life. photos. scrapbooking.

Hands of A Hero

With all the news lately... I been thinking about my friend, who happens to be an ex-Navy SEAL. Actually, I'm proud to say that I know two ex-SEALS personally... and there are amazing similarities in both... very loyal, family-oriented, solid men who are extremely humble and quiet about the kind of role they played in our military. In fact, all of the military personnel I know have that in common.

As I was saying - all the latest headlines had me thinking about my friend - so I went digging around in my photo vault looking for some photos taken at our last visit, shortly after the Lil' Shortie was born... 

I stopped at this one...

I stared at it for quite some time. Yes, my inner monologue included thoughts of how darling my little nugget is... but also I kept staring at that big, strong, beautiful hand.

That, my friends, is the hand of my SEAL friend. As I sat there thinking of how it was gently cradling my newborns cheek, I thought of all the other things that that hand is...

It is...

brave

deadly

loyal

committed

adventurous

humble

tough as hell

patriotic

classified

selfless

intelligent

elite

loving

compassionate

hard core

courageous

well traveled

steadfast

and a little bit crazy (c'mon you gotta be to do that job!)

.....

and above all -

heroic

 

To name a few...

It's absolutely heroic.

I don't care if you've never fired your weapon or if you were the guy who fired "that bullet" to kill the No. 1 Most Wanted terrorist on Earth. You are a hero to me.

If you VOLUNTEER to defend me and my family and sacrifice time away from your family to do so - you are a hero to me. Whether you went through BUDS, or OCS, graduated from an academy or if you just walked into a recruitment office and signed your name on the dotted line - you are a hero to me.

I'm USA proud today... and every day. Just wanted to say so.

A HUGE thank you to my friend and to all those in uniform!!!!

 

 

 

Alison and Girls :: Mommy & Me Session

These girls just eat me up they are so dang cute. This was our second session together. It didn't disappoint. I was a little concerned about the sun being so bright... harsh shadows to contend with, ya know - but the girls rocked it out. (I know, right? One would think a bright sunny day would be ideal shooting weather... not so. Overcast is best!)

I'm always so amazed at how sweet and well-behaved they are. And how well the two get along with one another. They are so full of pizzaz and always have a smile for me.

Love love loved our time together. Thanks again so much Alison! It's ALWAYS a pleasure. You and your girls are just delightful!

Here are some of my favorites...

We started with a simple stroll around the neighborhood...

The girls do this on their own...

This retaining wall is a favorite spot to "balance walk" of theirs so we stopped to indulge...

 

Shugies for mamma.

Love how "L" is peeking out over Alison's knee in these ones. She's a little camera tease, that one.

 

Ahhh... some shade at the park. At last!

Found these butterfly headbands in the dollar section at Target a few weeks before our shoot... thought the girls would like to give them a try. And it made for a nice little parting gift for their willingness and eagerness to try all the silly poses I ask of them!

Airplanes...

Peek A Boo... I see you.

Thankful Thought No. 1 :: Pegher Style

I'm immensely thankful for the blessing of 5 heartbeats under my roof.

I'm thankful for the hugs and kisses that I routinely get (and ask for!!!).

I'm thankful I can recognize and participate in the kind of unconditional love in my daily life that only comes to me through God himself.

I know that it's a FACT that the better Christian I am, the better mommy, wife, daughter, sister, friend, businesswoman, and artist I can be, and I'm thankful that I "get" that concept.

I'm so thankful that when the kids are driving me batty, I can look at it as an opportunity for God to refine me. Patience, child. And - yes, by child, I mean ME.

So many blessings - enjoy them. Be humbled by them. Rejoice in them.

On the heels of Mother's Day, I thought I'd partake in an occasional series that Ali Edwards has begun and invited her readers to join in on.

A photo and a few thoughts. We'll see how they begin to accumulate. I'm thinking they may just end up in a small 4x6 Kolo album... Photos on the front... and maybe thoughts on the back with the date... ?

Ali has created these nifty 4x6 photo overlays along with a rounded corner photo mask that you can very simply and easily pop a photo in Photoshop or Elements.

To join in on the fun - click here to begin downloading your set of the overlays.

And a belated Happy Mother's Day to all. Hope you were pampered just a bit yesterday!

 

 

My font for you!

Awhile back I submitted a handwriting sample to this website...

They get lots of submissions - and if you are lucky - they will turn your sample into a font.

Yesterday an email came to my inbox that my "Roxygirl" font had been chosen & created.

Woot!

Excited to see how it looked, I opened a quick Photoshop document...

I was listening to Sara Bareilles at the time...

To download the font for yourself click HERE

Have a great weekend and a Happy Mother's Day to all!

Catching Up : One Month Layout

I've given myself a mandate. One layout a week to get the baby caught up (on the monthly's at least). And digital seems to be the most efficient way for me to accomplish this task. I miss my scissors and adhesive and cardstock - but I can do a layout in 30 minutes this way with no clean up. Especially if I use a handy template.

So! Here's the baby girl's first month page. All digital.

_{LAYOUT SUPPLIES : Adobe Photoshop CS5, Template: Cathy Zielske No. 65, Digital Papers & Elements: Rue Kit by Paislee Press, Fonts: Fling, Avenir}

I'm thinking I could even take my workflow one step further in the efficiency department and use the same template for all 12 months... hmmm. That might take the fun out of it... Then again... maybe not.

I guess it will depend on how much I have to say each month in the journaling and what kind of photos I have. If I don't have enough white space inside the photo itself - it may not work.

Hmmmm.... things to think about.

P.S.

Happy Cinco de Mayo!

Did you know that 5 is my favorite number???

Got one a these in my house for that very reason...

Just a little random tidbit.

Katie and Kids : Mommy & Me Session

This Katie was so excited to meet that Katie.

Referred by a mutual client/friend, I knew I clicked with her the instant she answered her door and invited me inside.

And... photographically speaking, it also helps that she's utterly gorgeous. Perfect smile, hair - and two kids later - a killer bod. You go girl.

Speaking of those two rugrats... well they couldn't have been more fun to photograph either. What was initially scheduled as a 1/2 hour session easily turned into an hour... because I was having fun. 

They were probably like..... oooookkkkaaaaaaayyy.... time to go now? We need to go eat dinner Crazy Camera Lady. Byyyyeeeee.

I kid.

We had a blast. Check it out.

Here's a peek at Katie and her little dumplings.

 

"Who are yooooouuuuu?"

I told him that Tinkerbell lives inside my camera... and to look close.

I tease.

Warming up to me...

Now she's showing off.... :) LOVE IT!

The other "kid" in the house... Zena. She's anything but small. Yet so very loveable.

See? She's a big girl!

Now that the kids are nice and comfortable with this stranger and her lens invading her house - it's time to get to business! Mommy & ME!

This guy... a total cutie pie.

Slash total BOY! Love it - I have one of this sort at home too.

Familiar places, like the backyard, go a long way to put kids at ease for a session.

Mamma love...

This next series of photos just ooze "childhood" to me. Running and giggling with reckless abandon.

GOTCHA... Tickles...

The power of "touch"... It articulates the connections we have as human beings in the photographs.

She is just the sweetest. Watching her big brother climb trees like boys do.... I can too!!!

Time for dirt and trucks.

MEE TOO!

Katie in action... Doing what mom's do best.

Dad came home just in time for a few more frames.

Beautiful family.

Beautiful couple.

Thanks so much Katie and family! It was such a pleasure!

xoxo

 

"The Spot" & Giveaway Winner!

First - the giveaway for :

Ok - so the Random Number Generator first spit out #11.... and that commentor was actually my mom.... and since I planned on giving her a copy anyway... and since she would argue that although she often participates in my giveaways, technically she should be exempt as a family member.... I decided to pick another.

Whateva.

SO the winner of the Redeeming Love by Francine Rivers giveaaway is....

Commenter #9 - Jackie D!!!

Congratulations Jackie! Email me at katiepegher (at) gmail (dot) com to claim your loot!

 

Also - today I wanted to share a little something with ya.

Teee heee heee....

My big TV debut is up and running.

The boob has made it to the boob tube.

How hilarious.

I do very much hope my 2.3 second appearance will inspire you to order new window coverings.

From Next Day Blinds and from no other manufacturer.... that is.

Without further ado