Finally home!

WPPI was an incredible experience...A TON of information, a TON of walking and a TON of amazing sites to see (including some of the speakers for WPPI)! I will definitely be going again next year! So as some of you know Wednesday was the last day I was in Vegas and of course I had to make sure I brought home some souvenirs so...I HAD to go shopping! :0)  (I am sure Brant would have agreed with me by this point in my trip...i needed some site seeing and down time after so much brain overload!)

Anyway, while Chelsea and I were out on the strip we wanted to make sure we hit a couple of super important sites. We had to go see: The Hard Rock Cafe, M&M World, The Coke Factory, and the Bellagio water fountains. Oh my, what a site to see! Each of these places I could have spent hours in...oh, and WAY TOO MUCH money :0)  Which by the way is the main thing needed when going to Vegas...I almost went to Vegas with out any cash. As we were on the way to the airport I told Brant, "I am going to Vegas and I don't even have any cash." He looked at me, opened the console of the car and said, "There's your cash." Hinting to my Sonic Happy Hour change...So not cool! He said I could play the quarter, nickle, dime and penny machines :0)  He makes me laugh! He knows my luck way too well! Then after all that I didn't even have a chance to play the slots :0( Chels played one, and lost a whole dollar :0) But then after that we were too brain overloaded to try to stay up late and play slots. (Definitely a good thing in my case...)

So after all of these excursions I am finally back home! I have missed my little Cade soo much! Luckily, Karitsa (my sister in law) kept me in the loop...every time something hilarious happened I got a text! That was really good sometimes and not good at others, I have a tendency to laugh out loud when something is really funny and apparently that is kind of embarrassing when you are in the middle of a serious photography workshop :0) All of this to say, I have had an incredible time and I will definitely have to go back again next year! I really hope you have enjoyed Vegas too! Here are a few more pictures and a video of the Bellagio Fountains...It's not an amazing video because I am not a videographer, but it's still pretty cool! ENJOY!!

Me and my partner in crime, Chelsea Giles!

M&M World...SOOO FUN!!

Harley Davidson Cafe...we didn't eat here, but i liked their sign!

These beads were soo beautiful! They were super photogenic!

 More of the "inspirational, photogenic" beads

AND NOW... I present to you...The Bellagio Water Fountains!!!

It has been a LONG two days!

So there were literally like 100 classes we could have gone to today and we actually had (between the two of us) 7 on our list to go to, but we narrowed it down to about 3...mainly because the 8 am scene didn't work very well...we were up, but were not willing to sacrifice a nice, leisurely breakfast. Then there was one that I was not allowed to attend because there was no room in the room for me...the security guard would not even open the door (which made me super sad, but at least we know he is really good at his job!)  Then there was another class that we wanted to go to, but in order to attend that class we would have to sacrifice dinner (ok...not totally sacrifice dinner, but eat it on the run...literally, run! Between how far we have to go to get the food and then RUN back to classes to try not to be tooo late...). So we decided to skip that class...another reason is because it would have made us late to the other one we really wanted to attend. All that to say it has been a JAM PACKED last two days! I have a headache from BRAIN OVERLOAD, and baggage overload...All I took today was my notepad, camera, wallet and pen and still somehow that ended up too heavy to carry by noon...NO, I am not a pansy, we are just walking a super lot...and anything starts getting heavy when you walk around carrying it all day! :0)  Anyway, I am totally not trying to complain (even though it may sound like I am...I'm not.) I am incredibly blessed to be here and be encouraged by all the men and women speaking! Plus, Chels and I are making super awesome new friends! Oh and another really cool thing...I just purchased the best thing in the WHOLE WIDE WORLD! Action Runner! I absolutely love it! I just got my life back from editing...I am totally in LOVE with Action Runner! I have just started playing with it and it is the best editing software I have ever seen...ABSOLUTELY GENIUS! Here are some pictures I took today...edited within 1.5 mins (literally...all 11! did I mention I LOVE ACTION RUNNER!?) ENJOY!

 As we were headed to our first class this morning the lions were out hanging around...then we went to the Rainforest Cafe...LOVE IT! Then as you can see...things got a little crazy with Sponge Bob...I just had to take this picture...I wanted Cade to see that mommy met Sponge Bob :0)

VEGAS BABY!!!

Ok...so as some of you have seen or heard (from facebook) I am in Vegas attending a Photography Conference (WPPI) and I am LOVING EVERY SECOND! There are some incredible speakers, super nice people and so many neat things to check out! Plus the weather is beautiful! I have been spending a ton of time with my best friend Chelsea and we have been meeting and greeting everyone we see! The only down side is that we are walking SOOO much! Everything is super spread out and every class we go to seems to be on the opposite side of the world from our current location :0(  Anyway, it is definitely time for me to call it quits for the night...my hands and feet are boycotting my walking (swollen) and
it is way past my bed time! Good night guys!! I love you all a ton!!!

This is one of my most favorite chicas in the WORLD!! Ginny Corbett I LOVE YOU SO MUCH! You are incredibly encouraging and I love seeing you and being able to walk through life with you!!!

This is Jasmine Star...She is one phenomenal photographer! She is a beautiful woman of God who is totally down to earth and loves what she does with all her heart! I am so blessed to have met her and to know that she has walked the journey that I am on!! Thanks for all your words of encouragement Jasmine!!!

This is the "Castle" Chelsea and I are staying at! We have to walk to the MGM for the conference, but when its time to go back to our rooms this is the site we see as we walk! Gotta love bright lights and LOTS of color! I really liked this spot to take pics :0)

This is "New York, New York"

This is the Vegas Strip

The MGM...it is seriously way too big for its britches! I have been walking around inside of it all day and I still haven't seen the whole thing...I think (honestly) that I have only seen about 1/4 of it and we had to have walked about 2-3 MILES!

Senior Pictures...

Hey all you in Alvin who need your senior pictures taken...Please contact me as soon as possible...I have to plan a weekend to head your way and I really need to see how many of you are interested in March 18-20th and how many need to do your pictures during April 15-17. Please let your friends know and call me (832-221-5220) or email me (megan@greathouseportfolio.com) soon!! Spots are filling fast! Have a great day!!!

Go, Diego, GO!

As everyone knows its been a super cold last couple of days. (Hopefully, today, we can get out and about without freezing to death) Anyway, we recently got Netflix and I LOVE IT! It is sooo much cheaper than cable and so much better (NO COMMERCIALS!!!)  Well, Cade and I have found "Go, Deigo, GO!" We have never seen it before and these last few days we have been dancing around the living room every time some music comes on...we are answering all the questions every time Deigo asks us something AND we are learning Spanish! (Which I DESPERATELY need)  :0)

Something I noticed this morning as we watched an episode is how much Cade LOVES being encouraged to dance around the living room and shout at the TV. I was making some breakfast and I had already started "GDG" but I wasn't in the living room dancing and Cade looked into the kitchen and said "Momma, dance!" I almost told him, "you dance I will be there in a minute", but instead I decided to turn up the TV and dance with him....I don't know if you have noticed anyone around you that is like this, but sometimes all people need is someone to dance with as life plays music for us...Don't push them to the side just because you don't "feel" like you have any time,  I guarantee you more tasks will always be in your way. If you don't, at some point, put time aside to "dance" with your friends and family, life will pass you by and you will miss out on precious memories you could have had while with those special people in your life! I don't know what your day is like today but I pray that the Lord open your eyes to people who need a dance partner! People who need just a few minutes of your time and just a little bit of encouragement to stay strong!! I love you and pray you have an amazing day!

Snow Day!

Yesterday it was 78 here in Midland...today...its 17! I am thinking today is the day that I am going to reminisce and write down all of the things that I have failed to write down over this past few months. It is super important to write down cute, funny or first time things Cade has done and I know it's important, but I keep writing it down and losing the paper I wrote all those things on! I am really trying to get more organized...so I am thinking I am gonna Google Doc the memories. There are a ton I remember and a few I have already blogged or facebooked that will help remind me of others that I may have forgotten. I really hope that I can get it all done...I may need another snow day :0) I hope all of you have an amazing day and that you take some time to think and remember all of the small blessings in you life! I LOVE YOU!