I’m back!

I am back shooting after our summer “adventure” with N and had the good fortune to have my first session back to be with a lovely friend and her two incredible kids.

Spending a couple hours with two very special kiddos felt like minutes… and their remarkable, loving, funny, gorgeous, kind mom was so energetic and patient that even though I know this about her I was still in awe of her mothering. I am hoping her goodness is contagious ~ as are my kids!

anyway… here is a sneak peek for you MamaS

this one just jumped out at me when I shot it and now it leaves me full of joy…

MissM you “worked it out” for me so marvelously… you are a natural!

life is SO NOT FAIR…

I did nothing to his eyes or lashes ~ seriously… how is this fair?!?!?!

Oh  MisterC you are going to get aways with murder with those baby blues!!

more to come…

Happy B-day PapaJ ~ we missed you! (and you owe me 5 minutes for a family shot!)

Be Blessed

the big sister…

her confidence and grace are evident at such a young age…

quick post because…

MissE is back in California and the state is a better place!

GrandmaL is in seventh heaven to have all her babies in one state and when GrandmaL is happy all is good in the world because her goodness and joy spread like wildfire… so happy He has blessed her with this one…

thanks MissE for sharing your beautiful spirit with me…

you are a.d.o.r.a.b.l.e.

 

Be Blessed

cupid rocks…

 ~ hoping your Valentine’s Day was all you dreamed of ~

 Be Blessed

low resistance…

My resistance was low and I just couldn’t say “no” ~ not to kind MrsB…

So, although I am officially “not working” until April ~ this is what not working looks like!

(see, you wouldn’t resist these three either!)

It was last week with the torrential downpours here in SoCal and the grace of God was with us because the rain stopped and the clouds parted for and hour and this is the magic that ensued… loved loved loved the light and the wonderful attitude of these three kiddos… it was all a surprise for their mom. I’m guessing she was shocked and even more than thrilled with her BFF MrsB for making this surprise happen (great friend or what!?!). The kids were such great sports as I kept saying “one more, almost done.. ohhh look at the light over there, can we do one more?!”

Thanks for the uplifting afternoon and I can’t wait to see if you made mom cry!

miss C, your inner beauty radiates so clearly to your outer beauty…

IOW ~ you are simply g.o.r.g.e.o.u.s. inside and out

miss K… what a marvelous, pretty, kind and funny young lady you are…

thanks for letting me shoot you

mister C, you really did a great job, thanks for your willingness to crawl up the hill!

oh, and BTW I think you deserved the $5

Be Blessed

unsurpassed goodness…

I wanted more time… I wanted to keep them… I wanted not to feel so selfish…

I am constantly telling my kids that ”I want” is just a mm away from “gimme”… We don’t use it, we don’t say it, we try and remain as far away from it as  possible and to stay grateful and content with what we have…

oh but not Saturday… not me…I was all about the ” I want”

It simply was not enough time for me…

I wanted more… more time with two of the MOST amazing, polite, funny, KIND and smart kiddos one could ever imagine.

I tried to take notes, you know, so I could be “that” mom ~ the kind with perfect kids ~ but MamaT did nothing  but smile.

There was no bribing, no cajoling, no threatening, nada, nothing, zipp-o.

I would whip my head around, looking for the “evil eye” that I give my kids. 

Nope. She just smiled.

I would listen as she spoke, waiting to see if there was a secret language…

or if she used that low-voice staccato don’t.even.think.about.it voice I give my kids.

Nope. She just carried on with sweet conversation and honest enjoyment with both kiddos.

MamaT, missM and misterE, I can honestly say that you are all just perfectly, marvelously, pleasantly wonderful.

We were more than blessed to have spent a wee-bit of time Saturday with you: we are blessed to call you our friends.

Seriously though, I need your book on child-rearing ~ please MamaT write one: you are doing such a spectacular job raising them.

Here is a small peek of your not-of-this-world kiddos…

missM, do you have any inkling special He has made you?  Your stunningly gorgeous “outsides” match your golden heart…

 misterE, you are incredibly handsome and completely adorable both inside and out…

 

ahhhh… missM I can simply just repeat ~

your beauty is only surpassed by your goodness…you are your mother’s daughter

that smile… those eyes…those yummy little teeth…

you are something special misterE and the world is better because of you

much more coming your way…

Be Blessed

 

editorial photographer temecula ca…

the seriously short blog entry of the

sweet and stunning bride…

I love the contradiction between the tough and innocence in this one…

thanks for allowing us to shoot with you…

(this was an editorial shot not their actual wedding day ~ hence the short and sweet entry I am allowed to do!)

Be Blessed

grateful…truly blessed and duly grateful

hope you have lots to be grateful for…

heaven knows that I do…

little miss e last year… 

and this year…

btw I made, yes MADE,  her outfit ~ I made her shirt last year, but this year I didn’t like to sleep so I had plenty of time! 

bet’cha didn’t know I could even sew.. neither did I ~ but it turns out I can ~ and  I can paint little flowers, too!

and this year no cousin to wrestle with so N had time to take some photos for me

… love this shot

 grateful, grateful, truly blessed and duly grateful I am…

check out the card…

Be Blessed 

half-way…

* remember you can by-pass personal blog entries by scrolling down to the bottom of the page and clicking on what you want… seniors, children, editorial, published, etc… thanks

The last year for single digit is upon him… seemingly impossible, but true…

nine… that’s half-way to independence… that’s half-way until he can leave for college… that’s half-way until he can date… ha-ha

half way… that’s how the words come out of my throat, they seem to stick there… half-way

One thing that isn’t half-way if how we celebrate life around here… all the way. As usual, we celebrated for a week!

Here is what half-way looks like…

 It all started with the “surprise” decorated door and requested birthday muffin delivery…

complete with off-key singing of course!

and then there was “the party”… 

he’s had:

pony-rides in our backyard party (age 1) 

fire-engines in our front party (age 2)

 birdhouse building and construction party (age 3)

La Jolla Beach party (age 4)

camping at Doheny Beach party (age 5)

gymnastic/crazy place with entire kindergarten class party (age 6)

children’s museum party (age 7) 

golfing with the guys party (age 8 )

and now at the grand age of 9…

 yup, a  ”boys only” bowling party… 

 complete with shirts, cake, pizza, arcade and boys… wild bowling boys

side-note: any moms out there thinking of this…

 The shirts were perfect for spotting wandering young men. Easy to keep a continuous head-count! 

and the requisite “hurry up mom” smile with the cake…

It was a gooood cake and somebody spent a long time making it so I had to get a shot of it.

(and no I am not that somebody, although I did put on the pins bowling balls and candles if that counts!)

and of course miss e… the waitress for the party

(she had the choice of hanging with her fun auntie but chose to be my helper instead. I didn’t even have to bribe her, I honestly let her choose:

I wonder if she regrets that decision, I’ll have to ask her. )

Details:Her shirt said Queen Pin E on the front and the back was The Bowling Sister as opposed to the rest that had King Pin so&so

 …the back was the same The Bowling Boys with B-day boy’s name and date of party on it.

They had red-ribbon week at school the next week, so that was a pretty great coincidence and handy for parents!

Then the surprise celebration in La Jolla… we nabbed them out of school early and continued the celebration.

Received the double fist pump and huge  “YEAHHHHHHHH”  when he heard the news, which is

… pretty much the best reaction you can hope to receive from a nine year old!

 

 He doesn’t even bother to change from school, just straight to the beach…

then the bon-fire, the mystery midnight challenge, (long story and tradition) the presents and of course … s’mores with candles

Hoping life continues to bring them both this much joy…

~ nine and almost seven ~

My sweet sweet N, I love you so much.

I don’t know why God blessed me when he made me your mom,

but I thank Him many times a day for the honor and privilege of being just that, your mom.

We also celebrated with more family, but they are blog-shy. Needless to say his magic kit and trying to make his sister disappear would have been good blog material,but hey I can respect our differences! Maybe I’ll photoshop in those eye things so you can’t tell who you are ~ that would be fun!

ok, back to the b-day boy…

I know, I know, half-way.. no need to rub it in young man… I can still ground you!

You are an amazing young man and I am proud to be your mom ~ happy half-way!

This last photo makes me cry, happy tears.

lucky lucky lucky me…

may you also

Be Blessed

 

california bride…

M had great opportunity to capture these recently…

the gorgeous couple…

the stunning bride…

 

Be Blessed

 

 

I *heart* headshots …

I am counting my blessings to have had the opportunity to shoot some headshots for a beautiful and talented young lady.

Miss B brought the goodness to the session and never let me down with her incredible energy and postive attitude… thanks

this is such a perfect character look for you here… the perfect “don’t think anything” look

I call this your “who me??!?!?!” look…

…and here is your younger sister perhaps?

you have a great range of :”looks” Miss B and I can’t wait to hear you play that guitar!

Thanks again for the great afternoon…

Be Blessed  

 

 

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