Suzanne McGrath Photography

More Family Pictures at Iron Woods Park

The hubby has been gone this week and I am beat!  Therefore this post will be short on words...

I have a few more sesisons to highlight and thought I should show my sister and her two kids tonight!

I have to say, they were AWESOME this year.  Man, what a difference a couple years makes:)  Last time I photographed these guys it was a lot of work and this time time it was just a lot of fun!  I got a ton of great images all in less than 45 minutes.  For real.  I am fast!

Here goes...enjoy!

My nephew is a ham.  He would look every which way but AT the camera.  But when I got him it was good.

Those brown eyes...so gorgeous.

My niece has grown into quite the mature, young lady recently.  

Grant and Sydney together...

I think my nephew looks like he's got something up his sleeve - rather mischeveous, huh?

 

And the family...I love the backlight in these two images.

And there you have it!  One more session knocked at Iron Woods Park.

 

Six on Sunday

It's almost November.  Can  you believe it?  Yeah, me, neither.

1.  I finished Anna Karenina.  It was LONG.  The story itself was tragic which I didn't realize when I picked out the book last spring.  I have to say, I don't love tragic endings so I was a little distraught but then somewhat encouraged by the final, final end of the book.  I'm not sure I would recommend this one as a good read since it is so long - over 950 pages.  And as I said before, Tolstoy can go into minute, mind-numbing detail in some scenes.  Overall I'm glad I finished it so I can move onto something better.  My mom gave me The Paris Wife and I have read about 10 pages.  I really like Hemingway so I think I'm going to like this one.  And so far I like the style of writing which is a good sign.  Only time will tell...

2.  #1 got braces on Friday.  Her teeth were fairly sore this weekend - each day got a little better.  I still get a kick out of seeing her smile.  You can see her sporting braces in the picture I took today at Taco Bell.  Yes, we are really high-class sort of folks!

3.  I tried running yesterday.  I only went out a mile and back a mile.  However, I could feel something in my foot later in the day when I was walking around the soccer fields.  Bummer.  It's not like my foot hurt but at the same time, I shouldn't notice anything when just walking around.  So...I'm going to take at least another week off running.  I'm really missing it and I have to say the ellyptical just does NOT compare to getting outside and running.  Plus, I loved running in the morning because that way I was guaranteed to get my work-out in for the day.  I'm really struggling with getting in my time over lunch because something always seems to interfere.  Ugh!  I sure hope my foot gets back to 100% SOON!

4.  Our weekend was lovely.  Friday night equalled a marathon of Flip or Flop on HGTV and the hubby and I (and some of the kids) are hooked!  Saturday was busy with running errands, a short run (cry), a soccer game, and dinner with friends.  We went to Sullivan's and it was fantastic!  I just can't afford to eat and drink like that on a regular basis.  Yikes!  Today was more errand-running, a gourmet lunch at Taco Bell, engagement pictures, and a trip to the playground.  Seriously, the weather this weekend was absolutely beautiful!

Here are my girlies at the playground:

5.  I took #1 and #2 to see Wicked on Thursday night.  It was FANTASTIC!  I knew the general premise of the story (how the Wicked Witch of the West really turned wicked) but I didn't realize it had funny little lines and inside jokes.  Loved that.  The girls and I absolutely loved it!  I have to say it was definitely worth it.  I would go see it again in a heartbeat.  

The hubby took a quick iPhone pic before we left to drive downtown:

The little girls were mad they didn't get to come but there was one scene in particular that I KNOW would have scared the pants off them.  Plus, they just wouldn't have understood it all and ultimately would have been bored.  I'm thinking about taking them to Beauty and the Beast this December.  But we'll see how well I do on scoring tickets!

6.  I shot engagement pictures this afternoon out at Unity Village.  That place is just so awesome.  I'm thinking I may have to talk one of my girls into getting married out there.  It's just stunning.  

Maria and Terry were awesome and so easy to work with that they made my "job" easy.  Here's one sneak peek:

And there you go!  Have a great week!

 
 

Family Pictures at Iron Woods Park

These guys were great!  First, we met at Iron Woods Park which I love because it takes me less than 10 minutes to get there.  And second, they were so easy going and fun.  And the girls?!  Awesome.  

Katie and I have known each other since our girls were just infants.  In fact, I remember when Katie was pregnant with her youngest!  So it was really fun to get to be their family photographer.

And here they are...

Do you see the resemblance?  Mom and dad each have a "Mini-Me".  I loved it.

 

 

And I couldn't forget mom and dad!

I don't know why, but I really, really love the picture of the two of them!

 

And the last one for tonight:

Aren't they a cute family?!

 

Project Life Weeks 33 and 34

Welcome to Project Life.  Since I am playing catch-up I am going to include two weeks.

Week 33:  August 12th - 17th

Full spread:

Left side:

 

I love the black and white on this page.  I just wrote on the diagnal journal card which is simple but so cool. 

 

Of course I used an Ali Edwards stamp below:

 

Here is the right side which was all about the first day of school:

 

More Ali Edwards stamps below...love them so much!

I thought it would be fun to include each kid and their teacher:

 

We all got pedicures and a manicure the day before school.  I thought the image below was fun and I just added a little chipboard element:

And that was Week 33!  Let's move on...

Week 34:  August 18th - 24th

Full spread:

Left side:

 

I just love this picture and it makes me sigh with wistfulness everytime I see it.  Hence the stickers:

 

I included an Instagram shot of our cat and a little story about how she followed us down to the pool.  I love those journal cards that point to the picture.  Fun.

 

You knew I was going to include a picture of my thrifted bar cart.  

Right side:

 

I didn't want to add much to this picture so I thought a small line of text was perfect:

 

I had been working so hard on the kitchen so I included a lot of update pictures.  Looking back reminds me of far I have come.  Not to mention how darn long it took!

And there you have it.  Two weeks done.  Boom!


 

 

 

 

Six on Sunday

Let's do this!

1.  We had a fantastic weekend.  We mixed in fun, family time, soccer, photography, and projects.  Now that is my kind of weekend - a little of everything.  Up first...soccer.  

#2 had a late soccer game Friday night under the lights.  And let me tell you, it was COLD - like 40* cold!  But I have to say, it was worth it because they won.  And honestly, I actually kind of enjoy those games.  (I know.  I'm crazy.)  

#3 and #4 had soccer games yesterday.  It was #4's last game of the season.  We bribed promised her McDonald's if she participated in her games.  And she did!  (I think we're going to skip the spring season.)  She is smiling in this picture 1) Because she knows she's done and 2) She knows she's headed to McDonalds.

#3 plays her last game next Saturday.  She's getting really fun to watch these days.  She is even starting to make passes!

2.  We're continuing to organize the house.  This weekend the hubby and I were ruthless.  We went through our closet and came up with two big laundry baskets full of clothes we don't wear anymore.  It made me feel a little guilty but most of the things that ended up in the pile were at least 5 years old.  And honestly, styles change.  But now I actually like walking into the closet!  It's organized and less cluttered.  Plus, I think I am bringing the hubby over to my side.  You see, I want to do custom built-ins for the closet this winter.  I have it all sketched out and I even measured our clothes to make sure everything will fit.  We make it work today but there really isn't any room for shoes and it could be SO MUCH BETTER.

I also cleaned the basement this week.  I took three garbage bags full of clothes and toys to Goodwill.  Plus, I organized all the doll clothes and the toys that remained.  It feels so nice and neat down there now.  I love it.  And I know the kids appreciate it because the little girls were down there all weekend!  That is totally just a bonus.

3.  The three big girls all had orthodontist appointments this week.  And big news!  #1 is going to get braces this coming Friday!  That means mom and dad are going to the poor house soon.  Because as soon as she is done, it will be time for #2 and so on and so forth.  Four kids in braces - I think we'll end up paying for an entire wing in their building!

4.  Last night we went to the Lousiburg Cider Mill and Pumpkin Patch.  (#1 did not join us because she had a better offer - to go to Worlds of Fun.)  As far as pumpkin patches go, it was not that great.  It was $8 each to get in and there was not a whole lot of stuff to do.  But the kids enjoyed it and that was all that mattered.  However, as far as cider goes, it was AWESOME.  Their cider donuts and hot apple cider were to die for!  I would totally make the drive out there just for that.  In a heartbeat.

Here's a picture I posted on Facebook.  They are all drinking their "beer"...

5.  The big girls and my niece did some shopping today at Old Navy.  I find I either have great luck or terrible luck there.  Today was good.  Great.  We all found tons of stuff!  We walked out of there with three huge bags stuffed with clothes.  But, when I got home I looked up our purchases online and realized they were having a 20% sale online only.  So what did I do?  Well, I re-ordered almost everything (minus the clothes #2 needs for her orchestra concert in two days) and saved a boatload of cash.  I have never done that before but it would have been crazy not to do it.  And you know what?  I'm not even going to feel guilty taking it all back.  Not one bit.  In fact, I am actually patting myself on the shoulder because I am not a smart shopper.  Except for today!

6.  I was busy out at Iron Woods Park this weekend.  (I love shooting out there.  They have great vingettes and it's only 8 minutes from home.)  I had three photo sessions.  Two teachers (they both taught #3 and #4 so I gave them sessions for teacher appreciation week last May) and my sister and her two kids.  Yesterday was a little chilly but not bad and today was simply gorgeous.  And all three sessions were just a breeze! 

Miss Demmi and her family:

My sister and her two kiddos:

Miss Laurie and her family:

Seriously, how cute are all those pictures?!  Love them all.

And that is it for tonight.  I'm headed downstairs to catch up on The Good Wife.  Have a great week!

 

Thrifty Thursday...Painted Kitchen Cabinets

Well, hello!  The day has finally come - I can reveal my newly painted kitchen cabinets.  WooHoo!  I am so excited by this transformation.  WARNING:  This post is going to be long.  I have a ton of pictures to show you!  So sit down, grab a drink, and take a peek at my kitchen.  But first, here is what my kitchen looked like before:

So let's start with what changed from the picture above:

• bar stools
• curtains
• cabinet color - both uppers and lowers
• wall color
• frosted glass switched out for clear glass
• hidden hinges
• cabinet hardware
• added quarter-round trim 

Here are a couple more before views:

What was wrong with it, you may ask?  "It's a total Monet".  (You knew I had to quote Cher from Clueless!)  "From far away it's OK, but up close it's a big old mess."  

I give to you, cabinet doors that were askew.  (I love that word!)  Not to mention chipped paint.  And...

 

Last before picture.  Notice these doors hadn't closed properly in 10 years.  Yep, that's just how roll out here in the 'burbs.

 

And now for the finished product!  (I still need curtains and an area rug for under the table but that will come in time.)

I just realized I forgot to tidy up the desk wall and side of the frig.  OH well, that's how we live!

The shot below shows you the plain-Jane windows.  I am going to do Roman shades in black/white vertical striped fabric.  They will be so awesome.  But when I tried to order the fabric it was on back-order so they will have to wait.  And just today I ordered sample Flor tiles for under the table.  I love them on my computer.  I just hope I love them in real life, too!

I simply adore my glass cabinets but like I've mentioned before, they need to be styled a little differently.  I don't like all the color on one side and all the white and glass on the other.  But I'm kind of stuck.  It's a matter of function vs. style right now!

This picture below was taken while I was standing in the doorway to the formal dining room:

The pantry wall below.  I wish I had a walk-in pantry.  But alas, I do not.  Such is life with a house built in the early 90s.

OK.  So on to more details...

I have written it on here before, but I ADORE the hardware!

I found this hardware on Home Depot's website.  It's not available in their stores - at least not in mine. And actually, I copied Jenny Komenda of Little Green Notebook.  But seriously, this hardware is so pretty and you cannot beat the price ($1.98 EACH)!!  Here is the pull and here is the knob.  

This little area is our recycle and baking centers.  (Recycle is behind the double doors in the peninsula.)  This is the baking center for obvious reasons - the stand mixer and silver cannisters (from Target, of course).  We added the lights back in March when we had our ceilings scraped.  I love them.  And they're from Home Depot!

 

Below is the desk area in the kitchen.  

 

Here is that whole wall, as seen from the kitchen table.

As for paint, I tried Ben Moore paint this time.  I used their Advance formula for the cabinets which is a hybrid paint.  It acts like oil-based but cleans up with water.  I loved working with it!  I can't say for sure whether or not it will hold up like oil-based paint but I'll let you know.  (Since my cabinets were previously painted I did not prime them.  I just roughed them up with a little sand paper.)  I used Trout Gray but had them add in quite a bit of white to lighten it up.  And I used White for the uppers.  The wall color was also custom mixed.  It was halfway between Bunny Gray and Thundercloud Gray.    

I failed to mention how I filled in the old hinge holes and installed new hidden hinges.  But that is another post for another day.  But I do have to say, I am so very happy I did that.  The cabinets look so much cleaner without the hinges and also, they close.  Bonus.

I love my yellow bar stools!  They are so fun.  They're definitely bright but I think without them the kitchen would be really boring.  

And there you have it.  My newly painted kitchen!  If you made it this far, thanks for reading!  

 

 

Family Pictures...City Market KC, MO

I think this is the third time I've done their family pictures?!  The first time #3 wasn't even mobile!    

Fall 2011

And I know I did an April session back in 2010 - but I must not have blogged it?

Anyway, these boys keep me on my toes!  But man, they are sure cute!

And there you have it - the McDowell family.  So fun!

 

 

 

Six on Sunday

I feel like this is going to be a short one tonight, folks. I'm tired. So here goes...

1. I stayed up until midnight Friday night. Midnight - so it must have been something good, right? Wrong. I painted my kitchen.  It took 3 hours!  And that was just to cut in.  I didn't even roll it on!  I started at 9pm, right after I put the littles to bed and then I stayed up late.  (My bedtime is usually 10pm.  I know.  CRAZY.)

Then Saturday morning I had to caulk where the wall and ceiling meet.  When we had our ceilings scraped last March it left a little something up there.  It always bothered me but I knew I'd paint and fix it then.  And so I did.  I also caulked between the cabinets and the wall to give myself a nice, pretty edge.  It worked.  It looks so nice now!

So Saturday afternoon and evening I finished rolling, cutting in a second time, and rolling a second time.  But I got her done!  And I like it!

Tonight the hubby and I put in the very last cabinet door.  So I can officially call the kitchen DONE.  (Minus a few touch-ups.)  I had every intention of properly photographing things but the weekend - and daylight - got away from me.  So you'll have to do with a couple crappy iPhone pics I took while I was cooking dinner.  I will definitely shoot this room properly - hopefully this week.  But you get the point! 

Here she is!  My newly painted kitchen!

2.  We were busy this weekend.  #1 had a swim meet and #2 had a soccer game yesterday afternoon.  

The swim meet was up in Leavenworth so it was a haul to get there and of course she swam Friday night, yesterday and today.  Despite her rather nasty cold, she had an outstanding first meet of the season!  It was truly fun to watch her.  She dropped time in most of her events and got really, really close to getting a triple A time which is a big deal.  Most of all I am just glad to see all her hard practice is paying off.

And #2's soccer game was a good game but unfortunately they didn't win.  It was a major bummer.  However, #2 (despite a rather nasty cough) had a brilliant game.  Seriously, it's so fun to watch her play defender.  She never gets rattled in the backfield and is very deliberate in her moves.  Plus, she makes awesome faces that always delight the parents!  

As for #3 and #4, they didn't have soccer games.  AGAIN.  #3 loves soccer and can't wait to play again next weekend.  #4 does not love soccer (because she doesn't know anyone) and has to be bribed with McDonald's to play next weekend.  But it's all good!

3.  I was supposed to be in Chicago today running my marathon.  Clearly that did not happen.  I was able to follow my friends along via text message which was really fun!  I decided not to go because I thought it would just make me miserable to see all the runners and the hype and not be able to do it myself.  And I caught a glimpse of a story on the news yesterday morning and that really just confirmed my decision.  It looked so much and I would have been so bummed to only be a spectator.  

I don't think I'll run another marathon for awhile or ever again.  While I thoroughly enjoy spending time with my friends on the long runs, I feel like I'm abandoning my husband and kids when the miles start to creep up.  From now on I plan on sticking with halves.  As soon as I am running again, I mean!

4.  I took #1 to shop for jeans today.  We hit up a resale shop - I'm not sure what you call it.  It's where they buy and sell pre-owned clothes.  Well, when she is STILL growing I thought that sounded like a good deal.  She found two pairs of jeans but oh my Lord - it took her trying on 20 pairs of jeans to find those TWO!  I'm so used to just strolling into the Gap, picking out a few pairs and finding the ONE that it never dawned on me that we would be gone for hours.  Sheesh!  

In the end she is happy and I am happy and I didn't have to spend hundreds of dollars so I call it a win-win.  But that is only the beginning.  She barely has any shoes, shirts, pants.  The kid outgrew everything over the summer.  I think it's going to be a pricey fall around here!

5.  Christmas purchases have begun.  I am trying to spred the love to the checkbook, you see.  Remember - I do Want, Need, Wear, Read, Santa, and Christmas Eve PJs.  So, I've ordered books for all four girls.  And we bought #1's Need gift a month and a half ago!  I've also purchased the hubby's Wear and Need items.  See?  I'm patting myself on the back right about now!  Aren't you proud of me??  I'm debating about posting what I purchased since I'm not sure if #1 has ever read this blog.  I don't think so, but I can't be sure!

6.  I tried a new chili recipe last night.  The hubby and I really dug it but the kids?  Not so much.  Oh well.  I decided the next time we have chili night I'll make the regular kind for the kids and the new kind for us.  That will guarantee leftovers which is a total bonus!  

So, you should try this one.  Of course it's from iowagirleats but you already knew that.  It's Chipotle Turkey Chili With Apples.  It sounds weird, right?  No!  The tart green apples are absolutely delicious in this recipe.  Seriously, try it and let me know what you think.  

And that's it for this week.  Thanks for reading.  I hope you all have a fantastic week!

 

 

 

Thrifty Thursday...a Halloween Mantel

I'm back with more Halloween decorations.  But I swear this is it.  I'm done.  

I had to wait to put together my Halloween mantel b/c I needed a new frame and I knew I'd find one when I went thrifting (#1 in Six on Sunday).  And guess what?  I did!  A $7 frame was perfect.  I love when that happens.

I will admit that I shamelessly copied Lucy from Craftberry Bush.  But I just love it!  And I'm good at copying - it's a gift:)

Here it is!

 

And with my also-copied Nevermore banner:

It looks good together, no?

And some details.  The only thing I bought for this Mantel was the $7 picture frame and the feather boa.  Oh - and the black net.  I had everything else on hand.  So I took it as a sign that this was meant to be.  

Do you see that two-tier wood serving piece?  Love it.  Acquired it thrifting.  I love it.  (But I didn't get it for this mantel - it just happened to work here.)

One last picture:

I hope you enjoyed my little slide show...

Have you started decorating yet?

Senior Pictures...Blue Valley West Class of 2014

Meet Andy.  Class of 2014.  Smart kid.  He's going to study some kind of engineering - hopefully the kind that has to do with petroleum.  Yeah, smart.  That's as much as I understood.  He's also exeptionally kind and considerate.  The kind of kid young adult any parent would love to have!

We headed out to Iron Woods Park.  Andy wasn't entirely into the senior picture idea and didn't want the really trendy stuff.  A-OK with me!  These are classic and will never go out of style.  

Good luck, Andy.  I hope Tulsa comes a-callin' for you!