Business Update

Along with working on paperwork for the photography business, I've set up a website through a service that hosts photos and processes client payments. Although it makes the whole web address a little long, it will work for now until Papa Vaughn can design an official website for me. Regardless though, this site has a great service for clients to be able to view their pictures and pay for their orders with credit cards that I personally am not set up for. So, when you get a chance check out the site. www.sunflowerphotographyanddesign.photoreflect.com

I've got pictures up in the portfolio section as well. I want to add some different ones, but need to go through the massive amount of pictures on disks to find what I want to add. For now these are ones we have stored on our computer. Soon you will also be able to see the Halloween party I shot for our neighbors last night. They are the first clients I'm utilizing the site for. The great thing about the party is that we received a lot of compliments on the invitation that Charles and I created for their party. Charles finished my business cards for me in time for the party so I was able to give them to parents to view the pictures and hopefully make an order. I also had quite a few mention that they will give me a call to take family photos for the holidays! Let's hope this can help spread the word around!!

Race for the Cure

I've found out about the Race for the Cure here in Fresno and as a family we've decided to participate. It's an annual fundraiser event supporting the Fresno local Susan G. Komen breast cancer foundation. Because October is breast cancer awareness month and because my mother is a breast cancer survivor it is something that we feel passionate about supporting. Whether you have personally been affected by breast cancer or not, finding a cure is a worthy cause to support. It's more than likely that at some point in your life you will at least know one person that has been affected by some type of cancer. While I don't want you to feel any obligation to help us in fundraising, I am offering you the opportunity to mail me a check in any dollar amount written to: Susan G Komen Fresno, prior to the Oct 27th race day. I was told that your cancelled check will be your receipt for tax purposes. Whatever we collect we will take as a family Saturday morning to donate. We will then be participating in the 1 mile walk so that the kids can join us. Even if you can't support the foundation at this time, perhaps you will be able to at a later date and feel compelled to donate to your local branch. Regardless of where the donation is made, helping to fund research to find a cure for breast cancer is something we hope you can put your heart into.

If you wish to help with the fundraising, you can mail your donation to me at:
Vaughn Family 7718 N. Constance Ave. Fresno, CA 93722

Sneak Peek to Halloween

We tried on our Halloween costumes to get a preview of what fun they can be. Since I couldn't decide on what Boopy should be and I got a great deal on them, she has two costumes. Boopy really liked being a tiger. She wasn't too sure about the witch costume. She pulled on the arms and refused to wear the hat until brother tried it on and put it on her head. The effects of peer pressure are amazing! Big Boy on the other hand, loved the pirate costume in the store but wasn't so keen about trying it on last night. Maybe a few more tries and we can get a happy pirate. He does love to run around saying, "Argh!".

Watch out for attack tigers on the loose!!! "Roar!!!"




"Here Boopy, this is how you wear it."


A reluctant pirate..."Argh!!"

Weekend Recap - Fair!

It was so nice having Papa Vaughn home and not having to have a drill weekend right when he got home! Although we did have some set obligations for the weekend, I had a birthday party to photograph Friday night and a wedding to attend Saturday night, it was nice to just do whatever we wanted together. So, Saturday we decided to go to the fair! Sunday was spent looking for Halloween costumes, having lunch and then going home to work around the house and just be together!

While getting ready for the fair and gathering up our stuff I somehow left my brain at home. We left the house, picked up our friends Darren & Carolyn, sat in the long line of cars to park and finally got into the fair around 11:30 am. Of course I planned to take LOTS of pictures of the kids with the animals, food, exhibits, and just playing. My brain however, that had been left at home, well it was apparently home looking for my extra camera battery that was plugged in to the charger. So needless to say, enjoy the few following pictures I managed to get before my other battery ran out of power and the few I managed to get with my cell phone camera.

The kids had so much fun at the fair that they didn't slow down once the whole time we were there. We went from 11:30 to 3:00 bypassing Boopy's nap with the hope that she'd make it through the sights and excitement without too much trouble. Instead of being tired, the only trouble she caused was being extremely hyper! Both Big Boy and Boopy were wired! Boopy wiggled every time we past music, waving at people and expressing "wows" of excitement. The animals brought out conversations in cow and duck and and even a few pirate "Argh's" from the pirate decorations dispersed throughout the barns. Perhaps their being hyper could be blamed on the giant ice cream cone that Papa indulged them in or perhaps it was the joy of making their own colored sand glass bottle souvenir. There's always the possibility that Big Boy was just too excited about seeing himself in the photo displays or Boopy finding out that Mama's scrapbook page all about her won 1st place? Regardless, they had a wonderful time hanging out with Mama and loved that Papa was there too!


Who can't resist a giant ice cream cone?

Big Boy sharing his ice cream with Boopy


Making a sand bottle souvenir with help from Papa.

Hey that's ME!!! And there's Boopy!


What a cute goat! I want one!

Hey that's me! And Mama won first place!

She's a DAREDEVIL!!!

So, Papa Vaughn enjoyed having the kids to himself today. He couldn't work at the base today because they were closed for the Columbus holiday. Instead, it's been a day of every day life stuff. He dropped his car off for an oil change and took the kids to the play area at Carl's Jr. to kill some time before picking me up for lunch. I was amused to have Charles call me to ask if I realized how little fear Boopy had! Ummm....let's see, she climbs onto the kitchen table, up and down from our bed (which is not low to the ground), in and out of the bathtub herself, tries to ride Big Boy's tricycles which are too big for her and pretty much thinks she's at least 3 years old, going on 16. So, yes, I think I realize she has no fear! What she was doing at Carl's Jr. play area however, would have made me thoroughly nervous had I been there. Yes, she can do most of what Big Boy does, but really, she's only 16 months so some things are just a bit too big for her. I'm really glad I wasn't with them and only got to enjoy the cell phone pictures afterwards! I'm sure Papa will keep letting her think she's really big for awhile. At least until she really does turn 16! :)

"If brother can do it, so can I!!!!

*Look for a blog & pictures from the fair this weekend later on!

Papa Vaughn is Home!

He's home! He's FINALLY home! After 3 months training in Maryland, Papa Vaughn is home! Poor Papa was due in late last night but his flight was delayed and he missed his connection in Denver ending up with a rerouted travel plan bringing him home this morning at nearly 11:00 am. Although we were all disappointed he was not home last night, it was great to see him this morning! Master Sgt. Porter from the base met Big Boy, Boopy and me at the airport and was kind enough to take pictures for me so that I could focus on the kids and Papa. Boy were the kids excited! All the way while driving to the airport they chanted, Papa (Big Boy), Daddy (Boopy) and wiggled their little bodies in excited anticipation!

Here the three of us are waiting for Papa to arrive. Big Boy, who always has to take something inside places with him chose appropriately and brought in his plane to play with.

Then Papa was spotted walking down the hall to us! I turned the kids toward him and said, "Who's that?". Boopy saw him first and ran little arms flapping and crying. She was SOOO excited! Big Boy followed and gave Papa a HUGE hug!

Of course Papa couldn't resist the sweet requests for a Moo-Drink so a short stop at the airport Starbucks was in order.

Happy Moo-Drink Faces!

Papa couldn't wait to give the kids the little treats he had for them so the floor in front of Starbuck's became a fun place to open presents. Big Boy got a cool shirt and some new Cars while Boopy got a cute little purse with a tiger in it.

Happy to follow Papa to get his bags and then go HOME!

Good Friends

Good friends, those that become your best friends, are one of the most precious things in life. Good friends are there for you when you need them the most, they listen, they support you, they give you strength when you need it. Life shared with a really good friend is like a great novel that you just want to read over and over again skipping ahead to the good parts, but realizing that the sad or rough parts are necessary for the story being written. Good friends, like really great novels, aren't always found easily. A good friend is one you share a special bond with and is willing to work to maintain it.

Watching my children grow and their individual personalities shine through, gives me hope that they will grow into people that will be able to have what I've been blessed to know. I have been blessed to know what it is like to have numerous friends in my life and more than my fair share of really good friends! Big Boy and Boopy have already found special friends to share a bond with. I truly hope that life leads them in a way that these childhood friendships can grow and mature into really good friends and that they can share a history together that can write an award winning novel!


I do know that so far they've learned, what it's like to laugh with a friend.

They're learning what it means to share with a friend.

They've learned that just hanging out and enjoying each other's company can be fun.

They've learned that friends will let you be silly by sticking out your tongue at them, splash them in pools and they will still love you.

They are learning that a good friend will take you by the hand and walk with you through life.

*Thank you to ALL my GOOD friends for all your help and thoughts the past 3 months. That includes family, who although may be related are still GOOD friends!