Remember when....

Remember when I ran a giveaway on my Facebook page the day I hit 500 likes?!  Well the winners turned out to be this amazing family of 5 with 1 on the way!  We decided to wait till the little one arrived and do some images at the family home.  The older kids loved it because they got to skip school for a day!!  Whoot Whoot!  Anyway this family was Fun, Loving, and just simply Great!

 

7 year wonder....

My Sweet baby girl is now 7 years old and each year I wonder where the previous years have gone!  She is growing entirely way to fast that I can't remember what shoe size she is until we need new shoes.  She has been my little peanut and sweet heart since the day I laid eyes on her!  She continues to break my heart, cutting that umbilical cord over and over with every mile stone she makes. Next up 'Summer Camp' for a whole week....I'm ganna be a wreck!!! 

She has the heart of gold, donating her hair to Locks of Love this year....wanting to go to every Birthday Party she is invited too so she can get her friends a gift!  (don't get me wrong she loves the fun, food, and cake too)  Writing notes to her teachers and giving them big hugs when she sees them in the hall.  She has banned me from visiting her at school because it makes her sad when I leave (and that's just a waste of my recess MOM) 

She also has a style of her own....picking out the most random things in her closet (mainly dresses).  Speaking of style, you can see the difference between the two of us in these pictures.  The gray dress was her idea, the flower shirt was mine.  At first I really didn't like her idea but in the end she was right and I LOVED her choice!  Sure taught me a lesson.  She teaches me every day ....I wish I didn't have to learn on her as she deserves the best anyone can give her.

Happy Birthday Sweet Heart! I love you more then you know! -Mom

Selfie Contest.....

Alright, Alright, Alright!!! 

Many of you have already heard the GREAT news! But if you haven't.....

 I am being published AGAIN in an amazing book called 'Capture Minnesota'! 

I am beyond excited for this honor once again and can't wait to see which image they have chosen to publish.  Last year I really pushed for votes and what have you. This year I just laid low and still one of my images was chosen.  It's an amazing feeling...the feeling of validation!  That my work can be recognized, that I'm a GOOD photographer!

Well anyways.....the book has gotten so big that they are hosting the release party at the Mall of America this!  They are also going to have all of the published photo's on display for 2 days in 2 different locations.  The Rotunda and the hallway in front of the old Bloomingdale's.  Since we don't know what image is being published I can only speculate as to which ones in my gallery they have chosen.  Here are a few of the top contenders.....

In HONOR of this special occasion I thought a FUN contest was in order!  How about a 'Selfie' Contest?!  Like I said earlier the images will be displayed in TWO different locations.  Have fun finding which image is mine (while enjoy the other amazing work being published). Once you have located my image, take a selfie with it and post it to my Facebook Page!  The images will be displayed for TWO DAYS ONLY.  Friday May 16th - Saturday May 17th

I will be entering all the names from those that took a selfie into a hat again and drawing for a FUN prize!  (to be determined)  Have fun and I can't wait to see the Selfies roll in!!!  

RELEASE PARTY NEWS!

Where: Mall of America Rotunda, 60 E Broadway, Bloomington, MN 55425

When: Saturday, May 17, 2014 from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM (CDT)

Who: Everyone is invited! Bring your friends and family, too!

Don't tell me I'm the only one....

Maybe it's all this snow....BUT.....Have you ever had one of those days where you feel your sanity slipping?  You wonder, who am I? Why do I yell at my kids when I'm frustrated with things that have nothing to do with them?  Why do I react the way I do? I want more from everything. Why do I want more? Is there more?

I'm not a savant...I don't excel at one particular thing.  I find myself good at a lot of different things but never excellent at one thing.  This comes to my advantage many times but disadvantage in the 'who am I?' department.  I consider myself a good Mom....but know I fail at times.  I consider myself a good friend but know that I can be hurt easily.  I find it hard to focus on one thing for too long and get burnt out easily.  I hate the thought of being 'not busy' but find myself being 'not busy' in search of what to be busy with.  (does that even make sense)  I find being an adult extremely confining.  I thought being an adult would mean all the freedom in the world but find it to be the opposite.  Being bound to the kids schedules, the husbands work load.  Bellies to be fed, diapers to be changed, dishes, laundry, vacuuming, toys to be picked up!  Once you think you've been a success for the day it all starts over the next day.  Some days have more ummmppph behind them, others have feelings of failure.  Is there more...who am I... Is 'jennie' still in there?? Again I find being an adult extremely confining.  Things I would like to say but can't because "I'm an adult".  Things I'd like to do but can't because "I'm an adult".  Places I'd like to go but can't because "I'm an adult", (with bills and responsibilities)!  Is it healthy to have these thoughts?  So I ask myself "what do you truly want Jennie?"  I want to be free from hurt, I want to be free from the scars, I want to be free from thinking I ever had these things in my life!  I'm tired of proving myself to people, I'm tired of thinking "What could I do differently!"  I'm tired of waiting for others to wake up.  I'm tired of waiting for others to apologize.  I forgive because I choose to be UNSHAKLED to their pain, to their hurtful behavior!  I have had more pain and hurt in my life that others know nothing about.  I don't need any more pain!  I choose joy, I choose to be happy, I choose to be grateful, I choose to laugh.  I choose to apologize when I'm wrong.  I choose to move on and find 'Jennie' again. 

So HAVE you ever had one of those days?  Don't tell me I'm the only one.....

"Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things." Philippians 4:8

Chasing the snow away...

Frozen solid for a LONG time. 

Finally reached a temperature where we can emerge from our homes, look up and smile!  With our chin up and eyes shut we stand still for a moment and embrace the sun.  The warm embracing sun that makes all things bad and depressing go away....even for that brief moment.  So again we emerge from our homes, shaggy hair and all. We dig in the sand, we slide down the slides, we walk, run, even bike on the side walks.

We ARE chasing the snow away!

The Nelson Blog....

I'm pretty sure my Blog is ganna be renamed the Nelson Blog! 

This family just keeps coming back for more....and I keep loving it!

How adorable is this little one year old?!

She is on the move because she has to keep up with 'big' brother

and not to mention be faster then her soon to be 'little' brother!

Happy Birthday Little Lady!

Happy Birthday...Lily

What an honor to be in the room when a miracle happens!  How amazing it was to be asked and to witness something so incredible!! 

Let's be honest for a moment and go over a few details.  This is my friend first and foremost....I wanted to capture this day for her BUT I wanted her to be comfortable with me in the room as this 'exposing' process happens.  I encourage anyone thinking about having birth photography to pick someone that you love and trust.  It makes for the inherent awkwardness to be a little bit more subsided.  Leaving the room when asked is always a given and being able to drop the camera to hold a friends hand and whip her hair from her face is a must!!  That being said all discreetness and modesty goes away after you have sat with your friend through the most painful time in her life for hours on end.  What I felt my role was that night....distraction stories, hand holding, wet wash cloths, handing her whatever she needs, smoothing out her hair, finding socks for her cold feet, calling a nurse when needed.....all while capturing the night one snap shot at a time.  Ali ....I'm pretty sure we are bonded for life after this experience!!!  Ali is not only a good friend and great mother but she is also a fellow photographer.  Her work is amazing...  http://www.alihohn.com/ 

She also owns a backdrop company called Rock the Drops!

Here are some snap shots of how the night unfolded.