2009 Seniors!

Hey Juniors. . . Senior Portrait appointments are being booked now . .. Have you made your call yet?? How about a t-shirt? The First 20 Seniors who book their session and pay their deposit will get a Cool T-shirt the day of the session! So don't delay . . . don't forget that there will also be a Cool Drawing in December for all Seniors who come to Prairie Images Photography for their Senior Portraits . . . so what are you waiting for . . . pick up the phone and call today! Here's a sampling . . . the colors may vary a little when printed. . .

2008 TLC Trip to Ecuador--Part 1

The Ecuador Team arrived in Quito on Thursday, March 13th. On Friday, Kyle turned 18, and through contacts with Phil Payne and Youth World, they made sure he had a birthday cake!

This was also the day that they got to see Quito. As you can tell there were many photo opportunities! On Saturday, the group had a workday at Youth World Camp. On Sunday, March 16th, they attended an international church, helped feed the poor in Quito and attended a HS International yough group meeting. They left Sunday night and traveled by bus to the jungle. Then they got into a VERY large canoe(it held all 46 of them) with their gear and supplies traveling in two more! They canoed down the river to the village where they would begin their work! Enjoy the pictures and stay tuned for Part 2 tomorrow!

The City of Quito is a very large City! This is a Skyscape View!

It is also the Capital of the Country!

The city has many beautiful and large churches and buildings!

While there they got to visit the Equator!

And Last but not least a sampling of Quito Food!

2008 TLC Trip to Ecuador--Part 2

They left for the jungle on Sunday night taking a bus to a point in the river that they would continue in Canoes! They arrived on Monday ready to begin their work!

Welcome to the Jungle!

This is part of the river! Anyone want a bath? This is what they bathed in! It also served as the water to wash their dishes! It rained almost every day they were there!

This is the Waodani village that they stayed in!

A source of jungle entertainment and fun!

The sleeping quarters! They slept under mosquito nets! Mosquitoes didn't pose near the problem, but ask them about the chiggers!

2008 TLC Trip to Ecuador--Part 3

The first day there they had to go into the jungle to carry out the lumber to begin their construction! The boards were being cut by someone they had hired. The wood cutting process had been going on for approximately a month before they arrived. The wood was cut with a chainsaw. The man cutting the wood had been given a list of what was needed and he cut them the those sizes. The primary language in Ecuador is Spanish! This created some frustrations as they tried to work together to communicate! The groups learned ways to communicate so they could somewhat understand each other!

They had to walk through THIS to get the lumber out of the jungle!

Once all of the lumber has been retrieved then they could start the construction process!

The group used all of the supplies that had been cut for them! Someone else will come in and finish the walls. Getting the roof on was a big accomplishment.

The group also worked on the soccer field to improved it! They wheelbarrowed dirt to the field to fill in holes to smooth it out!

Vacation Bible School was on the agenda as well! It appears they were teaching them a game of Duck Duck Goose!

During some of the break times, inflatable Kayaks had been brought in for some fun!


In the evenings songs of Praise were shared! The group learned a few songs in Spanish so the Waodani could understand better! Time was also spent just getting to know the people from the village!



The Ecuador group had 3 cooks that prepared their meals for them. It consisted of ALOT of rice. The Waodani would hunt for their meat! Here is an Ocelot that was killed during the trip!



The final night in the jungle they were able to use their newly constructed church. The Waodani provided their own show for the Ecuador Group!

They also posed for a few pictures!

The group left the jungle on Saturday, March 22. The took canoes back to the point where the bus was waiting. They left the jungle at 7:00 a.m. and arrived in Quito at 1:30 A.M. Early Easter Sundya morning!

2008 TLC Trip to Ecuador--Part 4

The trip to Ecuador will be something that this group will remember for a very long time! Seeing them off of the airplane was a very exciting experience for me as a mom and listening to their stories as they told about their experiences is something that I was glad to be able to be there for! I was very apprehensive about the trip before they left! However, it was a comforting feeling knowing that we would have the ability to have contact with someone via a Satellite phone that was purchased for the trip. Thanks to our wonderful technology, the daily emails that reported their progress was a very comforting part of the day as we awaited their return. Now that they are all home safe and sound I am very glad that Kyle had the opportunity to be a part of it! The final part will consist of some random pictures that Kyle had on his camera to share with us. I'm sure there will be many more stories and experiences that we will continue to hear about! Enjoy!

The Chartered Bus left the church at 1:30 a.m. on March 13th for Wichita Mid-Continent Airport! Were they supposed to be sleeping?? Their flight left promptly at 6:50 a.m as scheduled and arrived in Dallas at around 8:00 a.m.

After a layover in Dallas they arrived in Miami around 3:15 p.m. They finally arrived in Quito at 8:45 p.m. on March 13.The next day they enjoyed seeing what Quito had to offer!Daila gives a "thumbs up"!

They also ate lunch while out sight seeing or did they?

"Are supposed to eat this?!?"

Brooke says "Oh My!

Quito had MANY experiences for the group!

Some took on the "bald look"

While others left their razor at home!

Ashley takes a break from the work in the jungle. Even with the heat and humidity she still had a great smile!

Dana and Justin enjoy their 18 hour bus ride from the jungle back to Quito!

Shopping in Quito before they returned.

Armed and Dangerous?!?

The roses that they purchased in Quito arrived looking absolutely BEAUTIFUL!!!

And they are back! Even after starting the return trip home with a 2 hour delay in their flight they arrived back in Wichita as scheduled at 10:45 p.m. What a refreshed and rested looking group!

Britney & Blake are happy as they ride the bus home from Wichita!

After a debriefing time at the Motel on Tuesday Morning, the group ate one last meal together before heading home once again on the chartered bus! All of the varieties of Golden Corral were a real treat! Their 13 day journey was now coming to a close . . . and what a journey it was!

They're HOME!

I am happy to report that the 46 members of the Ecuador Team are all back to the United States safe and sound and with lots and lots of stories and experiences to share! It was wonderful to see them so rested and refreshed looking as they came off the plane last night! Some even sported NEW haircuts!!!

It was an awesome experience for them and one that they will all always remember! As soon as I get some pictures from Kyle I will post them here so that you can see them!

17 Hours!

Yes . . . in 17 hours the Ecuador team should be returning and their plane will land in Wichita! It's been a long but short 12 days. Needless to say I'm ready for their return! I'm sure they all have alot of stories to tell and experiences to share! Kyle left with a pretty good start on a beard. . . we'll see how he fared with that for the last 12 days! I'll post some pictures when I have a chance!

Happy Easter!

Did the Easter Bunny hide all of your eggs? I have to say that is one thing I am grateful that my kids have outgrown LOL . . . Not sure why I never really enjoyed the whole Easter Egg hunting thing . . . but I just didn't!

I think we are going to miss the snow that they were forecasting . . isn't that crazy . . . of course it wouldn't be the first time we had snow on Easter. . . it is certainly cold out today though! Maybe this is our last cold blast for Winter. . . hmmmm . . . I don't think I'll hold my breath!

I've been counting down the days and I now have two left until Kyle returns from Ecuador. . . we were fortunate that they were able to have contact with someone in Quito who inturn would contact someone here for a daily report. However. .. we haven't heard anything from them since they left the jungle yesterday so that makes me a bit nervous! Nonetheless. . . I'm ready for tomorrow night to get here so we can see them off of the airplane. . . please pray for good weather, good flights and no delays.

I've said this before but I have to mention it again . . . this whole trip would not have been possible without the generosity of many of you! Kyle will have alot of stories to tell when he returns home, so please be sure to ask him to share his experience with you!

In the meantime . . . it's back to waiting!

Happy Easter!

UPDATE: They made it out of the jungle around 1:30 A.M. this morning . .. they left at 7:00 a.m. on Saturday morning!

2008 Seniors. . .

Graduation is getting nearer every day . . . I'm sure you are counting down the days. . . Soon you will be sending out your graduation announcements. . . if you are needing more wallets or prints before graduation you will need to be thinking about getting me the information soon! In order to receive your order before graduation announcements go out I will need your orders by Tuesday, April 4th. So if you are needing anything more be sure to let me know . . . 873-5258 or prairieimages@hughes.net!

Spring Break!!

I can't really say it has felt like spring much but since Spring hasn't officially gotten here I guess there are no obligations from Mother Nature. . . I have a bittersweet romance with Spring . . . it gets me excited to think about warm weather approaching again . . . but it also gives us those "blasts from the past" that remind us that winter can still lurk .. . I think that is why Spring is really my least favorite season . . . I mean in Winter I expect it to be cold so when we have those occasional 60-70 degree days I just think of it as a bonus. . . in the summer I expect it to be hot so although I feel like I'm dying sometimes all I have to do is think ahead to 30 degrees and the heat is suddenly the lesser of the two evils. . . Fall is my favorite season . . . those Indian summer days are awesome and the changes in color makes things so pretty!

But anyway . .. back to Spring Break! Not too many big plans at our household. .. however . .. I've been waiting (impatiently) for it to warm back up so I can get back to my outside improvements at the studio! My plan/goal for my studio was to have some areas outside to be able to take outdoor portraits. .. so I put that plan into motion last fall and purchased some of my supplies to get that started. . . So we took advantage of the decent weather on Saturday and have started the "Garden/Pond" area of the outdoor studio . . . I'm excited . . . it still has a LONG ways to go .. . but Hey you gotta start somewhere right!

2009 Seniors

It's hard to believe but your Senior Year is just around the corner. . . and it's time to think about your Senior Portraits! Postcards are being mailed with the Early Bird specials on them and I have already gotten a few calls! This means that summer appointments could fill quickly. If you are wanting a certain date/month be sure to call early to get your date reserved as well as take advantage of the Early Bird Deals! For complete package information you can go to my website at http://www.prairieimagesphoto.com/ to see complete package details and information. If you would like a brochure, please be sure to contact me and I will put one in the mail. I'm excited for a new season and have lots of new plans in mind. .. So don't wait! Remember . . . It's YOUR Style and All About You!