Emily's Musings

The Boss July 28, 2009

Posted by Emily in : Daily Life, Family, Friends, Kansas, Little Man Dallin, Photography, Projects , 1 comment so far

Hello.

I’m the boss of my family.

_dsc5078-edited-1

I can make my mom and dad do almost anything when I smile.

_dsc5093-edited-1

And when I stare really hard, they think I’m cute.

_dsc5090-edited-1

See this here? It’s my arm. My “chub-a-lub” arm to be exact.

_dsc5103-edited-1

I’ve got it made.

I’m one adorable baby.

What more could I want?

Baby Inca July 27, 2009

Posted by Emily in : Friends, Kansas, Medical School, Photography, Saba , 6comments

My friend Nicole, (she lived on Saba the same time I did and her husband is also a medical student doing rotations in Kansas City) just had a baby girl at the end of May.

I’ve never photographed an infant, so I asked to photograph her new little one.

_dsc5038-edited-1

She was a doll.

_dsc4954-edited-2

Inca is actually crying here, not yawning,. But she’s still so cute!

_dsc4957-edited-2

I shot these in my kitchen. I put up a black sheet on a wall and used the light from the window.

_dsc5061-edited-1

I think it did the trick as a “make-shift” studio.

_dsc5119-edited-1

Look at that hair!

_dsc5153-edited-1

And her sweet little hands!

_dsc5142-edited-1

This was Nicole’s idea. So sweet!

_dsc5022-edited-1

_dsc5154-edited-1

Aren’t babies the best?

Kind of makes me hungry. . . for lunch that is.

The Plaza in Kansas City July 24, 2009

Posted by Emily in : Kansas, Photography, Princess Hannah , 3comments

Once upon a time, our good friends, Daniel and Lydia, used to live in Kansas City. When we visited them over the fourth of July, Lydia asked me if we had been the The Plaza in Kansas City.

Because I’m practically a hermit and never leave my house unless it’s a major emergency, (read with much sarcasm) I answered her very honestly.

No. I hadn’t.

After she gasped, pulled her chin up off the ground and shook her had back and forth trying to conjure up reasons she was such good friends with such uncultured people, she very politely told us to go.

After six months of living in this city, we finally took the time to see what all the rage about “The Plaza” was.

This is the Art Museum:

_dsc4706-edited-1

I’m sure it has a more beautiful name than that, but I was too busy trying to figure out the best angle to photograph this building without stepping in the reflecting pond. It was GINORMOUS, as you can see by the teeny tiny people in front.

_dsc4710-edited-1

I loved the large pillars.

_dsc4718-edited-1

The Art Museum had a beautiful photo gallery (a favorite of course) and interesting sculptures and paintings. The birdie out front was fantastic.

_dsc4715-edited-1

And huge.

_dsc4687-edited-2

Hannah was not sure what to think!

_dsc4677-edited-1

Behind the building was an Art Sculpture Park. These headless people intrigued me in a scary sort of way.

_dsc4730-edited-1

So did these wooden things.

_dsc4719-edited-1

This house was directly across the street from the Art Museum. I LOVE this style of house. Especially the ivy and the columns.

We only explored a small portion of The Plaza, (we were toting two little people, and when you figure in naps, lunch, travel time, etc, they expire pretty quickly) but we certainly plan to explore more of it.

I’m sure I’ll have many more pics to post of this place in the future!

I guess we are now Kansans because we’ve been to The Plaza.

Living in the Heartland July 15, 2009

Posted by Emily in : Kansas , add a comment

First, I’m going to point out the blaringly obvious.

I live in Kansas. The heartland of the USA.

_dsc3876-edited-11

Home to America’s farmers, Dorothy, and many tornadoes.

I live smack dab in the middle of the country.

I am equidistant to all oceans, New York and Los Angeles, and Mexico and Canada.

_dsc3884-edited-11

My town is very family oriented. It boasts having over 60 miles of walking trails, (in lush green space) free Botanical Gardens, free petting zoos, and lots of sports arenas. The city is somewhat artsy as well. Sculptures are everywhere. Going to Costco? Say hello to the life size vases out on the corner in the middle of an empty lot. Driving down Blue Valley Parkway? You’ll see a huge blue abstract sculpture in the middle of the intersection. Going to the bank? Say hello to the bronze giraffes as you drive into the parking lot.

This is what happens when farm land and suburbia collide:

_dsc3834-edited-1

We, suburbians, admire tractors on display.

Texan at Heart July 10, 2009

Posted by Emily in : Kansas, Texas, Trips , 8comments

I love Texas.

LOVE IT.

I am a Texan at heart. Should have been born and raised there.

What’s so great about the “Great State of Texas?”

The people. The shopping. The history. The pride.

When you visit the Dallas/Fort Worth area, you MUST, MUST, MUST go shopping at Sam Moon. If you don’t, your visit doesn’t count. You don’t know the thrill of shopping for fashion at bargain prices until you enter these doors.

_dsc4187-edited-1

Don’t let the lack of cars fool you about this parking lot. I shot this at night (with no flash thanks to my new skills from my classes) around 10:00 PM WAY after the store had closed. Trust me, the place is busting with shoppers from open until close everyday. The parking lot is jam packed. At Christmas time, they offer a shuttle to get you to and from your car because you probably had to park three miles away.

_dsc4153-edited-1

You must visit the historic Stockyards in Fort Worth. They still have cattle drives down the main cobblestone road twice a day.

_dsc4161-edited-1

This place is full of rich heritage. (Literally and figuratively.)

_dsc4145-edited-1

The Texas flag is ubiquitous. Everywhere you turn, there it us.

_dsc4230-edited-1

As is the “Lone Star”

_dsc4225-edited-1

And the American flag.

But this next image?

Unacceptable.

_dsc4433-edited-1

Texas traffic jams are bad.

VERY BAD.

In fact, you know it’s bad when you can hop out of your car, open the trunk, grab the camera, and leisurely walk to the grass to TAKE A PICTURE.

We were in the same spot on the freeway for 2.5 hours on our drive home to Kansas. Some major accident up ahead clogged the freeway northbound.

I was sure glad we had potty breaks before we left the house.

And lots of food in the car.

And good music to listen to.

And well slept babies.

But, even being held captive on the freeway for hours . . .

I STILL LOVE TEXAS!

Lamborghini or Medical School? Which Would You Rather? July 6, 2009

Posted by Emily in : Daily Life, Kansas, Medical School, My Handsome Husband, Photography , 3comments

Do you ever have that thought you should do something in particular but then you rationalize it away because it would be more convenient if you didn’t?

I often have an inner debate about whether or not to take my camera everywhere we go.

I love it.

Probably too much.

Because I love photographing.

When I take it anywhere, I’m working, not necessarily relaxing with my family.

But, if I don’t bring it, I get very, very frustrated that it’s not with me.

This is the problem: I feel compelled to shoot. I want to shoot. But sometimes, I really want to relax and enjoy time with my family without lugging an eight pound camera, tripod, light meter, and camera bag.

But I can’t turn off the inner creativity in my head. It’s always wanting to photograph.

The other night, I decided not to take the camera with us to the park.

David countered, and sent me back in for it.

This is flashy car was the first thing we saw as we pulled into the parking lot:

_dsc4000-edited-1

I knew David made the right call! My heart started to race. It actually fluttered. Not because I’m a car enthusiast, but because I’ve never seen a Lamborghini up close.

_dsc4006-edited-1

I’ve only admired them through the showroom glass windows from Exotic Imports off I-15 in Salt Lake City.

_dsc3989-edited-1

The owner of this car was so surprised at how many pictures I took, he came over and introduced himself,.

_dsc4012-edited-1

Then he turned the car on so I could see it with the doors open and the back flaps up.

_dsc3996-edited-1

David has seen this Lamborghini on the freeway before and he tried to snap a picture with his phone.

He was positive it was this exact one.

It’s a pretty distinct car.

Flashy I’d say.

Nice owner.

I wonder what he does.

Maybe he’d be willing to pay off our medical school loans?

_dsc3990-edited-1

Because the price tag on this car is even more than paying for medical school.

Nice thought, huh?

On Their Way to the North Pole July 1, 2009

Posted by Emily in : Daily Life, Holidays, Kansas, My Former Dog Children, Princess Hannah , 4comments

Twas’ the night before Monday and all through the house

Not a creature was stirring not even a mouse.

The children were nestled all snug in their beds

While dreams of new ways to torture Paris danced in their heads.

When out in the sky there rose such a clatter,

I sprang from my computer to see what was the matter!

Away to the window I flew like a flash,

Ripped open the door and almost dropped some cash!

But what to my wondering eyes should appear,

Large hot air balloons, so near!

We pulled Hannah from her bed so fast,

We wanted her to see this, we knew it would not last.

_dsc3941-edited-1

The balloons were so colorful, so large, and so close,

Hannah pointed to all of them and said, “I like that one the most!”

Where are they going? Why are they here?

Hannah yelled, “They’re going to the North Pole to visit Santa and his reindeer!”

_dsc3947-edited-1

There you have it. This is exactly why hot air balloons were flying over our neighborhood in Kansas right around the 4th of July. TO GET TO THE NORTH POLE OBVIOUSLY.

_dsc3937-edited-3