To all my bloggies

My sweet boys!

One thing I've missed the most this year about blogging is connecting with you guys! I miss you lol! I haven't had much time to blog about my personal stuff. So here goes and get ready cause my babies jumped into boys in a blink of an eye!

This is so their relationship










Had to end with a "REAL" smile from Branson lol!

Mason's first day of first grade!

Also my husband gave me a point and shoot camera! I love it. I keep it strapped to my purse and I whip it out in a flash when I need it! YEAH!

He was so excited all day!

New Monthly posting! Caught Being Kind!

This past year was Mason's first year in school. Often he would come home and say that he hoped that he would be caught being kind. I wondered what that meant. One day he came bursting through the door yelling "MOMMY, MOMMY! I was caught being kind". He then explained that if he helped classmate out without being asked, or did something nice for anyone else and the teacher noticed, sometimes she would send the name to the office and it would be announced over the loud speaker and a prize would be given. Needless to say he was so excited and I was so proud.

That idea stuck in my mind and as I progress through photography there are a number of people that have helped me along my way. Once in a while I send emails with questions and I'm always amazed by the kind response and time that these people take to help out. I would like to start a Bi-weekly or Monthly posting entitled "Caught Being Kind", to recognize some of those photographers who despite their success haven't forgotten the little people!

*Here is my only disclaimer.... I don't wish to target any photographer featured to be bombarded with emails. Help me honor them by taking this as incentive to reach out to your favorite photogs or maybe you can help out someone in your area.

First Photographer:

My (now) friend Tracy Abston of PicturesbyTracy

True story:
Once upon a time not so long ago, I was given Tracy's website. First time I visited the site, I cried. Tears over the emotion captured in each picture but most of all tears of longing. I longed to be a photographer just like her. Over the course of the next few months I visited her blog often. One day I decided that I would contact her. My actual thought was, "the worst that can happen is that she could respond with some derogatory comments". I had been there and done that with another photographer and I decided that if it happened again that would be it for me. I would pack it up and call my endeavour into photography a bust. So if you look at this very literal, Tracy could have made or broke me depending on what she wrote back.

Tracy responded and asked for me to send some of my work. I quickly sent them and looking back now at what I sent, it must have taken so much for her not to just toss out the email like I had never sent it, but she didn't (thank God)! She sent kind and honest feedback.
Long story short... it's only been a few years but the growth I've experience through Tracy has surpassed any and every other quest I've been on for knowledge in photography. She has always been honest and helpful beyond the realm of photography. I am blessed to have had Tracy in some hard spots in my life and now I don't just think of Tracy as this really amazing photographer that once helped me out, I think of her as my friend who continues to help me grow throughout all areas of life.
Tracy, I learned so much about being a photographer through you but the greatest that I've learned from you is how to be a giving and kind person. There are so many people who's respect I've had to earn on this journey in photography, people who wouldn't give me the time of day before I grew a bit and the work began to get better but Tracy took time for me when I was a nobody and for that I am thankful to catch Tracy Abston being kind!
Love you girl!
♥Melissa

Winners Circle Derbyshire Tea for Daybreak

I had such a fun day at this event! Check out the info here
More pics to follow
This one was taken by the lovely Sharon! I love these chicks lol!

My LITTLE model =)

Pictures with Branson wouldn't be the same if he didn't make this face!

Although he did really great!


Isn't he a doll baby? Don't let it fool you though....

Baby Hannah is here!!

I have a new addition to my family!!
I'm so excited after 18 hours of labor and 1 emergency c-section my cousin brought baby Hannah into this world.
It was such and amazing experience and I am so blessed to have shared it with them

Mirium, me and Mom

Because of the emergency c-section we didn't get to see her long but I was able to manage a few shots!

Sledding with the boys!

It all started when Trav called me at 7:30 in the morning to tell me that I needed to look outside and see how blue the sky was. The day just continued to have the most beautiful sky for this time of the year. So sledding time it was! We bundled up (4 layers to be exact!). It was still VERY cold but we had the most beautiful light ever and a whole bunch of fun!

Check out that blue sky

Yes he is a booger


How Branson got around for the day (mush mason mush!) lol




And this is what happened when Mason needed to take a break


Pop-Pop stopped by for so fun


Disc sleds weren't made to hold 3 =)




whooshing by!


My little adventurer went down on his tummy!





Like I said it was a bunch of fun

Mason's first bus ride!!

Brookville schools recently passed a much needed levy so now the kids that live in town also get bused! He was so excited

My beautiful niece

That 70's party

So I'm finally getting caught up on my family stuff!! As many of you may know my husband turned 30 this year, so I threw a surprise 70's party for him. It was a bunch of fun and I was so glad to share it with our friends and family

A child's reaction to snow

If I would have thought about it I would have gotten a picture of what an adult thinks about it. Totally different you can be sure.

The difference between two boys

He's so carefree and fun!

So serious and tender (and if I weren't his mommy I'd say mean ;)

Here ya go bud!

Friends

Tracy, you were right the lighting was perfect today, see

Quick preview from Joni's session!

I have so many great pictures from this session but so little time to edit lol! So I'll just give you a few for now. Love you girl!

A few more from Brandi and Brian's session

Ok so these are mostly just about my love affair with lens flare =)

I think it makes a cute picture become beautiful

Ahhhhh





My nieces pieces


I really like the new POS action from the rad action set


Brandi I remember once you told me that you found a pic of your mom and dad and it was on their prom day. They were sitting and your dad was playing with your mom's hair (do you remember it?) You said you loved it and it meant a lot to you, well I hope someday these pics will do the same for your kids when they come across them.