my weekend's starting early ...

As you read this i am either on the road heading down to Garmisch or already there enjoying the Alps! Since me & the hubby some how still manage to have crazy busy & opposite schedules we're getting out of town for a few days of family time & pretty picture taking. Anyways i hope you all have a fabulous weekend.

ps. my wonderfully talented friend Nelou has recently opened her photography shop on etsy & is hosting a giveaway on her blog ... worth checking out!

the many faces of Jacob ...

I'm sure as the weeks go by you will become a little tired of seeing photos of my son but well i'm not & i like to share so "suck it up"!! 

Jacob Michael Evans

Jacob Michael Evans was born at 0134 on Saturday April 16th, weighing 8lbs 9oz & measuring 20.1"

capturing people in 2010 ...

in 2010 ... 

i ...

shot my first wedding ...

discovered boudoir ...

& had all kinds of fun with my portraits. 

saying goodbye ...

There are many many things i hate about the military, but it's the life i chose & i accept that. My husband is in the AF & will be so for a while longer so I live with those things. But there will always be one thing i hate more than the others, the thing that i will never get used to & sucks every single time ... saying goodbye.

I sometimes feel like all i ever do is say goodbye ... goodbye to a country, goodbye to my husband as he goes TDY or deploys & goodbye to my military family. Those people who help me through everything, the friends who have been there & get those random tiny & frustrating things that can ruin a perfectly good day.

These are the military wives ... the girls i turn to at a moment's notice ... the women who hug me when i cry & cry with laughter alongside me. They've been there, seen it, done it & got the t-shirt.

& then down the line they're gone. Not gone forever, not gone from your life but gone from your everyday. The military up & moves them somewhere new & here you are left behind waving goodbye to the people you love ... & then the circle starts over again.

Well in my short time as a military wife i've gotten used to many things but this is not one of them. I have people i love now living literally all over the world ... & whilst you hope that you will see each other one day the world is a really big place, & whilst the military can be a small world at times more often than not, when you want it to be it isn't!

So PCS season has come around & this time i get to say goodbye to some of my favourite people. A family i have grown to love & to put into words how much i will miss them isn't possible. They're part of my military family & i love them.

I think Hannah knows more about me than anyone ... she's been there for me no strings attached, she's listened, she pulled me through some tough times & i know no matter what she's not going anywhere. The bond between military wives is something else. & then there are her girls ... the girls i want to have myself who can always put a smile on my face.

To list some of my favourite memories would take forever ... but running round the flight line in the middle of winter as a wind that feels like it could be gale force pushes you backwards with every step has to be one. It might sound weird but i think that's my best run ever because it hurt, because it sucked & because we didn't stop.

& Hannah is the kind of person who will keep you going through it all ... she's tough ... & smart (way smarter than me in every sense) ... & strong ... & well you just have to see the kids she's raised to know what a great person she is. She's that person who listens to what you don't say as much as what you do.

& she's going to hate that said all that because well that's the kind of person she is but anyone who knows her can tell you it's true.

& her girls make me laugh & smile & when am sad they'll wipe the tears & make me giggle & for at least a moment none of it matters because that's what family does.

Minot will be their new home ... 4487.7 miles, 7222.2 km & 3899.7 nautical miles from me. That's a really long way. No more dinners or early morning runs. We'll have to share books & dvds through the mail & eatting dessert on your own really isn't as much fun as sharing.

& yes i know we have telephones but i don't like telephones & i know we have email but well it really isn't the same but i plan to make the most of snail mail. Old fashioned letters. I right a mean letter ... my hand writing kinda sucks & my spelling & grammar is pretty bad at times but it's personal. You can tell what someone's feeling as they write that letter, & there's something special about waking up to one.

& so i will write ... i will tell her about the goings on over here, how the weather hasn't changed & the cats are as cute as ever. I will find pretty paper on etsy, & search through stationary stores & start a whole new collection to drive my husband nuts. & when i read a wonderful book, or found some chocolate i think she has to have i will put it in the post & whilst it's not the same it's something because i will miss my friend.

So on Monday we had lunch & then we walked up the hills behind my house to take these photos. Photos i've been wanting to take for so long (& there will be more to come) & i'm sorry there are so many but i couldn't choose because there is no favourite. & then we iced cupcakes & laughed at Madagascar 2 & then they went home & i sat & looked at these photos & it made me happy & sad all in one.

& i'm making the most of the time we have left to laugh & smile & take as many photos as possible of these wonderful people because all too soon it will be over.

short & sweet ...

Today i return to photograph these two lovely ladies in the hope that Rylie (the eldest) was feeling shall we say a little less uncooperative, & with the help of m&m's we got the much need photo of the two sisters!

Twas The Night Before Christmas ...

There are many versions of this but since my husband is Airforce i chose to post this one ...

Twas the night before Christmas, and he lived all alone;

In a one bedroom house made of plaster and stone.

I had come down the chimney with presents to give,

and to see what manner of person in this home did live.

I looked all about, a strange sight did I see;

no tinsel, no presents, not even a tree.

No stocking by the mantle, just boots filled with sand,

And on the wall hung many pictures of far distant lands.

With medals and badges, and awards of all kinds,

Suddenly a thought so sobering came into my mind.

For this house was much different, it was so dark and dreary,

I was in the house of an Airman, once I could see clearly.

The Airman lay sleeping, silent, all alone;

Curled upon the floor in this one bedroom home.

The face was so gentle, the room in such disorder,

Not exactly how I imagined I'd find an airman soldier.

Was this the hero of whom I'd just read?

Curled up on a poncho, the floor for a bed?

I then realized the families I saw on this night,

Owed their lives to these airmen who were willing to fight.

For soon 'round the world the children would play,

And grownups would celebrate a bright Christmas day.

They all enjoyed their freedom each month of the year,

Because of the airmen, like the one lying here.

I couldn't help wonder how many more lay alone,

On a cold Christmas Eve, in some land far from home.

The very thought brought a tear to my eye,

And I dropped to my knees and started to cry.

The Airman awakened and I heard a rough voice,

"Santa, don't cry, this life is my choice;

I fight for our freedom, I don't ask for more,

My life is my God, my country, my Air Force."

The Airman rolled over and drifted back to sleep,

But I couldn't control it, I started to weep.

I kept watch for hours, so silent and still

Until we both shivered hard from the cold night's chill.

I didn't want to leave on that cold, dark night

This Guardian of Honor so willing to fight.

Then the Airman rolled over, and with a voice soft and pure,

Whispered, "Carry on, Santa, it's Christmas Day and all is secure."

One look at my watch and I knew he was right

Merry Christmas, my friend, and to all a Good Night!

On christmas day be sure to all take a moment & remember the troops currently deployed throughout the world & for the family they have left back home. I am lucky to have my husband by side this Christmas & know not every year will be this wonderful. I wish you all a very merry christmas & a happy holidays!