Bouncin' Baby Photography

I admit quitting my job at the credit union was scary. To go from something stable and reliable to a career that is art based was pretty much against everything a good wife and mother should be doing. I felt like I was possibly making a mistake. Even with as much thought as I had put into it, I still thought maybe I should just stick it out, maybe I should get over myself and figure out how to stay. In my mind a responsible person doesn't quit a decent paying job with benefits in a down turned economy. But that is exactly what I did. Besides being totally miserable with the work I was doing and completely drained and frustrated with the child care situation, I really felt sad in life.

There were several things that added to making things worse rather than better.

1. My attempts to be greener at work were pretty much laughed at.
2. The work itself was draining and it's usefulness had none of my input, all creativity had been under-minded until it was out of my system within a year.
   
3. My co-worker and I found an injured bird on break outside one day. Having saved a couple of birds in the past, my mind set was 'of course everyone else would want to save it and help it to be on its marry way.' Boy was I wrong! So wrong that it truly made me open my eyes to things in a whole new light. We saved the bird and it felt good to doing something like that, but it hurt my feelings to be made fun of for being compassionate. I am not like most people and more importantly, I LIKE NOT BEING LIKE MOST PEOPLE!!
   

I had forgot that. Since coming to Utah more and more I feel like I have been expected to make and keep friends, fit in, and always be what everyone else expects of me. Anyone that knows me well, knows that I am not fond of being told what to do. It makes me sound very confrontational and I am to a point, but I think most would also agree I am a nice, honest, agreeable person. Even if I were to say something offensive, I most likely didn't mean to be mean. Sometimes the filter doesn't work right, we have all been there.

In any case back to what prompted this whole blog post. In search for a balance of life and happiness my desire to be creative and return to my art blazed. I tried very hard to resist but the pull was too strong. Finally, missing my kids growing was the final draw. So I quit my corporate job! I got back into my very missed photography about six months earlier and set myself up with a good stream of clients. So far so good. I have been able to stay home with my children most of the day, I have good enough income that we don't have to move or anything like that, and more than anything I am HAPPY! Bubbly, spring in my step, really makes my skirt blow up, smiley, HAPPY!

Now I have the best job I could ever imagine. Seriously, if I were to put together the perfect job for myself, I think business owner is it. Photography has been this wonderland of learning and doing and creating like I have never been allowed to excel in before. Right now I have been blessed with capturing new born babes, and beautiful maternity sessions. The one-on-one experience with someone when seizing a moment in time for them is very rewarding. I know and honest to goodness feel (like the universe is telling me) like I am on the right (and better) path now.

The web is an amazing way to share:

Website - http://bouncinbabyphotography.com
Blog - http://bouncinbaby.wordpress.com/
Facebook - http://www.facebook.com/#!/BouncinBabyPhotography?v=wall&ref=ts

Just a little thing that I have been lucky enough to give wings. And soon I will really make her fly.

Thank you for all the love and support from my friends and family. Without it I would be lost.

Progress!

In just a couple of nights after work Cory has been able to accomplish A LOT on the play place.

Winter is 4!

Cory had the camera for this party, so hey look that's me! Yes, I wear a flower bra at my 4-year-olds birthday party, it was Luau themed.
Winter enjoyed having a few of her friends and Cory's family all around her. She loved that she got to pick out the theme of her party and that most people played along.

Aunt Kami and Baby Joshua.

Cory's dad put this on his head just for a second, but I got the shot :) This was Winter's gift picked up from Seattle's Pike Place from her aunt Shaylee and uncle Justin.

Happy Birthday Winnie!

Are we done yet?

Should read is Cory done yet? Cause I don't really do too much.

Now that we have a nice flat place for the play place we have to prepare for building it.

Step 1: Dig some holes and put posts in
Step 2: Lots of posts...and they need to be in a straight line.
Step 3: Prepare outside boards for screwing.
Step 4: Screw boards

Step 5: Keep things straight (this is pretty much the only step I was able to help on...I held the board for screwing)
Step 6: Put boards all around
Step 7: Take a break and finish later cause it's hard work!
It's coming along. Soon Cory can actually start building the play place.

Yard Projects

This is the view of our house from the corn of our drive way. Nothing too special. With the kids toys on the front porch and the garage open, its down right messing looking. The trees are too close to the house and there is nothing but a small hill all the way to the curb. Cory has been dying to give our home some curb appeal. This spring we started.

Yeah baby! We rented a sod cutter and took out a large spot of the grass.
A simple edging for now.We thought a lot about what kind of trees we wanted, what kind of grasses should be added, and which accent plants would make things look really nice. In the end, I knew I wanted a purple robed locus and didn't really care about the rest. We went to J&J nursery and just picked out what we liked and what wouldn't get too big. It wasn't until we got home that we even really knew what we had picked out. Lots of planning, turns out can be too much planning.
We put everything out, moved a couple of them around a few time, then decided we wanted it too look good from all sides, not just the front. Trees in first...
This is a weeping white cherry blossom tree.
This is called Hollandia Broom and in my opinion one of the best finds.
It is a very hardy plant that has the most beautiful flowers that sprout all over the stems. We have had is for a few weeks and it is still flowering.
Miniature lilac. It won't get all huge like the regular plant. One of Cory's favorite smells in lilac. It use to grow all around his home where he grew up.
I don't remember what this one is called, but the leaves change color all through out the season. From a deep brown to a red, then orange-ish.
This tall beauty is my Purple Robed Locus. Last year I fell in love with this kind of tree when we were picnicking in the park behind Lagoon. Their fragrance is intoxicating and the blossoms are bright clusters. I think having this tree the proper distance from our home right there in the front will be amazing. I can't wait to see it in full bloom everyday when I drive up to our house.
She's not much to look at now, but in a couple of years, amazing!

THE PLAY PLACE
This is the backyards project. I had more photos of the labor intensive beginning but have miss placed them. First we measured everything out. Then Cory cut out all the sod and moved it to out field of weeds. Hopefully covering it with sod will tame some of the weeds. Here he is rototilling so we can move the dirt around and make a nice flat spot.

Winter decided she wanted to help Cory move the dirt.
She's a better helper than I am :)
As the projects progress, I'll post more.