Ten years, 363 days...

 I thought the name seemed familiar... but I just couldn't place it.

Why can't I place it???

Mama Cindy called about a month ago to get the low down, and even her name seemed to ring a bell.

A few weeks passed and at this late stage in the senior "season" I figured the potential late going client turned into someone ELSE's client.

In the meantime, we photographed West Marshall classmate, buddy, and Menards co-worker, Ian Day (see "A brand new Day"... March 31) and Mr. Day insisted that Josh Smoldt indeed was still planning on coming our way.  In FACT, Josh was the one that talked him into coming!

Almost like clockwork then, Cindy called back, and set the date.   April 9... 8 a.m.

That morning, I came into the studio at about 7:30... went to the computer, checked for Josh's account... and then I figured it all out.

On April 11, 2002 we photographed an ornery 7 year old... none other than Joshua Smoldt.   Never to be seen again thru the doors of our studio.... until last Tuesday.

Nearly 11 years to the day, Josh confidently walked in the doors... this time with his girlfriend Kiley, instead of mom.... and we picked up right where we left off... making images of a good lookin' fella.   The little guy had grown into a young man.

The weather acted like it wasn't going to cooperate (about like it's done all spring... or lack there of).   No matter, Josh said... If we have to do all indoor... we're doing this TODAY.

So I had my marching orders.   Josh, Kiley and I dodged the raindrops and got another one in the books... indoor AND outdoor.

We buzzed around Montour in the Hummer H3 trying desperately to find acceptable places in the midst of our lingering winter/dreary spring.   I learned that in a funny small-world twist... that it would be just a few days until Josh would be right back in the Hummer... this time WITHOUT me driving.

As it turns out... Josh was attending BCLUW's prom that coming weekend... and as was mentioned in Ian Day's blog a couple weeks back, a Stewart Photography senior gal from there was borrowing the owner's SUV to make her arrival on the red carpet in front of the high school in style.   That senior, Mackenzie Schleisman, and her BFF Molly Pieper (also a Stewart Photography senior) asked a couple friends from West Marshall to go with them to prom.  Schleisman was to attend with Kolby Steiert while Molly was going with none other than Mr. Smoldt.

Small world indeed.

My wife and I dropped off the H3 yesterday afternoon, and I'm glad to report that it was returned in perfect working order.   I told Josh that he would have to be my "mole" on the inside to report back to me on how Schleisman drove the thing...  I'll be expecting a full report this week.  What I can say is that all the kids looked fantastic, and I was flattered to be asked to play even a small role in their special day.

Hit me up with that driving report, Josh.  ;)

Trey makes four...

Trey Keahna must be livin' right.

My brother in-law once told me during a stretch of time when his Yankees and Lakers won their respective championships every year for what seemed like a decade that it was because of his, "clean livin."

Whether one chooses to believe that my brother-in-law's sports teams are directly affected by his good choices in how he lives his life remains up in the air.  However, if you subscribe to that theory, then my latest senior must be doing something right as well.

Let me explain.

For anyone who's strapped on a pair of shoulder pads, threw on some cleats and pulled down a Riddell helmet over their ears at the high school level, you've dreamed of making the state playoffs... or winning a state championship.

Check.... and check.

Making the state playoffs has become commonplace for Trey's high school, North Tama of Traer as he and his classmates have finished their careers garnering four appearances in four years.  The list of hardware that Trey was a part of is long and impressive.

Freshman year: Ranked No. 1 in the final regular season poll before losing a heartbreaker to Mason City Newman, 28-26 in the semifinals.

Junior year:  Newman strikes again in the 2nd round of the playoffs, 31-14.

Senior year: A quarterfinal run ends at the hands of Wapsie Valley, 46-20.

You may be wondering why I skipped the sophomore year?

All the Redhawks did there was win the Class A State Title with a game for the ages as North Tama overcame a 20 point deficit to stun traditional power, Madrid, 43-34.   A quick look at the last image on this blog highlights the ring that commemorates that state championship.

How cool is that?

I thought playing on my schools one and only state playoff appearance as a wide-eyed freshman in 1986 was awesome... but to make it ALL FOUR YEARS?   Insane.

I hope Trey realizes how blessed he really is as the school my children attend haven't made the state field in over 20 years... Literally a generation has come and gone without even ONE of those appearances that every athlete covets.   After spending a few hours with Trey... I have no doubt that he does.

If that weren't enough, how about tossing in a fourth place finish at state this year at the Iowa Boys State Basketball Tournament???

That my folks... is some CLEAN livin'.  :)

With all those accomplishments to look back on and smile as he comes to the end of his high school career, I asked Mr. Keahna what his favorite memory was.

That rush of making state for the first time?

Being ranked No. 1?

Polishing off a state title?

Getting that ring?

His answer?   Far more simple.

As a non-starter in basketball, Trey's stout figure wouldn't let him get the amount of minutes he would've liked.   But no matter... he was still the Redhawk faithful's favorite.   With time running down.. and the Redhawks putting finishing touches on yet another blowout victory... the chant would start.

"TREY KEA- HAH - NA"  *clap* *clap* *clap-clap-clap*

"TREY KEA- HAH - NA"  *clap* *clap* *clap-clap-clap*

On and on it would go until the big fella was summoned by Coach Clubb to enter the game sending the student section into a frenzy.

"It just made me feel good to hear them chanting my name," said Trey with that huge grin.

I hear ya brother... I hear ya.   Thanks for letting me ride on your coattails for a few hours... It was a sports junkie's delight.

.

Here comes the Boomers!!!

This was an anticipated session to say the least.

2006 East Marshall senior, and long time friend of Stewart Photography, Amanda Nuese... Is now Amanda Vanden Wynboom... and after a few years of marriage to her husband, Taylor (a good Central College man) they were blessed with a set of adorable twins.

One boy... one girl.

While the Vanden Wynbooms make their home now in Huxley, we see the Nueses regularly, at ballgames, at church, at Sports Page.  And thanks to all that contact and through the magic of facebook, we've missed little with these two little bundles of joy in their brief six months on Earth.

I've joked with my wife that thanks to Grandma Tracy, these two may indeed may be the MOST photographed twins in the history of mankind.

One image after another on my newsfeed... beaming smiles from two of the cutest little turds you'll ever lay eyes on.  And with each passing image, I felt maybe just a little more pressure.

Sure enough... when it's MY turn to photograph them...  Tracy will wonder why I couldn't get them to smile for nothing!

My turn came on Saturday.   And with several facebook "warnings" that the 'Boomers' were on their way, the wait was over.

Even at Good Friday service the evening before I was told that I'd have my hands full with the little guy they named, "Tate."   Little sweetie Harper was gonna be a piece of cake, I was told... but that ornery little boy... good luck with him, said Aunt Abigail as she walked away with a smile.

Mama Amanda told me not to worry about Tate's "bi-polar" tendancies to immediate jump from end-of-the-world fussiness to a goofy giggle and back at the drop of a hat... And she was right.   I saw it all.

Harper Grace was as a smooth as her middle name the entire time.   Unflappable and willing to do whatever we needed her to, she didn't even complain when it was just a couple of guys in the camera room with her (otherwise known as the knucklehead photographer and her do-anything to get you to smile daddy).

Tate on the other hand... was gonna make us work for it.   In fairness, between Amanda, Taylor and I had the kiddos back in the camera room off and on for nearly two hours, so when we needed young Mr. Tate Samuel to sit still for Daddy's idea of making him look like a young Jedi from the Star Wars trilogy... I figured the "bi-polar" tendency that we had already seen was gonna get taken to another level.

Taylor reassured me.  "This will be simple!  We don't even need him to smile for this one!"

And in classic fashion, when we WANTED the young man to be serious... all he would do was SMILE!   Eventually I got the image that looked Jedi-worthy... and our day was complete.

The twins were put back in their car carriers and it was a matter of minutes and they were both sacked out.   And by the looks on their parents faces after two hours of battling the twins, I wondered aloud if mommy and daddy didn't need a nap a well.  

It wasn't surprising that Grandma Tracy told me that when Team Vanden Wynboom returned to the Nuese home shortly after, the young couple did just that. Well earned, Boomers... well earned.