Adam Turns One!

Happy Friday Eve! Today seems like a good day to mention that I'm merging this photo blog with my other blog, Jessica Lynn Writes. As some of you know, my husband and I are moving to Italy in September (woohoo!!!) and I am trying to consolidate my blogging. I plan on taking a lot of pictures while we live in Europe so it makes sense to post everything in one place.

The following is my favorite picture from the session I mentioned in my last post. If you're interested in seeing more pictures from this session, and want to continue following me, click on over to Jessica Lynn Writes!

Let’s Hear It For The Boys!

More from this session soon :)

Mellow Yellow

I'm down to the wire for entering this week's challenge, but I completely forgot I took this picture over the weekend! 

Natalie is stunning to begin with, but put her in front of a yellow brick wall and her beauty simply pops!

Sunday Scavenger Hunt

It's been way too long since I've had time to do a scavenger hunt, but I finally had time this week and I'm really excited about the outcome. Hopefully I can get back into the swing of posting on here! 

1. SOOC

This was from a couple weeks ago, but I just love it. My husband and I went hiking in Red Rock State Park in Sedona, Arizona. I loved the red dirt and green cactus together.

2. Sprouting

I noticed this little bud sprouting when I was watering my garden!

3. Isn't it Ironic

Dug this out of our CD bookcase! I gave it a little rugged look. Or a "jagged" look. (get it? the album is called "jagged little pill."

4. Lazy

I went over to my friend's house and hung out by their kiddie pool. Nothin' like a nice, lazy day by the pool!

5. Smells Like Spring 

Lillies in my front yard. It's unbelievable how sweet and fragrant these smell!

Armendinger Homecoming

I've experienced two deployments in the five years of knowing my husband. I know the loneliness and emptiness that comes with missing your better half, and the longing you have each day to see them again.

Despite knowing what another spouse goes through during a deployment, I've only gone through them on my own...without kids. My good friend, Brooke, on the other hand, has a three-year-old daughter and a brand new baby boy. Her son was five months old when his dad deployed. My hat goes off to her and all the other moms (and dads) I know who take care of business while dad (and mom!) is deployed.

I hung out with Brooke the night her husband left, and her daughter kept asking where Daddy was and when he'd be back. It absolutely broke my heart; I can only imagine how difficult it must be to have children who can't quite comprehend what's going on, but miss their parent so much.

When Brooke asked if I would join her at their homecoming I was thrilled and honored. Brooke is a wonderful photographer and since I'm clearly just learning, I was excited to gain some practice. I have a long way to go before I'm more comfortable behind the camera, but I'm happy the shots below and hope I caught the emotions from the homecoming. Congratulations, Armendinger Family :)

How adorable is her dress?

Ainsley would not stop moving around! This was the best I could get of her out of about six different shots!

Brooke is pointing to the plane circling around!

She's impatient and misses her father. Don't mess with her :)

With the plane on its way in, Brooke quickly went through a wide array of emotions:

And then, things got real.

Even the kids were feeling the anticipation in the air

Very shortly after landing, they started getting off the plane. Brooke found her man the second he stepped through the door.

Remember, the last time their son saw their dad he was five months old. At just seven months, he absolutely knew his dad was back.

The photo above is one of my favorites from the entire evening. I love the sleepy look he has, her overjoyed laugh, and how the kids are eager to get down.

Congratulations, Brooke and family :)

A Grand Ol' Giveaway

I took this picture before I knew anything about photography. I still feel like a complete newbie, but I'm enjoying figuring things out while I go along and I'm excited to take more pictures of our flag in the future. 

But my point of today's post is to steer you towards my personal blog, because I'm hosting a giveaway and would love for you to enter. I'm giving away an American flag—like the one you see above—or a military flag. You get to pick which one you'd like.

The contest is open until Sunday, but why wait till then? Hop on over now and enter! 

Nap Time!

In the five years I've known him, my husband has had a cold twice...maybe. Well, this weekend he caught something and has been sneezing, caughing, and napping ever since. I'm known in my circle of friends and family for LOVING naps, but my husband usally has nothing to do with them. That all changed when he came home from work on Monday. He went to change out of his uniform, like normal, but when I didn't hear anything coming from our room after awhile, I went to go investigate. This is what I found:

He passed out on our bed and our puppy decided to join him! My poor man needed some rest. I couldn't resist taking a picture of the two of them napping!