all in a day's work by amy parsons photography

A family that prays together, stays together.

 

This is the Nischan Family.  I recently met them while doing some photos for their family.  Because of meeting this family, I feel like my life has changed.  For those of you that know them, I'm sure you feel the same way. 

Our session started off at their home... 

 

They climbed a tree..

...and I climbed the same tree.

Then we went to a friend's farm not far from there.

 

This family was totally a hoot!

I mean a riot!  I even found the stars of Green Acres...

   And lets just say that turtles are slower than tires... A boy, (who will remain anonymous)  ran over a turtle with the car.  It was a complete accident.  I will not go into the details, I'll let them tell you the story.  But don't even ask, I will NOT tell you who did it....{wink)

                                   We went from bubblegum....

                                                     ...to lollipops.

And I know that you may have seen some of these before on Tammy's blog, but I had to add them myself. Here are a few of my favorites of them all.  Trying to get 7 people to jump simultaneously is almost impossible.  This was my favorite jump photo.  If you look at it very close, I guarantee you will not stop laughing.

 

 ...and finally one at the barn. 

Tim, Tammy, Erich, Evan, Todd, Nick,Olivia and Grandma.  I had such a fun time with you all.  I'll see you soon.  :) 

My website.....

So I just wanted to let you all know that my WEBSITE is now L.I.V.E. ......live!   I have worked terribly hard on it and now you can log on and see it for yourself.

www.amyparsonsphotography.com    Pass the word....and go check it out.  I hope you enjoy it!!

"Is that Old Fashioned?"

Yesterday, the kids were watching TV to stay out of the heat.  It was 95 degrees and very humid.  After arguing over the remote, they came upon a show that was one of  my favorites when I was a girl. I was enthused when the remote stopped changing and a hush of silence came into the room.  It was "Full House"  with Mary Kate and Ashley as the babies...they think it's crazy that Mary Kate and Ashley were babies on the show (probably because they can only see one at a time...lol)  It was the episode where Danny had to do the 10pm news, Joey had a comedy gig at the local comedy barn and Jesse was supposed to practice rockin' with his band.  (He was even hot with long hair..{drool}..)Apparently they all 3 couldn't leave the kids home in the bed, so poor Uncle Jesse was conned into staying home.  DJ and Stephanie snuck down the staircase for a tub of icecream and told Uncle Jesse they would go straight to bed after a bowl.  It made them Hyper and Wild and sleeping was the last thing on their minds.  (Here comes the good part)  Uncle Jesse invited his band to come over to the house, where they played drums with licorice, quietly strummed the guitars and whispered the words.  Until DJ and Stephanie came down the stairs wearing their ***80's Wardrobe*** which was totally cool in 1988!  They had the dangle earrings bangle bracelets and long necklaces, the footless leggings and long shirts.  I couldn't help but smile extremely large when I saw their get-up.  It took me back to being 9 and wearing the same things....{sigh}.   The girl band member was decked out in a short studded miniskirt and black leggings, an off one shoulder t-shirt and she had PURPLE in her hair.  (which delighted me because I have RED chunks in mine).  

I caught the girls attention.

(I said)     "Look!  Do you see what they are wearing?....."   I was trying to let them know that the styles are changing and that I am COOL..  but before I could get out another word,

(Holli said)  "Mom, is that Old-Fashioned?" 

It's my party and I'll cry if I want to......

So this week, actually on Tuesday, I turned another year older.  (Don't even think I'm gonna tell you how old I am...)   I was up late on Monday night (editting as usual when the kiddos are snoozing) and I have decided....IT'S OFFICIAL.....It's been marked on the calendar and added to the record books.... I am not having any more birthdays.  I must admit that growing older is for the birds. Don't get me wrong now, I wouldn't change a thing in my life.  If I was given a do-over, I'd gladly pass.  However, I feel that age is catching up with me and I see a few things wrong with my "bod" that I didn't have a problem with 3 years ago.  It must have something to do with growing, giving birth to and breastfeeding 3 children in 6 years.  Hummm...yes, that's definitely it!!!  My hubby seems to think that older women are "hot" and he can't wait till I turn 40.  Oh, Heavens to Betsy, I dread the day.  Being a mom has been the hardest, most challenging and yet most rewarding thing I have EVER done.  I was blessed to spend time in my day with my family, whether it be in person or on the phone.  I love them deeply.

Yes, we had a litttle party.  (someone needs to give the person who wrote my NAME on my cake a lesson in handwriting...btw)  My cake read, "Happy Birthday 21 Any".  Hey stop laughing...you know I am really 21, right?  Seriously now....AMY is not a hard word to spell !!!   How bad is it that on MY day MY cake made no sense!!!  My girls ended up taking a toothpick and making an extra hump on the n. 

After we had cake, we all went into the LR for an XBOX "Rockband" Showdown!!!  Our girls totally skunked their grandparents.  They were rockin' the house!!!  Grace wore the headset microphone and played the guitar at the same time.  We got a kick watching her bend at the knee and bounce a little while she jammed on the guitar....and the high notes were outstanding!!  Holli rocked the drums with ease.  She was working those drumsticks, both at the same time and thumping that basedrum footpetal like it was nothing.  Watching them "Get their Groove On" totally made my day.   Over to the side Charley and Lanie, my neice, were dancing jumping.  It was a wonderful ending to our hectic day......

Lauren and Erick

I just wanted the announce my latest engagement session.  This is Lauren and Erick....

They are getting married in 13 days!!  This was my first time meeting Lauren (although we have talked by email and phone quite often).  Erick is an old friend from my early high school days although I hadn't seen him in 13 years.  We had tons of fun at our session at Central Park and I can't wait for their upcoming wedding. 

I once saw this quote that seems to describe how LOVE affects us...

"I can't begin to imagine the me I would be without you."

Best wishes to you both.....

(You can view the first part of your album to the right, the rest should be done shortly) 

a few changes....

NEW feature....I just installed a way for you to subscribe to my blog.  All you have to do is type your email in at the right------------>Go through a quick email confirmation and YOU ARE DONE....Now, all you blog stalkers out there can stay updated on my exciting life and business.  I know you are out there!!! (wink, wink)

xoxo, Amy 

School is almost out, time to play!!!

Hooray!!!  There are only 5 days left of school!!  I don't know about you, but I'm counting down the days until I can hang dark blankets on the windows of my daughters' rooms and pray that they sleep in past 7am.  (does anyone else do this?)  This year has been a hard and hectic year for me.  Grace is finishing the first grade and I drive her (the other 2 just enjoy the ride) to school in the mornings.  Then I come home and have about 2 hours to either do running or 1 load of laundry or pick up the house a little before I have to get Holli, our middle daughter, down to catch the bus. (she goes 1/2 a day)  Then I get back and hope it will be an easy task to get Charley, our youngest daughter, down for her nap. (can you believe she's almost 2?)  IF she naps, I work a little more either on the house or my photography work, make phone calls or do whatever else I need to do until time to get them off the bus at 3:30.  Then it's playing, homework, dinner, baths etc. and off to bed they go by 9:00pm.  I usually go straight back to the computer to work without any interruptions and I work until anywhere from 11pm to 2am.  This all depends on how much tea I have consumed during the day.....lol...and how loudly the dog is snoring at my feet. (Oz, our English Bulldog)  Usually I drift off to "LaLa_Land"  pretty quickly until my hubby's alarm goes off at 4:45.  I try to tumble out of bed to pack his lunch and see him off to work, then lay back down for 45 minutes until time for my alarm.  Now, on most mornings lately I stagger to the couch to watch the weather and I end up getting TOO cozy and I have been known to drift off to sleep.....waking up in just enough time to get them out the door just in time for the tardy bell.........but ONLY 5 DAYS LEFT!!!

We bought the girls something special last week to play with this summer.  It's something that I always wanted as a child.  See, growing up in a house with 2 other girls, we were forced to use our imagination constantly.  And boy.....did we have wild imaginations!!  (right girls?)  Here are a few things we pretended...now, keep in mind, we are from the boonies.   lol....

We turned the double sinks in the bathroom into a pool and a hot tub for our barbies.      

We would go into the tall grass and play "Jungle Barbies" and they would drive their cars in the safari wild.  They would loose each other and have to survive alone all night.  This particular grass was literally past our little bony knees, so these barbies had a big jungle.  And the 2 outside dogs were the MONSTERS.....lol...Barbie just can't outrun a Shephard.  That's probably my most fun memory with the barbies. 

Turning the sidewalk into a Barbie corvette/jeep racetrack.

Using a pogo ball for a circle counter top.  (Please tell me you remember what a pogo ball is!)  Like a pogo stick, but you squeezed your feet together and bounced...very hard to do, so we came up with other uses for it.  OH, and the Trapper Keepers......we used them for walls and all sorts of things.

I remember not wanting to sleep on the bed, because we had spent all day turning it into a Barbie Mall or House. 

THEN.....when we thought we were getting "way too old" to play with barbies, but the younger sister(s) wanted to play, we'd agree to play but "only fix their hair and change their clothes", we'd say.  But by then, I am ashamed to say, we were almost teenagers!!! 

lol....there was this one doll.  He was the only KEN doll we had and we used to fight over who played with him.  I mean , come on, he could get ANY girl he wanted, right?  The only problem with Ken, was he only had 1 arm.  I'm not sure what happened to him....lol.  I just know he could only stand on the left side of whatever barbie he chose, so he would look like he had his arm around her........lol...

We would play with those barbies until they fell apart. Even after they lost limbs.... We'd put them in the tub and pack them in our suitcases.  I remember the little details of everything.  My mom actually saved them for us.  I went and dug through them a few months ago.  It brought back SO MANY memories to look at all those barbie clothes we used to fight over.  There was 1 wedding dress, (early 80's style, long sleeve and collar), 2 sequin prom dresses, a stonewashed bluejean suit, bikini's, hotpants, halter dresses, and even a pair of legwarmers.......lol.  What a trip to see my daughters playing with the same exact things I spent so many hours enjoying.

SO........back to what we bought them....A little girls dream, or 3 girls in our case.  The PLAYHOUSE of IMAGINATION....

    Here is one of each of the girls in their new playhouse.

Grace was rocking her baby doll in the wood porch swing.  She was singing her to sleep... notice their window boxes full of new flowers they planted by themselves. 

   ...and Holli was mad that I wanted in and I hadn't knocked yet OR said the password. (the back double doors open for adult axcess.  Once you get inside the front, you can stand up)

Here's Charley playing "Pee-tye" with me through the window screen.  That's her favorite game....

and the WATCHDOG is always on duty at the Parsons Playhouse.  Here he is peeping over the half front door.  He kinda reminds me of "The Grumpy Ole Troll, who lives under the Bridge" ..lol.  Oh, I know you moms know exactly what I'm talking about, don't you?   I guess I've been watching too much Dora and Diego (Aye-go is Charley's favorite cartoon)

Holli told me the only thing that would make the playhouse more fun was if it had a TV in it.  It looks like I'll be teaching them a little about "Using their Imagination" all summer and keeping the TV off...lol

Thanks for reading.....

Their first born....

Last week, I took photos for the sweetest couple.  They have been married for almost 3 years and are now expecting their first child, a daughter.  The couple are teachers in our county and he coaches the high school football team.  I went to school with both, Tera and Aaron, and they work at the same schools we attended together.  This lovely couple bought a house that they personally remodeled for their new family.  Tera and Aaron were so much fun and I think we laughed the...entire time.    I wanted to share some of MY favorites so far of their session.  I hope you enjoy them...

We tromped through the wet grass for a few shots. (sorry about your shoes)

They snuggled across the bed...

...and snuck in a few kisses when they could.( I just adore the way he is touching her belly)

I am telling you, her ultrasound has the be the most perfect ultrasound I have ever seen.. what an incredible photo of her face.  At this VERY MOMENT, the baby was kicking her.  The expression on her face tells it all !

I must say, that this is one of my favorites.  Please check out their complete album. 

I've GOT to get better at this.....

So here I am on a rainy day, sitting at my desk.  Wishing the rain would stop so I could work in the garden and the flowers.  Needless to say, I haven't  written a blog in awhile, either.  I'm SLACKING.....I know.    I feel TERRIBLE about it.  If it makes it any better, I have thought, "I need to go blog that" numerous times and then I get side tracked.  I used to pick on my mom for this...now I feel like I am looking at her when I look in the mirror and hear myself talk..go figure  ;)

We have been balancing a hectic schedule lately.  My girls have had field trips and girls scouts meetings and parties.  Daddy has been working midnights, so mama is completely zonked... School is nearing it's end and we are attempting to plan our vacation to FL to see my big sister.  Her baby is due in June and we should be there about 3 weeks after. Love you, Stacey  :)

Yesterday, was another field trip.  We went to a play at MSU and the fish hatchery.  We saw tons of fish.  On the way home, Grace asked for FISH for dinner, cause seeing all those fish swimming made her HUNGRY.  lol....and I was afraid she wouldn't want to eat fish anymore after seeing what we saw earlier. Trish, my little sister, watched Holli for me.  We went to get her and apparently Holli kept her laughing the whole day.   I swear, these girls take after their daddy.... and I see him in them when they laugh and smile.  (In this image you can see my name tattooed on his wrist.  I love it...)

He keeps me rolling on the floor.  They amuse me on a daily basis.  They were being silly, giggling and cackling in the back of the van, the other day on our way home. (one of my favorite sounds in the whole world)  They were laughing hysterically at each other..Charley of course has to immitate them both by forcing her laugh out. Then out of the blue, Grace says, "Home, James...off to the looney farm we go!" I just don't know where they get this stuff from.  NOT ME......lol.

I've been trying to get some deep cleaning done.  I'm failing miserably...  I tried to run the sweeper and it won't work.  I checked everything..wondering what has happened to yet another vacuum. (we have a bad record when it comes to them)  I took the cover off and tried to clean it.  I flipped the vacuum head upside down and "low and behold, MY TOOTHBRUSH fell out!!!"  My TOOTHBRUSH......of all things!  I've been looking for it and lucky for me I have a backup for occasions such as these.  Apparently it got placed in there and I ran the sweeper anyway.  I know what you are thinking, I didn't run over it.  It was placed there when the head was off the canister.  It fit perfectly down the tube and got jammed there.  Hmmm....I wonder?   Yes, there is only one CULPRIT....and she's the 21 month old walking around here with Q-tips sticking out of her ears. (??)  Holli said she was pretendiing to be an alien.  lol....

 

She is into everything, and I think she is destined to climb Mt. Everest!  She can be on top of the table in 3 seconds flat...I guess this explains why my vacuum started smoking this morning and why my house reeks of burnt rubber....blugh! 

I have taken some fun and awesome sessions lately.  I will be posting about them soon. 

Off to Paris you go.....Seth!

This past Friday, I went with my assistant to Downtown Huntington and the Lake.  I photographed, Seth, an aspiring model.  We did a modeling session for his portfolio for him to take to his modeling agency in Cincy in the hopes of traveling to Paris this summer for a modeling career. 

In the hours we were together, I had the poor guy walking the railroad tracks, a railroad bridge overpass, in an alley, in a park, up a staircase, wearing boxing gloves, water pouring over him, and last but not least in the sand and lake.  Yes, by evening the temperature wasn't as high and he took off his shirt and tromped out in that water like a champ!!!  I hope it was all worth if for these images. 

He looks like he just walked off the runway and onto my computer screen.  This guy has all the perfect features and the personalliity to boot.  Seth, GOOD LUCK WEDNESDAY!!  I'll be rooting for you. 

Thanks!!!