Free Session contest ends tonight & my niece Kayla

Within the next 24 hours, my FREE session contest will come to an end. I can't wait to announce the winner, this has been the longest contest Ever, lol. It's not to late if you're just tuning in,...If you want photos for holiday cards, senior portraits, maternity, child turning 1 year older & etc...then this is an awesome opportunity for you. And Yes please, if you're a friend or family member, don't think you're exempt (as a few have voiced concerns of), I would love to see you again, please enter away, you're not being selfish I promise :)

All you have to do is enter below with your name (they don't get displayed) & state that you're entering the contest. I will announce the name within a week so stay tuned (you have a deadline to contact me after winner is announced).

I can't post without a photo & realized I don't think I ever displayed these photos of my niece, Kayla & her man, Johnny Mack ;) I often don't post all of my sessions, I need to change that.

We only had a few minutes in my sisters backyard & that was all we needed. The light coming over the fence was really soft & going down fast. These were taken back in July, yeah like I said, I think I forgot to post them here, she already seen them on my fb page.

Kayla said she hung her photos up in their apartment & that totally brightened my day. I love it when I go to a families homes & my photos are all over the walls (or displayed in a different way like collage & such) but it's so nice. It almost made me cry when I walked into a customers home about a year ago & seen my photos everywhere on the walls, I had a hard time choking back the tears, what a wonderful surprise. Thank you so much to those who do that, I love you more than words can say.

I can't wait for this fall, I've been talking to some friends & family members about doing some unique family holiday photos, engagement photos, 1 year old photos, & so many more. I love being creative & tonight is one of those sessions. I can just be myself & Katie trusts me, she thinks I'm a little weird when I'm doing it but loves it when she see's the final product. I love these sessions, I can't wait to show everybody what Katie & I turn out (cause hey, we're mom's, we can move mountains, little lone tackle a little photo session together).

BTW, I'll be doing a special Fall price package with limited appointments available, so stay tuned to that future post.

Isn't my niece so pretty, (maybe I'm a little prejudiced) I don't get to see her (or those cute little freckles) enough. She's grown up into such a wonderful, intelligent, strong woman. I can't wait to see what the next few years has in store for her. I love you girl & uh hey yuh uh, Hi Johnny Mack, keep cool! How cute are these two together.

Wedding of Stacia & Mitch @ TBS Ranch

Mitch & Stacia tied the knot Saturday, here are just a few of their photos, what an absolutely beautiful wedding at the TBS Ranch, what an incredibly gorgeous couple.

Soon after their entrance, Stacia changed into her 2nd incredibly beautiful dress to finish out the reception in style (again).

The photo below cracks me up, can't help but laugh everytime I see it.

Did I mention it was 105 degrees, talk about melting but Stacia kept her spirits up all day. The only time I cried was during a little speech Stacia gave after the toasts, thanking her mom for all her hard work & how it wouldn't have been possible without her. It really was a wonderful day & I'm so happy for Stacia & Mitch.

In memory of my boy Shane

People get dogs for many different reasons & I got Shane when I was going through a depression in January 2004, I really thought a dog was going to make me happy again & he did in many ways. He was born November 22, 2003 & the best German Shepherd I have ever known. Marissa & I also shared his birthday (as in the 22nd part & that made it even more special for us). He loved all kids (especially my kids), no kidding, totally loved them & when I separated from my kids father, my daughter Marissa took on the mom role with him (I left both shepherds with my ex, so they didn't have to be separated) & they were inseparable. We always called Marissa "sissy" to Shane. He knew who that was & when I would pick the kids up to come to my place, he would literally mope knowing Marissa was leaving for the night. Each time I pulled in, he would let me know he wasn't happy with me taking her & I would always tease him about being a puppy & pouting.

Long story short, I went to drop Marissa off last night at her dads, after back to school night & Matt told me Shane was sick. I had been suffering from a bad headache that day & didn't want to be out any later than I already was, it was getting dark & I worry about not seeing deer on the road so I left. I left, did you hear me, I left. I didn't go see how he was, I didn't even just pet him & tell him I loved him. I didn't expect him to not make it through the night & now.....OMG now, I can't handle all the pain I'm going through. You can't go back & that's what I have to get over. He knew I loved him, we seen each other almost everyday but I know in my heart, I didn't spend as much time with him as I wanted to in the last couple of years but again, you never think something will happen to them when they're not that old. More than anything, I feel for my daughter & Cleo (my female shepherd). We got Cleo when she was 8 weeks old & Shane is all she's known, she's absolutely lost. They were always together, you didn't have to call her to come, just call Shane & she was always with him. I used to joke, that she probably thought her name was Shane as well. See how she has her paw on his, that was not set there, that's just who they were. They loved to go bye-bye in the back of the truck & Shane could hear you say treat from a mile away. The photo below is them watching dad, waiting for them to tell them to load up.

I'm gonna miss the heck outta Shane & I have a lot to get over with his death, a lot of feeling guilty. Cleo hardly ever "talks" as we call it & Shane wasn't able to keep quiet, he did all the talking for both of them, it won't be the same pulling into the driveway to get the kids. Not hearing him, seeing him, it just won't be the same. I will never be the same & it saddens me tremendously that I only have one old family photo with him, I'm sure glad Marissa has this one.

I love you Shane, I always have & always will love you, I will NEVER forget you. You were the best boy I could ever have, I will see you again & we'll get to go bye-bye all you want. I'm so sorry I didn't stop to give you pettins & say I LOVE YOU!!! But I do, I really do. Please God, give him a big hug from me & his sissy.