For Nate

This is for my buddy Nate who hasn't seen his family in awhile...

Lindsey

Also this weekend, I had a great shoot with Ms Lindsey who is extremely photogenic even though she doesn't think so. We got some really incredible shots even though the sun wasn't where I'd prefer it to be. Sometimes I wonder if God is even getting my memos at all.

Gymastics

Well, let me tell you about my daughter, Avery “Lou-Rettin” Amundson. She had her first gymnastics meet Saturday and she did….well….she was definitely….we’re very proud!

There were a ton of kids and Alec was really excited to see his big sis do her wild triple double axel-f into a double iron cross platform shoe move.
Actually she pretty much stunk it up like a Taco Bell bathroom but it was really great to see how far she’s come since September. She got a medal and a snow cone but then Alec gave her a proud hug and it was one of those gimme a tissue quick moments that I don’t talk about because I’m a tough macho dude who had his emotions surgically removed years ago.
There’s more to Saturday but I’ll have to get back to it, I’m leading singing tonight at church and I should probably have something in mind besides that Nelly Grillz song.
Oh yeah, then Alec lifted a minivan on his shoulders. He needs to lay off the roids I guess.

Spring

It’s Spring and I’m lovin’ it. Alec and I did some scouting. Busy weekend. You’ll see…

Father Son Day

Nuff said

...

Lots of leaves

We raked all day Saturday and got the backyard almost completely leaf free. It was 20 something bags full. I had already done 10 bags in the front but you can’t tell. But we did find some interesting stuff including a family of baby bunnies that are so cute that you can’t stand it and want to pretend that there’s no way they could have a disease and try and give em a big wet kiss. We also found some wooden people who apparently were squashed by a rock while gardening and then somehow were quasi-petrified into plywood.

I love my attic!!!

The open house was perfect and thank you (masses) that came by J. Although I ran out of cookies because they kept falling on my teeth, I think everybody had enough. For those of you who didn’t come because you didn’t get anything in the mail inviting you, well, you must not be that good of a friend-just kidding, I didn’t mail any invites to anyone and I thought I’d better clarify that just in case.
Sorry I haven’t posted much lately, with spring break I know everyone is busy running off to Cancun or South Padre or Eveleth, anyway, my birthday was great and I’m hoping by the time I put this post up, I’ll have a shot of our attic complete with the new lights Dad and I ran and most of the new flooring boards laid out (I asked for them for my b-day and SCORE! Thanks Mom and Dad!!)


It’s funny how excited I am about the attic. I know some of you guys out there understand but this attic is crazy awesome.
I got a brand new basketball hoop and ball for my office along with too many other items to list from Erin, Avery and Alec (who by the way are in Ohio right now seeing the Grandparents on her side).
And on Saturday I shot a wedding with my good buddy Preston Dial in Harrison. Mr. Preston and I debate/discuss/scrap over camera settings, software issues and other nerd junk all the time. Good stuff.
So, even though I can’t say “The other day my Uncle Roger and I went and played 18 holes and bumped into Leon and Danae and ended up playing together and I got an eagle and Leon shot a bird with his Glock and Danae told blonde jokes until Heiniken came out of Roger’s nose and then we stumbled on Jimmy Buffet doing something in the woods that he couldn’t explain but long story short we lost Roger for about an hour…” it doesn’t mean I’m not thinking of you far off friends and family all the time. Some days (like when a tornado hits) I really wish I was still in the Northwest. Well shoot, look at the time, ttyl…

Rare Footage

When you work with someone on shoot after shoot, you get some great setup shots and camera test images that can later be used for really wonderful blackmail material. I've been waiting for the perfect time to spring this and I figure now's as good a time as any. Don't forget to check out some of Craig's stuff at his site.
Sorry Craig, I couldn't resist....

Life a few blocks away...

It's weird how just a few blocks down they've got such devastation and yet life just goes on.

I had my birthday time with my folks Friday since we'll all be busy Sunday...

...but part of me is feeling a bit guilty about my awesome french silk pie in my heated home and our two cars in our garage...

...well, life goes on and people rebuild and trees grow back and I guess we help how we can when we can and hope for a beautiful spring.

See you tomorrow at the open house. :)

OPEN HOUSE

TOP O’ THE MORNING TO YA
Hello out there true believers, if you are reading this then I would like to warmly welcome you to come by my studio open house this Sunday from 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm. It’s just a great big show and tell for me so stop by and say hi and check out the (still slightly under construction) studio with all it’s magic and mystery and wonders…..oooooo!















For most of you, you know how exciting it is for me to have my own place next door to the house where I get to do all my playing/working.
Now, I know Sunday is a busy day at Sunset/Brookline with John Clayton speaking throughout the day and all, so I’ve set the time so you shouldn’t miss any of the evolution/creation stuff.











OK, now driving directions might be different if you are coming from Springfield or Battlefield or Malta or Cassville or Cedarwood or Phoenix or Edina or Whitehouse or Valdez or Chicago or Maumelle, so I’m just going to assume you can get to Republic, Missouri on your own.
The stoplight past the Supercenter and Taco Bell (the one by DQ) is Main/Hwy P, go south there, towards Clever. Take your 3rd left (Jewell). Take a right on Maple (Maple is broken up so don’t panic when you pass it on the left). And it’s 706 S Maple, first house on the left. Take the 2nd Drive though, that’s the studio.
Call if you get lost, the studio line is (417) 732-7779.

Red Handed

Ad-Rock and Aftermath

After seeing Adam in his post-surgery stupor (similar to his normal stupor) jk, I saw some more of the tornado damage. You know, 3 miles seems like a really far distance when you're jogging but not so far when it's a tornado from your house.

Bad links?

Well it turns out that if you click on the little song clip links but it's a new day, it doesn't work right. So after today, these will all be useless. Oh well, it wasn't that exciting anyway.
Church Song
Brice Fighting Music
Cracker song about Europe
Metallica Four Horsemen
Another song I love

Tornados and Hail

Bad night last night. Lots of damage too close to home. Maybe we should have a Spring House in New Orleans.
And by the way, whenever we sing this in church, part of me really wants to sing it like this.

Saturday in the Tornado Zone

OK, here’s the shots I was saving. Dad and Avery from the other day.

Today Alec and I went to the Republic Business Expo and Erin and Avery went to a tea party for church. Then I went to Jim Blackwell’s wedding shot by Mr. Marc Blackwell. Then we had a tornado warning or watch or whatever the rest of the night.

The other day this Cracker song came up in conversation with Grant and I wish I could find it…it’s one of those songs that takes you back and reminds you of Europe. I’ve probably got it on cassette tape somewhere along with all my good Metallica.
What else…Avery and Alec colored together without incident and that’s pretty big news, they are both little Picassos. Well, Avery is more of a Cezanne.

Too Many Lawn Statues Can Be Scary

So two of the images for today from yesterday can wait till tomorrow….I shot with Ray and Sarah today which is always a blast. We did Branson High’s track and golf…inside. Yeah. Anyway, sorry Angie (B) that I didn’t include more info on yesterday’s post about the dialog we all had or what inappropriate displays were made from plastic Easter eggs, but this is a PG rated Blog and I don’t want my Mother to have a heart attack.
Avery is doing really good at gymnastics for just starting a couple months ago, she’s doing one-handed kartwheels and stuff. Soon we’ll send her off to ninja school so she can assassinate al-Kiduh and slip away invisibly into the night like a deadly untouchable evening breeze.















Alec is starting to get really good with his death stare. Soon he’ll be hypnotizing the masses and have an army of mindless zombies to carry out his ruthless dreams of more Thomas trains and chocolate. He gets is from Erin.
I think Scout (our b&w cat) is getting fat but it’s hard to tell when he’s next to Whinnie (our tab).















OK, I know this is silly so I’m going to bed. Yeah for Spring Break even though that really means nothing to me.
Brice fight music…