I’ve run out of gift making ideas. But I’m pretty sure they loved it. It’s a pretty big print (my lab was having a nice sale) so I’m curious to see where they put it.

Such a pretty girl. It’s so fun to see her grow.

Look how little this guy was when he came home to his mommy and daddy and sis. He traveled with them all the way from Ethiopia. This was taken at the little welcoming party we had for him a couple months after his arrival.

Now he is such a big boy and still as sweet as ever. Reggae music was requested and thanks to the Pandora app. on my phone and my speakered dock, I was able to oblige. Ahhh, technology.

He was only so happy and smiling when his mommy was talking with him. He sure loves his mommy. No doubt the feeling is mutual. Can you feel the love?

Gift to mom… at least one smile. I think we got a few. Thanks W.X. Last time we had to wrench it out of him.

Sister has so much love to share… I think brother might be more interested in hugs once he discovers the joys of wrestling. This blue dress is to die for, with its Alice in Wonderland feel.

Need I say more?

After photographing these two monkeys, I thought about the cliche I hear often. “Where do they get that energy? I wish they could bottle it and give me some!” Such a cliche, but too true. I was thinking they could use that energy to power a house, a town even… forget solar power. It’s boy power.

The littlest in this family reminded me so much of Ezra. It amazed me that the last time I spent with this family, he said nothing. Now such a chatty guy, and so serious and “knowing” that I had to hide my smirks. Time sure does fly!

I love this kid. He has so much energy and is always running, running. Humm. I wonder where he gets that from. Probably mom and dad. Both have been working on restoring and adding to their Arapahoe Acres home, doing much of the work themselves. It is beautiful and my kids have loved digging through their dirt these past couple weeks.

I loved meeting this little family. Mom works on hair at the Salon on Pearl and dad works on aircraft. This little one is destined to be creative. But just now all she has to live up to is being super cute and so, so sweet.
I think she lives up to that perfectly.

Such the little ballerina!

Just a couple from today. Happy birthday to baby Zed is also in order. Photos of him devouring his cake soon to come.

Sweet, even while trying to escape!

Once, many years ago on Mother’s Day, I assisted a few photographers who took an afternoon to photograph several families using an 8×10″ camera. Each family paid around $50 and received one 8×10″ Polaroid. They could choose either b&w or color and I helped the photographers make chocolate (taking the B&W Polaroid neg and sandwiching it with the Polaroid Color positive). Something I learned from my friend Christina who interned at the Polaroid studio in NYC. A pretty special and unique print.
Ever since working that Mother’s Day portrait event I have wanted to do something similar. Mother’s Day is a special day and a portrait of mom’s little ones would be a perfect gift. I know this post is 2 months too early, but it’s never too soon to plan for the most important woman in you life, right? Besides, this is an awesome deal and I’m sure many will take advantage of this opportunity.

If you were wondering, I would love a fancy new camera bag (like this) for Mother’s Day, or a new fixed wide angle lens, and the latest “Healthy Bread in 5 minutes” book (which I just bought yesterday, sorry).

Window in Menton, after we visited the structures made from citrus.

On the way up to the village Eze.

Zed at the chapel in Eze at the end our day there.

I’ve got 11 images in this tiny thing. These are perfect for any pocket or purse and have also been seen displayed on this mom’s desk at the office.

These come in sets of three identical books. You may purchase just one little book, but the cost per book is quite a bit more. There are several cover choices (along with a faux leather). There are also several paper choices, you’ll have to ask me to see some samples of these.

I am excited to offer these since back in the day I would make accordion books for my wedding clients. I was always using nice ribbon to tie the books closed. But to keep them pretty, you’ve got to know how to tie a nice bow, and never ever tie a tight knot. I was always trying to think of an alternative. Velcro, or something more stream-lined. These babies use magnets and clamp shut on their own. Very cool.

As with most things I make, each set of mini albums will be slightly customized. I’ll be adding something pretty to the front of each. Like this fleur de lis. It helps to know which side is up.

Ezra is 4! If you can’t tell, he loves Star Wars. When I asked him what he wanted to do at his party he said: “have sword fights and shoot blasters.” It sounded a lot like what we did last year. So I tried to think of something a bit different for this year. All I could come up with was having Darth Vader make an appearance. Oh, and we had some free play in the yard; intended to be Jedi Training on our ‘space craft’. Half the kids played at Star Wars the other half found the dump trucks.
They ate mini corn dogs (Ezra’s favorite right now) and apples. My attempt at making a Death Star cake totally failed so Zach made some cupcakes and I frosted them to look like a blue double light saber.

Every kid got a costume, but a handful didn’t want to dress up. Then they got to put together their own R2 unite so they could unlock the door and escape the Death Star (our living room) to finish their Jedi Training (play outside). Most were not too interested in making this thing… maybe next year they’ll be old enough for this type of work. The bigger kids loved it.

Each kid got a chance to fight Darth Vader. Even the littlest one loved this, he’s a spit-fire.

For about a year, Ezra prayed for a blue double sword. When Santa finally brought it, he felt it was a bit inferior so we took it back and got a red sword like Darth Vader. In any case, he loved his cake… a full sized, blue double sword.

Ezra was really excited about dressing up like Anakin and insisted on growing his hair long for the party. I tried to tell him he didn’t have enough time to get it long enough, and that we would have to find some fake hair. He finally relented the day before the party and we went to the hair store and got him a nice, long strand of blue hair. I didn’t have time to braid it, but he was so stoked to have his Anakin hair!

Today’s shoot began with a sweet boy and an oh so sweet dog. I actually couldn’t get over how sweet this dog was… I know little boys are sweet, I have two of them. But dogs.. typically they aren’t this sweet.


I love this age. Being almost 3 we had lots of fun together.

Some smiles had to be tickled out of him.

I love this shot. He was telling me about the horses in his BIG book.

My friend Heather is so cool. She had this idea for her Christmas cards and I was able to help her execute it. Photos by me… styling and inspiration by Heather. Check out the cute tie shirt and matching baby leg/arm warmers she whipped up for the shoot. The leg/arm warmers were made from a pair of argyle socks picked up by her hubbie (he’s pretty stylin’ too). Great tutorial here. Her son had been asking her to make something for him to wear. I think she did a great job figuring out a handmade ‘boy’ outfit, don’t you?

I had a great time this afternoon with these guys.  Oh, and the people were nice too.  After almost an entire week of sub zero weather, we could actually go outside without jackets.  That’s Denver for ya.  The sun is out and the temperature is up.  Thank goodness it hadn’t been warm long enough for the snow to melt.

I don’t know dogs very well, but these three were beautiful… if only a bit young and restless.  I know what that’s all about.  I have three who are equally tireless… although of the human kind.

We began tame, trying to get the obligatory family portrait done before we let loose.

I love this one.  Yup. we live in the West.  The red sand proves it.

So sweet.  This little girl has lots of energy… made me wish I was a dog whisperer.

This is very close to my ideal… except they are paintings/prints and I would love to have a nativity set (3 dimensional) similar in feel to this.  In any case this artist has such beautiful work.

Ever since this little one was born, I have become the recipient of many wonderful hand-me-downs as she’s grown. You would think that I was the first time mom with the gifts this family has showered on us. It is so wonderful to have a community. It really does take a village.
Now that she’s one, we got together again for another photoshoot. What a lucky girl. Really, I was the lucky one. It’s so nice to photograph kids other than my own. I keep having dreams of working more and more; getting my name out in various ways. I need to have patience. But I love the variety that photographing others provides. I get excited at the prospect of being busy with work again.

She’s a budding bookworm too.

This swing was made by the parents. So much better looking than our plastic piece of… maybe we’ll have to commission another from them. You game for that?

Momma love. I always know when I’ve worn out my welcome. But just another with this cool little house…

So precious. Thank you for everything, you guys are the best. Have I told you that?

Visiting friends and family in the DC area for the 4th of July was the best way to spend a family vacation. We got to meet our new nephew, now a year old. Ezra and his cousin (only 4 months his jr.) had a blast together and of course India and C were like two peas in a pod. I spent most of the time with Zed and a good book pulled from the shelves from my 11 year old bookworm niece. It truly was a vacation. Lots of time was spent ignoring the kids and eating watermelon and ice cream.
We also went to our old Ward (church congregation) and it was nice to see so many familiar faces. They all asked if we were coming back. It would be nice; it is so beautiful and green out there. Especially since the weather was perfect. It was hardly humid. Unheard of for July. I only got about 3 mosquito bites… can you believe it? And the 4th was almost cold.

These were taken the morning of the 4th. Soon I’ll have all the cousins when the others visit us in August.

This year our Easter gift was a little 7 pound baby. The day before he was born my friend Heather, her kids and mine all had their Easter portraits taken. Easter Sunday was a bit crazy, but India and Ezra looked pretty much like this… Except Ezra’s hair was styled much better by Daddy.
The day these were taken, I could hardly move. India, since she was out of school, was doing all the fetching of snacks and water for Ez… oh, and switching of shows. Lots of TV was watched that day She’s such a good helper.

Spring is a time when families get back together.  Kids are out of school and return home for a little R&R. It was great to see this family all together with the eldest home from his 1st year of college. We wanted to get a great family portrait and a few of the boys… especially the eldest at this time of his life.

I love this family.  It is so nice that they are no longer just two.  Now they’ve got this little guy to cuddle and love.  He was a long time coming.  He may have been a month early but having mom on bedrest and in the hospital makes folks a bit impatient.

I arrived and, of course, he was tired.  What newborn isn’t?  He didn’t want to be moved about and he sure didn’t care that I was there trying to take his picture.  Babies.  They think they’re running the show.  Probably because they are.  We got past the usual newborn grumpiness and he showed us his cuteness from every angle.

I chose this beautiful blanket from their stack of Indian blankets.  It made for a very nice background.

Little and big toes.  Mom had a hard time not touching those little piggies.

I thought I wanted dad’s hand to show off this tiny hand.  But I love how he is just brushing across mom’s arm.  Perfect.

This one is my favorite.  So relaxed and so beautiful.

There is an dad and baby shot that I love, but I’ll see what dad has to say about it.  There may be a second instalment…