Luke and I have been fighting colds most of this week so you can imagine our concern about tonights appointment at Portrait Innovations. everything went relatively well considering Luke had no nap and very little food for the day along with a low grade fever.
This is my favorite family picture of the night. Of course, my eyes are all puffy and I never show my teeth when I smile but that is just me. Mom and Luke look great
Portrait Innovations has got the right idea when it comes to selling pictures. 1. Don't rush the customer 2. Take LOTS of pictures 3. Do whatever it takes to make the kids laugh. 4. Offer several poses with several props. 5. Allow the customer to see ALL the photos on a big screen T.V. so you can see all the details and blemishes up front. 6. Offer simple price packages with a wide range of prices (go as cheap or expensive as you want) 7. Pictures printed while you wait.(We got ours within 15 minutes) 8. Give the customer a CD of ALL the photos to take home and email, print, or my favorite, post on the web.
We had a total meltdown during the wardrobe change. Luke felt like he was on fire and couldn't quit rubbing his eyes. He was so tired. I have no idea how the girls taking his picture got him smiling again but it was magic. They really went above and beyond to get good pictures. I remember one girl was holding a football right off camera and letting Luke kick it out of her hands, she would duck back as Luke laughed at her chasing the ball. She must have done it a dozen times for 3 photos.
These overalls have some miles on them. I had my picture made in them, my brother, his 2 daughters, and I believe 3 second cousins also. The straps were removed somewhere along the way so my mom used a bandana to replace them. One day, Lukes children will too.
This is the best one with the Fire Truck. He was unwilling to sit on the truck in any form. All requests were met with a stern, "No".
This is one of the last ones we took. He was clearly worn out and just wanted to lay down. We tried to get a shot of him looking up at me but it was no use. Oh well, we still got some good ones.
I decided to make another video with the cowboy footage since you really couldn't tell wht was going on in the last one. Luke was a little tired by the end so he got a little crazy which makes for good videos. The music is by Joe Thompson, whom we got to see at City Stages several years ago. A quick check of my Ipod shows that I listen to this album twice as much as anything else I own. I see that they have 31 copies for sale at $7.99 which is a steal. I can't cut grass or do yardwork without this playing.(either in the headphones or just in my head) At least give it a listen. (scroll down for the samples)
Luke decided to wear his boots and hat the other night and I HAD to video it. Funny story about Willie Nelson. We decided to name "down there", Willie. You know, "Your Willie needs washing." and such. Well, it moved on to "Willie Nelson" after a while. "The Red Headed Stranger" is one of my favorite albums. My parents owned it and we listened to it a lot. I was thrilled when they gave it to me several months ago. I was playing it at home a few weeks ago when Luke went over to the record player and asked what it was. I said,"Willie Nelson." He looked in his diaper and then gave me a very weird giggle. Mandy started laughing and suggested that I told him the name of the album instead. I just handed the dust cover to her and let her read it for herself. We laughed for a long time, to Lukes amusement. This weekend marks the 1 year anniversary of the accident. When the accident happened, she was praying for God to give her a testimony that would change peoples lives. (She had been asked to give her testimony at the womens retreat the following weekend) She left this afternoon to attend the Retreat this weekend, once again, to give her testimony, only this time she has what she asked for. God is truly awesome in the way he works. Now I know what it means when I read that his ways are higher than ours. I pray that God blesses all of you this week.
Sunday, September 10, 2006
We came home the other night to find this guy waiting for us on the back porch window. Very weird and big. Luke said, "Don't like it!" and ran on inside.
Here he is with my hand as a reference point for the size. He would have taken up my whole palm.
He was still around the next morning.
We went to the Zoo a few weeks back and rode the Carousel. Can you say, "HOT!" ? It felt like 200 degrees out there. We can't wait till it cools off a bit around here.
Johnny and Andrea have returned from their honeymoon and have started their blog. Click the header to check it out. They have GREAT pictures from the honeymoon.(postcard material stuff, not "honeymoon night" pictures.)
We play a lot of pranks on each other at work. I decided to get some on video when we hired a new employee. The new guy is Jason, the one in black in the video. We do work, this video was shot over the course of 3 weeks.
Eli came to visit a few days ago and the camera was rolling. Unfortunately, Eli has entered a "Flinching and Dodging" phase which translates to Luke has entered a "Hitting" phase. Ah, the terrible 2s. While watching the footage, I kept thinking back to watching The Benny Hill Show with my parents and how, at the end, Benny Hill would chase a slew of girls around in fast forward while "Yakkity Sax" played in the background. Benny Hill usually would slap an old man on the head a few times each episode too. I guess Eli gets to play the old man part in this video while Luke plays Benny Hill. Our cats, Alowishus and Devedander play the slew of girls.(No pun intended, dirty minds) I will try to salvage some footage of Eli by editing out Luke hitting him constantly. (oh, the clip of Eli making the "ribbit" sound is editted to make him audible over the music so don't think that he got possessed or anything.) More soon.
We got invited to Mandy's sister's birthday party at "Pump It Up" playplace and I couldn't resist the video opportunity. (or the chance to play) This is my first video using Windows Movie Maker. It is SO much easier than Nero. Sorry for the over-use of the effects but it was just too easy. At least I didn't talk in this one. Yes, we were all very tired by the time it was over (only 2 hours but then, I am 31 now) Pump It Up was a lot of fun and we will definitly look into using them for a future birthday party for Luke. Click the header to check out their site.
This is Luke's first time to skate without holding my hand. I have been uploading this for a week but it finally showed up this morning. My 'cool' message says," Luke's First Solo Session" but that is almost impossible to see. Maybe one day I will figure out how to edit correctly. Enjoy anyways. Our other videos have topped over 100 views on Youtube . Go check it out.
DICEWARS - Flash game Okay, this is one of the simplest, yet addictive games I have ever played.
We went to see the Wiggles last Friday night.Unfortunately, Luke had not had a nap all day, so he asked for night-night as we walked in the arena. He was a zombie for much of the show, turning down soda and cotton candy. Only this Wiggle Wand ($9!) held his attention.
This is a blank look.(Luke, not me.)
When "Fruit Salad, Yummy Yummy" started, Luke sprang to life. Yes, he is giving me the "Cha-ching" signal.
Luckily, the girl sitting next to Luke was his same age. They danced together, sang together, and bit the backs of the chairs in front of us together.(much to our horror, after all, WWF, monster truck rallies, and rodeos are held here. Those are some sweaty backs we are talking about. Of course, Luke does love salty over sweet.)
Pure excitement.
Mandy snapped a picture of one of the Wiggly helpers who came around to pick up roses for Dorothy the Dinasaur. I'm incredibly embarrassed to even type that sentence. Long gone are the High Note shows. This guy would have been cut-up with a broken beer bottle just for walking in. Now we take his picture and yell," Wave at the Wiggly Helper, Luke!" Sad, really, really sad.
He decided that the Wiggle Wand was a Wiggle Cane and walked around using it as such on the way out.
He was pretty tired by the time it was over.
Luke was running around making silly faces tonight so I decided to make some silly pictures.
Sleepy Face.
Silly kiss face.
Another silly face that incorporated the sleepy look.
