Missing a few months...

Levi is now 9 months old! Oh, how time flies!!! But I've been a bad aunt and haven't posted the last few months worth of onesie pictures. After moving my office/computer down to the newly renovated basement, I've been able to set aside some time to cleanup my desktop and ran in to a few to share! Enjoy!

Just another day on the farm

On a snowy Sunday, I decided to head out to my parents since I hadn't been out to see them in a while! I invited Jill and the boys to meet me for some extra entertainment! Having the 4 of us together with the boys was a hoot! Forrest led papa, gramma, and I in aerobics. He also enjoyed Lion King for the first time. Levi showed me how he is sitting all on his own. We also bundled Forrest up like the kid from the "Christmas Story" to venture out in the snow and take a few pictures. It was hilarious to see him all bundled up with his snow gear... he sure didn't move as fast or as graceful as he does without snow pants! Some how, I got tricked in to dragging Forrest and Jill around the yard on a sled that has to be over 15 years old. Which by the way, my knees are not happy about today! I miss adventures on the farm but am glad to see Forrest enjoys them just as much as we do!!!!

Enjoying the First Day of 2013

Ryan is a diehard University of Michigan fan! If only someone told me when we first started dating that my life would evolve around sports as much as it does, I might think twice! And 6 years ago today, I found out his best friends were too!

They eat, sleep, breath... U of M football! They send more emails than Google can keep up with and as many texts as a teenage girl sends, sharing the latest up to date U of M football news!  Mind you, my husband is the ring leader of the email and texts! Whenever I ask him a question about one of the other couples, he always answers he doesn't know, "we don't talk about that"!

Lucky enough, I have 3 other wonderful women who understand! We too, have taken on the "fan"dom and sport our maze and blue on Saturdays during fall to show support for our team!

As we have all gone from dating, to married, and are starting ours families... we have a new generation (Jack, the Jack Russell, counts) to share our love of U of M football with! In our families there is no question that your favorite colors are maze and blue!

Watch out world... these 3 are mega fans in training! :)

 

Happy New Year!

Looking forward to many more adventures with some of the best friends we could ever ask for and of course, a great 2013 season of U of M Football!

First Game Together!

The Boys 2009
 

The Girls 2009

Last Game Together

The Boys 2011

The Girls 2011



 Next Generation

The Newest Additions - Mr. H (2 months), Mr. M (2-1/2 years), and Miss K (3 months)

Merry Christmas from the Fiebigs!

We want to wish everyone a very Merry Christmas!

(Photo credit to the wonderful Samantha Johnson of Evelyn Vaughn Photography)

Personal Touch

For a family Christmas photo shoot, I got crafty and created a burlap banner. I had no idea what to do with it after the fact so I hung it on our barnwood headboard... and it looks super cute!!!

Getting Crafty!

Thought I'd share my creation... a burlap flower hairband! Looking forward to showing it off at the country chic wedding of Dayna and Brandon tomorrow!

Today I am 171

Today, I am 171 lbs. Today, Ryan and I start F.A.S.T. (Flexibility Agility Speed Training). Today will be the last time I let myself get to this place in my life.

Tomorrow, I will be sore. Tomorrow, I will feel better about myself. Tomorrow, I will more than likely be 171 lbs. but at least tomorrow I can say I'm working on making myself better.

Ryan and I first took F.A.S.T. January 2010 in the hopes of getting us in shape for our wedding! F.A.S.T.was the start of a year of pushing my abilities and becoming a stronger person physically and mentally.

I'm nervous to start this again because it wasn't easy. I remember the first day getting pushed to the point of feeling like I could throw up. But the next class was easier... and by the time it was the last class... I was running faster and able to do everything I struggled to do in the beginning.

Here is to a month of F.A.S.T. classes and not seeing 171 again! :)

Forgetting about Julie

As summer usually goes, its been super busy! From the 9 to 5 to wedding photography... the basement renovation to being somewhere besides home every weekend, I'm lucky to get a breath in edgewise... but it has took a major tole on me.

Me in every way has been lazy. I can't say I've given a 100% on anything this summer. Excuses have been my crutch. As I internally struggled with becoming 30, I thought that drive would come out in me. I'm sad to admit it but in all the hustle and bustle of the summer, I've forgotten about myself. I've not exercised since May... I've drank more than not drank... I've struggled focusing... and have felt exhausted.

With summer coming to an end along with a lot of the craziness, I'm making a pack to myself to again care about myself! Putting myself first will again help me get my life back on track and successful! It's not going to be easy but I know I have to or I'll  be heading down a dark road which would be hard to climb out off. I look forward to the new season and the climb to becoming a happy healthy, mentally and physically, 30 year old!

Summer Fun in Grand Marais

As summer is rolling to an end, I finally snuck in some time to edit a few photos from our trip to Grand Marais back from June.

As a child, my parents and grandparents would go to Grand Marais to enjoy its charming quaintness and its abundance of fish. These days it is still very quaint but the fishing isn't what it used to! In fact, these "cigars" were few and far between. But its more than the fishing and the town that we enjoy... its also the beauty of the UP that keeps us busy during the day!

 This trip, Ryan's first, we ventured over to the mouth of the Two Hearted River to reminisce with grandma and grandpa there time years ago when they came up there fishing as a new married couple. Also to get an idea where Bell's Two Hearted Beer got its name from! :D With that, we were able to see destruction caused by the Duck Lake Wildfire, which was humbling. We also did the "tourist" thing and took the boat tour to see Pictured Rocks, another first for Ryan.

All in all, being up there was just as wonderful as I remember and relaxing. Just crossing The Bridge, I could feel the weight lifted of my shoulders! Ryan enjoyed it just as much as I, and hopes to make it an annual tradition!

Might I also let you know, after maybe 10 years of sitting on the shoreline, I finally got my pole back in the water! Growing up with two master fisherman, it was easy to learn the ropes, but fishing wasn't the "cool" thing to do, so I stopped. My parents boast to Ryan about the skills I had! We'll, on this trip it was either sit and watch board on a pier for hours, or jump right back in and catch me my own "cigars"! And that's exactly what I did! It was just as natural as if I was born with the skills... and by the 2nd night, I was back to casting my own rod and baiting my own hook with no one telling me how or what to do! Despite my amazement in picking up a pole again... I also, which I haven't done in years too, age some of my catch! Nothing is better than fresh whitefish and scrambled eggs for breakfast around a picnic table! Makes me hungry thinking about it! :)

I'm so glad I got to share this wonderful place with Ryan and I look forward to next years adventures there! Already on the list of things to do is Tahquamenon Falls! Also, it was wonderful to get to go on vacation with my grandparents! Growing up I've got to go many places with them and camping wouldn't be the same if they weren't there with us!

***Side note... this will now be my "personal" blog! So no more pictures... least not the portfolio type... I have created Julie Lynn Photographer as a place to show of my work for potential wedding couples to hire me as a second! :)

Welcome Levi Thomas!

Thursday, July 12, 2012, the doctors decided that my sister should have her c-section and give birth to Ryan and my newest nephew, Levi Thomas! Levi was initially due to be born August 24 but due to a condition called SVT was born Thursday. Fluid had built up in his lungs and stomach due to his SVT and was causing him some stress. My sister keeps me updated from day to day on his progress as he is staying at Helen Devos's Children's Hospital until he becomes a strong enough little guy to put up with his big brother, Forrest! :) Please keep Levi, Jill, Shawn, and Forrest in your prayers! Here are a few shots I was able to get on our first meeting of this precious little boy! Soon enough, Levi, you will be used to your grandma and I having a camera in our hands ready for you to do something adorable! ;) Love you to pieces, little guy <3

Busy Bee!

So much photography and everyday-wise has gone on that I haven't been able to blog much but have so much to post!

It started out a few weeks ago when I inquired about a Craigslist ad looking for an assistant/second shooter for the upcoming wedding season. Since than I've had the opportunity on a "trial run" to assist on my first wedding which has also opened up to assistant/second on many more weddings this summer!

That was a photography weekend because I also had the opportunity to go to Kalamazoo to visit my best friend, Keri, who has 2 adorable 7 month old twins! :)

I'm anxious to show both but with taking over 800 photos in 2 days... it's led to alot of editing!

Aside from putting my camera to good use... this past Monday I turned 30! I have been talking about how much I've been dreading this birthday over the past year. Its not that I haven't accomplished a lot already in my life and am very happy... just a few things that I would of said 10 years ago, I would of/have, been/done!

I came to a realization today that maybe the biggest thing that bothers me is that... I'm not the only one getting older... so are many very important people in my life. I'm scared that my grandparents will not have the opportunity to meet my children. I'm saddened that my children may not get the same relationship with their grandparents as I with mine. Don't get me wrong... I'm not ready to start a family... but as I see my parents and grandparents getting older, I realize how much they have changed.

Truthfully, being 30, even though a few days in, isn't that bad! I'm going to keep improving myself... for example, this year I've already given up pop, stopped biting my nails, and am putting more energy in to learning as much as I can about photography. For 2012 almost being half over, I'd say thats pretty impressive!

Last but not least... I took another workshop put on by Posh and Ashley Made Photography. The subject was lighting but we had a photographers dream day with it being overcast. I wanted to show of a few pictures I took! The best part was getting to share my knowledge of Nikon cameras and shooting in manual with many of the other students. Ashley and Kasey are so helpful and knowledgable... I look forward to participating in more workshops they put on!

Sneak Peak...

Jill, Mom, I are a great trio! I feel like the photos I took of Forrest today really shows how far I've come in photography, especially with children! He's one of my best models and it helps that his "grammy" is his stylist! I only had time to really get in to editing one photo for the night but it might be my favorite of all of them I took today! Plus I put some Photoshop skills to use removing a post/mile marker that was in the background! :) Photo taken with a Nikon D5000, 50mm 1.8f lens, ISO 400, 1/800 SS, 4.5f, used Liz LaBianca Photography actions "Keep it Clean" and "Eye Candy"!

Hard to believe he is already a 1 year old!

Things I’d like to Accomplish Version 2012!

Looking back at 2011's List, I was able to accomplish some great goals and learned so much in the process!

A few that weren't achieved last year that make 2012's list are...

• Get back my workout routine
• Organize the basement to be finished
• Chop off my hair and donate it to Locks of Love

In 2010, I focused so much on my workout routine that 2011, my body needed a break. I didn't get lazy, running three 5ks, but didn't get back in to a routine.

The opposite has happened to the basement. It's collected more instead of opening up space. With lots of saving and asking for Lowe's gift cards for Christmas and birthdays, we plan to finish the basement in 2012! I'm super excited to be able to utilize our entire home!!!

Last but not least, which seemed like it would be an easy goal, was cutting my hair! My excuss was the 5Ks. I didn't know how I would get my hair off my face for working out. That was a silly excuse and at some point this year I will take the plung!

New goals...

• Run a 10K (along with running 5Ks)
• Stopping the gross nail biting
• Learn Adobe Lightroom
• Participate in MCP Project 12 (a monthly photo challenge)
• Finding my photo editing "style"
• Complete my Associates in General Insurance
• Enjoy adult beverages only on the weekends

Looking forward to the year... except for the mile stone age I will be turning! Sure hope turning 30 is just like turning 21! :)

And so the Semester is done...

My last photography class was Friday! :( I'm going to really miss it. It's amazing how much I've learned within these last couple months and how it's created a drive in me to learn more and keep improving my photography! I've got plenty to keep me busy with getting Adobe Lightroom and learning more and more about Photoshop to experimenting with functions on my camera and fundamentals of taking great pictures! I don't know what the next chapter is for me with photography... but no matter what I'm going to keep snapping away!

Day of Thanks!

I'm thankful for a wonderful husband, adorable puppy, a loving family, fun friends, a beautiful roof over our heads, and a busy job!

Happy Thanksgiving!

I refuse to do midnight Black Friday shopping so instead I got our decorations out! Tree is up and looking good!

A Piece of the Farm in the City!

This wood has a lot of history! It was once part of a farm that was all run by horse power... and when I say horse power, I mean the 4-legged kind!

 As a child, I remember visiting the farms owner, Mrs. Bean, who lived only a few feet from our house. Such a sweet lady and like another grandmother to us. Years and years before, her and her husband ran this farm as they had done before tractors were invented! In her passing, my parents purchased her farm and a good chunk of land with it. The farm was always a great place to find an adventure! It also was one of mom's favorite spots for senior photos. What can I say, she was ahead of her time!

A few years ago, the barn in a big wind finally gave way and today lays in a pile. But I will never forget Jill and my adventures! And hope my nieces and nephew and my children will get to someday find the Bean farm full of adventures!

With this headboard, I will have a little piece of home in my own home here in the city!

After some cleaning and sanding the barnwood was ready to be made in to a piece of art! Here is a few pictures of the process from turning a barn into a headboard!

Don't hold your breath for the finish product photo... we are giving it a few days for the liquid nails to dry! We really don't like the idea of being woken up one night with a barnwood slab falling on our heads!