National FFA Convention

Got back yesterday from the FFA National Convention in Indianapolis with mommy and aunt Jess. It was a great time. I was really good on the plane rides and it was great to see many of my FFA friends that I haven't seen since Washington DC this summer.

Daddy was gone hunting in ND this weekend and I was so happy to see him even though it was when I woke up at night. I was sleeping when he got home!

I am totally sitting up on my own now and have only taken a couple of face plants! There will be many of those in the years to come. No big deal!! Here I am with my MN State Officer friends on the big stage in the convention hall. I liked hearing the speakers especially the National Officers give their final speeches. The music was a little loud for me some times so mommy plugged my ears for a lot of it. I hope I can go back again in the future!

10.27.07 NORTH DAKOTA PHEASANT HUNT

Okay, I promise this will be the last photo with dead animals in it.

I traveled this weekend to Hague, ND (pop 67) for some great pheasant action with my good friend Kurt Weber, his son Aaron and Minnesota Twins pitchers, Glen Perkins and Kevin Slowey.

It was a great time with lots of laughs, lots of birds and lots and lots of empty shotgun shells!! My lab Sogn is dead tired and still recovering!

10.21.07 SOUTH DAKOTA BOWHUNTING

Okay, so I don't take photos every single day of the year!! I do usually have my cameras along with me on my travels though...

As is our usual custom late in October, my great college friend Cory Hansen and I are lucky enough to spend time bowhunting whitetail and mule deer on the Weiss Ranch in northwest South Dakota. All of the Weiss' have made us feel a part of the family and we love this trip each fall.

I was fortunate enough to take this terrific deer this year. I did my best to make the photo a high quality one so I could put in on the website. More photos of the hunt and The Ranch are in the Friends & Family area.

Typing

sms/a p3`p;rf asdasd aerwg adw abberksd

I know that many of you question how much of this blog I really do myself...well, that part right there was officially me. I am home with daddy tonight while mommy is playing bells at church. Daddy let me really help him out on the blog. I am doing pretty well, huh?

ACPCG

Though I haven't done any work for them yet, I was recently accepted into the American Child Photographers Charity Guild. The ACPCG is a non-profit, volunteer-based group of photographers from all over the country that are dedicated to serving children in need and their families. Photographers from across the nation have networked together to provide families of desperately ill children complimentary portrait sessions.

As a photographer in this guild, I will donate my time and services in helping families of desperately ill children and parents who are experiencing the loss of a baby. The goal is to create a lifetime of memories in the few short moments that these families have.

I came upon this site in the weeks following the birth of our son Cameron. While realizing the incredible blessing that he was in our life, that blessing was quickly magnified. Through the tears in my eyes, I looked through the ACPCG's mission and previous work. I couldn't imagine not being involved with these folks. I also couldn't imagine being on the receiving end of these photos.

Please check out ACPCG and the wonderful work that is there already. This is a noble cause that some wonderful people have dedicated themselves to contributing to.

Leaves!!!

We had a busy weekend. Daddy did wedding photos on Friday and two family sessions on Saturday. Three sessions got postponed today because of bad weather.

I was along for this one in the leaves and it was great. You probably know by now that I am not liking eating my food too much...BUT I REALLY LIKE LEAVES!!! Maybe mommy and daddy can mix some of this up with some sweet potatoes or rice cereal?!?!

I also officially said my first word today..."Dad"...it was right after my third poopy diaper in a row that daddy changed (and lost his appetite before dinner). But I said it nonetheless. Mommy is claiming that it wasn't real, but we're pretty sure it came out that way.

10.13.07 THE CHAMBERS FAMILY

Shooting with the Chambers' on Saturday was a great time. If only we would have had a little more time. It was fun to hang out because Leah and Cameron came along with me. We played in the leaves and like you may have read in Cameron's Blog, he really enjoyed eating the leaves.

I was again reminded how fun it is shooting young children that are starting to develop personalities. Don't forget to add a teaspoon of patience with that...make that 2 cups of patience! But to see them smiling and happy and in turn, capturing those moments are priceless. I can't wait to get the images up on the computer and they're not even my own children! More of their photos are HERE.

We also shot the Schwanke Kids who were a bit older, but smily nonetheless! Photos of the kids are a family tradition for them and I was so pleased to add a few of my photos to their extensive collection

10.12.07 AARON & KIMBERLY

What a beautiful fall wedding in Roseville, MN! Aaron & Kimberly were gracious enough to choose me as their photographer last winter and after 7 years of dating, they were married today.

So many things about their day reminded me of our wedding day back in 2002 which was on October 5. The colors in leaves and crisp feel in the air are truly what make my favorite time of year. They had many of the same colors and decorations that we did as well.

I was frozen like I often am when the pastor goes through the vows with the couple. My mind wanders back to my own wedding and my love for Leah. Though I won't forget it, I better mentally prepare for not missing any of the job at hand!!

Aaron & Kimberly were so, so easy to work with and really couldn't have been more relaxed (atleast they seemed that way) about their day. It made my role a lot more fun. I wish them all the best in all their days ahead!!

10.11.07 SCOTT & LESLIE

Finally the rain subsided in southern Minnesota and it really was a beautiful fall day. It was amazing how many of the leaves had blown off trees in the past week, but we had a great fall session with Scott and Leslie. Ironically (or maybe very subconsciously intentional) it is exactly one year from their wedding date! Hopefully the day in Rice Lake, WI will be as beautiful as this one was in Cannon Falls, MN.

We took a walk along the Cannon River and found some nice spots and then before getting back into the cars, found a couple great spots downtown. I love the shots we found on an old fire escape against a building with an old advertisement painted on it. What a great place to photograph.

More of Scott & Leslie's shots are found HERE

New Trick

Here is my new trick with my mouth. It's kind of like I just discovered my tongue and I really like to twist it around. Daddy put me in my new bear coat to go for a walk this afternoon because it was so chilly outside. Sogn liked getting out with us though.

Testy

I have been really testing mommy and daddy when it comes to eating! I love being in my high chair, but not so much love for the cereal, sweet potatoes and formula! I was home with daddy on Tuesday though and ate 9 ounces in one sitting and didn't even take a breath. I even held the bottle with my own hands.

I am making some new noises too. My favorite is a wooo-woooo-woooo sound. I am really working on sitting up on my own and I love to be held so I can stand. Not too long and I will be cruising around on my own. The other night, daddy sat on the floor with me and I rolled over and over all the way around the living room. After about 15 minutes, I was right back at daddy's side!

Away from Mom & Dad

This was a monumental weekend for all of us. Mommy and daddy left me home alone with Aunt Jess on Friday night and Gma Carol on Saturday night so they could go up north for their 5th annviersary! It was much more traumatic for mommy than it was for me. I had a great time with Gma Deb and Aunt Jess on Friday and Saturday. I ate well, took naps, and had a great time. Gma Carol came and picked me up on Saturday afternoon and took me and Sogn back to my house in Farmington. Again, we had lots of fun. Went on some walks with Sogn too!

This photo is of how happy both mommy and I were when they got home on Sunday.