Sr. Portraits

Well- it IS that time of year again!! I am so excited to be on the downhill side of the school year! --- Except that I have the sweetest little 1st graders and will be so sad to see them moving on!!! They are growing up SOOOOO fast!!!

Sr. Portraits need to be scheduled with me as SOON as possible!! You can schedule as far in advance as July at this point! I already have several appointments and committments scheduled-- so PLEASE- if you are intersted in an appointment before this summer- email or call soon. nielsensflash@yahoo.com (there is also a link on here.

I am also taking appointments for children/family portraits and ball games. I will count a ball game for your child as a session if you are interested in me taking pictures for just you at the game. I will give samples of these sessions in the next couple of days.

I am very limited on how many appointments I can take -- especially those with deadlines- like Sr Portraits. I had to turn a few away at Christmas because of lack of time- PLEASE don't let this happen to you!

I am super excited that I have been so busy- and count it a true blessing!! Thank you so much to all of you who have made this possible!

Here are a few things you may need to know:

Session fee: $75 for about an hour and a half- as many changes of clothes as time allows.
Online web viewing for 3 months- this can be set for private
viewing only.
After a photo purchase of $200 a CD of the entire session is available for $100
For photo prices and package offers please go to my gallery site that is linked on the right on this page. Click on a gallery and you will see the many products available and the prices.

*Products range from many sizes and styles (including pro luster and metallic) - trading cards for the sports sessions, calendars, greeting cards, t-shirts, and beautiful canvas prints, the list goes on and on!)

I am available on Mon, Tues and Thurs afternoons- so check your calendars! I charge an extra $25 to a session - making it $100- for weekend sessions.

I know you probably have many more questions than this- please feel free to call or email me about them. The sessions usually result in about 100 printable photos.

We have lots of fun- all done outside at your choice of location!(I LOVE to travel for sessions, but there is a travel fee if over 20 or 30 miles-- we can discuss this later if applicable). So get ready to bring whatever you want to have photographed and have a GREAT time!!!!

Hope to hear from you soon!!

Christmas Morning

Here are a few from Christmas day. The top picture of me with 'H' was actually taken on Christmas Eve by my husband.

The one where 'M' is looking up at me is pure adreneline! You can feel the excitement in the picture! They were really pumped!

I just wanted to share a few of our great memories!

Promise of Joy:
Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth. Worship the Lord with gladness; come before Him with Joyful songs.
Psalm 100:1
Praise to God for giving us His most precious gift! He deserves all of our Praise and adoration!

Conversation between 'H' and myself:
H: "Mom, what does 'adore' mean?"
M: "Uhm, it means you really like something."
H: "Hmm... (now singing) Oh come let us really like Him?"


Wow- I had to start that explanation over! =)

American Girls

My Mom has started the wonderful tradition of buying the granddaughters their first American Girls dolls. I have to say she was very dismayed back in September when she realized that neither of the younger girls had even heard of them, much less wanted them! This was the year she wanted to buy them!

So began the American Girl marathon. Hours upon hours were spent at Granny's reading American Girl literature and perousing American Girl catalogs and internet collections! By the time Christmas got here it was numero UNO on their Christmas list!

When the big night came- the excitement was in the air! When they ripped open those big boxes you could hear squeals and laughter! It was great! And the rest is American Girl history!!

One little funny: The dolls are JLY dolls (Just like you) and so you order them to look like the little girl. I tried to tell my Mom from the start that 'H' is no longer blue eyed- she needed to order a green eyed one. But, no- my Mom says 'H' will always be blue eyed to her! HA! One of the first things out of 'H's mouth was- "she looks like me, except she has blue eyes, and I have green!" - Out of the mouths of babes!! HA!

Thanks mom--- blue eyed, or green-- they reflected sooo much happiness this Christmas in large part because of the time you spent with them to pass on a very worthy tradition! We love you!

Promise of Joy:
May the Lord make you increase, both you and your children. May you be blessed by the Lord, the maker of Heaven and Earth.
Psalm 115:14-15

We are so very blessed- in more ways than we can even give an account for!

Family

Here are a few snapshots from "Granny's". I didn't get nearly as many as I should have this Christmas- at anyone's house- including my own-- I guess I was just relaxing and enjoying myself! =) To Heather- my beautiful niece-- I am so sorry- but I did not get a ggod one of you to post here-- but you are so often behind the camera-- like me!!! Love you!!

The children had a WONDERFUL time!

When I heard my 8 year old boy praying Christmas Eve- it really summed things up for me:
"... and God, thank you for my family tree (this is what he affectionately called his whole family since he learned of such a thing back in 1st grade=)) and thank you for my church family and what they all mean to me. And Lord, if there is anyone who does know you, then I pray that they will very soon. And God, Santa does not have to come tonight for it to be Christmas- because Christmas is all about you..."

I could not have said it better myself!

Ringing the Bells

Our children from church went to a local retirement community and rang the bells. They did a great job. Several people from our church live in this community and were so sweet to come out on a VERY cold day and support our children.

The angel pictures are from our Christmas cantata Sunday night. These girls fit the part perfectly! I love that sweet one of the little girl, "K" by herself. She was sweetly and patiently waiting for her next instruction! We have a great group of kids that I am very proud of! They are really beginning to understand the true meaning of Christmas! We are so thankful that our Saviour was born!

Promise of Joy:
"Because he loves me," says the Lord, "I will rescue him; I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name."
Psalm 91:14

What a wonderful promise from a loving, protective God. It can at times be so scary to be a Mom in such a lost world- but I hang on to these promises- that my children will be protected because of the knowledge and admonition of our great God. Christmas definitley reminds me that I have a tremendous amount to be thankful for. I receive FAR more than I could EVER give! Thank you, Jesus!

Just an Idea

I created this collage tonight to answer a request. 'A'- if you want different pictures- or different arrangement- just let me know! I can easily make changes. I can do full color or B/W or whatever. The possibilities are endless!

I will warn you that on a Christmas card they are pretty small- but I did one last year and loved it.

But I really liked these pictures of your beautiful family.
Let me know what you think!!!
Double click on the picture to see it bigger.

Promise of Joy:
But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called Today.
Hebrews 3:13
Thank you 'A' for being my encouragement! You have been a blessing to me!!

Nothing Sweeter

This beautiful baby girl belongs to the sweet little family I posted for already. But when I got to these pictures I just couldn't help but share.

The funny thing is these were taken in the back of their truck!!! I am just standing under the back door of their SUV. That was about all we could do that day because it was so extremely COLD! But I think they turned out all right for those conditions!

She was a great baby- never made a peep. She just wanted to be left alone and to sleep!

I really enjoyed meeting this family and have been honored they chose me to capture these special memories. These baby moments don't last long!!

Promise of Joy:
...Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of Heaven belongs to such as these.
Matthew 19:14

Santa's Village

Doesn't this look like fun?? We had a great time! They got to decorate cookies, and take pictures with Santa (posted earlier) pretend to be a snowman, write letters to Santa and then all of the other museum attractions that are there year-round. I have tons more I could post- but I think I am going to stop here. I am so glad that they are doing this now- I would have loooooved to have had it since they were babies- what a great picture place.

Afterwards we went to eat at a local small ice cream diner. Then we hit the downtown Christmas parade. The kids got enough candy to last ALL year! They had a blast.
I was worn out!!! We still had a church function to attend afterward. Whew!

Thanks, 'N' for inviting us and getting us out there! We had a great time! I encourage all of you local folks to go on out!!

Promise of Joy:
There is a right time for everyhting.... a time to laugh...
Ecclesiastes 3:1,4

We wish it would snow!

Well- we have our sweater and hats- but no snow!! =)

These are just a few shots in my front yard as we were waiting to go to Santa's Village.

Usually three's a crowd- but these 3 are best buds. They play really well together. Little 'C' can play video games with 'M' one minute and the next minute draw pictures and paint with 'H'. He's so versatile. We are so thankful for him (and his big brother- who abandoned us to go hunting)!

Promise of Joy:
Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God... for God is love.
1 John 4:7,8

Santa

I am enjoying this as long as it lasts!!! These pictures show a little Christmas "magic" to me!

But boy, do I hate when they change their minds on their "favorite" toy as they get up to Santa's lap- the way my 'M' did! The battle is on now! He may be disappointed- but it will be all Santa's fault! HA!!!!

Well- I DO know that Christmas is not AT ALL about Santa- so I want to share with you how I explain it to my 1st graders- and my children. I ask them if they have ever been to a birthday party. Then I tell them to pretend we are going to a boy name Josh's birthday party. We are very excited and know that it is all about Josh and the gifts are for him. But when we get there sometimes there is a clown or magician- some sort of person to entertain us. We love seeing the magician and all the hooplah-- but the center of attention is- you guessed it- Josh- the birthday boy. The clown or magician makes it fun- but it doesn't take anything away from the birthday boy.

Well, that is how we celebrate Christmas- it IS ALL about Jesus and we love Him and thank Him for submitting to such a lowly birth just to grow up and die on the cross to save us from an eternal hell. I allow my children to get 3 things from Santa (that is how many gifts Jesus got). So Santa loosely symbolizes the wise men and the gifts Jesus received. My children defintely know Who Christmas is all about.

My children are the little girl and the little guy with glasses. The 3rd is like a nephew to me. We had the best time. I'll tell more about our day later.

Promise of Joy:
For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ our Lord.
Luke 2:11

Praise be to God!!!

Our Christmas Card...

I had the hardest time EVER deciding which picture to us for our card! I went back and forth and tried a million different cards. I think I had a bad case of indecisiveness! I chose the MIDDLE.IF YOU DOUBLE CLICK ON IT, IT WILL SHOW IT CLOSE FOR YOU! I couldn't help it- I love the Beach and that special time with my family. I have the BEST memories of the weeks spent there! So there you go! And naturally- there is NO way I could choose just one of those-

I put the other 2 choices there too to show you My little 'M' with his new glasses!!  He was soooo upset when he found out from our school nurse (who he adores) that he needed them!  I just hated it for him! But everyone has been so sweet - and he has adjusted fine. He loves being able to see so much better!
I told you in earlier posts- he is just like my family. We ALL wear contacts! I am practically blind without mine.

Just a little follow up on a previous blog- M did make it into the gifted program. I am so proud of him. I am excited that his teacher is a girl from my own hometown whose family I know and like very well. I am looking forward to him feeling such a sense of accomplishment.

H is in the advanced class for gymanstics and soaring through 1st grade- I just couldn't leave her out! =)I have a big blog of them coming up. We had a fabulous weekend and I have TONS of pictures to prove it. =)

Promise of Joy:
Rejoice evermore. In everything give thanks: For this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. 1 Thessalonians 5:16,18

I do give thanks to God every day for my wonderful family and all of the great friends that we have. Thank you to all of you who have helped make our lives so rich and full.

And baby makes 3 =)

Can you tell this baby is looooved?? She has quite a fan club with big brother and big sister! She is one lucky little girl!

The only negative about the day was it was so COLD! I hated having that sweet baby out there- but we did her part very snappy and got her back in the truck. If I have time later I will try to post the ones I took in the back of the truck. It was too funny- we just made a make-shift bed in the back and snapped away. Of course, she never woke up. =)

I tried to put several on here of the 3 of them together because Mom was interested in making cards. I personally liked the one at the top with them covering her with kisses. That sums up this family to me- very loving!

Again- I had a great time and was so excited to be a part of your Christmas. It was great meeting you guys!

Promise of Joy:
And though a man might prevail against one who is alone, two will withstand him. A threefold cord is not quickly broken.
Ecclesiastes 4:12

I couldn't resist this scripture for this great family. Family is an awesome thing!!