Twins turn 2

Happy Birthday Gwenyth & Nehemiah

Nehemiah was born almost 2 years ago to the minute as I write this and Gwenyth was 12 mintues old.  Boy, have they changed and boy have our live changed.

(9:43pm) Gwenyth you are The boss.  You are loud happy or loud mad, you laugh loud and cry loud, you even talk loudly.  You know just what you want.  You talk our ears right off our heads. You giggle a lot and you make your brother giggle too.  You like to hide in the curtains, jump off your bed, hold your babies, and suck on your empty bottle.  Food always tastes better to you, if it is off of Nehemiah's plate.  You love green beans, corn, and coffee (my coffee when I'm not looking). You love to get really close to my face and I love that. Your favorite color is purple and you love to say "maaay-cup" when you see me put on my lipgloss.  You have been to the ER twice already.  You are passionate, fervent, and social.

(9:58pm) Nehemiah you are all boy. You are small, but pack a big punch.  You can swing a golf club beautifully, a baseball bat with perfection, dribble a soccer ball around your sister and you even have a pretty mean tetherball game. You have a deep voice and love to wave good-bye to people. You don't like to sit in the bath and you prefer to be wrapped in the Spiderman towel. Your hair is big and curly.  You have a high dimple on both cheeks. You love to eat bread and hide behind the pantry with your sister when you are stealing chocolate chips from the pantry.  You love to mow the yard with daddy and you try to break into his tool boxes almost everyday.  You let your sister have her way, except when something is really important to you, i.e. your new shovel. You are tender and strong.

Bangs!!

We went with BANGS!  

Gwen is my first kiddo to get bangs.  She poo-poo'ed any head band, barrette or hair tie, so a trim was neccessary.  We didn't think it was possible for her to appear more in charge/bossy, but something about the bangs has put her over the top.  This girl is in charge.  

She definitely rocks the bangs and leg warmers too!

front view

side-view

To have bangs or not to have bangs...

...that is the question.  

Stayed tuned for the answer...

The Anderson Family

Meet the Anderson Family.  When God brought our families together, my oldest was 3 months old and Nancy was pregnant with her first baby.  Little did we know that 6 years later, there would be 10 kids between us.  God knew what he was doing when he meshed our two families together in friendship.  Not only do the Andersons have 5 children, like my husband and I, but they have multiples too and that brings a whole new level of chaos into the mix.  We are thankful to have a family we can be trying to keep our heads above water with, raise our kids to know and love Jesus with, and to soon vacation with :) This Christmas I was also able to get Nana Patti and Grandpa Norm into the mix.  I love taking photos of grandchildren with their grandparents.  My heart always swells with joy at the blessings of family generations. By California standards it was almost freezing and soooo windy.  I was blown away (alomst literally) by how well these little kiddos handled the weather.  They proved there is almost nothing a gummy bear won't fix! Who knew gummy bears can not only make your warmer but make kids laugh hysterically too?

 

Thank you Anderson Family for being so special and for always making my camera so happy with your smiles.  I love spending time with you with or without my own kids :)

Arizona

My mom and dad live in Arizona.  

They have the scariest plants growing in the cutest pots ever.

Have a happy day!

Baby Lucy

I will post just a few of this little lady.  Remember these folks...

Well this fall, God blessed them them with Lucy.

We had a small window to work with, but little Miss Lucy cooperated just beautifully.  She is precious.

She took so much prayer, hope, faith, trust, and God's true love & sweetness. 

 It was a happy afternoon to photograph her.

  Congratulations Rob & Karen!  

I hope Lucy gets to know how silly the two of you can be & 

I hope she shows you how great of a sleeper she can be :)

Happy New Year

Happy New Year!!

For Christmas, my husband got me a necklace with my name on it (yes, I know it's like a permanent nametag), and I love it!!  They were popular where I lived when I was younger.  My second child took some pictures of me with it on-she said,  "Pose how people with necklaces with their name on it pose."  Good direction, Addie. 

I know we are 5 days in to the new year, but with 5 kids and one husband home for the Christmas season-I have been swamped in all good things!!

Year 2011 marks the first year in a decade I was not pregnant or have a baby/babies in tow.  Crazy to think about that one.  Most of life, especially for the last 2 years, has been limited to keeping my kids safe and not lost :)  It has been lonely at times, overwhelming, loud, claustrophobic, chaotic (still is), and yet very full of good things too-smiles, fun dinner times, laughter, and joyful successes for each of my kids.  I look back to the days where I was feeding both twins, changing a lot of diapers (still am) trying to do homework with my older two girls and still making sure Titus got enough attention & potty trained successfully.  Brian & I have had the saying these last 2 years, "Just trying to make it to half-time." We are not there yet, but everyday we feel like we are at least nearing the end of the first quarter.

So, I have just a few goals for 2012: 

To not turn on the computer until after 8pm.

To read through the Bible with my husband by the end of the year.

To attend a large women's conference alone.

To build into being a good friend again, as I am able , its easy to forget life outside the house, when leaving the it is so hard to do :)

My husband would probably like to add...to not get pregnant again this year :)

I am thankful for a new year.  God will be huge as He always is & I wait with anticipation to know him better. I am so thankful for his patience with me, His love that reaches in through the things of life that occupy and entangle me, and for His perfect company.  He is merciful indeed.

Family Portraits 2011

My kids get plenty of test time in front of the camera with me being a photographer in my spare time. I often bring them with me to test out new locations:  to get my depth of field, lighting, and timing down. I often disguise it as "a fun car ride with some hiking & playing" thrown in the mix.  

They are awesome sports.  

  You would think they would have down the classic family portrait by now....
oh, but they don't.

#1) Gwenyth has obviously spotted something scary off to the right, unbeknownst to other 4 kids.

#2) Addie can rock a sister on her hip AND the most amazing Christmas gift boots ever.  I told her we were going hiking, but she could not bare to spend a minute away from her burgundy patent leather beauties.

#3) Titus likes to pretend karate chop in every photo I take lately-this afternoon was no exception. That is a tape measure he is holding & yes, he is wearing snow boots, he lovingly refers to them as "work" boots.

#4) Good job Emma and Nehemiah-you pass the family portrait test with flying colors!!

A few days after this photo was taken, I brought an actual family here....no petrified looks, karate chops, or snow boots either.
Their family portraits will be coming soon.
The holidays have me backed up on posting sessions :) So much fun sweetness to come!!

And proof that my kiddos can actually take an orderly, happy portrait....

This photo captures each kiddo perfectly.  They are 5, very different from one another, little people :)

The Martinez Family: 2011

Yee-haw!  The Martinez Family came back for a 3rd round with me and my camera.  I love this family.  They are so laid back and easy!  Wendy wanted to do something barn-ish this year for her family portraits and what's so funny is, I had been wanting to photo a family in front of this red barn/garage in a nearby alley.  She was game and her hubby & kids jumped on board.  As far as alleys go, you never know what you are going to get...peacocks, cars, dogs, people bringing their trash out, etc.  We had many of those things.  At one point, a dog barked so loud as I was gingerly leaning over a parked car, I almost pee'd my pants. I think me eyes did pop out of my head bases on Brenna's reaction to me :)  It turned out to be very funny, especially since the dog was behind a fence. Phew! 

Thank you Wendy for coming back to photo with me every year.  

I love to see your family grow up :)

The Redding Family

Meet the Redding Family!!!  They are a family of 5 and boy do they pack a punch!  

We began the photo shoot in the backyard of their new home and made our way through Christmas tree lots, sidewalks, alleys, and ended in the middle of Glendora Blvd.  Harmonie you are radiant and you simply do not have a bad smile.  Girl, you are gorgeous and your love for your family and excitement for all things, bubbles over right onto those around you.  What a gift, what a blessing to receive.  

Most men are a little wary of having their family photos taken (esp their own photos taken), but Eric you brought your "A" game.  I appreciated your interaction with your kiddos and your tickling efforts to get especially sweet Jannelle to be comfortable.  It shows great love for a man to spend the day honoring their wife in front of my camera, and it doesn't go unnoticed. 

As a photographer I love, love , love to join families and blend in as if I were a part of them for the 2 hours we are together, and Redding family I am so thankful you let me join your family for the afternoon.  At first your kids probably thought I was a little weird, but after chasing them down in the Christmas tree lot, there was no going back.  We were gonna be friends, me and them :)  Your children are each so unique, but each with a personality so memorable and vivacious.  Be proud because they reflect the two of you, Eric and Harmonie, just beautifully.  

Thank you again for inviting me to tag along for the afternoon.  I loved every moment of your sweet & playful family. My heart grows so big when I look through your images and am reminded of all the fun & precious moments the afternoon brought!  

Merry Christmas Eric, Harmonie, Tyson, Preston, and dear Jannelle!