I stopped to pick up six balloons for the newly six year old and talked her into an impromtu shoot...
And that's all she wrote for the birthday pics.
Oh, and I finally got all my Nikon gear back from the service department this afternoon. (I shot all of Annie's birthday pictures with a borrowed Canon 5D and the fabulous, but inexpensive Canon 85mm f1.8.)
Oh, and someone asked where I got Annie's tights - got them at Old Navy back at Christmastime.
Oh, and again, all the regular seats in the next Photographers' Workshop are sold out but you can still snag an auditing seat here or you can read more about the workshop here.
And if you're reading this Josh Downs...Everyone is awaiting your homecoming - even the waitor at our new favorite Mexican restuarant keeps asking how many days until you'll be home. (I know that a lot of you blog readers have inquired too and I really appreciate it. The only reason I haven't mentioned the exact date/number of days is for security reasons - you know, just in case the al-Qauda has me on their Google-Reader.)
fantastic photos karen! happy birthday to annie. so excited that you will all be together again soon! hooray!
Posted by: cheryl o | February 16, 2012 at 07:28 PM
oh my! Fabulous, fabulous photos! Love the balloons! And the buttons on the coat mimic the balloons brilliantly! That sweet little 6-y-o face!
Posted by: Cathy | February 16, 2012 at 07:33 PM
These are Fun-tastic!! I love how the buttons on Annie's coat match the balloon colors! Happy Birthday Annie!! My son has finally landed on U.S. soil and should be home within the next two weeks! Yay!!! Hope Josh will be home any day now!! :)
Posted by: ♥ Debbie | February 16, 2012 at 08:52 PM
Gosh Karen - I can't believe how grown up your baby girl is. She is ADORABLE and what a personality! I lurk at your blog every now and again - good to see that life is treating you well. Hope Josh makes it home safe and sound. Stacey (from the old Scrapbook King in Medford.)
Posted by: Stacey Coffman | February 16, 2012 at 09:10 PM
lol about how many days until Josh is back home. You're right, you never know who reads your blog ;)
Love these pics of Annie. She is so darn cute!!
Posted by: Mary Ann Jenkins | February 16, 2012 at 09:23 PM
Can I just say the 5D did remarkably well in those Nikon hands of yours!lol
Posted by: lyley | February 16, 2012 at 09:32 PM
Seeing as you shoot beautifully with both brands and there appear to be subtle colour differences? need I say more?
Posted by: caro | February 16, 2012 at 11:56 PM
Even if you shot with a p & s cam, it'd be wonderful pictures.
Annie is adorable, and so are you! She is a Look-alike of you :).
Hugs from across the pond,
Anne
Posted by: Anne | February 17, 2012 at 02:35 AM
so any day now we'll see homecoming pictures!? can't wait. I'm sure you're all so excited you can't even stand it!
Posted by: Kim S. | February 17, 2012 at 03:07 AM
Love that the coat buttons are like the balloon colors. The 6 balloons are a great way to mark the birthay. Have you done that with previous years?
Posted by: Sherry G | February 17, 2012 at 04:57 AM
Always love your photos...wish mine looked like that! haha..let me ask you, how many balloon photos did you take overall? compared to how many you're were happy with?
I hope the comment about your husband means he really is coming home soon :)
Posted by: Debbi G. | February 17, 2012 at 05:47 AM
These are the best balloon shots I've ever seen Karen...you've really raised the bar there!
Inspirational as usual...thankyou!
Looking forward to seeing Josh in a few family photos...will bring a few more tears to the eye I feel.
Hoping its soon Karen...
Posted by: Julie in Aust. | February 17, 2012 at 06:14 AM
Happy Happy Birthday Annie - you are a lucky and beautiful little girl! (err -big girl I guess now!!) So excited for you and your family Karen - hope you have a beautiful family reunion really, really soon ....{{{hugs}}}
Posted by: KarenP(kphike) | February 17, 2012 at 06:58 AM
OK, it's a requirement now that you have someone do a video for you of you doing a shoot. In all these pictures I can just imagine what you are saying to Annie, and what you are doing to get these funny, adorable shots. Ya know, Jasmine did one recently, and it was a simple, short thing and it helped me understand more how to direct people. I would LOVE to see you doing one. Since you have so much spare time. :-0
Every day waiting to see the news of JD arriving home, and praying for it all to work perfectly, without a hitch.
Have a great weekend!
Posted by: Nancy Boothe | February 17, 2012 at 07:08 AM
Adorable
Posted by: Sharla | February 17, 2012 at 07:26 AM
Those are some precious shots of your pretty girl!!
Posted by: Gina f. | February 17, 2012 at 07:37 AM
you're so funny. annie's so adorable. blessings to ya'll this weekend!! smooch!!
Posted by: karlalala | February 17, 2012 at 07:48 AM
These are so great, Karen, just adorable. Love Annie's haircut! My youngest turned 6 in December, would be fun to get them together for a playdate! Have a great weekend!
Posted by: Diane W. | February 17, 2012 at 08:33 AM
Beautiful pictures of a beautiful 6 year old girl! Love how her personality shows in EVERY picture!
And of course, the al-Qauda reads your website, doesnt everybody?!!!!!!
Tell your handsome man thank you for his service!
Donna
Posted by: Donna Carter | February 17, 2012 at 09:18 AM
Love the photos you are so talented.
Posted by: Theresa S. | February 17, 2012 at 09:33 AM
She's so cute! Love her outfit and her hair!
Posted by: Kelli | February 17, 2012 at 10:07 AM
These are sooooo cute! Each one is more adorable then the one before!
Love them!!!
Posted by: Gayle S | February 17, 2012 at 11:36 AM
Hi Karen,
Even in FRANCE people are awaiting Josh Downs' homecoming!!! This morning, four army planes "rushed in" (a plane was flying towards a nuclear plant) and all I was able to think about was "Hmm, I wonder if Josh Downs is finally home?" :)
Posted by: Marjorie | February 17, 2012 at 12:39 PM
I love that the balloons match the coat buttons!
Great Birthday photos!!!!!!!!
Happy Birthday Annie!!!!!!!!!!
Posted by: {vicki} | February 17, 2012 at 01:04 PM
Aren't you so thankful for a willing subject? She's adorable as usual!
And can't wait for you to post the homecoming pics of Josh Downs. We will all be so surprised and so relieved for y'all when he's back home and safe on American soil!!!
Get your booty home, Josh Downs!!! :)
Posted by: kat-in-texas | February 17, 2012 at 01:12 PM
Karen,
I am sure you get this all of the time, but how on earth do you get your kids to give you real smiles? I love the silly faces, and they do that well too, but the genuine smiles are to die for. Do you offer a class for this???
Posted by: Amy | February 17, 2012 at 01:45 PM
I'm sure it's no coincidence that the balloon colors perfectly coordinate with the buttons on Annie's coat? Gorgeous shots, Karen. That little one (quickly becoming not so little!) is so adorable. Happy Birthday to Annie. :-)
Posted by: Sally | February 17, 2012 at 02:18 PM
LOVE LOVE LOVE!!! THese are soooo cute!!
Love her new hair cut!
Happy Birthday (a little late) Annie
Posted by: Conni | February 17, 2012 at 02:19 PM
Oh Miss Annie...I love your faces!!! Great shots! Love those balloons with Annie's coat!
Posted by: Tracy | February 17, 2012 at 06:03 PM
Way to keep the OPSEC up Karen! You guys are in my prayers.... HURRY HOME JOSH!
Posted by: Charlotte H | February 17, 2012 at 10:37 PM
OMGosh...we have a wall like that in the new house we will be moving too soon ... gotta get me some gallons asap :)
Posted by: Diane | February 17, 2012 at 11:31 PM
oh my....you should always buy balloons for her - these are amazing and priceless!
Posted by: Adele | February 18, 2012 at 10:39 AM
WOW! Simply stunning photos! I love so many from this set!
Posted by: telisj | February 18, 2012 at 05:25 PM
You're photos are always my favorite...you have a gift of really telling the story through your photos. I can hardly believe Yannie is 6, I started reading your blog about 4 years ago...when she called herself Yannie!
Praying for Josh Down's safe return to his family. When I saw that he sent Annie flowers I got tears in my eyes...he is such a sweetie!!!
Posted by: Angela | February 18, 2012 at 06:32 PM
Super photos - and the birthday girl is such a perfect model - plus being ridiculously cute! Happy countdown to your guy's homecoming!!
Posted by: carole R | February 19, 2012 at 01:43 AM
Great pics of Annie! Happy 6th birthday!!!! I fell over laughing at your little note to Josh...LOVE the google reader part! That was great!!!! :)
Posted by: Tammy | February 19, 2012 at 10:51 AM
still the cutest little minx in town!
Posted by: glee | February 24, 2012 at 02:33 PM
love the picture of her with the (barely) 6 balloons showing and the 6 buttons on her coat. yep...i'm a scrapbooker ;)
Posted by: denise | February 27, 2012 at 06:38 AM
Love, love this impromtu shoot with Annie and her balloons!
Posted by: Cathy Swandal | February 27, 2012 at 08:55 AM