with this ring....

we got wed! well, not really this ring, since this is my 3rd wedding set in 6 years, but the meaning is still the same. almost 6 years ago, kenneth and i got married. since i have been the second shooter for charise on a couple of weddings, i have come to realize that our wedding pictures weren't that good. they didn't capture "us". we have the same old, same old ring shot. hands on top of each other, on top of the bouquet shot. that's just not funky enough for us. ring shots are a big part of wedding photography as i have come to find out. the more inventive, the better.... so, 6 years later, i decided to take some ring shots... btw, where was charise when i was getting married 6 years ago, why didn't i hire her? .... she was too busy being my maid of honor :)

hurricane...

that is my grandpa's nickname for my 3 year old, and boy does that name fit her! she can, within a matter of minutes, completely destroy a room and smile while she leaves a path of destruction behind her. she is unpredictable and always keeps me on my toes. even though she is a "hurricane" her love, her spirit and her wisdom beyond her 3 years blows me away. this picture was taken on our way home from our texas trip, at a KOA campground.... i think it totally captures the spirit of my lil' hurricane.

memorial day...

it seems fitting that we returned from visiting my brother and his family on memorial day. the reason we went to texas was to visit with my brother before he shipped out for his second tour in iraq. of course, our trip was too short. i wish i could have stayed there longer. i wanted to get in at least a years worth of jabs at my brother, since he will be gone for a year. i love my brother. i was trying to explain to my 3 year old what her unkie does, and the best way i could explain it to her was "your unkie is a soldier. he is a brave, strong soldier who protects us. he is a hero." and with that, she proudly put her ARMY shirt on...

sorry DJ, you told me not to post any pics, but this one is just too funny :) i love you.

happy memorial day to all...

yehaw yippeeio, texas here we come!

well folks (all 2 of you that read this blog) I am off... we are heading out in the motorhome today (or for those that saw the movie "RV", we have now renamed my folks motorhome to "the big rolling turd") we are heading to visit my brother and his family in ft. hood, texas. after convincing my daughter that there aren't camels in texas, she is very eager to go now. i am looking forward to visiting, relaxing, resting, oh and you know i am taking my camera along too so i am totally looking forward to some new scenery!!!


so in the immortal words of tyrone the backyardigans "yehaw yippeeio, texas here we come!!!"


and just because I didn't want to leave y'all without a picture, here is a random one from my life...

m&m=yummy

i once again got to tag along with my yoda... we started off the shoot at canoga camera where i proceeded to dream of upgrading my camera and all the new lenses i could buy IF i won the lottery... we were met there by an amazing couple, megan & mike. the are the perfect m&m... her silliness is perfectly balanced by his seriousness.... her laughter is balanced by his soothing music. they are the perfect ying and yang, the perfect candy coated chocolate :) we managed to stay in the alley behind canoga camera and found perfect little spots for this perfect little couple....m&m, thank you for a delish photo shoot!!!









and biting an image from the dynamic duo of "the image is found"

my best friend...

i have a best friend. she is the rock that i lean on, the shoulder i cry on, the light that leads me home, the gleam in my smile, the laughter in my life.... she is my mom. i strive every day to be half the mother that she is. i pray with every breath i take that my girls will love me as much as i love my mom. i am the reason i am who i am because she was strong enough to be the person that she is. i love you mom, i might not say it as often as i should, but i love you and i thank you for being the mom that you are.

happy mothers day

great grandma's hands

i took this photo when my daughter was about 2 months old... my grandma is holding her hand. i have always loved the way my grandma's hands look (she will say she hates them) they have always been manicured, smooth, dripping with diamonds and other jewels, delicate and petite, just like her. this picture is so special to me, it shows the love between a great grand-daughter and her great grandma. to me, this picture will always be one of my most prized possessions. i love you granny, happy mothers day!!!

a "little window" into my soul...

i came home from work today tired and snarky... i was pleasantly surprised to find a special package waiting for me on my door step!

lets rewind a couple of days ago: on monday, i placed an order for a photo necklace with little windows photo jewelry. i have been looking at these necklaces since christmas, and i finally had a picture i could use. as soon as i placed this order, my internet died. i knew i would be getting an email from little windows explaining how i was to send them my picture for my personalized necklace. i was in a panic. on wednesday, fran from little windows called me. what a sweetheart she is! she wanted to make sure that if i wanted this necklace by mothers day, i would need to answer my email quickly, since mothers day was this coming sunday. i explained to her my internet dilemma and boy did she feel my pain! i also told her i was in no hurry for the necklace, it was a present to myself and there was no rush on it. i was just happy i finally ordered one! again, she was such a sweetheart!!

wednesday night i was able to log onto my email using my parents computer and was able to send my picture to fran.

fast forward to today: i could not possibly believe that the necklace i just finalized on wednesday night was already here! i ripped the envelope open like a 5 year old at christmas, so anxious to see my new present!!! i have never EVER been more happy with a product. i am totally in love with little windows!!! in fact, now i know what every one i know is getting for christmas this year!!!

fran, you ROCK! this necklace took my breath away!! i am so excited to wear it every single day and i can't wait to order more items from you... i am afraid you have a stalker now!!!

& look how cute the box it comes in is!!!




and here is my BEAUTIFUL necklace.... i can't wait to wear it! this picture doesn't do it justice... thank you again fran!!!




http://www.little-windows.com/

woe is me....

i have two little girls that are sick with colds...
i have been getting nothing but snot laced kisses for two days now...
mama woke up with a WICKED cold this morning....
our computer died on monday....
i have been without the internet for 2 whole days now....
my sweet sweet husband was on the phone with tech support for 4 hours last night with no happy ending, he came to bed defeated....
i had to drag my sorry behind to work today, sicker than a dog, so i could get my internet fix...

calgon, take me away!!!!

SUPER AUBREY!!!

when my daughter isn't a princess, she is a super hero... and everything can be turned into a cape. her sissy's receiving blankie, an apron, or in this case, a beach towel. no matter where you go, super aubrey is always there, ready to jump into her phone booth, attach that super hero cape and save the world...

oops, maybe next time she should remember her panties!!