Remembering

I recently returned from a month-long trip up to Idaho.

It was a long time to be away, especially with the new baby.

At the same time, it was necessary and rewarding.

My Dad passed away the day after Christmas this year.

He didn't like funerals.

We asked him if he would like us to have a Memorial Roping out at his place instead.

He said yes.

We told him we would give away one of the saddles he had won as the top prize.

He teared up.

We knew this is what he wanted, and that made it all worth it.

Here's Dad, years ago, winning a saddle at Garwood Arena:

We set up his truck that he bought new and drove for 20 years

with pictures of him throughout his life.

We had a guest book and candles for friends and family to light in his memory.

One of his great friends, George Richmond, led us in paying honor to his memory.

Then, we all took turns telling funny stories about him.

He was a pretty entertaining guy!

Then, his Grandsons each took a lap around his arena on their motorcycles.

He loved watching them ride.

My Brother did a burn-out in one of his old Camaros...

And then my Sister led a horse around with his saddle he had made by hand,

with his boots in the stirrups backwards,

and his dress up coat that he loved so much hanging from the horn.

While I followed her spreading his ashes.

We also turned out the first steer alone,

nobody following it,

just for him.

Then, it was time to have fun - his way...

with about 300 of his friends from all walks of life.

Here's my Sister enjoying herself after a fast run down the arena:

Jim being silly:

I even made some runs.

This is with Wayne.

He was Dad's Best Friend since before I was born.

At the end of the day,

we awarded his old saddle - now stamped with

"Hippie John Memorial Roping 2010" -

and a breast collar stamped the same,

to the high-money winners.

We were sure to hold a beer in the picture - just like him.

It was a day of remembering,

laughing,

roping,

enjoying old friends,

and making new ones.

We'll miss you, Dad.

Creston!

Hi Friends!

OK, OK, So I haven't blogged about having a baby yet!

I've written this blog twice, then deleted it twice.

How can you put words to this experience??

I just can't.

So, without further ado, fuss or muss,

here is our beautiful Son,

Creston Victor Langevin

Born April 7, 2010

8lb 8oz 22.5 inches

Within an hour of being born:

About 5 hours after being born:

1 week

On our 8th Anniversary
Creston was almost 2 weeks old:



More to come as we go!

Magazine Cover!

How proud can one Sister be?

I could not be MORE proud!

I am SO proud to share that one of my Sister's pictures was selected as the

COVER SHOT

for this month's Sooper Looper (Team Roping) Magazine!

She is officially a Published Photographer!

The picture is also being used as the HEADER on the USTRC website!

Click Here to See: http://www.ustrc.com

Way To Go, Brenda!!

I am sooooo excited for you!

What a Year!

2009 has been a momentous year for me.

There have been major changes, terrible tragedies, and unspeakable joys.

In Fall of 2008, JJ and I started to ponder what other occupation I could have that would

afford us a better quality of life.

We prayed for a change and direction to come by the following Spring.

In December, on our trip to my Sister's home in Arizona for Christmas,

we started to seriously consider photography as an option.

I have loved it since I took my first class at age 13.

Do what you love, and you'll love what you do - so they say!

I decided to test myself.

I went out into the stalls at Brenda's place with my little point and shoot PowerShot.

Could I take pictures I could be proud of, passiontate about, and lovvvvve?

I passed my test:

We went home and promptly started calling friends who are currently photographers,

and bought the gear they recommended, while taking every ounce of advice they offered.

By the end of January, I was outfitted.

But, something terrible and tragic happened first.

My Sister, Brenda, had a riding accident where a horse fell on her.

She broke her leg severely, and we did not know if she would be able to keep her foot.

Miraculously, the main vein/artery was not damaged, and she was able to.

It is a long road to recovery.

There were months of keeping ALL weight off of it.

The process has been more difficult for them than words can express.

Today, she is doing some walking, with pain...and a cane.

She is also riding, and doing a little roping again.

Her progress has been AH-MA-ZING, and the Doctors could not be happier with how well

she has been recovering.

Soon, we all hope and look forward to her walking without pain or help.

This is us, Christmas 2008, having a blast roping on a rainy day:

February rolled around, and it was time to test out my new camera gear.

The Denver Dog Show lasts for days and days,

and I spent all of them taking literally thousands of pictures and handing out business cards.

It was a blast and a success!

Shane, one of Mom & Brenda's poodles, won a 1st in the Non-Sporting Group,

and went to the Best in Show ring.

We were elated, and full of tears since Brenda couldn't be there after her accident.

It was bittersweet.

Shane:

Spring came.

I worked and worked on my photography skills.

Then:

My "position was eliminated" at work.

JJ and I knew that very day that our prayers had been answerd.

This was the opportunity to dive head-long into building photography into my full time business.

It has been the gift of a lifetime that has afforded me more freedom and time than I ever

could have anticipated. See my Thanksgiving Blog for that story: http://erinlphoto.blogspot.com/2009/11/simple-thanksgiving-eats.html

It was a new start.

After making a couple long hauls to dog shows to help Mom,

take pictures, and build clientele,

I took a trip up North.

JJ was working in Pullman, Washington for a couple months,

and I could now spend time near there visiting family & friends.

My first stop on the way was in Nampa, Idaho.

After a few years of being out of touch, my oldest friend, Tricia and I got to reconnect.

I stayed with her and her FIANCE, Boone, for four days.

We had a blast, caught up, and it has been like we haven't missed a day.

Don't you just LOVE friends like that?

Here is Trish with her Nephew, Grady, enjoying a lift.

I spent a few days with JJ's family in Kettle Falls, Washington.

Pops, Mama Rita, Neice Havilah, Sister-In-Law Lisa with her FIANCE Jerry.

They make a fine group, and it was my first stay without JJ there. It was a blast!

We made Mama Rita's specialty - homemade Raviolis

http://erinlphoto.blogspot.com/2009/06/raviolis-that-feed-soul.html

For nearly three weeks,

I stayed with my Brother Judd, Sister-In-Law Shelby & Nephew Cameron

and kicked around the Coeur d'Alene area:

http://erinlphoto.blogspot.com/2009/06/home-is-where-heart-is.html

We had a great time visiting a lot, and had a photo shoot with Cam.

http://erinlphoto.blogspot.com/2009/06/cam-r-oni.html

He is a very serious flat-track racer and won his division for the year!

This is his "I'm gonna whup you" competition face:

When it was time to head for home, JJ & I went through Montana to see Dan!

Here he is giving us a map to the stash of all stashes for fising in Dillon, Montana.

You know it's a good spot when you get a map on a napkin!

It was a great stash, there is no doubt.

I officially counted 7 fish in the wake behind me while standing in the river fishing.

Too bad I couldn't catch a single one of them. Of course, J did.

Then, joy unspeakable happened on the 4th of July

when my Dear and Lovely Friend Kendra got married to Joe.

She was a beautiful bride and I was so honored to be part of their day:

Back at home, weekend after weekend was spent fishing at the cabin.
I had my best day ever when I had 11 fish on, and landed 9 in one seam!
For the day, I ended up with 14 landed.
Finally, finally, I am getting better at this!

My Darling and Beloved Cousin came to visit us in Denver.
This is monumental.
I think she is actually my FIRST family member to come stay to visit with us in 6 years!
We had a great time earlier in the year, up in Sandpoint:
http://erinlphoto.blogspot.com/2009/06/apamazen.html
We had a blast, too many laughs, and enjoyed every minute of it!




Then, Whoa Nelly of all Whoa Nellies.
We are having a baby.

The combination of excitement and anticipation of a total life-overhaul
just cannot be put into words.

In September, it was time for a trip back up to the Northwest again...
JJ's Sister Lisa married Jerry.
It was a terrific day, and they are a wonderful couple.
I was honored to capture their day for them!


We had a great time monkeying around and helping get ready for the wedding.

We extended our trip to include a jaunt up to Nelson, BC.

Our honeymoon was in Nelson 7 years ago. (Thank you Uncle Jay & Aunt Evy)

This time, we stayed with our friend Gray's family - the Beauchamps!

They have a cabin on Kootenay Lake and the view from our room could not be better:

I wish this picture was lighter, so you could see how warm and wonderful they are.

We made new friends for a lifetime:

On our trip, we caught some serious lunkers on our fly rods.

Dolly Varden had come up from the lake to spawn in the river.

These were fish of a lifetime and I was proud to land this lovely lady:

Come October, it was time for another visit to the Northwest, and another wedding.

This time, for Tricia & Boone.

I am overloaded with joy for them,

and so very grateful they chose me to capture their day:

And, well, I started to show.

This is the mid-point, 4.5 months along...

At which time, we got to find out we are having a BOY!

Here is a profile shot:

Thanksgiving was subdued, but so unusual that it must be included in the year's recap.

The pre-packaged Thanksgiving:

http://erinlphoto.blogspot.com/2009/11/thankful.html

I love seeing my RichardBerg and we had a great day hanging together.

Then, momentous of all momentous events came the week of Christmas.
My Brother called and was taking Dad to the hospital.
My Sister, Nephew and I flew in - it was serious.
We were able to spend time with him, talking with him, holding his hand, telling stories.
He deteriorated fairly quickly after that, and we lost him the day after Christmas.

We are all still trying to sort out how to move forward,
what this means to us,
what he has meant to us,
how to work together and love each other well.

He built houses for years, and always had this dry spot in the middle of his palms.
Carpenter's Hands, he called them.
It was from swinging a hammer too much, he said.
He'd put bag balm on them all the time, but it never seemed to get better...
Here is a shot from the hospital of those Carpenter Hands:

This Summer, we spent 5 days in a row together - quite a feat for us.
We had breakfast every day, then Dad would take me to show me his favorite places on the lake.
He wanted to show me all the options for Tricia's upcoming wedding.
Little did I know how much I would later treasure this time with him.
A few of the days, we followed our lake-viewing with a visit to one of his car buddies.
They would talk engines and cars, and I would try to grasp every other word and piece together
what they were talking about.

For me, it was like listening to Spanish in Mexico.

Here he is enjoying the Spokane River that feeds Lake Coeur d'Alene
at Corbin Park in Post Falls.
He's fished and swam here, picnic'd and played here,
even got a truck stuck in the water once here.
This spot just off the lake is his official favorite spot of them all.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Thank you for hanging in there through this long post.

Thank you for sharing in 2009 with me.

Even if you're not listed here, you are still very special to me,

and I am grateful for you in my life.

Here's to 2010!

May it bring us all new wonders and monumental events that shape our life

for the better.

XO!

Pre-Packaged Thanksgiving

WHAT are we going to do for Thanksgiving? I asked.

Oh!

Of course!

We are going to have TV dinners.

Yah, that's it!

Everything must be pre-prepared, let's Keep it Simple!

My husband had conspired with my step-dad to have a TV dinner Thanksgiving.

Not that I minded.

I've done the whole shabang of a dinner three times, just for the three of us.

Mom is usually travelling this time of year, so us three get together and eat a WHOLE

Thanksgiving meal made from scratch by yours truly.

Not going to happen this year.

We had planned on going out to a swanky place,

but that all got reversed on some phone call I was not privvy to...

So, here's how the blessed event turned out:

Appetizers

Not carrots, celery, radishes, olives with dips and deviled eggs..

A tub of Alouette garlic herb spreadable cheese on some black pepper Triscuits.

DELISH.

Drinks

Not Hot apple cider mulling all day with a spike of bourbon...

Margaritas! With pre-made mix!

There were no fresh squeezed limes allowed.

That takes work.

Drink for me, my current fav:

Grande, Decaf, Non-Fat, No-Whip, Pumpkin Spice Latte

Ah, the joys of pregggggers.

The Main Course
Not Turkey that's been cooking since 7 am, wild rice stuffing, green beans with bacon,
hand-mashed cheesey garlic red potatoes...

A Marie Callender's TV DINNER!!
Complete with stuffing, green beans, mashers AND gravy!
Ok, so you can always have MORE gravy,
so in my first ambitious moment of the day,
I added water *gasp* to a turkey gravy mix from a packet!
Wha Lha. Gravy. No drippings necessary.


Was it good you ask?
Well, Mr. Berg was pleased.
He commented on the flavors being darn near the same as home made. (argh)
AND, that it was the perfect portion size.
We were definitely not stuffed when done.


And, the husband test?
"Of course it isn't nearly as good as when my wife spends 9 hours
making everything from scratch! But, it does the trick... and saves
you from being on your feet all morning, darling mother of my child."

Atta good boy.


Here's a peek at my meal. Complete with my special-er beverage of the day.


What do I think?
Not half bad.
Would I do it again?
Only if I'm preggers and really do not want to spend hours cooking from scratch.
Seriously, we were bored half the day!
What ELSE is there for me to do on Thanksgiving!?


Dishes
Not hours of soaking, scrubbing and swearing...

It was a snap.
3 forks.
One small sauce pan.
One wisk.
Done.


Dessert
Not pumpkin and apple pies made from scratch with wholesome ingredients...

Pumpkin Pie from Costco.
Now, this I had heard of before.
If my psycho-everything-must-be-from-scratch-self
can get over it next year, I will get one of these again.
It's pumpkin-heaven in a crust.
Tastes JUST like a pumpkin pie should taste.
Perfection.

I was NOT about to put Cool Whip on top, I just couldn't take it anymore.
So, I whipped up some home-made whip cream,
you know, using my talents where they are most valued...

mmmmm...
Turns out, the smaller portion for dinner
left more room for a HUGE piece of pie!
(notice the paper plate)


Dinner
Not re-heated left-overs...

Cup-O-Noodles.
Duh.
I couldn't consent to that quality of food,
so as the boys slurped their noodles,
I enjoyed left-over P.F. Changs from dinner the night before.
(Sorry, no picture, I ate it too fast.)

We had a great time giggling about how silly we were being,
spending hours surfing the web,
watching movies,
and Skyping family.

I hope your Thanksgiving was just as delightful!