Where Has September Gone!!

I can NOT believe September has come and gone this quickly!!  My favorite month went by way too fast this year.  I kept meaning to do a "hello fall" post (do it each year) but it just didn't happen!

Anyway, I wanted to sneak a quick post in before we head out to Florida.  Update: still no live birth!!  We thought for sure it would happen Thursday.  I am still on pins and needles, so we'll see how it turns out.  I will postpone FL for one more day.

This past week I celebrated my birthday w/ Salsa dancing - our yearly tradition!!  This year a few fabulous friends joined us.  It's hard to believe I am 32!   

And finally, one of my favorite things about fall are the bits of flair I put up around the house!  I say flair instead of decor b/c it really is scant... but it is just enough to bring the flavor of fall into our home and get us excited for the Holidays!  BTW, I have been in search of the PERFECT lamp for my living room for YEARS!!  Found this one while doing some "birthday shopping".  Happy B-day to me :)

I AM ON CALL

To photograph a live birth!!  The baby was due Sept. 17th so I have been on pins and needles for 5 days (can you even imagine how the Mom is feeling).  I periodically get choked up during the day thinking about it... I am going to be a sentimental mess, but I am so excited to be a part of it.

In other exciting news, the boys and I are heading down to Florida on Friday for a week.  We'll call it a "working" trip.  I will be shooting a few families (sessions still available if you are interested!!)

Until then....

Photography with Hart Joins "A Purpose For Life Foundation Golf Tournament"

This is a double posting from my H2H Blog but I thought it was important to spread the word so here it is again!!

As you may know, last year I started Photography with Hart (a charitable slice of my photography business).  I look for a few opportunities per year to give back and this seemed like a wonderful chance.

I have known the Martinsen Family for about 5 years now and re-connected with Miss Elizabeth through our son's Karate classes!  When she asked if I would be interested in helping out with the photography for the event it was a no brainer!  I also wanted to help spread the word.  Please see below for all the information about the Golf Tournament and help us to spread the word if you know of any golfers, friends or family that would be interested!!  THANK YOU... lots of LOVE!!

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A Purpose For Life Foundation

Please join us for the A Purpose For Life Foundation to benefit local kids with cancer and their families on October 8, 2010.

We will have a great day of golf at the beautiful Golf Club at Ballantyne in Charlotte, NC (www.ballantyneresort.com). The event will include a 4-person scramble, a putting contest with a guaranteed winner of a trip for two to Cancun or the Caribbean, and a chance to make a $1,000,000 shot! Registration also includes a box lunch and awards receptions following the golf.

Non golfers can participate in the family BBQ starting at 4:30. Enjoy festival games, raffle prizes, a visit from the Chick-fil-A cow, a Fire Truck tour, and dinner for the whole family. A great deal for $30 per family. There will also be a silent auction and the "Purpose for Life" Store for some cool shopping.

The American Red Cross will be joining us and hosting a blood drive from 12:00-4:30. You can show your support by giving the gift of life.

Special Offer: Included with your online registration is a 1-year subscription to Golf Digest. Click here for offer and refund details.

Register now and remember to invite your friends to play or come out and enjoy a fun time with the family at the BBQ. Just click on "Tell a Friend" and you can send them a link to this site automatically.

Thank you for your support of the A Purpose For Life Foundation.

Date:	October 8, 2010
Times:	1:30 pm
Facility:	Ballantyne Resort Click here for more information
Fees:	Individual Golfer: $200.00 Late Registration - after October 8, 2010: $0.00 Foursomes: $800.00 VISIT: aPurposeForLifeGolfEvent.org

A Few Fun Final Fotos...

Hey blog-o-shpere!!  We've been busy the last few weeks as summer has been winding down and real schedules are about to set it.  This is my all inclusive catch up session:

One of the most excited things we did these past few weeks is hit the opening night of Mary Poppins!!  Blake called a few nights before to let us know he had gotten tickets!!  This was Braden's official first musical... AND IT WAS AWESOME!  We rented the movie right before so the songs and story line were fresh.  He was literally dancing in the isles and loved when Burt tap danced on the ceiling.  We are still singing all the songs and I think the best part of it all for me was watching him watch it.  There was so much wonder and excitement... I loved it.

Two days later, Blake had a free day, so we used our Libraries free Discovery Place passes and made our first visit to this amazing place!  We've lived here in Charlotte for a while now and I've been wanting to do this forever... I think the kids were at fairly good ages.  They loved the 3D movies and the kids zone downstairs.  Even Blake and I were amazed at the exhibits and I secretly wanted to go back myself so I could explore so more... maybe next time!

FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL... well, preschool anyway!  Braden missed the kindergarten cutoff by a few months {which I was more than happy about}.  Just can't imagine him gone all day... not yet any way!  So... we've been excited about preschool ALL summer and this week the big day finally came.  I got to hang w/ him the first day.  It was really fun to see him in that environment.  Braden is a pretty independent little fellow and had no qualms or reservations about starting a new experience.  After day one he marched right in and even said, "Mom, you don't have to walk me to the door"... "Oh yes I do!!" Love you big boy!!

On a side note here, last, last Friday Gavin announced that he no longer wears diapers.  Keep in mind this little guy has had NO interest in the potty and I wasn't pushing.  G turns three in Oct. so I thought I'd wait until it got closer to really focus.  BUT, when Gavin makes a decision, this little man sticks with it.  He has been dry every night since his announcement!!  #2 is still a major issue, but I can't believe I haven't had to do anything to get this guy almost potty trained!!  We have also been re-doing his room into an official big boy room.  Eventually B&G will be in the bunk beds in Bray's room, so I am "designing on a dime" to at least give him a cool space for now.  

Anyway, we bought some fun things for his room, including this little night stand that I let him choose what color he wanted to paint.  He picked out the color and we all had a blast painting it.  Someday we'll get the whole room done and I'll do the big reveal!!

Below, I love the picture of Bray with his "Buzz Lightyear" wings... he has the BEST imagination!!

And finally, I wanted to post a few pics of our Branch Primary Temple Trip... the boys first official visit. Our temple is down in Columbia, SC and it was a SWELTERING day.  But it was really sweet and I'm glad we made the effort to be a part of it.