On Wednesday I had the opportunity to hang out with friends, talk shop, listen to talented and experienced photographers and have a really fun day. WPPI came to Sacramento (Wedding & Portrait Photographers International) and I’m really glad I was able to go (thank you babe for being an awesome Daddy all day so I could go!) It was the first time hearing photographers like Jonathan Canlas, who shoot in pure film. It wasn’t enough to make me want to switch from digital, but I definitely got the itch to pull out the ancient camera my dad gave me and see what I could do with a roll of film.

Each hour that passed that day I became more and more confident and excited about my photography. Not in my ability, because I am constantly learning and growing, but in what I am passionate about shooting. I may not be an insanely expensive, over the top wedding photographer like one of the speakers…but I’m a mom with a camera and I love it. My passion is to capture families right now, in exactly their place of living. I am excited about what my photography is all about.

Here are just a few snapshots…I didn’t take many pictures at all during the day, too busy taking notes!!

hmmmm….any guesses on what my name is? Sheesh!

(oh my goodness Cierra’s iphone hurt my heart!)                          (I actually won something!)                                               ( just the girls hanging out!)

(from left to right) Me (apparently  showing off my fake smile) , Jeanette, Juanita, Cierra and Susanne

…Lily is officially out of diapers. Not even a pull-up at night. This is all extremely bittersweet…honestly, way more sweet than bitter :)

Yes…I do take photos of my children on the potty.

ps. Last night’s APC home party was so much fun! To all of the wonderful women that stopped by my table, thank you for the lovely compliments and I certainly hope to meet you again in the future!

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Tonight is shaping up to be a very fun night for the Alternative Pregnancy Center’s “Shoes, Shopping & Salsa” event! Apparently we are going to wear cute shoes, shop the different vendors and eat salsa :) I’m excited. Salsa is one of my favorite foods…I make a mean batch of salsa.

Tonight I’ll be camped out at my table with cards & goodies & sample products of things that I offer my photography clients. I really encourage you to stop by! There will be 15 other vendors there just waiting to share their wonderful local businesses with us. I personally will be giving away gift certificates and attendees of the event can book their session right there and receive 50% off their session fee! The whole evening is to benefit the Alternatives Pregnancy Center, all the vendors will be donating part of their proceeds from the night. I really believe in what the pregnancy center does and want to support them in any way I can. If you are unfamiliar with them, please visit their website and read all about the beautiful babies that they have helped come into this world.

Directions to the “Shoes, Shopping & Salsa Event!”

This photo has nothing to do with tonight’s event…but I liked it :) I took it in the bathroom of the Hilton today at the WPPI Roadtrip. I got to hang out with some great friends and make some new ones as well! The girls I hung out with were poking fun at me for taking photos of everything…yes I even bring my camera into the bathroom with me. Who knows?! You might get something like this…

This past weekend my entire extended family went to Pismo Beach to honor my Grandma that passed away just a few months ago. She grew up in Pismo and we all gathered to have a funeral service and a family reunion. I spent time with family members that before this weekend, were strangers. I remember when some of them were born and hadn’t seen them since…and now they are taller than me :)

It was a quick weekend, I felt like we needed more time. One moment that I will always remember is when us granddaughters came together with our Moms and fingered through Grandma’s jewelry. She didn’t wear very much, and what she had was modest and I’m glad to have chosen just a few small pieces that I can remember her by. A small heart to wear on a chain around my neck, it looks like a piece of gold Grandma may have panned for on one of her camping trips. A small shape of Baja Mexico to be worn as a necklace, Grandma & Grandpa would take their motor home and travel to Mexico quite often. She was always so supportive of my husband and I’s call to Mexico.

It all felt very eerily familiar since it just feels like yesterday that we did the same thing with my Grandma B’s jewelry. I lost both my Grandma’s within a year of each other…more than that my Mom lost both her mom’s within a year of each other. That is incomprehensible. In my reality…my Mom will always be with me.

To honor my Grandma, houses were rented on the beach, tons of food was brought and we all tried to laugh as much as possible. She wanted us to do that, and she would have loved to have been there. I am truly thankful for the weekend we all had together.

As soon as we pulled up to the driveway, something in me changed. It is the beach. It is the sun and the sand. I made my husband promise that we would live on the beach one day. I think more and more that we go there, he realizes how important it is to me. I’m not sure why the Lord has called me the middle of California and not the ocean’s edge, but one day I know I will get there.

On Sunday she turned 7…Seven…Siete…anyway I think about it I am shocked. I want to keep her as young as possible so I love that this year she wanted baby dolls and Barbie and Disney princesses. Belle is her favorite right now. Belle was my favorite. Us brunettes stick together.

My first baby girl is 7 and my last baby girl is now potty trained…oh yeah…more on that later!! It is all happening very fast.

We went out over the weekend, just our little family of 5 to Old Sacramento. We walked around, mommy took pictures, we ate ice cream, chocolate dipped oreos and rice crispy treats with sprinkles on them. Daddy pointed out the beautiful river boat where he proposed to Mommy, Abby said, “Oh I remember that story!” She loves to hear me tell it.

On Sunday we had a lovely birthday party with close family. We all went around and spoke words of life into her, told her how much we loved her and what she meant to us. I told her she is important to me because she made me a mommy for the first time, and I love being a mommy. She knows that. Out of the blue the other day she says to me, “you love being a mommy don’t you.” It wasn’t a question, she knew what she was saying. I stopped whatever I was doing and looked her in the eyes, “Yes Abby, I love being a mommy…I love being *your* Mommy”.

Love you Abs…