New little peanut

Another precious little boy. He was pretty little but fully awake for the majority of the time. Once we were outdoors he snoozed away. I loved some of his looks. It was almost as though he tolerated all of the poses so we could just be done and he could go home. Hope you enjoy your sneak peek:)





















Doesn't he totally look like he's humoring us? Like, let's just get this over with people.

In Awe

I really admire these two. He is in the military and will be leaving this Wednesday for a year. I'm so thankful to him and to every single person that serves our Country. And then the spouses and families that are left behind. It takes a special strength to live this life. I can only imagine how hard it must be and how hard it is especially to leave your young child who will change so much during that year. Because of this I really wanted to capture pictures that show these 3 as a family unit at this point in their life...interacting and enjoying each other. There were some typical posed pictures but more than anything I hope they can cherish the unposed pictures, the ones that show their love for each other and their adorable son.

I really hope you enjoy these guys. Be careful Rob, and thank you for doing what you do and for the sacrifices you make.

Speed Racer & His Sister

I'm calling it now. Mr. Taft here is going to be the next big name in the racing world! He lives on our street and anything with wheels and he's on it and he's going f a s t! I mean FAST. And he's been like that for as long as I can remember. Luckily, he was really good for the pictures and didn't use his speed to get away from me:)

We had quite the adventure for this photo shoot. We started out at an abandoned house with a barn that I had spotted the day before. We also wanted to take some pictures at my usual field so I mentioned that I didn't feel that comfortable there with only she and I and kids. It's kind of secluded and some strange people have come by before. So, we conned another neighbor into coming to be our bodyguard. We were only there for a few minutes before an old van (yeah, it's always a van, right?) drove by slowly, checking us out. A few minutes later I look up and he had turned around and parked just a little ways down the street and was watching us. We decide to jet. Probably nothing, but we were a little uncomfortable. So then we headed to a local park to finish up. Then I realize that I left my camera bag at the first location...the abandoned house. It's getting dark, we're hoping no one found the camera bag, and we drive up. There's a suv now parked there and we can see a man walking around the abandoned house and we would have to pass him to get to the barn. We park across the street and wait for him to leave. Finally he did and we go over there, my bodyguard makes a mad dash for the barn to get the camera bag, and we make it home. We're a bunch of chickens... I know!

But chickens need their camera bags, too! Hope you enjoy Catherine!

1st Senior of 2009

Not often. Hardly ever...that a senior boy is so easy to work with. These were his senior/head shot pictures for some future things he may be doing. You may wonder if there are any of him smiling...and there are, but I am just drawn to the serious ones. (I did throw a couple of happy-face ones in there though). Hope you enjoy!

Japanese Gardens

Here's another super photogenic family. There's so many pictures of everyone looking and smiling...I had such a hard time narrowing it down. We met at the Japanese Gardens and although parking is a little bit of an issue the Gardens offer lots of photo ops. (Except for the group of people that decided to take up camp in one of the little huts that we had to boot out). I hope you enjoy your sneak peek:)

Now, doesn't that wide open-mouth smile just make you grin when you look at it?!

Why Ask Why

Ok...I have 3 kids...AND I know they all go through this, but Drew is in the Why, Mom? phase and it is driving me batty!!

Why do puppies have sharp teeth?
Why do cars live in garages?
Why do we live in a house?
Why do lions have tails?
Why do the girls have school tomorrow?
Why does the computer make noises?


and Dear Drew, Why are you making mommy crazy with a capital C?

I try and be as patient as I possibly can and answer each question as best that I can so that he learns from the explanations but that's where I think I'm going wrong. I'm patient, patient, patient, and then BAM I've had enough and I have to tell him to give mommy a break! and then I feel bad. Inquisitiveness is not a bad thing...I just don't want to be the only person that has to have all of these crazy answers. And I'm now declaring that it's ok to answer, "Because I said so." Any advice out there??

I also have a few questions myself (if anyone can enlighten me)
1. Why do the itches on your back change location if you have someone scratch them?
2. Why are yawns contagious?
3. And I still don't understand how I can talk to someone on a phone thousands of miles away, across oceans and at the same time as millions of other people that are on phone lines. I just don't "get" how that works.

Ok, on to the pictures.
The precious little peanut in this post is a little carbon copy of her big sister. I didn't notice it so much at first but after being around her for a little while I saw it more and more and more. And now looking at the pictures, wow, she's such a little mini of big sis'. She is a tiny little one and was really good for the pics.
Hope you enjoy:)