a sunday view

this is first and foremost for 'my highness'

then for Kelly, aka "I'm your mommy!"

then for Grandma

and for all you other luckies out there!

the kids were making a ton of noise sunday night, and I decided to take some video of the action.

can you tell who is who?  think fast!

new name

I've renamed my photo blog:

shannonbowphoto.blogspot.com

fall........

3 days until October.....and 105 for today?

seriously????????

hazards in photography

it's dangerous working for Jake.

every morning after a long (but fun) work day assisting Jake I can hardly walk straight and my muscles are aching from all that lifting, or bending...or whatever Jake makes me do!  I need to make sure to read up on labor laws to make sure I'm not being short handed! ;)  (and Jake, not sure if Tami told you this, but my ringtone for you when you call....Ants Go Marching by Dave Mathews...so fitting)

here is just one of the many hazards when you're forced into hard labor, in the 109 degree heat in no shade....but some of the perks: a box fan to blow warm (but not hot) air at you, air pressure continuous spray bottles to keep me soaking wet and cool (Ben did a great job of that....and also pouring ice water on my bandanna....unexpected to say the least)....good times.

but it's totally worth it!  every back pain (maybe), achy muscle, sprained ankle, black eye, dislocated shoulder, electric shock.....ok not ALL those, but most of those are true! 

It's wonderful working with amazing friends, and learning some great things about photography along the way.

 friends to goof around with.....if only Kelly were here too.  We'd be too much for you though, Jake.  better keep it one at a time.

It's been officially ONE YEAR since I've started photography seriously (took Jakes Audios Auto course) and learned the manual modes for photography...I took the leap and Auto is a distant memory.  I've never looked back.  I still have so much to learn, but I am so pleased with my progress and the willingness that the Johnson's have to teach me and trust my assistance and work for them.

sorrowful days

two dear friends

two birthdays

two ugly scenes of whaling and gnashing of teeth

mourning the loss

First:  Monica, my dear Monica.  Moving away from us was bad enough...now you need to have a birthday so far away from us so we can't tease you!?  not fair.....one.  bit.

Monica's personal favorite: thought I would include a large edition for y'all.

Here's how our little sneaky plan went though:  Although you're miles and miles away....you're only 2 miles from my Sneaky Parents!

I read on Monica's blog that no one has shown up at her place wearing all black, with eye makeup running, a sympathy card, and funeral flowers.

I get this GENIUS idea!

I call my mom, and ask her to do this HUGE favor.  Dress up in black...both mom and dad....run some makeup on her face, bring over a sympathy card, and ugly bunch of flowers...and serenade her.

My dad's song: happy birthday.  happy birthday.  death and sickness in the air.  people dying everywhere.  happy birthday.  happy birthday.  sung monotone and quite sadly.  My mom was supposed to be there 'crying'.  they brought a bunch of old dead twigs that my dad sprayed black....and a touching 'somewhat' sympathy card.

UNFORTUNATELY

the woman of honor had skipped town on us and some husband of hers treated her to a birthday dinner of some sort.....the nerve!

My parents left the 'bouquet' and card for her to find.

I called and 'sang' the song....with a cry in my voice....but couldn't keep it long.  I started busting up the last couple words.  

I also sent her these beautiful photos of yours truly, so she knew she was being mourned.

we really do miss you Mon.  'gravely!'

now for the second victim...the very next day!

Miss ROBYN!!!!!!  Turning the big THREE OOOOH!

the cake of misery:

the whole gang together.....

MINUTE TO WIN IT!!!!!!

jenna, seriously....love this expression!  getting that penny from the bottom of the tights....classic.

catch those pencils....and Chelsey, never takes a bad photo...even when she's concentrating!  such beauty!  such grace!

jen....proof that there were some sweet fails!  love the pencils flying everywhere!

Robyn:

wingardian levosia...it must be a trick only 30+ can do!

get 6 noodles on a spaghetti noodle....

Cade wanted to be in on the action....with the help of mommy....

at my personal best, and Robyn pulling a disgusted face.  just love it!

(and to be honest, this is the most flattering 'unflattering' photo of myself EVER!)

cuz

cade isn't the kid that enjoys a photo op.  i rarely get a good shot of him.  he'll make a silly face or simply run away.

just a nice little moment i had with him the other day.

and it wasn't even a forced smile.

my buddy.

school days...

Kaylee on her first day of 1st grade.

She has Mrs. Arteaga.

 

Cade right before his first day of his second year of preschool.

This year he has Ms. Anderson.

It's gonna be a fun year.

he wasn't interested in posing for a photo at the school...so somehow i got this one.

spit

the monsoon season has been bleak down here in the copa.

not much to speak of in terms of rain and winds and great lightning and thunderings.

more like a spitty rain.

Kaylee and Cade and Conner enjoy a somewhat wet sprinkling.

and by the way....Monday....you're not coming fast enough!

he knows it.

he's two...and although he can't talk yet....he lets me know he understands what it means to be a twosie.

love you still conner.

conner is 2

we had to re-do the candle blowing out because I kept missing it.  Conner blew the candles out every single time without any help.  this last time you can tell he knew the drill and got them blown out before David was even able to completely place it in front of him.

aaah

if only the whole day was this perfect and sweet.

a day when there's nothing but LOVE going around.

that's not always the case, but at least I can remember these moments forever.

my kids love each other.

and of course, can't go a week without a conner'ism....boots.

he's been sporting his ever famous croc on one foot, and his new found love, lightning mcqueen  boot he found...who knows where....but poor thing got a blister from wearing it all day....on the wrong foot of course.

dinner was a hit

or at least the fruit was.

it's been one of those.....

days.

can you hear him?

swim lessons

Kaylee's third year of swim lessons.

she took off.  she's swimming really well.

cade is progressing very well too....

conner got too excited to join in on the lessons and jumped in to swim with the kids....miss sonny was there, don't worry.  so the last lesson I dressed him up accordingly.  a swim diaper, so his diaper wasn't as heavy as he was.

he's going to love swim lessons next year when he is finally old enough.

celebrating independence

we got together with family yesterday and had a yummy BBQ after going swimming.

down here in Arizona, it's hard to party 'old school' when basically every fun firework is illegal.

we got to play with some poppers, popping bottles and 'glow worms'...aka....street poo...really, that stuff is just nasty to watch 'grow/glow'.

out there for almost 10 minutes....lighting fires in 110+ degree heat...hot.

miss those days when we would light off roman candles into the wheat field and put out a fire on our fence post when one of the fireworks set it on fire.  good ole' midwestern days of firecrackers.  we even had a friend make his own, and it turned out pretty cool.

maybe next year we can go out of state and get our hands on some fun stuff.  the kids would love it, and I'd like them to do what I did as a kid.

(conner dressed the part....pink, white and blue, with a camo croc for military support)