My Weblog

Playhouse Progress

So I HAD to post on 7.07.07....

The playhouse is seeing some big progress. It is now painted the horrible color of yellow (my neighbors think) because heaven forbid I NOT want to paint it the ugly color of my house...medium brown. And complete with a pink dutch door. There will actually be two dutch doors...one in the front and one on the left side (as you're looking at the playhouse) Inside there is a loft and another door that lets you out on top where the balcony is. Under the balcony (where that white chair is) is a little porch. There is currently one working window by the porch (the one you can see) and a double window on the adjacent wall. That window will really just be shutters that open to "serve lemonade" to those on the porch. From the balcony above (obviously there will be a railing) there will be a slide that comes down into the yard. So really, you won't be able to see the porch once the slide is there....too bad we couldn't have the slide go off to the right into the strawberry patch...hmmm. Yes, there's a tree there right now, but it got fireblight and it's going to die.

There is now outdoor carpet on the porch and up on the balcony (that was recommended so it wouldn't be slippery) We put the black roof paper up (so now the house looks like it has wings ;) because I REALLY want to do the roof black. But the truth is there are NO houses in the neighborhood with black roofs so I'm a bit worried about that. But doesn't it just look darling with the black roof? The ONE neighbor who has NO kids and loves the playhouse even said she'd plant a tree in their yard that would conceal the back side of the playhouse from one of the main streets. LOVE that!

But here's what's left to do: Trim the house...including the ALL the doors, so they won't be quite so 'Pink', make the shutters, make window boxes, finish the front and back of the house just under the roof, paint the other two doors...attach them once the trim is done, make the window seat inside the house by the porch with the real window, paint the inside of the house, make a ladder for the loft, make the safety rail for the loft, make the railing for the balcony, attach the slide, install the floor (it's going to be green and white checkerboard, chairs will be pink to match the door...and lots of other little 'decorating' things. Finish the dormer...that's all I can think of at the moment.

The trim and the roof will be a beast!

So here's a picture of my house...obviously taken a while back. Can you see why I wouldn't want to paint the playhouse that color???

Sneak peak...

Here's a few more from today...since I know mom is watching ;)

From today...

A little "back" update...I'm still trying to rest a bit but it does feel better. Thanks April for the concern...I'm actually married to a Chiropractor ;) It comes in handy every now and then...but this time he thinks it might be deffered pain and that I should see a different kind of Dr....the 'female' doctor. How is it that I have to see the female Dr. on a regular basis but he's never seen the male Dr.?

This morning I had a photo shoot with one of my favorite little duos. Their mom and I are friends and do trade..she watches my kiddos when I have photo sessions and I take and print pictures for her. I just proofed this one image and LOVED it. So I thought I'd share. We're just so glad this little bundle is healthy. After being in the hospital for over a week with e-coli, we were all praying for her!

Don't forget about the Photo contest, 10 days left!

Just a reminder about another Fresh Faces Photo contest. This is for the next age group (6-10) here's all the details...

FRESH FACES!!!

Is your little one model material? You don't want to miss this exciting opportunity! Introducing the Fresh Faces contest! If you have a child between the ages of 6 and 10 years old and you think they are photogenic (and cooperative), please enter a snapshot for the contest. Non-professional photos only, please! Submit your images from now until July 15th.

After the deadline, images will be narrowed down to 5 by a group of professional photographers, and those 5 finalists will then be posted here on the blog and voted on by the general public. The TWO models with the most votes will win!

So, what do you win?? A complimentary session and 11x14 mounted print! Sound interested? There's more! By entering, you agree that I will have complete creative control over the session, I will help choose the clothing, and even bring a few accessories.

You are not required to purchase any additional images, but you can if you'd like. Sessions will take place in the Longmont, Colorado area as weather permits. You will be contacted after winning to make arrangements.

The three remaining finalists will also receive a complimentary 5x7 if they choose to book a session by August 31st 2007.

Please email me with a recent snapshot of your child to be considered. Please include the name and current age of your child, as well as your address and phone number. If you are entering more than one child, please send in individual images. This is all in preparation for the upcoming 'official' website!

Send your image to brandiginn@comcast.net Stay tuned to the blog for further information. I look forward to seeing all the entries!!! WOOHOO! Tell your friends!

Here's the information card you might see out and about:

Is your little one model material? You don't want to miss this exciting opportunity! Introducing the Fresh Faces contest! If you have a child between the ages of 6 and 10 years old and you think they are photogenic (and cooperative), please enter a snapshot for the contest. Non-professional photos only, please! Submit your images from now until July 15th.

After the deadline, images will be narrowed down to 5 by a group of professional photographers, and those 5 finalists will then be posted here on the blog and voted on by the general public. The TWO models with the most votes will win!

So, what do you win?? A complimentary session and 11x14 mounted print! Sound interested? There's more! By entering, you agree that I will have complete creative control over the session, I will help choose the clothing, and even bring a few accessories.

You are not required to purchase any additional images, but you can if you'd like. Sessions will take place in the Longmont, Colorado area as weather permits. You will be contacted after winning to make arrangements.

The three remaining finalists will also receive a complimentary 5x7 if they choose to book a session by August 31st 2007.

Please email me with a recent snapshot of your child to be considered. Please include the name and current age of your child, as well as your address and phone number. If you are entering more than one child, please send in individual images. This is all in preparation for the upcoming 'official' website!

Send your image to brandiginn@comcast.net Stay tuned to the blog for further information. I look forward to seeing all the entries!!! WOOHOO! Tell your friends!

Here's the information card you might see out and about:

Happy 4th!

I hope everyone is doing well! 

I've done something to my back and holy smack...it HURTS. I didn't sleep much last night and I have a hard time sitting, standing, walking, all the usual...I'd like to think I'm too young for this...HA!

But in the effort for a little sanity a proofed a couple picks from my photo sessions this week. The DARLING baby headband (and hats) are by Jamie Ray I've been taking pictures for her to use on her website...more to come later!

Image of the Day...

Again, a few more from Memorial day...the swing that my niece is on was in a room over a 4 car garage with a vaulted ceiling, so it had a BIG radius. On the VERY first day of us being at the cabin my BIL was pushing Alexa on the swing in a big circle. My FIL decided to step into the path of my on-coming child to take a picture. Alexa flattened my FIL and he ended up breaking his hip and had to be taken to a city an hour away for surgery. The whole reason we were at this cabin was for a reunion/party for my in-laws 40th wedding anniversary. My SIL (who lives in Spain) had flown in to surprise them along with another cousin and her husband who came in from Luxemburg (near Germany...right Jocelyn?) Anyway, Jocelyn and her husband arrived at the cabin while my FIL was on his way to Provo. He ended up missing the whole thing, had to stay at my SIL's house (the one jumping below) for a couple weeks before he could go back home to CA. Never a dull moment!

Image of the Day...

Here are some more from our Memorial Day trip...

The first two are Brinley and Nate on the 4 wheeler I LOVE both of them for different reasons but the second one where you can see the reflection of the 4 wheeler in the water below is actually kinda funny because when I zoom in on her face you can see that her helmet is covering her eyes and she can't see a dang thing!

The other two are more jumping on the trampoline shots...the little girl is the daughter of the mom jumping in the second shot. (my neice and sister-in-law) The sun was setting and they were facing the sun...so there's lots of warm light!

Playhouse Images of the Day

Well we're building a playhouse. My husband is NOT happy about it. Well, he's not happy because he's been getting the impression there are neighbors who will turn us in to the HOA. And of course concerned that if the HOA isn't happy about it then we would have to take it down and an entrire summer of Saturdays will have been wasted not to mention the wasted expense. Mind you, several of these neighbors are also guilty of having play structures taller than covenants allows. One of the biggest problems is that the ground in our back yard is at least 2 feet higher than our neighbors (that's just how they built it) so the house looks taller than it really is.

The other day a couple of the neighbors made comments about painting it the same color as our house. Well I HATE the color of our house. We didn't choose it, and when the time comes to paint we'll choose a different color. We think the suggestion was made so the playhouse would blend with our house better and not be as noticeable. I have a couple perspectives on this...1. We have three girls and a mustard brown playhouse just doesn't grab me as a girls playhouse. 2. Any play structure in any neighborhood is not the color of the person's house. They're usually made out of redwood with brightly colored swings, slides, and tents. 3. It's not like I'm painting the house neon orange.

The house will be pale yellow with white trim and black shutters on the windows. I've got a pink climbing rose to go up the side of the house and I was thinking of planting lemonade pink honeysuckly to climb up the back. (The back faces the side of one neighbor so it would be "pretty" on their side with flowers) Our neighborhood has several "colors" in it. Some houses are YELLOW, some are ORANGE (yes, orange!) some Dark Blue, Green, Taupe etc. So painting the playhouse pale yellow WILL "go" with the neighborhood.

So here's how it goes so far... Nate cutting Hardy Plank cement siding, wearing a mask because the dust in known to cause cancer in California...

The floor and foundation of the plahouse...

A few walls going UP!

Now the ROOF! And a cute little dormer!

Last week we put up most of the siding (that's what Nate was cutting in the first picture...yep, a little out of order with my pics)

My brother's getting Married...

I'm proofing a few pictures I took of the happy couple (but no, they're not using them for their engagement pictures) I just LOVED this one... the first one is my favorite, the second one I wish they were using for their engagement picture...

Images of the day...

Just a few images...I might even have more as I start proofing this afternoon...