Bathtime

Here are some photos from bathtime today and I can't tell you how much I love how these turned out. Isn't he the most adorable boy you've ever seen?




Brent has started a blog that keeps up with the progression of our studio. He's also using it as a journal that reminds him of how he's going about building everything. So, check it out if you want. I don't think it has pictures yet, but it will. We're also going to use it as a site to show off portraits from our photo shoots.

http://www.ruplephotography.blogspot.com - there is also a link to it under my favorite blogs

Memorial Day and the Laundry Fairy

For this year's Memorial Day, Brent and I hung out with his family at his parent's house. The Ruple's are a family that love to to grill out, eat some cobbler or cake, play some ping pong and pool, ride 4 wheelers, and relax a little. We celebrate everyone's birthday individually - except for me and Sunnie (Brent's mom), we always share because our birthday is one day apart.

Yesterday's Memorial party was just as delicious as the all the other parties. We had grilled flank stank, salad, new potatoes, rolls, peach tea, and peach cobbler. Jack is the only baby in the family right now - his cousins are a bit older, but he still is captivated by each of them.

Here is Seth (our nephew) holding Jack...




He loves his Aunt Amy (Yep, Jack has two Aunt Amy's!) because she plays "This little pig went to the market" on his toes
Here is Jack with Aunt Amy ...





Here are Jack's other two cousins that were there (Spencer & Mason) acting like themselves...





And here are a few of Jack being absolutely adorable...





Brent and I also had to do a bridal photo shoot in Little Rock yesterday evening. Our evening shoots seem to always fall at Jack's bedtime, so we are so very blessed to have Sunnie who always offers to watch Jack for us. Yesterday, watching him consisted of putting him to bed and sitting in our "no t.v." house... so, as you can imagine, it's pretty boring.

When we came home last night I also noticed that the "Laundry Fairy" had been to visit. Anytime something gets done at our house by someone else we always say the "such and such fairy" came to visit. Well, we have lots of fairies visit us... the lawnmowing fairy - which seems to visit us alot when we go on long trips, the dishwashing fairy, the plant watering fairy, the dog watching fairy, and the list could go on and on. Basically Sunnie is our special fairy - she is so sweet to watch Jack, the dog, AND help with the house when we're away.

Here is a photo of Sunnie and Pappy from back in March. Pap is playing him a song on the guitar.

7 months old

As always, I'm playing catch up with my blog - so here goes another long one.....

Brent and I made a trip to Texas this past week to celebrate my brother, Josh's, 30th birthday with a surprise party that Tiffany planned for him. (He was going to be out of town on his actual birthday - June 1st) Here is a photo of Josh with Katie, both trying to eat their feet....



and here is Josh's cake that Tiff made for him...



It was a great trip! I love being with my family. I get to missing them when I'm miles away in Arkansas. I'm kind of like Sandy the Squirrel for you guys out there that watch SpongeBob. Have you ever seen the episode where she sings about missing Texas? Brent says I sing just like her.

Also on the trip, Brent got to play golf with my brothers and Dad. Eli was on the team too, but he's not in this photo. I'm sure my Dad would want me to mention that his team came in second in the tournament. It was a golf tournament to benefit Boles Children's Home....



.... and I got spoiled by mom, as always. She watched Jack for me while I got to go shopping, get a haircut, and hang out with Tiff. One early morning she woke up at 6:00 with me to watch him so I could get some more sleep! I love my momma!



We also got to spend time with Uncle Eli and Aunt Amy. Tiff and I love it when Aunt Amy comes to visit because she is great with the kids! Oddly enough, I don't have a picture of them two from the trip.

Jack got to get to know his sweet cousin, Katie a little more. I love watching them interact. They're only 4 days apart and it's so sweet to watch them finally notice each other now that they're 7 months old.








Speaking of - Jack turns 7 months old today! He's sitting up quite well now and more fun than ever. He says MaMa pretty good (especially when he's hungry) and Baba, though we don't know what that one means. Brent is hoping that DaDa is next.













Here is a photo of the finished foundation of the studio! Brent has done a GREAT job getting everything perfectly square! I can't wait for it to be finished. We'll keep you posted on the progress...



On a sad note, Brent and I came back sick from Texas. Here is my pitiful face so maybe I can get a little sympathy. :)
Please pray that Jack doesn't catch this mess!

Weekend Fun and a really long post

This past weekend Brent and I drove up to Yellville, AR. For those of you who aren't familiar with Yellville, it is very close to the Buffalo River and south of Harrison. Brent had a youth group he was leading down the Kings River on Friday and Saturday so Jack and I stayed with our very good friends, Lee & Andrea Henson and their son, Noah. It was so much fun getting to relax a little and not have photos to touch up or a computer with work on it just staring me in the face. I took my sewing machine and got some curtains made and I drank coffee everyday at the best coffee shop in the world - Homestead Grounds. (They also have the best logo in the world) :)

Homestead Grounds is Lee & Andrea's coffee shop that they started this past October. Everything in it is HOMEMADE goodness. From "made from scratch" bakery items to crocheted hats, scarves, handmade soap, baskets, you name it - they got it! And every Saturday night - there is a band that plays in the downtown square right outside their shop. This past Saturday I was blessed to hear some lovely bluegrass music.

Here is the store front to Homestead Grounds Coffee and Handmade Goods....



some of their handmade goodies....



Their adorable son, Noah was very entertaining for Jack and me. I'm not around a bunch of 2 year olds all the time (well, he's almost two) but I'm learning they have a BUNCH of energy! He is one of my most favorite people to photograph, right behind my own son... Here are a few pics I got of him while I was there.






Here is one of Andrea holding Jack in the coffee shop.. and yes, she is pregnant with their next son (who isn't named yet) due August 4th!



This is Lee handing me my coffee - he's kind of blurry because we took this photo more for the artistic value of it....




Brent's trip went really well. He took a youth group from Fayetteville (where his brother, Nick, is youth minister) up to the Kings River for a fishing/ float trip. He had a good time being out in God's beautiful creation. Before he left we also got a bunch of planning done for our LivingStones week at Camp Caudle with Lee and Andrea. Camp is July 13-19th for all those kids out there who want to come. (Age 14 and up) This week's theme is "Surrender".

So, I don't have a photo of Brent on the float trip, but I do have this photo of him working on the studio foundation. He's so handsome...



We've got the whole foundation done... time to start framing walls!

Mother's Day

I had my first mother's day yesterday and everyone made me feel very appreciated. I think it will be even more special when Jack brings me a scribbled up piece of paper, that reads, in red crayon, "i luv u momma"... I know my heart will melt. I already feel special enough everytime I look at him and he smiles back with his gummy grin. I think God for my little bundle of joy He sent me 6 1/2 months ago.

Here is a photo of my little darlin' -



I also want to say a very special thank you to my mother. I know now what she went through to raise me and my brothers. It couldn't be easy raising a whiny little girl and two hardheaded boys... but she did it so well and made us feel like we were the apple of her eye and her most important priority. She has taught me so much and among her many qualities I would have to say her most oustanding one is how completely unselfish she is. She has the uncanny ability to fix dinner, entertain her new grandchildren, and give each of her children her complete attention (which usually comes with a head rub and back scratchin'!). Yes, we're spoiled rotten. She gives and gives her time, love, and energy, and never asks for anything in return. I love you Mom!

Fun morning

These pics are from the morning of April 29th. I've been behind on my blogging and I didn't want to leave these photos out. Brent found a harmonica lying around and played us a few tunes on it. He also called sis-in-law, Tiffany, and played "Happy Birthday" on it (while I sang a perfectly pitched rendition of it with him) :)



Jack, playing with his toys....



This is Kelty, our dog. She was our first baby. She has had a tough time getting used to Jack but I think once he's playing on the floor and pulling her ears - she'll love him.

Studio Update

We finally poured the concrete footer! It's taken forever because of all the rain we had last month, but on April 30th - Brent and I got the concrete in.

He also finished the frame for our new highway sign. I'm designing it and I wanted to get everyone's opinion on it. I'm attaching below, what I think, may be the final proof. What do you think?