{I will never forget tonight...}

I will never forget tonight.  The passion my little girl had.  The joy on her face.  The squeals and giggles that emanated from her little body.  The sun filtering through her hair.  Her little freckles sprinkled across her nose.  Tonight was special.  I've never seen this kind of joy from Brielle.  She's a passionate child but tonight was different.  It was pure joy and proud accomplishment.  We did a session for a designer...{FaithWorks4U} and I decided to bring a brand new hula-hoop (unseen by Brielle prior to our session).  She screamed with excitement and was determined to use it and show me that she could use it.  After a handful of unsuccessful attempts I reassured her that it takes time to learn how to use it.  She still had a determined smile on her face and kept at it.  I watch and I soaked in the smile on her face, the look of resolve in her eyes, her mouth propped open as she tried and tried to keep the hula-hoop going and her laughter when she got it to go around her more than 3 times.  We cheered, laughed and stayed in the old lot we had occupied until the sun went down.  She begged, 'one more time', 'just one more time' more times than I can count and I couldn't resist but say yes.  This moment will be gone in mere seconds, I wanted to soak it in as much as she did.  The sun had set by the time we got home.  I had a proud and excited girl buckled in chatting about how she wanted to do it as soon as we got into the house.  And again after dinner.  And again after her bath.  I loved it.  At dinner she said 'I found something I'm really good at.  And I love it!'  I melted at her words, her excitement, the expression on her face...at her.  I will never forget tonight.

{smell of St. Patty's Day is in the air}

Yesterday morning, before the sun rose but after Jeff returned home from his early morning run, a leprechaun's helper stopped by our house to spread the cheer of St. Patrick's Day.  The kids and I crept out our front door and to our Courtyard gate to find a big green gift bag hanging on the gate.  The kids were giddy and I was excited at this unexpected surprise.  Inside were treasures - gold chocolate coins, green necklaces, green glow sticks, a shamrock pillow, and several cute St. Patrick's day pins.   How cool is that?!   It's like getting 'Booed' on Halloween but it's on St. Patrick's Day!  I love it!!  So we got to be the Leprechaun's helper before the sun rose this morning.  So fun for the kids to participate in this.  Thank you to whoever started this in our neighborhood!

Here's a copy of the letter that goes in the gift bag that includes the Legend and directions on how to help the Leprechaun continue to spread the word about the Leprechaun and his legend.  I'm so happy someone started this - so festive and fun!!

And below is a picture of our pup getting into the St. Patrick's Day spirit.  The kids put this cute hat on him and he amazingly kept it on long enough for me to get my camera out and snap a picture.  Love the look on his face - clearly confused (lip curl) and unenthusiastic over it all.  He can't see anything with all that hair in his eyes...he's in need of a trim. ;o)

Hope you and your family are getting into the St. Patrick's Day spirit.  {Side Note:  Since it's Dr. Susses Birthday today, the kids school is honoring this day & celebrating by serving green eggs, ham and french toast...green!  More green gearing up for St. Patrick's Day.  How fitting!}  :)

{Pish Posh Girls!}

Busy.  That's been my life (I know it's a word most everyone can use to describe life today).  Nothing new just repeating myself.  I've begun an new business venture to add to my repertoire.  I'm crazy I know - but a few nights ago I woke up at 1am and couldn't go back to sleep.  My mind was racing...it wouldn't stop and I came up with some business ideas that I'm ridiculously excited about!  I wish I didn't need any sleep at all so I can just create, work and accomplish the goals I have for my current and new business venture.  This new business direction is catered toward helping other photographers....design stuff.  Stuff I love, but haven't had time or energy to think about.  I'm working on a new blog for it and I'm soooo excited for it's release, but it may be a while since I'm in the middle of lots of projects!  One is working with the many talented designers that I'm so lucky to have an opportunity to photograph and work with (something I never want to stop doing).  I'm so excited that I got to work with the amazing talent behind Pish Posh Girls, Laura Owens.  She founded her clothing company based on her obsession for beautiful fabrics, colors and stylish interiors.  She's created some of the most beautiful heirloom quality pieces.  And let me say first hand, these heirloom quality dresses are made with amazing attention to detail.  The colors she's chosen for this part of her clothing business is perfection.  I really can't say enough about her work.  I'm truly amazed by the talent I come in contact with and I feel so lucky.  Check out her boutique.  Note:  The dress Brielle is wearing is limited so keep that in mind if your interested in ordering this particular dress.

{Happy Heart Day!}

It's Valentine's Day!  It's been fun, festive, sugar filled and it's done.  Have I told you how much I love celebrations?  I love them.  I will celebrate anything and everything right now since my kids eat it up and so do I.  It makes life fun and hopefully makes wonderful memories for my kids.  We began the day giddy, excited for school - gathering our treats and teachers gifts and heading out the door ready for classroom parties.  Tyler had a 'Publishing Party' first thing in the morning - he's been busy studying Tyrannosaurs Rex Dinosaurs for the past three weeks.  Then there was a parade at school - the 4th graders made floats of each county in Arizona and revealed them in the parade.  The kids loved it.  Finally it was Brielle's class party.  The hair image shown below is a little girl's in Brielle's classroom.   Her mom is sooo creative and does the cutest things to her daughters' hair.  I had to snap a shot of the heart she made out of braids - how clever!  Once we got home we got the party started at home.  I was as excited as they were.  I made a scavenger hunt for them and in the end they found a little gift (markers with roller stamps on the ends).  They loved it so much they created 5 more scavenger hunts for me!  Yep, for me!!  So sweet and so fun to see their cute clues.  Then we sat down to a special dinner.  Brielle is just like me....she loves presentation.  She was so excited about the place settings she didn't want to unwrap the silverware of its twine.  She requested ones from the drawers so she wouldn't mess up the one next to her plate.  After our tummies were full we got started on making sugar cookies for some friends.  Brielle made almost the whole thing herself and Tyler sampled the dough giving his thumbs up before he left the kitchen to play with the puppy.  Jeff got home late :( but he was sure to give the sleeping kids kisses when he got home. Some to me too :).  Hope you had a great Valentine's Day with you and your family.

{hearts, candy & sweet cheek smiles}

Oh Valentine's Day is almost here!!  Are you as excited as I am?  Not for the gifts . We don't do gifts - my hubby & I.  Instead we make it a fun celebration for the kids.  I had sooooo many ideas for crafting, gifting, ect. but business commitments didn't allow any time for all the things brewing in my head to experiment and play with (boo hoo) :(  But we are getting ready for tomorrow around here. We have garland strung, valentine cards filled out, teachers gifts made (or in the process), baking, and drawing.  We'll be up late tonight :)  The kids love it!!  Tomorrow Jeff is working late so the kids and I are going to have a special dinner together.  We're going to make placemats, light candles, and eat heart shaped foods.  Most likely we'll make mini-heart shaped homemade pizzas so the kids and put whatever toppings they want on their pizza :) & a green salad - not sure how to make that with a Valentine flair but I'll think of something.  And for desert, we'll enjoy the heart shaped sugar cookies we made today.  Ty & Brielle can't wait!  Me too!

Well I hope you're day is full of wonderful moments with your family & loved ones.  Happy Valentine's Day to you all.

{Curly Gurly Couture}

It's already February (wow, that came upon us fast!) and I'm excitedly getting ready for Valentine's Day.  Not for me but for my kids.  I've never totally understood the romantic aspect of it as an adult since I feel like everyday is and should be special with the one you love.   But for kids I think it's such a fun, happy holiday!  My ideas are brewing for crafts, gifts and decorations.  So hopefully in my next post I'll be able to share that with you :)

I'm so excited to share this next designer with you!!  Her name is Gina and she's also an amazing photographer out of St. Louis Missouri!  She's expanded her talent with the creation of Curly Gurly Couture, where you can find lots of her girly creations!  Her hair accessories are gorgeous {unique, well made and with a mix of textures}, she also makes the cutest vintage lace topped leggwarmers!  I fell in love when I got her package and became an immediate fan!  I love her style.  It's exactly the look I lean toward and love- her vision & creativity rocks!  Check out her store and her Facebook page where she features the latest accessories, specials and Curly Gurly Couture news.  She's currently out of the leg warmers shown below the last one was just sold but she has many more of styles, colors and designs to choose from in her shop.  :)

{Polk-a-dots}

The weather changed yesterday.  We went from 80 degrees, clear and sunny - BBQed, swam and spent this weekend outdoors.  Then yesterday, the it all changed and I welcomed it.  It was cold, rainy and so cozy inside.   I had my fireplace going and of course when the kids got home we splurged (as we always do when it rains) and had hot chocolate and marshmallow {heart shaped ones}.  The kids were giddy, as was I.  I celebrate the rain.  I celebrate the cooler weather.  To me, it's not winter unless it's cold, raining & snowing: I embrace 4 seasons, I yearn for 4 seasons.  So this week is supposed to be a little bit cooler and I'm not complaining (except when my fingers are numb and I can't warm up...then I'll just hop in the bath tub to thaw out).

Speaking of changes in weather...Kait Emerson has the some cute designs out right now that are perfect for winter & for spring!  I'm so luck to have worked with the talented Feanna, owner of Kait Emerson Designs for the past few years.  She always has me giddy with excitement when I open her packages.  Look at what's in her stores right now.  Brielle begs to wear the polk-a-dotted number all the time.  I'm surprised it doesn't have holes in it from all the washing it's been through.  Check out what's new in her shop.  She also posts her latest designs, specials and other news on her Facebook page.

{Little Milla}

**Squeal** Look at this little doll-faced cutie!  Milla and her mommy (my cousin) came all the way out to AZ from Seattle to do a photo session.   Okay....not really.  Her mom lives here so when she was planning her trip out here she booked a session!!   I was so excited to see her and baby Milla!   She wasn't a fan of all the dirt AZ has to offer but she did fall in love with the citrus fruit.  It kept her entertained - enough to even put a little pretty on her head (she pulls everything that's on her head off immediately) for about 3 minutes :).   I wished we could've visited more but next time Reid's in town (this was a quick visit), we'll get all the kids together and have some pool time!  I miss being so close to my cousins in Seattle -- makes me miss the NorthWest even more.   Sigh... :)  That just means I'll have to visit more often.

{getting ready for Spring with Eliza Kate & Nuxiemade}

Is it still snowing where you are?  I take that back, don't tell me.  I'm a four seasons kinda girl so jealousy will ensue ;-)  Since I'm in Arizona I'm living vicariously through other friends photos in the cold, white snow and I'm taking many trips out of town to trick my body into thinking I'm living in a four season kinda world.  My body & mind aren't easily tricked but I'm having fun visiting many wintery wonderlands.  Here in the land of the sun it's been 75 degrees so it's preparing us for an early Spring.  And with Spring coming soon Eliza Kate has some ADORABLE new designs coming out.  And Nuxiemade has a new hat design (my favorite design so far!). I get so excited when we get to work Krystin & Melissa.  Their work is amazing, they collaborate so perfectly and I love how their styles coordinate so well!!  Melissa's hat can be found along with many others in her shop.  Check them out.  Eliza Kate Designs is introducing this new Spring inspired peasant dress , should be popping up in her store soon.  The colors she chose coupled with the peasant style design make for a perfect sunny day dress.  It's in Brielle's closet right now begging to be warn again.  I think this week with the temps creeping up B will be giddy to wear it again.  She's  a girly-girl - very into dresses, ruffles and anything 'pretty'.  Thank you Eliza Kate & Nuxiemade for sharing your talent and your 'pretties' with me.  xoxo.

{Are we really 5 days into 2011?!}

Is it really 2011?!!  I'm having a hard time comprehending this change.  With the New Year (5 days into it) have you started new goals for the next 360 days?   I have a hard time with New Years resolutions, I'm afraid of failure (who isn't?) so I try to avoid setting myself up for something that I may not be able to achieve/maintain.  Boo!!!  I know.  But this year something's changed.  As my kids are growing, I'm seeing glimpse's of my children all grown up and going off to college and it scares me.  I don't want to miss them as they grow, I don't want to mess up by being so consumed by my work, or be unavailable when they need me.  It all hit me during busy season when I was up till 3 am most nights  and then in a fog the following day but still trying to be fully engaged in their lives.   I love my job as a photographer and I love my job as a wife and mother.  So it's a balancing act and one I need to be sure to give proper balance to.  So in 2011 I'm going to work on being more 'into the moment' with my children all year (even during busy season).

Speaking of busy season...I was so busy I didn't get to post sneak peeks (some clients got them on Facebook but I was pressed for time to blog them - bad.) So I'm going to be doing session recaps for some of  my sessions in the upcoming posts.

Here's some recaps from my California sessions.  I had a blast and loved every moment I was there. This first family was incredible, I went to High School with the mom, April.  She convinced me to come to So Cal to do these fun sessions and I'm so glad I did!!  :)  Such a gorgeous, photogenic family too.  Little Luke is so smart, chatting about football stats and all things that are over my head when it comes to sports.  And sweet Tessa is a doll - full of smiles.  And I  love here strawberry blond hair.  And I loved this family !

Oh and my dear friend Tanya's little man below!  Tanya is one of my bestest friends from High School and it was such a thrill to see her and her little boy Gavin.  He stole my heart and sent me home a great drawing of what he though my family looked like.  And guess what?  In his picture, I'm taller than Jeff (who's 6' 5")!  I'm 5' 3" (on a tall day) so I got a kick out that as did my hubby.    A little artist...that Gavin ;-)  But not only that - he's a Rocker!  Really.  At 6 he is so comfortable with a guitar and was so into playing it on the beach I couldn't break his focus.  I love that boy!

And isn't this family gorgeous below?  Sasha (the beautiful mommy below) is Tanya's sister.  Her son Robby is the same age as my son so it was fun chatting with him about all things related to the 2nd grade.  And the location we used for this session - I loved it!!  There was so much variety and peacocks running around wild!  Here's a peak at our session. :)