God Blessed Texas...

God blessed Texas. I have now lived in Texas for 10 months. I now love it and can't imagine living anywhere else. Texans have a certain way about them. They are confident people whom don't really care what the rest of the world thinks. They are who they are, and they are proud of it. They dont need to tell you this in so many words to just know. You know.

I recently learned Texas has every right to secede from the US. They voluntarily joined, and they can unjoin themselves if they so desire. And they know this and love this. And I guess, now that I live here, I too love it! I'm growing a heart for Texas. I love their attitude, their weather, and its just so BIG! So how long must one live in Texas before they can consider themselves Texan? I'm afraid they will always call me a "damn Yankee." But I am working on changing that.

What is the difference between a Yankee and a damn Yankee you ask. Well, I was informed a Yankee visits...a damn Yankee stays. Hmmmm. So working on my Texan drawl to at least convince them is what I will do. If you're from Texas, you better believe I am listening to every word you say and how you say it.

This is what I have learned so far:

You do not say "you guys" it is "y'all" I have this one down pretty much.

You do not say "I'm going..." you say...yes I love this one..."I'm fixin to go"

"Ain't" usually replaces "Isn't"

"Who would have thought?" becomes "Who'da thought?"

and "Probably" becomes "Prolly"

Basically talk hill billy :)

And HEAVEN FORBID you ever say Pop! When at a restaurant you dont not ask what kind of pop they have. They will look at you with a blank stare of complete confusion. They dont even know the term! You may say a variation of this: Soda, Coke, or the exact beverage name.

Here was my mistake when first ordering at Wendy's:
Me: I would like a medium pop.
Order taker: Ugh......
Me: Oh, sorry I mean...soda? A Coke? I want a Root Beer Coke?
Order Taker: So you want a root beer or coke?

AGH! I still dont have this one....

While we are talking about Texans...they call this great state the Lone Star State. Do they like stars you ask? YES! How dare you live in Texas and not have a star! Almost every overpass (well the newer ones) in Houston has a star on every pillar. And have you ever noticed their sports teams? This just makes me just laugh. If your a team playing for TX you will probably have some sort of star on your logo.


Hows that for educational? Probably not very - but what can I say...my life is boring right now! And this is all I have to talk about :)

But I assure you...this weekend is gonna be packed with great photos!

Y'all have a great day! I'm fixin to go head out for a bit!

25 Things About Me

I didnt know what to do for a blog today. So this is what I did today...25 random things about me. Probably a real Zzzzz for most of you but hey..its a post!

1. I love living in a warm state! Michigan was too cold!
2. I love garage sales. I could furnish my whole house on garage sale stuff..redone of course!
3. I want to road trip with no destination in mind..just drive.
4. I love showers, I could stay in a shower for 30 min or more.
5. I dream of traveling with world.
6. I can bend my fingers back on a 90 degree angel..without force..grosses ppl out.
7. I lived in Costa Rica for majority of 2008.
8. I always thought I would grow out of my "messy" stage..nope. My house looks like a teenage pad.
9. I love the sounds of my kids laughing.
10. I hate cooking...I recently went 48 hours without eating a meal cuz I didnt want to cook (dont worry I did feed my kids)
11. I lose everything. Even when buying a movie ticket I can lose it before we get to the entrance.
12. I love sleeping, but I never take naps or go to bed on time...hmmm.
13. I secretly am a Brittany Spears fan..shhh dont tell!
14. I love to dance...all the time. Yet you wont catch me doing it usually.
15. I got married at 19.
16. I had my first kid a couple months after turning 21.
17. I have lived in 6 homes in less the 4 years.
18. I love to stay up late and sleep in late. I would rather work at night. Which is an issue with kids. So now I stay up late and get up early. Bad combo.
19. I dream of being a singer...even tho I dont think I can sing well at all.
20. I absolutely LOVE living in Texas!
21. Please dont ever ride with me. I'm embarrassed how messy it is!
22. I am obsessed with music...ALL music...yes sad to say, I even like some rap.
23. I love laughing. Certain people can make me laugh so hard it hurts. ie. my brother and uncles.
24. I use to want 5 kids...HAHAHAHAHA
25. I love Mountain Dew...but it makes me really jittery..for hours. I'm talking like 8 hours. lol

Twitter

I know I said I added twitter to my side bar...but it keeps malfunctioning..so I am working on it. in time I will figure this out! :)

If you want to follow though its KariWieringa yes boring I know :)

3 Day Marathon

I know I said I was gonna post more - but this week kinda ran away from me and I have been crawling and pulling my battered body to keep up with it...fail.

My brother made an unexpected trip to our house last weekend. Which was fabulous - but definitely threw out the window my plans of catching up. But never would I choose catching up on housework over catching up with family and friends.

We joke that our house is the next Holiday Inn.. maybe I'll call it Hotelinga. :) Since we have moved to Houston, family and friends have been here non stop. There were some months were we didn't have one weekend to ourselves. It was really crazy. And I am not a very good house keeper nor do I enjoy cooking. Well I have had to do my best to pretend to be domestic, look that is. But if you do come, I promise to have clean sheets, towels, and something to eat. My house may not look like Martha Stewart...but y'all are always welcome here! And if you come in the summer months, which seems to be April - Oct. the pool is always a nice feature!

My crazy week consisted of working my kids Halloween party at school on Thursday, followed by lunch with a fellow photog who gave me great advice! Then ended with a meeting downtown with more amazing photogs and an Album co. that I cant WAIT to print with.

{Here is Cohen and his best friend Luke :)}

Then I finished processing two sessions the next day, followed by a pumpkin carving event at our friends. The boys didnt get to bed until 10:30! Yikes!{Aaron LOVES when I take his picture...good thing his wife is a photographer! Haha.}

{Aaron's first deer of the season,unfortunately his only one..}

{Here are all the pumpkins made!}

Then Saturday I had 2 sessions, and then a Halloween party at our friends where the kiddos watch Monsters Inc on a large screen outside. So much fun. Landen did his stealth move and found the Oreos...and yes...ate several. How many, not really sure. All I know is Sunday morning he didn't feel so well and I had laundry to do...yuck.

{Landen watching Monsters Inc in the driveway on the LARGE blowup screen}

Here is my first session with the fabulous family of Jonathan & Jana. Their boys are so stinking adorable, and SO sweet. But of course they had energy, they are boys after all :)







Second sesh was with the fabulous family of Scott & Lindsay. They have a one year old girl who was on the move! And she has the prettiest little face you ever saw! Saw Precious! I had fun exploring some new locations with them..I had them up and moving the whole time..but we got some great shots! Here are a few!





Hope y'all have a great week! And if you ever want to see more images I put more on facebook. You can friend me if you'd like :)

Whats in a Name?

This week I was asked several times how I came up with my business name. I really struggled with a name for my company. I wanted it to sound professional, yet unique. I didnt like my name, it just didnt flow the way I wanted it to. Also, having grown up in a home where my father owned his own business - I learned that if you use your own name its really hard to sell it someday if it ever grows large enough. Not that that would be the case for me especially with photography. But non the less I was gonna take all the advice I had learned and go with it.

My first choice (not using my own advice) was Kari Wieringa Photography. Hmmm - didnt like it.

Second choice (which happens to be part of one of my email address unfortunately) Karinga Studios. Which was a blending of Kari and Wieringa smashed together to form Karinga..kinda creative I thought - it flowed better...but I still didnt like it. So I thought some more....

And then it hit me. I LOVE my kids names. Hence why I named them what I named them.

Cohen Zander & Landen Breck.

Now I didnt want it to be associated with them directly, so I used their middle names. I now had Zander & Breck. Flows well I think, and unique that is for sure.

That might have taken way too long to come up with and way too much brain power, but I am happy with it and thats really all that matters. And if I have more kids someday...too bad for them. I wont be renaming my company. Sorry possible future kiddos.

Here is a random photo from back when we lived in Costa Rica, great story that goes along with this photo/trip. Maybe I can blog that one later. Miss Costa Rica SOOOOO MUCH. I can't wait to go back soon...I hope...

Random Dreams of a Momma gone crazy..(but not really)

So I have decided that the reason no one comes to my blog anymore might have a lot to do with the fact that I NEVER post anything. Hmm, how to fix this?? Thinking..thinking. I have it! Post more!

So I have decided to engage myself in my blog, just slightly more then I use to. Can we say 3 whole post a week! Yes you heard me. Kari is actually committing to doing something.

But now the problems comes when like today..I have absolutely NOTHING to talk about. for those of you who know me well..this is an accomplishment..b/c I could find nothing and usually talk about it.

...
So I have a dream...and the short version goes a lil something like this...

I would really like a vacation.

I mean vacation all by myself. Nothing to bother me, or be on my plate of things to do. I want to go sit in a field (preferably not a Texas snake infested field) and lay there looking up at the sky and do.absolutly.nothing! I want to read book after book. I want to sit there and think about everything and absolutley nothing. I just want to be free from life's demands.

Someday, I'm gonna get in my car all by myself and just drive to wherever I feels like going, camera sitting shot gun next to me. Someday :) Just for me I am gonna do that.

Until then, I have laundry to do, house to clean, kids to feed, and groceries to go get.

And again - I know y'all dont do reading unless there is some eye candy along with it. So how is this for Delicious? My beautiful boys lookin like models (really this is them completely avoiding all the commands I am yelling from behind the camera cuz they refuse to listen to what I want) I <3 them to the ends of this earth!

WARNING: Park At Own Risk!

This is a warning for family and friends - please no parking at OR near our house. With less then 4 months under our belt here at our home, we have had two crashes, one being a hit and run. Our poor friends come over for a nice dinner and end up dealing with a hit and run...lovely! Then my dad squeezed his "new" truck into our driveway (which fit all the way without sticking out) to ensure he would not get hit...even going the extra mile to remove the hitch, you know...just in case!

Ha - well he has a plane to catch, so he is out the door at 5:45am...he makes his way down the driveway with luggage following right behind. Stops, looks at his truck...says to himself, "hmmm, did I park like that last night? I dont remember. Why would I do that?" proceeds farther down the driveway..this is where the other car is hiding. Out comes a man with note in hand - yes he had walked home got his wife and was about to leave the scene by leaving us only a note...Does his car look drivable? Antifreeze all over the place...

When he hit the truck he managed to DRAG the truck 20 feet, leaving but one tire in our driveway, dang! How fast was he going? And I bet that cigarette was definitely worth bending down for.

Well police came (as I, unfortunately, have to now drive my dad all the way to the airport...which means no more sleep) come to find out...yes story gets more interesting...he works for the DEA with drug enforcement. His car is an unmarked car - cant find anything on ins. or license. Just one more thing to deal with....

Funny side story... Police and State troopers are outside with Aaron, Cohen comes out with two donut holes...which I NEVER buy...ironically enough I did the night before. Cohen proceeds to asks the cops "do you want a donut? There are some inside!" HAHAHAHAHAHA. I thought I was gonna die of laughter when I heard that. They got a good chuckle too I guess. So funny!

Here is a photo of the aftermath...kinda hard to tell in the dark...


Same day: Aaron found this lil sucker in our POOL! WHAT! Look at the size of that baby! Or should I say daddy! I dont understand why God thought this would be a cool insect to create. Personally I could have done without...extinction...I am ALL for! That thing could eat my children! I think I will call the zoo and let them know one of their spiders got loose. Yuck...yes I have arachnophobia, and snake-aphobia (whatever that one is called)

Here is the sucker....

Moving forward

What a gorgeous day for photos today! And a couple new locations...which were AWESOME!

My first session with the wonderful family of Jared & Becky was a high energy shoot! It was deja vu with their boys...so much energy packed into one little kid - its astounding! I get tired watching, cuz I know exactly what she deals with each day. And what is it with children refusing to look at the camera? Its like they have this secret code of NEVER looking at the chic with the camera...its every session with a kid. If you have tips - please advise...I've tried about everything! We even hauled out the of so fab iphone to play sounds to get the baby to look...which surprising enough was the most helpful tool so far.

Here are a couple photos from Jared and Becky Fam.And then we had Vim & Sarah fam today. The kids energy...in check, Vim's energy...well he makes up for both kids! And it was a riot...they were all into trying different poses, which is wonderful for the photographer, I just snap away as they come up with cool ideas. So if you have a location and you have a pose you want to do - fire away, I am ALL for it!

I did wear my high heel boots up to my knees today...grasses up to my waste, abandoned school house, plus Texas = snake infestation??? I would imagine and I was NOT taking any chances...so I trumped around in high heels just so I could feel safe. It was all mental - but hey, I mentally felt better :)

Here are a few from the session...
If you want to see more from the sessions you can go to my facebook account and just search my name, you may have to friend me to see them though.

So on a side note - I bought a new lens yesterday! 50mm 1.8, GREAT reviews and only $100. How awesome is that. The only thing though...which is freakin me out...you cant zoom in and out with it. 50mm - thats it...and I feel like I am forever away trying to get the shots. Then again - it is a portrait lens. But I'm excited to learn, just gonna take some getting use to. And I found my new camera...so hopefully someday, sooner then later I will be investing in it! Fingers crossed...

Shooting ADD style

Family photo shoot tonight! Score! I am so excited for tonight's shoot, they have two little boys like us whom are SO adorable! I'll post pics, hopefully tonight! I am begging the sun and heat to just not be this intense at 6pm though! 90 degrees on Oct 15...I was not expecting that.

I also have another shoot on Sat. with the most fab location!!!! Love having new locations to shoot at. My clients pick such great places to shoot! Cant wait to post photos from that session either. :)

I decided that order was in great need in ALL of my life. I suffer from a bit of ADD...I cant start 100 million tasks - but to finish one of them, nearly impossible! I have doc.s all over my house, my car is a mess, my house is...well a mess...even my computer! But not anymore. I spent the last day sorting and filing and purging.

Wow does it feel so good! I love organization - but yet I fail to ever do it...hmmm how do those two work together? My poor family.

And they say ADD is 80% inherited...my POOR FAMILY! Cohen..I am about 99.9999999999999% sure he has it. ADHD?? I know so many people frown on the idea of a 3 year old being diagnosed by it - but if you are a parent and you are dealing with a child with it - it is SO hard. I find myself finding ways to not ever have to be with him. Nap time..all day long if we could? I put him to bed earlier and earlier. I get so frustrated with him b/c he cant focus. I begin to feel as though I dont even want him around. How can a mother feel that way about her own child!!!??? I feel AWFUL! And that is being painfully open...judge me however you feel, but my life and how I feel is real to me along with my experiences...

So we have decided to get him tested. Not necessarily drug him - but to find out if this is the correct diagnosis. This way we know what we are dealing with and can get a professionals opinion and help. Unfortunately the test is a whopping $250. But worth it we believe. So we shall see...I just pray that Landen doesn't have it or any other children that we decide we want...It might be a crazy house!

Lets just say we will never lack entertainment here...whatever it may be...

I will post an update eventually...once we have scheduled and completed the testing.

Have a great day!

Oh yes and a pic....Let me go search through my so very organized computer for a photo for today...

Did that taste good?

Last night Aaron and I went to a little photography meet and greet. (which by the way was hugely beneficial to me! Possibly even Aaron??) But anyways...my dad watched the boys while we were gone. Yea to free babysitting! :) We walk into the house - I ask my typical mom question. "How were they? Where they good? Did the go to bed ok?" Ok so more like an interrogation...but moms gotta know right? He proceeds with "Kids where good, went to bed ok...but Cohen ate a penny..." A penny! Every time I leave my kids with my dad Cohen does something bad.

First time he smeared poop all over his bedroom walls. I was out of state so my parents had to clean it. I was more then overjoyed that I did NOT have to clean that mess! I'm sure there are a bunch of other fun little stories...which just makes me laugh because these are all things that could easily happen to me! But they dont...just my dad...hahahahah!

Needless to say he was traumatized and wont be doing that again...thank heavens! Could have been so much worse! But it wasnt so I'm not gonna over dramatize what did happen.

On another note - I have been starting a list of places I dream to visit. Not sure how I came across this photo - but check it out, is it not GORGEOUS! Def. added to places to visit! Cant wait!


photo by:Frederic St-Arnaud

so my DH thinks this is fake. ( I know the building is real, but maybe not the landscape. I sure hope its real!)

Oh How I Love You!

I am sucking up as much info as I can these days! I cant seem to get enough of it - I've joined forums, social photography groups, contacted photographers near me (some not so near), I've ordered books, printed FAQ on blogs and highlighted all the info I wanted to learn! I'm like a sponge! But I am SO EXCITED!

I was so mixed with what I wanted to do - move here, move there...this way, that way. Sell this, new job. AGH! I just wanted to scream. I began to feel I was losing who I was and what I wanted. I was becoming Aaron's wife and Cohen and Landen's mom. Which I LOVE, but I want to be Kari too. I needed something that was mine - something I could focus on and be passionate about. Something I could define who I am through.

Photography was my hobby - mainly I kept it a hobby because I was scared. Scared of failing, scared I wouldn't be good enough, scared people wouldn't like my work, scared to be me! I said "Oh if I just keep this a hobby - then no one will criticize me." But - I LOVE photography. I love the way it makes me feel when I get to a shoot - this rush of excitement for what I would create next! The progress I would make each time I shot. I would come home from a shoot and say "Wow..I just went to work, and it didn't feel like work at all! I LOVE my job!" Thats what I want. :)

I have so much to learn, and always will. And I have some distractions and obstacles to overcome (can we say kids?). But I am committed to this passion and dream of mine - with much enthusiasm! So get ready! Here I come!!

And whats a post without a photo? Here are a couple of my favorite shots of the boys last week. Don't they look so sweet and innocent? Bahahaha!

Merry Christmas to me!

HELLO CHRISTMAS!

Ok , well thats what it felt like today!!!!! I LOVE designing business cards - takes me FOREVER, but I love the final product.

Well, I designed one for my dad and this co. allowed me to have the same front with multiple back selections on them! Cost well slightly higher but so worth it! The quality of these cards is amazing...I seriously am dying to make new ones for myself now! Just I cant justify it...yet!

Here is what they look like - the seven photo ones are the different backs. Then they all have the same front (one on the right)
On another note (Christmas feeling like as well!) The boys are in "school" again! Well couple days a week. Cohen is in class with his best friend Luke (they are part of our church home team on Sundays, Sunday school on Sundays, MOMS group on Fridays...and now MDO Tuesdays & Thursdays) Needless to say they see a LOT of each other! I cant get Cohen to leave any of the classes anymore...

Landen is doing well in class too - he is the oldest and quite determined to have his way. No naps for him in class either (which I am thankful he doesn't cuz he sleeps 3 hours for me when we get him hehe)

Here are a few photos of them off to their first day...(Landen almost toppled over his bag was too heavy from his lunch hahaha!)