The Capitol Building!

Did you hear about the guy that was walking down the street towards the capitol with a loaded rifle, bow and arrow and a samurai sword? You can read about it on CNN. That happened two hours before we went there for pictures! Crazy! I didn't get any shots of that but we did get a couple others.

I tagged along with a high school group tour for a bit and learned a ton! I love feeling like a spy on a mission...I don't get out much!

I didn't bring Adriah's winter jacket so she wore one of Joel's in Washington...she looked like a little boy but, she was warm!

I loved this tree!

Adriah loves every minute with her cousins...and the love her!

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Washington D.C. - Jefferson Memorial

Well...buckle in and prepare to see shots of our tour in the capitol city!

I could've spent hours reading the walls, contemplating, and marveling at the beauty...but it was too cold! I have to come back in the summer when all the trees have leaves, the pools reflect the monuments and the weather is doable! Yesterday was freezing in Washington! I mean freezing...I couldn't feel my face after being out in the wind for 5 minutes!

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Portland Pictures!

After the wedding on Sunday, I went to Portland with a couple of the bridesmaids (Gloria and Mindy)...we had a blast together! I thought I'd share a couple of fun moments with you! This was taken at a sculpture outside the main theatre...I thought it was so cool that their heads look like eyeballs!! Can you see it?

This is Gloria and she's having a baby in 6 weeks. I thought it would be great to contrast the precious maternity posed moment with the guy and the mattress sale sign in the background!

Mindy hated getting her picture taken and normal Noemi fashion I kept taking more shots and peppering with questions about why she didn't like it! She gorgeous and I kinda made it my personal challenge to take a portrait even she would like!

Thank you girls for being my subjects for the day! I'd loved our day walking in downtown Portland.

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OHHHhhh Canada!

We made it! We got here last night at 1:30am (12:30am Minnesota time)! Adriah did not nap the whole ride. She normally is in bed by 7:30pm and falls asleep sortly after, but not yesterday! She finally fell asleep at 10pm and that was because I was rubbing her head and tickling her face. And yes, she watched a ton of movies. I lost count of how many! How embarrassing.

To top it off, she ate tons of junk food...McDonald's, Fritos (chili flavor) and the old faithful Fruit Snacks! Nothing like a 12 hour car ride to make you undo everything you normally enforce with diligence. :)

Anyways, we all woke up at 9am, had Tim Horton's bagels and cream cheese; a very Canadian breakfast! Matt and Wayne (my step-dad) have been working all morning tearing down a shed and Adriah went for a swim with her Grandma...life is good.

It's a gorgeous day. Perfect breeze. The kind of day that forces you to stop, point your face towards the sun, breathe deep and smile!

My sister, brother and nephews arrive today! Their driving up from Toronto. So, that makes 7 adults and 3 kids in a 2 bedroom house! We (Matt and I) have graciously said we'd sleep outside in a tent. I can't remember the last time I slept in a tent. I'm praying for no little (or big) critters to come and visit.  

Enough babbling for today. I'll get some pictures up tomorrow!

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I love old cars!

While up in Staples AJ's Dad introduced me to his lovely little HOTROD! I took a couple of shots as we were leaving. In between the mesquitos drawing blood and the pressure of needing to get on the road I managed to get a few good ones!

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Happy 4th of July!

I know I'm a couple days late but, I hope you had a HAPPY 4th! I did! We went on a mini holiday up north with friends. Stayed at our friends parents house in staples. It was absolutely gorgeous! We relaxed with our kids by the beach...the greatest part was that the water is super shallow (never more then a foot deep) by the house! So, watching Adriah go from the beach to the water and back was fun, not the usual stress and following 2 steps behind. All the moms who are reading are smiling and nodding in agreement!

Then we went tubing on the river. This was unlike anything I've ever done before. Basically you rent tubs, get dropped off down the river and drift for hours...literally 4 hours of drifting...it was awesome!

We topped off our evening with dinner and fireworks! It was amazing. Thank you AJ and Micah for the fun getaway AND a special thanks to AJ's parent Joey and Tony for making the couple of days perfect!

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I lost it all in Vegas!

Well...I guess I didn't lose it all but I did lose something extremely valuable to me. Our second Christmas married, my husband surprised me by putting a ring in my stocking! We had set a limit on Christmas presents and neither one of us kept to the limit. I bought him a digital camera and he bought me the ring and more!

Picture me all pumped about being at my first Photography conference, taking notes like a mad women...and I looked down and saw...after only one day in Vegas.

My heart sank...of course there was no way I could retrace my steps in Vegas of all places. So instead, it makes for a sad story that is sad enough to make it on the blog.

A moment of silence for the lost diamond please...alright moving on!

The Photos of VEGAS!

I'm back from the WPPI conference in Las Vegas! I thought I'd document the last day for the blog...not a lot of words! Let's let the pictures do the talking!

Did you know there are escalators outside in Vegas? I didn't. It was great to glide everywhere...especially in 2 inch heels! :)

It wasn't all work we had some play! This is Alexander and Tiffany by the pool!

We stayed at the Flamingo but, conferenced at Bally's...It was gorgeous at night!

One of my FAV. mentors was Mike Colon! He's a big wig from California and all around "nice guy." Live models and untouched photos are the best way to do it.

So, they mispelled Prairie...WPPI's expertise is in Photography, not spelling!

After a week of being saturated with knowledge and inspiration...I had lots to be happy about!

And that's everything! Noemi Hedrick, reporting live from Las Vegas, Nevada!