We are HUGE Mouse fans in this house and when I have a chance to feature the mouse in a cake smash, we do it in style!
For Royce’s cake smash session, we created the iconic clubhouse landscape for him – complete with a glove balloon. His cake was the actual clubhouse! There was no bribery needed for him to have fun and enjoy chomping down on his cake!
Mom made him the most awesome mouse ears and he had the perfect outfit, fit for King Mickey! When Royce saw the set we created for him and his mouse ears he got so excited! There is nothing more rewarding than to see your hard work appreciated by the littlest of clients. Mom’s heart skipped a beat or two as well to see how much her baby boy was enjoying his special birthday celebration. We sang to all the Mickey Mouse Clubhouse theme songs, played, danced and enjoyed watching Royce savor that delicious Frosted Kitchen masterpiece.
What makes a Scrappy Doodles Photography cake smash so special? It is designed just for YOU! We work together to create the perfect reflection of your vision and celebration. Your child is the star of the show and we pull out all the stops to make sure they feel that way. They are fun, full of laughter and the cake tastes AMAZING!
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I am an award-winning newborn, child and family photographer serving the Del Rio, Brackettville, Laughlin AFB and surrounding areas. My goal at Scrappy Doodles Photography is to tell your life story, one image at a time. Along with Frosted Kitchen, Scrappy Doodles Photography proudly offers one-of-a-kind 1st birthday cake smash sessions. This cake smash session was captured in Scrappy Doodles’ studio. For booking information and availability, please contact me here.
]]>Grab a Jet and Strike a Pose!!
This ONE OF A KIND squadron of briefing stick aircraft are exclusive to Photobooth by Scrappy, and are the perfect way to showcase your current or future weapon system.
Picture this: there you are, at drop…in the (you get the picture)
You have been busting your tail to earn the jet of your dreams – the slideshow is scrolling, your friends, family and classmates are all cheering you on.
AWESOME! You got Vipers to Holloman!
You want to tell everyone…ASAP. What picture would you rather send to your family or post on social media? A blurry screenshot of the slide showing your new jet, or a picture of you (and whoever else you want to add to the photo) HOLDING a Viper with a T-38 in a crisp image?
When you have Photobooth by Scrappy set up at your event, you are able to do just that! We proudly feature a squadron of 19 aircraft to execute your storytelling mission.
In the fleet are:
2-ship of T-6
2-ship of T-38
2-ship of T-1
F-16
F-15E
A-10
F-22
F-35
B-1
B-52
C-17
KC-135
C-130
KC-10
C-5
U-28
…inbound soon…helos
Whatever the aviation mission you will soon be supporting, coupled with the background of your choice and social media sharing capabilities of the booth, you are able to make your special announcement or celebrate with class!
Print templates can be customized for you with your class/squadron patch and any color scheme you would like. We have a base-themed background, as well as 15 shimmer background options to choose from.
After the event, you are able to download your image if you didn’t have it emailed or text messaged to you, so you have your digital image as well as the print to keep as a keepsake of your event.
The booth is available for drop nights, graduation dinner, squadron parties…you name it!
What are you waiting for? Let’s start mission planning! Contact Scrappy today!
Photobooth by Scrappy is part of the Scrappy Doodles Photography & Design line up of services provided. It is a military veteran/military spouse owned, independent business and has no affiliation with the Department of Defense or United States Air Force. The services provided from this business are offered for hire. The aircraft briefing sticks are only available to members of the Armed Forces.
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Scrappy Doodles Photography is excited to showcase Photobooth by Scrappy…our new photobooth rental service! This amazing booth is available for rental in the Del Rio, Brackettville and surrounding areas. We are known for our one-of-a-kind photography session experiences, and are thrilled to offer a one-of-a-kind photobooth experience for you too!
Let me tell you about this booth!
First of all, you might be asking yourself it this means that Scrappy Doodles Photography is shifting focus away from portraiture. Not the case at all! Scrappy Doodles Photography services won’t be changing one bit! Scrappy is growing, and what a year to grow!
So then why would a Del Rio Newborn, Child and Family photographer add photobooth rental services to their business? The answer is simple!
As I personally attended events with other photobooths I wondered to myself if any existed that were more elegant and weren’t limited to the bounds of the booth walls. In a time where social media sharing is pretty much part of an everyday regimen, I also wondered if there was a way to do that from the booth directly. I mean, how much more awesome would it be to not have to take a picture of a print that you liked from the photobooth picture and just have the digital image at your disposal to share? Let’s face it, we are in the age of NOW, show me what you are doing right now!
So, I did some research.
The criteria for the magical booth that I wanted to select (if I was going to even select one) was:
- Portability
- Elegance
- Social Media capabilities that allow ON THE SPOT sharing
- Versatility
- Quality imagery
- Quality prints
- FUN and interactive
I’m excited to share that Photobooth by Scrappy offers all of the above and MORE! Not only can it do all of that, but it can also…
- Be connected to a standalone kiosk so your guests can share, print, text their images while guests continue to enjoy the booth
- Create animated GIFs (those little movies you see from three to four pictures)
- Green screen images (as in you can PICK your customized background that prints on your print)
- Print in 2x3 strips, 4x6 or 5x7 sizes
This booth is fantastic! Gone are the days of having to step into a traditional photobooth – Photobooth by Scrappy’s open-air, classy booth is perfect for ANY event! It is the BEST!
But wait, there’s more! Laughlin AFB pilots and personnel! Photobooth by Scrappy is proud to offer a CUSTOM set just for you! I’ll be sharing more about that soon, so stay tuned!!
Roll out the red carpet at your events and make a statement!!! Want to learn more about how Photobooth by Scrappy can make your event the talk of the town? Let’s talk! I would love to show you! Contact me here.
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When I know that I will be doing sibling newborn photos during a newborn session my excitement kicks up a notch. I love newborns, and have been formally trained in person by the industry’s leading newborn photographers. However, as a mom of two little girls, I can’t begin to describe the burst of emotions that I get when I see an older sibling bonding with their newborn baby, especially during the newborn sessions.
Lennox and her big brother are no exception, and stole my heart. Photographing toddlers with newborns is not an easy task, so we keep it very simple and organic in the studio. Lots of cuddling encouraged of course, but more importantly for me, it is crucial to let the older sibling naturally interact with their baby. During this natural interaction is where the wonder and awe of this new person really impacts everyone in the room. Who would have known that Lennox would wind up giving up the biggest grin in brother’s lap? Those emotions and responses, you just can’t cue.
For her individual photos, we went with very neutral and earthy tones, adding feminine touches of lace and flowers…and, of course, pink. Everything was simple, elegant and perfect. Something that I didn’t know was that Lennox’s great-grandmother has a photo of her grandmother with lace draped over her similar to the photo above. That photo became all the more special to her grandmother because of this tribute.
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I am an award-winning newborn, child and family photographer serving the Del Rio, Brackettville, Laughlin AFB and surrounding areas. My goal at Scrappy Doodles Photography is to tell your life story, one image at a time. This newborn session was captured in my studio located in Brackettville, Texas. For booking information and availability, please contact me here.
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This gorgeous momma could not have been more radiant during her session. Throughout this maternity session I would catch Daddy-to-be gazing with so much love at her.
When we were working on the details for the session, mom chose to wear maternity gowns that I have in my studio. Part of the maternity session experience at Scrappy Doodles Photography is having access to the 13 maternity gowns in my studio. They are comfortable, glamorous and compliment every body type. I also have complimenting maternity sashes to finish the look you are going for.
Expecting a baby boy, mom chose the cobalt blue gown with a sparkle maternity sash. She also chose to wear an ivory gown with a beautiful chiffon long cape flowing down as well as a chiffon train ruffling down each side. She completed her look with a blue and white floral crown.
As for venue, we wanted a place that was perfect for morning light, and versatile for both gowns to be in different areas. The light peeking through the trees is so magical and created the ambiance of peace.
Not only are they preparing to start a new chapter as parents, dad is preparing to start a new career in the Air Force. So many exciting things in store for this family!
Stay tuned to meet their little man!
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I am an award-winning newborn, child and family photographer serving the Del Rio, Brackettville, Laughlin AFB and surrounding areas. My goal at Scrappy Doodles Photography is to tell your life story, one image at a time. This maternity session was captured on location. For booking information and availability, please contact me here.
]]>It was such a joy to welcome him to the world in my studio during his newborn session.
Mom and I had previously met in one of my Photo 101 Classes. She had assisted me on a philanthropy project taking images of the pets needing forever homes for A Pet’s Wish.
When she contacted me to get on the calendar for Nicholas’ newborn session, I was so excited to work with her again.
Dad is a pilot, and when you have a boy, well, it’s a given that you will have airplanes incorporated in some fashion. His room theme is vintage airplanes and travel, so we added those elements to the set. Mom had purchased this adorable teddy bear, and it was the perfect fit to completing the vintage pilot dreaming of flight. Dad also donned his flight suit and Nicholas had a seat in his helmet. Seriously, one of my favorite images that I love including in the sessions!
His amazing little nugget of hair was quite the treat, and there was no way we would keep it covered with a hat the whole time.
I often encourage parents to include something personal of theirs into the sessions, such as wedding bands. Sometimes mom’s rings aren’t fitting her comfortably yet and letting baby hold them is a great way to include them without forcing the rings back on. Little did we know that Nicholas would love them so much he would smile. Newborn smiles are the best, and so unpredictable. Very happy that I was able to capture that for mom and dad.
Congratulations to this new family of three!!
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I am an award winning newborn, child and family photographer serving the Del Rio, Brackettville, Laughlin AFB and surrounding areas. My goal at Scrappy Doodles Photography is to tell your life story, one image at a time. This newborn session was captured in my studio. For booking information and availability, please contact me here.
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Henry is a Scrappy Doodles Photography Grow With Me Baby. That means that I get to see him every 3 months to celebrate the major milestones he is hitting like a champ!
During this session, he featured his rolling over skills, along with smiling at the sound of voices talking with him. He also showed off how strong his neck and arms are during tummy time. We cheered and clapped for him as everytime he was put on his belly he rolled right over and gave us a face that said “ha! Put me on my belly again so I can roll right back over.”
The weather could not have been more perfect and comfortable. A perk of being outdoors in the fall here in West Texas. Just like his dad, Henry loves him some airplanes, so it was fitting to include the Stuffed Squadron’s T-1 that lives in my prop hangar at the studio.
A special guest also joined us for his session…VERY proud and radiant Grandma! She came all the way from Colorado to spend time with her baby boy and of course we documented their growing bond as well. I can already tell that Henry has her wrapped around his little finger!
I’m so lucky to know this little fella and his family, and can’t wait to see how much he has grown both in size and in new skills in a few months!
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I am a newborn, child and family photographer serving the Del Rio, Brackettville, Laughlin AFB and surrounding areas. My goal at Scrappy Doodles Photography is to tell your life story, one image at a time. This milestone session was captured on location. For booking information and availability, please contact me here.
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We have celebrated birthdays…announced the incoming arrival of a little sister…rejoiced in the birth of little sis, showcasing how their little family has grown. So many amazing milestones and memories that I was honored to transcend from life to art.
These girls had their cake...and ate it too! Funny how we wound up with a similar color scheme for both too.
It is always bittersweet when a long-time client, turned treasured friend has to move on to their next chapter of life. Sad to see them go, but so happy for what lies ahead in their future.
When we first met, they were a newly formed family of three. This baby with a dark hat of hair had just made them parents, and they just moved to Del Rio to work at Laughlin AFB. Fast forward to the present…that dark hat of hair is now long curly locks of a big sister who loves, plays and fights with little sis. They get to have tea parties and melt mom and dad’s hearts multiple times in a day.
THIS is why I love what I do…I can’t express how honored I am to have a special role in a family’s life. Your babies grow SO FAST, and I have been the lucky one to document that. Thank you Camponovo family for trusting me and bringing me into your family to witness how much you love eachother and your precious girls.
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I am a newborn, child and family photographer serving the Del Rio, Brackettville, Laughlin AFB and surrounding areas. My goal at Scrappy Doodles Photography is to tell your life story, one image at a time. This family session was captured on location. For booking information and availability, please contact me here.
]]>'Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house
Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse;
The stockings were hung by the chimney with care,
In hopes that St. Nicholas soon would be there;
The children were nestled all snug in their beds,
While visions of sugar-plums danced in their heads;
And mamma in her 'kerchief, and I in my cap,
Had just settled down for a long winter's nap,
When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter,
I sprang from the bed to see what was the matter.
Away to the window I flew like a flash,
Tore open the shutters and threw up the sash.
The moon on the breast of the new-fallen snow
Gave the lustre of mid-day to objects below,
When, what to my wondering eyes should appear,
But a miniature sleigh, and eight tiny reindeer,
With a little old driver, so lively and quick,
I knew in a moment it must be St. Nick.
More rapid than eagles his coursers they came,
And he whistled, and shouted, and called them by name;
"Now, DASHER! now, DANCER! now, PRANCER and VIXEN!
On, COMET! on CUPID! on, DONNER and BLITZEN!
To the top of the porch! to the top of the wall!
Now dash away! dash away! dash away all!"
As dry leaves that before the wild hurricane fly,
When they meet with an obstacle, mount to the sky,
So up to the house-top the coursers they flew,
With the sleigh full of toys, and St. Nicholas too.
And then, in a twinkling, I heard on the roof
The prancing and pawing of each little hoof.
As I drew in my hand, and was turning around,
Down the chimney St. Nicholas came with a bound.
He was dressed all in fur, from his head to his foot,
And his clothes were all tarnished with ashes and soot;
A bundle of toys he had flung on his back,
And he looked like a peddler just opening his pack.
His eyes -- how they twinkled! his dimples how merry!
His cheeks were like roses, his nose like a cherry!
His droll little mouth was drawn up like a bow,
And the beard of his chin was as white as the snow;
The stump of a pipe he held tight in his teeth,
And the smoke it encircled his head like a wreath;
He had a broad face and a little round belly,
That shook, when he laughed like a bowlful of jelly.
He was chubby and plump, a right jolly old elf,
And I laughed when I saw him, in spite of myself;
A wink of his eye and a twist of his head,
Soon gave me to know I had nothing to dread;
He spoke not a word, but went straight to his work,
And filled all the stockings; then turned with a jerk,
And laying his finger aside of his nose,
And giving a nod, up the chimney he rose;
He sprang to his sleigh, to his team gave a whistle,
And away they all flew like the down of a thistle.
But I heard him exclaim, ere he drove out of sight,
HAPPY CHRISTMAS TO ALL, AND TO ALL A GOOD-NIGHT!
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I am a newborn, child and family photographer serving the Del Rio, Brackettville, Laughlin AFB and surrounding areas. My goal at Scrappy Doodles Photography is to tell your life story, one image at a time. These Magic of Christmas Mini Sessions were captured in my studio. For booking information and availability, please contact me here.
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Not all 1st birthday sessions are cake smashes. Sometimes we venture on location to celebrate life as a family, and the way things are now with a toddler. And just like a cake smash, laughter and fun drive the session sprinkled with lots of love and bittersweet emotions that time has flown by so fast.
I remember his newborn session like it was yesterday…he was sooooo tiny and fit right into his dad’s hands. He slept peacefully through his entire session and we took the most angelic images of him. A couple of his newborn photos are featured on the walls of Val Verde Regional Medical Center’s Women’s Center.
Fast forward a year later, and he’s not so tiny anymore! As a matter of fact, he ran the show. His baby features were still there, but barely there. Part of the fun of these first birthday sessions is looking for those hints of the baby that I photographer almost one year prior. They melted away to reveal this toddler – a toddler with a HUGE smile and love for his momma and dad. Emphasis on momma. He’s 100% momma’s little boy.
While dad tossed him in the air, mom enjoyed all the cuddles she could with her growing little man. She made the “ONE” letters for his session, and he didn’t hesitate to show them off (or try to eat them!). And how about his wardrobe! Duke can sport a bowtie and suspenders like a pro. So dapper and handsome!
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I am a newborn, child and family photographer serving the Del Rio, Brackettville, Laughlin AFB and surrounding areas. My goal at Scrappy Doodles Photography is to tell your life story, one image at a time. This birthday session was captured on location. For booking information and availability, please contact me here.
]]>We didn’t spend much time together, but it only took a couple of seconds to see how much these boys love their “Fe.” Some grandparents want to have traditional posed portraits…not Fe. She wanted fun and whatever the moment brought for her and her boys. Amongst the chaos of three little fighter pilots in training, she chased, guided, cheered and played in dirt. Most of all, there was laughter…lots and lots of laughter.
I found the most fitting poem about grandmothers and wanted to share it because when I read it, it reminded me of what I saw unfolding during this session.
What is a Grandmother
A grandmother is a remarkable woman.
She’s a wonderful combination of warmth and kindness, laughter and love.
She overlooks our faults, encourages our dreams, and praises our every success.
A grandmother has the wisdom of a teacher, the sincerity of a true friend and the tenderness of a mother.
She’s someone we admire, respect and love very much.
A grandmother will always have a cherished place in our memories and in our hearts.
She’s someone for whom we want every happiness in return for the joy she always brings.
A grandmother is all the dear and precious things in life…
When she’s a grandmother like you.
~Author Unknown
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I am a newborn, child and family photographer serving the Del Rio, Brackettville, Laughlin AFB and surrounding areas. My goal at Scrappy Doodles Photography is to tell your life story, one image at a time. This session was captured on location. For booking information and availability, please contact me here.
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Building this set was very fun! Part of my session prep was watching Wreck It Ralph...I wanted to keep the theme true to what the movie is about, but since we were really focusing on Ralph, the candy and girly portions we chose to keep out.
As you can see, when you are turning 5 we can be a little more controlled with what we are doing with the cake, but somehow it wound up on his forehead. haha Guess we aren't all that controlled after all...when Frosted Kitchen's sugar is in your system I suppose it can get a little crazy. Her cakes are AMAZING! Alissa did an amazing job harnessing the ideas to create this building!
The birthday calendar is WIDE OPEN, so if your child has a birthday and are thinking of booking a session, now is the time to do it!!
Happy Birthday Nandito!!!
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I am a newborn, child and family photographer serving the Del Rio, Brackettville, Laughlin AFB and surrounding areas. We love birthdays, let's celebrate your little one's! This cake smash session was captured in my studio located in Brackettville, TX. For booking information and availability, please contact me here.
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Celebrating a first birthday is so much fun! There is something about making it through that first year of milestones that really melts your heart and brings a sense of accomplishment out as parent. You made it! Your child is alive, happy and thriving..let's celebrate!!
As you can see there is no shortage of happiness in this family! Bennett loved reading Peter Pan to us as well as showing off his baseball skills. His family is relocating and what better way to sum up your time in Del Rio, than at Del Rio artwork? Love how that image came out with the colors of their outfits combined with the colors of the graffiti.
Good Luck in the next chapter of your family adventure!!!
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I am a newborn, child and family photographer serving the Del Rio, Brackettville, Laughlin AFB and surrounding areas. This birthday session was captured on location. For booking information and availability, please contact me here.
]]>When I started these photos, I was just a mom who wanted adorable photos of her kids in pjs at the tree. But what happened was they became so much more than that. They became a symbol of that Christmas magic we dreamt about as little kids...the bright lights, the thrill of wondering what those beautiful packages were under the tree that we discovered on Christmas morning.
I absolutely LOVE this magic. You don't need snow (although we did get that here in Brackettville last week) and you don't really need Santa...you need the imagination of your childhood. That's what these images mean to me.
Over the years, my family has grown, and I love how these images capture that!
Do you want to learn how to take the Magic of Christmas in your home? Well, I have decided that I will offer a very small opportunity to learn! If you are interested in learning how to take photos at your Christmas tree this year, I will be hosting a Christmas tree photo taking seminar this Saturday, Dec 16, from 5:30-6:30pm. The cost is $50 and it is limited to 10 people. This is an IN PERSON, hands on seminar. You do have to have an understanding of manual settings in your camera to be able to fully understand the course. If you are a "professional" photographer or in the photography business you are not eligible for this seminar - this is for recreational mom-togs (and dad-togs too). For more information, please contact me here.
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WOW...how grown up my baby girl is now! She is the quintessential princess of glam, glitter and girl. I remember the second she was born, the first time she said "mama," first tooth, first step, first ride in the plane...and it all feels like it was yesterday.
In a blink of an eye I went from battling diaper rashes to battling outfit choices, from rocking her in my arms to sleep to playing the "wonder if she will take a nap" game.
She knows exactly what she wants and is so confident of who she is. As her mom, that makes me so proud. Her heart is full of love and she wants to conquer the world.
She's only 5, but that is a HUGE age for me. This is the last year I shop in the toddler section for her clothes and shoes. She's growing so fast and we barely keep up.
She may be five, going on fifteen, but she will always be my little baby girl.
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I am a newborn, child and family photographer serving the Del Rio, Brackettville and surrounding areas. This birthday session was captured on location. For booking information and availability, please contact me here.
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This dynamic brother-sister duo have birthdays pretty close together, and as you can tell their imagination runs wild...just as it should! Watching them transform into these larger-than-life characters in front of the camera was priceless. Seeing dad get into it too, just as priceless. Parents have such a fun job...we are the tour guide of life to our children. When part of this journey includes the fun of transforming into heroes and princesses, you bet your bottom dollar that we happily join in!
Princess and Superhero
Super hero and princess by day...best friends for life!! The beauty of siblings! Happy birthday Captain and Your Majesty!
I am a newborn, child and family photographer serving the Del Rio, Brackettville and surrounding areas. This birthday session was captured on location. For booking information and availability, please contact me here.
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This blue eyed beauty could not have had the most sophisticated cake smash set...shabby chic with some delicious fruit for garnish. Adding fruit to her cake easily makes this a more nutritious than most session, right? haha
I love the relationship I have with Frosted Kitchen! Every single session I know exactly how the cake will turn out and it is always the perfect compliment to the sets we create. Our Cake Smash Sessions are definitely a partnership in sugar heaven!
Shabby Chic Cake Smash
She is the youngest of three gorgeous girls! It was fun updating big sisters' annual photos too! Mom and dad will have their hands full for a while!!
Sisters
I am a newborn, child and family photographer serving the Del Rio, Brackettville and surrounding areas. We love first birthdays, let's celebrate your little one's! This cake smash session was captured in my studio located in Brackettville, TX. For booking information and availability, please contact me here.
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Hard to believe that she was tiny enough to fit INSIDE of her daddy's cowboy hat too! We chose soft, feminine colors to compliment her peachy, smooth skin, and completed her look with a patriotic set. Putting babies in daddy's helmet never gets old. It won't be long before she's running around her house wearing that helmet along with a tyke-sized flight suit! Definitely one of the coolest things about being in a military aviation family.
Sweet Baby Girl
I am a newborn, child and family photographer serving the Del Rio, Brackettville and surrounding areas. This newborn session was captured in my studio located in Brackettville, TX. For booking information and availability, please contact me here.
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We stayed with a fairly neutral and masculine color palette, creams/browns, whites with a pop of blue. Definitely a nice palette to compliment any wall.
Three's Company!Baby brother fits right in!
Big sis was no stranger to the studio as she was in the hot seat just 2 years ago herself. Big brother was just as proud. We wanted to create a similar patriotic image as we did during her session for Edward. Same hat, same background, same love for our great country.
Patriotic Little PairTwo years ago I took big sister's newborn photos, and wanted to create a similar image showcasing the family's love for our great country. Love seeing these two together!
I am a newborn, child and family photographer serving the Del Rio, Brackettville and surrounding areas. Meredith's newborn session was captured in my studio located in Brackettville, TX. For booking information and availability, please contact me here.
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It just so happened that we were traveling to Hawaii prior to her session, so we got about as authentic as you can get for her outfit and set. Hers and big sis, Julia's, headbands came from one of my favorite accessory shops in Oahu...we told the girls that Moana's cousins sent that back as a gift. We all just love Moana :)
Frosted Kitchen prepared the best pineapple shaped cake ever, and Kobe was stylish in her luau sparkle outfit from Belle Threads. Their little outfits are so adorable!
Of course we also had to update our sister and family photos. The Rivera's are one of the most precious families. These sisters love eachother so much!!
hauʻoli lā hānau Kobe!Happy 1st Birthday Kobe! Hawaiian Cake Smash Style!
My oh my how they grow!!
Newborn to One YearMy oh my how quickly time flies!
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This was my second year taking formal portraits for her students, and wow, there are some talented dancers in her company! This is also the second year my daughter has been in Miss Annie's Dance program. She loves every class and practices her dance moves as often as possible around the house.
From 3 years old to high school senior, we captured the grace and elegance of each dancer...showing off their moves and of course wearing amazing costumes! There was no lack of sparkle, hair spray and laughter! As each dancer came up for their photos, it was very impressive to see how committed they were to ensuring they hit their pose with perfection. It was a long 2 days, but wow, so much fun!
The 2017 Spring Dance Recital theme was Imagine, and all of the outfits Miss Annie selected were the perfect compliment to that theme. Three flawless recitals were preformed at the Paul Poag Theater in Del Rio, Texas and all three of them had a full house!
Learn more about Miss Annie's Straight Up Dance Classes HERE
]]>She was SUCH a sweetheart! I had the honor of taking her big brother's newborn photos almost 2 years ago, and both are just perfect during their sessions. The greatest compliments to a photographer are your recommendation and continued trust with your family.
Not only did she have a full little head of hair, Meredith also had natural and AMAZING highlights!! That was a very important feature that we wanted to capture. Mom knew right away that her colors would be Ivory and Mauve, and she was spot on! This color palette was perfect for Meredith.
And just like Big Brother, Meredith spent some time in daddy's pilot helmet too! I absolutely love that they both have their own image in daddy's helmet. They look SO MUCH alike too!!
I am a newborn, child and family photographer serving the Del Rio, Brackettville and surrounding areas. Meredith's newborn session was captured in my studio located in Brackettville, TX. For booking information and availability, please contact me here.
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Cake master extraordinaire, Alyssa, from Frosted Kitchen create the ultimate baseball fan's cake...in the shape of a baseball!! I normally put all the cakes on a cake stand for destruction, but we thought this time it would be fun to put the cake on a baseball diamond. It really looked so cool!
Set design was pretty fun as well! We wanted a bright, fun set that enhanced the cake as well as made our birthday boy right at home. There are only two things that I didn't personally make for that set...the balloons and the stars! I painted the background and created a banner of home plates while surrounding it with some fun Texas Rangers color palette fabric.
As you can see, he had a blast smashing his cake!
I only offer two cake smash sessions per month, so if you have a little tyke turning one soon and are considering a cake smash to celebrate, you want to get on the calendar as soon as you can! Find out about the cake smash packages here. Also, FYI, January 1, the cake smash sessions are getting revamped, so if you want to capitalize on 2017 pricing, now is the time to book!
I've had this cowboy hat hanging in my prop closet and it was the perfect fit for Henry. Isn't he the most handsome cowboy?! You will be seeing more of Henry over the year, as he is the newest Scrappy Doodles Grow With Me baby. I definitely see more cowboy hats and boots making their way into his milestone sessions!
He has been blessed with the most amazing parents, dad, a pilot in the Air Force and entrepreneur mom, who owns TDY Haven Pit Pads based in San Antonio, Texas. As a fellow working mom, it is always awesome to support other working moms. Check out TDY Haven's Facebook page too...they have new homes being built and they look amazing!
If you are expecting and would like to get on the calendar, I would love to join your baby watch team! Contact me to get the celebration started!
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Little Liam will have the best of playmates!
...and amazing parents! Between learning to fly planes and being a momma's boy - he is set!
Are you expecting? Let's celebrate together! Contact me for information on the maternity and newborn session bundle. Getting on the calendar is easy and planning your session is so much fun! Hope to hear from you soon!
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He fit perfectly into his daddy's hands...it's amazing how fast they grow. His little foot is just about the size of daddy's thumb!!
You will be seeing more of him throughout the year as he is a proud Scrappy Doodles Grow With Me Baby. Very excited to watch this little guy grow!!
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My husband was responsible for an aerial photoshoot, which included him flying a T-38 with a combat camera Airman in the back seat. Learn more about what combat camera does here... Combat Camera - What We Do. They had a plan to get an image with a 4-ship of T-38s near Amistad Lake, as well as over Laughlin Air Force Base and lastly, John Wayne's Alamo Village.
I contacted my friends at Alamo Village to see if it would be possible to posture out there and take ground imagery. They were very accommodating and happy to join the squadron celebration in this capacity.
It's not every day that a squadron turns 100, so being able to capture this momentous occasion was such an honor.
Enjoy a couple of my favorite images...
This first image is of the photo being framed. The T-38 in front (far left) is piloted by my handsome husband who had the combat cameraman in his back seat. My husband is directing the other 4 T-38s into an echelon formation for the aerial photo. You can check out the imagery from combat camera here... Official Laughlin AFB Red Bull Birthday Photos
Echelon formationThe aircraft to the left of this image is carrying a combat cameraman who is taking imagery of the echelon formation.
The formation did a low pass over the Alamo replica at approximately 1,000 ft AGL. Standing at the face of John Wayne's Alamo the jets looked amazing!
T-38 formationFormation of T-38s assigned to Laughlin AFB fly over John Wayne's Alamo.
Finally...the sound of freedom...
T-38 flyover John Wayne's Alamo
As an Air Force veteran, spouse of an Air Force pilot and all around aviation addict, this is one of those events that will forever be cemented in my heart.
In honor of the celebration, the squadron's lead jet donned special heritage noseart and tailflash art commemorating the 100th anniversary, dating back to the WWII mission that the squadron supported. Now, the squadron's mission is to train the next generation of fighter and bomber pilots who join the Combat Air Force - they shape the spear that gets sharpened by the major weapon system these new pilots are selected to fly. Of course my girls didn't turn away at the chance to get in their flight suits and join the celebration. Happy Birthday Red Bulls!
Future Pilots
One thing that I make a point to do each session is warn the family of the potential for a golden shower or gas unexpectedly from their baby...it's all normal and natural, and usually happens to the dad. Not this time! He may or may not have christened his big brother and sister while posing for a sibling photo. haha!!
It was such a pleasure to share in this family's celebration!
What made this cake smash more special was that mommy made the banner. We worked together for a couple of months to create the perfect theme that was going to be a spot on reflection of their little girl. She is the light of her parent's eye, and as you can see, has a smile that will make anyone's day brighter.
From the outfit, the set, and the cake, studio cake smash sessions are meticulously planned so that everything works together and showcases your child's personality. Have a 1st birthday coming up? Get on the Scrappy Doodles Photography Calendar today!
There was zero question that these two adorable sisters are 100% daddy's girls.
Lillian is already shaping up to be a fantastic big sis...Evelyn had no problem with Lillian singing her to sleep. Sweet beautiful sisters!
Then comes baby #2... Not only are you experiencing the surge of emotions from expecting your oldest, but then you realize your baby won't be the baby anymore, he's now going to be a Big Brother. All you have to remember the time before becoming a Big Brother are pictures, and excerpts from his baby book.
Right when you think your heart can't find anymore love it is all of a sudden overflowing. This baby girl on the way is going to have to have best big brother around!
"You, you, you. You're the one who burst my heart wide open. You taught me what wild, uncontrollable, unlimited, unconditional love feels like. You changed everything. You turned me into a mom." - excerpt from You Will Always Be My First by Amy Wruble
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Big sister and big brother proudly showed off their new addition, and made all our hearts melt with their sibling love during the newborn photography session. It was a bummer that dad wasn't able to make it to the session, but we have plans to get everyone together soon to get their first official family of 5 photo! As you can see, their gorgeous momma is breathtaking.
Whether you hire a photographer or are a DIY'r, TAKE PICTURES of your kids! Take pictures of those little freckles and out of control curls! One day you might not see them on your precious kiddo because they grew out of it in a blink of an eye. Also just as important, EXIST in your family's photos! (Good time to add that I am more than happy to help you in that department!) One day your family will be gathering photos and you might be surprised to see how many you are in.
When Bri's mom and I started talking about what we wanted to do with her 5th birthday session we both got super excited at the thought of a Moana themed set. It just so happened that I live near water and it also just so happened that my husband built a pretty epic canoe. Asking him to put the canoe on the golf cart and transfer it to the water was something I wish I could have recorded.
Away to the water we went...Bri skillfully plotted out the way and with Hei Hei closeby we journeyed through this first portion of her session. All eyes were on our crew in the water. (Note: Bri was never unattended in the canoe. If you are embarking upon anything that could pose a danger to a child, always have a spotter close by.) You bet we were all singing (group of 7 of us) all the Moana favorites!
Moana briefly became Bri once again so that we could take photos of her being...Bri :) She got to dance in the sunset before turning once again into another favorite princess...Princess Belle. Sometimes a princess has so many options it is best to display them all.
Hands down another favorite session to put in the books!! Is your child celebrating a birthday? Let's make a memorable, one-of-a-kind session for them! Contact me to book your session today!
As you can see, sister was happy to cuddle with her brother. Mom wanted to veer away from the traditional pink and blue combo, and I love the direction that we went. Grays, pinks, silver and gold were perfect!
And you better believe we did the most epic baby-in-a-helmet shot...how's TWO babies in daddy's helmet. (sidenote: the babies-in-a-helmet image is a composite.)
Beautiful family, beautiful babies!!
Are you expecting twins? I would love to celebrate your little miracles with you! Please contact me for more information about getting on the calendar...it's never to early to secure your session!
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The Corrells are part of that family. We were single "kids" hanging out enjoying life. The great thing about family is that even with the distance you stay connected, whether it's through social media or old fashioned letters. Fast forward to the present and over time we have both expanded our families and what a joy it was to not only get to spend time with them and catch up in person for a change, but to be asked to take their family photos.
They have adorable kids (that get along marvelously with mine) and so much love. Little Miss Ava is quite the princess and loves to be sparkly and stylish...just like one of my little divas. After their photos, we moms were entertained by our girls dancing and singing and sparkling. What a way to wrap up a family session.
I say this all the time...the beauty of the Air Force, or really any military branch, is that no matter where you are there will always be a new family member that you get to add to your family, and they don't even have to be another military family.
We incorporated things that are special to mom and dad, from both their work like and alma maters!
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If you are graduating this week, congratulations!! Scrappy Doodles Photography will be set up and ready to celebrate with you! Please stop by the Daedalian Room for your formal portraits, and if you mention this blog post, I will give you a special gift!
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Fly Low Creations is a small business specializing in custom glass and bar ware.
From custom sectional coasters...
to etched drinkware... you can customize to exactly what you want. Customized gifts are the best!
shop their gear here: http://www.etsy.com/shop/FlyLowCreations
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This professional recently graduated from Law School at St Mary's University in San Antonio - he is also my little brother. Handsome young man if you ask me!
Jace was the perfect superhero! When mom and dad announced their pregnancy, they used Spiderman to aide in the announcement. So what could be more fitting than to use Spiderman to help announce the birth of their little superhero.
Newborn sessions are all about you! This is the time to highlight not only the birth of your newest addition, but to showcase what your family is about. Whether it is superheros or airplanes, I aim to create an image that brings you to a fond memory each time you look at.
Happy Father's Day!!
Baby's 1st flightAt 6 weeks old, both girls got to experience their first flight in the Cessna.
Anna belle's nursery is so magical!
It is never too early to get your due date on the calendar! If you are expecting, I would love the opportunity to celebrate this special time in your lives. I am now booking newborn sessions through February 2018!
]]>What makes Juliana's session more emotional is that all of her firsts are my lasts. She is our baby, and she's growing up too fast!!
For this session, we really wanted to show off Noelani's beautiful skin tone, and the creams with pops of color did that so well. Since she is a Spring baby, we also wanted to highlight that. Flowers were the perfect touch.
There is no doubt mom and dad will have their hands full with these two gorgeous girls!
If you are expecting and would like to get on the calendar, I am now booking newborn sessions to January 2018. It's never too early to secure your date. Contact me for more information!
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Adorable Lucas was such a great baby during his session. Can't wait to hear about his 1st flight.
Are you expecting soon? It's never to early to get on the calendar. You can find out more about Scrappy Doodles Photography Sessions here.
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These daper little guys have their momma's heart in their hands. These bluebonnets were quite the adventure in and of themselves to find. Somehow Bluebonnet season decided to be non-standard and essentially disappear as fast as it arrived. This patch waited patiently for me to find it so we could turn two toddlers loose in them. (Disclaimer: don't just let your kids run among Bluebonnets...always sweep the area for snakes and fireants)
Mom made this "Made In Texas" crate so we could contain the energy for a brief moment. Dad found an awesome seersucker sports coat for a nice father son photo too. No detail was left unturned. As you can tell, they are one happy family!
1. This family is such a joy to be around and
2. Their 2 toddlers keep you on your toes, which makes for a pretty entertaining time!
Nothing can warm your heart more than seeing your children love eachother. Big sister and brother can't wait to be able to hold their new baby sister!
I have about a dozen different maternity gowns available for use during your maternity session, so if you are thinking about what to wear, my closet is always available to my clients. Below is one of the gowns that mom chose to wear for hers.
Are you expecting? Don't delay, get on the calendar so we can start planning your amazing session!
]]>What is amazing about these Texas treasures is that you never know where they will pop up or how many of them will bloom. I suppose that is part of the fun - finding the best field. This year's Bluebonnet season started much earlier than normal, and didn't appear to last as long.
Every Easter weekend we take our girls up to San Antonio and scout out the best field to take their photos in. This year at Easter they were just about all gone.
Fun fact: with the exception of one of the photos, these were all taken in the same field...at different days and times.
I sure hope we have Bluebonnets out here next year!!
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Some helpful things to remember when taking photos in the Bluebonnets:
- People aren't the only ones who love them...rattlesnakes and fire ants do too. Be sure to scope out the area for anything that could hurt your child(ren)/loved ones. My dog is rattlesnake trained and I like to take him with me to sweep the area prior to putting children in them.
- There are rules for taking your photos in the Bluebonnets. Be respectful of them...don't trample them!! Leave them in the same condition that you found them so other people can enjoy them too.
- Exercise safety when taking your photos...it's not always the best (or safest) idea to stop on the side of the highway to get your photos.
- Not all Bluebonnets are located on public property. Be mindful of private property and ask permission from the land owner before helping yourself.
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Princess Rules:
Wish upon a star
Dance in the rain
Have a tea party
Believe in fairytales
Dream BIG
Act like a Lady
Be Brave
- author unknown
She is so lucky to have her strong, successful mom as a role model. When Valentina isn't wearing her princess tiaras, you can find her learning the art of running a business from her mom at the Body Factory. Daddy definitely has his hands full with these two beautiful ladies in his life. :)
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I met little Miss Tins last year at my Valentine Mini Sessions...she was on the brink of turning 2 and she kept us all on our toes! We had a lot of fun together! Fast forward a year, and in walks this soon-to-be three little girl.
Our time together was just as fun, and a special friend who was with us throughout the year at every session made a grand appearance once again....Mr. Lion.
A special feature of this session was that we custom painted her birthday background. This was a first for me, and I'm blessed to have an amazing artist working side by side with me to turn my vision into a true work of one-of-a-kind art. Thank you Kelli!
It's seriously such a joy to able to document the milestones of a child's life. Thank you to Tinsley's parents for including Scrappy Doodles into so many of theirs!
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SO, when we started talking about her cake smash, I knew exactly what I had in mind for this sweet Spring baby. Here at Scrappy Doodles Photography we offer two cake smash packages: Have my Cake, which is just your child with their cake and Eat it Too, which is a full session with a cake smash at the end. When you book the Eat it Too package, you also have the option to incorporate family into the full session. That is what Josie's family chose to do.
Below is my favorite (so far) family photo of this family.
We made our way to the studio and it was all about Josie! Scrappy Doodles Photography has an exclusive partnership with Frosted Kitchen to make every cake smash special, unique and delicious! She and I work together to create the perfect set/cake combination each and every time. I am very proud of this partnership, and it brings me great pride to be able to offer it as a Scrappy Doodles service. Want to book a cake smash? Please contact me, they are a favorite here, and no two have ever been alike!
Eventually he took a nap, and we had some fun with blues and yellows.
Spring Break week was originally supposed to be about me finishing my ever prolonged private pilot license, but the weather has been insane so we pushed that to complete in the summer when we had more flexibility with Katherine's school schedule. Instead, we decided that we would do a 2-3 day trip. Criteria for where we selected was pretty simple: we needed to be able to fly in and essentially "be there" - no extra car rental for driving, we just needed to be able to arrive. Horseshoe Bay Resort was just that!
They have a private airport overlooking the resort. We love it when we aren't in a hurry to be somewhere, because we could just simply enjoy taking our time...and we did. We first went to Uvalde for gas and lunch at the Hangar 6 Air Cafe. The girls played after lunch and then we went up a little further North to our destination.
The flight from Uvalde to Horseshoe Bay took about 35 minutes or so. We stayed pretty low at about 2500 feet to stay under the clouds and also take in how green everything is. Upon landing, a car picked us up and took us to the resort. The top picture is when we landed...clear blue skies. The bottom photo is when we left, what a difference the clouds make.
Then the fun began. Although the weather was really nasty in the morning, the afternoon cleared up very nicely. The girls enjoyed the resort's 18 hole putt putt course as well as all of the birds perched around the entrance. There was also a flamingo in a small watering hole/pond with a couple of huge tortoise. We got some pool time in as well. Katherine really loves the water...Juliana not so much.
The resort hosted crafts for the kids, which of course we participated in, and had a fun cique-sol' show that we went to. An unexpected highlight of our stay was a walk we took. I am personally a bluebonnet addict, and well, it's Bluebonnet season and we were Spring breaking in the Hill Country, which means there were Bluebonnets! So, we took an evening stroll to go find some...while we found Bluebonnets, we also found a man and his son fishing. They had caught a huge bass and we showed up just in time to assist in reeling it in. They dad/son duo said they had been trying to catch it all day and were so happy that they did. Of course this peaked Katherine's interests and before we knew it she was learning how to fish. After about an hour of not catching anything she soon realized that fishing didn't always mean catching and she was ready to move to something else. haha
All in all we really enjoyed Horseshoe Bay. They had alot to do, the food was good, and the rates were really reasonable. We chose their Spring Break package, which included breakfast and a $50/night hotel credit. That hotel credit essentially covered dinner. They had scheduled activities and their putt putt course was so fun! We are still surprised both girls lasted 2 rounds of 18 holes. We will definitely go there again!
On our journey home, we decided that we would stop in Llano, again for gas and food. We really love Llano Municipal Airport. Runway Roy and Llano Larry are the most friendly airport guys and one of them are always there to greet you upon arrival. While Yeti filled up the plane, the girls and I played...in the bluebonnets. Have I mentioned how much we love them and Texas?! We hopped in their former cop car loaner to get some delicious Cooper's BBQ. So so good!! Yeti was in heaven! At the airport Katherine made a new friend who was also 4 like her.
Bluebonnet photo safety disclosure. Don't just let your kids run crazy in the flowers...rattlesnakes and fireants also love them, so sweep the area before letting them frolic. Here's a really good article about safety. http://texashillcountry.com/pictures-bluebonnets-careful-warns-experts/
For the last leg home we fought 30 mph headwinds and went up to 8500 ft to clearer air and cooler temps. Yeti got to use the turbos on the twin and the girls got to nap. I lost my cell reception so I was forced to look out the window (haha). 30 mins later we were home. I can not get over how green it is!! We packed alot into a couple of days, but it was just what we needed...a little bit of time to reset and have fun as a family. Looking forward to the next time!
It's a small world!
Seeing Marissa's mom beam with pride about her almost-all-grown-up little girl was icing on the cake for me. I am very excited for her, as she prepares to start the next chapter of her life.
The calendar is open now for custom senior sessions. Every detail is tailored to YOU. If you would like more information, please contact me! I would be honored to be part of this special time in your life!
]]>As you can see below, drone operations is also a family affair!
Family Selfie at the controls of a 4 year old
What you may not know is that in order to have your drone be part of your business, you have to be licensed by the FAA and vetted through TSA. After I feel more proficient I will definitely consider adding it as a paid service. Until then, I will be enjoying the thrills of learning about this new way of flying and taking photos. The picture quality is amazing!
Just another day where Katherine is flying with her hands while I fly the drone
Drone v. Plane: It is a MUCH different experience to be at the controls of a drone versus a plane. To keep line of sight of your sUAS (Small Unmanned Aircraft System) you have to look at it - sometimes that means fighting the sun. In a plane you are changing the settings of the throttle, adjusting the mixture and propellers and managing the aircraft as a whole. With the drone, you are using a remote with joysticks. My model of drone has a screen built into it so I don't have to use an old iPhone or iPad to see what I'm looking at from the drone's point of view, so that is nice. Now...the drone is going to be a passenger in the plane when we go on trips. That will be a fun addition to our adventures.
My home from about 200 feet up.
Are you thinking about getting a drone? Or do you already have one? Be sure to check out the FAA's website on sUAS so you are getting started the right way. There is a great app called "B4U Fly" that you should also utilize before flying. For example, if you are within 5 miles of an airport by law you must notify the airport operator and air traffic control (if there is one present) of your flight. At Laughlin AFB, drone use is not authorized. Additionally, you want to make sure you get your hands on the city ordinances on drone operations for your community, to include community standards for gated and private communities.
https://www.faa.gov/uas/getting_started/
I will be offering a complimentary drone image to select sessions, interested in being one of them? The calendar is open for booking!
Click here to start booking your Scrappy Doodles Photography Session
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This is what it looks like when you have a playdate for airplanes.
It immediately became the "talk of the town" and our friends became quite the spectacle; it's not every day that three Super Cubs are parked on the ramp. Not only did they park on the ramp, they camped out at their planes, under the wing. We have done this before...before we had kids - in Alaska. Maybe I will blog about that another time. Someone even called the local paper to cover their trip. Come to Fort Clark Springs and become a local sensation! :)
Katherine instantly imprinted on Miss Wendy - she was the only soul on board HER cub. That was a big deal for Katherine...she helped Miss Wendy tie down the plane and asked all sorts of questions.
Katherine's interview with Miss Wendy
Our normal Sunday flyday became a Sunday playdate with our planes. We pulled out the Cessna to complete a rather awesome 4-ship of taildraggers. Of course the polite thing to do with guests is show them around. Instead of driving them around the local area, we flew over the area at 500 feet. We went over to Del Rio over Lake Amistad and up the Devil's River.
Lake Amistad
We had never flown over much less up Devil's River before. Let me just say it's pretty awesome. We saw caves that had eroded out of the rock wall, cliffs that looked pretty sharp and tall. The water along the river was a turquoise green color, much different than the brown we have seen at the lake before. From above you could see how the water had created small creases in the river bed, looking alot like hair. It was really incredible.
Devil's River
Devil's River
Devil's River
We had an open invitation to land at a ranch and stroll about, but the terrain was more harsh than we planned for so instead we settled for some low level flying and went to Del Rio International Airport for gas. Four non-military planes coming in to land is quite the footprint, and we were greeted with warm welcomes from the staff. They said that our arrival was the most activity they had seen in a while there, kinda surprising, but we will take it! The manager and I were talking and he asked where we were visiting from. When I said Fort Clark, he looked at me kinda funny, as if he hadn't heard of planes coming from there. Guess we need to get gas in Del Rio more often.
What an airplane gas stop looks like. Long line at the pump!
The youngest pilots in the group
On the way back we flew through Del Rio, pointing out interesting facts about the town along the way. We flew over Laughlin AFB as well; showing someone where you work from the air is pretty cool. You get about 3-5 mins to talk about what you do before you fly completely by it. Talk about learning to be brief when providing a tour!
Laughlin AFB, Texas
I have a tendency, as most of us do, to post photos while inflight on social media. As I had been doing so one of my out of town friends just so happened to be driving into Del Rio for the day. What's pretty cool is that eventhough we didn't wind up able to "see" eachother and catch up, she saw us and was messaging me while we were enroute back to the house. Technology is so awesome.
If you have a plane (or access to rent one) and want to stop in to check out the fort, please let me know! We happily welcome guests. The fort has a hotel on site, we can get you a loaner or golf cart to mobilize in, and of course we love the excuse to fly about and show you the area! I am happy to help you put an itinerary together of things to see while you are here. The fort has a fun event coming up, Fort Clark Days, on March 3rd and 4th. It is a weekend of reenactment and celebration of the Fort's history. This will be the 40th anniversary of the event and it is anticipated to be bigger and better than ever. Tailwinds to all!
Thank you to everyone who participated in the giveaway! Ready to see who won?! Winner's names are right next to the prize. Please contact the vendor to get your prize unless it says that I have it.
The winners are:
1. A 20 minute photography session with Scrappy Doodles Photography & Design at one location (Del Rio/Brackettville area) for up to 5 people. The winner of this prize will receive 2 digital images. Alejandra Ramos
2. $15 off a seat in the next Scrappy Doodles Photography & Design Photography 101 or Editing Class. Emily Foote
3. A stuffed plane from Stuffed Squadrons. Jennifer Stapleton
4. Two winners will receive a pair of Babiators sunglasses! Michael Chase and Abril Gonzalez (I have these sunglasses, so please contact Scrappy Doodles to get your prize)
5. A $25 coupon towards the purchase of any regimen from Rodan & Fields Independent Consultant, Tammy Barlette. Jen Sorge
6. $20 gift certificate to Thirty-One from Alicia Guild, Thirty-One Independent Director. Join her Facebook group here to see her specials and deals! Nancy Rodriquez
7. Your choice of a 6 inch cake or 1 dozen decorated cookies from Frosted Kitchen. Abigail Villalon
8. Your choice of a free wrap on your face or body from It Works! Amberly Barrera (please contact Kelly Wylie for your prize)
9. A 2'x4' digital banner with your choice of design from Signs Now. Jesse Bishop
10. A pair of leggings from Lularoe with Lindsay. Chelsie Lee
11. Your choice of a 3 pack of scents or plug in warmer from Scentsy with Elise, shop her latest show here. Jennifer Robson
12. A free 8x10 acrylic canvas painting from REM4 Paintings. Marcela Vasquez
13. A $50 bow box from Girly Murley Designs. Ariel Partlow
14. A seat at an Art Class hosted by the Art Bar. Crystal Heredia
15. A workout program and one week of Shakeology from Kattleya Sommerfield, Star Diamond Beachbody Coach. Tara Richardson
16. One set of Earmuffs for Kids. (Katherine LOVES hers!) Sara Walker (please give me your email address and I will send you an email with the vendor to coordinate your prize)
17. One set of Earmuffs for Bubs. (Juliana used these when she was a baby...they are awesome!) Anna Ledbetter (please give me your email address and I will send you an email with the vendor to coordinate your prize)
18. A Party Heart-y set of Piggy Paint nail polish. Vanessa Ramon (please give me your email address and I will send you an email with the vendor to coordinate your prize)
19. A $25 gift certificate to the Crafty Playground. Leann Salazar
20. $20 shop credit from Younique Lindsey Kazsinski
21. $30 shop credit from Mayberry's Kim Van Ort
22. A free pair of leggings from Lularoe with Dana. Emily Tucker
23. A shirt with custom design of choice from Mar's Decals. Julie Rivera
24. A $40 gift card towards meal purchase from Fragola's Catering. Roxy Woodson
25. A monogram of choice from Jiggity Jig Designs. Lauren Bradford
26. An Isagenix Giftbag from Tina with Isagenix. April Aragon
27. Bag from Fresco Fabrics Stacy Lambert (please contact me...I have your prize)
28. Magic Bullet Deluxe from Realtors, Amanda Stanford and Marcela Robbins of ReloDelRio. Ashley Mack
29. A $50 cruise certificate for a 5+ night cruise from My Sweet Vacations Becky Jimenez
30. A set of two heart wine glasses etched with the plane of your choice from Fly Low Creations. Naomi White
31. A mini sweetheart pretend makeup set with pretend nail polish from Little Cosmetics. This pretend makeup is a huge favorite in my house!! Mess free.... LOVE IT!!! Amber Lewis
Congratulations again and thank you for supporting Scrappy Doodles Photography, as well as all of the other businesses who donated prizes to this massive giveaway!
]]>We frequently go on day trips, and Sunday was no different. Since we fly VFR most of our flights we are glued to weather forecasts and radar pictures. A storm was slated to start rolling in around 9 pm so we thought we would be just fine going out to Aransas Pass and coming home. This is one of those trips that we do often. The original plan was to spend the night at the new hotel that Aransas just got, but a hail storm was headed for AP that night, so there was no way we were leaving the plane out to brave the forecasted hail. Returning home looked like a very doable feat, especially since we were in the twin.
Pre-Flight Walk Around...Toddler editionTeach 'em young the importance of the walk around. I will also add that Katherine doesn't wear glasses. She's going through this "I have to accessorize as much as possible" phase. The more accessories she wears the more "stylish" she is.
The flight from our house to Aransas is about an hour and 20 mins, give or take. We had to make a stop in Uvalde for some gas and then continued on our way. There was quite the turbulence too...we stayed low at about 1500ft because Juliana had a double ear infection that she was 5 days into taking antibiotics for, so we wanted to play it safe there.
Fueling up in Uvalde
Just like a hawk, weather watch was on upon landing. We decided that we needed to leave Aransas no later than 4:30pm to make it home in plenty of time to put the plane, vehicles and toys away in time for the storm. All is good until we actually get airborne. The weather built quickly and before we knew it we were faced with making some divert plans. This wasn't the first time we had ever had to divert for weather, but it was the first time with kids. Let's just say that Sunday is the WORST possible day to have to divert anywhere.
Seriously...fun times
The storm had literally settled over our airfield, so we landed in Uvalde with hopes of getting a hangar for the plane and a rental car to just drive home. Zero luck with either. Oh and it's also dinner time now...kids are hungry, just great. After about 20 mins on the ground, we decide to fly to San Antonio, hangar the plane at International and then get a rental there to drive home. Dinner, we would get that on the way.
That radar was still looking terrible, and the weather was starting to move East - towards us...just fabulous. ...and now, we are also night flying. A first all together as a family in the twin for us, a first-ever for the girls, and the first time in 5 years for me since moving to Texas. By this time, we are just dreading the 2 hour drive home, because we really don't like to drive if we don't have to. The girls complained the whole 25 min flight to San Antonio. I forgot how cool it was to fly at night. You literally have to identify everything by lights.
San Antonio
I found an HEB plus! Can you see it?!
Every Texan knows how to spot an HEB from a mile (or 1500 ft in our case) away!Can you see the HEB?!
As we were coming in on final at San Antonio International Airport, a Southwest jet was waiting to take off. Fun...entertainment for the girls!
San Antonio International Airport
While we were waiting for clearance to cross the runway, we got to see an upclose night time departure from American Airlines. Shout out to all of our Southwest and American Airlines pilot friends!
American Airlines flight that we had to wait for to cross the active runway.
We chose to park at Million Air FBO because we had heard some good things about them, and boy were we happy with that decision. Prior to taking off from Uvalde, I had called them to inquire about their hangar space, rental car availability and let them know we were inbound. When we landed, they had our car ready, linemen attending to the plane and a display cabinet full of bribe worthy toys to keep two tired toddlers from having meltdowns. The staff was excellent. The twin even wound up getting a detail job too.
Million Air FBO
Concern over the plane quickly went away and the new issue was at front and center...getting home. We had a rental car, thankfully we had both car seats. Yeti doesn't particularly care for driving in San Antonio, and I don't mind it, so we made an agreement that I would get us out of SA and he would take over driving once we got back to Uvalde, because that is where we would meet the weather. HAHAHA...as if!!
I drive us out of town and through the first two small towns. We were about 25 miles away from Uvalde when out of no where it starts pouring rain. The good news was that the girls were fast asleep - it was only an hour and a half past their bedtimes - and stayed asleep until we got home. Thunder and lightning were the only way that I could see where I was on the road because there was no power anymore in the towns. Driving 20 miles/hour in the pouring rain with a crazy 35 mph + wind factor is alot of fun. Nothing beats traveling white reflective light in the middle of the road by white reflective light. That is literally all I could see. The 10 mile stretch of storm felt like 10 hours. But we made it.
The following 45 mins were spent driving cautiously (and slowly) through spurts of rain until we got to Uvalde, where there was no more weather. It was also conveniently when Yeti got to take over driving. I'm certain there are imprints of my hands still in the steering wheel. After an insanely long day of travel, we were home at 10:35pm. We made it in time to turn on the tail end of the news and see that a tornado was forming in San Antonio! SO thankful we got the plane in a hangar!! Oh and for a bonus, the plane was washed and detailed!
The next day, Yeti retrieved the plane successfully and fought a 30 mph headwind the whole way home.
Home safe and sound
Until the next adventure!
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This little lady right here is the center of her mom and dad's world. She has so much character and personality!
Daddy-daughter photos are seriously the best! There is always something about daddies that can brighten the faces of their little girls.
We could not have asked for a more awesome Texas sunset to finish this session. If you were interested in a family photo session, please contact us. The calendar is open and with the weather getting nicer there is no better time to book than now! :)
What an amazing 6 years we have had here at Scrappy Doodles! Wow is all I can say! I am thankful for all of the families who have trusted me over the years to document their lives, and am excited for all of the new memories I will be a part of in 2017.
A huge milestone is reaching 3,000 fans on our facebook page, Scrappy Doodles Photography & Design. To celebrate, I've put together a giveaway.
I have been so fortunate to work with some amazing, talented vendors - both on a professional and personal level, and some of them are participating in my giveaway. The items that are in this giveaway are either from vendors that I regularly work with or products that we absolutely LOVE! A HUGE thank you to the TWENTY-NINE vendors participating in this giveaway!
There are THIRTY-TWO prizes, which means THIRTY-TWO winners!
Scroll through this post to see all of the prizes up for grabs!
Below is the form to officially enter the giveaway at.
Each listing has a requirement for entering the giveaway. You are being asked to either like a page, join a group or leave a comment. You must complete ALL of the listings in the entry form below. Enter until midnight Feb 15th. Winners will be randomly selected, verified that they completed the required task for the vendor and will be announced on Wednesday Feb 22, 2017.
ENTER by using the form below... You will have to "log in" either with your FB or email. Then you must "visit" each page in the form and like their page or join their group. After you do that there will be a little button saying "I visited" for you to click on the line for the vendor page you just visited and liked. That is the ONLY WAY you are officially entered into the giveaway. After you have visited and acknowledged visiting those pages all of your options will be greyed out.
If you have all your options greyed out but forgot to like a page, scroll through this blog post to the page you missed and it will take you directly to their Facebook page for you to like.
The vendors and prizes include:
1. A 20 minute photography session with Scrappy Doodles Photography & Design at one location (Del Rio/Brackettville area) for up to 5 people. The winner of this prize will receive 2 digital images.
2. $15 off a seat in the next Scrappy Doodles Photography & Design Photography 101 or Editing Class.
3. A stuffed plane from Stuffed Squadrons.
4. Two winners will receive a pair of Babiators sunglasses!
5. A $25 coupon towards the purchase of any regimen from Rodan & Fields Independent Consultant, Tammy Barlette.
6. $20 gift certificate to Thirty-One from Alicia Guild, Thirty-One Independent Director. Join her Facebook group here to see her specials and deals!
7. Your choice of a 6 inch cake or 1 dozen decorated cookies from Frosted Kitchen.
8. Your choice of a free wrap on your face or body from It Works!
9. A 2'x4' digital banner with your choice of design from Signs Now.
10. A pair of leggings from Lularoe with Lindsay.
11. Your choice of a 3 pack of scents or plug in warmer from Scentsy with Elise, shop her latest show here.
12. A free 8x10 acrylic canvas painting from REM4 Paintings.
13. A $50 bow box from Girly Murley Designs.
14. A seat at an Art Class hosted by the Art Bar.
15. A workout program and one week of Shakeology from Kattleya Sommerfield, Star Diamond Beachbody Coach.
16. One set of Earmuffs for Kids. (Katherine LOVES hers!)
17. One set of Earmuffs for Bubs. (Juliana used these when she was a baby...they are awesome!)
18. A Party Heart-y set of Piggy Paint nail polish.
19. A $25 gift certificate to the Crafty Playground.
20. $20 shop credit from Younique
21. $30 shop credit from Mayberry's
22. A free pair of leggings from Lularoe with Dana.
23. A shirt with custom design of choice from Mar's Decals.
24. A $40 gift card towards meal purchase from Fragola's Catering.
25. A monogram of choice from Jiggity Jig Designs.
26. An Isagenix Giftbag from Tina with Isagenix.
27. Bag from Fresco Fabrics
28. Magic Bullet Deluxe from Realtors, Amanda Stanford and Marcela Robbins of ReloDelRio.
29. A $50 cruise certificate for a 5+ night cruise from My Sweet Vacations
30. A set of two heart wine glasses etched with the plane of your choice from Fly Low Creations.
31. A mini sweetheart pretend makeup set with pretend nail polish from Little Cosmetics. This pretend makeup is a huge favorite in my house!! Mess free.... LOVE IT!!!
REMEMBER, you can only enter by using the form above! Winners will be announced Feb 22, 2017! Good luck!
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Good luck on the next chapter of your adventure!!
Once a lively movie set, it was transformed into a tourist attraction until 2010, when its doors closed permanently. Now the only way you can see it is if you are driving down FM 674, where you can see this entrance sign below OR via plane and fly above.
Alamo Village is located 6 miles North of our airfield...most people don't even know it's there because it is closed to the public. It was the 1st movie set built in Texas and I believe the oldest full set in the United States. It is the world's largest movie set. Also known as John Wayne's Alamo, Alamo Village is a replica of the Alamo in San Antonio. It is AWESOME!! Any cowboy/Western movie enthusiast knows about John Wayne's Alamo movie.
We are usually in the Cessna when we are flying over Alamo Village. The Cessna has bubble windows that are perfect for peering down to see what is around you.
Replica of the AlamoAll of these buildings were made to operate out of them. We were at about 500 ft for this photo.
The entire Alamo VillageOff the wingtip is the Alamo replica, and in the foreground is the village portion. All of those buildings had electricity running to them. As you can see there are cows that graze the area too.
Alamo Village is also the site of many other movies too! Here's a list... Movies and Music Videos Shot at Alamo Village
The girls don't fully understand the importance of the Alamo...one day they will. Instead, they play games such as count the cows!
After 5 years of flying over it, we were lucky enough to get a personal tour of it. That will be another blog post...it was an incredible once-in-a-lifetime kind of experience!
Wanna read more about it? Here are a few links:
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As you can see, her big brother was so proud to show off his new little sister. Such a lovely family!
Rhonda is the premiere choice for your real estate needs in this area! So, if you are moving to the Del Rio/Brackettville/Laughlin AFB area she is the one to call! You can find her on Facebook, Rhonda Montgomery Real Estate or her website http://www.rmontgomeryrealestate.com/
If you are graduating this week, congratulations!! Please stop by the Daedalian Room for your formal portraits, and if you mention this blog post, I will give you a special gift!
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We had this grand plan of taking photos of Emery with her pup...you know, she would sit in the grass, cuddle with her furry friend those melt-your-heart kinda photos. Well right after I shot the family image, our grand plan went into the water behind them. Yup, we got one family photo and that's all the dog would participate in. :)
A perk of booking your session with Scrappy Doodles is that you have access to my very robust prop closet, featuring so many boutique brand dresses for little girls, like the dress Emery chose to wear in this session.
Her momma is incredibly talented as well. She has an embroidery shop called Jiggity Jig Designs and she is also a Rodan & Fields consultant.
I'll miss this wonderful family and am glad to have been their photographer during their time at Laughlin AFB.
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Sign up at this link... https://scrappydoodles.acuityscheduling.com/schedule.php?appointmentType=2356035
Introducing Hangar 6, home of one of many $100 burgers.
Checking out the menu!
What does a $100 burger mean? It doesn't mean the burger itself is $100 - but when you spend $100 in fuel your lunch is on the house.
What I really liked about this place was that there is an area for the kids to play outside over looking the planes. This is important...energy needs to be burned, at all times!!
Great atomsphere
Play area
It is a 40 minute drive or 20 minute flight from my house. How would you travel there for lunch?! If you find yourself in Uvalde, Texas definitely give Hangar 6 a try! You can even watch the airplanes land and take off while you dine!
Interested in seeing other eating options near airfields? Check out this list HERE
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Our end of year getaway trip is a perfect example of how we save time and money! I will admit up front, we had never put the pencil to it to see how much we save on our little trips. This was both informative and reassuring to us to see the savings on paper.
We recently went on a 4 day trip to Dallas, Texas then Fort Smith, Arkansas and back home to Fort Clark Springs, Texas. The aircraft we flew was a Piper Twin Comanche with turbos. On the way up we cruised at roughly 181 knots. We had a tailwind for part of the trip, which was awesome!! I wish I could say the same for the return flight. We fought quartering headwinds almost the entire way back.
What we travel with...
- Headsets...these stay in the plane, but Chris and I have Bose aviation headsets and the girls have headsets from EMs 4 Kids. They are THE BEST!! I recently got K a big girl headset that allows her to talk to us. This is the one she flies with Gulf Coast Aviation Headset. For a 4 year old, she has great radio etiquette. She knows that when there is chatter on the radio she can't talk. We are proud of that. What is neat about this one, is that there is a jack for her to plug in the iPad to so she can watch her princess movies.
It is never a dull moment with these two!
- eye wear for all of us. The girls LOVE their Babiators. They are super durable, fashion friendly and are the perfect accessory for flight. What makes them even more awesome that they have a lost & found guarantee. Very much worth the investment.
- camera bag. I typically have my Nikon D810 with a 24-70 mm and 14-24 mm lens in the bag. I have an Olympus Stylus TG-4 camera that I use too, especially when our crew chief stows the camera bag too far out of reach for me. :)
- a 31 bag from The Bag Lady full of snacks with FULL size water bottles. It took me forever to find a bag that was insulated well enough to keep snacks and drinks for us while in flight that also didn't take up too much space. I have no clue what the name of the actual bag is, but if you join The Bag Lady's group you will be able to ask her what I fly with...she knows and can take care of you!
- iPad for inflight entertainment
- car seats for long legs and for trips we know that we will be traveling via car/truck upon landing. If we are going on a short trip for lunch at an airfield with a restaurant we don't bring car seats. (J sits in hers as we fly and K's is in the cargo area since she is tall enough to sit with her seatbelt tightly fastened)
- luggage...one medium luggage bag for all of our clothes (believe it or not) and a Trunki suitcase for K (J has one but she's not tall enough to ride it yet)
- GB Pockit (worth its weight in gold and perfect for the plane!) This stroller folds down to a nice little 12 in square and weighs 11 pounds. As soon as I knew there were pre-orders for it, I snagged one. Side note: We also took this with us when we flew commercial and didn't have to gate check it because it folded down small enough to either be put under the seat or in the bin above. Every flight attendant who saw it was floored! Someday I will make a travel bag for it.
- K's toilet...just in case we have an inflight restroom emergency. My go-to travel toilet is The Travel Potty (also worth its weight in gold). Round two of potty training (for J) has also started, so we are stuck traveling with a toilet for ever. It uses gallon sized zip lock bags and has a compartment on both sides of it to store the extra bags and diapers/wipes (in our case). We also love it for the fact that it folds up to look like a little briefcase, and takes hardly any space to store or travel with.
How we pack when we fly the CessnaThe Cessna doesn't have as much baggage space as the twin. If we need to bring car seats, we put them in the seats that the girls sit in.
How we pack with we fly the twinThere is MUCH more luggage space in this plane, and as a result our oldest doesn't have to sit in her car seat. We will typically put extra diapers and wipes on top of the seat portion of the car seat, because we can't leave home without those either.
Day 1: Took my time packing us up, walked over to the plane by about 10:30 am and was airborne by 10:45am. We were landing in Dallas an hour and 51 minutes later. (Had we have driven it would have taken almost 7 hours!) Cost: $139.23 in gas for the plane + $115 for a rental car and gas (For the record Cornerstone Air Center at Fort Worth/Meacham Airport had outstanding service...highly recommend landing there if you can!) Had we flown commercial we would have had to drive over 2 hours to San Antonio and catch a flight for $223/person one way ($892 for our family of four). We flew an IFR flight plan, so if you want to see our trip stats, here's the link. http://flightaware.com/live/flight/N8396Y/history/20161228/1715Z/74TX/KFTW
Parked and ready to play in Dallas. The girls LOVE their LuLaRoe airplane leggings.
Day 2: Enjoyed Dallas with the kids and friends. We stayed at the Gaylord Texan and had a blast enjoying all of the Christmas activities in their convention center. Their ICE program was so fun! They had lots of ice sculptures to see and ice slides for the kids to slide down. Outside there was a small skating rink. So much fun! We will plan to come back next year too!
Day 3: Did some sightseeing then went to the airport to fly out to Fort Smith. We arrived at the airport when we felt like we were ready to take off (approx 1:12pm), loaded the plane, and were airborne within 20 minutes. Flight time to Fort Smith was an hour and 34 minutes. Cost: $122.85 + $65 to park + $62 for a rental car and gas. Note: we elected not to get gas in Fort Smith because it was way too expensive. It was cheaper to pay a tie down fee than to get their gas. In the future we are going to avoid landing there at all costs - the fees were outrageous. Had we flown commercial from DFW it would have cost an additional $255/person one way ($1,020 for our family of four). We were able to spend some time with family before calling it a night. We flew an IFR flight plan for this leg as well. You can see our trip details here http://flightaware.com/live/flight/N8396Y/history/20161230/1900Z/KFTW/KFSM.
View of the Arkansas River at 3,000ft
Toddler pilot in command
Day 4: We spent half the day with family, then drove to the airport, loaded the plane and were airborne within 20 minutes. Because we chose to forego purchasing gas at Fort Smith, we needed to make a gas stop. We chose to stop at Kickapoo Airport in downtown Wichita Falls, Texas...a convenient stop enroute home. From Fort Smith to that stop was an hour and 30 mins thanks to headwinds. We had a nice little layover, met up with a friend and filled up with gas to go home. The FBO there is really quaint and the staff is very friendly. We flew this leg VFR, so sorry, no flightaware link to share. I will add...even though you are flying VFR you always want to maintain contact with center, and can always request flight following. This is good for everyone - the radar knows who you are and if there is any traffic that could be a factor to you, center can at least communicate that with you to be on the lookout for. Cost: $202.37 in gas (Note: to fly from Fort Smith to San Antonio would have cost $359/person, $1436 for our family of 4, with one stop in Dallas on the way. Then after landing we would have an additional 2.5 hour drive home). We came home 2 hours and 5 minutes later, right after sunset with plenty of time to give the kids a bath and put them to bed at bedtime. Enjoy the clip below of our landing...if you listen closely you can hear the peanut gallery in the back.
Did I overwhelm you with information? Let me summarize...we decided a week before our trip that we were going to take this trip. In the time it would have taken us to fly commercially we flew our plane to the destination, with plenty of time to enjoy our evening. We spent a total of $706.45 in travel expenses for a family of four to do all of that travel. This doesn't include the hotel or food, but that would have been the same expense regardless of the mode of transportation. Our total travel time was approximately 1 hour 51 minutes to Dallas, then 1 hour and 34 minutes to Fort Smith, then 4 hours with our short layover coming home. Going on this trip via commercial airplane would have cost us $3,348 on tickets alone. We would not have gone on this trip at that price. Time wise, it would have taken 8 hours just to come back on that last leg.
What I didn't factor in as a comparison was driving this trip. Had we have driven, it would have been pretty painful. Our food bill would have likely been more because we would have to stop more often and we all know that you get food at almost every pit stop you make thanks to the garbage disposals (kids) in tow. We would have spent more time in the car than at these destinations, we would have needed much more than 4 days to make this trip happen, AND we would have been dealing with traffic. Gas would have likely been cheaper, but factoring in the time saver, we wouldn't have even considered doing this trip if we were driving.
The other cost that I didn't add to this is the cost of the plane. Between the monthly plane payment, insurance and operating cost (including the money we set aside each month for the annual - I'll talk about operating expenses in another post), we spent about $50 a day to operate the plane. That totals to about $200, and the plane wasn't in use the entire time, so theoretically it is closer to $150 total.
You don't have to own a plane to do this...you can also rent one. However, you will have to get checked out in the plane and get approval for where you are planning to take it. So, if you were thinking about giving this a try, you could easily get a taste for it by renting first. Cost of renting a plane will depend on what type of aircraft you are renting and FBO fees.
Next post will be about a short trip for lunch, so stay tuned!
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Looking at these photos, they seem like a normal family. What you can't see is that little Sophia is a THREE TIME cancer survivor. At only 5 years old, she has faced more than most have faced in a lifetime and come out a victor each time. Through her battles she found strength of a super hero...of Wonder Woman. When I talked to her mom about how Wonder Woman became such a beacon of strength for her, she told me how this all came about. Treatment was tough on Sophia, and being so young it was hard to explain why she needed chemo, why she needed so much blood drawn, etc. Her mom told her that the doctors were really giving her super powers so that she can be strong enough to fight the cancer, just like Wonder Woman. This was the boost Sophia needed - she was becoming a super hero against cancer.
Her journey has been tough, and it isn't over. You can read all about her journey HERE
We took these photos right before she had to travel to Houston for surgery to remove her cancer the third time. To say I was inspired by her resilience and strength is an understatement. Her whole family has the most positive attitude about life, especially Sophia's. As we were wrapping up the session, Sophia held her head high and chanted "I WILL WIN." She meant every letter of those three words. Yes, she will win!!
100% planned and executed to your child's personality and styled to perfection!
It is an honor to work with Frosted Kitchen to bring these exclusive cake smash sessions from concept to unbelievably fun memory.
For more information about booking your child's 1st birthday cake smash session, please visit my website at http://
HAVE YOUR CAKE AND EAT IT TOO!
Are you expecting in 2017? It is never too early to get your session on the calendar!
For more information about booking your newborn session, please visit my websitewww.scrappydoodlesphotogra
Did you know that if you want to live with your plane you totally can!? Fun family fact about us is that we live on an airfield. That's right, our back yard is an airport. I get asked alot about how living on the airfield works for us, so I thought I would take some time to write about it. Just like every decision you make for your family, you have to do what best suits your lifestyle and budget for the expenses accordingly. For us this couldn't be more perfect!
Is this really an affordable lifestyle? You bet!! You don't have to be rich to have a plane. Like I said above it's all about your lifestyle and your budget. For about the cost of a limited edition F-150 pickup or top of the line mini van you could become the owner of your own plane. Do you have to live on an airfield, of course not, but it is definitely an added bonus!
There are a few major reasons why we decided on airpark living and investing into an airplane...
1. I married a pilot, and operating our own aircraft was one of those things we had on our list of goals as a family.
2. It can be a time saver and a money saver to fly your own plane on trips, especially if you tend to take short notice trips like us.
3. Flying in your own plane is such a different experience than flying commercial.
4. Let's face it, flying is FUN!
Our kids (19 months and 4 years) have been flying since they were 6 weeks old and absolutely love it! There is no dress code for flying, as you can see below, even Cinderella can be the pilot in command! ;)
The airfield we live on is at Fort Clark Springs in Brackettville, Texas (74TX)...a couple of hours West of San Antonio, Texas. We are a private restricted field with two runways, one with 3,000 usable feet that is maintained regularly and one with about 1,500 usable feet. Both are hard packed caliche and grass.
Fort Clark Springs is a deactivated Army fort turned gated community. There are so many amenities here, and of course the airfield is one of them. You can read more about it here Fort Clark Springs.
We fly a 1952 Cessna 170B and 1966 Piper Twin Comanche.
I don't like to make New Year resolutions, but I like making goals for myself. A goal I have for myself this year is to blog more about our little adventures, and of course showcasing the awesome photos I take along the way. What good is the love of flight if you don't share it, right?!
We try to get out and do something a couple of times a month in the plane. Some trips are longer than others, but all of them are so much fun!!
If there are certain questions you would like answered or want for me to write about a specific type of trip, please message me or comment below!
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THANK YOU to all of the families who trusted Scrappy Doodles Photography & Design with your newborn, family and milestone photos! It is so much fun to relive each session as I create this collage, and I am so humbled to have been apart of so many memories and milestones for so many families. THANK YOU!
This collage represents the 232 sessions from 2016.
2017 is off to an exciting start, and the calendar is starting to fill already!
For information about booking your 2017 session, please visit www.scrappydoodlesphotogra
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Thank you Erin from REM 4 Paintings for the beautiful background, Emily with The Lil Pistol in Del Rio for having us at her shop and Megan from O'Hare's Tasty Treats for bringing her cupcakes for everyone to enjoy!
Erin with REM 4 Paintings has created this awesome background (below) for me and we are hosting them at The Lil Pistol in Del Rio THIS WEEKEND! As an added "treat" we will have tasty treats made by Megan from O'Hare's Tasty Treats for you to enjoy!
Sign up here! https://scrappydoodles.acuityscheduling.com/schedule.php
The new year always brings about resolutions and new goals. I'm not really big into making resolutions but I do love making goals and love the feeling of accomplishment once that goal has been successfully achieved.
For the past year I have wanted to freshen things up and have a logo that accurately reflects what I feel Scrappy Doodles is...fun, fresh and kid friendly.
Since it is hard to really let the creative juices flow with your own personal projects, I enlisted the help of a fellow military spouse with amazing creativity. We came up with a fantastic logo that showcases just what I was hoping for!
Hope you enjoy it...you will be seeing a lot of it everywhere! Thank you Haley with Greyberry Design for all of your work on this! If you need any personal graphics, letterhead or honestly any designs, she's the girl to contact! You can email her here [email protected].
Another goal, using this blog a little more often :) We will see how that goes!
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Winners, you will all receive an email with details on how to claim your prize. Please be sure to check your SPAM/Junk. You have 3 days to claim your prize or another winner will be drawn.
And the Winners are....
1. A 20 minute photography session with Scrappy Doodles Photography & Design at one location (Del Rio/Brackettville area) for up to 5 people. The winner of this prize will receive 5 digital images. Stephanie Bates
2. $15 off a seat in the next Scrappy Doodles Photography & Design Photography 101 Class. Stefanie Grennek
3. A stuffed plane from Stuffed Squadrons. Heidi Long
4. A pair of Babiators sunglasses! Desiree Huynh
5. A $25 coupon towards the purchase of any regimen from Rodan & Fields Independent Consultant, Tammy Barlette. Adrienne Ramirez
6. A $20 gift certificate to Usborne books from Desiree Cristinzio, Usborne Books Independent Consultant. Kelly Jones
7. A $25 gift certificate from Honeydrops Designs. Melodee j
8. $20 gift certificate to Thirty-One from Alicia Guild, Thirty-One Independent Director. Join her Facebook group here to see her specials and deals! Natsu Green
9. A one hour massage from Massage by Anna. Archer Watson
10. A custom-painted pair of peg dolls from Patriotic Peggy. Gina Christoffer
11. A 50% discount on a custom painting from REM4 Paintings. Amy Nguyen
12. A $25 gift certificate to Melva's Cakes. Alexandria Bejarano
13. One sheet of "Love Potion" Valentine Jamberry Nail Wraps from Jillian Nall, Jamberry Independent Consultant. Melissa Barbier Scott
14. A Frozen prize pack from Funky Props Couture. Sarah 'Gilbert' Rafter
15. Your choice of either a custom-made nursing cover, $20 discount on a custom order, or a peasant dress from Paisley's Place. Alyssa Perez
16. A workout program and one week of Shakeology from Kattleya Sommerfield, Star Diamond Beachbody Coach. Alexis Gomez
17. Your choice of either a handcrafted state or military plane silhouette wood art piece from Ross Handcrafted Charm. Elizabeth Bailey
18. One set of Earmuffs for Kids. (Katherine LOVES hers!) Lindsey Kaszynski
19. One set of Earmuffs for Bubs. Shannon Clapper
20. A Valentine set of Piggy Paint nail polish. Amber Taylor
21. A child size mustache cowl in green from My Sweet Potato 3. Cynthia Castillo
Congratulations to all of the winners!! And thank you again to all of the awesome vendors who participated!
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Thank you to all of my customers and fans for your business and support! When I first opened Scrappy Doodles' doors I never imagined I would stay as busy as I have been these past 3 years.
To celebrate reaching 2,000 fans, I've put together a giveaway.
I have been so fortunate to work with some amazing, talented vendors - both on a professional and personal level, and some of them are participating in my giveaway. The items that are in this giveaway are either from vendors that I regularly work with or products that we absolutely LOVE! A HUGE thank you to all of the vendors participating in this giveaway!
There are TWENTY-0NE prizes, which means TWENTY-ONE winners!
Scroll through this post to see all of the prizes up for grabs!
Below is the form to officially enter the giveaway at.
You must like ALL of the vendors pages listed in the entry form below. Enter until midnight Feb 24th. Winners will be randomly selected, and will be announced on Friday Feb 27, 2015.
ENTER by using the form below... You will have to "log in" either with your FB or email. Then you must "visit" each page in the form and like their page. After you do that there will be a little button saying "I visited" for you to click on the line for the vendor page you just visited and liked. That is the ONLY WAY you are officially entered into the giveaway. After you have visited and acknowledged visiting those pages all of your options will be greyed out.
If you have all your options greyed out but forgot to like a page, scroll through this blog post to the page you missed and it will take you directly to their Facebook page for you to like.
The vendors and prizes include:
1. A 20 minute photography session with Scrappy Doodles Photography & Design at one location (Del Rio/Brackettville area) for up to 5 people. The winner of this prize will receive 5 digital images.
2. $15 off a seat in the next Scrappy Doodles Photography & Design Photography 101 Class.
3. A stuffed plane from Stuffed Squadrons.
4. A pair of Babiators sunglasses!
5. A $25 coupon towards the purchase of any regimen from Rodan & Fields Independent Consultant, Tammy Barlette.
6. A $20 gift certificate to Usborne books from Desiree Cristinzio, Usborne Books Independent Consultant.
7. A $25 gift certificate from Honeydrops Designs.
8. $20 gift certificate to Thirty-One from Alicia Guild, Thirty-One Independent Director. Join her Facebook group here to see her specials and deals!
9. A one hour massage from Massage by Anna.
10. A custom-painted pair of peg dolls from Patriotic Peggy.
11. A 50% discount on a custom painting from REM4 Paintings.
12. A $25 gift certificate to Melva's Cakes.
13. One sheet of "Love Potion" Valentine Jamberry Nail Wraps from Jillian Nall, Jamberry Independent Consultant.
14. A Frozen prize pack from Funky Props Couture.
15. Your choice of either a custom-made nursing cover, $20 discount on a custom order, or a peasant dress from Paisley's Place.
16. A workout program and one week of Shakeology from Kattleya Sommerfield, Star Diamond Beachbody Coach.
17. Your choice of either a handcrafted state or military plane silhouette wood art piece from Ross Handcrafted Charm.
18. One set of Earmuffs for Kids. (Katherine LOVES hers!)
19. One set of Earmuffs for Bubs.
20. A Valentine set of Piggy Paint nail polish.
21. A child size mustache cowl in green from My Sweet Potato 3.
REMEMBER, you can only enter by using the form above! Winners will be announced Feb 27, 2015! Good luck!
]]>I'm excited to be hosting the first Six Week Photo Challenge for 2015 at Scrappy Doodles!
The best way to get better in your photography and gain more confidence is to practice!
Here is how the photo challenge will work...
- On Mondays by noon the inspirational word or phrase of the week will be posted on the Scrappy Doodles Photography Facebook page. http://www.facebook.com/scrappydoodlesphotodesign
- Monday-Friday you can submit your photo via email to me ([email protected]), along with how that word inspired your photo. (Please put the word of the week as your subject line to make it easier for me).
- Saturday morning I'll post them all to the Scrappy Doodles Facebook page in their own album, at which point people can vote on their favorite photo (their vote will influence my selection of the winner, but it won't be the only factor).
- You can tag yourself, your family members and share if you would like.
- The winner of the week will be announced the following Wednesday (and will possibly win a small prize).
- That winner's photo will be saved to compete at the end of the 6 weeks for a grand prize.
Photos:
- Must be taken by the person submitting them.
- Must be taken during that week of the word challenge...no digging in the archives.
- It is up to your interpretation of how you want to use the word of the week to inspire the photo you take...get creative!
- If you are comfortable sharing your settings when you took the photo, please do!
- By submitting your photo you are giving me consent to post it on to the Scrappy Doodles Photography Facebook page.
The bottom line is to dust that camera off, be inspired and share your great photos!
Good Luck and Happy Shooting!
Thank you to everyone who entered the giveaway!! The winners are listed next to the prize!
And the winners are:
1. A 30 minute photography session with yours truly at one location (Del Rio/Brackettville area) for up to 5 people. The winner of this prize will receive 5 digital images. LIZ JACKSON (please contact me directly to coordinate your prize)
2. {$20 off} a seat in the next Scrappy Doodles Photography & Design Photography 101 Class. MORGAN TOPP (please contact me directly to coordinate your prize)
3. {FIVE} winners will be selected to receive a pair of Babiators sunglasses! (winners, please contact me directly to coordinate receiving your prize)
BRANDY MANN
TAI RENDON
LESLIE HAMILTON
MEGAN SAUER
SHANNON CLAPPER
4. A makeup bag/travel bag combo from Flybagz. MARY STROBEL (please contact FlyBagz directly to coordinate your prize)
5. This custom Christmas headband from Southern Sugar Children's Boutique. The winner will be able to select the size headband. SANDRA MARTIN (please contact Southern Sugar Children's Boutique directly to coordinate receiving your prize)
6. An organic cotton lanyard/teether set (one lanyard, one square teether, one spade teether) of winner's choice. Must choose from in-stock fabrics. Shipping is included. (Value of $25) from Chunky Potatoes. CHRISTINA BUNKLEY (please contact Chunky Potatoes directly to coordinate receiving your prize)
7. A 15% coupon towards a purchase at Click Knits. MISHA PHELPS (please contact Click Knits directly to coordinate receiving your prize)
8. A custom photo ornament from Proper Placement. Winner will be asked to supply a photo for their custom photo ornament. BRIAN FREEMAN (please contact Proper Placement directly to coordinate receiving your prize)
9. $20 store credit to Mar's Necklaces. (Katherine is modeling one of Mar's Necklaces.) CHRISTINA SANCHEZ (please contact Mar's Necklaces directly to coordinate receiving your prize)
10. $20 store credit to It's a Find (shipping not included). JULIE PEASE (please contact It's a Find directly to coordinate receiving your prize)
11. This adorable necklace from All Sass'd Up. ALESHIA MCKENZIE (please contact All Sass'd Up directly to coordinate receiving your prize)
12. A one hour consultation with Jordana Kennedy of Green Belly Chef. During this consultation, Jordana will talk about diet ideas, advice and recipe tricks. ROBIN COCKREL (please contact Green Belly Chef directly to coordinate receiving your prize)
Congratulations to the winners!!
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2013 has been the busiest year ever! Thank you to all of my customers and fans for your business and support!
To celebrate reaching 1,000 fans, I've put together a giveaway. I have been so fortunate to work with some amazing, talented vendors - both on a professional and personal level, and some of them are participating in my giveaway. The items that are in this giveaway are either from vendors that I regularly work with or products that we absolutely LOVE! A HUGE thank you to all of the vendors participating in this giveaway!
There are FIFTEEN SIXTEEN prizes, which means FIFTEEN SIXTEEN winners!
ENTER by using the form below...
Enter by Saturday Nov 30th. You must like ALL of the vendors pages. Winners will be randomly selected, and will be announced on Monday Dec 2nd. Good Luck!
The vendors and prizes include:
1. A 30 minute photography session with yours truly at one location (Del Rio/Brackettville area) for up to 5 people. The winner of this prize will receive 5 digital images.
2. {$20 off} a seat in the next Scrappy Doodles Photography & Design Photography 101 Class.
3. {FIVE} winners will be selected to receive a pair of Babiators sunglasses!
4. A makeup bag/travel bag combo from Flybagz.
5. This custom Christmas headband from Southern Sugar Children's Boutique. The winner will be able to select the size headband.
6. An organic cotton lanyard/teether set (one lanyard, one square teether, one spade teether) of winner's choice. Must choose from in-stock fabrics. Shipping is included. (Value of $25) from Chunky Potatoes.
7. A 15% coupon towards a purchase at Click Knits.
8. A custom photo ornament from Proper Placement. Winner will be asked to supply a photo for their custom photo ornament.
9. $20 store credit to Mar's Necklaces. (Katherine is modeling one of Mar's Necklaces.)
10. $20 store credit to It's a Find (shipping not included).
11. This adorable necklace from All Sass'd Up.
12. A one hour consultation with Jordana Kennedy of Green Belly Chef. During this consultation, Jordana will talk about diet ideas, advice and recipe tricks.
REMEMBER, you can only enter by using the form above! Winners will be announced Dec 2nd! Good luck!
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2012 was such a great year! Thank you to all of my customers and fans for your business and support! With over 300 fans, I felt it appropriate to have a giveaway! I have been so fortunate to work with some amazing, talented vendors - both on a professional and personal level, and there are three of them who are participating in my giveaway. A HUGE thank you them too!
There are FIVE prizes, which means FIVE winners! Excited to announce a SIXTH prize!
ENTER by using the form below...
**BONUS ENTRIES** Share this giveaway with your friends! Send your friends to the Scrappy Doodles Photography & Design page...make sure they say who sent them! Each referral is one additional entry!
Enter by Wednesday Jan 23rd. Winners will be randomly selected, and will be announced on Friday, Jan 25th. Good Luck!
The vendors and prizes include:
1. A 30 minute photography session with yours truly at one location (Del Rio/Brackettville area) for up to 5 people. The winner of this prize will receive 5 digital images.
2. {ONE} custom digital design from Scrappy Doodles Photography & Design (birth announcement, party invite, holiday card, etc) and 25 4x6 prints of that design on photographic paper.
3. A custom boy's tie from Babycakes Bowtique
4. This adorable Cheesecloth Wrap & Headband (both super soft) from My Sweet Potato 3
5. This fabulous headband and lace romper from Funky Props Couture
6. Your choice between the pattern for this hat or the finished product from Tickled Pink Crochet and Sewing.
REMEMBER, you can only enter by using the form above! Earn BONUS entries by referring your friends to Scrappy Doodles Photography & Design...they have to like the page AND say who sent them!
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