Extreme Home Makeover - The Viewing!

Well, I said I'd post when it was airing and I'm late in getting that info on here...its going to air on Sunday evening at 7pm Central on ABC on March 1st. The Augustin family as you know from my earlier posts, are long time friends and Amber and I work on some photo shoots together...we make a great team if I say so myself! I can't wait to see it...I was there for the last two days of shooting so look for me in the crowd...I'm sure I'll be teeny tiny in the big group shot and will most likely look frozen when they did the "move that bus" part of the filming. I have seen the house but can't say anything until after the episode airs...but its awesome! Don't miss it!

I Remember Your Smile {DFW Family Photographers}

I am still working on my new site but wanted to give a sneak peek at what it's all about. The name I Remember Your Smile is because that is how I best remember my husband...his big smile and the laugh that went with it. So I thought it appropriate to name it in honor of him...the site/blog will have memorial/remembrance photo jewelry and ornaments and the very popular stamped metal jewelry...some will be mass produced and others will be one of a kind. I am still in the R&D phase but its been a fun project to work on. I will also be offering photography services to create cd slideshows from and photo notecards. So, without further ado...here are some of the items I will be offering.

Girls just wanna have fun...and chocolate! {DFW childrens photographers}

I know you've been missing seeing her cute little face - admit it! So here is Gigi on Saturday. My brother was doing a video about love for his church and gave me a "shot list" he needed for the video. That was quite fun actually, having a list to work off of. Kind of like the shot list for a wedding I guess. Anyway, Gigi was to be "I love chocolate" and here she is. It was cool on Saturday so the candy bar wouldn't melt so we had to zap it a few seconds in the microwave. She thought her aunt was crazy when she was smearing all that goo on her face. But since she got to eat the candy she agreed to "work for chocolate"...she won't always be that cheap I'm sure.

My brother is using the picture of Gigi and her Pops walking off into the distance to demonstrate the point about telling people you love them NOW instead of waiting until they are gone. That was a bittersweet moment for me but so true. We had taken those photos about 3 weeks before my husband got sick and died so they are especially precious to me.

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays (Tarrant County}

This is the card I sent last year...my husband played Santa and this is Gigi...how she's grown in a year. I didn't send cards this year so wanted to have an encore presentation and use this card which is so special to me. I hope you all have a joyful, happy holiday in whatever way you celebrate and hope for a great 2009 for everyone!

Proud Momma Moment

Yay! My son has worked extremely hard the last several years--working full time, being a husband and father and putting himself through college. He never dropped the ball, never gave up even though at times that probably seemed easier. I am proud to announce he got his final grades yesterday and he made all A's and B's. Not only did he graduate, he did it with a high grade point average. I'm not sure where he got his brains, so not from me!

We had a celebration luncheon with him last week and it was awesome...I just wish my husband could have been there because he was so proud of him and bragged on him a lot. He came into my son's life about the time my son entered college so he was there for all but the final part of the journey.

Congratulations son, you did your Momma proud (as always)! And my son plans to enter school to get his Master's next year...I think he just enjoys being in school! Seriously he has goals and I know he will attain them because that's how he's made. But somewhere along the line I still want that grandson so fit that into your schedule!

A Little Christmas Cheer {DFW Childrens Photography}

Well, since my husband's death this year, as you can probably imagine...I am not feeling it this holiday season for myself. I haven't decorated, wrapped gifts, sent out cards or done any baking. I kind of just want it to come and go quickly. Well, my son asked me to not let Christmas die. That touched my heart a lot. Tonite was my grandchild's daycare Christmas program and the entire extended family was there for her big "broadway" debut. She kept telling us she wasn't going to do it (2 year olds...) but I asked her over french fries at McDonald's if she would do it for Pops, my husband. Now who knows if she even understood what I was saying but she agreed to do it and ...please GaGa, give me more fries haha.

I am so glad I went...I have never seen anything cuter in my life! They started with the little one year old class all dressed up as sheep and cows and other cute animals and they were adorable. I have taken photos of some of the classes other than Gigi's to share. Gigi's class wore little Christmas tree shirts and sang Away in a Manger and Rock Around the Christmas Tree. Gigi spotted me up front taking the photos and started saying "Grandma!". There were just some adorable little stars tonite I tell you. The last class of 5 year olds were so funny I took almost as many photos of them as I did my own grandkid. The little boy playing Joseph...I think we have a budding comedian in our midst. He would turn the wrong way during the number and throw up his arms or make a funny expression...a bit of Chris Farley in him I think. And the two little cowboys on one end decided they would fight over the mic even though there were no solos during that number...they just took a little bit of that spotlight for themselves anyway.

So for all you fellow Grinches out there...enjoy the photos and feel the joy come into your heart like it did mine!

Extreme Home Makeover - Update

Well, its finally done! They did the "Move that Bus!" on Monday and my sister and I were in with the family at the front so we got a great view of everything going on. I won't give any details away but you can see "official" photos in the link I gave in the earlier post. My sister is a HUGE Ty Pennington fan (btw...I'm the "pro" photographer but she took all these photos with her point and shoot ha ha). She is in the leopard coat posing with the assistant director (he told us what to do and when and was really funny), me trying to thaw out for a minute in the Texas Ranger's Tent in the fur/denim jacket, and the design team in front of the house waiting for the bus and of course, Ty. Paul, the older designer on the show is a real doll! He took two of the little kids out of the friends box and took them in the house to use the restroom...how sweet! The photos as follows are: me in tent trying to defrost after the 1st hour, my sister with the assistant director she's now in "love" with ha ha, the designers in front of the home and finally, Ty getting ready for the limo to arrive.

Let me just say...if I didn't love Peter and Amber SO much I would not have been there...for 4 hours..in 14 degree weather. My feet might have been hurting, but luckily they were so frozen I couldn't feel them anyway. I am still trying to warm up. But the big payoff for me was seeing the family arrive and see their new home...we were all in tears. I can't wait to see the episode when it airs and will keep you all updated on when that is!

My sister and I went to the "event" (not sure if I'm supposed to say what it was yet...) on Sunday evening and I did get to give Amber and Peter big hugs and talk to them...they simply look dazed by it all. But huge Kudos to Amber...she is great in front of a camera!