Nathan on Memorial Day

I just loved these pictures of Nathan! We had gone out to the Vogt farm on Memorial Day for a BBQ and Nathan found grandma's little watering can and spent the next 1/2 hour watering lots of her plants (along with lots of weeds, too - LOL) I've been wanting to make some 10x20 storyboards of each of the kids for a long time (to possibly jazz up the stairway) and decided to just do it! so... I'm thinking this might be the one for Nathan... not 100% sure. Because the photo below is a close second (not really - LOL) I think I'm beginning to not like this expression of his - heeee! but have decided to embrace it (because I know it won't be long before it goes by the wayside and I'll only have the photos to remind me of how he used to love "posing" for the camera when he was 2!) So like I said, I'm embracing it all -- the squinty clamped eyes, the chin upturned for a good nose shot and his vampire teeth exposed - with all of that, what's not to love??

Let's Par-tay!!

Double the cake, Double the Fun - Aubrie and Lexi are turning One! so I know their birthday was a bit ago - but we finally got to celebrate it and had a little family party. John's mom and dad and his aunt, uncle and cousin joined us :) The girls were a hit and Lexi demonstrated her walking skills for everyone (I've got it on video - I just need to upload the movie - so stay tuned). They didn't really go crazy over their cake... and after Aubrie used her hands for about 30 sec. she cried for a fork! I don't think they really even got to the cake part under all of that icing! But it was fun! We decided to have a Hawaiian/ Beach theme and I think the girls looked tooo adorable in their birthday outfits! I made the little T-shirts for them to wear (I think those are my favorite part - LOL)... so, I guess it's official.. we have entered into toddlerhood!

Aubrie walking with some help from grandma

after the cake, the girls headed out to the trampoline to jump (tooooo cute!)

and here's one of the girls playing with one of the new toys they got. Of course the "real fun" gifts were the carseats and booster chairs that they needed - LOL

To My Beautiful Wife on Mothers Day

Shandalyce is such a fantastic wife and mother. We are all so blessed to have her in our lives. This year for Mothers Day, I decided to interview the older boys about Shandy (an idea I stole from Sarah on Facebook). Hope you enjoy it.

1. What is something Mom always says to you?

August: Do the dishes

Seth: I'm a great boy and I don't know what I'd do with out you

Ben: She says she really wants to get a good picture of me

Me: Baby!!! (what she exclaims when I do something questionable)

2. What makes Mom happy?

A: When I do the dishes

S: If we help out and clean and don't fight

B: When we don't fight

M: Peace in the house and photography

3. What makes Mom sad?

A: When I don't do the dishes (I'm seeing a pattern here)

S: If we fight or make messes and if we're mean and all that stuff

B: When we fight

M: I think really when the boys continually fight

4. How does Mom make you laugh?

A: When she tickles me to do the dishes

S: I don't remember anytime that she has made me laugh
B: By tickling me
M: When she humors some of more idiotic moods or schemes and then we both laugh at how stupid I am

5. What was Mom like as a child?

A: Athletic
S: I don't know. Nice, helpful, and she could do a lot of stuff
B: A really nice girl and really cute and all that stuff. Always got B's. Had bad dreams.
M: She was a perfect angel. Seriously, the Carlson household was abnormal. No fighting. Good manners. Weird.

6. How old is Mom?

A: Thirty something
S: 33 or 34
B: 33
M: 29...uh, yeah, that's it...

7. How tall is Mom?

A: 5'3" about as tall as I am

S: Around 5 foot something
B: About 6' tall
M: 5'5 1/2"

8. What is Mom's favorite thing to do?

A: Spend time with everyone - family and friends
S: She like scrap booking and playing with her children
B: Take pictures
M: Spending time with family and friends, photography

9. What does Mom do when you're not around?

A: Does stuff on the computer
S: Helps out with the babies, computer digital design and editing
B: Cleans
M: All of the above. She is the glue that holds our whole family together. She does more in one day at home than I could do the whole week, if I was left home with the kids

10. If Mom becomes famous, what will it be for?

A: Photography stuff
S: Her editing and designing stuff
B: Cause she cleans and did pictures
M: I'm sure it will be with one of her many businesses. She is so creative and talented. Everything she touches turns to gold

11. What is Mom really good at?

A: Photography and Photoshop
S: Designing editing, being a mom, taking care of us
B: Taking pictures
M: Everything!

12. What is Mom not very good at?

A: Beating me in a race. I beat her to the car today
S: She's not the best at video games. She's pretty much good at everything else
B: Feeding the babies because they always spill
M: Being brave when the lights are out or when scary movies are on

13. What does Mom do for a job?

A: Photo stuff
S: Designs stuff and edits photos

B: Take pictures
M: Is the greatest SAHM and an extremely talented entrepreneur

14. What is Mom's favorite food?

A: I'm going to have to go with clam chowder
S: I'm not sure
B: That's easy: cake
M: Hmm...it's not really food but she loves ice

15. What makes you proud of Mom?

A: She's nice to me. Not all parents are like that
S: She's a great mom and loves me
B: She cleans a lot
M: How talented, kind, generous, and loving she is. Oh, also, how hot she is! Serious. She is like fine wine or cheese that just gets better with age. You look at some chicks our age and their best years are behind them. Not Shandy. She gets more fine every day.

16. If Mom were a cartoon character, who would she be?

A: Sponge Bob
S: A mom in a cartoon
B: Supergirl. That's one, right?
M: Jessica Rabbit

17. What do you and Mom do together?

A: Play and do pretty much anything
S: Talk together. We like being together
B: Play with Toys
M: Share in being exhausted at the end of the day. Oh and...uh, never mind. This is a PG rated blog

18. How are you and Mom the same?

A: Both good with computers
S: Hazel eyes, good cooks, know how to do a lot of stuff
B: Both have the same nose
M: We both have pretty much the same temperament and compliment each other nicely

19. How are you and Mom different?

A: She does dishes, I don't...unless I'm forced to
S: She's better at designing a lot of stuff
B: We don't have the same eyes. Hers are hazel, mine are blue
M: Our taste in food. I like to try new dishes from new countries. She likes straight-up plain American food with ketchup on everything. Even steak.

20. How do you know Mom loves you?

A: She gives me hugs and says she does and I know she does
S: She says so and buys me stuff. She plays with me and helps me feel better if I'm sick or hurt
B: She cuddles with us and tucks us in
M: Everything she does tells me she loves me from the glances she gives me to the words she says to the things she does for me. She's my everything

21. How do you know Mom loves Dad?

A: Cause she makes out with you. Also she says she does and you guys don't get into fights
S: She does a lot of stuff for you. She lets you relax a lot and says she loves you a lot
B: Cause she married you
M: I agree with them all

22. What does Mom like most about Dad?

A: Your looks and love for her
S: Not sure
B: Kissing you
M: My sexy legs

23. Where is Mom's favorite place to go?

A: Anywhere with her friends and family

S: Going to her mom's house
B: Easy: the Pizza Store
M: I really think it's Nebraska right now. Not because of the state but because her family is there. She loves Idaho more but She misses her family

And there you have it. This is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to how amazing and fabulous my beautiful wife is. Happy Mothers Day, babesy! I love you!

Johnny

a Sincere Thank You!

Life has been fun and busy for me lately. As you all know by now - I'm a mompatraneur through and through - LOL! For the last 6 years, I have been a business owner (always with scrapbooking, desigining or use of digital art, etc) and I am more than excited to add Photographer to that list! Yes, I am officially in business and I'm really excited to share Shandy Vogt Photography with you!
I also just wanted to thank you all (my blog readers) because it's really due to you that I decided to pursue this! I mean, I've always had a love for photography and loved learning how to take better pictures (just of my family) but last year when I was gently nudged into taking some photos of friends - it flipped a switch! I truly didn't think that I would like doing it and so agreed to - just for the fact that I could then prove to myself that I didn't enjoy it and just keep doing what I was doing. All of your kinds words, encouragement and support gave me the confidence to start on this journey. Over the Winter, I used that time to really dive into learning the ins and outs of photography. I read books, online tutorials and followed along with photography classes. Couple that with a totally sweet new camera and lens in my bag, and I feel I have grown leaps and bounds in my skills! (side note: THANKS to all of you who let me practice on you last year -- I really learned a lot from each of our sessions in what worked and what didn't.)
Anyway, I was just feeling gratitude for each of you and am amazed at the support I'm continually receiving. Heavenly Father has truly blessed me in life with great friends and family!

Also - feel free to check out my site and I'd love to hear your thoughts! I designed and customized it all myself (after reading LOADS of tutorials -LOL but it was fun and I love how it turned out!).