REMINISCING...

YOU MUST HAVE BEEN A BEAUTIFUL BABY... This image was caputured about 3 years ago. She was about a month old. Her smiles were coming more and more often. I soon discovered that darling little dimple as I continued to fall in love with this new little bundle of joy!

It was September before we got birth annoucements out. The photographer's stuff always gets put on the back burner because she is too busy with everyone else's portraits!

What a contrast newborn baby and almost 3 yr. old...

A PAGEANT PHOTOGENIC STYLE PHOTO...

I have no desire to get back into pageants (like I did when Cari was little), but we did put Natalie in a local pageant. Can you believe we did NOT win photogenic with this. This is what would win in the typical pageant Cari entered. This image has a little more retouching and contrast than normal portraits, but this is was the style for photogenic entries.

THIS WAS THE BIRTHDAY WISH THAT I HAD IN THE LOCAL PAPER BEFORE NATALIE'S FIRST BIRTHDAY. We never got around to doing a birth annoucement in the same local paper. I guess we were all adjusting to life with a new little one. So I wanted to do something special and this was what I came up with...the above image. To view it larger so that you read the text, click on the image.

The next three images are the images used in the ad.

She is approximately 2-3 weeks old in this image. I don't remember exactly which because I had to do the session twice to get the images that I was trying to capture. When we wanted her asleep, she wanted to be awake. When we wanted her awake, she wanted to sleep. Yes, a typical newborn portrait session, but since she was "ours", we could try again. I am so gald we did, because these are some of my most favorite images ever!

This next image is from her 6-month portrait session. She was such happy baby...which made everyone who loved her and took care of her happy too!

This one was done about a week before her official one-year portrait session that I did in Hot Springs when we were there on vacation. It, too, is also still one of my favorite images!

The last few weeks I have found myself reminiscing about the last few years...I wonder why!








As I was doing this I found myself staring at some of my most precious images that I have captured over the last 3 years.

And of course, I want to share this with you:

Okay, I goofed again.

I starting writing before I added the images and the images always come up above the text when I do it this way. Sorry...

~~ja~~

NATALIE DIDN'T CRY!

For the 2nd day in a row, Natalie did not cry when Brittany took her to her daycare. I was going to post it here yesterday attaching the link to Natalie's World with the rest of the story, but my day slipped away from me.



Actually, my day went late into the night. I am starting to feel better and get re-motivated with my new business plans that I hope to announce soon.



But for now, I am still extremely behind and since I got caught up in blogging, I stayed up late to create some sample birth annoucements for a client. I did follow through on a promise. I never intend to lie...life has just been a little overwhelming lately and I don't always come through for myself and my clients. That makes me sad too, but I am trying to get over this sadness and get going again.



Again, thank you to everyone praying for us. I know this isn't like a sick child or parent, but it is matters of the heart. That little girl has been my heart and now a part of my heart is missing.

Okay, I am getting back to work.

I promise!

~~ja~~

ABOUT ME...

SIX RANDOM THINGS ABOUT ME

{like anyone really cares}

I was tagged by Casey for this game "Six Random Things about Me," Here are the rules: Link to the person who tagged you, mention the rules, tell six quirky, yet boring & unspectacular things about yourself, tag six other bloggers by linking to them, and then go to each person's blog and leave a comment letting them know they've been tagged. [Shonda I copied your rules for this game. I hope you don't mind. Of course, I changed the name to "protect the innocent". Okay, that just sounded silly...oh well. And oh yeah...I don't know how to do the link thing...okay I guess I should add that I am not that bright on some of the blog stuff too!]

1. I don't like to say no. My kids and husband don't buy that. But I like to avoid confrontation. I hate to let people down. No is a very complicated word in my vocabulary. It is all a part of that avoiding confrontation thing. Sunday before last, Bro. Dan said that we should be Peacemakers...okay, I think I am, I avoid confrontation. I try to keep the peace, but after he explained the difference in a peacemaker and peacekeeper, I realize that I am a peacekeeper. I like for it to all just go away. Though I am going to try harder on that one, Dan. It all definitely made sense.



2. I get a little obsessed with the laundry. I wash everything in the washer (all kinds of shoes, hair bows, and all sorts of things one wouldn't think you could).[Nicki, I do dry clean clothes need to be dry cleaned!] Of course, you do some things very delicately in the laundry bags. However, most of those things do not go to the dryer. Some people would do two different loads: darks and lights. I would get about 10 different loads out of that: good clothes light, older clothes light, khaki's and grays, good clothes dark, older clothes dark (the good clothes always in cold water and the older in warm) and then there's the delicate loads of dark clothes and light clothes too. These don't go in the dryer at all. I also like everything folded a certain way and hung up a certain way. I take extreme care to all new clothing. I like things to stay new looking. I take just as much precaution to a shirt that I bought on clearance for $3.00 as to another one (not on sale for $30.00). [Does this apply to you too, Shonda?]



3. I used to be an extremely organized person, but never felt organized enough. My friend, Cheryl, said that was the trait of a organized person. Over the years, I feel like my life has gone to chaos and that I am not organized at all anymore except for particular things like the laundry which is why I think it is so important to me. I guess it really is one of those OCD things. Since there are so many things in my life that feels out of control, laundry is something that I can keep under control.



4. I hate to do a single thing. I multi-task almost everything. [Does this sound familiar, Casey?] I always have 3 or 4 windows open on my computer. If one things seems to be taking to long too open, I go to something else. If I am folding clothes, I watch tv (new type shows in the a.m and CSI'S or Law & Orders in the evening). If I do work in the kitchen, I listen to the radio and I usually do that while also running back and forth to the computer. It kills me to get in the car to drive. So that's a good time to make conversation on the phone with friends that I talk on the phone to on a regular basis like Pam, Cheryl or Mom. If I am not talking, only driving, I feel like it is such a waste of time.



5. My favorite flowers are daisies and daffodils. I think that tells a little about my personality. Roses and other flowers are pretty, but I see them as sophistication. Daisies are so simple and down-to-earth. I think I am too.



6. I always make my bed. It's sort of like the laundry thing. It is one of those things that make me feel like the rest of my life is a little more in control if my bed is made.



7. One of my favorite ice creams is Black Walnut. I rarely buy because I am sure I would be the only one here to eat it, but it reminds me of my childhood. It was (and may still be) my daddy's favorite. From time to time, he would say let's go get ice cream. My mom didn't buy it at the regular grocery store with the other groceries. I guess it was sort of special treat. We would go to this particular convenience store (West Side Grocery) and buy a 1/2 gallon. Just the smell of it takes me back that particular time in my life (time of childhood innocence). These days I get it at convenient stores too...you know where they have about 12 different big tubs of ice cream and you can get it in a cone or bowl. I always get a cone. I usually do this on our way back from shopping trips to Monroe at a convenience store in Rayville. I don't know the name of it, but it is on the right side the road on the way home.



8. I had a great mom as a child. She didn't work though she thought she should so we could have more. I always thought I would because I wanted my kids to have more. When my child was born, I cried everyday for two weeks, after much debate, I gave my two week notice. I also became a stay-at-home mom like my mom. After about year, I worked part-time. I did love the fact that my mom was there when I came home from school. She was such a great listener and loved hearing about our day. I also like be available for my kids and granddaughter even though I do still work by working at home I felt like a stay-at-home mom. It makes me feel like I am here for my kids. I am often distracted so I don't know if they feel like I am really here for them, but I do try.



9. I was a pageant mom. I bet that's one some of you have never heard about me. It's hard for me to believe now. I think I also have an addictive personality (something I think runs in my family). I never felt that pretty as a child (not that I really am...that's a whole other story). But I think I felt pretty when Cari did well. But as I got into it, it just got deeper and deeper. I wished I had the money back and sometimes I wished I had never taken that road, but I as I look back I learned many things in life through it. Pageants are really much more about competition just like any scoring type sport (like gymnastics). It is based on preparing, practicing, and competition. Cari was (and still is ) a beautiful child, but God even then, kept us humble. She never won, won, won. She might win, then get 1st runner up and then not even place. Often those people who did win, win became undesirable people. I thank God for helping me keep my head on straight. But the biggest thing I got out of pageants was my photography. I discovered photography. My very earliest days as a professional photographer was photographing headshots and sometimes portfolio images for Cari and other pageant kids. I also met some really great people and some of the them became my best friends. Most of them, too eventually burned out too because of what it really is. It is all a little superficial just as most people think, but it is a whole lot more to it than people realize and everyone isn't crazy...though it does begin to drive you crazy at some point. (lol) One day I will have to scan some of my photogenic photos from those days. I am still very proud of the images I created along with hair and make-up done by friend and with beautiful subjects to begin with. My philosophy on this is...naturally beautiful, but hair, make-up and great lighting means gorgeous!



10. I am an overdoer! What does that mean? I over do everything. I think that's why I feel like I am going nuts these days. From business to my love for my granddaughter. I don't know how to do just a little or to give the short version or condense a story. For example, look at this! This is suppose to 6 unspectacular things about me. I am well over six. I could go on and on about this one too, but I think you get the point.


11. I got First Place at the Literary Rally in 1983. Guess what it was in! You would never guess so I will tell. Home Economics...I wanted to be a Home Economics teacher, but even then that was a class that was beginning to fade away. I remember the year I took Home Ec. IV that all new high school students were taking Home Economics differently...like maybe a semester Child Care, Nutrition, Home Furnishing and Fashion, etc. I changed my mind being a Home Ec. teacher because I feared the job market. But instead...


12. I started a major in a two-year Daycare Management program at ULM (which was Northeast at the time). I dropped out within the time to get your 3/4th of your refund because I just didn't know what I wanted to do. Later in life while my 2nd child was an infant I did have a Home Daycare for a few years. Funny, uh?


13. I THINK MY ADDICTION IS MY OWN COMPUTER. I can't get any work done because of the computer, but I can't work without my computer. Boy, doesn't that sound like a contradiction. I will elaborate. I know you must be interested to hear the rest of this one too. I can't do work that's not on the computer because my mind has a chance to think about other things. Like when I am making my bed or folding clothes (meticulously, I might add...lol), I start thinking about other things I need to do. Like buy something for the house or for Natalie, so I need to run to the computer to shop online. Or when I think about a new disease or just anything, that I need to research. With the Internet, we literally have the world at our finger tips. I look up everything from party planning (recently: the wedding, Fiesta birthday and 16th birthday party--that's coming up this year) to shopping and selling on ebay from hairbows to college books (I bought Cameron's biology book through ebay last year). Ebay is so cool and so addictive. While I am working on the computer, I shop, organize, advertise and even blog! Blogging is addictive too! If you haven't figure that one out yet!

So, as you can see #10 applied here too. It did ask for six unspectacular things...I guess that's okay since I have 3 blogs now. There I go again about the overdoing thing. I don't know that many people to tag. I am not good at doing the links, but the only person I know with a blog who has not been tagged would be my Brittany: http://www.natalieintigerland.blogspot.com/ and maybe Nicki though I think she has already. I think I remember reading hers a while back, but I didn't realize that was it. I think she is an overdoer too. I think she did one for each member of her family. Maybe I will do that too later. But Nicki, if that wasn't what that was, your tagged too. Everyone else has already been tagged or they are people that I don't really know. Yes, I admit it. There are a few blogs that I watch that I don't even really know the people...come on, admit it...you do too!

So if you made this far, I am stopping. It took me most of the morning off and on to do this. I have much to do today. I am feeling better today. I will make another short post about that later.

~~ja~~

A FEW IMAGES FROM THE LAKE...

I am posting just a few images from the lake on this blog. Most of them will be on Natalie's World: http://lalalanataliesworld.blogspot.com/2008/08/finally-lake-images.html

This is one of the first images of Natalie and her Poppa fishing.

Cari and Alexa on the jet ski...

Natalie "cheesing" for the camera. I think this after we took her for her first ride on the jet ski. I am not sure she enjoyed too much the first time, but she did the 2nd time.

Edited to say:

www.ainsworthremembering.blogspot.com is the web page address for this blog. I just looked at this and I now realize that the above image is the only that I have it correct. I need to create me a new brush in photo shop like I did for my other two blogs. It is so much simplier...not to mention that I should get it right each time, huh? LOL

I really don't like just posting images w/o anything on them because they are so easy to still. I just have take to time to do a new brush for this one too.

Cari and Alex just before going home.

To avoid duplicating my blogs...posts that involve Natalie will still be on Natalie's World. Since this day involved Natalie most of the story and images are there. I will say she had a fun day. She was completely happy all day. I don't remember not one complaint out of that little girl all day. And if you know her very well you know that is saying a lot. But after all, the day was pretty much full of everyone entertaining her from swimming with her in the lake to fishing with her to riding the jet ski. I don't even think she complained when it was time to go home.

She didn't even complain about wearing the life jacket all afternoon (once after we put it on her, she wanted to take if off, but explained to her we would have to go home if she took it off...that was it...not another word about it). I know we all felt comfortable with her wearing it the whole time...we knew if she got too excited running and slipped and fell into the lake that all would be fine with her life jacket on. In fact, I noticed a little burn mark on her upper leg (almost her groin area). I realized it was the strap of the life jacket. Man, did I fell bad. Maybe we should have had it a little looser. I was so surprized that she never complained about the rubbing. I guess she was too busy having fun!

I am so glad that we had this fun day with friends and family.

~~ja~~

MEMORY CARD

Could your 3-year old recognize a memory card?

I don't guess ours did either, but almost. I guess it makes sense for a photographer's child or grandchild to recognize or think she found a memory card.

Yes, I know I should be posting images from the last week's event. They're still coming, but I want to include this little story before a few more days pass by and I forget it. They came home just days after moving the B.R. Brittany's car broke down and Cameron's needed some maintanence work done.

While Natalie was in my room, she picked up something that she thought was a memory card. I wasn't even aware that she knew anything like memory cards existed. We never talked about them before. I am still not sure if she know what they do, but this is how it went:

• Mimi, here's your memory card. (Natalie)
• No, that's not a memory card. That's Poppa's cell phone battery. (Mimi)

Too funny, huh? I guess between all the converstations of "let me get those images off the memory card", "I need to get another memory card", "don't forget the memory card", etc. that shes couldn't help to learn about memory cards.

They (children) definitely learn when we don't even realize it!

~~ja~~

THEY DID IT!

Just a quick post to let everyone know THEY DID IT! They moved to Baton Rouge yesterday. I didn't fall apart yet. I am sure I will have moments of that in the days to come. I know I have already had some of "my moments" just thinking about it all.

But I am sure as I am re-grouping and re-organizing around here, I will be reminded about all the joy My Little Sweetheart has brought into our lives. Her presence is in everyroom around here.

There are constant reminders of all the laughter and good times we had with her. Her things remind of us her very individual personality that is uniquely hers and hers alone.

Her photos remind me of what a beautiful child she is and how she is a melting pot of everyone who loves her. She really does look like everyone. How we could we not all love her so much when we see so much of ourselves within her.

I do have a few images to add soon. Today I am trying to re-cover from the last few weeks from birthday party to vacation to still unpacking and washing from the last few weeks. To be quite honest, I haven't even looked at the images. "Imagine that!"

Today is Natalie's first full day of her new school (daycare). I plan to call her late today to find out about all about that. I am sure Cameron and Brittany are excited about the first "real" place as a family of three. (I know they had place available to stay this summer. I am glad they had the place her mom provided and I know they were too, but it's nothing like being on your own. It's a great feeling. Feelings like that you never forget. I still remember mind and Randy's first places like they were yesterday and how proud we were to be there!)

I will keep you posted as Natalie's New World progresses and the way we will REMEMBER it.

Stay tuned to see images available soon!

~ja~

AUGUST 17, 2008...TOMORROW IS THE DAY!

I do not have any images to add at this time from the weekend, but it is almost over. And tomorrow Natalie, her daddy, and her mommy move to BR. I can't believe this summer has flown by so fast. Summer of 2008:

• The first few weeks we were consumed with all the final details of a wedding. All the events that go along with that.
• The next week Cameron and Brittany were gone on their honeymoon cruise. I will try to go back and post an image from their trip since I have files on my hard drive. There was one or two of them that I really liked that they must have asked someone else to capure for them.
• The same week Cari was gone to church camp.
• While they both of them were gone, we got a new bigger above ground pool because we knew Cari and Natalie would really enjoy it this summer.
• Then the next week was VBS. Cari and I both volunteered. Cari worked with the 1st grade group and I worked in the nursery taking care of babies
• Then before we knew it, it was Father's Day after he had worked that day, Cameron cooked for both Dad's and the rest of us too.
• Also during June my aunt from Florida came to Louisiana for a visit and
• And Natalie and Cari both went to the their First Big Circus!
• Then July was here before we knew it...our country another year older.
• Natalie enjoyed watching the Flotillia on Lake St. John and eating watermelon
• Cari volunteered for another week at church for S.M.A.C.K. (Students Music Activity Camp for Kids...I think that is right, any readers please comment and correct me if I got this wrong.) But she had another exciting and exhausting week.
• Cari finished reading two more Harry Potter books (almost finishing the 2nd while on vacation). She says she feels like such a geek reading them, but she enjoyed this last one the most because it was the only she had not previously seen the movie since it has not come out yet. She only has one more. Last summer started the series when I encouraged her to do some reading to help her with ACT scores. She found the set of the first three books that I had bought Cameron after he read the first one. Though I don't think he ever really got into them after reading the first one.
• Vidalia got a new Mexican Restaurant...well, that doesn't happen everyday in big "V'town"!
• Some quick preparation of a Dora/Diego Style Fiesta Birthday for a three-year got under way and less than two weeks later..
• NATALIE TURNED THREE YEARS OLD and had a ball at her 3rd birthday fiesta!
• She got her first set of golf clubs on her "real" birthday
• Less than a week later, Randy and I took Cari and my niece, Brooke, on a cruise to Mexico
• And a few days after returning, Cari is back to school...HER FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL AS A SOPHOMORE...
• And on the same day, I start a new blog to start blogging about my whole family...not just MY LITTLE SWEETHEART
• Brittany starts a blog to tell about Natalie in Tiger Land (aka Baton Rouge)
• TOMORROW IS THE BIG DAY (The family of three of my family of six move into their apartment on the LSU campus.)
• Natalie will start her daycare/preschool (The Learning Center). She will probably start Tuesday since she probably won't get there early enough tomorrow.
• Next week (the last week of August), Cameron starts his 2nd year at LSU and Brittany will have her first day of college also at LSU.

WOW THAT WEARS ME OUT JUST THINKING ABOUT IT ALL! IT HAS BEEN AN EXCITING, FUN AND EXHAUSTING SUMMER.

Each year, I think, I sort of dread the fall and the whole back-to-school thing. This year...even more so. I think because it means another year is almost over, another season almost finished and it will soon be another ginning season. You would think after over 20 years of being the wife of a cotton ginner, one would get used to it. I guess to certain point I have, but the fall is never an easy time for me or my family or most definitley not for Randy.

So that's where I am today...looking at how quickly another season has come and gone and anticipation of the unknown, of a new season, a new era in our lives. The unknown is always a little scary, uh?

~ja~

P.S. I will post photographs later. We had a fun day at the lake yesterday, a nice service at church today, and a fun lunch at that new restaurant in Vidalia. I have images from the lake and some from today at the restaurant and in the pool after lunch. Even Cari is beginning to feel some of the sadness knowing Natalie will soon be living 2 hours away. She sat with us at church rather than in the front with the youth. I asked why she wasn't sitting with them and she said it was because it was Natalie's last Sunday with us. I know she will spend weekend time with us and I am sure lots of holidays too, but there is just something sad about today knowing that this really is sort of her last day living here.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, DANNY!

Today is my brother's birthday. I am going to call him in a few. I will remind him to check out Natalie's Blog because I have a little story that I want to share about him and Natalie.

~~ja~~

MIMI'S FAVORITE IMAGE FROM YESTERDAY...

To view more images that were taken when this one was go to Natalie's World. This the link:
http://lalalanataliesworld.blogspot.com/2008/08/natalie-loves-her-doradiego-backpack.html
I had to take Cari to her regular orthodontist appointment early yesterday. This image and several others were taken then (as Natalie and I were leaving the house). We had to check Cari out of school and then take her back. I think she only missed on class.

At one point, Natalie seemed to have fun entertain the people waiting in the waiting room. One older gentlemen asked if she was four....my reply, "No, she just turned 3." Yeah, I know. My friend, Tanya, who used to teach Kindergarten says that she acts more like a 4 year old too. She quite growny acting at times and then sometime she says a baby. That reminds how I remember when Cari was younger ( a little older than this), she would say that she didn't want to grow up. How did she know at such a young age that being young is so much more fun?

~ja~

2007-2008 GINNER OF THE YEAR

This isn't new news any longer. But since this is a new blog I wanted to add a little short post and the links to the other blogs for those who are more interested and want to know more.

Randy received the news just before Christmas. He was honored at the Annual Awards Banquet in Memphis at the end of February. We were all there to support him.

This next image is the Ex. VP (my mind is blank to name at this time) of the Southern Cotton Ginner's Association and Randy. He is shaking Randy's hand as he is presenting him with the plaque. After this moment, Randy gave his acceptance speech. I wished I had it on video. He did an awesome job. I didn't know he could be such great speaker...I don't think any one suspected this (including him).

The Ginner of the Year and His Family (everyone except B--she had ball tournaments and could not be in two places at once--she was real torn about this--but Randy and I understood)
To view more images and information:

Jami Ainsworth Portraits Blog:

The Man Behind the Photographer...

http://japimages.blogspot.com/2008/03/man-behind-photographer.html

Natalie's World Blog:

Congratulations, Poppa!

http://lalalanataliesworld.blogspot.com/2008/03/congratulations-poppa.html

Anyway, this is worth mentioning again. Randy was only the fourth ginner in Louisiana to receive this honor and the youngest of all ginners.

How cool is that!

~~ja~~

CARI, NATALIE AND RONALD McDONALD...

Cameron brought Natalie over late yesterday afternoon. So not much work done around here. After we played a little, I read her a long book, Pinnochio that she found in Cari's room (She recently watched on VHS at her mommy's. She was watching in one day when I had to go by there). Of course, she didn't want to take a nap. But after we read the long book. She had one more short one that she wanted me to read. And since I just been cleaning around her Elmo bed she wanted to go to her bed instead of snuggling with me (sniff, sniff). I laid there a few minutes...I probably even snoozed a few and before I knew it she was asleep too.

After Randy finished working, we took her to McDonald's playland. Soon after we got there Randy, had to leave to go pick up Cari. So Natalie got in some good play time. They called when they were on the way back for me to order food. Then after Natalie ate her chicken strips she was allowed to slide down two more times, then one more, the one more time about three more times. Randy and Cari made fun of me for that..."last time" call. Then finally she ended up throwing a mild tantrum. But she got over it quickly.

All and all it was another fun little adventure with our sweetheart and some photographs to go with the memories. The rest of them will be posted on Natalie's World:

http://lalalanataliesworld.blogspot.com/2008/08/fun-at-mcdonalds-playland.html

To avoid double posting, please view the rest of the story at the above link.

I don't know if I have time to post them. But I did a few images of Natalie early today. Randy took Cari to school when her "ride" decided not to take her (not real sure why). I had to finish getting ready and get Natalie ready because I had to pick Cari up early to take her to the orthodontist. Great News! She may get them off soon!

That's it for now.

~~ja~~

HI KAREN!

I HAVE NEVER POSTED A POST DIRECTLY TO SOMEONE, BUT SINCE I DON'T HAVE YOUR EMAIL OR EVEN YOUR MAIL ADDRESS...WHY NOT?

KAREN, I SAW THE COMMENT YOU MADE ON MY "JAP" BLOG. I ACTUALLY READ IT WHILE WE WERE ON OUR CRUISE. AND I MUST TELL YOU THAT I HATE IT WHEN PEOPLE THAT I HAVEN'T TALKED TO LAST WEEK DOESN'T LEAVE THEIR LAST NAME...EVEN IF IT IS FAMILY THAT YOU HAVEN'T SEEN IN A LONG TIME.

I guess I should get off the caps...I try to use caps for titles and exciting moments, but other than that it looks like I'm screaming, uh?

I kept wondering Karen Who? I even asked Randy about it. It seems through the years that I have friends with the same names that I am in contact on a more regular basis at the time withe same name...did make sense? I remember at one time know about 5 Sharons and then at one time 2 or 3 Pams, etc. And it very confusing when talking to your husband about who you talked to that day, but I must admit you were the only Karen that came to mind, but I still wasn't sure. Randy thought of someone we knew in Tallulah named Karen, but I finally figured out he was talking about, but I knew it couldn't be her because we didn't know her well enough that we need to "catch-up".

Today when I saw the post you made on the new blog...and you made the comment about getting together in LP...I was sure then it was you. And I totally agree we do need to catch up or get together soon. I would love for yall to meet Natalie too. If you have go have gone through her blog much, you probably feel like you already know her. I knew immediately that my heartache would turn into joy once she was born. I just had no idea how much joy she would bring or how much love we (Randy and I) had for another child (one that I didn't give birth too). And now I am processing what our lives are going to like w/o seeing her almost everyday. And when I start to think about it...I try to get my mind of it...it will all be here soon enough.

Karen, email me when you can and let me know in advance when y'all will be in LP. As you must know, Randy is getting ready for his 9th ginning season here and after it starts it will be the holidays before he can get away. Speaking of which...how far did you to through the blogs? Did you see these posts:

http://japimages.blogspot.com/2008/03/man-behind-photographer.html

or one of this one:

http://lalalanataliesworld.blogspot.com/2008/03/congratulations-poppa.html

The kids and I are very proud of Randy as you can tell from these posts. I was going to look for at least one image from those posts to add to this, but I can't seem to find one quickly. So I guess it is time to get to work. I guess this is playing.

EDITED...I FOUND AN IMAGE IF YOU ARE VIEWING THIS JUST NOW OR LATER (THURSDAY, AUGUST 14TH) YOU HAVE ALREADY SEEN IT

Thanks for commenting. I know many more people view that don't comment. I wished more would so I would know who they were. I enjoy looking at my friends blogs, but sometimes I find myself looking at complete strangers. It's insane, uh!

Karen, I would love to see photos of your kids too. Hey I a great idea! Why don't you start a blog too. They're very easy...they have to be if I have one...and now three! LOL

~~ja~~

japhotography@bellsouth.net

CARI'S SECOND DAY OF SCHOOL/FIRST DAY BABY SITTING

I have no photos of this day, but I was just thinking about it and I thought I would make this blog a little more about remembering and venting...not just photographs with a little text...okay a lot of text. Everyone knows that I love to talk, that is once I get started, and that I talk like I write.

Yesterday, was Tuesday, August 12th, Cari's 2nd day of school and first day with her new job...baby sitting, but I am sure the boys would rather we call it kid-sitting because they are far from babies. One of the boys is in junior high and Cari is suppose to tutor him in math. In fact, he would probably rather it be sitting his younger sib and just tutoring him. With all that said, I think it went great. When we bought groceries at Wal-mart a few days earlier Cari had the idea of baking cookies for the boys for her first day. She was little nervous about it and wants them to like her. I don't think she has to worry about that though...she's very likable.

So Monday night she made homeade cookies for them...okay, they came in a roll from the dairy dept. at from wal-mart, but she baked them (along with a little help from Natalie) and they were baked at home...so THEY ARE HOMEMADE, UH? Is there any other kind of homemade these days? We each enjoyed a cookie that night and she saved the rest of them for her "new" friends...well she actually already knows the older boy pretty well from their youth group at church. She is scheduled to watch the boys after school three days a week, Tues., Wed., and Thurs. All and all I think it went well. She is still excited about the prospect of making some of her own money...she certainly loves spending!



Her 2nd day of school seemed to go well too. She's excited about learning Spanish. We just returned from our cruise that made two stops in Mexico. She is really wishing that she had this class last year before we went. I am sure that her teacher is pleased to have an eager student like that. I received many compliments the last few years from her teachers as to what a pleasure she was to them as their student. She can be quite moody (which I guess is normal for a 15 yr. old), but when she is in a good mood she ecstatic and very contagious and usually very excited to learn...TEACHER'S LOVE THAT! (especially most kids don't even want to be there)

Other than the rain storm that we enountered last night after we got home that tore a limb from a tree that fell on a power line that blew a fuse at the light poll that made awful pop sound while Randy was on the roof checking on a leak that scared me to pieces, we had a pretty much uneventful evening after the electricy was restored.

I doubt that I will document every day, but I would like to use this as a source for friends and family to keep up with the milestones big and small in our lives along with some photos from time to time. I know many of my family have enjoyed Natalie's Blog and since it is changing directions this fall, I wanted to create something directed more toward my whole family...not just my little sweetheart. She never minded sharing her space, but I think this is more appropriate.

Okay, I have to get to work. I hate this feeling of so much to do that I don't know where to get started. I think I will start with my shower and making my bed. Sometimes it is really hard working at home and keeping all the balance with that. From time to time, I think that I would like to something else so that photography could be just for fun again, but then I know I would really miss it and would end up back in the middle of it again somehow, someway.

~~ja~~

NATALIE READING HER THANK YOU CARD...

To not completely repeat myself on this one, please go to Natalie's World to read the whole story on this. BRIEFLY: Natalie was "reading" the thank you card from Jonah's birthday party. When I caught her doing this, I got the camera out to document it with photos and I have the rest of the story behind it on Natalie's World blog.

THIS IS IT:

http://lalalanataliesworld.blogspot.com/2008/08/jonah-says-thank-you.html

Thanks for looking!

~ja~

FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL AS A SOPHOMORE

ISN'T SHE BEAUTIFUL! Cari just minutes before her ride arrived to take her to school for the first day of school of her sophomore year. As you can see she is holding her camera. I don't know if she took any photos today on her first day, but she took the camera thinking she might. I hope she did.

Can you tell she got a great tan this summer?

Often I will convert images to black and white. I like bw, but if the coloring seems off or focus, bw always seems to do the images justice. Sometimes I think that other people think (and I do to) that all my images should be perfect. They are soooo far from it. But this last year, since I started blogging (almost a year ago now), that I have decided that less than perfect images are much better than no images to remember our memories....because they definitely WORTH RMEMBERING:

She has a gorgeous smile. She always has, but I do look forward to seeing it w/o braces. I know she does too.

Okay...that was it. Cari's First day of school for the school year 2008-2009. It was raining outside. I mean pouring down.

I haven't been great at documenting my families adventures the last decade. I was so into it when mine were little, but when you take your hobby and make it your career, you seem to really slack on your personal stuff. So that's what blogging has done for me. It has brought me to a new modern day style of documenting, scrapbook....however you want to put it of saving our memories. I have never stop taking photos of my families...Ijust haven't had the time to record the thoughts and memories that go with them. I intend to make the time now. It really is the things that really matter to me.

My second post on the new blog.

Enjoy.

ja

HOW ABOUT ONE MORE BLOG?

OKAY, HOW ABOUT ONE MORE BLOG? I HAVE BEEN THINKING BOUT THIS FOR A LITTLE WHILE. SO HERE IT IS...NOTHING FANCY AND REALLY PLAIN FOR NOW LIKE MY OTHER TWO:

www.japimages.blogspot.com

www.lalalanataliesworld.blogspot.com


THIS ONE WILL BE MORE GENERALIZED. MY THOUGHTS, MY MEMOIRES, AND OF COURSE, MY IMAGES. MY FIRST BLOG WAS ALL ABOUT NATALIE. AFTER VIEWING JONAH'S BLOG FOR ABOUT 6 MONTHS...I COULDN'T STAND IT ANY LONGER. I HAD TO GET IN ON IT THE ACTION TOO. NEXT I SET UP ANOTHER ONE TO ESTABLISH A DESCRIBE MY UPCOMING CHRISTMAS PROMOTION AND HAVE SINCE MAINTAINED IT POSTING SESSIONS RECENT AND PAST SESSIONS IMAGES. IT IS ALWAYS WAY TO VIEW ALL THE IMAGES FROM SESSIONS NOW TOO.

BUT THIS ONE WILL BE MORE ABOUT MY WHOLE FAMILY NOT JUST MY LITTLE SWEETHEART AND HER WORLD. MANY TIME I WANT TO POST IMAGES THAT AREN'T REALLY RELATED TO HER AND SOMETIME I HAVE, BUT I USUALLY TRY TO ONLY DO IMAGES THAT SOMEHOW RELATE HER TO IT THE EVENT. I DO HAVE MANY OTHER ASPECTS TO MY LIFE OTHER THAN BUSINESS AND HER...THOUGH THE TWO HAVE CONSUMED MOST OF MY LIFE THE LAST FEW YEARS. RECENTLY MY FAMILY W/O HER DID TAKE A VACATION...I WILL ADD THOSE IMAGES SOON...OR AT LEAT I PLAN TO.

Today, August 11, 2008, was Cari's First day of school. This is her 2nd first day of school for high school. She is officially a sophomore today...much better than a freshman, uh? I still remember her first day of pre-school. I would have to dig to find the photo of her first day of pre-school and then scan the image, but the visual image is still strong in my mind. My they do grow up so fast. It seems that first day of pre-school was ony a few months ago, not 12 years ago. Now she only has two more first days of school left (Other than college and that doesn't count since I won't be there to send her off for that one!).

I do plan to update this blog and my other ones soon buy getting someone to design them. I only have time to learn so many things and do all my other work...which I am still extremely behind on. I plan to use my blog to discuss things like that in my life. If no one chooses to read it...that's okay too because I think it make a great therapy tool for me...I plan to do a lot of venting...sort of like a journal or diary.

So that's it for now. I am going to get the images off the card in a few minutes and post them. So far I have spend most of morning thinking about this, deciding on a title, looking at blog designs and where to get started around here. So far now this is it. I have it started. I need to get to all the other work around here too. It is just so hard to get started after vacation.

ja