*C* turned a year old on the 14th …

*C* is Johna and Matt’s great nephew – I think – and he has stolen a small part of my heart for sure …

Thanks again *A* for allowing me to capture this moment of your lives!

I photographed the *C* wedding in November. The bride referred a client to me that booked for this August – winning a free photo session!

*K* turns 1 today …

The image above is my favorite from the session …

He was a trooper walking on the rocks …

I love the worn look …

Same photo with some softness and fading …

Looks like a SUNNY day … I am loving PHOTOSHOP!

This might be my next fave from the morning …

Same photo with some sunshine …

I rarely use SEPIA tone – but I love this one …

A little pout – soft and faded …

Same pout – vintage effect …

Love this one – soft and faded …

Let’s make people think it was a sunny day …

I am loving PHOTOSHOP more and more – I still have a ton to learn and a photographer I met at the EXPO is meeting with me next week to help me figure some stuff out!

Thanks again Holly and Matt – we had to reschedule this shoot numerous times – but we finally got it!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY *K*!

I haven’t had much time to work on my blog lately. The past two weeks at work I have been training my replacement at work – helping Amy and Jim move – shooting a wedding and corporate photos – editing photos – it never ends!

Tuesday night we helped Amy and Jim with their new house – I painted the bathroom with Amy while Jared and Kurtis pulled up carpeting downstairs. Wednesday night the youth group helped Amy and Jim move their basement and garage and kitchen – in 50 minutes! Thursday night we went back down and Jared worked more on the flooring while I put a second coat on the bathroom.

Ella – Amy and Jim’s daughter – hung out with me while I painted the bathroom. She is one of my favorite kids on the planet. She will be 5 in July and is one of the smartest kids I know.

We had the following conversation –

D: Ella – what do you want to be when you grow up?

E: I want to be a PT like Mommy and work at the Phoenix. But my Phoenix is going to be in Wellsboro. If I have a Phoenix in Wellsboro and Mommy has a Phoenix in Mansfield – whose would you go to?

D: Seeing as how you are one of my favorite kids – I would probably have to go to your Phoenix.

E: Why don’t you come to my Phoenix one day and Mommy’s Phoenix the next day so that we can share?

That sounded like a good – fair solution to me. I was telling Amy about the conversation with Ella – how cute it was – and Ella comes running in the room saying – I wanted to have Danielle come to both our clinics so that you can see her too – since you have cancelled her from her job. I laughed and laughed and laughed.

Amy ordered Chinese food for dinner – we all sat down at the table while Amy and Jim met with the carpet guy – Ella provided the dinner entertainment with the following …

E:  (looking around the table and saying in a low voice) Daddy isn’t going to eat any of this.

D: Really – why is that?

E: Well – don’t tell him I told you this – but Daddy only eats peanut butter and mustard sandwiches. When I come home from school – I say – Daddy – let’s get your mind off mustard and talk about something else. But all he says to me is – Ella – I can’t help it – I just love mustard. I want mustard for breakfast, lunch, snack, and dinner. I love mustard! Sometimes when we go to restaurants – he orders mustard and PB sandwiches and Mommy tells him that it is bad manners in a restaurant to do that – but he can’t help it – he loves mustard!

D: Can I ask him about this?

E: Oh no, you can’t – he gets so embarrassed about his love for mustard!

I don’t know how she comes up with this stuff!

I don’t like to call photography WORK – because I don’t feel like I am going to work when I take pictures – nonetheless – Aunt L caught an image of me at *work* that I wanted to share …

These little girls had no problem being my models for the night!

I had posted a few of these pictures earlier but they were too big – so here they are again with some others …

*G* was the flower girl at the Yoder wedding – and a sweetheart!

*T* contacted me after seeing my ad in the Pennysaver – YAY! – we had to cancel this session twice ‘cus of the wintery weather – but we finally got it in.

Little *T* is cute and SO active – he pointed out every truck that drove by. *T* and *K* – I had a great time – thanks so much.

Don’t forget to check out their album at http://bardenphotography.shutterfly.com under *D*.

*S* and *J* are sisters – so we took the opportunity to catch some shots of her family too. Her hubbie wasn’t able to come up with them for the weekend – we’ll have to catch those ones next time.

I am so glad to be a part of your lives.

Little *B* in the pumpkin – such a sweetie.

I LOVE this picture of *S* – she is such a sweet soul.

Thanks again guys – you were all so much fun.

This past weekend was spent at my parents house. Connie – the cousin I mentioned earlier – brought her kids to the house for a few hours so we could have a photography date. We took a walk out back and *N* and his little friend *G* were fascinated by the tarp covering the bailer.

*G* found a milkweed pod when we looked for caterpillars.

*N* reminds me so much of my brother Derek. He was ALWAYS playing in the dirt.

Public Service Announcement.

Read to your kids – they will teach each other.