And, we're off!

My workshop finally started today! It was exactly what I was expecting...totally anti-climactic simply attaching the lesson & pressing send. Nonetheless, the very first lesson for the very first 503 |online| workshop is sitting in the inbox of 21 lovers of photography. I am thrilled to know that in only 6 short weeks there will be close to 2-dozen more people who truly get (or at least are well on their way) the art and fun a camera (that you know how to use) can bring.  I have always known this about myself, but learned even more so recently that I LOVE teaching.  I get such a kick out of seeing others love something as much as me and have a desire to learn.  So, learning we're doing....and a TON of it.  I just hope my mass amounts of information doesn't make any of my new students run the opposite direction! :-/ 

Depending on the interest level of others who didn't get in the first round, I will be able to know how soon I should host another.  If you are in fact interested, send me an email and let me know! [jessica@503photography.com] Thanks so much! 

(this picture is the slightest bit blurry simply because I was laughing so hard when snapping the picture. nonetheless, it's so dang hilarious! I think it deserves a pretty frame. :) 

Happy Brand Spankin' New Year!

Two Thousand and Nine. It's the first day of the first month of a brand new year. Looking forward to what this year has in store... 

wet nose kiss from Chili...

...and cousin Huey, too - in for a visit who literally right after taking this picture bit my lens.

Christmas '08

At this moment I am thankful for electricity and temperature controlled housing, soft socks, DVR, sweat shirts and for cameras and apple pies...

And cranberry & apple dishes loaded down with sugar. 

And puppy chow. Thank God for whoever came up with this masterpiece of a recipe. This is the type of food that'll make you happy your butt's growing bigger. 

Chili waiting on her main man to come home...

Showing off his new Christmas gift...

Some of our resident family joined us for a delicious dinner. 

 Time for bed.

Christmas morning: 

Feelin' sassy in his new coat: 

Anything for me!? 

And, of course, thankful for Skype.

Merry Christmas everyone! I hope everyone had a wonderful, restful and fun holiday! Even though our Christmas looked a bit different this year, it was all that and more. 

Dear Chili,

I hope one day someone teaches you how to use the phone or computer so that you can write a letter to the president or someone else equally as important and explain to them what amazing parents you have. Surely, for all the things we have done for your freakish, terrified of everything, and might I add BOSSY butt we should get a little something out of it. Maybe a trip to the Bahamas, a debut on Oprah or ... I don't know...a million dollars?! Next time you decide you need to go outside make sure you don't do it during a time when the winds howling, the siding knocking and the wind chimes banging.  If I had known you were going to get so scared you'd hide under a tree long enough to get ice crystals hanging off your ears I'd have taught you how to use a human toilet! And, please when I do decide that I'm so worried I finally dredge across the back deck, down the stairs and onto the ice and snow accumulating in the back yard (in my SOCKS no less!!), don't make me come all the way into the trees to pull your scared, chattering teeth, shaking butt out! 

I'm still not sure my toes are ever going to look the same.

Love (but only a little bit right now), 

Your forever sacrificing dog-mom 

Cincinnati 6°
Mostly Cloudy
High: 16°	Low: 5°
Feels Like:	-14°
Barometer:	30.28 in.
Humidity:	60%
Visibility:	9 Miles
Dewpoint:	-5°
Wind:	W 19 mph

I LOVE this commercial

In the DVR world we live in today I rarely see commercials anymore, but this is one I always press play for. I LOVE it! 

(*you might have to press pause on the blog music by scrolling to the very bottom of the page)

thoughtfulness

Last weekend Corey had Saturday off which is a huge deal to us since that only happens once or less a month. We found ourselves out with the crowds, running errands. This Christmas has felt so different than most. It's the first one my sister is not coming home and the first one we're not going home either. It's also the first Christmas we'll be spending in our own home...our "still-feels-new" home in Cincinnati. So, getting out with the Christmas crowds felt familiar and somewhat comforting.  I know Christmas has become tainted as the years have passed with people seeing it as only a time to be stressed, a time where they have to buy something for everyone and often times with money they don't really have. Now, in this day and age many of us just think of something to get, order it online and check it off our to-do list. I realized though walking around the Gap wondering what sweater would look best on her (can't say who!) that Christmas is the only time during the year that all of our focus is solely on other people. On a normal day I would have been romping around Gap thinking about what might look good on me, not someone else. And, so just walking around, browsing through different stores I noticed the same thing in everyone else. They were all out browsing for gifts for everyone else, but themselves. Such a small thing, but I found myself grateful for this time of year. 

Then this morning I noticed a package sitting on our table on the front porch. My name was handwritten on it which led me to believe that just maybe there was a gift inside. You see I have always thought it a bit weird when people have obsessions with things...like roosters, dolls, ladybugs, whatever it might be...and then collect them, but I too have fallen into this category. With birds. I can't help myself. I'm not exactly sure what it is about them, but I find this simple beauty in just about anything that has a bird on it. So, of course my house has them everywhere. I'm trying not to become "that girl", but I think I'm quickly getting there. So, all that to say, there are a few friends who have picked up on this and picked me up some incredibly thoughtful gifts over the past few years. I cherish each of them and will always cherish the gifts I unpacked from my front porch this morning. I cannot even tell you, oh internet blog, just how much I am in LOVE with my new additions! 

A few other bird goodies decorating my house...

Merry Merry Christmas everyone!

xoxo,  

Jessica

And, the award goes to...

...these crazies for having the most FABULOUS Christmas Card of the year! 

Siblings=SuperFun

This shoot rocked my face off. Four, rockin' siblings decided to do a photo shoot as a Christmas gift to their mom (who is going to FaaaLIP). I seriously dare you to try to look at these photos and not smile.