Wedding Shower 2

THE BRIDESMAIDS' SHOWER.

This shower was hosted by the bridesmaids (and probably their moms too). The above image from left to right: Cari (bridesmaid and sister of the groom), Mary Katherine (bridesmaid) Brittany (bride, Natalie's mommy), Katie (maid of honor) and Tori (bridesmaid).

The next image is the towel cake that I made. I was looking up something else online for the wedding and I ran across the pattern for this. It seemed simple enough and since the shower was coming up...

The is Natalie checking out the LSU towel cake. I think she thought it was really and wanted a piece. The child loves cake just like her Aunt Cari. I wanted to make it wedding cake looking, but I wanted to towels to be very used in their LSU themed bathroom.

This is some "save-the-date" cards that I did for the shower also. This is kind of new. It is something that you can send out up to year before the event to let people know so that they can put it on their calendar. We considered doing this, but since we were also busy this past year, we decided not, but then I thought it would make a nice little momento for the shower guests.

A close-up image of the TOWEL CAKE.

I brought crayons and coloring books to entertain Natalie and Emma, but they forgot all about that when Brittany started opening her gifts. They thought that Brittany really needed their help.

When Cari and I attended the shower the weekend before, they played a game with a gift starting with the first letter of B-A-B-Y S-H-O-W-E-R. Since Cari was one of the hostesses for this one, we made up our version of this game with it spelling Brittany and Cameron. I think Brittany and the guests really enjoyed it. Cari and I enjoyed coming up with everything...some of them were quite difficult to come with and we had several letters the same like a, t and n. This actually seemed some of the activities I play with Natalie. B is for BOWLS.

Y is for yellow wash cloth (one of the hard ones).

Natalie's little friend, Jonah, made an appearance at the shower. He was looking for his mommy!
Lots of help from Natalie.
Another tea set for their China set. I just love the design that Brittany chose.
The hostesses, their moms, and few additonal hostesses that didn't have a bridesmaid daughter (Judy Pugh and Cherry Moon). Thanks everyone!
The Bride and her family. I teased Cari about this one. It was like she didn't want to be close to her mom. I guess I am really that cool, uh?
It was a very nice shower. I think Brittany really enjoyed it and I know that she and Cameron received a lot of nice gifts. Thanks to everyone involved. I am sure Brittany has already sent out most of the thank you notes (that is if she ever got that notebook from Cari), but if she hasn't I am sure she will soon. I want to thank everyone who made this day special!

I am late posting these late, but better late than never, uh? I had already uploaded them to the blog site, but I had not added the text and hit the button to 'PUBLISH POST'. So these will show up below the wedding images in the proper order.

UNCLE QUINCY'S WEDDING

ABOUT FOUR WEEKS BEFORE OUR BIG WEDDING, WE HAD A LITTLE WEDDING IN OAK GROVE. MY BABY BROTHER HAD A SIMPLE WEDDING. IT WAS HIS AND HIS NEW WIFE'S SECOND WEDDING. SO THEY WANTED TO KEEP IT SIMPLE. THERE ONLY ATTENDANTS WERE THEIR CHILDREN. WHILE SETTING UP MY LIGHTS, I CAPTURED SEVERAL IMAGES OF NATALIE AND DALTON.

SHE ADORES HIM AS YOU CAN SEE IN THIS IMAGE WHERE SHE IS LITERALLY LOOKING UP TO HIM. IT WAS AFTER THIS WEDDING THAT WE DECIDED THAT NATALIE COULD WALK IN (HER PARENTS) WEDDING WITH DALTON. I THINK IT BOTHERED EMMA THAT SHE WAS THE FLOWER GIRL AND THAT SHE SHOULD BE HOLDING HIS HAND...SO WE PRACTICED FOR THE WALK-OUT THAT DALTON WOULD BE HOLDING BOTH GIRLS HANDS, BUT IF I REMEMBER CORRECTLY, DALTON AND NATALIE TOOK OFF BEFORE EMMA HAD TIME TO GRAB HIS HAND OR ARM. SHE ABSOLUTLEY LOVED WALKING IN AND OUT OF THE WEDDING WITH HIM. IT WAS PRECIOUS!

Natalie being silly and cracking Dalton up!

Two sweet children (not always)!
See...she really does love him!
This is what Natalie did during the cermony. This had us a little worried about our upcoming event!
Natalie loved the strawberries and the chocolate fountain. The next day we went to a baby shower for the grandbaby of my best friend since junior high. I tried to keep her eyes away from their chocolate fountain. Toward the end she did find it! Today (06.05.08) I will see how well chocolate washes out of white cotton batiste Strasburg dresses . Iam almost caught up with all my other washing, I've taken mine and Cari's to the cleaners, now it time to tackle Natalie's. There's no way we could keep her away from the chocolate fountain.
As you can see she is even wearing a bib, I guess that would help if the food dropped on her chest, but dripping chocolate seems to go every where. I believed in bibs for my children utnil they were three or four years old. I even had one laid out for the wedding, but I forgot it and even if I had packed, I don't think I would have remembered to put it on her before she got into it. She got into immediately. They had their first dance...FIRST THING...THAT'S WHEN SHE GOT INTO THE CHOCLOATE. While we were waching the dance, she diving into the chocolate. Then when she discovered the d.j. had bubbles on the dance floor, she had to try to catch them while they were dancing. It was all too cute and too funny!
WE WERE SOME OF THE LAST ONES TO LEAVE. I USUALLY DO ALL PHOTOGRAPHY BEFORE THE WEDDING, BUT SINCE THEY HAD TO CHANGE THE PLANS AT THE LAT MINUTE SINCE IT RAINED AND MOVE EVERY THING TO DARLENE'S CHURCH EVERYTHING WAS RUNNING BEHIND. SO TO MAKE SURE I DID GET A FEW OF QUINCY AND DARLENE ALONE I DID THEM BEFORE LEAVING AND THE LAST FEW WERE WITH NATALIE. I ASKED THEM TO TAKE A FEW WITH HER FOR HER BLOG.

WHEN SHE WAS VERY LITTLE SHE DIDN'T TAKE UP MUCH WITH OTHER PEOPLE, BUT OVER THE LAST YEAR OR SO SHE HAS. I KNOW QUINCY WOULD TRY AND TRY AND THEN FINALLY OUT OF THE BLUE SHE DECIDED SHE LIKED HIM!

CONGRATULATIONS AGAIN QUINCY AND DARLENE! THE REST OF YOU IMAGES WILL BE FINISHED ONE DAY!

~~NATALIE'S MIMI~~

SLEEPING BEAUTY: MY LITTLE SWEETHEART

This sweet, sweet, bundle of energy, often strong-will child, Natalie, is often the reason I am so behind on so many things in life (business/work, housework...well, everything). But I think she is pretty darn good reason.
I still remember I was having a bad day the that I photographed these. I had a client send an email that was informing that she upset/disappointed in something. I won't go into details. I did my best to bend over backwards to make the person happy. That morning while I was working on the computer trying to take care of this, Natalie fell asleep on the couch while watching one of her shows. I hate for her to fall asleep before lunch(she needs to eat) like she did this day. I love that she has always taken good naps or I would not have been able to spend as much time with her as I have and still run a business. I often feel like I don't do a very good job anymore with my business. I find I continue to put more and more time into things that I didn't used to put so much time into just trying to make sure that the images "are good enough". I try to photograph less or put less into it, but I can't. I just want to give everybody the best of me...which ends of taking a lot more time than other photographers. I do have intentions of getting some help this summer and after I do and if I still can't seem to manage my business time, I am seriously considering doing something else (clueless as to what) because I know I can't really change my style because my style is my personality. I really don't want to quit, I really just want to learn to manage my style and time so that I can continue doing what I love best. So those of you who do pray and pray for the little things in life, please pray that I can learn to do this. I don't want to quit doing something that has become such a part of my life, I really, really enjoy what I do. I don't enjoy letting people down because of my turnaround time and I don't like being so stressed about that and many other aspects of it all. I just want it all....is that too much to ask for? Well, maybe, but I think you know what I mean.
These images were photographed the same day as the bubblicious fun day that has already been posted...which is probably why I took a break from the computer and played. We all need to play with the ones we love. Don't you think?

~~Natalie's Mimi~~

A LITTLE SILLINESS ALONG WITH SOME BUBBLICIOUS FUN IN THE YARD

These are the expressions of fun and silliness that my little sweetheart, Natalie gave me when I wanted to take a few posed photographs before playing with the bubbles. Isn't it cool to be 2ish again and your only worry is what silly face I will make next for my Mimi? I do love the beauty in her face and eyes in the first image. The two-pony look is really working for her since her hair hasn't really grown as much as I hoped by now (after cutting it last fall). This seems to be the best way to get all of it in and to stay there...single low or high ponies just don't seem to cut it these days. Good thing she is so darn cute with two!

Hold on...I thought I missed the really silly one that was taken with this group of images, but I just scrolled down and I see that it was posted at the bottom...so just picture it along with these first few images.

This is a typical Natalie "cheese"...my blog readers should recognize it!

This nice day a few weeks ago, Natalie and I were playing bubbles. I am always sooooo busy with work, wedding and life that we just haven't had time to really play with them like we did last fall. So I decided everything could wait just a little longer and go play with her...she prefers that over me giving them to her and letting her play on the porch while I stare (work) at this computer day in and day out. Doesn't she look cute in her new Children's Place clothes? That's how busy I have been...I only recently ordered her some spring/summer clothes. I ordered a few a while back, but I have not had time to order her some more. You really realize how much they grow when you change seasons and you get out the clothes they wore the last time it was warm like this (all the time, not like warm winter days like we often have) from last year. So our little one needed some new warm weather clothes. It's time for a garage sale and/or some ebay auctions, but let's get past the wedding first.

Gotta love the bubble blowing lips! This is what she wanted to do...chase the bubbles and try to catch them/pop them! It was too funny! She can run really fast too!
Where did Poppa find Natalie and Mimi when he got home? Playing bubbles, of course, outside!

This is Natalie doing bubbles for Poppa to catch. She laughed so hard at this. This is the cheapest fun we ever had! Do you see him?
Now can you? See all the bubbles coming his way!
Here's that silly face!
Okay, I have more catching up to do, but that's it for now. The countdown is on and I am trying so hard to catch up on work and blogging before the wedding. Hopefully, sleep really is over-rated!

~~Natalie's Mimi~~

DO YOU ALWAYS CLEAN THE DRYER BEFORE EACH LOAD?

I DON'T...I DON'T EVEN REMEMBER TO CLEAN THE DYER VENT BEFORE EACH LOAD, BUT AFTER I REMOVED THE KITTENS FROM THE DRYER, I DID GET THE ANTIBACTERIAL CLEANING SUPPLIES OUT TO CLEAN IT THIS TIME! I LOVE THE EXPRESSION ON THIS KITTEN'S FACE. AT THIS AGE A FEW WEEKS AGO THEY WERE SO CONTENT WHERE EVER NATALIE HAPPENED TO PUT THEM.
BY THE LOOK OF THIS, YOU CAN SEE NATALIE IS PROUD OF HERSELF. I REFERENCED TO THIS IN AN EARLIER POST, BUT I WILL REMIND YOU OF IT AGAIN IN CASE YOU ARE BEHIND ON VIEWING NATALIE'S WORLD. WHEN NATALIE PUT THESE IN HERE SHE CALLED ME TO COME SEE. I DIDN'T COME IMMEDIATELY AND SHE KEPT INSISTING THAT I COME SEE. THE FIRST POST IS WHAT I SAW WHEN I GOT IN THERE. THE NEXT TWO IS WHAT SHE DID WHEN I GOT THE CAMERA OUT. POOR KITTY!
THESE KITTENS ARE NOT AFRAID OF PEOPLE AND DON'T RUN FROM US LIKE ALL THE OTHER TWO LITTERS, BUT THEY DON'T REALLY LIKE TO BE SNUGGLED AND HELD. I WILL BLAME THAT ON NATALIE. SHE IS KIND OF ROUGH WITH THEM AS YOU CAN SEE IN THIS IMAGE.

THE REAL FUNNY THING WAS WHAT NATALIE DID LATER IN THE DAY. (THIS IS A REPEAT FROM AN EARLIER POST ABOUT THIS, BUT IT DOES GO WITH THESE IMAGES.) LATER THIS DAY, SHE WAS LOOKING FOR HER TOY CAMERA (THE ONE I BOUGHT BY THE CHECK-OUT COUNTER ONE DAY AT WAL-MART). I HELPED HER FIND IT AND ASKED HER WHY SHE NEEDED IT. SHE NEEDED IT TO PHOTOGRAPH THE KITTENS IN THE DRYER. (she had put the in the dryer again) i guess that was just natalie following her mimi's foot steps...LOL

~~natalie's mimi~~

MOMMY AND DADDY'S WEDDING SHOWER

I am very behind on this one since we just had the 2nd shower. I had a problem with my white balance on these images so I put them on the back burner because I knew they would all need to be converted to black and white images. If you are a photographer, you may understand what I mean about white balance. My white balance had been set for the last job that I did with the camera. I thought I had put it on (auto white balance which is what I often do for candid images/non professional work). But through the rush of everything I forgot to do that. So with that being stated all these images will be black and white.



The first image is Brittany opening one of the first gifts. Cari listing them in a note pad for B and Katie (her maid of honor) looking on.



The next image was brought to my attention by the mother of the little girl feeding Natalie. Natalie loves cake and she will take it any way she can get it. (LOL)
Natalie thinks it is a birthday party and was sure her mommy needed her to help her open the gifts. I think the other little girls looking on want to help too.

This was a gift for Natalie brought to her by my oldest and best friend since junior high. Later I asked Natalie who brought her this wanting to make sure she knew that Cheryl brought her the gift. Her answer was "Santa Claus?" True Enough! The last time she received a nice big gift like this that was wrapped it was from Santa! YOU GOTTA LOVE THAT BIG, POSED, CHEESY SMILE.

AFTER A FEW MINUTES OF TRYING TO PHOTOGRAPH THIS EVENT, CAPTURE MEMORIES FOR OUR FAMILY AND WANTING TO VISIT WITH FRIENDS AND FAMILY I GAVE THE CAMERA TO KATIE...

I THINK THIS IS CARI AND BRITTANY DISCUSSING WHAT TO CALL THIS SO THAT SHE CAN WRITE IT DOWN...THOUGH I AM NOT REALLY SURE. THIS ISN'T A GREAT CAPTURE OF THIS AND THIS TINT COLOR IS WRONG SINCE THE ORIGINAL FILE COLOR WAS WRONG BECAUSE OF THE WHITE BALNCE THING, BUT THE "A" DIDN'T SHOW UP AT ALL IN JUST BLACK AND WHITE. I BOUGHT THIS AT A GIFT SHOP IN MEMPHIS IN THE PEABODY HOTEL WHILE WE WERE THERE. I WANT BRITTANY TO CARRY IT WITH HER BOUQUET. IT CAN BE ONE OF HER MANY "NEW" ITEMS FOR THE WEDDING. YOU KNOW...SOMETHING OLD, SOMETHING NEW, SOMETHING BORROWED AND SOMETHING BLUE. IT IS ACTUALLY PINK AND HAS MORE DETAILING ON IT AND IT MAY ACTUALLY BE HER FIRST "A" MONOGRAMED ITEM. I HAVE ASKED HER TO HANG ON TO IT AND IT CAN BE CARI'S "BORROWED" WHEN SHE GETS MARRIED AND WHEN NATALIE GETS MARRIED IT CAN BE HER "OLD". I also bought several other embroderied hankerchiefs for the moms, grandmothers and the aunts on my side of the family. Though I don't think they will be big enough.

Natalie and her mommy (the bride), the mother of the bride, Natalie's Nonna and Emma (Natalie's aunt, sister of the bride and flower girl), Natalie's Mimi (mother of the groom...me) and Natalie's Aunt Cari (also Bridesmaid)

This the girls in my family along with my mom, Natalie's GiGi. (I am not sure who me and my mom are looking at, but it wasn't the camera. lol)
Brittany and her hostesses (the women of Ferriday First Baptist Church)

Brittany and Cari (Cari has called Brittany her sister for a while now) This is my neice, Brooke, with Brittany and Cari.
This was thrown back together for the photo. I realized that I had not photographed it. It's called their little "Nest Egg". It had cash in it. This was the hostesses' gift from the women.
A few special out of town guests (my mom, my best, Cheryl, and her daughter-in-law with Baby Chloe in the oven still baking)
My sister, Jackie, and her daughter, Brooke.
I don't think I truly captured all the images of the special occassion as a photographer even with help from Katie. It's just so hard to visit with family and friends and be photographer too. Which is why I do have a special friend, photographer, capturing the wedding images. I am still trying to decide if I will have a camera handy too. I think I would feel to weird to be there w/o one, but yet it is always nice to enjoy an event w/o the pressure of capturing all aspects of the event.

I have more to catch up with. I am so trying to catch up with work and blogging so that I will be caught up so that I can post wedding images soon after the event. As I scroll up, I see this post is more about Natalie's mommy than Natalie, but weddings showers, engagement portraits, bridal portraits and weddings are a very big part of Natalie World too.

~~Natalie's Mimi~~