Much to everyone's request...

I am updating the blog after two weeks... I have received phone calls from family, friends have asked, and I know it's time.

First, if you haven't already seen it, the below post will explain at least the last week, and why I've been missing. Great-Grannie Nadine passed last Wednesday morning, and it's been a hard week to say the least... She is the one we named Lauren after. I was very close to her and I will miss her terribly.

Before that, I just needed a few days, but because of the turn of events, it turned into two weeks. I am so sorry to those who were missing us.

Here is a cute picture from breakfast this morning... she LOVES white powdered donuts. Can you tell?



Sooo, I don't have a whole lot to post really. I mean, I have tons of 'little' things. The only big thing that has happened is Levi's pickup engine locked up last weekend, forcing us to buy a new one so close to having the old one paid off. But it looks like it's going to work out. Money is tight, but who isn't these days. We'll make it I'm sure.

Other than that, I had a Christmas Bazaar Saturday, and took a few pictures. I did more advertising and getting my name out there than anything. I'll also update the photography blog after I'm done here. So check there to see some new pictures.

Well, I have a house to clean, a grocery list to make, and Christmas stuff to finsh unpacking. We put our tree up last night. Our family is having our Thanksgiving dinner tomorrow, and then I have a family photoshoot to do. Here are two pictures from last night. Hunter and Lauren were reading after we decorated the tree. And the tree picture below is the only one I got that is sooo cute, but the focus was on the tree, not them. Oh well, you win some, you lose some.





Yesterday, I went to be with Terra. Her due date is today, and we hadn't gotten the two pictures I wanted to take, so we did it yesterday. Check it out on the photography blog. In the meantime, Lauren was fascinated with her belly, and kept raising her shirt to take a peek. Of course by the time I got to the camera, she wouldn't do it again.



Thanks to everyone for their cards, hugs, and prayers during our loss... It means so much to us; to me.

Forever in my heart...

Lillian Nadine Caudill... what a beautiful person you were. To anyone and everyone who had ever crossed paths, you were someone never forgotten. You loved life to it's fullest, seeing the beauty in everyday, even when most couldn't. You truly had a heart of gold and you would do the best that you could by anyone.

You were the one who invited me to that church pew one Sunday morning. Your words were, "come and sit with me". And you were the one who lived your life by Christ. It was evident. You didn't discuss much about the word with me. But you didn't have to. I knew where your heart was, without you claiming it, or explaining it. And that's about the strongest conviction a person can witness. A true, un-ending faith, that's what you had.

You lived a hard life, Nadine. We all knew it. And for someone to rise above it all, and make the best out of it that she can... well, I just hope that I can only be as strong.



There are many things about you that I will never forget... first and foremost, the fact that you took me in and treated me like one of your own when you didn't have to. You owed me nothing; and now I owe you everything. There was no doubt that you loved me. The proof is in the little pats you would sneak to me in church. The hugs I would receive at your house. Your crackling voice that announced "Well! There's my girl!"... and after Lauren arrived "Well! There's my girls!". The secret birthday present one year you delivered to me when you could not afford one for anyone else. That little jewelry bowl sits on my dresser as I type, a cherished gift it will always be.

I'll never be able to tell you how much you mean to me. But I hope you know.

I bet Heaven is beautiful! I can just see you smiling, and no longer hurting or in pain. You probably are doing a little 'cutting-a-rug' too! I hope to join you there one day. To dance with you, laugh, and smile...

... until then, just watch over us all. (I know you will)

Help me to be the best Christian I can be. To life my life as an example, just like you. Help me to stay strong in my faith, to learn daily, and to be a good disciple.

I'll think of you, I'll remember you, and I'll love you everyday.

Lillian Nadine Caudill
July 14, 1919-November 19, 2008

Busy as a 'lil hunting dog!

I just happened to grab the camera in time to catch Lauren doing this:

It was so dad-gum (yes, I say dad-gum) cute!!! When I went to put the camera away, I didn't think to take the cheese away from her, and she took a big bite out of it. Wrapper and all! Levi and I just laughed!


See anything wrong with this picture?

...tonight, while Levi and I were talking and running her bath water, we both looked up in time to see her getting in the tub... PANTS, DIAPER, SOCKS and all! I suppose she was tired of waiting on me, and decided to help herself to the bath. The worst part, although it didn't seem to bother her, the water was super hot! She was good, so I turned on the cold and cooled it down quickly.

I know the posts have slowed down a lot, (did I just hear you say 'hallelujah'?) but I have been super busy. I have completely, well almost completely revamped my website. My photography website, and I added a blog. If you haven't checked it out yet, it has some of my most recent work posted. I'll have more later.

Well, I believe this worn out girl is off to bed. I hope you all have a good night!

I just love this lady's stuff!!! So cute and chic!

GrosgrainStore.com Grand Opening & Giftcard Giveaway!!!!!!!!

We did it!

We got the backdrop!!!! It's taken me a bit to get a good shot, learn how to use the white, but here is a cute shot!!! yes, she is in her pajamas, this was taken around 9 or so this morning.



I have a few things to share:

• First is please visit my new photography blog, Shannon Fry Designs...
• I'm also excited to share that I will be having a photo booth set up at our towns second christmas bazaar. I will be offering 1 8x10, 2 5x7, and 5 4x6, for $25. I am so pumped, and can't wait to start practicing on Lauren.

Well, I know this is short, I have to get ready for two photo shoots today. I hope everyone has a great day!

We voted and "Thriller"

I swear, this shot makes her look like she's doing the 'Thriller' dance!

I just wanted to share a picture from our voting on Tuesday. While I was at the poll, doing my thing, the newspaper lady came in to take pictures. She was just about to snap the cutest picture of Lauren peeking over my should while I was casting my ballot... when one of the voter volunteers yelled out, "You can't take a picture of a person while they are voting!". I was so bummed because it would have been so cute to get in the paper. So grandma snapped a quick pic at her house.


The last two days have been pretty miserable. It seems like we always sick. I only got three hours of sleep tuesday night. Lauren couldn't and wouldn't sleep. We were driving around in the car at almost 5 am trying to lull back to sleep. Then we took a bath. Then we just stayed up, and made a dr. appointment. It's nothing too serious at all, just a little constipation, and she was hurting. We got her to 'move' yesterday and last night she slept ALL night long! Hallalejua! here are a few shots from playing outside last night:


You can see her bruise quite nicely in these pictures. I'll be glad for it to be gone! It just looks awful and I think people probably wonder if I beat her! hahaha!




Greeting daddy at his truck when he came home...


Grandma, like always, rode with me to both of our appointments yesterday. While we were almost to Lauren's, Pa called us and asked if we wanted to meet him for lunch. We ate at yummy Braum's and had a good time. I just LOVE Levi's grandparents, they are always there for me.

Today I am hoping that my backdrop will be in. I'm gonna practice taking some shots of Lauren. I have two shoots tomorrow. I can't wait! Last night was our final night of 'Methodism 1o1', for now. We all enjoyed it so much we hope for something else in the future. I learned a lot from this class and it reaffirmed my choice to become a Methodist.


That's the people of the United Methodist Church...



Speaking of open hearts, Ree Drummond, The Pioneer Woman, is posting about her husband and two daughter's trip to the Dominican Republic for a five-day trip with Compassion, International, a child sponsorship and advocacy organization for children around the world.

Her husband posted a link to a video that just made my heart break. It's two children, brother and sister, playing the guitar and singing. They have wonderful rythym and seemed to enjoy singing. What breaks my heart is to know the conditions they live in and how this is the highlight of their day... no video games, trips to the mall, ipods, or cell phones. They live on dirt floors and shamble houses.

Makes me thankful for what I have.

Check it out, if you can, here.

Oh me, Oh my!

REMEMBER
TO GO VOTE
TOMORROW!!!!!!

I changed the format of the blog again...
I tend to not be able to leave things alone.
I like to change these kinds of things up. Hope you like it.

Let me start with Friday night...

We passed out candy at grandma's house. I still wasn't feeling the greatest, so please excuse my looks. Grandma snapped a picture of me and the fairy princess. If you are wondering about the costume apparel- Lauren had on a cute Halloween outfit. But people thought she needed a costume. I figured why not! By the way, I'm still having gallbladder troubles, or some kind of troubles. So I'm going to have to re-schedule the MRI to see what's going on.




I took this of my littlest nephew before he headed out with his big sister.



Just some random shots of Lauren running crazy in the front yard.




Oh, and the wings cost a dollar, and the tutu was made by yours truly and cost a total of about 7 dollars and thirty minutes or so to make. Yay! me, gonna make her some more. I'm thinking next year's birthday party will be a 'tutu' theme, and I'll have tons of extras for the kids to dress up in.


And yes, the front of her shirt is soaking wet with slobbers. We just like the bottom two canines to poke through, and maybe she will be done teething for a while. maybe.





Now, let me brief you on Sunday morning. We went to church. Lauren stayed downstairs in the nursery while I went up to my kid's classroom. Not 25 minutes later, the nursery lady was knocking on our door with Lauren. She had fallen and hit her head on the corner of the door facing... She didn't cry, and I was worried, it was pretty swollen in just a few minutes time. I never like to mess with head injuries. So I took her into the ER. She's fine. I'm no longer panicked. But here are a few pictures from this morning.

Sitting pretty with daddy watching the morning news. The blue streak down her forehead shows up quite well.

This is a side view (sort of).

And then a front view. Sorry for the laundry basket, I was folding clothes on the couch. And how about that bed head? Cracks me up!!!

Lastly, just a cute pic of my dog Mattie. If you look closely you will see she has one brown eye with a small amount of blue in it. And then one blue eye. She's such a smart dog.

REMEMBER TO GO VOTE TOMORROW!!!!!!

REMEMBER TO GO VOTE TOMORROW!!!!!!
REMEMBER TO GO VOTE TOMORROW!!!!!!

Pineapple Top and my best friend

Hi folks!!! Long time, no see huh?

Well, I've been very under the weather to start with... And on top of that, I was starting to feel like a slave to the blog. I was over-doing it a little.

So today, I went up to see my best friend, Terra and her husband. They are expecting their first baby sometime towards the end of this month. Today I took their pictures together for the last time as just two. I cannot wait to see this precious baby girl!!!


She is going to be a great mother... I could not have asked for a better friend. She's definitely my 'sister'.







Afterwards, I got to spend a wonderful hour, shooting her littlest brother, Justin and his very sweet fiance, Brittany. They were so great to shoot. I am posting some of the more unusual stuff. They were very happy to try some fun things. I personally love the sun flares, or sun spots. They add character.




They were such a fun couple to shoot... they are so young and still so innocent! I wish them the best of luck in their future to come!


Finally to wrap it up, here are a few pictures of the princess for the day. I am finally able to get a *pony tail* in and it's so cute. I have dubbed her "Pineapple Top"!!!









I will post Halloween pictures later this week, as I haven't even looked at them. I sat up until 1 a.m. this morning just so I could see and process the photos from tonight. I get so excited about every shoot I do. I'm always nervous and anxious until I see them. Then if they are good, I'm pleased and relaxed.

Well, I hope everyone had a great week and weekend. Check back soon!