Chuck E. Cheese!!!!

On Friday night we went to a birthday party for my pal Jamie's son . I was excited because it was at Chuck E. Cheese's and I've never been. I knew Carson would love it so we just went and played and played. It was a little overstimulating for me, but a great time. Carson even dared to give Mr. Cheese a high-five.

Carson saw other kids getting in this booth where the air blows tickets all over and you try to catch them. He insisted that he get in it, but as soon as it turned on he totally freaked out. It was one of those sad and funny moments. haha  I yelled at Carl, "Let me get a picture before you turn it off!!!" I'm so mean. :)

 

Happy Half-Birthday, Carson

I looked at the calendar and realized that Carson is officially 2 1/2 today. People always ask me how old he is and I never know if I should say 2 or 2 1/2. That's so stupid. It's not like it really matters, but now I'll say 2 1/2 for sure. haha

Here are just a couple quick shots from playing in the backyard yesterday. He loves to play baseball, leave his tongue sticking out and climb on anything he can get his hands on.

We still haven't decided on Halloween costumes either......should probably get on that.

Mommy, watch out!

The monster is on day 3 of his new daycare. So far, so good! I've actually been productive too. :) He goes from 8am-1pm then comes right home for a nap so it's working out great so far. 

This was last night at Lowe's while waiting for Daddy. He thinks he's a battering ram.

Baby blues

Nobody hipped me to that, Dude.

I've been slammed for the last two weeks and I just got a chance to go through my own photos! Two weekends ago we all went four-wheeling up above Georgetown to Santiago Mine. I was a little ignorant to the "Colorado Aspens" because they appear to be a big deal up there this time of year. I have to say this was the most beautiful time we have ever been up there. Being able to get up above the regular tourists and see the scenery from a more private path was awesome! Everywhere you looked there were different colors. At one point I looked at Carl and said, "are we in a Bob Ross painting?" There were happy little bunches of trees all over.

We went to this exact same spot last year which you may remember here. That time there was still too much snow and we couldn't get any higher, but this is that exact same bowl...without so much snow.

  

This is what Carl, Andy and Dustin were doing....

While Carson was doing this - "Mom, rocks!!!!" (Not Mom rocks. Let's not get confused.)

This cave looked like it went back so far and was super deep. There were natural springs and run-offs like this everywhere up there. Those are my guys!

Next it was time to make the drive up the rest of the mountain to the mine. This was somewhere over 12,000 feet. Technically you aren't supposed to go up there, but we just walked around, hopefully not damaging anything as we went. This mine was from the late 1800's and it's still in great condition. Well, other than the bridge/train track which is a little sketchy.

This is where those tracks used to go. That gate opens up and Carl has been in there before. He said he went in around the corner and it was obvious that it has started to collapse so he booked it out of there. Carson thought it was to look in through the bars.

And stop the presses! I got in TWO different pictures this time! :)

On the way down Carl took us a different way that looked a bit scary, but ended up being so freaking beautiful. This trail was even more secluded with only a tunnel big enough for one car between the trees. We eventually came to a river with a small bridge that looked like it was for power maintenance. There sure weren't any people or houses up there!

Don't forget Christy and Andy!

I have so much more I'd like to share, but I had to narrow it all down. Exploring with the fam is so much fun!

I have an announcement...

NO, I'M NOT PREGNANT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!   I know you're thinking it. :)

Actually I already had a new baby. My new baby is named Rachael Wooten Photography ::blush::. I have thought about writing this post many times and I'm still nervous now as I type. I haven't told many people so I feel like I've been hiding or lying or something. When I say "not many" I mean Carl, my parents and my grandparents were pretty much the only ones for a long long time. 

The journey to get to this point has been long and I'm happy to say that I actually know what I'm trying to do now. In the last year (all happening within my little internal bubble) I have gone from wanting to only create paper products to wanting a paper business that I could incorporate photos with invitations to being strictly a photographer. This also included three, yes 3!, official business names. To say that I am indecisive with my own stuff is an understatement. If you tell me what you are looking for I can whip it up and go on my way. If I sit down to design something for myself it can take me two years. Literally. In two years I have done so much changing while finding my real style and passion that I now can blog in front of you and scream it out loud. One of my weaknesses is that if I don't feel like something is 100%, I will share 0% of it. If I'm going to do something I want it to be right and a finished product before I put it all out there. Originally I started with something a little more cutesy and knew in my heart that it just wasn't me. There had to be a reason that my sub-conscience wasn't letting me gab about it all. I fought it for a while, but woke up one morning with clarity. In a world of businesses galore I want you to want me! Thus, Rachael Wooten Photography was born. I am the business so my name should be right there with no doubt. I only want to do what I love and hope that the people who like me will call and the people who don't won't. That works out for everyone in the end.

I am and always have been 85% book-y, number-y and literally...-y. But there has always been that 15% hanging out there that I've fulfilled with many types of creative outlets. I am so fortunate to have a set up in my career that allows flexibility and a lot of downtime; I'll have the best of both worlds. Granted, almost all of my new stuff is happening at night or on weekends, but it would be much harder if I were in an office all day. Whether he knows it or not, one of the best things I ever got from my dad was the principles of how to run an honest and profitable business. Most of you know that the car business isn't always, you know, truthful. I saw how my dad treated the people he encountered and heard those dinnertime conversations about what is right and wrong. I also saw people want to do business with him. Luckily I learned the ins and outs of business logistics in my work experience and in college, but now I realize how invaluable my observations of him were. 

I've always known I would have a business, but never really knew what the "product" would be. You know, the indecisiveness. Whenever I think about what I want out of a company I represent, all I can think is "under promise, over deliver". In the last four or so months it all clicked with me and I've had so much fun figuring out the logistics. In the land of puppies and rainbows I would want to be shooting everyday, but there is so much more to it than that. I've designed a website, built my blog from scratch, created all my branding materials, developed my pricing scheme and made some great friends along the way. Oh yeah, I've taken a few photos too. ;)  

I know I'm rambling and spilling my guts, but I've been keeping it in for a little too long! I also know I don't have to explain myself. Again, I'm just really passionate about this new venture and hope that my amazing friends and family will support what I'm trying to do. 

As for the actual business goals, my focus is lifestyle and family custom photography. Kids aren't the easiest thing ever, but it kind of comes with the territory. I absolutely love shooting couples, single-person portraits and newborns. I shoot only natural light so mostly outdoors. The problem with that is winter in good old CO, but I can work indoors too. I know I still have a ton of growing to do which means I expect things to change even more. Hopefully that will all be positive as I get more definition in myself and what I am able to produce. Since I'm still building my portfolio I am running a pretty good deal through the end of the year. I would love to have my galleries full of the people that I love! What I'm saying is if you are curious about anything, just ask. :)

The main site is rachaelwooten.com and the blog is blog.rachaelwooten.com. I think if you read this blog and take a look through that you'll get a pretty good idea of my style and whether or not we'd make a good fit! I'm still going to keep doing all the family stuff here and some of it may cross over to the business blog. I feel like this is my own journal where I show the good, the bad and the ugly. I'll be able to be a tad more choosy over there. :)  I'm doing new stuff constantly so there will be new stuff all the time to see. Anyone can email me anytime at rachael@rachaelwooten.com. Feel free to share until your heart's content.
 
So.........thanks for listening if you got this far. I'm getting the Facebook page put together too so I will take all the "likes" I can get when it's up! (They make you have a certain number before you can assign the name...)

♥ rachael 

Go Bengals!

The past few Sundays have been cuteness overload in the Wooten house. Carson got a matching jersey with his daddy. Of course they're Carson Palmer. You think I'm going to put him in Ochocinco?!?!?! Carson knows Sunday is football day and loves getting dressed up with Carl. He runs around the house yelling, "Go Bengals!" Obviously when he's older he can choose his own team. Part of the most fun you have as a kid is doing what your parents do though. We had so many people ask us if we were naming Carson after Mister Palmer, but we really didn't! The name was completely my suggestion and at the time I didn't even know who CP was. It's super cute for the jersey now. 

I know there have been many times in Carson's short life that I've said "this ___" is definitely the cutest thing he's ever worn. But really, this is the cutest thing so far. :)

Carson Palmer, eat your heart out.