Happy Birthday Chrirstmas Boy

He was born December 23rd.

I came home from the hospital on December 24th Christmas Eve.

A new baby in arms.

As far as I was concerned Christmas came early!

There is something special about having a new baby in the house so close to Christmas.

That year. . .

It was the best Christmas ever!

Now he's married and has a family of his own.

And he's the best dad ever.

I'm not sure Gage really loves his birthday being so close to Christmas,
It is kind of hectic.

Years ago we started a tradition to help seperate Gage's birthday
from Christmas.

For years we've always gone to a movie for his birthday and out to eat,

something we've never done consistantly for any other child's birthday.

Now he's old we still go to a movie and out to eat.

We can't seem to break the tradition.

This year Gage decided to keep it low key.

We went to Wendy's to eat.

And Gage gave us all specifics,

"Don't Dress Up!"

Yup that's what he said,

So we were planning on low key birthday bash.

That is until Gav and Caroline showed up.

The Mission Impossible Theme Song was playing loudly from Gav's 

suit pocket as they walked in the door.
It was the funniest thing ever. We all had a good laugh.
I had to grab a picture.

Well, this put everyone in the mood for our late night movie,

"Mission Impossible!"
It was like we had a couple of movie celebrities at our own personal movie opening.
I'm only sad I didn't have some red carpet with me.

There was lots of laughter and it was fun to watch the response
as people caught sight of Gavin and Caroline in their movie premiere atire.

And Gage couldn't get over it.
None of us could.
When we arrived at the theatre,

The movie people got a kick out of it too.

It was a fun night and Gavin's DI purchase really looked authentic.
He and Caroline out did themselves.

In honor of Gage and his special day! 

I know for Gage, having a Christmas birthday can sometimes be a pain,

but as a mother, I've always thought it a privilege to have 

a son who shares his birthday so close to the Savior's.

Christmas is a time when I really take a long hard look at my blessings.

Gage ---you are one of those blessings!
One of the greatest blessings in mine and dad's life and in our family.

I'm thankful for you and the strength you bring to us. I'm thankful for all

your great qualities, your determination, your ability to do what ever you put your mind to.

Gage is my one kid that if he decided he wants to do something, he just figures out a way

to do it and then he does it. He has always been my entrepreneurial kid.

So Merry Christmas to me and Happy Birthday to you Gage!
Thanks for being such a great blessing! We love you!
I love you!
Happy Birthday bud!

Another Happy Anniversary

There's one thing I love about Missy! She always asks me to take her pictures. It doesn't matter how slow I am at getting them to her. She is always so complementary. I love how she makes me feel about my work. 

(The Gangsta Look)

The other day I came home from a photo shoot and everything that could go wrong did go wrong. My sixteen hundred dollar lens malfunctioned during one of my group shots, leaving me with only one good image out of ten, which by the way couldn't be used because one of the individuals in the photo had their eyes closed. I didn't even have another image I could trade eyes with. Urrrrgh!

That day as I hunted for good light, posing the group in different places, I wasn't able to find good light anywhere. I tried several different places but every shot I tried something just wasn't right. Maybe it was just the fact that the family I was working for was important to me and I wanted to do my very best work, which by the way is never good enough for me. My best just never feels like enough, I always want to be better. Good thing my price reflects my attitude about my work. People are walking away with pictures for next to nothing. I don't care. I want to be good, really, really good.

There is one motivation I have in this life. It is to be a GREAT photographer, not just an average run of the mill picture taker! And my age worries me. My eyes are getting bad and all of it takes a toll on the inside of me. I'm a perfectionist and I rip myself down when I don't feel I've measured up. That's pretty much all the time.

(Crazy Kids)

That day I was having such a hard time I finally just put all those images away and decided to work on someone else's photos. I decided to have a look at Gage and Missy's images. I hadn't pulled them off my camera yet so I stopped and loaded them onto my computer.

As soon as I started going through Gage and Missy's pictures I immediately felt better. Looking through the images got me to laughing and brought me back to what I love about having a camera in my hand.

Life is amazing. It's funny the ideas we get in our head that weigh us down and hinder the great within. I'm sure if I had a professional look at my images here they would find ways for me to improve and maybe wouldn't classify these images as exceptionally great, but I think their pretty good and the great that lies in these photos probably isn't so much about my work as it is about my love.

(Pucker Up)

When I look at these pictures memories come leaping to the page. It was a fun night. We had fun! It was spontaneous. Some of the pictures just unfolded all on their own. They weren't planned. That is always the very best when looking through a lens. That single click striking second when you catch a spontaneous moment, framing it forever.

(Beautiful Family)

That night Baylee was having nothing to do with the camera. She was determined not to let me catch her smile. Suddenly a thought came to me. I HAVE raised 8 kids ya know! I do have some parental strategic tactics tucked away, tactics that have worked over the years. I decided to ignore my granddaughter. I'm telling you, it was difficult. I started talking to Gage and Missy and arranging them just so. Baylee was off doing her own thing. Suddenly she realized no one was paying any attention to her. When I saw that this was bothering her I accentuated my attention even more on Gage and Missy. One hundred percent of my focus was now on the couple before me. Soon Gage and Missy caught on too. I snapped one picture and told them to smile and move.

The above picture was an awesome candid moment. Suddenly Baylee stopped bouncing and running. Quietly she walked over put her arms around Gage's leg and looked right at me with a somberness that almost pushed me over. Her face was making a bold announcement, and there was no way I could miss the meaning in such a look. It was as if she were saying, "Hey this is my family. You're not leaving me out of this shot." When the moment grabbed hold of me my finger was ready, "Click" Awe, one second in time, framed forever.

I think it's the cutest picture. And I think by the rules of photography it's pretty good. The image is sharp. The lighting is good. The composition is good. It has a little artistic flare. I love the rich creamy tones in their skin. You can thank my Nikon for that. I didn't have to edit this picture much. Took me all of two seconds. It came out of my camera good. Most important it had the one element every good photograph has ---emotion. I love it. It's the whole reason I keep doing this. It was a great shot for me. It's a framer.

I had what I consider to be one bad day with my camera. I have to remember I have lots of good days with my camera. Such is life! By the way, I finished the pictures I thought were so terrible. The family liked them. They even paid me after I said over and over again, no charge. Maybe I'm too hard on myself.

Gage and Missy just celebrated an anniversary. Happy Anniversary you two!!! I'm so glad these kids are 'MY' kids! I appreciate them in my life. I appreciate their link in my eternal circle of love, the strength that single link creates in my family. I can't keep track of the time they've been together. I think this is either their third or fourth year. I can barely keep track of my own anniversary and how many years I've been married, forget keeping track of my kids. I also want to thank them for asking me to take their pictures. Today it was their images that reminded me it's OK to have a bad day with my camera once in a while because most of the time my days with my camera in hand are good, good and hopefully getting better!

Happy Anniversary kids. I love you!

Happy Birthday Missy

It's 3:54 in the morning! I can't sleep (uugh)! So I write.

Sunday, even though it was Father's Day, I came down with the flu. Sickness is no respector of celebrations filled with fun! I'm a pretty healthy person so it really bugs me when my health plummets to the toilet. And after the initial onset of feeling weak and nauseous, that's exactly where I spent most of my time on Sunday. If it wasn't one end of me leaning over and making liquified contributions, it was the other.

My family had all gathered at my home for one big massive celebration. we were celebrating Father's day, Missy's birthday, Craig's birthday, Anna's birthday, and Baylee's birthday too. There was good food, good company, lots of fun going on and me in the bathroom. When there are cheesy potatoes on my plate and I barely touch them, call an ambulance because I'm clearly near death! After taking chills and greeting the body aches, I finally just gave up and got in bed! I layed there listening to the catter of happy chaos and I was so bummed!

Today is Friday. The sickness still lingers! Today I thought maybe I was finally over it, but right now after three trips to visit my porcelain thrown, I think not! This episode of being sick along with some other things that have literally slapped me right out of the saddle have put me so behind on blogging and a million other things that I just know I'm going to be playing catch up forever. Given all that, here I am at 4 in the morning to wish Missy a happy birthday! And five days late! Craig and Anna. You are next!

Now there is a reason I'm posting this right now! And I have Em and Missy to thank for being here at this unearthly hour blogging from my iPad. (Don't tell them I love it. I love blogging at all hours.) Well, I'd like to be sleeping, really I would, but since I can't seem to shut my eyes and keep them shut, I am at least being productive, right? I love being productive!

I was tickled last month when Em got me all set up so I could blog here on this amazing little device called an iPad. I love this thing and I pack it with me everywhere! Trouble is, after Emy got me all set up with blogpress, I never used it!

Tonight earlier or should I now say, really a day ago, we went swimming for Baylee's birthday. After swimming we came back to my house for pizza. After eating, I sat at the bar and in an effort to locate some things for my upcoming tea party, Missy pulled out her iPad and began helping me find everything I needed.

Missy has long been an iPad lover! She is one person who uses her iPad for everything! She and Gage just finished making Baylee the cutest little kitchen ever. Missy used her iPad to track down every good deal for the project. They started with a used "free" entrainment center and Missy surprised Gage with a rotary telephone for him to attach to the kitchen when it was all finished. Everything, tea pots, all the workings that Missy added to make the kitchen functional, just about everything, except for the beadboard and paint she found on line with the tap of her finger. I can't believe how much money she saved. And the kithcen is darling! Watching her inspired me, and here I am at 4 am!

Besides the fact that Missy is so creative, she is smart as a whip too. Quick at figuring out anything and everything! Bright as they come.  I learned a thing or two just watching her work on her iPad. And as I express my birthday wishes to her today, late as they are, sitting by her last night just made me realize more and more, how grateful I am to have her in my life!

As I think about all the things I love about Missy, I have to say today, even though it might sound repetitious, the number one thing I love about her, is her helpfullness! What a big help she is to me! Just like last night, when saw my need she jumped right in with a helping hand. Even sitting there talking and enjoying her she was continually asking me what she could help me with. At my age, I am beginning to take advantage of that more and more. And I appreiate it in greater depth each and every day! Missy is service oriented! She is always helping those around her.

I also have one more thing that I rarely ever mention that I love about Missy. Something I see in Missy that makes me so proud of her all the time. It is a thing I see contiually. As I watch it unfold, I think it is a rare trait that many could learn from, including me! In today's world it I think it's getting to be something few possess. If you read Missy's blog you'll pick right up on it.

When a mother watches her son take a wife she worries. Girls have a tendency to do things like their mother. They also have a tendency to be closer to their very own mothers. This is NORMAL! This however, leaves a mother who has raised boys with a feeling of losing a son, rather than gaining a daughter-in-law. A mother fears, never getting to spend time with her son once married and wonders if things will be shared equally. As a mother you pray the girl who gets your son will love him somewhat the way you do and will also love you as well, showing that love by wanting to be with you.

Now this is where I could launch into a discourse on mother-in-laws who are fake to their daughter-in-laws and never really render their hearts to genuinely loving them. When someone loves you, YOU know it! It is constantly communicated in their way of being! And daughters by marriage always know how their mother-in-laws really feel about them! I think there are a lot of mother-in-laws who are missing out on some great dauther-in-laws because they are stingy with their love!

I hope Missy feels from me my genuine love for her. I love her! You know, in the beginning, I almost blew it! Everyday I am thankful for what a wonderful daughter Missy is to me. I'm so thankful she's mine!!! I'm so thankful she is open and giving! I'm grateful I feel her love in return. And in addition to that, the one thing I rarely mention that touches me deeply, the one thing I am always so proud of, is the way Missy also treats my son.

In all the moments I've watched, listened, viewed from a distance, eyed up close, read, heard, you name it. Never once in all this time, have I ever heard Missy utter one negative or derogatory word about her husband. No not one single word, even when it was deserved.

Now I raised 4 boys and I'm married to a boy in a man's body. I know my sons, and I know my husband and I'm here to tell you I've exhausted the human language complaining about each one of them at times. The men in my life know what it's like to be on my hit list! And I've uttered my fair share of negative thoughts about each one of them when they were.

Not Missy! I've never once heard Missy beef about anything Gage does to torment her. All husbands torment their wives! It's the 11th commandment! "If Thou art a man, thou shalt drive thy wife nuts periodically!" it's a known fact.

I really admire how Missy respects, loves, honors, and treats my son. She's a builder of good things! She's a smart wife! She always speaks so highly of Gage ---no matter what. And it's genuine! Missy is a girl who doesn't hold onto things. It's so refreashing to see! Not with anyone. If you make Missy mad you can count on her being mad for about five minutes. Wow, she is an amazing example to me in this department. Women are usually not that way. And it is a common thing to hear woman bash on men. You will never hear Missy do this even when her husband is a puttz. And let's face it we all have our extraordinarily bad moments when we are not our best selves. When those moments occur, how wonderful it is  to see how she responds. I think one of the greatest blessings in life it to be with someone who doesn't draw the worlds attention to your my faults and who forgets any hurt or wound intential or not, in an instant. I hope my son truly appreciates this gift that his wife exemplifies continually, because she's a gem and I'm not sure how much he fully realizes it! You are a great example Missy, in many ways! I need a few lessons from you on this!

Now I need to go to bed! So Happy Birthday Miss! Thank you for all the good things you add to my family, to my life! Thank you for loving me personally and for always coming over, sharing your love, being a happy heart, and being a wonderful helping hand to me. Thank you for always being positive! And for being loving! That means the world to me! Also thanks for inspiring me to crack out my iPad and blog on it. Even if it is now 4:42 am! Hahaha

Our family loves you! I love you! Thanks for being a wonderful blessing to us! Now, can you come over and show me how to put a picture on this thing, cause I need to show the world your cute smiling face. :)

Love You!





Look, I did it! How do I add more than one???? Help! And why is it a little blurry? Help!

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Computer added pics.

Happy Birthday!

Happy Birthday Baylee

Someone's having a birthday today!

And don't ask me where two years went!

Because she has gone from bassenett to pig tails in the blink of an eye.

What a sweet heart!

She is the cutest little girl!!!

Calm natured and pretty easy going!

Missy called me the other day and ask me if

I would take her 2 year pictures.

I can't wait.

I love taking this little girl's picture!

Every year Missy makes her the cutest birthday out fit.

I can't wait to see what she is making this year.

Better yet, I can't wait to take her picture in it.

Next year Baylee will be three 

When the grandkids turn 3, I take them to lunch and shopping.

I think Eden missed out on this last year. 

For the tiny one's though, I decided 3 is good, 

and I'll just keep it simple.

Well, cute girl! Nanners and Gramps hope you have 

the best birthday. We can't wait to come to your party!

I'll be bringing my camera!

Until then, oh how we love you! 

Such a precious little girl.

Heaven's biggest blessing contained in such a small frame!

We love you!

Gage Graduates

It was an exciting day! Meet Weber State University's newest graduate.

Earning your Bachelors degree is a ton of work!

A major in Criminal Science with a minor in Spanish.

Congratulations Gage! You make an awesome scholar!

It's a day every parent dreams of.

And a day you never think will come.

And when it does your happy and sad. 

Happy your child is doing great things,

 A little sad, they're all grown up!

Gage, your hard work paid off! Pat yourself on the back!

I love the processional. So exciting!!! I was camera ready! 

All those hats, but I'm focused on just one!

How I loved it when he turned around and looked up. I had my camera ready!

And he had lots of cheering fans in the audience.

Two people who supported him all the way through were smiling big!

I think they should give them a diploma too!

The finale speaker said, "Turn around and give a hand of applause 

to all those who helped you along the way!

After a round of applause for all those loving supporters, Dad waves at his little daughter!

Then it was time.

No problem smiling for these kinds of pictures!

Yup, they read his name! We cheered and whistled!

Yup, that's my boy! He's looks perfect in purple!

Two thumbs up for a great moment in time!!!

The finale walk!

So proud of you Gage! Kudos!!! Congratulations! Well done!

Now what is your next venture?

Cute family!

Knowing Gage, it will be something spectacular.

We love YOU!

Super Spectacular Day!

Big Day Today

It's a BIG day today!

A day you wait a lifetime for.

Or so it feels!

Someone grew tall.

Someone is graduating!

Say goodbye to Weber State University!

How many years of school to major in Criminal Science,

With a minor in Spanish?

Congratulations today Gage!

It's a kick up your heels day!

Yes you got it. I'm camera ready!

Going to be snapping up a storm today!

Can't wait! More pictures to come!

But for now, I've gotta go.

Gage, smile big today! 

I'll be the woman whistling at you in-between frames.

We are so happy for you.

Great Accomplishment!

We Love YOU!

New Shop In Town

As you've read, there's a new shop in town! CROW TINT has now moved from Willard to Wall!

Gage is our glass man. I'm the kind of person who can find a rock flying in the air on just about any road and it's nice to have someone who can fix all my rock chips and broken windshields and tint my windows as well, not only that he travels too! Check out the Grand Opening and come pay Gage a visit!

Happy Anniversary Gage & Missy

Time goes by way too fast!

And Before you know it, your celebrating once again!

I want to say 3 years.

Keeping track of these kids isn't easy.

I can barely remember when I got married.

Today though I just want to send them 

lots of love and a wish. . .

Hope your day is wonderful today!

You are a beautiful family!

I'm so happy you're mine.

Happy Anniversary!

We love you!

Happy 1st Birthday Baylee Boo!

I wish I had taken up photography when I was young. 

I am however happy I took it up when I got older. 

One of my favorite things to do is take pictures of my grandchildren.

I have had no end of fun capturing pictures of Baylee's first year of life.

Happy 1st Birthday little girl!

I'm sure the angels cried when you left Heaven!

I took this first picture through a plate glass window.

Here she is . . .her 1st day on earth!

Little girls are so fun. 

Baylee you are cute as a button,

Such a special gift to us all!

It doesn't take a baby long to grow.

Here she is on her blessing day.

Beautiful as can be!

Baylee is such a good baby. 

Always happy! Always content!

Easy going and pleasant.

Good as gold!

She pulls the cutest faces and loves people.

She has eyes that make you want to melt 

and cheeks that always need kissing.

One night I got to tend her and she looked so cute,

I hauled her out on the front grass

to capture a few pictures.

I love taking her picture!

I can't believe a year has gone by.

Where did that go?

Here she is at her 1st birthday party.

Missy planned the cutest party for her

with fun decorations, balloons, 

and an outfit Missy had made to match it all.

Well little Baylee Boo. 

You are such a sweet baby girl.

I suppose I won't be saying baby much longer

as fast as you are growing, 

this time is almost gone.

Grandma can't wait to photograph your next year of life.

I hope I can keep up with you!

So glad you came to earth to be a Crowther. 

Happy Birthday little girl!

We love you!!!

Hugs & Butterfly kisses *