I am so behind in my blog posts! I’ve got so much to catch up on. Its been a very crazy past couple weeks. Everything from a wonderful girls’ weekend to my Grandpa getting married (yep!) to photographing my first birth…there is a lot to share!

I was looking across the hundreds of photos I’ve taken over the past couple weeks and saw this one. I don’t think you can get anything more precious. These are the cousins…

Also, I can’t believe it slipped my mind. But remember back a few months ago when I was asking for votes for the KCRA A list? I am so thankful to everyone who voted for me. I didn’t place in the top 5 in Sacramento, so I wasn’t able to know my ranking. Its ok though! It was just so lovely to see those of you say such wonderful things about me and my photography. I promised that if you voted for me and left me a comment, I would put those names in a hat and draw a winner of a complimentary session. I’m please to announce that JUANITA is the winner! She’s a photographer herself, and a dear friend. Hey Juanita! Maybe we can do a swap??? I need family photos!

Don’t forget, mini-sessions are coming up! If you’re considering family photos at all, maybe engagements or you’re a grad on a budget, these are the sessions for you. Shoot me an email or give me a call and we can talk further.

I’m taking a very rare trip with some amazing girlfriends of mine…one of which I haven’t seen since before Zach was born! To say I’m excited would be an understatement. Pray for my amazing husband while I’m gone! He’s going to get some real quality time with our kids.

If you contact me by email or phone in the next week,  I will get back to you as soon as I return! Just to let you know, the portfolio building (ahem…complimentary!) birth sessions are still available. I’ve had a lot of interest, but nothing has been able to formulate yet. I would like these sessions to be completed by the end of November! I’m not looking for a “certain type” of birth either, no two labor experiences are alike! So if you are at all interested, please contact me and lets talk!

Also, in an effort to help those of you who would like to schedule a family photo session, but the budget for professional photos just isn’t there right now, I will be holding very affordable “mini-sessions” at the end of October (Think Christmas cards! Think Christmas gifts for Grandma!) So be looking out for details about that! I’m very excited about it and I think you will be too.

And since no blog post is complete without a photo (in my opinion!) This oldie was from back when I photographed my project 52. I really miss that project! I had so much fun doing it. If you don’t know what I’m talking about, click the tag “52 weeks” and scroll through the photo a week that I took with me and my kids for a year. The following photo was from exactly a year ago, week 16. It didn’t make it as the pic of the week, but I loved it anyway!

He could hardly wait. The whole week has been torture…not sure for who the most, the little boy who had to wait until his birthday, or his parents who had to put up with all the questions! “Is it my birthday now?” “When do I get my party?” “Can I open my presents?” “Is it my birthday yet?” “Why do I have to go to bed? I have to have my party!” Finally, finally his birthday arrived and I am so glad it did!!

He chose Coco-Puffs for his birthday cereal, just like last year. I’m thinking maybe he doesn’t know he can choose another kind? He opened one gift, a nerf gun, and played with it all day long, it is so wonderful seeing him really understand toys and how to work all the little buttons. Each year he gets bigger…older…I guess that’s the point right?

We had a small family birthday party at a park, we all came to the conclusion it was the fastest birthday party in history! Zach just needed to open his toys and eat cake…I love it! It was so his personality….

(beware…photo overload!)

His Grandmas who love him so much…

MIL made the cake of course…she outdoes herself every time!

He came out to play…we were all so glad he did!

Um…yeah…she had a baby last week?? Two words…Hot Mama!

Boys and their toys…

He’s in love…

Officially parents of a 4 year old boy…

…or you might miss it…

6 years goes by in a flash.  It feels like yesterday  it was just Jeremy and I, no cares in the world. No mortgage, no responsibilities, we traveled light, we ate exotic food, stayed up all night because we wanted to (not because we had to!), went to the movies with 5 minutes notice, jumped in the car for spur of the moment trips to the beach, slept in, had a clean house…

and then she was born…     and life finally began.

I am blessed to be her mom. She makes my days brighter, she lifts the clouds, her sing-song heart is contagious, she teaches me about Jesus’ love. (I literally just overheard her in the living room, “this is the best day of my life!”)

Happy 6th Birthday Abs, you are so beautiful, inside and out.

…by her. Everyday. She’s my heart, toddling around on her little chubby feet, following me from room to room. To her I am Mamamamama, and I love it.

She has this one weepy eye.  It carries a tear most the day that never falls. It’s not serious and it doesn’t bother her. I totally adore it. Her little lashes wet and eye glossy. Sometimes I look in her little eye and it makes me wonder what she is thinking. Those eyes can tell a story. What makes her happy? What troubles her?  Is she thinking of how much she loves her blankie? Is she sad she got goldfish for her snack and not animal crackers? Does her pacifier taste yucky? Did she enjoy that hug? So many thoughts running through her head, and I know none of them. I can’t wait to sit down and talk with her like I do with Abby. If she’s anything like her sister I will be lucky if I can get a word in, and I wouldn’t have it any other way. I’ll sit and listen…as long as she wants to…fine by me.

…he woke up crying tonight because he missed his Daddy.  It seemed like it happened in an instant, one minute he was a baby who didn’t even notice that Daddy was gone, the next he’s a little boy who doesn’t really understand the concept of a business trip, but just knows he needs his Dad close by.  So I got him up and we called Daddy, thank goodness he’s just a couple states away and not out of the country. He could barely talk though from sobbing and being half asleep.

I’m no good with bugs, or fixing toy cars, or wrestling or building forts. I’m so glad the kid still loves to snuggle with me, or the role of Mom would be obsolete to my 3 year old! He just needs his Dad, plain and simple. His clone.

…Easter was a very happy day…obviously.

They told me they were best friends yesterday. What a way to melt a momma’s heart! Who knows what kind of friends they will become when they are older, but for now they are choosing eachother, over anyone else. That I am so proud of!

…shining through our backyard, across the overgrown weeds, winding around the climbing tree,  into our sunroom and filling our hearts…I love it here. It’s not big or presumptuous, it’s not grand or amazing, it’s not even our forever house, but for now, it is perfect.

The backyard fits the kids well, they require daily baths now from getting so dirty all day, but at the end of the day they are tired and love to talk about their adventures.

We have a lot more to do to make it “ours”, but for now, we’re having fun. I’m almost done unpacking boxes, so hopefully soon picking up the camera will happen more often and I can get back into blogging here!

Discovering the neighbor kids!

Week 40/52 (ok…this was from last week. I do have the week before last’s ready, Week 39…but I’ll show that one later. And if you’re confused, you’re seeing a reflection in the big sliding glass door that leads from the master bedroom to the backyard.)