Ready for a rant? Brace yourselves, here I go...
As many of you know, I not only like to take lots of pictures, but I frequently have pictures of my kids professionally done (by someone with a nicer camera than me, and usually lots more talent). During my kids' first year, I get their pictures done once a month. I have splurged on the big milestones (birth, 6 months, etc), but try to find a super great deal for the off-months (sometimes free!).
One of my favorite tools to use has become ksl.com's classifieds! You scroll down to services, and then look for the photo category. Photographers of varied levels of experience advertise and list specials there. There are lots of photographers that are just getting started that offer great deals in order to build their portfolio, which is a perfect win/win, as was the case with Lincoln's 8 month pictures - they were completely free for the session and a CD of all the images!...and the photographer gets to use pictures of my cutie to promote his business! (I know that the photographer, who is a student, is doing sessions with a CD of all the pictures for $25 right now. Feel free to email me if you want his email address)
Anyhow! I've always had a really good experience doing this, so I was shocked with how things went down this month. I found a photographer who is just getting her business going, although she claims to have been "doing weddings" for some time now. Her name is Crystal (but she goes by Chrissy Mae per her My Space account, which she provides a link to on her business blog). The name of her business is Crystal Clear Photography, and from what I can see she started it up just earlier this year. Most of her pictures on her blog are of her daughter (who is adorable, I should add). I like her style of child photography, so I was excited that she was running a special for free sitting fee and only $30 for a CD of the edited images with a printing release!
So, I emailed her right away saying that I was interested. A couple of days passed & I hadn't heard back from her, so I dropped another email asking if she'd received my previous email. She emailed me back saying that she had not gotten it & that she was having "email issues", but that she had scheduled me in for the 13th. No biggie, that happens, right?
Next, I responded to her email, this time to set a time and place. 5 days pass, no response again. However, I did notice another ksl ad, this time also for a free sitting, but the CD would be $40 (instead of $30). I know that's still a good deal, but I did think it was weird that she was taking the time to continue advertising to gain new clients (and raising her prices) when she wasn't even responding to the ones that were already contacting her.
So! Giving her the benefit of the doubt I assume that I didn't hear back from her again due to her email issue, so I send her another follow-up email. Eleven days later I still haven't heard back from her, but I see another ksl ad (this time for a free sitting, but $50 for the CD). At this point I almost just said 'forget it'...but her ad mentions that she's been off of work due to a family emergency, and that she's back taking sessions again. So, I feel bad for her & decide to try one last time to get a hold of her to solidify a time for our session. I called and left her a message, and sent her an email.
The next day I finally heard back from her and she said "sorry, but things have been super crazy!" We manage to email back and forth over the next few days to decide on a location (Murray Park) and exact time (6:00 PM). In her last email (which was the night before our session) she says that she'll be at Murray Park before we get there to scout out a good spot, and to call her cell phone when we get there so she can tell us where at the park she is.
After the juggling act of picking out the perfect outfit, timing Lincoln's naps and dinner so he wouldn't be too hungry, or too full & sleepy, getting him bathed, and just getting us all to the park on time...I was pretty pleased when we arrived a couple of minutes early! So, I called her phone - no answer. Strange, I thought. Even if she was running late, she knew I'd be calling...you'd think she'd at least answer her phone. So, I left her a message. We drove around for about 15 minutes until Noah couldn't handle watching another playground go by, and we got out and let him play while I called again. No answer again...
To draw this story to a close - after calling her & leaving 3 messages, and waiting nearly 2 hours at the park (until we had no more light anyway) we finally left. She never showed, or called back, or anything. I was really frustrated, but STILL trying to give her the benefit of the doubt...maybe something horrific happened to one of her children, maybe she was in a terrible accident...
...maybe nothing! Here I am two days later. I sent a polite email saying that I hoped everything was ok with her, and if she could just email or call me back...but I've heard nothing. No response to any of my messages, or to my email. AND, I'm quite sure that whatever kept her from showing up for our appointment (or responding to me!) wasn't anything too greivous since she's updated the photo header on her blog TWICE since then, as well as her picture on her My Space page.
Aaargh. I hate feeling taken advantage of. At least I hadn't paid any money up front, but isn't my time and gas money worth anything? Besides that I could've made other arrangements to have somebody else do pictures of Lincoln.
So! If you ever run across Crystal Clear Photography (in the Salt Lake City area anyway)...the only thing that is "clear" to me, is to stay clear of that business if you need a dependable photographer!...there are plenty of talented, reliable ones out there!!!
*If I ever hear anything from this Crystal, I'll be sure to add that info to this post*
Monday, September 15, 2008
Liberty Park
We have some good friends from our years in Iowa (Leslie & Gary) who happen to be doing residency here too (Gary is a year ahead of Mark). They have a cute little son named Isaac that is just a few months younger than Noah. We joined them a few weeks ago for a play date at Liberty Park, and the boys had a great time. Thanks, Leslie!
Everything continues to have a movie reference to Noah right now. This is Noah riding on "Crush" the turtle.
"Look, Mom! I'm Dori!" he kept saying (for those of you not in the know about Finding Nemo, Dori is the blue fish riding on the turtle Crush's back). Throughout the time that we spent at the park, Noah kept running back to play on the most exciting thing in the park...this lovely cement turtle.
When Noah did come back to our world periodically (from make believe or movie re-enactment) he really did enjoy running around with Isaac. Here are the two cuties together. I was quite pleased that I was able to snap a picture with both of them in it before Noah ran off...this time yelling "to infinity and beyond!!!"
Isaac on the other hand had no problem at all hamming it up for the camera. He sat there and grinned, waiting for me to take his picture. It caught me so off guard, since Noah would NEVER do that...it was so stinkin' cute!
Wahoo! Wahoo! Only one more post to go, and I'll be all caught up through August...
Everything continues to have a movie reference to Noah right now. This is Noah riding on "Crush" the turtle.
"Look, Mom! I'm Dori!" he kept saying (for those of you not in the know about Finding Nemo, Dori is the blue fish riding on the turtle Crush's back). Throughout the time that we spent at the park, Noah kept running back to play on the most exciting thing in the park...this lovely cement turtle.
When Noah did come back to our world periodically (from make believe or movie re-enactment) he really did enjoy running around with Isaac. Here are the two cuties together. I was quite pleased that I was able to snap a picture with both of them in it before Noah ran off...this time yelling "to infinity and beyond!!!"
Isaac on the other hand had no problem at all hamming it up for the camera. He sat there and grinned, waiting for me to take his picture. It caught me so off guard, since Noah would NEVER do that...it was so stinkin' cute!
Wahoo! Wahoo! Only one more post to go, and I'll be all caught up through August...
Fun with our Denver Extension...
If I say, immediate family...does that mean my husband & two boys? It used to always mean my parents and siblings. Do you refer to your siblings, in-laws, etc as immediate or extended family?
Because I'm a bit confused on the topic, I'll just pick one and say that...since all of our extended family was together for Grandpa Cole's memorial service a few weeks ago, we took the opportunity to get together with some of our "Denver extension" - Mark's sister Rachel & her son Henry (and Mark's mom too!). Since we still had water toys around from the play group, we enjoyed some water play in the backyard...as well as some bubbles! Here's cute little Henry trying to get at his mom's bubble wand.
Here's Noah showing Lincoln exactly how you use a bubble blower. Linc was quite intrigued.
Noah happily showing me that the bubble blower is "Pablo"
I wish that I'd gotten more shots of Rachel & Henry. Somehow I managed to mostly just relax and enjoy myself instead of keeping myself behind a camera...see, Mark - I do manage to do that now and then...the problem is that I tend to regret it later :)
Because I'm a bit confused on the topic, I'll just pick one and say that...since all of our extended family was together for Grandpa Cole's memorial service a few weeks ago, we took the opportunity to get together with some of our "Denver extension" - Mark's sister Rachel & her son Henry (and Mark's mom too!). Since we still had water toys around from the play group, we enjoyed some water play in the backyard...as well as some bubbles! Here's cute little Henry trying to get at his mom's bubble wand.
Here's Noah showing Lincoln exactly how you use a bubble blower. Linc was quite intrigued.
Noah happily showing me that the bubble blower is "Pablo"
I wish that I'd gotten more shots of Rachel & Henry. Somehow I managed to mostly just relax and enjoy myself instead of keeping myself behind a camera...see, Mark - I do manage to do that now and then...the problem is that I tend to regret it later :)
Ending the "Month of Water"
As I've written before - August's playgroups were all water activities. The last one that month was held in our backyard, and we had a nice time relaxing in the shade while the kids ran around & splashed in the water. I didn't get a picture of everyone, but here are a few shots that I did get...
Noah, playing with his pool's trunk :)
The little boy in the hat is also named Noah...and they have an interestingly competitive dynamic between the two of them. It's like they're trying to claim ownership of their name or something :)
Just a bunch of the kids & some of the parents...I have to say how impressed I am with how much Maureen gets out (with all her kids) in the summer heat at 9 months pregnant!
Claire, I spared you on the last playgroup post, but you weren't getting out of two in a row :) Here she is pumping up one of the water toys.
We kind of migrated with the chairs as the shade moved. I'm so glad that we have such a great shade tree in our yard though!
And, I'll end the post with this little fish (Lincoln)
Here's a video clip. This splashing is serious business...
Noah, playing with his pool's trunk :)
The little boy in the hat is also named Noah...and they have an interestingly competitive dynamic between the two of them. It's like they're trying to claim ownership of their name or something :)
Just a bunch of the kids & some of the parents...I have to say how impressed I am with how much Maureen gets out (with all her kids) in the summer heat at 9 months pregnant!
Claire, I spared you on the last playgroup post, but you weren't getting out of two in a row :) Here she is pumping up one of the water toys.
We kind of migrated with the chairs as the shade moved. I'm so glad that we have such a great shade tree in our yard though!
And, I'll end the post with this little fish (Lincoln)
Here's a video clip. This splashing is serious business...The things that we'll do for a photo...
Despite the most valiant efforts of our photographer to get a good picture of the 3 grand-kids during our family photo session...we weren't able to get a nice one (see her post about it). So, we tried again on our own later. We set the kiddos on the grass and tried everything that we could think of to get them to smile, or at least all look at the camera! Note Noah's anxiety at having to stay seated on the grass...our active little 2 year old just wants to run & explore! I just love that furrowed little brow, but even better than that...
...check out this expression on Noah! Audrey & Lincoln's faces haven't changed much though :) Man, I cannot look at Noah in this picture and not giggle.
So, we continued to try everything we could think of in order to get that perfect picture. Here Chris turned the camera on Chelsey & I while we were singing "eensy-weensy-spider". Nice.
(I should include a disclaimer here...my brother takes great pictures, and took most of the photos that I've used in different posts from their visit here. However, much to his dismay after downloading the pictures, he found out that the whole trip he had his camera on the wrong setting. So, some of the pictures are grainy. I'm still sooo glad to have the pictures - so thanks, Chris. I just thought that I'd better add that disclaimer to his photography. Normally his pictures are sharp & clear. Sorry, Chris. I know that was frustrating for you.)
Back to the photo-shoot :) Next, we tried bubbles! But then we couldn't get the kids to look at the camera anymore...
Hmmm...not bad, if you don't mind the bubbles all over the front of Noah's clothes :)
Noah is intense about pretty much everything he does. So, why not with blowing bubbles?
Just cute.
And, lastly, I got a chuckle out of this picture...Lincoln is concentrating on trying to devour an entire container of bubbles, Audrey is delicately holding her bubble wand while observing (with a slight look of distain) the strange behavior of her cousin, and Noah is trying to blow bubbles onto the back of Audrey's head. All typical stuff of their own little personalities and stages that they're in.
Oh, the things that we'll do for a picture...
...check out this expression on Noah! Audrey & Lincoln's faces haven't changed much though :) Man, I cannot look at Noah in this picture and not giggle.
So, we continued to try everything we could think of in order to get that perfect picture. Here Chris turned the camera on Chelsey & I while we were singing "eensy-weensy-spider". Nice.
(I should include a disclaimer here...my brother takes great pictures, and took most of the photos that I've used in different posts from their visit here. However, much to his dismay after downloading the pictures, he found out that the whole trip he had his camera on the wrong setting. So, some of the pictures are grainy. I'm still sooo glad to have the pictures - so thanks, Chris. I just thought that I'd better add that disclaimer to his photography. Normally his pictures are sharp & clear. Sorry, Chris. I know that was frustrating for you.)
Back to the photo-shoot :) Next, we tried bubbles! But then we couldn't get the kids to look at the camera anymore...
Hmmm...not bad, if you don't mind the bubbles all over the front of Noah's clothes :)
Noah is intense about pretty much everything he does. So, why not with blowing bubbles?
Just cute.
And, lastly, I got a chuckle out of this picture...Lincoln is concentrating on trying to devour an entire container of bubbles, Audrey is delicately holding her bubble wand while observing (with a slight look of distain) the strange behavior of her cousin, and Noah is trying to blow bubbles onto the back of Audrey's head. All typical stuff of their own little personalities and stages that they're in.
Oh, the things that we'll do for a picture...
Happy 56th, Dad!
So, I'm really trying to catch up on all these blog posts that I'm way behind on. I think after this one, that I only have one more from while my brother's family was in town from Boston. Anyway! My dad had his birthday last month, and the day we celebrated it we all attended church with my parents and enjoyed some time just hanging out. Beforehand though, my mom prepared a really nice brunch that we enjoyed on their balcony.
Yum! Thanks, Mom.
With presents, instead of of birthday cake, we enjoyed birthday pie! Nothing wrong with breaking away from the traditional birthday treat, right? My dad's favorite pie is German Chocolate too...mmmm.
Happy Birthday, Dad! We love you.
Yum! Thanks, Mom.
With presents, instead of of birthday cake, we enjoyed birthday pie! Nothing wrong with breaking away from the traditional birthday treat, right? My dad's favorite pie is German Chocolate too...mmmm.
Happy Birthday, Dad! We love you.
Family Pictures - August 16, 2008
For those of you that didn't get a look at the link to our family pictures before it expired, I am going to post copies of the digital files that we purchased from our photo session. Besides, coming from someone who has experienced having their home robbed & having our apartment building burn down...you can't have copies of pictures in too many places! Cyberspace being one of those places!
So, our pictures were taken at a beautiful spot in the mountaintops of Alta. Here's a shot of my parents:
As far as I know, this is the only picture that we have of everyone together on my side of the family.
My brother Chris' family.
Beautiful Audrey. Check out those lashes!
The four of us.
Lincoln, 9 months (yes, I'm late on doing his 10 month post...I'll tell you why soon)
Noah exploring the meadow.
As I've mentioned before, we've had such a good experience each time that we have worked with this photographer (Joanna). Feel free to take a look at her blog and see some more of her work!
So, our pictures were taken at a beautiful spot in the mountaintops of Alta. Here's a shot of my parents:
As far as I know, this is the only picture that we have of everyone together on my side of the family.
My brother Chris' family.
Beautiful Audrey. Check out those lashes!
The four of us.
Lincoln, 9 months (yes, I'm late on doing his 10 month post...I'll tell you why soon)
Noah exploring the meadow.
As I've mentioned before, we've had such a good experience each time that we have worked with this photographer (Joanna). Feel free to take a look at her blog and see some more of her work!
Wednesday, September 10, 2008
Hootinany!
I must not be the only one that has a "default meal". You know...the days that you either have no ingredients, no time, or no desire to cook? Those are the days we use our default meal - Hootinany. Well, that's what my family calls it anyway. Mark's family calls it Dutch Babies, and some people call it German Pancakes. Whatever you call it - it's super easy, uses 5 always-on-hand ingredients...and it's yummy!So, I'll show you mine if you show me yours! My "default meal" recipe that is! So, here's my Hootinany recipe - and if you want to leave a super easy recipe on the comment link to this post, then we'll all have one more recipe to choose from on one of "those" days!
Hootinany
6 Eggs
1 c. Milk
1 C. Flour
1/2 t. Salt
5 T. Butter
Turn oven to 425 degrees, put butter in pan (9x13, cast iron skillet, whatever) & place in oven to melt.
Meanwhile, whip other ingredients in bowl or blender until butter is sizzling (and if you want to be "fancy" then feel free to add a bit of vanilla extract, cinnamon, or whatever sounds good to the batter).
Pour mixture quickly into hot butter, and bake for about 20 minutes.
Voila! That's it! Seriously easy, huh?
And kids love it too - when I was little, I used to sit in front of the oven window and watch as the batter rose up into golden hills and valleys. Every batch is different, and you can play around with the ratios of the ingredients or pan types/sizes to get it just how you like it. Here's a link that gives some guidelines if you're a bit type A like me and need a recipe to start from when you adjust things: http://www.cooks.com/rec/view/0,1718,149183-244206,00.html Now, there are a gazillion ways to serve this scrumptious meal.
The point of a "default meal" is to be able to use whatever you have on hand, but here are just a few of the many ideas you can try:- Top it with melted butter, a spritz of fresh lemon & dusting of powdered sugar (or just the sugar alone)
- Add fresh fruit (with or without whipping cream)
- Use your favorite syrup (I'll include a recipe for one)
- Or my current favorite...fresh fruit (blueberries, strawberries, whatever) with sour cream (try it, it's delicious!)
Orange Syrup
Combine 1/2 c. butter, 1 c. sugar & 1/2 c. frozen orange juice concentrate. Bring to a boil; stir occasionally. That's it!
So, I hope that some of you enjoy this easy meal idea and I would looove to hear of some easy, minimal-ingredient meal ideas from anyone else! Or, if you have a yummy new way to serve this meal, then please - do share.
Monday, September 8, 2008
The Old Spaghetti Factory
Have you ever had a tradition happen almost by accident? I guess that's what has happened for us with The Old Spaghetti Factory. We all go out to eat there as a family once a year. My favorite things about the restaurant have evolved over the years (as a kid it had more to do with things like sitting in the trolley car), but here are my current top 5 (other than the best part - spending time with my family, of course!)...First - their house salad dressing (creamy pesto)...yummy! Second - their spumoni ice cream in the cute little pewter dishes. Third - the garlic butter that they serve with their bread. Fourth - that they have a combination plate, so I don't have to decide! And last, but not least - that the restaurant is just loud enough for me to feel comfortable dining there with kids!
And, like I said, the best part is spending time with my family...so here are some pictures of that! Dad & Mom...
Chris, Audrey & Chelsey
(apparently Audrey likes the spumoni too!)
Josh & Matt
...and the four of us too!
More Cousin Fun...
...this time it's the children's museum! Our friend Claire was nice enough to add us on to her season pass for just $10 (which was less than the cost of one day admission for Noah & I) - so we get to go enjoy the children's museum often now. Wahoo! Here is Noah dumping balls into the pneumatic tube system they have there. I swear that he'd do that for hours if I'd let him...
Chelsey & Audrey
Time to make some music...
I love how Noah rocks out on the big xylophone. Here's a quick clip...
Noah and Audrey checking out each other's rides.
Apparently all this play can be serious business.
I was thinking about how strange it is that next summer both Noah & Lincoln will be running around the children's museum (yikes!), but for now - Lincoln just patiently sits like a prince in his chariot (aka the stroller) and smiles at anyone who will look at him.
I'm glad that I caught this cute moment of Noah & Audrey playing with the magnet letters - because it was fleeting, and then Noah took off running to the next exhibit :)
This is the four of us sitting in the helicopter. I thought that Audrey would love this exhibit since she is always excited to see them in the sky, but she really didn't. She kept saying that it was scary. Darn it. In her defense though, the sound effects it makes are really, super loud.
I think the media area will be more fun for the kids as they get older, but I still had to snap a quick picture of my mom, Noah, and Chelsey & Audrey as "newscasters".
The museum offers free little science classes that are super cute. This time the topic was bubbles. Here they are mixing some ingredients that would bubble and fizz...
And, I'll end with this clip. I caught just the end of this demonstration as Noah decided to play in the "bubbles". Gotta love the good old baking powder and vinegar trick. I do love Noah's curiosity, and that he isn't afraid to reach out to touch the mysterious mixture.
Chelsey & Audrey
Time to make some music...
I love how Noah rocks out on the big xylophone. Here's a quick clip...Noah and Audrey checking out each other's rides.
Apparently all this play can be serious business.
I was thinking about how strange it is that next summer both Noah & Lincoln will be running around the children's museum (yikes!), but for now - Lincoln just patiently sits like a prince in his chariot (aka the stroller) and smiles at anyone who will look at him.
I'm glad that I caught this cute moment of Noah & Audrey playing with the magnet letters - because it was fleeting, and then Noah took off running to the next exhibit :)
This is the four of us sitting in the helicopter. I thought that Audrey would love this exhibit since she is always excited to see them in the sky, but she really didn't. She kept saying that it was scary. Darn it. In her defense though, the sound effects it makes are really, super loud.
I think the media area will be more fun for the kids as they get older, but I still had to snap a quick picture of my mom, Noah, and Chelsey & Audrey as "newscasters".
The museum offers free little science classes that are super cute. This time the topic was bubbles. Here they are mixing some ingredients that would bubble and fizz...
And, I'll end with this clip. I caught just the end of this demonstration as Noah decided to play in the "bubbles". Gotta love the good old baking powder and vinegar trick. I do love Noah's curiosity, and that he isn't afraid to reach out to touch the mysterious mixture.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)