Thursday, September 2, 2010

Extreme Makeover Home Edition - A few more...

I know by now this is old news... but I really wanted to share some final images of our crazy week. The night security left we were a bit sad... Drew and Andy made friends with our night watchman named Carl. A guy from CA who's dream is to start a Boys Home - Carl we wish you the best of luck with you endeavor.

Things are much quieter around here. I'd say back to normal. The residents that had damage to their property already have new lawns or seed. The family seems to be enjoying their home... although they'll need to keep their blinds shut until the show airs in October. The traffic is low... maybe I run into one slow driving rubber-necker on the way down the street.

We are happy and proud to have been part of this event. I have more shots... but will probably wait to post any until after the air-date...

Extremem Makeover Home Edition Neenah - August 2010

Extremem Makeover Home Edition Neenah - August 2010

Extremem Makeover Home Edition Neenah - August 2010

If you lived on the block you got a special tag to wear and one for your vehicle. Leaving home was not easy for the residents in the 700 block of Elm Street. Not only were they barricaded in, but they also had to deal with the crowds creeping on their private property, lights blaring at night, 24 hours of zooming golf cars and the sounds of constant construction.

Extremem Makeover Home Edition Neenah - August 2010

Volunteers had to sign in at Shattuck Middle School. This friendly woman from Community First organized all the volunteer's contracts.

Extremem Makeover Home Edition Neenah - August 2010

Extreme Makeover Home Edition - Neenah

Extremem Makeover Home Edition Neenah - August 2010

These weary volunteers just got done laying all the cork flooring in the home.

Extremem Makeover Home Edition Neenah - August 2010

Lock and Key Productions "gas man" - this guy drove all around making sure the generators and all the vehicles had enough gas for the week.

Extreme Makeover Home Edition - Neenah

Landscaping staged on Laudan...

Extreme Makeover Home Edition - Neenah

Extremem Makeover Home Edition Neenah - August 2010

Furniture staged waiting to be placed on Reed St.

Extremem Makeover Home Edition Neenah - August 2010

Looks like they got fixtures from Kohler - yet another Wisconsin based company.

Thursday, August 19, 2010

Extreme Makeover Home Edition - Here Come the Spectators

Extremem Makeover Home Edition Neenah - August 2010

Drew is soooo excited to see all the people and see all the big trucks!


Extremem Makeover Home Edition Neenah - August 2010

Steady line of people walking down Elm Street towards the build.


Extremem Makeover Home Edition Neenah - August 2010

Twitter and Facebook have been great resources of getting information out to those interested in the build.


Extremem Makeover Home Edition Neenah - August 2010

Extremem Makeover Home Edition Neenah - August 2010

Lots of bikes parked outside the build... you can also take Valley Transit right to the corner of Elm and Lauden but check the bus schedule for times.


Extremem Makeover Home Edition Neenah - August 2010

The people standing in this lawn and on the front porch are spectators - not any of them live at this house. The Extreme Home Makeover team has promised to come through after the crew and visitors have left to fix up the neighborhood lawns that are being trampled.


Extremem Makeover Home Edition Neenah - August 2010

The crowd is just HUGE!


Extremem Makeover Home Edition Neenah - August 2010

The celebrities are few and far between. Ty hasn't even been in town at all for the last few days. I guess his secret project woes come from him not being around to get them accomplished!


Extremem Makeover Home Edition Neenah - August 2010

What a way to bring out the best in the community!


Extremem Makeover Home Edition Neenah - August 2010

Lexington homes has been giving away tons of free stuff!!!


Extremem Makeover Home Edition Neenah - August 2010

Everyone came out to see a piece of this...


Extremem Makeover Home Edition Neenah - August 2010

They got "hats, t-shirts and jerseys"....


Extremem Makeover Home Edition Neenah - August 2010

Extremem Makeover Home Edition Neenah - August 2010

Extremem Makeover Home Edition Neenah - August 2010

This family has come by everyday to sell lemonade - all proceeds go towards the family.


Extremem Makeover Home Edition Neenah - August 2010

Its gonna be pretty quiet around here next week - we might even hear the crickets again!

Extreme Makeover Home Edition - Night falls on the build

Extremem Makeover Home Edition Neenah - August 2010

Extremem Makeover Home Edition Neenah - August 2010

Extremem Makeover Home Edition Neenah - August 2010

Extremem Makeover Home Edition Neenah - August 2010

Tuesday, August 17, 2010

Extreme Makeover Home Edition - Neighborhood happenings...

EMHEWI_1

Lemonade stands going up all over! Be sure to bring your change...


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These lovely ladies are burning tons of calories with all the walking they are doing! The ATV on the right is decorated "Paige Style" - gotta love the pink!


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Floor joists...



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Debris from the demolition of the home... There are about 10 of these lined up - and yes they are recycling.



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Onlookers...


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Production crew rigging up a camera.


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Digging the foundation...


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Neenah Fire and Police on hand in case of an emergency.

Monday, August 16, 2010

Extreme Makeover Home Edition - Who's that Bus?

EMHEWI_10

Ever since "the bus" has rolled into the 'hood nothing has quite been the same... actually, it never will be. A deserving family was swept off their feet and the entire community has turned up to tear down, cheer on, and rebuild a statement home that says "dreams really do come true".

The attitude is infectious. Everyone walking by as a forward tilt of enthusiasm in their step. So many people signed up to volunteer that they are turning turning people away. I signed up to do a number of specialized tasks via the online volunteer contact sheet. But since there are no need for more volunteers in blue shirts I decided to do what I could in my own way.

For one I am doing a behind-the-scenes photo essay on this blog and we are planning on putting a giant twitter hashtag (#emhewi) in our front lawn. Another idea we had was to host a water bottle sale on our lawn and donate the money to the build. We are bringing goodies to the Extreme Security and NPD. But most of all just sharing a smile and a wave as onlookers walk by.

Sunday, August 15, 2010

Extreme Makeover Home Edition - Welcome to the Neighborhood!

EMHEWI_2

Welcome to Neenah! I've decided to do a little photo essay of things that I see this week during the build. We live on the street up the block from the family that has been chosen to receive this amazing life changing gift.

I've witnessed some amazing things happen so early into it all (and yes, I've already had tears well up in my eyes). I hope to bring an insiders view to help better describe what it is like to live in a 24 hour construction zone and photograph it in all it's glory.

Follow me on twitter for up-to-date information about the build!
http://twitter.com/ardent_photo

or my husband Andy and all his witty charm at
http://twitter.com/andygaerthofner

Friday, August 13, 2010

5 months old....

©2010 Ardent Photography

Tomorrow my baby girl is turning 5 months old. She is such a delight! I've had this past week to spend with her all alone with no big brother around. Emerson loves to smile and laugh... her new big thing is to blow spit bubbles and make baby pteranodon noises.

This week we also found out that our sweet baby girl will need to have surgery in a few months. In late June Emerie had a UTI infection that lead us to have a series of tests. A visit this week with a pediatric urologist explained that she has some crazy stuff going on. In a nut shell, she will end up having part of her right kidney removed as well as some other things that are going on with the tubes that drain to the bladder.

We are hoping this is just a little hiccup in our lives. The abnormality is neither hereditary nor caused by anything from the outside world. This is just how God initially wanted Emerson's cells to form inutero.

Right now we are praying for her and loving her. She is soooo awesome and we know she will pull through.

©2010 Ardent Photography

©2010 Ardent Photography

©2010 Ardent Photography

Tuesday, July 13, 2010

Maternity - Ardent style




It's been crazy here at Ardent Photography! Since I last blogged I've moved into my Milwaukee Boudoir studio, hired a part-time employee, got Emerson baptized and even found time for a short vacay with the family.

I don't usually do maternity portraits... but if a past client calls with news that they are expecting I cannot turn them away! Katie was one of my first sessions that I shot in my studio in Milwaukee. We shot part of the session in the studio and the second half on the streets and in a baby boutique in the Third Ward.

Their little guy is due any day now. I wish for them a quick and complication-free delivery!





Monday, June 14, 2010

Emerson is 3 months old today!

My little baby girl is such an angel. Today she is three months old! She is sleeping upstairs in her bassinet and Drew is playing cars and trucks by himself - giving me the opportunity to catch up on some work.

This photo was taken last week... isn't she precious?


People say she looks just like Drew... I can definitely see the similarities...

Thursday, June 10, 2010

High Cliff State Park Engagement Session

Molly and Brian and I had a fantastic time during their engagement shoot at High Cliff State Park. This park has breathtaking views and is one of our favorite spots to go hiking. High Cliff is also the perfect place for an outdoor wedding ceremony in the Fox Cities. Just don't plan your wedding during the lake fly hatch... lake flies are known to be a nuisance and will stain your white wedding dress!

The park is a special place for the couple...Molly grew up down the road on Fire Lane 1 and Brian did an internship at the park. I bet they wouldn't have guessed they would find themselves strutting in front of a camera years later!

This couple is so in love and very easy to photograph. They booked my wedding package more than almost two years in advance! I'd say they put their wedding photography on the top of their priority list.

Here are some of my favorite shots from the day. The sumac tree shots are my absolute favorite!!!

Enjoy!