2010 Holiday Contest Winner!!!!

Are you ready for the unveiling of this years contest winner?!? I am!!!!

So this year we had a really tough choice on our hands! I couldn't narrow it down to the top five so I sent all my entries to my judges. So my judges had an even harder job! I got several emails from them that they couldn't decide and that it was really hard to make a choice. So I had a few that voted more than once because they couldn't make a decision. Then I had a few who had no idea! So.... we ended up with a three way tie!!! How crazy! But because we can only have one winner I made my husband draw a number out of a hat!

So the winner of the 2010 Holiday contest winner is..... Trudy Kau! Trudy was nominated by her niece Amanda Valliant. Amanda left me an amazing story about her Aunt and I think it definitely showed to the judges. Trudy, her husband, and her three kids have taken in two extra children from their extended family because of certain circumstances. The two babies were originally put in foster care where they weren't getting the care they needed. So Trudy went out of her way and paid for classes to be able to take these two kiddos into her home and give them the attention and care they need. What an amazing woman and family to sacrifice so much to care for two children that aren't their own!

So Trudy Kau and family, Congrats and I will be getting in touch with you soon!!!

And since it was such a hard decision this year, and since we had a three way tie, I am going to do a few extra things for this years contest. I was really touched by some of these stories and believe that everyone who entered deserve something for their troubles! So to the other two entries who were in the running from the three way tie, I am offering half priced sessions to you! AND for the others who entered but didn't make the top three, I am going to offer you $25 off a session! I will be typing up some emails and vouchers and will be getting in touch to all of you who entered within the next week!

So thank you to all my judges for helping with this hard decision, and thank you to all my entries for putting yourself out there and giving it a chance! I am a firm believer that simple acts of kindness can spread across the world! So with this all I hope is that kindness will continue to spread over the world, or the US.... or at least within our little town =)

Justin, Amy, and Rosalyn too!

Well this morning I found myself at the Weston Red Barn Farm taking some engagement photos along with a cute little lady as well! This was actually the first time I have been to the Red Barn Farm so it was nice to finally get to walk around and see the venue. Also good to check it out because this is where I will be shooting Justin and Amy's wedding next June! Can't wait!

We started out with all three for some family photos...

Then we let Rosalyn go play in the pumpkins...

Such a pretty little girl!

Amy's mom Cindy came along and walked around with Rosalyn while we took some more photos of the love birds. =)

 ^^^favorite! ^^^

 I couldn't decide which one was my favorite of the next two so you get both!

 Another favorite!

Thanks Justin and Amy (and Rosalyn too!) for having me take your photos today! Can't wait for your big day!

The Hoffman family

Today I met up with the whole Hoffman gang at Forest of Friendship for another round of large family photos. Despite the wind and cloudiness, it turned out to be a great day for a session! And the whole family was in such good spirits that it made my job a lot of fun! The kids were a hoot, and the adults were just the same. So I'd say we had a good day!

These boys were so cute!

Sisters!

Whitney doesn't have any kids, so she brought her fur kid along. Because Jasmine is part of the family too! =)

And of course we had to get all the grandkids together!

 Such good looking families!

And I noticed that all the kids have gorgeous eyes! I mean seriously! This just melts my heart!

Can we say gorgeous? She is going to be a heart stopper when she gets a little older!

Thanks to all the Hoffman bunch for asking me to do your photos. I hope your parents love this gift you are giving them. Can't wait to hear what they think... even though it is 2 months way yet =)

Watkins Family

Yesterday I found myself back at Krug Park in St. Joseph for another round of family photos! This time it was with the Watkins family with Miss cutie patootie Camdyn! Her mom, Teresa was actually my babysitter about 20 years ago!!! And if you want to think back even farther, my mom was her babysitter before that! So maybe I should be Camdyn's babysitter and keep the trend going? Either way we had some fun walking around the park and snapping photos here and there. Not too sure what Camdyn thought of me because she kept giving me her famous stink eye when I got to close (watch out for that picture below!), but I did get some good smiles!

 She was playing peek a boo with mommy! Great way to bribe some smiles out of her =).

 Such a good looking couple I might say!

I couldn't decide which were my favorite out of the next series so I added them all =).

 

Tickle time! I love it when my families just act like normal and be themselves because I think it makes out for the best photos!

If you don't know Camdyn is 2 and very much in the "do it myself stage" (as I know all two well with my daughters!). So she wasn't very happy when she had to be carried up a big hill. So to distract her and make her happy again we had to stop and smell the roses..... literally!

 Oh and here we go... are you ready for that stink eye?

 I got such a kick out of her. She was ok with me when I was far enough away, but get to close and she let me know about it!

I told Camdyn to find me a cheeseburger in the leaves for me and I think she thought I was crazy, but just might check it out just in case!

 I think we were starting to get a little sleepy here...

 And we ended up by the playground where Camdyn was anxious to get to.

 But she did a lot of hard work, so we let her go play while I snapped a few more of mom and dad!

Teresa, Weldon, and Camdyn, thanks so much for asking me to take your family photos! I had such a great time hanging out and watching Camdyn be herself. She is such a funny girl and despite the meaning behind it, I love the stink eye!

=)