INVERSION

We snowmachined into the cabin last weekend. The weather was very foggy and dark. As we neared the top of the mountain, all the fog started to clear and it was evident that we were experiencing an inversion. We broke through the clouds just as the sun was starting to set. Wow! Talk about feeling like we were in heaven. There was just a blanket of clouds below us as far as you could see in ever directions. Way off in the distance to the west, you could see the tips of the mountains sticking up in this sea of fluff. It was so gorgeous. We couldn't have timed it any better.

"I am careful not to confuse excellence with perfection. Excellence I can reach for; perfection is God's business."
~Michael J. Fox

Love

"Love -- real love is beyond definition, priceless. You can't even begin to define something so delicate, so beautiful, so enrapturing, so complex. It is a tapestry of emotion and thought all woven together into a perfect pattern. The ones in love know of it. They are feeling the uniqueness of their love. Others can sense the energy. They are drawn to it. It radiates...it is fierce beyond imagination."

Another 14" !!

Wow, so I thought it was bad two days ago. Yesterday we got everything plowed and cleaned out. We shoveled off our deck & balcony and even shoveled off a good portion of the roof on the house because things were piling up so much. Then....we wake up this morning to another 14" at our house! It was amazing once again. I told Zack to run out on the balcony and stand in the snow as a reference point to show how much snow had fallen just last night. So here he is playing in the snow. He went out to help his dad do a bunch of shoveling. He is really getting to be a great help.

GET READY....

GET SET ....

GO !!!!!!!!!

Here's an old antique wagon in our side yard.

And the picknic table from 2 days ago is almost non existant!

We have really needed the water so I guess all of our prayers have been answered. We're supposed to get another big dump tonight, and again on Sat & Sun. I'll keep you posted :)

Snow, Snow and More Snow!

It probably doesn't come as any surprise to most of you, that we have tons of snow this year, because I think everywhere has had more snow this year than we have had in the past few years. I just thought I'd take some pictures in our yard to remember how much snow we have gotten. We also are expected to receive a bunch more snow this evening and tomorrow. I'm happy that we have so much snow in the mountains, but I'm ready to be done with it on the roads. I'm not much of a winter person, so today I'm totally celebrating the SUN. We haven't had much sun lately, and I'm feeling deprived. I just want to sit in the bay window and curl up in the sun with a good book. Maybe I'm half cat... I don't know.
Alana

Here's looking out at our front yard and the drift that is almost to the top of the fence.

Here is our swingset in the back yard.

Our picknic table has at least 2 1/2 feet of snow on top and is almost unrecognizable.

Appologies

Wow, I can't believe I've slipped away from my blog for so long. After the holidays, it was a mad rush to get ready for our first big trade show for our Elk hunting ranch. We made it through our first one. We went to Puyallup, WA from Jan 22-29th. It went very well and we are excited about all the new people we met. I love to talk, but I was definitely ready to be done talking at the end of each day. You really get tired of saying the same little speach each time. But all in all it was fun. We will be going to Phoenix in March for our next show. The worst part was the terrible roads on the way home. Thats a long way to drive if you are only going 45 mph! All the truckers had chains on so the road was very bumpy, slick and the visibility was terrible. What should have been a 12-13hr drive, took us from 7pm on Sunday evening until 10:00pm on Monday evening! Whew - I'm just glad to be back home. I really missed my kids. Here's some pictures of our booth. I'll try to get some more pictures posted soon.
Alana

Merry Christmas

One of our favorite traditions is going to the mountains and cutting our Christmas tree. This year we went up near our cabin scouting out trees. The snow was already getting deep, so I'm glad Jaden, my little 2 y.o., fell asleep in the truck so I didn't have to drag him around in snow up to his waist or carry him everywhere. The rest of us had a great time picking out that perfect tree.

We parked the truck and headed up the hill to scout out the trees.

Payton found one, but I think its a little tall.

Zack is just thrilled to catch snowflakes on his tongue, laugh and sing Christmas songs.

We finally found a perfect one for the house. Lumberjack Jeff gets out the chainsaw to cut our great tree.

Because we were so close to the cabin and we are having our extended family Christmas party there, I talked Jeff into cutting one to put up at the cabin too. I can put a real tall one there. After a little more searching, I found the one I wanted and Jeff went to work cutting #2.

Ta da! Isn't it just perfect? Now to drag them down to the truck.

I got the 2 boys to pose in front of Dad for a quick shot.

I actually thought to hand Jeff the camera and get a couple of shots with me and the boys.

I definitely need to remember to have more pictures taken with me in it. Especially with the kids. I know I'm not recording enough of us together in pictures. I love this shot fogged up glasses and all. It really captures their personalities and the fun we had. I sure love them with all my heart. They are very special to me. I'm so lucky to have the wonderful family that I do. At this time of year I think they are especially in my thoughts. I hope that you and your families have a very Merry Christmas!!!

Old Fashioned

I love taking pictures of old things. Here 2 shots (of different tractors) that I really like. They just have so much character. What a different time that must have been.

I have been thinking a lot about all the people I have worked with this year in my photography business. I just want to say thanks to all of you for your support and your trust to let me experiment and learn and hopefully you all got some pictures that you like out of the deal. I know my photography has grown a ton this year and I hope to be able to take it to the next level this coming year. I really want to spend more time learning and doing and challenging myself. Also thanks to everyone who lurks and watches my blog. I love it when people comment. It helps to have critique and I love knowing what people like (and don't like) about my work. I wish you all the best and hope you have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!!!
Alana

Fall Never Last Long Enough!

I love the fall colors in all their brilliance, they are just gone too fast. I shouldn't complain though, this year especially we got to enjoy a lot more of them than usual spending so much time in the mountains. I am really grateful for the time we were able to spend there. There's always a trade off, like everything else that piled up at home, but I'm not sure I would trade it. There is a special feeling that comes when you immerse yourself in nature. I understand why God sometimes used mountains as temples to communicate with people on earth. There is almost a sacredness or a closeness to God that is unlike any other place on earth - at least for me. Maybe their pure awsomeness reminds me of how small I am and that there is a much bigger plan playing out than my little troubles. It seems very cleansing to spend time there. I feel very grounded and renewed. When I'm there, I feel like my whole soul relaxes. I know the renewing energy was greatly appreciated and desperately needed this year. Today I just wanted to express my gratitude and appreciation for all the beauty and incredible diversity that God has created for us on this amazing planet!
Alana

Editing Frenzy

I'm finally starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel. I have been so far behind, for so long, I'm not sure what normal life is like anymore :). I decided to take a few moments to myself today and since I'm in an organizing mood, I started going through all my photos from this year. I realized there are tons that I wanted to edit that I haven't even gotten to yet. (a lot of my kids that I haven't even touched yet). What started as an organization project, turned into a photo editing session and I cranked out a bunch. Here's the proof that even though I was somewhat absent from my blog this summer/fall, I really did take some pictures during all the chaos. So you'll note that by the weather and seasons of the pictures, they are are from a while back, but I still thought I'd share some of what I have been working on today.
Alana

The Grand Tetons

Here are a few of my favorite shots from my Mother in law's front steps on Thanksgiving. Wow What an amazing view! It is always amazing to watch the peaks change as the light changes throughout the day. I only wish the moon would have come up right behind the peaks instead of over to the north. It was such a crystal clear day, I couldn't help but dig out the camera for some shots. Enjoy!
Alana

Logan's Sneek Preview

I know Logan is dying to see a sneek preview of his senior photo shoot we did recently. Logan has worked for us for quite a while and is always so dependable. He loves our kids and is always a fun to be around. It was a pleasure to be able to take his senior photos. He put in so much time this summer up at the cabin working for us, I was glad he chose to do his senior pictures there - very fitting. Logan I hope you like them and there is more coming. Here's your preview with a few of my favorites so far.
Alana