyard!
  



  
 

High Five!

High five, way to go...

Kin, YOU WON!  Please pick someone you'd like to give a free photo shoot to.  This can be for anyone you'd like, friend or family.  Then please email me (mystepha@comcast.net) your address so I can send you the certificate for you to give them for Christmas.

Then because I thought it was an amazing idea by my sister Wendy, I am going to do as she suggested and donate my time to the Odyssey House.  I'm sure those that live there have never had professional pictures done and yet it would help them in their progression to have something like this.  I know a couple of my photography friends are on board to go do this with me, but if there are any others who would like a chance to "give back" just let me know.

Last day...

I am really excited about my give away (a free family photo shoot).  If you didn't see the post, please leave me a comment for a chance to win a free photo shoot for someone you love.  Rather than searching endlessly for the perfect gift, only to find that there isn't one, give them a family photo shoot for Christmas!  They'll love it!  The winner will be announced tomorrow Thanksgiving Day morning!  So go comment!!!!

365 day challenge...

I've taken on the 365 challenge, to post a picture every single day.  I am extremely excited.  I'm a bit scared to take on such a challenge, but I'm anxious to get going.  I have so many thoughts running through my head.  It's helping me be more creative and to think about the little things in my every day life.  This is good.  The thing that will push me is the end result.  I can't wait to have a book of all these pictures, a picture journal of my life over this next year.  Time flies by so quickly, it's the best way for me to keep track of my real life and then have a way to remember it all.  I haven't decided if this will be just pictures or if I'll feel the need to add some comments along with it.  Maybe it will be a bit of both.  In any case, it will be me.    
My life in progress...

What's inspired me?  My first teacher Carin Davis, her decision to do this and the link to this post.  If you'd like to follow this challenge, please visit... www.stephajorgensen.blogspot.com 
Or maybe you'd like to take on the same challenge, if so, I'd love to know about it.

Fall turns to Winter...

It's that time of year...

The time for GIVING!  Everyone loves to give and even to receive a gift.  With Thanksgiving around the corner and Christmas soon after that, I thought I'd tie the two together.  Here is your chance to GIVE a gift for CHRISTMAS.  I am GIVING away a free family photo shoot to someone you love.  Please leave a comment either describing something you or someone else you know has done for someone.  I always love to hear stories of those that give and donate.  I'm always touched and inspired to do more, give more, be more gracious and helpful.  I specifically read blogs of those that are these incredible people all the time, to help remind me and to give me ideas on how I can help.  I want to be a good example to my children and to teach them the blessing that come from giving.  Please leave the comment by Sunday November 22nd at midnight.  I will draw a name and reveal the winner on Thanksgiving morning.  The winner will receive the chance to give someone they love a free family photo shoot with me.

Now for something I am truly THANKFUL for.  My dear friend Suzanne!  She was so kind to come take our family pictures this year!  I love her for all that she has done for me, helped me through and taught me.  This has been a fun year for us!  I'm excited for our little trip we as couples are taking this weekend to Vegas.  Expect to see lots of pictures from the two of us. 

A LONG time friend!

We've known each other for 12 years or so and I'm so glad we've remained such great friends.  I love her and look forward to her phone calls.  Our lives are so similar.  We always seem to share similar frustrations, and struggles with everyday life and between the two of us one of us has seen an Oprah or heard some great advice to share and help the other.  And no matter how long between phone calls or play dates, it's always the same.  This weekend we battled the chilly, Autumn air and tried for that ever so desired family picture to put on this years Christmas card.  It was chilly and the kids were not excited to be there, to say the least.  It was a tough go.  BUT...we managed and with the ever so inspired idea to throw the toy horse into the air and watch him fall to his death over and over, we got some smiles.  This is my favorite!  If you know me, you know I love candid more than anything. 

They don't get cuter than this!

And I seriously believe this!  I would steal these little girls just so I could take their picture all the time.  They are so stinkin' adorable!  Remember the cookie picture?  And the little girl squishing her sisters cheeks, well here she is again.  I am so glad I was asked to take their family pictures.  I had so much fun and it was like Christmas for me going through ALL their adorable pictures!  I oohed and awed through the hundreds of pictures I took of them!  Thanks J family, you guys were AWESOME to hang out with!

 

    
 

My own little guy!

Life has been a little busy, but thank goodness for my friend Suzanne who realized it's been over a month since my little guy turned 4 and that I hadn't done 4 year old pictures of him.  So, with a follow up phone call to make sure we were going to go do pictures, we were off.  I had to do some major convincing to get him to go, but well... it was worth it.  And like any 4 year old boy, it came with some convincing the whole time we were out.  I figured out the best method for getting him to work with me was to ask him to take let me take three pictures that I wanted and then he could do whatever he wanted for three more.  His choices were the jumping and climbing, and guess what... those are some of my favorites!  It's him being the total boy that he is.  I love it!