Still Smiling

 From this ...

 

 To this...

 

To this little bundle of joy,

Scout Harlow Ripley!

Wish I lived closer and could have taken little Miss newborn pics.

More Birthdays!

My baby sister, Lola Jill

and my nephew, Andrew Ripley

Share the same birthday and that is today!

Hugs and Kisses and Birthday Wishes!
Love yall.

80 and 8

My Mother In Law turns 80 years old today! Party later this evening.

The youngest Crenshaw boy, Maxwell turns 8 today too!

Both birthdays are such milestones!

Hope both of your birthdays are the best ones yet!

All my love.

BYU Hockey Team 2010/2011

My nephew Ashton Ripley plays hockey for Brigham Young University.

This is his first year and I'm pretty excited for him.

An Alabama Boy, who's rarely ever seen snow, playing a sport like hockey.

He is the only one in that picture wearing a beard.

His GRANDmother, my MIL, is taking his mother and me

to Utah for our birthday's and to see him play a game.

So if you live in the Provo area come see me on October 22

at the BYU hockey game.

They have a buy one ticket get one ticket coupon on their web site right now.

Print it off and bring another Friend with you.

I think the team could use the support.

Remember Ammon?

He is still making these silly faces.

(You can check back here and see the faces he gave me when I was trying to shoot his older brother's wedding pictures.)

Well Master Ammon is the youngest Griffis GRAND~child.
And he turned 9 years old on Thursday August 12 the same day he started school and the same day his Grandpa Griffis passed away.
The next day we waited all evening for him to get here from Birmingham, AL.
His Grandma was happy to see him as well as the rest of us.

We had a little party for him and he was surprised.

And a little embarrassed.

But pretty excited to get a new suit coat,
he'd always wanted one like his older brothers.
He got some cash too and that was even better.

He is such a sweet boy.
~~~~~
I'm sure that his 9th birthday will be one that he will always remember.

Shutter Love Tuesdays

This weeks theme: Weddings

Got a favorite wedding picture you'd like to share?

Go here and join the fun.

3rd Son

I have another GREAT~nephew~

Meet Jacob Levi Hale

3rd son of my niece Tara Griffis Hale

and her husband Ben.

Born last night, March 14th at 11:08 P.M.

7lbs and 10oz.

His older brothers are Maxton and Seth.

I just love new babies!

GREAT Nephew

Gracie Irene has a new brother!

Jude Philip Daley

7 pounds 10 ounces, 20 inches long.

Born Monday February 15, Provo, Utah

Proud parents are Ryan and Rachael Jacobs Daley

Honored

Y'all remember these wedding pictures of my nephew and his wife that I took in July?

I know, how could y'all forget if I keep bringing them back up again and showing them every chance I get, right?

Aren't they a beautiful couple?

This is Annie's twin sister Nikki, in the blue.

She's getting married December 23 of this year.

Guess who she wants to take her pictures???

That's right folks!

She wants "Moi"

Still trying to see how we can make that happen.

It's not looking real good at this point.

But I feel so honored they asked :)

Oh, and I forgot to add, they said "for PAY"

That means Money!!!

Tasty Tuesday

This is my Nephew

Chef Extraordinaire:

Aaron Jacobs

Pretty lady at his side is is wife Molly.

Aaron did the food at my D.I.L. Christon's,

sister's wedding last weekend. He works at

Ocean Forest at Sea Island, GA. as a Chef.

He's good and he loves his job.

He does Catering on the side too.

His food was wonderful and he got so

many compliments. I was so proud of him.

Grits Bar

Grits Bars have become very popular

for wedding receptions.

This was Boursin Grits and Shrimp Creole

with all kinds of toppings.

Boursin and Cheese Grits Ingredients

4 Cups Milk
1 Cup Grits
2 Tbs Butter
4 Ounces Boursin Cheese
Salt and Pepper
Bring milk and butter to a boil, and add grits.
Cook over medium heat for 15-20 minutes,
stirring often. Season with salt and
pepper. Add Boursin and cook
for 2-3 minutes.

There was also Pasta Salad, Marinated Roasted Vegetables,

a hot Spinach Dip, Fresh Fruit and Veggies. Ham and Cheese

Crescents and several other things.

But my all time favorite, besides grits is

Pat's Glazed Fruit.

Pat's Glazed Fruit
Recipe taken from her website:

Swamp Woman's Family Recipes
This a favorite and should be served in a clear bowl because it is such a pretty dish as well as delicious. Start by draining a gallon of good brand peach slices and cutting them into two or three pieces each. To this add three large cans of drained pineapple chunks. Then wash and dry 2* of seedless red grapes and cut then in half and add then to your mixture. Your ready for your glaze now. Open two large packs of vanilla instant pudding and pour over your fruit. Mix with your hands until the juice that was left on your fruit is creamy and coats the fruit thoroughly. Add 1/4 cup sugar and mix again. Cover with lid or wrap and refrigerate until completely cold. In the mean time wash 2 quarts of strawberries and drain, slice cover with fruit fresh and put in zip lock bag and refrigerate. Just before ready to serve slice 3# of bananas and coat with fruit fresh and add bananas and strawberries to your base. mix well so that the glaze coats all fruits. Keep covered tightly in fridge. Great served alone or with pound cake. Great for large parties and served in small clear cups. Always a big hit. Very refreshing.

13 Things Thursday

13 Things I've Learned Latley

1. That sleeping at a Holiday Inn Express doesn't make you a wedding photographer, it takes a lot more effort than that.

2. Camera equipment is expensive! And I like expensive equipment and it does make a difference. And I'd like to have some.

3. That being the oldest of 5 children was great preparation for Photographing a wedding and telling people where to go and what to do and how to do it!

4. That when you are the photographer you don't have time to eat any CAKE!! (and we all know that is the main reason I go to weddings is for the cake!)

5. It is hard to photograph children.

6. Two photographers are better than one. And the other one will take a picture of you when you have sweat-ed buckets and look like the wicked witch of the west. Thank you son, NOT. Always have a back up plan.

7. Beautiful people are easier to take pictures of than not so beautiful people.

8. That you my friends and family have much more confidences in me than I have in myself and I appreciate that. God does hear and answers prayers, thank heavens!

9. Photographers charge a lot of money because it is stressful and hard work and it's not even over after you have taken the pictures. You have to prepare the pictures for printing and viewing and delivering the goods. Weddings are expensive, elope! Save the money for a down payment on a home.

10. I like being on the other side of the camera better than having my picture made.

11. To say "say cheese" after about the 4th time becomes lame. Saying "say hairy pickles" or "on the count of 3" is better but I really need some help with that part.

12. That one should think about getting married in the winter in Alabama and not the middle of July, just sayin...

13. That 1013 miles round trip is a long way to drive to take pictures unless you are going there anyway or you love your nephew as much as I do. Love you both, Ashton and Annie.

14. I know I said 13 things, but this is my blog and I can have 14 things. I AM SO OVER THIS WEDDING, I'm done!

15. HAPPY BIRTHDAY DOTTIE, I LOVE YOU! (hush it up, I can have 15 too)

Thank you all for your patience! Peace Out.

Some Favorites

We took so many pictures just hoping some would turn out. My son Travis took pictures as well. As you know this was our very first wedding. We were both really surprised at how well our pictures turned out. We were pleased and so were the families. Travis took the first 3 pictures and I took the rest. I will post a slide show of all the random family shots, guests, cake, dancing and so forth some time soon.

This last one is one of my very favorite.

Extras

Sunday Stills

Sunday Stills

This weeks theme: Awe Nuts!

This is a picture of the Groom and his brothers.

It's that youngest brother that is the focus

of my Sunday Stills~Awe Nuts.

Ammon is 7 years old.

Handsome little man.

This is what a 7 year old thinks of weddings.

I cropped him out of a few pictures.

Picture after picture.

I got faces like this.

We took so many pictures that there

were enough of him with sweet

faces to get us by.

But I had no idea there were

so many of his goofy faces.

Just bored with the whole picture taking thing.

But like I said, we did get a few with sweet faces.

So these were my interpretations of "Nuts"

To join Sunday Stills click here.