Matthew Christmas 2011

We took Matthew to the rock garden/mini Stonehenge thingy and we got some great photos.  He is so cute that he is an easy subject, plus he was doing what boys do best - being a boy!

Schoondyke Christmas Photos

Today I got to spend time with some of my favorite people -- the Schoondykes!  I always have so much fun doing their photos because we laugh the entire time, well Jen isn't always laughing, but Katie, Jeffrey, and I are!

This year we went to the grounds of the VA.  I think we got some great shots.

A photo shoot at the Biltmore

Saturday I had a photo shoot with Deanna's girls.  First, it was my first photo gig in awhile and it felt great to be back out there and behind my lens.  Second, we did something very different and kind of exciting.  We went to the Biltmore, America's largest privately owned home.  It was huge and it was gorgeous.  Unfortunately, we couldn't take any photos inside the beautifully decorated home, but I think we did okay on the grounds.  There was something very storybook-ish about the place.  After we re-arranged one of the greenhouses to our liking we got some of my favorite photos of the day.  And, with the storybook feel, I felt the need to go a little antique with the pictures.

Mom Mom

I lost my grandmother, Mom Mom, this week.  We knew it was coming, but that didn't make it any easier.  I have always had a special bond with Mom Mom.  I spent a lot of time at her house growing up and once I became a teenager she treated me more like a friend than a kid.  Even when I no longer had to be "watched" I would still stop by her house and spend time with her.  I'm going to miss her terribly, but here are a few pictures of this wonderful woman in my life.  I'm so thankful I had her as long as I did.

Mom Mom and I at my college going away party - 1996

Mom Mom, Pop Pop, and I at my bridal shower - 2000

Mom, Mom Mom, Pop Pop, and Crystal (a bridesmaid) at my bridal shower - 2000.

Mom Mom, Aunt Joan (her sister), Uncle Bud (Aunt Joan's husband), and Aunt Charlotte (her sister) outside of the church at our wedding - 2000

Mom Mom and Pop Pop entering my wedding reception - 2000

Mike, Uncle Terry, and Mom Mom at our house in 2006.  

Mom Mom, Patrick, and Pop Pop at Patrick's Graduation from UT in 2009.

Patrick, Uncle Tom, Pop Pop, Maw, and Mom Mom at Patrick's Graduation party 2009.

The family has some other pictures that I am hoping to have in my possession in the near future - like one of me when I am like 2 years old, sitting on the couch between Mom Mom and Pop Pop.

Got Soul?

My dear brother, Patrick, and his girlfriend, Rachel, were kind enough to spend the weekend with me working on a photo contest.  The contest theme is "Soul".  When I think of soul I always think of Jazz.  So, Patrick and Rachel came up and we broke out Patrick's saxophone.  A tour of Johnson City found us some great sites, and some interesting stares!  Now, help me figure out which is the best photo to invoke SOUL.  Leave me a comment and vote for your favorite!

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Tri-Cities GOT Talent!!!

This year's Tri-Cities Got Talent was nothing short of amazing!!!  The acts were great and we had several people return from last year who only improved from the previous year.  We were also treated to the return of Carson Peters, our winner who fiddled his way to the top last year!!  Below are a few pictures from the show.  I hope to have the rest up on the www.jcommons.smugmug.com site within the next few days.

The Opening Act

Carson Peters  - Last year's winner

Kristen Trent - 4th Runner Up

Wendy Aistrop - 3rd Runner Up

Melanie Glenn - 2nd Runner Up

Luke Broyles - 1st Runner Up

And the winner is . . . OPEN ALTAR!!!!!!!!!!!!!

i Heart Faces - Pet Faces!

i Heart Faces challenge this week - PET FACES!!!!!!  How do I take and use only one pet face when I have all these cute little monkeys running around???  I finally decided on this one of Sarge.  He wasn't very happy that Mike picked him up and carried him across the boardwalk, but he just couldn't figure out how to stay out of everyone's way!!!