new phone pics

i bought a new phone. the camera is fantastic. the apps are amazing. these were taken with a phone camera and edited with these apps: shake it photo, photoshop (yep, there's an app!!!), and uploaded with the flickr app.

by the way, i'm back in katy, texas. went to my siblings' piano recital today, these are from the drive home from houston:

16th street mall, denver

baptism

i'm in denver right now, i drove here with my uncle's family because they are visiting my aunt's family! i am really enjoying myself. good people, good food, good times. i played several card games today which was an accomplishment, but even more impressive, i actually enjoyed it! i'll be leaving for texas on wednesday, i have a bunch of family sessions and senior sessions waiting for me before heading off to california for christmas with my family!

i haven't been taking pictures so far, shame on me. the reason we're here is for a baptism that happened yesterday, so i did pull out my camera for that. my aunt's nephew was baptized a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. here are a few pictures:

oldie

i went through my flickr account tonight and saw this old image from a year or two ago. there's really no point to this post, i just wanted to re post the image.

also (and just as random), i discovered a musician, tyler ward, who i am listening to right now. it's good music. find him on youtube.

life is good..

i spend the majority of my time on my computer. the 2010 wedding season is officially over for me. i've finally caught up on editing and now i'm booking weddings for 2011. i spent today working on a new management/data program for my business, which will help me manage my clients' information keeping me organized, professional, and capable of booking more weddings! i have a lot of goals for 2011, personal and professional, and i'm excited to see what i can make happen in the next year! honestly i am very relieved 2010 is coming to an end. it has been one heck of a time, living through 2010!

since i spend so much time looking at my computer screen, i thought i would document the view my computer has the majority of the time:

although now that it's consistently cold, it usually sees this:

my cozy sweatshirts keep my nose warm.

which reminds me of this blessing: i get to work in my sweats (besides shoots of course). i also get to work on the couch, laying down like a couch potato with my laptop on my stomach. besides the ruining my back/neck with the posture issues that result, i have an awesome life.

UPDATE: i have a feeling i'm not going to get much sleep tonight. i hope i'm wrong. it's only 12:44am.. there's still hope.

UPDATE: also, i just remembered that originally the point of posting today was totally different than what i posted. i was planning on making a list of all of the reasons why my life is good right now, maybe in the spirit of thanksgiving or maybe because i just had a really really good morning. i went to institute, i LOVE the teacher. he's been an angel in my life, i told him so today, and left the building skipping and very happy. in the midst of my jubilee, i slipped on ice and almost fell. what a metaphor for life, eh? oh dear, i'm letting my pessimism leak onto my blog. shhh, heather!

anyways, here's my list of why i've been generally happier lately:
- i've been gearing up for a wonderful and intense charge into photographic oblivion, beginning in approximately 1.5 weeks.
- holidays.
- i'm not in school, therefore avoiding a walk through slush, mud, and snow every day.
- the festivities of the past week threw off my normal schedule of sleep deprivation and TV/internet overindulgence, which has significantly improved my emotional well being.
- i've had a few, very small yet significant personal triumphs after a long drought from accomplishment including but not limited to: telling someone my honest opinion about something i'd normally lie about (with good intentions), consuming only 1 dr. pepper in an entire week, weirdly having the desire to run one day (actually running is forthcoming, but having the desire was a feat in itself), and remembering a birthday.
- my mom called and we talked for 2 hours. it's nice having a personal cheerleader.

as i was going about my day, i randomly tried to think about words i would use to describe myself. i only really thought about one: earnest.

i just became conscious of my eyes hurting, i think they've been hurting for a while. i took my glasses off an hour ago and forgot to put them on again, but i'm doing so now. they are cold and feel nice on the bridge of my nose where they will sit without peace because i will disturb them every quarter of a minute or so by adjusting their position. i think i have a glasses-on-nose version of restless leg syndrome.

now i'm rambling. i have had so many different moods today. right now i'm settled into one of "those" moods.. the kind that produce an extra-long montage of thoughts in a blog post that is lacking continuity.

sunday

today baby charlie was blessed down in provo, and all the family got together for it. after church we drove to mapleton for a delicious dinner and more visiting. it's so heartwarming to spend an evening eating good food with great people. i love my family.

i'm obsessed with rain. here's an image of the car window on the ride down to provo:

and since my camera was out, i turned it on sophia who rejected me: "no more pictures!"


so i had to use reverse psychology on her to get a cute smile ("sophia, whatever you do, DON'T look at me, and DO NOT, i repeat, DO NOT give me your cutest smile!") which worked like a charm for approximately 5 seconds. i kept her going that long by saying "hey! why are you doing what i just said not to do? sophia!! stop looking at me! stop smiling!" and of course she flashed the most amazing smiles ever and i wanted to eat her. speaking of eating her, we've spent a significant amount of time watching Dora the Explorer together and a character, backpack, always says "nom nom nom delicioso!" when things are put inside. i love grabbing sophia and saying that while pretending to eat her up. she smiles (the smile in the photos below) and says "hey! i'm not dinner!" AHHHH she's so cute.

don't you love the look of joy, pleasure, excitement, and glee? yep. apparently she gets a thrill out of doing the exact opposite of what she thinks people want. oh geez:)

a quick pic from tonight at dinner, my cousin eli with his dad:)

and i finally got a couple of images of my grandparents! when it's warm i'm going to make them do a session with me, but i was happy that we got a few good portraits!!! i love how protective and content my grandpa looks with my grandma under the security of his strong arm:

my grandma is so beautiful. it's my goal to look like her in my 70's. i'll be doing just fine if i can accomplish that:)

i have so much respect for my grandparents. they are kind, wise, christ-like people who love the Lord, and serve their family endlessly. their advice is so relevant and priceless, and has never steered me wrong. i consider them role models, amazing grandparents, and friends. their influence and love in my life is a blessing, and i love them both so much.

storm