I just have to write a quick one because it is eleven and I promised myself I would go to bed earlier, which believe it or not, is eleven!
We finally broke down and sold Chloe so we could invest some major dough into our business. I am kidding about the Chloe part, but Ryan and I did take a week to pray about it and came back to the table with the same figure in mind soooooooo we took the plunge and made some MAJOR purchases. We feel like the Lord confirmed it to both of us and will give us the means to pay it off. We have not used a credit card in three years so this was pretty huge for us.
The mothership came in. For those photography nerds out there, get your drool bucket. We are now the proud owners of a Canon 5D, Canon 40D, 50mm 1.4, 24-70mm 2.8, 15mm fisheye, and a 100mm macro lens. We also bought a 23 inch flat screen panel Apple display and another Macbook. We got a ton of accessories: battery grips, hand straps, new memory cards, new card readers, a whole bunch of cords I have no idea what they do and other things I don’t know how to describe. The FedEx and UPS guys are my new BFF’s. Anyway….it is all so beautiful to look at and even more impressive to hold. We were spending $300-$500 a month on renting lenses which is RIDICULOUS…..so why not just buy them and make large payments on them and OWN them instead! God is growing Kellan beyond what we could have ever dreamed in just 2.5 years and we could not be more humbled or thankful for God’s provisions for our family as well as fulfilling a major dream of ours.
So we fired off a few shots with the 5D and the new 24-70. I won’t get all nerdy on you, I will leave that for Ryan. Even he leaves me in the dust when he gets talking about the features and camera lingo.
Look at my happy boy. He is sooooo strong. He has figured out that that exersaucer can rock and roll and he goes to town in it. He is laughing so hard in this photo, I wish you could hear his laugh, it is so hysterical. I love this kid, I LOVE THIS KID!!! He has smiley eyes. That is what I call it when the eyes crinkle like this.
He is all thugged out in his hat.
I think it is hysterical that the first thing everyone says when they see Bennett is, “Man he has huge eyes.”
I just don’t get it.
He is like our very own Boston Terrier.
Chloe continues to be my laughter. She has a million faces and can turn on a dime and use them. She exercises the right to be a toddler and can make a nice pitch fit when she doesn’t get her way or god forbid we take her inside.
She is 22 months today. She looks SOOOO much older. I have to remind myself of this when I watch her run like a drunk and lumber up a playground. Her motor skills are right on for her age but her body is the size of a three year old. She is so tall and her face has matured so much.
This is her screeching laugh. I think some days her head may explode in excitement, but it does not.
Bennett making it clear that he is DONE playing.
Chloe is obsessed with this puzzle. It is actually really tricky and she has mastered it. I am not putting an application in for Harvard, but I am really proud of her.
I know everyone says she is the spitting image of me, but I definitely see Ryan in her.
Nerd alert, nerd alert. Chloe loves wearing this little fan around her neck. Now if we could just put Ryan’s inhaler on a string they can wear their necklaces together.
We took pictures of my niece this weekend. It is our b-day gift every year. Every teenager girls dream! She is only 15…but look at her….LOOK AT HER….she is gorgeous! She looks so much older. She has never had a boyfriend either…..just sweet and innocent and looking amazing!
There are many more here.
Wowza and Yowza.
Lovely kids and you’re right, she’s beautiful.
Love the pictures of your children-they both are all eyes. And being close in age, Chloe may grow up a little faster, but if she does it will be a blessing! Your children are so very happy.
And wow-your niece is gorgeous!
Your nice is STUNNING.
I have the 24-70 (and the 70-200) f/2.8 and LOVE THEM.
I only (Ha!) have the 40D, but the 5D looks AMAZING.
Happy for you guys!
oh man. can’t wait to get a 5d myself. looking to upgrade to a 40d next year though. as always, love all the pictures!
Good idea to stop funding someone else’s retirement renting camera stuff, and get your own! It certainly seems that you are in demand enough to pay it all back.
What a surprise that Chloe is tall! I’ll bet she gets that from her mum! ; )
Your niece is beautiful. And the photos of her too.
Congrats on the new nerd gear…your kiddos are so cute and your niece is simply gorgeous!!!
Oh you bet I am jealous! I want to see some pictures with that fish eye and some cool macro shots! I love all the pictures of the kids, the camera serves them well. For the first picture of your neice did you use a texture on it? I like the artistic look of it.
So happy for you guys that God is moving your business forward and that you took the leap of faith to expand in this way! David will be drooling when I tell him what you bought - I have no idea what it means, but your photos look amazing!
And I wish I could jsut hang out with your kiddos - SO CUTE!!!
Congrats on being the new PROUD owners of the 5D and 40D. We bought the 5D just 2 months ago and fell MADLY in love with it. It gives the photos just a step up from the 30D. I will say the kit lens that came with the 5d does a much better job outdoors then indoors. Not too impressed with it’s indoor quality. We have the 50mm 1.8 and it is my most favorite lens to do portraits with, so I know the 1.4 with be Amazing.
You are going to LOVE all your new stuff! so cool! I’m so happy Kellan is doing so well!
We have been renting one new lens per wedding to test them out. We rented the super wide angle last month and it was so fun to use! The MAC-DADDY of zoom lens just come to our home last night and will be with us for a week and I can’t wait to use it for this Sunday’s wedding. (thank God it isn’t a Sat. wedding since the Hurricane is passing through tomorrow)
And I already saw these amazing pics of your niece on flickr. Love them all. She is gorgeous! What time of the day was this? Perfect lightening!
Bennett has the best smile in that first photo and Chloe already looks 4 years old!
Wowzers! Congrats on all the new camera equipment and how well Kellan is doing! I also want to say WAY TO GO with no CC purchases in 3 years. Great to see people that put God and family first prospering.
And the pictures are amazing, like always…
What, was Bennett ever a baby, or did I miss those pictures? He looks like a 6 month old. And, congrats on the big purchases!
Okay, your kids are precious.
Seriously, if my niece is that beautiful, I am going to have major issues! Wow, she is drop dead goregous, and only 15?!?!?! I’ll never be that beautiful and I am almost 26!
Congrats on your new equipment.
I would have loved that as a 15 year old girl and she is really beautiful, keep the boys away!
Oh my, when did Chloe grow up? She’s gone from baby to little girl and skipped right over toddler. Both kids are adorable, Bennett’s eyes are like saucers.
We are the proud owners of a 5 D and now when I have to shoot with the old Rebel (which we both loved) it just feels so wimpy. Of course our pictures are nothing like yours, because of course skill is 99% of it all, and you guys have got it!
I’m so totally confused with the camera lingo. All I know is, I have one crappy system.
you portnoys make me smile. thanks for that! yes the new purchases resonate as the right move. does this mean you need to offload a camera?… ;0) let me know…
i was going to make a comment about how awesome your new toys are….or how amazingly adult choe is looking. but i can’t go any further since you likened your son to a dog. the end. that was just the worst and best thing i’ve EVER heard.
i could not love you more!
WOOT!
Go Ryan and Kelly.
Sending love via the screen as per usual.
PS. Guess what?!
After spending many hundreds on our first trade show…it’s cancelled!
WHAT THE HECK!?
Boooo.
We may be able to get into another one lext week.
Also, your house looks amazing in beige and your kids are way too cute. ichat sometime?
i harbor insane camera jealousy
your niece *gasp* GORGEOUS!!
how soon till Mr. B is walking? Bounce Bennett, work those legs!
Question - five babies under 3 racing down an aisle… funny or disaster? One is bound to make it right?
Trying to get the blog working again… Ryan is messing with some things because neither of us can log in. Totally sucks but I’ll be back shortly.