Seniors!!!! ~ North Idaho Senior Photographer

Attention Seniors.......or anyone that knows a Senior......I am now booking Senior Sessions!

I am so excited to be taking on this new adventure.....models that will actually listen?....models that will look at me and smile?........models that have an attention span longer than 2 seconds?........oh, I can't tell you how excited I am for this! Don't get me wrong....I LOVE taking pictures of the munchkins....but I also love to mix it up! If you are looking for something different....fresh....fun......and unique for your senior pictures......I am your girl! Your senior session will be at your choice of locations with your choice of style.....indoor, outdoor, portrait, lifestyle, urban......you name it....let's do it! Anything goes! This is such a special time for you and I want your senior pictures to be all about YOU.

If you head on over to my website, I have updated it to include a special page for seniors (under the investment tab) and am offering special products for seniors only!!! These include a discounted 10x10 custom senior photobook with all your favorite photos from your session and custom senior rep cards......press printed double sided business cards with 2-3 photos and contact information to keep in touch with family and friends after graduation. I am so excited to have these new products!

Book your senior session for July and receive $50 off your session fee and a free set of 8 wallets! But HURRY! I am only taking a limited number of sessions for July!

Seniors..................................DREAM BIG!

Happy Birthday Owen Bennett!!! ~ Sandpoint Photographer

Happy Friday!

Today......my son turns 4.

The power of a picture..........

The feeling you get when you find out you are having your first baby is incredible.....and so magical......it's something I will NEVER forget.... the minute we saw our 20 week ultrasound we knew what his name would be instantly and fell even more in love once we could "see" him. It took him 3 long painful days to come into this world....but he was the sweetest little baby.....and now is a smart, handsome, funny, energetic, and strong (physically and personality wise) big boy!

I take pictures because I treasure them so much......I take pictures so I can remember every detail of his life....him growing inside my belly......those first minutes of life.....his soft cry.....his amazing big blue eyes and sinfully wrong for a boy curly long eyelashes.....his adorable chubby cheeks...his strong confident personality.......all the things I love about him........the things that all mama's LOVE about their babies...... and when he is all grown up and off to start his own adventures with life, his mama's heart will be breaking as this new chapter begins for all of us, BUT I will have my pictures and I will be able to go back in time and remember..........the feeling of him moving in my tummy.......how tiny he felt in my arms.......the way he smelled....how soft his cheeks were and how many times I kissed them.......the accomplishments.......the sports and events......and all the emotions that go with each and every memory.......all of it.

I take pictures because they are the key to the door we call our past.......I started a business so I could share that key with others.

I made a picture/video slideshow with music for my angel bug especially for his 4th birthday and some of you may have already seen it.....I left it up on the blog for a few days for family and friends to view. It is no longer available to view........but stay tuned....I am going to be offering some awesome new products very soon that will include photo slideshows with music and some other GREAT stuff!!! And who knows.....maybe one day some slideshows with video too......I mean, I'm just saying you never know...................tee hee

Anywho, in place of the slideshow.....I am posting one of my latest favorites of him........


Happy Birthday Angel Bug!

The Big "O" ~ Sandpoint Childrens Photographer

Remember this cute little fart? I want one day with him again....just one......he's so stinkin cute!


And 3 years later.......Big man on campus.....


Still love those big blue eyes.....


Still cute as a bug......


MAYBE a little weirder....


But still my angel bug.....who's going to be 4 in two short days......

Fisherman ~ Sandpoint Childrens Photographer

On father's day Ryan took the kids fishing......I went down a little later and for the first time ever DID NOT have my camera with me....and would you believe that our son caught his first fish?!?!?!?! Ugh! I could have screamed......but at least I actually got to see it with my own 2 eyes and not thru a lens......I took a picture of it when he brought it home......Ryan asked him if he wanted to catch some more....and he said, "No just one for today." It was so cute. Then he had to high five everyone. Now when he tells the story about the fish he caught, his eyes light up and he is so proud.....and he gives out another round of high fives.....mama and dad-n were so proud! Good job O! Oh yes, I have an inkling that this little boy is going to be quite the little hunter and fisherman.......and much to mama's girly dismay, he even whacked the fish over the head with a stick to kill it after he caught it......daddy was proud....mama was a little grossed out. Thank goodness for daddy's!

Happy Fathers Day ~ Sandpoint Childrens Photographer

Happy Fathers Day!

The pictures big daddy got for fathers day of his babies.....




And one of my recent favs.....Bella driving Papa Randy's truck....


Hope all you great dad's out there have an awesome day!!!!

A Wonderful Day.....

Yesterday I woke up to kisses from my husband....he was kissing me goodbye because he was going golfing. Hee Hee That Stinker! Then I got up, and found a card on my computer.....it read "Find a sitter and I'll take you out for a treat tonight" I had to laugh.....it couldn't get anymore redneck than that! I couldn't wait! HA!




















Then I enjoyed a bowl of raspberries covered in almond milk....posted on the blog...did the dishes...picked up the house....and folded 4 loads of laundry. The kids saw a deer outside eating and it was so cute watching them look at it out the window.......

All in all.......just an ordinary day.......turned extraordinary! The kids and I ate lunch.....and Bella sang mommy Happy Birthday.......just priceless! (You will need to turn off the music at the bottom of the page to hear Marilyn....I mean Bella singing......)




After lunch, some more cleaning. A little while later we all climbed into bed and read a book....then all 3 of us fell asleep for a nap. It was so nice to snuggle with my babies.......

2 hours later sissy woke Owen and I up with her non stop chattering and bouncing on the bed.....when daddy got home the kids gave me a birthday card.......my heart melted......Owen signed his name so good and sissy has a sideways "B" for Bella.....she has been working on writing her "B"....everywhere she sees a B she has to tell me "B! For Bella!".....


Nana Cindy came out to watch the munchkins..... AND gave me a birthday present that you will all see next week for Owen's birthday...so excited!!!!! Thanks Nan!

Then Ryan held true to his "promise" from the card and took me to CDA.....he bought me some new sunglasses and took me to Beverly's for dinner....it was a treat indeed! Thank you lovie for a wonderful evening! It is always so nice to have a date night! And can you believe that I didn't take my camera? I was so mad....the lake and sky were just beautiful......he told me next time.....mmmmm???? More treats Lovie???? Tee Hee Maybe in a year or two.....

It was a wonderful day.....year 33 is starting off pretty dang good!

33

Yep.....33. Ugh. Another year....whoop de do. I still sometimes just sit and wonder....where did the time go? Wasn't I just in college not too long ago living it up? Playing volleyball and loving every minute of life? Yeah, I was......11 years ago! 11 Years!...that can't be right? Is it? That is a sure sign I am getting older....he he he

The upside of 33.........I have a beautiful family that loves me, a husband that works his tail off to take care of me and our kids, I have my degrees under my belt, I get to stay home and raise my kids, and I get to do something I love for work.....take pictures!!! 33 isn't so bad afterall....in fact....it's WONDERFUL!


And here's why......

Another great year gone by......looking forward to many more....I am so very blessed!

Happy Friday!

Need a little sun?

I am wishing for a little sun today....doesn't look like that is going to happen.....so......going to post some sunflare I took the first week of June....my rhodie's were in bloom and so pretty.....




Mr Chub....he was my only willing subject for a while.....well about 3 pictures...then he was off.....


I think she is trying to start the 4 wheeler here....yikes!

Blowing more dandelions seeds.....

Then off to another big adventure in her own little world.....


My husband was working on our steps, Owen was helping, and I think Bella was eating dirt as you can see from her dirty face!


And of course 2 of my all time favorite sunflare pictures.....

Relay for Life.....

Some photos from last Friday's Relay for Life....

My son refused to take pictures with his mama.....so just me and the Bells......




The kids had more fun outside than inside......love the rim lighting I got on her hair.....


Why do boring laps inside when you can walk on logs???..........


And climb huge rocks outside???............


AND RUN!!!! Playing chase with their Nan.....

Ode McDonoe ~ Sandpoint Childrens photographer

Sometimes when I am working in the office, my daughter comes in and sits on the floor with a book to read......this particular day it was her Old McDonald book.....aka Ode McDonoe.....she sang Ode McDonoe had a farm.....E I E I O about a gazillion times.....and went thru all the animals....pig, cow, dog, horse, cat........it was darling. I HAD to get pictures of course...a perfect lifestyle picture moment! My sweet smart girl......and I LOVE those little toes!


Oh Mama's taking a picture.....time for funny faces! Both of my kids can both twist their tongue like this....it's weird.....another lovely trait from their dada....who can do it also! Unfortunately, I am not that talented.....


Not sure what she is doing here....blowing a kiss??? Who knows.....but her big eyes just get me every time......and of course her little whoop-de-do for bangs......


And of course I can't have pictures without the famous stick out the tongue pose....which just happens to be her favorite this last month.....oooooohhhhhh....lucky me!!!! Hopefully this stage will pass!!! Hee Hee

Girl Power! ~ Sandpoint Childrens Photographer

Relay for life was great! Such an awesome event!

Just a few photos to celebrate girl power! My girl that is....because if I had not caught my cancer, she wouldn't be here......looks just like her daddy here.....except he is really smiling and she looks like she is growling!


This photo cracks me up...."HI YA Cowboooooyyyyyy!" One of her favorite sayings.....


Such a beauty.....gotta love messy pig tails.....


Hee Hee Hee Hee......


My BEAUTY!

Relay for Life ~ Sandpoint Childrens Photographer

Tonight we are going to town to participe in the annual Relay for Life. I never thought much about this event that raises money to help fight cancer and raise awareness of cancer prevention and treatment until I had cancer myself. In 2006 (at 29 years young) I was diagnosed with Melanoma skin cancer and my entire life changed. My eyes were opened....maybe a little unfairly and a little early....but opened none the less.

Melanoma is a very dangerous and deadly cancer....but if caught early there is a five year 95% survival rate.....I caught it early....THANK GOODNESS. When I was diagnosed, my son was only 10 months old and my daughter was still a twinkle in her daddy's eye.....I just can't imagine not being here to watch them grow and change every day, to watch them accomplish those little tasks that are so big to them, to cuddle them and to kiss their soft warm chubby cheeks....all the wonderful things that are part of being a mama. I am so blessed to still be here....so blessed to have such a wonderful husband, beautiful sweet babies, and supportive family....I can't say that I am glad I got cancer...but then again, I wouldn't be who I am today if I wouldn't have gotten it. Bittersweet I suppose.........

Relay for Life is an awesome event....it is a very humbling experience to realize all of those that have lost their battles with cancer - two that immediately come to my mind that I think of often are my Grandpa Blaine who lost his battle to pancreatic cancer in 2005 and Jenny Meyer who lost her battle much too young in her early 30's.....but the event isn't all sad.....it is also very inspiring to see all the strong people that have won their battles against cancer....and to remind me of all the cancer survivors that I know........myself, my mom, my dad, my grandpa, and both my grandma's......and that's only a few that have won.....there are so many others that have kicked cancer's butt....and many more that will.


BUT the important thing is I AM HERE.....these two little angels and their daddy are my life.....and I say CELEBRATE LIFE!





Please come and Celebrate Life with Staci Bailey Photography tonight starting at 6:00 at the Bonner County Fairgrounds! I will be donating a photo session (for 4) and an 8x10.....come and bid on it and help support the fight against cancer!!! Thanks!

Joy. ~ Sandpoint Childrens Photographer

Finding joy in the little things.....

My Girls ~ Sandpoint Childrens Photographer

Love my girlies....when the kids have food, Daisy our golden always looks at them like "Hey! Where's mine?" I think these two were in a cookie stand off!

LOVE......

Last week I was very honored to be asked by Jackie from Jax-Creations to take some photos of her and her husband before their little angel arrives. Jackie took our family photos a couple years ago and is an amazing photographer! I was so thrilled to be able to capture this special time for her and her husband. She really wanted the images to show love and intimacy......this is baby #4 for them!!!! And from the way they act, you would think they are newlyweds....I LOVE THAT! AND it made my job easier! How awesome to still be so much in awe of each other and so in love after all these years....it just keeps getting better and better for them!

I just love maternity sessions because it always amazes me what the female body can do while carrying a baby. It really is a miracle.....and this mama is absolutely stunning! Today, Jackie is going in to have this little bundle of joy so we got these photos just in time!

















Thank you so much Jackie & Charley for having me over to capture this special time for you! I can't wait to meet your little angel and see his newborn photos!