Monthly Archives: February 2010

A long week, a long post.

Monday: promised the kids we’d go to the pool. Became one of “those” parents when work caught up to me. Spent the morning fixing forms and working on websites. Spent the afternoon getting photos ready for some clients. Kids played contentedly in the background.

Tuesday: Olivia’s much anticipated Princess tea party at dance class. It was so much fun to see her in her class. She got to dress up like a princess and show us all the wonderful dance moves she’s been working on all year. It was followed by little tea sandwiches and punch. Olivia was such a doll. Afterward, determined to not be one of “those” parents, took the kids to the pool. Carried Everett and three bags of supplies in, while Calvin and Olivia walked (very VERY slowly). Walked across the parking lot, through the building, through two other pool rooms, to the back where the splash zone is. Helped Olivia go potty (emergency). Took off her princess dress. Put on her swim suit. Explained that her dress up shoes don’t go in the water. Get myself in my swimsuit. Get Cal undressed. Change his bum. Put on his swimsuit. Life guard comes and tells me the pool is closed – can’t swim today. Get Cal undressed. Redressed. Get myself dressed again. Get Olivia dressed again. Coo at Everett who has become impatient with everything. Pack up three bags of supplies. Carrie Everett and bags back out to the car, stopping every 8 and a half feet to wait for 20 seconds while Olivia and Calvin catch up. Rethink going to the pool ever again. Spend the afternoon shopping for Leslee’s bridal shower I’m throwing later in the week.

Wednesday: All I have to do today is clean, I tell Wyatt as he’s walking out the door. Forgot neighbor boy is coming over. Forgot two clients need some web stuff finished. Neighbor boy’s mom stops by to chat. Wyatt needs help with a few things. Cleaning does not happen.

Thursday: Up early. This will be a busy day. Clean house. Stop at alpha graphics, walmart, on my way to get my hair cut. Calvin gets a cut too. Back to meet with client. Client cancels. Oh well. Neighbor comes over for a photo shoot (newborn. Mmm . . . so cute). Soon as neighbor leaves, Calvin CRASHES. Fever of 102.7. Dinner, cuddles, bedtime. I settle in to watch the woman’s figure skating Olympics.

Friday: Cal had a fever all night. S’posed to take Bridal pictures for Leslee. Consider canceling. Call Jena to babysit instead. Drive to Saratoga Springs, where Jena has graciously agreed to babysit my sick babies while I go shoot Bridals for Leslee. Back up to Salt Lake. Bridals from 12-4. Back home, get ready to go get the kids. Wyatt calls. Rearrange plans. Jena babysits longer so I can help Wyatt move his office. Go get kids. Fall asleep on the drive home. Exhausted. Walk in the house and remember the BAZILLION things I have to do before tomorrow. Start working on making party favors for the Bridal shower.

Saturday: Up to clean. Clean, clean, clean. Call Carrie: when will you be here? Can you pick me up some Mayo & green onions? Make the chicken salad with the chicken I cooked yesterday (oh yeah, yesterday: cooked chicken). Write down favorite recipes for Leslee. Prepare and wrap present for later. Set up table. Make game plan for when I get home. Get dressed. Get kids dressed. Out the door for first Bridal Shower of the day. Enjoy the company of the Herzog family at a Bridal shower for Leslee. Rush home, finish the last details of set up for my own shower for Leslee. Guests arrive, enjoy a lovely afternoon with Leslee’s friends. Shower ends. Go on a walk with the kids. Lovely day. Come home, dinner, baths, bed. Wyatt comes home (he’s been working all day), leave Beth to babysit, we hit a movie at the dollars (with Jared in tow). Now: Blogging time.

Tomorrow: Waffle breakfast, prepare my lesson for primary. Help Olivia give a talk in church. Recommit to my New Years resolution. Fold the MOUNTAIN of laundry that has been sitting down in front of my TV for no less than ten days.

Today we went and did the bridals for my sister, Leslee. She’s getting married in March.

Today was her official “Bridal” session – with her photographer. Wyatt asked: Why didn’t you just take the pictures? Well, she has a photographer. And so I just went along to do sisterly duties – fluff the dress, watch the hair, hold stuff, hand over tissues . . .

and document the documentation.

I really liked what happened with this shoot. I thought it might turn into a disaster, but it turned out A.W.E.S.O.M.E.

It was supposed to be at the Salt Flats. But after driving 110 miles from Salt Lake – we found out that it was flat, and salty, but also watery. A situation we did not anticipate. And then a blizzard blew in. And it was COLD. But Leslee and Jason were way good sports (as was the photographer’s pregnant wife!) and look how cool these turned out!

My sweet neighbor Dot dropped off a bag of cookies for the kids this morning. This got me to thinking . . .

At the top of my street . . .

Live the Sorensens,

They are my friends. I do so love the Sorensens.

Across the street are the Reimanns.

They are a great family. Kirsten was in my primary class last year. This year I have her sister, Whitnee. Eric (the pappa) can be seen giving his kids rides (without helmets, tisk tisk) on his motorcycle up and down our street on warm summer evenings.

Below the Reimanns: Drew

Who works on cars and motor homes, and is always up for pleasant conversation in the street. His two dogs wander the street, giving great delight to all the kids.

Across from Drew: The Smith family.

How does one even talk about the Smith family? We have so much fun with them. Just search in my website for “Smith” and see what adventures come up.

Below the Smiths live the Neilsons.
He’s a contractor and she’s a sweet heart. I don’t know them well, but he did offer to help Wyatt on a home improvement project once.

Across from the Neilsons live Bob & Dot.

I just like saying it. Over and over again. Try it: Bob & Dot, Bob & Dot, Bob&Dot, Bob&Dot.

Their little house is impeccable. Dot is out sweeping the gutters every time the wind blows. Their house is trimmed with bright, cheery, yellow shutters. I asked Wyatt if we could have yellow shutters. He said not until we’re old. They go to church. I like church goers. It gives a sense of community. And even though it’s not my church, it’s always a little warming to know they are faithful to God in their own way. In the summer their grandkids are seen riding up and down the street on their bikes, and Bob and Dot sit on their porch in their painted aluminum lawn chairs, giving warm salutations to the kids as we pass by.

Below Bob & Dot (say it again):

Live the Forgetts (For Shay). The house is actually a rental, but all the renters have been uber nice. The Forgetts are no exception. Linda even picked up my sister’s wedding invitations last week in Springville, as she was already down there. The owner of the house, Ryan, and his dad, are really great too. They come by once a week in the summer to mow the lawn. Quite often Wyatt and Ryan and his dad get to talking and hours pass by with little or no yard work accomplished.

Across from the Forgetts:

The widow. The widow who actually doesn’t live there anymore. But no one knows that so shhh . . . Her family moved her into assisted living maybe two years ago now. But still, the snow is shoveled, the leaves are raked, the lawn is mowed. Dot gets the mail and moves the trash can in and out (what’s in the trash can? That’s what I want to know).

And then below the widow are Chris and Darrah:

They remind me alot of Chris and Cheryl. He’s a ski patrolee and she’s a librarian. They have a dog, Ella. In the winter months we meet in the street to exchange the latest news, while the kids play happily with the dog. In the summer months we lounge on the lawn and let the afternoon pass by with nothing interesting to talk about.

Across from Chris and Darrah:

is US! We love our little house, with our view of the mountain over Chris and Darrah’s lovely artistically trimmed pine. And our porch with it’s benches that we sit on all summer long. And our tree. We do love our tree.

Below us live:

Carl & his wife (whom I’ve only met maybe three times in the three plus years that I’ve lived here).

Carl is kinda a hippy. It’s a neighborhood joke that he grows pot in his basement. But I tend to not believe it. He is a great gardener though, and grows giant sunflowers (though not as big as mine ) And in the evenings in the summer you can hear a soft guitar and the sweet smell of a pipe wafting over the fence. (Wyatt does not like this).

Across from Carl:

Live the Vinings. They live in Kathe Hollingshaus’s old house {Sigh} I guess it’s not their fault they live in her house. But often when I look across the street I wish it was Kathe that was there. The Vinings are nice enough though. John helped me jump the Jeep a couple months ago (with Rick Smith too).

Below the Vinings:

lives CrazyMan Claire and his wife, Clara.

I call Claire a “crazy old man” because about two weeks after we moved in, he showed up at our house and yelled at us about our dogs. I’ve never cared for the man since. You can see him out and about on walks in the neighborhood carrying a five iron. He says it’s to hit any dogs that come near him. I wouldn’t be surprised if he took a swipe at a person that got in his way too. I’ve heard from other neighbors that he’s always been onery. I’ve never talked to him beyond that initial exchange. Wyatt has talked to him, even got him swapping stories and laughing. But that’s Wyatt for you.

Across from CrazyMan Claire:

Carl’s parents. I’ve only talked to them briefly two or three times when they’ve been out doing yard work, and we’ve passed by. But I don’t see them often.

It is nice to live on a street where you know everyone, and everyone knows you. It is nice to have a sense of community, and people to rely on. Hurray for Meadow Downs Way!

This is the little book I made for Wyatt for Valentines Day.

Love the boy.

Last month I officially launched Green Orchid Photo. It has been an interesting process . . . the creation of this photo biz. I know I’ve done photography before, I’ve even registered a business. But my direction was never clear, and my confidence was shaky at best.

But during the last several months of 2009 I somehow found a confidence that I had never had before. I had an idea and a direction in the type of photography I wanted to do, and how I would go about persuing my passion.

And then one day in January . . .

Leslee was over for lunch. I was showing her my website, that wasn’t quite finished. I told her I needed to figure out how to create a group on Facebook. I told her about my idea for a wedding giveaway.

Leslee sat down at the computer and created the Green Orchid Facebook Group. She announced the give away. She linked people to my site.

Talk about being pushed out of the nest! There was no going back now! I scrambled to finish the last few details on the site. Then I started to watch . . . would anyone actually visit my site? Would it just be my family and neighbors?

I am surprised at the amount of traffic I’ve received on my site in the past month, let alone the number of entrants I’ve had in my giveaway (my goal was 10 – and I thought that was pushing it).

I’m working hard to create a successful photography business. I love it, and I want to do it more.

The other day I was at the grocery store and I saw a magazing – Utah Bride & Groom – on the stands, with a cover story article about wedding photography. I was busy and didn’t have time to peruse it, but made a mental note to hit Barnes and Noble later to check it out. The article was entitled: 200+ Utah Wedding Photos – Inspiration and Ideas from Local Couples. Well I’m excited to say that I didn’t find ANY inspiration. There wasn’t anything particularly special about the photography that was presented. In short, I think I could do better.

Which is always a shot of confidence.

Tomorrow is the end of my give away. I will be announcing the winners.

But I don’t have any clients – YET.

So I went and took my bambinos on a practice shoot yesterday afternoon. It’s good to go practice. And I think some of these turned out lovely.