julieellenphotography.com header

Category Archives: Life

Click on the title of the blog post to view the entire entry.


For Love and Justise

June 24, 2009 – 1:59 pm

I’ve been on a streak with my corny blog titles, so, I couldn’t stop now.  For this session, the mom to be is Justise.  (Such a cool name).  Justise and David are expecting a baby girl in early August.  Their maternity session was a gift from David’s mom.  What a wonderful gift to give to a mother to be.  Pregnancy is such a joyous time in woman’s life.  I think it is so awesome that this has become a special occasion to capture.

I had such a blast photographing Justise and David.  I may have worn them out a bit.  We kept finding such cool locations to photograph in.  They admitted to me that they rarely kiss in public and here I had them kissing in almost every pose together.  Thanks for being such troopers you two.  

Congratulations Justise and David.  I hope you enjoy your sneak peek.

By juleeln | Also posted in Maternity | Tagged , , , , , , , | Comments (2)

Raspberries!

June 19, 2009 – 4:04 pm

With the two older ones gone at camp, I wanted to make sure I did some special things with the two younger ones.  We love berry picking.  We started several years ago picking blueberries at the Berry Patch at 223rd/Stateline.  I fell so in love with the having fresh berries, we started planting our own bushes.  We have a nice blackberry and blueberry patch in our backyard.  Every year we add a few more bushes.  

Last year we discovered a berry patch up near my in-laws in Highland, KS.  Grimm’s Gardens is located North of Hiawatha, KS.  I couldn’t believe the size of the berries on their bushes.  They were huge!  While we were there, I discovered Raspberries.  The season for Raspberries was coming to an end, so weren’t able to pick very many, but enough for some Raspberry jam.  My taste buds fell in love :D

I discovered a new berry patch near Baldwin, KS.  Lawson Brothers Berry Farm.  Lawson’s has strawberries, raspberries and blackberries.  Strawberry season has ended, but raspberries should still be available for another week.  If you get a chance, go pick you some.  At Lawson Brothers, they are $3/pound.  What a bargain!  It’s a good thing they don’t weigh you before you pick.

Here’s a few photos of us enjoying our berry picking.

Have a great weekend.

By juleeln | Also posted in family | Tagged , , , | Comments (0)

Da, Da, Day Camp

June 15, 2009 – 6:15 pm

Oh when it’s summer time

and your thoughts of school are fading’

there’s a big ole’ bus that’s waiting,

it’s waiting, it’s waiting to go

wo-oh

 

If you’re a parent and you’ve not listened to Justin Roberts, check him out.  Google Justin Roberts and there are several websites to preview his music.

Our family owns one of his CD’s, Way Out.  One of the catchiest songs on the CD is Day Camp.  It seemed appropriate to sing that song this morning.  My boys left for camp for the first time.  Headed to 4-H camp for 4 days and 3 nights.  I’m so excited for them but I still worry.  I hope that have a great time, but can’t wait for them to come home safely.

Here’s a few pictures of us sending them off this morning. (Thought their dad might enjoy this).

 

By juleeln | Also posted in family | Tagged , , , , , , | Comments (0)

Superman, where are you?

June 5, 2009 – 12:29 pm

Superman, where are you?  I need you!  Please!  See, my children are growing up Superman, and I need to turn back time.  Remember when Lois Lane died and you were so overcome with emotion that you flew around the earth so fast that it spun backwards on its axis?  Could you do that again?  Only, instead of going back a few mere minutes Superman, I want to go back a few years.  Three would be great, but I’d even be happy with two years.  And then when I go back, can I just stay there . . . . . . .?

People warned me this would happen Superman.  They told me, “they grow up so fast”.  I listened and I believed them.  I knew it would happen, but now, it just seems to be going by so much faster.  It seemed when they were little, they were little for so long.  But now the days go by so fast.  I can’t stop it and I feel so helpless.  Pretty soon I won’t be able to carry them any longer and well, they won’t want me to anyway.  I want to hear their little voices.  The words that they pronounce wrong.  When they get so tired, they just fall asleep in the oddest places.    These are the days I miss so much and long to return to Superman.

So, if you can hear me, wherever you are, please hurry Superman.  It feels like this is my last summer to really enjoy them and I know it will pass so quickly.  Soon August will be here and they will return to school and my time with them will be cut even shorter. So, please, come quickly.[gallery]

By juleeln | Also posted in family | Tagged , , , | Comments (1)

Giving is Awesome-Update

February 28, 2009 – 4:00 pm

Back in December I joined a grassroots movement started by this photographer, Kristen Kalp.  Kristen wanted nothing more than to give her talents as a photographer to someone who had been affected by some sort of tragedy or very difficult circumstance.  Readers of her blog from all over the world quickly jumped on board. It spread like wildfire.  Once I found about it, I too joined in.  The original post went up here and a nominee was chosen here.  My friend Julie Brookerd nominated a childhood friend of her’s, Jo Barnes.  Jo and her family both had been hit by some difficult tragedies and circumstances over the years, but Jo had always remained a positive and happy person.  Even in 2007 when  Jo was diagnosed with ovarian cancer.

Jo and I had touched based through email, and we were hoping to plan a session in the spring, when the weather got a little warmer and a little more lively.  I had heard so much about her and her daughter, I couldn’t wait to meet them.  

Julie emailed me this week that Jo passed away in her sleep.  

Someone I never even met has touched my life.  Even though I never got the chance to talk to Jo or meet her, through Giving is Awesome, I was introduced to one of life’s real heros.  

Jo had a blog.  If you get a chance, please stop by and read a few of her posts.  Her first post, from 1999, introduces you to her daughter Zoe and Jo’s amazing sister, Shelly.  You can read Jo’s blog here.

Most recently a party was held in Jo’s honor.  Along with photos from the party there are photos of Jo and Zoe over the past few years.  Even a few photos of Jo as a child. The photos can be found here 

Please say a prayer for the Barnes family; Zoe, Donna and Shelly.  Though I’m sure not having Jo suffer in pain anymore is a blessing, I know they must miss her terribly.  Thank you Julie for nominating Jo and for introducing me to her life.

God Bless,

Julie

By juleeln | Tagged , , , , , | Comments (1)

A girls day out

February 4, 2009 – 2:59 pm

Saturday was a girls day out for several of us.  We had such a great time.  There was wine, food and friendship.  It was a great day of female bonding.  I can’t remember the last time I had a day of just good girl friend fun.  Needless to say, I hope we do it again soon, especially when it is warmer.  All though we were blessed with a fairly warm day on Saturday, I can’t wait till my thermometer says 80″s+.  I am not a cold weather person.  Old man winter has stayed long enough.  I wanna soak up the sun :)

Before I sign off, I thought I’d share a couple of photos from Saturday.

Posing with the demo derby car.  The Demo Diva’s :)

My friend Susie, getting all ready for her night on the town.  Isn’t she gorgeous!Thanks for dropping by.

By juleeln | Tagged , , , , , , , | Comments (1)

Welcome to my world

January 20, 2009 – 5:54 pm

I’m actually enjoying a little down time right now.  With starting my business last year, I got behind on my own personal projects.  One of them being cleaning out my 2008 family pictures.  So, by being stuck in the house, I’ve been able to start catching up on my to do list.  

Blogging more frequently is on my to do.  I have some new things in the works for the upcoming year, so, please keep checking back.  

In the meantime, here are a few photos from the New Year of my own family.  As I clean up my personal picture files, be warned I’ll probably be sharing a lot of them.

Thanks for stopping by.

By juleeln | Also posted in Misc, family | Tagged , , , | Comments (4)

Giving is Awesome!

January 1, 2009 – 10:16 pm

Happy New Year!  I can’t believe how long it has been since I blogged.  I had the best intentions to blog over the Christmas break.  I even had photos to post, but here it is, the first day of the New Year, and I failed.  Not how I want to start off the New Year.   So, here’s to a  brand New Year.  A clean slate.  A fresh start and the best intentions to blog more this year. 

The last time I blogged it was about an awesome project.  Giving is Awesome.  Kristen at Essential Imagery started this wonderful idea.  To give away a portrait session and the photos from the session to a someone who has been through some extremely tough and difficult times.  I immediately hopped on board.  What an AWESOME idea.  

Over the past few weeks I received several emails from people nominating someone they knew for the giveaway.  All of the stories were heart wrenching.  It made it very difficult to choose.  But, one story in particular really stuck out.  Jo was nominated by a friend, Julie Broockerd.  Here is her story.

I have known Jo my entire life and I don’t know of one other person who is as upbeat, non-judgmental and always has a positive attitude, even while going through ovarian cancer. Jo has more friends than anyone I know. Everyone loves her!!  

Jo went through early menopause at the age of 18, so she knew she would never be able to have children. Her older sister, Shelly, had a husband and two kids. Shelly had always told Jo she would carry a child for her someday, if she wanted her to.

 When Shelly’s  kids were teenagers, Shelly found herself with a unexpected pregnancy.  Well, she turned an unplanned pregnancy into the BEST Christmas gift Jo could ever imagine!!  On Christmas, Shelly told Jo she was pregnant and that she wanted Jo to adopt her baby. Eight months later, a beautiful baby girl named Zoey was born!!   Zoey knows that Shelly is her “very special aunt”.  Jo and Zoey are not only mother and daughter, but the best of friends, too.

Jo was diagnosed in March of 2007 with ovarian cancer. She has been through numerous surgeries, chemo, many, many scans, trips to the ER, etc.  
Even before Jo’s diagnosis, her family had already suffered through heartache and loss from cancer. Jo’s dad, Duke, died of brain cancer  in 1994. 
Then her mom, Donna, remarried a great guy named Pat in 2005 . Pat had lost his wife to ovarian cancer a few years before meeting Donna. Donna  was SO HAPPY and in love, it was almost contagious!  Then, only a year after they got married, her husband, Pat, was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. Donna was caring for Pat as he reached the final stages of his cancer,  when Jo was diagnosed with her cancer. Pat passed away just before their two year wedding anniversary. Donna is a rock and I’m so glad Jo and Zoey have her nearby to help them through this horrible illness.

Jo and Zoey are the PERFECT candidates for your Giving Is Awesome campaign. Single mom, tons of Dr. bills, fighting cancer…..
Please consider choosing Jo and Zoey, and Jo’s mom, Donna, for your recipients.

 Thank you and God Bless,

Julie

Thank you Julie for nominating Jo and thank you Jo for letting me share your story.  

Jo and Zoey will receive a complimentary session and all the photos.  I can’t wait to meet Jo, Zoey and their wonderful family.

Julie and her family will receive a complimentary photo session and $100 credit.

Thank you to everyone who sent in nominations.  

Here are just a FEW of “my own” favorites from 2008.  I think I need to do one of these for my client favorites as well.  First thing on my “to do” list.

 

Happy New Year everyone.

By juleeln | Also posted in Misc, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , | Comments (1)

Pumpkin’ Pickin’

October 13, 2008 – 3:20 pm

We were invited this weekend by some friends of ours to go to a local pumpkin patch. I was thrilled to be invited. We hadn’t been to a patch in years.

Powell’s Pumpkin Patch is located off of Highway 69, South of Stilwell and Bucyrus. Take the 247th Street exit and Turn Left on Quivira. The pumpkin patch is just a few miles south on Quivira. We came home with a pumpkin for everyone and even some small decorative ones, all for less than $20. They also have a free hayride for the kids. Here are a few photos from our day at the patch.

By juleeln | Tagged , , , , | Comments (4)

The blogging Life

October 1, 2008 – 2:57 pm

Blogging really isn’t so hard.  I actually kind of enjoy it.  I’m huge on sharing things; a great find at a store, a sale going on, a recipe, a time saving tip.  I could go on and on.  I’m always thinking of things I could blog about and actually get excited about it.  The downside to blogging can be if you feel like you your blogging to yourself.  You have no audience.  Kind of like talking to yourself.  All though sometimes it’s a great thing, you always agree with yourself and your opinion, :), it can be kind of lonely.

I blogged earlier in the year and finally abandon it.  Not solely because of the above, but, it did weigh into my decision.  When I decided to go into business for myself blogging was strongly encouraged.  I was hesitant to try again, but, jumped right back in.

I like to read other blogs as well.  My friend Kelly, from Kelly Holder Photography (Leavenworth, KS) introduced me to Google Reader, which was a life saver for keeping up with blogs.  One of my favorite blogs is my friend Kristen, from Dine and Dish.  Kristen blogged yesterday on The Hazards of Blogging.  It was a wonderful post, and it opened my eyes for me.  

Kristen shares some wonderful stories and recipes on her blog.  Here is a link for you

 Dine and Dish.

I’ll leave you with a recent favorite of mine.

Have a great day.


By juleeln | Also posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , | Comments (1)