{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. :)

{’tis the season…}

to celebrate, to spend a lot of time with family & friends, to laugh, to give, to reflect and be thankful.  This year we've done a lot of all of those things.  The kids have been so giving this year, understanding that although it's fun to get gifts it's also fun to give gifts.  So they've been on a giving spree - making cookies and giving them to others, making cards and giving them to friends & neighbors.  I'm eating up their enthusiasm!  This year we didn't do the Polar Express, we didn't do the North Pole Experience, instead we spent time together talking about Christmas, talking about our wishes, and doing a lot of  crafts.    Brielle has made so many snowflakes I can't even count them (some of which have gone to neighbors & family).  Tyler has been writing stories, making books.  He's encouraged Brielle to write stories as well so most mornings they are up early at the kitchen table, coloring, drawing and writing fun and sometimes crazy action packed stories.  And since it's been unseasonably warm here we check the forecast daily hoping for a cold, wet day so we can light the fire place and sip on hot cocoa with marshmallows (our favorite!) :)  I think it's finally starting to get cooler - yay!!  So many things to be thankful for this Christmas - my amazing clients (I really do have the best clients out there and I'm so thankful for them!), my families health, my loving husband and my two silly kids, and my friends (who I've neglected a bit during busy season - thankfully I think they forgive me) :). Here's a little sprinkle of the things that make it feel like Christmas for me in Arizona. :)  Merry Christmas to you!

Brielle's Room - the kids wanted a tree for their room so we got these little trees for them to decorate.  They don't want to take them down after Christmas...but they'll see them again next year :)

Tyler's Room - I love the billiard balls (whatever they're called) that he choose to put on his tree.

And on final one of Brielle at her Christmas Performance for Ballet, Tap and Tumbling.  She was so excited for us to see her perform!!

It's been a whirlwind...

...of client sessions, designer shoots, fall/winter festivities, dance recitals, school activities, and the craziness that goes along with being a mom and running my own business.  I've missed you though...missed blogging, missed sharing, missed this little bit of time  I get to focus and reflect.  So this post is one of many to come and is a client session share of a beautiful family I photographed over a month ago.  I know, I'm embarrassingly behind on sharing my sessions.  Don't give up on me....I'm working hard to get things done and dedicate time to sharing here :)

This family was insanely fun to work with!  They were so photogenic and up for anything!  Denisse is such a beautiful person and I'm so lucky she's a friend of mine.  And her girls are gorgeous!  Take a peek :)

{The Measure}

It's busy season!!  And with that, I'm sooooo embarrassingly behind in blogging.   I really don't like neglecting one of my favorite place to share with you.  But I have a good excuse...I've been sick but still trying to edit sessions while coughing, sneezing, and overall feeling blah into the wee hours of the morning (which is only making my recover efforts worse).  But my clients and designers are worth it.  I love them both!  I recently went to Southern California for some photo sessions - which I'm now planning on doing at least once a year.  So let me know if any of you are interested and I'll keep you posted on my travel plans.

I've also been keeping busy with the amazing designers I work with.  The one shown below is new to me and I am in love!!!  I didn't know what she was going to send me (I never do so it's always very exciting!) and I squealed when I opened the package!   I love the vintage, peasant style of her designs -  she discretely adds the modern twist into her line. Making her clothes very functional for today's busy kids.   Just look at her on-line boutique - and don't blame me when your shopping cart is full when you check out. :)  It's hard to resist.  I'm a huge fan already - The Measure. Thanks for stopping by and Happy Thanksgiving to all of you!!!

{Halloween Night 2010}

I can't believe it's already November!!  I'm not ready for Halloween to be over.  I struggled getting the Halloween bins out of the garage and filling them with all of our spooky, fun decorations.  The house felt clean though, I must admit.  Something about de-cobwebbing, dusting and putting away skeletons & grave stones, will make a house feel a little fresher ;o)  So Halloween night was great.  We were so happy to have Grandma & Grandpa join us {for the 2nd year in a row and we loved that they got all dressed up this year too!}  We wanted to start traditions here since we're all relatively new to the neighborhood.  So Jeff and I brought out the chiminea, roasting sticks, marshmallows,  camping chairs, and drinks and invited neighbors over throughout the evening to hang out and enjoy this fun celebration.  Next year maybe we'll incorporate a pot-luck dinner, just wish Halloween landed on a Saturday night!  Anyway, we had a great time.  The kids were very content...they had taken 100+ glow sticks and made a track in the street with them.  Then the scooters came out...hours of entertainment :) They didn't want the night to end.   Hope you all had a wonderful Halloween!  Thanks for stopping by :)

Note:  The picture above was taken before school on Friday.  Brielle was in the Storybook Parade with her matching 'Ten Little Ladybugs' book and Tyler was showing sports spirit by dressing up for the Sports Assembly they had that day.  He also had a publishing party in class while Brielle had fun Fall centers full of activities of the season.  I loved being at school all day with both of them.   Moments I'll always cherish :)

{just playing with the light above...we were waiting for the rest of the trick or treaters to get back and enjoyed each others company - while roasting marshmallows of course.}

{Monster Mash Birthday Party for my boy who's turning 8}

My first born baby boy is growing up.  He's turning 8...yes, really!!  I remember the first day I held him and now I'm celebrating his 8th birthday, Halloween style.  His birthday is in early November but he's always wanted to have a Halloween costume birthday party.  So this was the year... We managed to get things together despite being sick and being gone second shooting a wedding a day the day prior.  I woke up early, the sun was shining and I began making the cupcakes, cleaning, adding more decorations, preparing games, wrapping the prizes, and getting the kids ready for the party that they were beyond excited about.  I was thankful to have some parent volunteers help me out at the party. {thanks Shellie & Matt} :)  Tyler had some school friends and neighborhood friends over and once the festivities began we were busy, busy, busy.  We started with crafts and began the games {freeze dance, mummy wrap & a pinata}.  The big hit....'Freeze Dance'!  The kids wanted to play again and again, so we did.  I have to say, the kids were really good at this game - Jeff was the music man and made sure to only play Halloween songs but included the 'StarWars Cantina' (same tune as Barry Manilow's Copacabana) - one of Tyler's favorite songs.  Ty had a blast with his friends and wants to do it again this weekend.  Um, we've had to break it to him that he's going to have to wait till next year to have another one.  :)

{Holiday Magic is Blooming}

The weather is slowly starting to change here in AZ.  I was so excited to wear boots, jeans, a light cardigan and a hat the other day when I felt a touch of fall in the air.  Yay!  That only lasted a day :( and I'm anxious for more.   As the weather changes we're thinking more about the upcoming holidays.  And Trendie Treasures just released some of their holiday dresses!  I'm in love with the the red dress & hair wrap {Holiday Magic} below, but the pink & white dress  {Blooming} with the matching hat is awfully cute too.  Check out her whole line here.

{There Here! Holiday Card samples}

Eek!!  Are you ready for Halloween?  I'm not quite ready yet since we've had a house of sickies :( and we spent some time out of town so now I'm playing catch-up.  But I'm excited and LOVE this time of the year.  Our house is decorate...all things Halloween and the kids excitedly await Halloween night.

Well, I know it's only October, but this is a time for my clients to think about Holiday Cards.  A preview of some of the cards available are shown below.  Those who've already had their session, you will get a link to the e-store to purchase sets of 25 with your chosen photos.  Each card allows for an image on the front & the back and a greeting personalization.  This year I'm offering some funky fun cards that double as an ornament.  That's right!  A keepsake ornament for family & friends.  The first 4 below are samples that are also ornaments {more will be available in my e-store}.  Simply string a ribbon through the hole at the top and family and friends can easily hang them.  How cute is that?!

NOTE:  The Templates are not for sale to Photographers since the elements used in some of the cards were not created by me.  I may however be offering some templates for photographers of  Ornament Cards.  Stay tuned... :)

{Little beauty & my fun Goodwill find}

I donate to goodwill at least once a month and not long ago my kids asked why we never go inside. I explained that I'm donating and they have this handy-dandy drop-off drive through so we didn't need to go inside. This was followed of course by...'let's park and go inside, can we mommy?' So we did. But I warned, 'we aren't here to buy, just to look'. They gave me forced sad faces but said okay. And to my surprise in the very back of the store was this lonely little chair. The kids saw my face light up when I saw it, the hopped in it and squealed, 'Can we buy? It's so soft'. I didn't need much more of a push than that but it squashed my 'consistence' effort deviating from the planned 'we're not here to buy'. Sigh... I couldn't resist. It was $20 bucks so I took it - I mean bought it.Anyway, I finally decided to use it during a session (it's been stored in my garage).  I met this little beauty at some nearby groves and she was such an amazing subject.  Happy, up for anything and excited for clothing changes!  We had so much fun- we shot until we there was no more light.  Here's a peak at our session!

{a Summer weekend in Autumn}

Sounds strange hu?  It kind of is :)  Being in Arizona, Autumn doesn't start when much of the country does (sad to say).  We've had unseasonably hot weather that has  finally changed this week.  Knowing that the change was coming we took advantage and had a 'day of summer' playing in the pool and laying in the sun. The kids, being fish, were begging from the moment we woke up to go swimming.  I was a little under the weather so I watered plants by the pool and sprayed the kids and daddy with the hose making them each do a dance.  It was fun.  I had fun.  I think they had fun LOL.  The dog ran around the pool and played in the wet bushes making himself very comfortable when he was ready for a nap.

Last night the rain clouds moved in, and the sound of raindrops began to pour down.  Today I nearly thought the flood waters from the down pour were going to take my car away.  It was crazy.  The news was warning valley residents of tornadoes & floods.  Amazing how quickly the weather can change around here.  Last week we were in the 100's and this week we're in the 70's and 80's.  I'm loving this change!  The kids begged for hot cocoa and marshmallows after school - I was easily convinced :)

Here's some pictures I snapped when the kids were laying on the grass waiting for their sunscreen to soak in.  They're so goofy, I wonder where they get that from?