Grant

Grant came for some 2-yr old pics. He had a great time in the waterfall and I think we got some really cute pics!! As you can see by the last pic, he loved splashing in the waterfall!!

My what BIG eyes you have!!

Ethan and Tripp came by the church and got to playing with a magnifying glass. . . I was laughing so hard. And of course, I had to get my camera out and get some pics. I still crack up when I look at these pics!

Ryan, Amanda & Madelyn

I had the pleasure of doing a family shoot for Ryan & Amanda and their beautiful baby girl, Madelyn. I've posted pics from of an earlier session with Amanda and Madelyn on the blog and had so many responses/compliments to those pics! She is such a cutey with a beautiful smile! They make a very good looking family!! Even the dog is cute!

Ashley SR 2007

I did some SR pics for Ashley and she brought her sister, Shelby, with her so we could do some SISTER pics, too. I had a great time with these girls. They really seem to get along so well. Makes me wonder what it would be like to have a sister.

More of Ashley and Shelby

Back to Blogging

So it's taken me a while to get ready to blog again - but I do have LOTS of pics to blog today. . . so get ready! Hopefully, I won't get so far behind again . . . but no promises!! :)

This is why you shouldn't leave your camera in the car all day in the middle of summer! I found my camera like this at the end of a summer day. It had been in my purse in the trunk of my car. A cool design on the cracked screen though!


I did get to get a new camera - which always makes me happy. . . but I was very happy with this camera and I got a newer version of it. If you are looking for a great little digital camera - you should check out the Canon Digital Elphs - GREAT cameras! They also take videos and have manual settings for more control over your pics - if that is something you are in to!

ONLINE VIEWING

I finally got my online store set up! (THANK YOU, CLAY!!!)

The pictures from the SC v. McGehee game are online now. . . and hopefully all the pics I take on Friday nights we be up by the following Tuesday. I'm also going to go back and put the first three games online - it just may take me a couple of weeks to get them all up!

I'm also in the process of having my website redesigned and set up - but the address will remain the same www.khaynes.com

To view the pictures each week, just go to my homepage (www.khaynes.com) and click on the link that says "Click here to view your pictures". . . that will take you to the online store!

BAD BLOGGER!

I KNOW!! I'm so far behind on my blog! I'm behind in EVERYTHING right now! And it looks like there is no end in sight! It reminds me of a story I heard once about a donkey in a hole. . . and the people just kept throwing dirt on him thinking they'd bury him alive. But he ended up shaking it off and each time he did - he got a little more ground underneath him and was eventually able to climb out of the hole. So each time I start to get depressed about being behind and buried under so much work - I just remember it means life is full - and I am blessed. I will get caught up on my blog - or maybe I'll just do like credit card statements and be a month behind! :)

I just looked up the donkey story on the internet - and here's one version I found. A little 'food for thought'. . .

Once upon a time in ancient China, the people at a village received orders from the regional governor to build a shrine for the emperor. If they could meet the deadline, the governor would reward them handsomely.
The chosen location for the shrine had a well, so they needed to fill it up before construction could take place. They brought in a donkey to transport piles of sand and mud for that purpose.
An accident occurred. The donkey got too close to the exposed well, lost his footing and fell into it. The villagers tried to lift him out but could not. After many failed attempts, they realized it would take too long to rescue him.
Keeping the deadline in mind, the villagers decided to sacrifice the donkey. They proceeded to shovel the sand and mud into the well, thinking they had no choice but to bury him alive.
When the donkey realized what they were doing, he began to wail pitifully. The villagers heard him but ignored him. The value of the donkey wasn't much compared to the rewards they would get, so they continued to shovel.
After a while, the wailing stopped. The villagers wondered about this. Was the donkey dead already? Or did he just give up? What was going on?
Curious, they looked in the well. A surprising sight greeted them: The donkey was alive and well. When the mud and sand rained down on him, he shrugged them off, and then stamped around until they were tightly packed below him. This formed solid ground that lifted him a bit higher each time.
Eventually, the donkey got high enough inside the well. With one powerful leap, he jumped out of it. Amazed, the villagers watched as he trotted off with his head held high.

Guess this story just proves what we can do when we just 'shake it off' and keep on keeping on!
So. . . enough 'deep thoughts by Kelly' . . . I'll sign off and get busy on pics to post on here!!

Weekend in Branson

My mom, Jackson and I went to Branson this past weekend. We got all of Jackson's school clothes and supplies and even saw some shows. We had a great time . . . and I'm so glad to be done with the shopping. I don't like shopping. Never have - don't think I ever will. Now, take me to a Sam's Club - I LOVE the stuff at Sam's! But that's the only type 'shopping' I like to do! Jackson enjoys shopping about like I do - so we got done quickly!


We went to eat at Shorty Small's one night and on the shelf behind the booth were these old milk crates. . . I thought they looked cool all stacked up.


It's officially - BACK TO WORK WITH A VENGENCE time for me! Routine starts today - Jackson's first football practice is today and there will be no more time for any more family trips! I've enjoyed the trips this summer but . . . Gotta WORK - WORK - WORK now!!

Shows

We went to three different shows while we were in town. My favorite was the Branson Brothers. These guys can really sing. . . and Andre Shepherd (in the middle) is one to keep an eye on. His voice is amazing - it's so smooth! More info on the show at www.bransonbrothers.com

Terry Wayne Sanders has got to be one of the funniest people on the planet. He makes me laugh so hard it hurts!! He has so many faces and voices. . . I just can't even describe it! And when the Grandma character started dancing and 'she' did the Robot. . . Oh my gosh!! I thought I was going to disrupt the whole show with my laughing! It was well into the next act before I quit laughing! This is a show you DEFINITELY need to see if you are in Branson! There's more info on Terry at www.homerlee.com

Jackson took all of these pictures. I gave him my camera once we went in - and he took pics the entire show -- he did a great job!! Not bad for an eleven year old, huh?!?

Hurricane River Cave

On our way home, we stopped by Hurricane River Cave. I've wanted to stop and see this each time we go to Branson - but we either go through that area at the wrong time of the year - or after the cave is closed for the day! This time we were coming through about 3:30 and the last tour was at 4:15. . . so we stopped and took the tour! We had a great tour guide that told us lots of cool information about the cave. I recommend this tour if you are ever in the area! You can get more info at www.hurricanerivercave.com

This is the waterfall at the entrance of the cave.

Inside the cave. . .
Do you see the ghost in this picture?
This is called the "Mother-in-Law Tongue".

We the tour guide said that I giggled - but I can't relate because I've got the best mother-in-law ever!

M & M

I snapped this picture of my nieces, Maelea and Maggie, as they watched their mom leave for work. They waved and told her 'bye-bye, Mommy!' and it was so sweet. Then they just stopped and watched her drive off. I love this picture!
Lately, every time it's time for us to leave after a visit, Maelea will say "Aunt Kelly, don't go!" and she makes me feel so sad that I have to leave! - but it makes me feel special, too! And I know she does it to all her family as they are getting ready to leave - and I'm sure each of the others has the same "Isn't that sweet?" / "It makes me so sad" feelings that I do!
As I was leaving, I looked at the window where Maelea and Maggie were watching us - and Maelea had her nose pressed against the window. It looked so funny - but when I got my camera up, she backed away from the window a little bit and this is the pic I ended up with. I thought "Oh! Missed that one!" but when I got home and looked through the pics, I really liked this one!

Puppy

Jackson and I stopped by my brother's house and on the way inside, we were greeted by the neighbor's puppy. She seems really sweet and she just started posing for me when I got my camera out! She had Jackson and I giggling so much! She was really funny and SO hyper!

Jackson and I were riding around for a little while after trying to do Jonathan's senior pics. The sky was so beautiful that day. There were bright spots and big white clouds - and just above it in places - and below in others - there were big rain clouds. I couldn't resist taking pics from the safety of my car - I didn't want to get my cameras wet!

I stopped by the fire station to take a pic of the clouds - and it was the first time I've really noticed the building. I love the big cement/rocky type columns and the big green/blue doors! Of course, since Jackson was with me (and it was okay if he got wet), I had him get out and pose for me. He really got into it this time - guess he's finally learned to just make the best of it. I got a few cool pictures in front of the doors, but they are very similar to others I've posted of Jackson. . . you know, with that great smile of his! :) LOL Then he climbed up on the yellow posts and started flexing!

I was just experimenting with the picture - and I thought this turned out kind of cool.

Jonathan Cortright - 2006 SCHS Senior

Jonathan came by last week for a senior session. He was a lot of fun! He has a great smile!! We did a few pics in the studio and then headed into town to take a few outside pics - but just as we got there - it started raining! It was bright and sunny - but there were huge rain clouds. I couldn't chance getting my cameras wet - so we are going to reschedule the outside pics! I'll post those when we get them done.

Sunset

Technical Difficulties !

I was trying to update my blog last night - and for some reason BLOGGER wouldn't let me post pictures. It would just kind of freeze up when I tried. SO. . . I decided I'd wait until this morning and update it before I leave town today. . . but no such luck! It's still not working properly . . . so no updates for a few more days.

I will be out of town Thurday-Sunday again this week. This will be my last trip for a while! Jackson starts football practice on Monday - and then school starts the following Monday. I'm looking forward to the routine of the school year - although I have VERY MUCH enjoyed the freedom of summer break!

If anyone is interested in an ad for the 2006 BULLDOG football progam - you can contact me next week. Sizes and prices are: 1/4 page is $25, 1/2 page is $50, and a full page is $100. You will need to fill out a form (which I can give you) and pay for the ad on the day you turn in the form (checks payable to Star City Schools). On Saturday, August 12, I be available all day at my studio for any of you who want to purchase an ad and need a new picture to use. Just call me at 870.370.0138 to schedule a time that day. There will be no session charge for the pics (you will be able to purchase prints if you want to). August 16 is the deadline for buying an ad.

Well, I'm off on my last summer trip! I'll be back to work on a regular schedule on August 7th.

Kelly