My life...just not on the road I expected (but it's still dang good).

Where I Belong

I know they're a lovely crew, but sometimes (Once a month like clockwork.) I forget how blessed I am and decide I want to run away from home.

So yesterday, as I drove aimlessly around Medford, Oregon, trying to decide where I should run away to while crying and feeling shamelessly sorry for myself, I heard the honk of another car slowly passing by.

It was a friend of mine.

Turns out she was driving aimlessly around Medford, Oregon as well, trying to kill time because she didn't want to go home either.

She said she had just the cure for me and drove me to Mellelo's for an iced, single-shot, decaf Mexican Mocha. She talked, she listened and she shared her own mothering struggles with me (which really, aren't all that different than my own.)

And then she pulled up next to my car and reminded me of why I had to go home.

So I sat in my car with my head pressed hard up aginst my steering wheel for a few minutes and then I put my key in the ignition and drove home.

Where I belong.

The One Thing Daddy Can't Do

I was sleeping upstairs last night (because my husband snores like a chainsaw) so it wasn't until I woke up this morning that I realized she had been throwing up.

When I asked Josh Downs why he didn't wake me up, he said, "What were you going to do that I couldn't do?"

Ummmmm...mothers are supposed take care of sick children.

So I started cleaning up the mess (because, while Josh is quite capable of taking care of sick children, his gag-reflex doesn't allow him to clean up puke.)

As I was cleaning up, I said, "Annie, you have to come find me next time you feel sick because Daddy can't do throw-up."

To which Annie replied, "But I thought there wasn't anything Daddy can't do?"

And she's almost right.

The Mercantile

About a year ago, I received this poem:

And Ode to Karen Russell

9 weeks ago we embarked on a journey
Not quite sure what we'd find.
The world of photography is so vast and scary...
Can ANYONE ease our mind?

All of these buttons, dials and settings:
Aperture, f-stops - lessons to play!
Low and behold, our teacher arrives
She's come to save the day!

Assignments to complete, photos to upload
Will there be enough time?
So much to learn - so little time!
Life gets in the way and now I'm behind!

But they say time flies when you're having fun
This part we know is true!
Just one question remains in our hearts...
Karen Russell, WHAT will we do without you?!?

We weren't quite sure how to thank you...
What is the perfect way?
Something very special will soon arrive...
When can you get away?

What arrived was something wonderful.

A bunch of gals from one of my past classes pooled together and sent me a gift certificate to stay at The Mercantile in McCloud, California. Apparently, they remembered it's our anniversary destination.

And last weekend, Josh Downs and I finally got away...

We got to McCloud around 7:30 p.m., just in time to watch a movie in bed and fall asleep.

And then we got up the next morning and headed down to the cafe for breakfast.

Free breakfast=Happy husband.

Right after I took this shot, the waitress walked over and said, " Are you two newlyweds because you just scream newlyweds?" (We hear that frequently.) Turns out she and a couple of the other patrons were placing bets on it.

I quit shooting after that though because people typically think one of two things about newlyweds:

1. They're really cute.

2. They're really annoying.

And then I went back upstairs for some quiet time.

And then we headed up to the mountain to go cross-country skiing. (Something we had never done before.)

It's really fun (but really tiring) so we needed a break.

Cold beer=Happy husband.

A fellow cross-country skier passed by as I was taking this shot, standing over the top of Josh Downs in what may have looked like a precarious position. (I bet she thought we were newlyweds too.)

I was attempting to look tough in that shot. (Failed miserably at that attempt though.)

We went to dinner after that but I was too cold & tired (and hungry) to take any pictures.

And then we fell asleep again.

Spent the next morning relaxing in the room.

And then we headed back to the same cafe for breakfast.

Free breakfast two days in a row=A really happy husband.

And then we packed up and left The Mercantile once again. We'll be back next year though. (Here's photos from the last couple of years, here and here.)

I wasn't joking when I said my students are the best in the world.

Thanks all you lovely ladies.

No Time

I've got lots of photos to post and things to share, but alas, I have no time so I'll just share these with you...

It was my intention to get a photo of Annie too, but she had to go pee.

And it's been my experience that five year olds who have to go pee do not make for cooperative subjects.

The Winner

A big thanks to so many of my past students who commented on the workshop. (You guys are so good to me.)

I used a random number generator and it looks like the winner is Tricia Williams.

Tricia, I didn't see a link or an email address for you so be sure to email me at karen@snapshotsofagoodlife.com so we can get you registered!

Was hoping to post more birthday photos today, but it's just not going to happen this week. (I'm in the process of updating all 450+ pages of lessons in my workshop and it has turned out to be quite the undertaking.)

Also, I'm embarrisingly behind on emails (once again) so if I owe you one, I apoligize.

Oh, and I've got a handful of pictures of Ross & Cali to share too, but (other than this one) those will have to wait until next week as well...

Just like that

And just like that...

She was five.

I haven't even had a chance to look through most of her birthday photos. Too much work and too many deadlines on my plate right now but I'm hoping to post more this week.

I do want to mention though that one week from today, I'll be opening up registration for the next Photographers' Workshop. Registration starts at 6pm Pacific Time on Monday, February 21 and you have to be on the waiting list to register which you can do by filling out some info. here.

Registration is on a first-come, first-served basis and though I have no idea what Monday's registration will look like, the seats have always filled up quickly in the past.

I'll be allowing about 50 regular students (who's assignments and photo critiques I evaluate) and I'm not sure how many auditors I'm going to allow yet (who's assignments and photo critiques I do not evaluate.)

Auditing students are still able to participate in class and ask questions just like a regular student (but again, I don't evaluate their assignments or photo critiques.)

I've got a lot of students auditing my current class, some of which are auditing because the regular seats in the class filled up so quickly but others who are auditng to save money (It's $150 cheaper) and many who are auditing because they just want to work at their own pace with the option of scheduling a telephone consult with me ($145 per hour) to discuss their assignments and photo critiques over the phone or by Skype.

Anyhow, I'm hoping a few of my past/current students will pop in here to let you know what they think of the class and I'm going to give away a regular seat in the next class (which starts in May) to one person - so leave a comment if you'd like to win a spot in class. I'll draw a winner sometime Wednesday morning.

Hope your week is great.

She

 

1. She wrote her Valentines cards herself for the first time this year (with a list next to her so she knew how to spell everyone's names.)

2. She needs her nails clipped and a bathtub to get the Band-Aid goo off her finger.

3. A few weeks ago, she said, "I'm a really special girl because of three things; I can run really fast, I can color really good and I can make bubbles in my mouth with my spit."

4. She doesn't call herself 'Yannie' anymore (and sadly, hasn't for a long time.)

5. She likes to do her own hair now and can even put it up in a ponytail all by herself.

6. The other night while I was tucking her in, she asked, "Mommy, when did you have Daddy?" to which I replied, "I didn't have Daddy...Grandma Jo had Daddy." She just sat there looking perplexed for a few seconds and then said, "You mean you just found my Daddy?"

7. She'll eat a peanut butter sandwich or a Jelly sandwich but she won't eat a peanut butter & jelly sandwich.

8. She still cries anytime I suggest she wear a pair of pants.

9. She came down the stairs crying and scared the other night and said, "I heard a bad noise - it sounds like some idiot is throwing rocks at my window."

10. Her shoes are always on the wrong feet.

11. She's going to be five on Sunday and has asked that she be referred to only as 'Birthday Girl' between now and then.

Have I Mentioned?

Have I mentioned how that mole on his left cheek makes me want to absolutely kiss his face off?

You'd Think

You'd think I'd be able to narrow these down to fewer shots, but I just couldn't...

Just Us

Just me and Coley and Annie all weekend. (Josh had Guard and Courtney Lee was at her mom's.)

But we had fun anyhow.