St. Augustine, FL ...

Wedding photography can be very stressful because everything is "in the moment". However, being a wedding photographer has its perks...like traveling to St. Augustine for the weekend. I also have the privilege of working with a sought-after photographer like Heidi, who books events out of town on occasion. What more could a girl ask for?

Mack and I took Friday off so that we could leave Atlanta before traffic really bogged us down. Mason had a good time chillaxing in Heidi's hammock before the 7 hour drive to St. Augustine.


Mack has cat-like reflexes and was able to snag a gecko on the balcony of the hotel on Friday night. Oddly, he was a totally different color on Friday than he was in this photo on Saturday morning. Perhaps our room was too chilly for him?


Just for fun!


Heidi and I didn't have to start shooting until 4 on Saturday, so Mack, Mason and I took in some of the sights of St. Augustine. The Ripley's Believe it or Not! museum was really close to our hotel.


I think this house carved out of a Redwood is actually larger than my studio apartment in Chicago!

Who remembers hypercolor t-shirts? Come on now, I won't laugh! Mason got a real kick out of the heat sensitive material...especially when he figured out that he could use his face instead of just his hands.




Mason is now a permanent piece in the Miniatures Gallery.


Funhouse fun! There is a room full of various mirrors that make you taller, shorter, fatter and thinner. Mason certainly packed on the pounds in this one! I think Bear is becoming the "Where's Waldo" of my photos...do you see him?




After the museum, it was time to hit the pool! Mason has finally gotten up the courage to dunk his head under the water.


Sunday = beach day! I am a beach fanatic! We all try to make it to the ocean at least once a summer. I feel like because we live so close that we really have no excuse not to go!


"With Love from Me to You"!
It's always fun for me to see Mason enjoying himself in the water!

Oops! A little plumber's crack...little skinny thing! Yes, I know he is going to hate me later in life for this one. I promise not to pull this one out until his high school yearbook calls wanting graduation photos! *insert evil laugh here*


Mack and Mason dug this hole while I was out getting lunch. What craftsmanship! This photo was taken shortly before our little camp was almost washed away by the tide!


A little snooze on the way home. I think our action-packed weekend may have worn him out...just a little!

Hometown Flooding...

The flooding of the Midwest has been front-page news for weeks. Until yesterday, it hadn't really hit home with me. Then, a friend of mine, who still lives in my hometown, sent me this photo of the Chariton River running over Highway 36.

I have read in many articles that experts don't think that this year's flood is as bad as the flood of 1993, but I do not recall the Chariton being so far above flood stage that it closed down a major highway. I pray that God sends rain to Georgia instead of the Midwest.

Every now and then something comes along that touches me so much that I have to share it with you. Although I have never taken for granted that Mason is as perfect as humanly possible, I have to step back and thank God for all of the blessings in my life.

The Scariest Moment EVER!

There is a saying that "boys will be boys" and, although that phrase was coined long before Mason came into this world, he definitely fits the mold. As you are looking at these photos, I'm sure you're wondering what in the world could he have done to inflict such a gnarly head wound? Well, let me tell you...
Saturday started off to be an average day. I didn't have a shoot until later in the afternoon, so we all took off to the mall for some lunch and some shopping. Brian and I both had a few things to get before our trip to Kansas next month. While browsing through a women's clothing store, I heard Mason call for me. Now, I am used to hearing this while shopping. Usually that mommy is followed by "can we go now" or "I have to go to the bathroom", but this time was different. I turn around to see my son stuck between the wall and a wooden clothing rack that is attached to the wall...and I mean stuck!

By the time he had seen that I was coming, he was completely freaked out! He was pulling and pulling to get his head out while screaming and crying. Meanwhile, his little forehead is getting more and more swollen and bruised the more he struggled. I have never seen anything like this in my life! As I am trying to get Mason free from his bondage, I notice that not a soul has come to see why this child is screaming at the top of his lungs! Have we all gotten so numb to the cries of children that no one even notices them any more?

After finally getting him to calm down enough to let me twist his head enough to free him, he is so upset that he is shaking. His forehead is bleeding a little bit, but not enough that I thought we should go to the hospital. Luckily, the store manager was on hand and was able to get us some antiseptic ointment and a piece of candy.

Now, let's take a closer look at this wound. Notice the diagonal line that goes up and down his forehead? That is where his head was indented from the clothing rack digging into his skin. Ouch! I hope this situation scared him enough that he doesn't stick his head in strange places again. I know that this event rounds out as #1 in my "scariest moments ever" list.

I think I have a Vermin Problem –

A seemingly innocent cooler. Great for going to the beach or picnics, perhaps. EEEEK! Oh, whew! It's only Mason.

Open wide...

It took us five years, but we finally managed to get Mason to the dentist! I have been talking to him about what to expect all week so he wasn't scared. Dr. Andy did a great job coaching him through what he was going to do and what his tools were for.


Mason was peeking at me taking photos then entire time. Sometimes I wonder what goes through his head when he sees me pull out the camera.


While getting his teeth cleaned with tasty grape paste, Dr. Andy talked to Mason about the importance of not sucking his thumb and the terrible things that can happen to his teeth because of it. It was crazy-cool to see his dental x-rays because not only were his baby teeth visible, but his adult teeth that are above and below the gum-line were visible too! It looked like my baby's mouth was a monster from another planet!


Mason did very well following directions and opening nice and wide for Dr. Andy. He wasn't too keen on getting a second set of x-rays, but a good experience nonetheless. No cavities and see you in another 6 months.

Mmmmm...Tapas!

I love food. There is no way around that. I worked in the food service industry for so many years that I now consider myself a bit of a food snob. Don't get me wrong, I have worked in my fair share of low-quality restaurants; but I have also worked at places that required a jacket and tie to even get a table. So, when I come across a place that I get excited about, I cannot help but share it with the people around me.

A friend of mine from high school was in Atlanta for training and I was excited that she would have the time to go to dinner with me one night while she was here. I stewed on where to take her all day and then, it hit me like a bolt of lightning! Tapas! To those who are not familiar with tapas – they are basically appetizers. Tapas restaurants have been popping up here and there and are increasing in popularity. Who doesn't love to taste a little of this and a little of that?

Anyway, there are several of these little restaurants around the city and I chose one that was closest to her hotel – Tw!st. Tw!st is located in a very trendy part of the city known for its shopping and dining, so I was a little leery of the prices, but they were pretty modest considering how good the food was! The drinks, on the other hand, were another story. It was a great place and a beautiful night to sit on the patio and enjoy good food and good company.

Testing, Testing, 1...2...3...

I was browsing through some "Blogs of Note" today and happened upon Meebo. Meebo is a chat widget for your blog! How fun is that?! Let's give it a test, shall we?

Masonism:

While planting assorted vegetable seeds in pots this weekend, my very funny son informed me that I should have gotten "Roll and Grow" instead because it's less work and you get lots of colorful flowers instead of pumpkins. Perhaps he watches too much Nickelodeon?

Yar Mateys!

Ah, the outdoor activities of summer – how bountiful they are! Al fresco dining, trips to the park and pirate-themed mini golf. The place that we went to has an old pirate ship with miniature golfing holes set up all around it, and they are so enthusiastic about pirates, that even their handicapped parking space markers were pirates. Shiver me timbers and YAR!

Brian is giving Mason a good tip on how to hold the golf club and how to putt. He got the hang of it after a few holes.

It's difficult to catch the action shot on a still frame. Video for this one the next time we play. He did beat my score on a few holes!

Photography 101:

I love to practice photography on my friends! Since my friend, David, and his wife, Amy, are having a baby in July, I offered to take some pregnancy photos so I could get some more experience under my belt. The photo shoot went really well and I was pleased with what I was seeing on my LCD screen. However, when I downloaded the photos, I noticed that all of the photos were really grainy. I looked at my settings and saw that I had shot the entire session at 1600 ISO. Rookie mistake! I did manage to find a few that were worth editing...





Note to self: Check the ISO before shooting! Well Amy and David, looks like we need to schedule another shoot before the bun comes out of the oven!

For My Sister:

Tiffani and Athena will be moving to Alabama next month and there are a few important things she needs to know about living in the South:

1.) Grits are served with everything...and I do mean everything. If you request that the grits be left off of your plate, expect this question: "Ya'll ain't from 'round here, are ya?"

2.) Sweet Tea: it will send you into a diabetic coma. If you request unsweetened tea, expect this question: "Ya'll ain't from 'round here, are ya?"

3.) The BBQ in the South is Memphis style. So, if you're expecting that ooey gooey Kansas City style BBQ sauce, you will be disappointed.

4.) Don't be alarmed if someone refers to a shopping cart as a "buggy".

5.) There is a difference between the summer heat in the Midwest vs. the summer heat in the South. You will notice this as soon as you cross the Mason-Dixon line...especially the time of year you will be moving.

6.) People in the South know what the Mason-Dixon line is. This is because they created that line.

7.) That isn't dust on your car – it's pollen from the pine trees. As disgusting as it looks, it is not the stuff that makes you sneeze. The real fun comes after the pine tree pollen is gone.

8.) People in the South are friendlier...in general. Southern hospitality rocks!

9.) Southern men open the door for you. Don't fight it...just say thank you.

10.) Southern men (especially those from South Carolina) will also call you "Miss Tiffani"...don't fight it – it's sweet.

11.) Be prepared to be a minority for one of the first times in your life.

Atlanta Summers...

The South is notorious for hot summers; and Atlanta is no exception. This year, spring seemed to end in a flash – nice 70º weather one day and 95º the next. Such is life. I thought blowing dandelions would be something fun for Mason to do, but it was just too darn hot. Not much enjoyment there. Now that the summer heat is officially upon us, it's time to start thinking about some fun in the sun/water! Water park here we come!

Public Displays...

I read an article this afternoon that really struck a nerve. In short, the article was about a lesbian couple that was asked to stop kissing at a baseball game in Seattle. One of the women complained about discrimination. I do understand her point of view that kissing is actually encouraged by the kiss cam in most baseball venues and that they have every right to show affection as any other couple. However, I do not condone kissing in public by any couple – homosexual or heterosexual. There is an appropriate place for everything and a baseball game is a family activity and should not be used for public displays of affection for anyone – including the kiss cam.

We Love the Wii

Who says you can't get a great workout playing a video game? Although Nintendo and Super Mario Brothers were the sole reason for my being a couch potato as a young adolescent, Wii Sports are now the reason for me to get off of the couch! Wii tennis rocks my face off! Please keep in mind while viewing this video that I rarely get a point on Brian...hence the excitement!!! Thanks to Heidi for shooting the play-by-play.

More Flags, More Fun!

Brian and I have been working so much lately that I sometimes feel like I don't get much of a chance to spend quality time with Mason. I wanted to take him somewhere special and I knew he would enjoy it more with someone his own age...so, my friend Michelle and her daughter, Layla, joined us for a fun-filled day at Six Flags over Georgia. What a perfect day to go! The weather was perfect! We also chose to take a Thursday off from work after the holiday weekend so it would be less crowded. Boy was it less crowded! We only waited in line for two rides: Thunder River and Splashwater Falls!


Thomas Town opened in mid May and featured things for people of the small variety. They had a small train that went around in a couple of circles with cutsie children's music playing in the background (I assume from the show, but Mason never watched it). There were several of these little fiberglass people set up for photo ops and also a guy in a Sir Topham Hatt costume. You had to pay for the photo taken with Sir Topham Hatt, but we all know how I feel about paying for photographs.


Even though most of the stuff in this area was for children even younger than Mason and Layla, the playground area was pretty sweet! Of course, it is larger than most playground areas because of the shear volume of children that could be playing at one point in time. There were 3 large tube slides, bridges and climbing areas! Layla and Mason didn't want to leave this area, but we had a lot of other things to see!


Mason's first experience on a roller coaster: Wile E. Coyote Canyon Blaster. Now, as a veteran roller coaster rider this was pretty mild, but as a rookie rider I think it may have been a giant leap! The look of terror on Mason's face was priceless. Sorry, that one was not captured on film, but is forever burned in my memory. He did work up the guts to ride this one again...so it couldn't have been tooooo bad!


There was no shortage of carnival-like rides for the little ones! They were allowed to stay on this ride several times before Michelle and I thought we should see more of the park than just the airplanes.





Similar to the "Acrophobia" ride that drops you 16-stories to near death by heart-attack, this ride seemed to please as well. What a wonderful day to go to six flags! They were allowed to stay on this ride several times as well!





Petunia Pig was around for a photo op! How cute!


There are types of rides that I can do, and types of rides that I know will make me yack. Although roller coasters are in a whole different realm of thrill, rides that go around and around make my head spin just thinking about them! Mason and Layla were so brave to ride this one sans parents...


...and I look over to see this! Such a lady's man!


For only having met the morning we set out to conquer Six Flags, Mason and Layla got along famously ALL day! Layla's only complaint may be that Mason is very affectionate.





Splashwater Falls was a big hit because of the "wet factor". Although the degree of wetness of this ride paled in comparison to Thunder River...where we all got drenched from head-to-toe! I was pouring water out of my purse. Thankfully, Michelle had brought a small plastic bag that all of our electronics fit into. Note to self: take a change of clothes and plastic bags if you're going to ride Thunder River!


We ended the day with some Ben and Jerry's ice cream and super hero capes for both Layla and Mason. Never would I have believed someone if they told me that children ages 4 and 5 would spend 8 hours at an amusement park and STILL not want to leave!

Meet Callie...

Calloway is the newest addition to our little family. She came to us from the Petsmart adoption day! She's a yellow lab mix and has the sweetest demeanor!!! She spends her days chasing geese on the golf course with Brian and her nights snuggled up next to the front door (protecting us from strangers). Welcome Callie!

Graduation Presentation:

God Bless America! The graduation presentation began with the children marching into the sanctuary singing "God Bless America" which was followed by the Pledge of Allegiance.




I'm not sure what this song was, but doesn't it look like fun?! The sunglasses were a nice touch.





These are the colors of the color wheel. The still photos really don't do this song any justice. When each color was called out, the children raised their colored circle and shouted the name. So cute!





Let's go fly a kite! Low-lighting really stinks for photography, but the movement in the photos is nice. I can't wait for the DVD release, can you?



Let's go to the zoo! Each child with an animal-on-a-stick got to dance across the stage when their animal was called. Mason got many compliments on his dancing ability!




Shhhh! There's a spider next to me!!!


They all had their alphabet down pat! The little smarties! Each child was given a letter and told us what sound it makes and an object that started with that letter. School isn't all fun and games...it's serious business!



The founder of Kids R Kids joined the ceremony and handed out the faux diplomas! It was a shining moment seeing the children in their caps and gowns!





One last song before CAKE! Congratulations class of 2021 – Love, Mom and Dad!