I’m on vacation! WEEEEEEEEEEE! I love the beach *so* much that I honestly believe I must’ve been a beach bum in another life. *wink wink*

I’ll definitely be sharing some personal photos soon, but for now I thought I’d share one from this morning’s mini session at the beach. I’m not sure this one qualifies as a beach portrait considering it was taken in the parking lot, but I thought she looked beautiful!

Angie - I hope you guys enjoy the rest of your vacation!

EVERY SINGLE DAY I say to myself (did I just admit that I talk to myself?) “Self, you need to blog today!”

And then, well……. life happens. Life with 4 kids… and a husband with a fireman’s schedule (all you fireman’s wives out there know EXACTLY what I’m talking about!)… and then there’s always that silly ole thing called WORK (which for me encompasses a whole list of things)… and then boy scouts and football and dance class and homework and projects and facebook (shutup Eric) …. well, you get my drift. I’m going to quit making excuses (I hear you… “here she goes again” lol) and get back to bloggin’. Regular-like. And if I don’t… well, then, y’all can start floggin’ me! (not sure what flogging really means, or where it came from, but it sounds kind of painful so take it easy!) *wink wink* Hmmm… blogging vs. flogging. heh.

So anyway … in celebration of Tuesday, and since I’ve never, ever done a “Ten on Tuesday” post in my life, here are 10 random updates/things/excerpts.. a few of which may embarrass the kiddos my kids may enjoy in years to come. After all, what are blogs for? *baaa hahaha!*

1) I turned 33 on September 7th. I’m thirty-something. I seriously hate getting older… and think it really stinks that birthdays seem to come so quickly now! Don’t you all remember when you were 10, and it seemed like it took foreeeeeeeeever for your birthday to come around? I vividly recall it feeling like my birthday only came once every 7 years - now it feels more like a bi-annual event or something. And instead of presents, you get wrinkles. Boo.

2) My kids say the funniest things! On the way home the other day, Nathan announces that he knows all about black widow spiders, and of course… Nathan being Nathan & all… he felt he must share this newfound wisdom with the masses. “Did you know that after two black widows get married, the wife kills the husband? That’s why they call them black widows.” Same car ride, 5 minutes later… “Was it only a glacier that sunk the Titanic or was an octopus involved?” Sheer genius.

3) Recently, I’ve noticed my wrinkles are multiplying like rabbits (see #1 re: getting old), so I’ve decided it’s time to get serious. I need to pause here & say: thank you, Jesus, for not putting a Sephora near me. I’m doing enough damage online. Amen. Okay… back to business. I’m seriously loving Philosophy skin care products. Specifically, the purity made simple (facial cleanser) and hope in a jar (moisturizer)… but the real STAR of the show is… drumroll please… Philosphy’s Microdelivery Peel. Can I just say, I got a sample application of this stuff… and I am IN LOVE. If you’d like to try it, you can get a little sample kit if you spend $25 at Sephora. And c’mon, who can’t spend $25 at Sephora? Here’s the code (thank me later): PHL45 - it’s awesomeness, guaranteed. Your skin will be baby soft!

4) Pause for pictures (because I know that’s what you’re really here for):

I went to high school with the mom of these 3 precious kiddos… aren’t they the CUTEST?!? Man, I feel for her… I sure do miss mine being little, but BOY! They’re an awful lot of work when they’re young. Wait - they’re an awful lot of work when they get older too. Then they turn into teenagers. Which scares me! But anyhoo, Maranda & Chuck, you definitely have 3 beautiful babies! For the record, I know these look “summery”, that’s because they are. I forgot to blog them… so sue me. *wink wink* or scroll wayyyyyy up & see disclaimer about life happening, yadda yadda.

5) I finally got to go to a photography thing! Granted, I should have taken a boat vs. the Tahoe, but still - I finally got to go to a photography thing!
WPPI Road Trip at the Crowne Plaza in Atlanta, GA. Such awesome speakers & I learned so much! Kirk Voclain was an absolute IDIOT (and I mean that in a GOOD way). If you ever have an opportunity to hear him, don’t miss it… I laughed so hard my face hurt. And check out his work… the photos in the water are taken with a Canon G9! Ridiculous!

6) I’m still looking for the *perfect* house plan… starting to think my husband will bury me in the back yard if I don’t pick one soon. He’s got the building bug. (Have to admit, I’m anxious too, I’m getting a S.T.U.D.I.O.!!!!)

7) Monday night madness has begun at the Arnold household. I’m still trying to figure out how in the world we scheduled every activity known to man on Monday night. We have football practice at 5:30pm, dance class at 6pm, and webelos (boy scouts) at 6:30pm. All at different places, of course. What fun would THAT be? I knew I hated Mondays for a reason.

Picture Pause #2 at one of my favorite photo spots! CUUUUUTE couple… and just look at her! She looks fabulous pregnant. I’m so jealous.The little one is already here & doing great. You might guess he’s cute as a button by looking at his parents! CONGRATS!

9) I am a facebook addict. Okay, there… I said it. I hope my husband doesn’t read this because he’s always giving me crap for it. I love catching up with all of my buddies from high school and college and work and old jobs and well, you get the drift. It’s a nosey person’s paradise!

10) I’m so excited to be going to the BEACH! I deserve a vacation… haven’t been on one since DisneyWorld back in the spring. I’ll be in the Orange Beach/Gulf Shores, AL area from October 11th - 17th & have a few mini beach sessions left. Packages start at $75 & include prints. Email me at stephanie@stephaniearnoldphotography.com for more info!

I’ve had the same crazy best friend for 20 years now… we’re like sisters. It’s so sweet to watch our baby girls grow up together, becoming a 2nd generation of best friends! Here’s a long-overdue shot of Miss Ashley, Cassidy’s best friend… isn’t she the cutest?
She looks all innocent there, doesn’t she? Angelic even! HA! She would have you TOTALLY fooled! Of course I’m KIDDING Jamee (*wink*) - love you guys!

Hubby had to work today but I got to spend all day with the kiddos (happy, happy, joy, joy). Here was the order of the day: mess up the house, clean up the house, mess up the house, rinse & repeat. Fun stuff, man.

We did get to have fun yesterday, though… hubby put up the water slide for the first time this year. We bought the water slide about 3 or 4 years ago for around $300- at the time I thought we were crazy for spending that on an inflatable water slide! But the kids love it, and it has held up well!! (Even despite lots of birthday parties, family gatherings, and countless destructive children!) Highly recommended…. similar to this one without the watergun (if you happen to be in the market for a waterslide, haha!)

Anyhoo…. I was trying to get a few quick snaps but couldn’t find anyone to cooperate… I put on the ole trusty 70-200 f2.8L & stepped back a bit Jackson was smack dab in the middle of telling me “haha you can’t get me” when I snapped this one!! =) I double dog dare you to click on it to see it bigger =)

P.S. - In case you were wondering, comments are not illegal. They’re appreciated even! PLEASE leave me a quick note & let me know you stopped by!! I’ll love you forever for it =)

I have been DYING to post this picture! I planned this for mother’s day, and while it didn’t turn out exactly like I planned (*sigh*) I still LOVE it! I got a huge 40×60 2 1/2inch gallery wrap & an 18×27 1 1/2inch gallery wrap for my mom & mother-in-law. They were delivered a bit early just so I could share my excitement! So without further adieu, adoo, a-do (WHATEVER!) here you go… brace yourself….

*I KNOWWWWW!* All together now…. “awwwww”. ♥ Gee thanks. Makes a mama proud. Especially since this mama has been trying for a quarter of a century to get a picture of her kids together! =)

How did my day go, you ask?

Ok, so you didn’t ask. Let’s just pretend that you did, for the sake of my blog post.

Now. How did my day go? Well, let’s see. I woke up this morning with intentions of going to church, going to the grocery store, taking Nate to work the concession stand at some ballgame for the Honor Society, cleaning up a bit, shooting a Senior Portrait session, and getting some orders placed. Since I didn’t lay out church clothes last night, I woke up a little bit behind schedule, but got up & starting getting everything picked out, ironed, etc. YES, I have to pick everyone’s church clothes out. Seems everyone here is either fashion challenged or color blind, other than me (of course). So after fussing & fighting with everyone, ironing 6 different outfits & getting in the shower to discover that someone (named Jackson) squirted out all of my shampoo & conditioner, I resolved that I would not be going to church TODAY. At least everyone else was ready. I figured I would just have to pray on my way to the grocery store.

So. All the boys head to church. Me & Cassidy were about to head to the grocery store, get all loaded up & then UGH! Can’t find my darn keys! I was stranded until the little culprits returned… It *is* Sunday right? Not Monday - SUNDAY? Right?

Anyhoo, needless to say, only about 3 things on that endless to-do list got done today… BUT (and that’s one big but) while I was stranded I talked the baby girl into a 30 second photo shoot! (now that’s what you call a mini session! ha!)

Oh & P.S. - Miss Kaitlin (from yesterday’s post) won 2nd Alternate & Miss Photogenic!! Congrats Kaitlin!

One of my faves of the little ham from the ‘ham. (Birmingham, that is!)

My job is pure torture, I tell you…

I’m literally about to fall fast asleep at the computer, but I told Ayda’s mom I’d blog a pic, and a promise is a promise. Can’t disappoint! =)

So here’s one of the very first shots I took of Miss Ayda (my new friend)… are those dimples TO DIE FOR or what???

I’m dying to proof this session… but my brain is fried! Off to bed - nite nite!

I love this little stinker. He’s CHOCK-FULL of personality. You’ll notice his hair, I’m sure, which is actually a grown-out version. He decided to cut his hair “all the way to the skin” & wound up looking like a dog with the mange. So we had to shave his ENTIRE. HEAD.



A conversation we had the other day:
Jackson: “Mama, are we having a birthday party?”
Me: “No, baby, who’s birthday is it?”
Jackson: “Well it was yours. And I wanted to invite somebody.”
Me: “Well honey, my birthday’s already over. I’m not having a party.”
Jackson: “Well, when I have a party, I already invited somebody then.”
Me: “Who?”
Jackson: “God. He’s coming to my party. He comes everywhere with me.”
Me: “He does? How’s that?”
Jackson: “Because, silly, he lives in my heart. I love him.”

AWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW. =) Makes a Mama proud.

A tutu. Yep! I have photographic evidence.

If you only *knew* my neice, you’d think this was virtually impossible. And it almost was - until she thought that “some other little girl” could just be on my website in the tutu… she was happy to oblige… even though she’s not exactly the tutu “type”. =)