Photos, photos, photos

I absolutely love it when we are doing photo work. Hubby has a photography business on the side, and while we are still small, he does excellent work.

This last Tuesday, we took cap and gown photos for our senior class at school. It was exciting. They got to see who would wear honor cords, etc. and they were so excited.

Today, we spent all day taking prom photos, both on location and in our makeshift studio (my classroom). All the kids were all dressed up and looked wonderful and so grown up! I love seeing them.

But, now I am exhausted!

Brooks & Company Dance

Tonight we had the opportunity to mix a little business and pleasure at a fundraising event for the always fabulous Brooks & Company Dance Company. Hubby took photos and we mingled a bit and even participated in the Silent Auction (I scored some theater tix on that one!).

It was a lively and happy group and a gorgeous venue (The Hammonds House Museum in Atlanta). All in all a good chance to do our little part to support the arts.

Photos, young and old

Today was a busy day for Hatchett Photography. We took tux and drape photos for 6 students at our school. We also did 2 cutie sessions with two of the most wonderful babies we know. All in all, a good day, but a tiring one.

Granny and Grandpa kept the boys so we could work, but we did pick them up after and take them to the big craft and fabric store (one of the only ones left--sheesh) in Fayetteville and then we got a cheap meal out on the way home. They were happy to get some new crafty kits and I got material for a couple of skirts. We'll see how that works out.

The clock is ticking....

for back to school. I have one more week of summer before reporting for pre-planning at the school. The boys have two. Wow.

This summer has been both very short and interminably long at the same time. Unfortunately with my surgery and injury, it has seemed like days take months. But, in spending time with the kids (and the guilt of not being able to do a whole lot with them) it has seemed far too short.

Today, hubby and I begin taking senior photos for the class of 2010. We've done an individual session, but today is the first day where we will see 4 or so back to back. So we are getting underway!

It's always exciting to see the kids all excited to be starting their senior year. It's such a time of hope and plans for the future. Sigh. Oh, to be young!

A lovely wedding

Friday evening, hubby and I went to the rehearsal dinner for a wedding that we are providing photo work for. It was a nice and casual affair, with lots of hugs and laughter.

Saturday was the big event. The wedding was held at a local state park in an old stone pavillion that was built by FDR during the famous Great Works Program that occurred to help lift the country out of the Great Depression. It was absolutely lovely and didn't require fancy decorations to be gorgeous. A few ferns and some tulle curtain panels in the "windows" were enough to render the event stunning.

A local "string band" came and played the music for the wedding and reception. They even came in suspenders and looked a little old fashioned, so that worked well in the location. They did a magnificent job and played old standards and love songs.

I can't wait to see how the photos turn out! The bride was gorgeous and the groom was handsome and they were both so obviously smitten with each other. It couldn't have been a nicer wedding.

They're home!

As much as I enjoyed a little adult time, I am so glad that my family made it home safely on Friday. They were strung out, overwhelmed, a little sleep deprived, and talking ten miles per minute. In other words, the trip was "way cool, Mom."

I have laughed at DS10s rendition of the "fish song." He made a video of it with Grandpa John, so maybe I can post it sometime. Too cute

Dorsal, pectoral, pelvic, caudal--pelvic caudal
(imagine skinny kid wiggling his fanny frantically at this point).

Saturday, we took more photos for seniors at our school. So far, they are all coming out wonderfully. Next week we are scheduled for the end of them--including personality shots of a goth kid in a graveyard, but, hey--it's his personality!

Today, hubby took engagement pics of a gorgeous couple who are so happy.

Sigh. Life is good.

Das Boot!

Day one without wearing the boot (it stayed in the car, just in case). I survived and my foot really wasn't much more sore than it would have been just from wearing the boot. For now, stairs really are the enemy and I am being very wary of them.

I am wearing toe separators for a little while of an evening so that it will encourage the bones in my foot to be less cramped together. That is at least a contributing factor to my Morton's neuroma.

Anyway, all in all, I call it a success. I laughed with my classes that it's amazing the difference a single letter can make: SHOES sounds so much better than shoe! To me, at least :-)

In other news, finished my first crocheted pair of socks. Working on a last minute baby gift for a girl in this amazing glut of little boy gifts. Got my kids new eyeglasses (much needed).

Taking senior pics has been fun so far. We'll do more location shoots this upcoming weekend.

Yay! Thanksgiving Break~!!!

Wow! The last week has been an absolute whirlwind around here. At school, we had our first basketball games and pep rally. This included the infamous "slime a senior" and "slime a staff member" game. The kids and staff bought tickets to have someone in either category slimed.

Well, I didn't win, but I did have to sit out as a decoy so the chosen sucker wouldn't know for sure it would be them. An overzealous student ensured that I would get to experience some slime as well. Unfortunately, my new, expensive, ugly, orthopedic shoes were covered and I feared that they would be ruined. The good news is that they survived, although 2 days later, they are still soggy.

I went back into the school on Friday to catch up on some grading. I did, ultimately, bring some home, but got most of it done and loaded into the computer system.

Today, we are going to take a photo of a colleague of mine in a wedding dress with a llama. I think hubby said something about a black and white artsy print. It will be interesting to see how this will all turn out.

Business is picking up on the photography end with folks wanting pictures for Christmas cards and giving. It is great to see hubby so excited about it. He does such amazing work.

Anyway, I am left with a filthy house to clean and lots of Christmas projects that are in progress. But, a week off is a happy thing!

Senior Pictures

We are finally getting some reasonable weather for taking Senior Pics. It's hard to take good shots when the students are sweating to death. Plus, some want fall scenes with changing leaves, etc. for their photos. It's tough to pull off outdoor shoots when it is 101+ degrees out. Nothing like sweaty students...

But, it's really good to see them all dolled up and ready for their formal pictures.

In the springtime we will do the infamous cap and gown photos. Those are fun, too.

All of these babies are growing up. Sigh.

Trauma and more trauma

This week has been a rough one. My youngest son's beloved Hamster, Donnie, died. Then, our puppy (bloodhound/coonhound mix) attacked our smaller dog. Scary. I realize that it's the hunting instinct coming out in her and that our small dog is about the size of a small cat (or coon, or large rabbit, etc.). So, we are put in the sad position of finding a new home for a dog that me and the kids really love. As far as being around people goes, Savannah is a joy with a sweet, calm temperament. But, she is going to kill Daisy if we are not very careful. So, a dear friend is helping us to find a good home for her. It will be sad, though.

We are getting geared up for a week of beach time. Each year, we meet my best friend and her family in the Georgia keys for a week that revolves around kids and casual fun. I look so forward to it and so do my hubby and boys.

Hubby is taking pictures at a wedding in Macon, Georgia today. Hoping that the photography business begins to take off with more regular work. He is so talented. I know that people will be thrilled with his images. It's an exciting time.

I am also gearing up for fundraising for the 3-day walk. I am about halfway to my goal and I really will feel much better when my $2,200 is all turned in. So, I am sending out more letters and am working to make sure that our Crop for the Cure is a success.

Today, we walked 13 miles to get ahead of the training schedule. That way, I don't have to do a long slog of a walk alone in a strange place. We had to leave at 5 am to avoid it being too hot and muggy to safely walk. It will only be worse at the coast.

Good news: our renters may want to buy the house they are leasing from us. That would be a major blessing in our lives. Pray for us!

Chicken Pox?

Uh oh. Oldest son has developed a fever, sore throat, and some mysterious, blistery sores. Sure sounds like chicken pox to me. Poor guy. Now he's stuck inside with no screen time and feeling like crud.

He wanted to spend the night with his Granny & Grandpa last night for some intensive TLC. They are really great with him. It was nice to know that he was in good hands.

Hubby is doing a photo shoot this afternoon. A bridal shoot for his portfolio. Can't wait to see the images.

Walking, blisters, and more

Well, I have been able to monopolize my friend Misty's time for mornings this week getting in lots of training miles. It's a hoot--truly social time. I enjoy it so much. Unfortunately, her husband is going to be off work for 2 weeks and he will walk with her instead. Bummer.

But, today I managed to walk 6 miles for the second time this week. It was really good except that I had a sore toe during the last 1/4 mile that we did. I thought I had a hot spot. Apparently, I was developing a huge blood blister on my little toe.

When I got home and took off my shoes my toe was swollen twice the size of normal and stained the color of blackberry juice. Nice. It hurts. So I have been taking it easy today. I guess I am back to my workout tapes (barefoot, thank goodness) or maybe my elliptical if I am super careful about my footwear. Oh well.

Tomorrow, I guess I will help to clean out the garage to set up a "real" photography studio. We have gotten a line on some lovely wedding dresses to put models in. It's really exciting!

Hatchett Photography Update

Our website is up and running. Check out www.hatchettphotography.com. If you click on "online proofs" and enter the password "fca prom" then you can view our recent middle and high school prom photo shoots. Let me know what you think of them.