5K Run

Bernie, Ben's Dad, just completed his first 5K race this past weekend and I think he did a great job. He has been training for six months and has lost over 75 pounds since a year ago. What a great achievement! Today he really wanted to run in this 5K that we usually just do the family fun run, that is one mile. This year we all ran the race together. He was able to get across the finish line in 35 minutes, way to go Bernie. I did manage to take a picture but since I was running it is not very good.


Even the kids ran, and did a great job, Isabelle would have finished with us but she kept going back and forth between Bernie and I and Ben, and then she fell down. She made it in with Bear, Penny and the dogs.

Bear says come on Isabelle.

First Sleepover

Isabelle did not get to attend the baseball game and was very, very upset. So I asked her if she wanted to have a mommy date and invite a friend, or go to Friday Night Lights. FNL, is a soccer "practice" that she just loves. She actually chose to have a sleepover with her friend Emma. We went out to dinner then came home to watch a movie, and we were going to bake cupcakes but I did not have any eggs so that was scrached. In the morning we did make pancakes and the girls had so much fun together. I'm glad that the first non-cousin sleep over went well, because that is what she wants to do for her birthday. Should be fun!

Game 6 of the ALCS Yankees vs. Rangers

Ben's sister Penny has season tickets to the Rangers, and therefore, has access to Playoff tickets as well. She has shared her tickets with Ben, Bernie and other family members and friends. Well today Ben and Bear were able to go to game six, the decider game in the ALCS games. Ben was so excited to share this day with Bear. Too bad he fell asleep for the last out that won the game. Believe me he woke up pretty quick once those fireworks went off. They had a great time at the game and Bear is having stories told about him all over Texas. He was such a good little fan and really got into the game with the those sitting around them. It was such a good day for both of them to share together.

Holiday Mini-Sessions at the Gaylord Texan

Just announced the Holiday Mini-Sessions on November 13, 2010 will be held at the Gaylord Texan. Please see the previous post for more details. This is a great way to freshen up family photos while also getting those Holiday cards custom made. Call me 214-455-5736, e-mail me at allison@sevenarchesphotography.com or post a comment to schedule your session.

Holiday Mini Sessions - November 13, 2010

The Holiday Season is now upon us, this is the perfect time to consider your holiday portraits and cards! Mini sessions are, 30 minute sessions specifically designed to capture a few wonderful images for your holiday cards and walls. This will be an on location session. You will have approximately 8-10 images to choose from, shown on-line in a private gallery.

There are 2 types of cards to choose from and therefore 2 different package groups. The first packages are for 5x7 cards. The second group of packages are for Luxe Die-Cut Cards.

Time slots will fill up quickly so call 214-455-5736 or e-mail me to see what times I have available. A $50 deposit is required to hold your spot and will go toward your package purchase.


Package Details (5x7 Cards)

Santa’s Helper ($135)
(25) 5x7 Custom Holiday Cards

$50 Print Credit

10% discount for additional Prints

Yuletide Joy ($210)
(50) 5x7 Custom Holiday Cards

$75 Print Credit

10% discount for additional Prints

Holiday Cheer ($285)
(50) 5x7 Custom Holiday Cards

$150 Print Credit

10% discount for additional prints.

Cards: These holiday cards will be one of a kind, photo cards printed on stock paper with a finish of your choice! They will be 5x7 printed front and back.

Additional cards are available for $50 / set of 25.


Package Details (Luxe Die-Cut Cards)

North Pole ($160)
(25) Luxe Die-Cut Holiday Cards

$50 Print Credit

10% discount for additional Prints

Home for the Holidays ($235)
(50) Luxe Die-Cut Holiday Cards

$75 Print Credit

10% discount for additional Prints

Joy to the World ($300)
(50) Luxe Die-Cut Holiday Cards

$150 Print Credit

10% discount for additional prints.

Additional Luxe Cards are available for $60 / set of 25

If you do not wish to have holiday cards or want to use these photos for your own cards; just contact me and we will set up pricing to meet your needs.

TMA Fall Festival

Barrett's school recently had a fall festival, and it was so much fun. We paid for our tickets and off he went to play, ride and sing. Yes that's right he sang a song in front of a small crowd. More on that in a moment.

Barrett started out on the bounce houses first and met up with one of his new friends Jeffery. He even said that Jeffery was his new best friend, it was pretty cute since both his parents and I did not know they were best friends. Too cute what kids will say.


After racing around the bounce houses and playing his little heart out he made his way over to the pony rides and petting zoo. He of course had a great time riding the horse and checking out all the animals. So of the birds were very friendly and let him pet them.


After playing a few games and having his face painted he sang a little song. He went right up to the lady and asked if he could sing in the talent show and then he busted out a song or two. It was so precious!


After playing and singing for a while Bear and I made our way home after a very fun filled day.

More to come, scroll down

I know, I know I have not posted in a long while. At least a long while for me. So here is the plan I am going to post several items at or around the days in which they happened, that way I can keep track of my photos better. So don't just stop at this message, scroll down until you get to the thank you message.

Country Critters

I took the little boys out to Country Critters one day with my mom's group MECPTA. They had so much fun. I really wish we did more stuff like that on MWF, that way they can experience those things like Isabelle and Barrett did at their age. The only thing that is hard is that they go down to rest so early, so we can be ready for afteroon school pickup. Now that I have gotten fully off track let me start over.


Country Critters is so much fun for the boys. They got to play games, see all sorts of animals, attempt a "train" ride, pick out pumpkins and take a "hay" ride. They of course sign dog for every animal but we are working hard on the actually signs. Cooper did sign chicken which was great, made me so happy. They both get so excited around the animals you would think that is all there was in the world. It is so cute!


They really enjoyed being big kids and chosing a pumpkin. They are just growing up too fast. I'm sure that is not part of the deal but hey I guess I will have to take it or leave it.

Pumpkins everywhere

Today we went to a pumpkin patch in Grapevine for a Baylor event. You read that right a Baylor event, I joined this Alumni group and they got together to host and event or playdate whatever at a pumpkin patch. Pretty exciting right? Well the kids had lots of fun but I forgot to bring some cash so we were unable to get any pumpkins. How silly am I. They did have different things for the kids to do other than just look at pumpkins, which is always nice. Plus it helps to make the experience go a little longer.


They all really liked the old truck, Cooper especially. He wanted to be right in the mix with the big kids, playing around and acting all grown up. I think Bear really enjoyed the big tractor.
I figured if he had just a few more minutes on the thing he probably could have figured out how to make it work. Not sure if it would have gone any where but he would have it all down. Might be a good thing we don't live on a farm.


Isabelle I think just had fun being a kid and running around. She played on the playground, in the hay jail and on the tractor "bikes," which were much harder to move than you would have thought. The littler kids were having a hard time getting those bad boys to move.


Either way it was a lot of fun. I can't say that I saw anyone I remember from college but I did see another mom I had meet from a moms group close to where we live. Strange how I did not even know she had gone to Baylor. I guess we are sort of past "So where did you go to college?" Maybe the next event will hold more people I might remember from college. Maybe I should have gotten a yearbook, nah.

Fall

Fall is in full swing in Utah, which is more than I can say for Texas. The turning leave were beautiful, and the weather was cool when we went up the mountain to check things out. The creek we drove past was flowing with water and the air was a little misty from a clouds above. It was great to be out in nature and all the fresh air. I really wish we could of had more time but we had to leave so we could not enjoy the outdoors as much.


I really would have liked to have gone up to Park City but time did not permit. Plus some of Ben's former co-workers only wanted certain people at the events so he had to make two appearances. Oh well, that just means that we will have to go back soon. Either way it was great and I got a chance to take some pictures, after all that seems to be what it is all about.

UTAH

OMG I was so excited to be back in Utah. It was great to see the friends that we were able to see and we really wanted to stay longer. Somehow that did not work out because we have small children to take care of and Ben has a job. But we did get to come for a short while and had a chance to catch up with friends and see what had changed since we moved back to Texas.


I even got a chance to take some pictures while I was in Utah some of one of my oldest friends and others of one of the canyons. It was great. On our first night in Utah, we had a little Girls Night Out, while Ben went to visit some of his YRC guys.


We had a lot of fun catching up and starting off where we left off. Sometimes it is nice to go back to visit, and it is almost like stepping right back in time. I really enjoyed visiting with Anjie and Holly, but wished that so many more friends could have come for a visit.

Bowling and the Hoover Dam

Our next day in the Las Vegas area was pretty fun too. We decided to head on over the Henderson, NV to watch a new friend of ours bowl. Shannon O'Keefe is a bowling champ and made it to the last round of the masters bowl, where she placed bronze. It was refreshing watching bowling and not feeling like it was never going to end. After all when we bowl with small children it can take forever. Shannon did a great job and team USA did awsome at this tournament.


After that it was off to the Hoover Dam. As is always quite impressive to say the least! Ben was amazed at how big it is and kept asking me if the water level ever goes back up. I had to keep telling him I did not know. It had been years, and I mean years since I had been there last. Although I do think that the dam water was much higher.


We even got to see some of the local wild life. No, not drunks, and crazies but Big Horned Sheep. That was prett cool. They were just getting a little bit of refreshment from the lake.

The Night Life

We even ventured out to the night life in Vegas. And when I say night life, I really mean walking on the strip and Ben playing 21. Not too exciting but I guess it could have been if we happened to take one of the many, many flyers passed out by paper pushers.

We did go to a free wine tasting, where they actually gave us full glasses of wine. My high school friend, Amy, found out about the tasting, and made reservations for all of us. If you have ever been to a wine tasting, usually you get just enough to fill your mouth and that is all. But no this was full glasses of wine, without food. I want to say that by the third glass I was pretty well tipsy. You only live once right?

Afterwards Amy and I went out to check out the sights and of course take some pictures. Now I did not bring my tripod because that would have been too much to take with me on the plane and I did not want to check luggage. Basically I'm trying to say that some of my pictures are ok, while others just suck. Oh well!

Red Rock Canyon

While we were in Vegas on vacation Ben and I took a little side trip to Red Rock Canyon. It was beautiful! We would have loved to hike around the area and check things out a little closer but time did not quite permit.




Either way I had a blast taking pictures, and have put some together as panoramic shots. The scenery was beautiful and according to the information sheet they get some gorgeous flowers. I'm sure they come in the spring not the fall. I wish we could have seen some of those. Oh well, maybe a spring trip next time.

Thank You

Thank you everyone who has donated to my 3-Day walk so far. I am very excited to announce that I have reached my minimum fundraising amount. Now I am going to try to help my teammates raise the rest of their money so that they will be able to walk. I can hardly wait to take this journey and meet all the people who will be there. I know it will be a wonderful experience, for a good cause. I do hope to help eradicate breast cancer for the next generation.

If you did not get a chance to make a donation and would like to please consider doing so, all the monies are pooled together in the end and every little bit helps.

Labor Day

Ok I know this is a little late, but what the hey, things have been busy and after Labor Day I was sick for like a week. That totally sucked. Anyway, the kids had a blast visiting my mom and dad over labor day weekend. Besides swimming their little hearts out, we also went to a little old time kiddy park in San Antonio.

They have midway rides there that the kids can go on and ride to their hearts content. Of course Isabelle and Barrett could not ride the same ride at the same time that would make too much sense. Oh well they had a blast and really enjoyed being able to play by themselves like big kids. Cooper even got in on the action at on the Merry go Round.

Water everywhere

The other day after school, it was pretty hot, so Isabelle and Cooper thought it would be fun to play in the water. Bear, was out there for a little while but then I think he was just tired, he has a long day. They are out there just playing away and having a blast. I look out the window to see Cooper with the hose and the biggest smile on his face. He was so proud of himself and must have felt like a big boy. He had water everywhere and was having so much fun. By this time Isabelle was just letting him control the water, it was too cute.