Summer Recap, 2010 {family}

On a personal note, this summer flew by so quickly! I kept quite busy with clients, as well as my son's sixth birthday and our family vacation making it memorable.

Here is a photo summary of my sixth year old's birthday party at Chuck E. Cheese. (I know, I know--but he BEGGED us to have it there!) Ü



Any 'Nightmare Before Christmas' fans in the house?? My kids LOVE this movie. Hence; the cake.



A fun time was had by all!



Next up, a very small photo sampling of our family vacation to Omaha, Nebraska. (It is merely a tiny fraction of the 403 vacation pictures I brought home...yikes.)

We had a wonderful time at the spectacular Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium, yummy restaurants, homemade ice cream parlors, The Childrens' Museum, and Omaha's lovely Botanical Gardens. (<---this is where mamma went a little camera crazy. Ü)



Best of all, I got to soak up these people. ♥



Coming soon...many sneak peeks and some recent sessions! xo

My birthday boy...

is SIX today! This is big big stuff, people. I awoke EARLY this morning to a finger lightly tapping my cheek: "It's morning mommy...the sky is blue and the sun is out. And I'm SIIIIXX!!"

To honor and commemorate this milestone in my son's life, we both sat down and I interviewed him earlier this afternoon. This is what he shared with me:


Me: What do you like most about yourself, Noah?

Noah: I like my healing powers. When I hurt my eye it got better so fast! That is amazing.

Me: What would you like to be when you grow up?

Noah: I would really like to be an author.

Me: Oh? What kinds of things will you write?

Noah: a bunch of kids stories; the kind that grownups read to kids.

Me: What is your favorite thing to do?

Noah: I like video games and dressing up.

Me: What is your favorite color?

Noah: I love all the colors but mostly green.

Me: favorite food?

Noah: Chinese! I think I might be Chinese.

Me: favorite movie?

Noah: The Princess and the Frog! I love the music in that movie.

Me: What did you like most about kindergarten?

Noah: Lunch.

Me: What did you like the least about Kindergarten?

Noah: Messing up on my dot-to-dots.

Me: What is the hardest thing you've ever done?

Noah: Mario Cart is really hard...and also being brave around wasps and bees.

Me: What would you do with $100?

Noah: I would keep it in my piggy bank.

Me: If you could have one wish, what would it be?

Noah: ...to stay with my family forever.

Me: What is the nicest thing someone has ever done for you?

Noah: Mrs. Guenther (best kindergarten teacher EVER) helped comfort me when I hurt my head at recess.

Me: If you could ask God one question, what would it be?

Noah: How do you exist if noone made you?


There you have it...a small peek into the heart of my Noah. I am quite convinced he is a little old man in a child's body sometimes.

Stay tuned for pictures from the grand birthday party and his "Nightmare Before Christmas" themed cake!

Please view the slide show below...celebrating my new six year old. Happy birthday sweet boy. You are loved.

Will you be mine? {Valentine}

“If you live to be a hundred, I want to live to be a hundred minus one day so I never have to live without you.” ~A.A. Milne

This was the picture I sent out on our Valentines last year. (The weather would NOT cooperate for one this year!) Happy Love Day everybody.

{ Birthday Bash }

You only turn three once, you know.













How do you like these beautiful new 'Blog It' templates by The Album Cafe? I think I'm in love!

{ 3 } one of my own

Happy birthday to my firecracker, lovebug, snugglepuppy.

And yes--this means another slide show! It will be worth it, honest. (It features Johnny Cash and, well, lots of sweetness!)

Zoey's Third Birthday Slideshow <----click here

And, in case you haven't seen it, go check out the 19 absolute best things you can say to your kiddos over HERE.

My Family! { and some other recent happenings }

So--wanna know what happened last week??

My camera malfunctioned and needs to be sent in for warranty work, and we had a computer trauma known as "The Great Computer Catastrophe of 09" ... but after regaining my composure, ordering the new Canon 50d, and spending over 48+ hours rescuing and restoring my computer, everything is looking up.

Hmmm, what what else happened last week...oh yes! My dear friend and wedding colleague, Megan Rogers, took these shots of me and my family. Aaaand, in case you missed the memo, the oldest girl we are fostering--I did not suddenly have another child. (Well...maybe sort of.)













Here are a couple of recent shots that I took of my kiddos...

Something to live by...

"There are short-cuts to happiness; and dancing is one of them." ~Vicki Baum

This storyboard and quote are going up in the hubbs's office; per his request.

I have been so busy lately; with orders, editing (always editing!), mommy-ing and all the other demands of daily life. I promise I will be blogging more regularly very soon!

Stay tuned for some recent photos of our family trip to the Renaissance Festival. Ü

Just one good one for mommy? Please??

I have often wondered why it is always so darn difficult for me to get a good photo of my own offspring!! Despite this fact, I think I obtained a few good ones today. Oh, and in case those that know me are confused or curious--no--I did not suddenly have another child. The oldest child we are fostering. I must say, she fits in with our crew pretty naturally! ♥ She's already friends with the camera.

Also, I offer special thanks to my sweet and ever patient husband, the slapstick comedian for the shoot.

Here we gooooo.....

My firstborn went to the inevitable first day of kindergarten this morning. It is surreal. Wasn't it yesterday that he was so helpless in my arms and needed me for everything?

What made it easy for me though was his JOY. He was completely exuberant to go. The kid has been wearing a backpack and asking to go to school since he was like...two.

Of course, we took some quickie snapshots this morning on the way out the door:


"Thumbs up for school!"



striking a pose--as only he can... "check out my cool uniform!"





"I found my name!"










Here's to you, buddy. You came home talking about Monarch butterflies, gingerbread men, new friends, and all of the things you are going to learn this year. Mommy is SO proud of you, and loves you more than pink milk. ♥

summer afternoon...

Just a summer afternoon in our corner of the universe! I hope everyone is keeping cool.

Stay tuned for some more sneak peeks from some recent sessions--I've been a busy bee!

xo

Shhhh!

This is what the hubbs is getting for Father's Day--I'm going to put them in a collage of some sort.

It HURTS me to get on the other side of the camera--but I did it for my family's sake. My kids deserve to have some photos of them with me for after I'm gone. (You never know. It could be tomorrow; I hope not, but still...) That and I think Jas is going to love them.

A big thank you to my friend Megan for taking these! xo