joy out loud

Fort Benton Summer Celebration

Last weekend, we were able to enjoy one of my absolute favorite pastimes - Summer Celebration in Fort Benton, MT.   Our day started out with the arrival at the petting zoo.  And, Judah loved this little colt.  Just loved him.  So much that he even went back to pet him after the pony had stepped on Judah's toes! 

Then, it was off to the parade, with a short stop at the Indian tepees.  Fort Benton, at one time, was known as one of the most dangerous towns in the west.  Walk in the middle of the street and keep your eyes down.  We didn't follow those rules at all today!

Here's Judah visiting with Great Grandma Rita and Auntie Kim before the parade.  And, what does this parade have that would make me look forward to taking my children to it after I've 'grown' up?  CANDY!  It's thrown at you from the floats.  It's awesome!

I love how you can see more candy being added to 'dah pile' (that's how Emily said it) in this picture.

   

  Then there's the rest of the parade:  the shriners with bagpipes, the gun battle reenactment (with really loud guns), there weren't any shriners in little tiny cars anymore :(

but it was so much fun to watch this memorable event through the eyes of our children.  It gave it an entirely enjoyment. 

and lots of HOT cars!  I never realized how much I would love to be a gearhead!  I kind of start drooling. aren't they funny?  They thought all of this hullabaloo was just great fun. Judah and all his 'booty', and Caleb enjoying his first ever corn-dog  It was a great day - and I didn't get pictures of the fireworks -which were better than any I've ever remembered - I'll save some fun for this Friday!  And, finally, Judah chilling in the shade.

Sorry, I'm a little angry

I can't figure out how to get typepad to post my new banner, nor the new banner for my photography blog.  So,  just trust me, there are some really cute pictures of some awesomely cute kids over there.  They were my first official shoot in the United States, and it happened at a place very dear to my heart.

Sorry, if the blog looks ugly for a little bit.  I'm not sure what the problem is - and it's coming up on dinner soon.  I'm contemplating letting my family starve to get this figured out......

It's the start of a new beginning.  I'm getting excited for lots of new beginnings.  Have a great day.

stalling

the truth?  of why I've haven't been posting very regularliy....because I'm a whiner.  I'm whining, by not posting, because I don't have my computer set up 'just so', in a place where it will remain for longer than a month.  I'm whining because it's a pain in my pinky toe to have to drag the plug one foot to plug in my hard drive to the socket.  I'm whining because it's not 'just so'.  I'm stalling from updating my blog and changing some things around because the idea of the change itself is a little daunting.  I'm stalling from being 'all I can be', because maybe I missed a career choice by not joining the army (yeah, right!).  It's just that change can be both exciting and extremely overwhelming.  So, I'm stalling and whining because I'm trying to figure out the balance between exciting and over-the-top!  The funny thing is that whichever way I get through it, the change still happens - so on with the change!

Patience is a Virtue

Okay, for all of you that have been waiting not so patiently - come on!  you all were a little upset that I mentioned a new do without posting a picture! - here is my new look.  Tomorrow, I'll replace my sidebar picture, too.  I always feel like a liar if my picture is too out of date : )  So here's to having a new hair-do that represents the craziness of my life right now, that can be wind-blown in a car that has no AC, and can look cute the morning after a night camping!  Change is fun and good.

-photo by Marissa Evans

Home appliances

So, I won't go into the non-stress of my life right now. (non-stress because it is thoughts and concerns on my mind, but I'm not really stressed or horribly worried about it - most of the time) It's just insane stuff that I'm not sure I could really explain anyhow: like trying to figure out if moving the old furniture down to California, to the non-house, is worth it.  Or if it might be better to sell almost every earthly possession we have and wholly and truly become homeless. But, we were able to go for a little camping trip Monday night (pictures later), and I have a new do!  It's very representative of my life right now - BIG, HUGE change!  fun, fun.  But, for today, I'm going to dream a little.  This is going to be my first appliance in my new home.  I have a coffee pot.  I do, and I love it because I got it for an awesome deal of $4 brand spankin' new at Target on an after-thankgiving-day-sale!  but, for all of that love, I don't always like using it to make just one cup of coffee, only because I can't measure out the coffee right for that small of an amount so it's always super strong.  And, Daniel isn't much of a coffee drinker.  Enter the coffee press.  I love it.  Something about it just makes me feel happy.  Maybe it's just the simplicity of it.  But, still.... love it.

India

Is she not just precious?  It took her a few days to decide if we were okay or not, but in the end, I finally got hugs and kisses!  Cindy wanted me to take some pictures of her in this dress and they are just so much fun. Cindy said that I could use her sweet little face to build up my portfolio.  I think it's a fair trade : ) 

weather forecast

The weather in Montana is definitely not something that you would want to depend on.  I've heard that Mark Twain once said, "if you don't like the weather [in Montana}, just wait five minutes", and I love how true that is.  Where else can you receive storm warnings one day and wake up to snow - and NO electricity - the next morning.  Oh, wait, did I forget to mention that this happens in JUNE?  Judah was so excited.  "Santa and the reindeer are coming tomorrow!"  and then, "Can we go out and build a snowman?"  But, of course, we were running out the door to story time at the library...after I called and made sure that they had electricity, of course!

Back in Big Sky Country

We've been home for just over a week and I'm still in love with the sky! And always will be.  I've been able to start running a bit again, outside, and the sky just keeps me company.  LOVE it! 

I have quite a few pictures to post but I really need to get to bed. 

We are trying to break Caleb from his pacifier - cold turkey- and so I'm a little short on sleep today.  But, since I've received a kind and loving kick in the pants to post, I thought I should at least post what's been inspiring me each day.  What's been outside your window that makes you smile?

ideas

Well, everyone!  the understatement of the year for me would have to be that I have been busy lately.  I have pictures, and I want to post them, but I don't want to do the work that is actually involved with posting them.  But, I will, eventually.  We are getting ready to head to MT on Tuesday, and I'm thinking that I'll have a little bit more time there!  I get to see my family. YIPPEE!  But, I've also had a few ideas buzzing around in my head.  I'm planning to start taking photos professionally, and am excited for the adventure that is opening up for me.  But, I have a few hurdles to get over first and I need a little bit of help.  Can you help, please? 

One of the very first things that I need to do is... keep praying : ), and then, settle on a name.  I have it basically narrowed down to 2, but I'm still unsure.   joyful life photography or amber joy photography.  What do you think?  and why do you think that?  haha. seriously, though, post in the comments your two cents.  I still reserve the right to make the executive decision.  after that, I'm going to buy a domain name, print business cards (sounding official, yet?), and then...keep praying.  But, one more of my first steps is portfolio building.  So, I'm going to offer some photo seesions for a small price while I'm in MT.  I know that that sounds a little ambiguous, but it depends on how much interest I have.  If you would be interested in having some portraits of family, newborns, maternity, couples, children, or whatever, let me know.  If I have a lot of interest, I will set up a few days of mini-sessions with a lower price.  If there is less interest, then there will be longer photo sessions with a bit higher price.  Clear as mud?  I would love to capture the joy of your life.  Look here to see a little bit of my work and remember that it's going to be undergoing some renovations in the near future - possibly including you!   

so, let me know what you think.

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Friday night, we went to a Rodeo with almost the whole family (I have pictures, and I will try to post them later this week) which was a ton of fun.  It was extremely cold, but it was still a blast.  Both boys loved it!  A guy parachuted from a plane with an American flag flying in the wind, and while the national anthem was sung both Dan and I teared up!  Then, we got to some serious cowboy-ing!  Judah loved the cowgirls (he literally yelled: "That's what I've been looking for" when they rode their horses out later in the night), Caleb decided that he would be a bucking bronco on my lap, and Judah was worried if the cows were okay that were eing steer-rustled to the ground!  I never thought our family would be a rodeo family, but we ALL had a good time! 

Me in America

It's hard to believe that it has only been a week and 2 days since we left Kosova!  It feels more like two months.  Not because we've forgotten it (far from it!), but because so much has happened in that little time.  It's hard to explain processing everything.  Being in the grocery store line, by myself, and understanding almost everything said around me (I'm starting to learn Spanish so that it can be that I understand everything), seeing the selection of produce available to me on a regular basis.  We were out for dinner, and a lady carrying a baby on her hip walked really close to our table because of the way that they were all arranged.  Daniel thought that she was going to hold out her hand and beg!  But, this doesn't even explain the multiple emotions that well up in me all of a sudden.  I'll just start crying.  There is big, fun, and amazing stuff coming up in the next few months.  How I feel a general part of the day in words: full, joy out loud, excited...

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The day after we arrived in San Diego, we had a photo shoot with my very talented friend.  I have tried to get family photos of us, but flying from behind the camera/tripod, to jump into position with the boys, while keeping everyone happy (a key element in family pictures, yeah?) just didn't work out).  You can catch a sneak peek of the photos if you'd like.  I love them, and I'll say it,  I even think I look pretty in that picture of me!  Thanks, Susie!  You are wonderful. 

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