Las Vegas Children Photographer :: Brooklyn

Often times I find myself sitting on the couch texting a friend. A friend that I usually have already talked to several times that day via e-mail, cell phone, and maybe even an occasional Skype session. We talk often, and about anything. Today the texting banter included the events of our days, our working husband who are in the throws of an already too rough tax season, and our sappiness. The subject of our sappiness came into play when I told her that I need to let her watch a video that I have of her Nolah's birthday. This inspired me.

I went to the drawer that houses all of our videos that are from our video camera (all taken on our point and shoot camera are online) -- sidebar -- does anybody know a company to use to get all of my videos from the web made into dvd's?? and I can not find my Hudson's birth video. I am frantic. I show it to him on his birthday every year. My heart would be broken if I have lost it.

When going through all of the old videos I came across one that we did last summer in Newport Beach. We could not believe how small and baby-ish Hudson looked. I remember thinking that he was soooo grown up, and it was so much fun to take him on a trip. Watching the video made me so happy that we have taken the time to document his growth over the last two years. I know that I am living the days that I will miss so much in the future. I want to pull out the video camera and document all of his precious sounds, his laugh, his smile, his everything. I vow to NOT be the parent who takes photos in the beginning and then it tapers off as life gets in the way. I hope.

Here are a few photos of Hudson's sweet little friend Brooklyn. Brooklyn has graced this blog several times, and she was one of the first little newborn babies to be in front of my camera. I love watching her grow, and seeing her and Hudson become little buddies.

Here are my favorite two of the day...

Hudson needed to get in on the fun...

Las Vegas Wedding Photography :: Can Rings be Sexy?

When I got back to the hotel after an incredible, yet exhausting, day of shooting Craig & Sarah's wedding I found the Reno Gazette - Journal sitting innocently in the passenger seat of my car. Alone and forgotten. You see, months ago when I met with Craig and Sarah to plan the schedule of their wedding day Sarah mentioned to me that she really enjoyed photos of the wedding rings on the newspaper from the day. I personally think that it is a great way to document your day with what is happening in the location of your wedding on that day in time.

So as I sat in Starbucks eating a piece of banana-nut loaf and.... yes and... a blueberry muffin. I had a moment of clarity and remembered to pick up the paper. I patted myself on the back, and made my way to my car with my newspaper in tow.

As you read in the previous post the day went by so fast, and I literally felt myself being in two places at once. In the tornado of photos that occurred that day my prize newspaper sat ignored in the passenger seat.

So, I met up with Craig and Sarah today and snapped a few shots of their wedding rings on the Reno Gazette - Journal. I am pretty stoked about this photo, and as I sat and stared the only adjective that came to mind was sexy... can rings be sexy?

Lake Tahoe Wedding Photography :: Craig & Sarah's Winter Wedding

As I walked into the family condo in Lake Tahoe two weekends ago I was welcomed by the delicious scent of breakfast quickly being prepared in anticipation for the big day. A quick round of introductions took place, and I immediately felt like a member of the family. Sarah's mom and Craig's mom were having their hair done downstairs, and I began gathering accessories. Sarah's dad, with an interest in photography, quickly offered his services in helping set up several shots of Sarah's beautiful wedding dress.

I quickly scurried off to see the groom, and received a wonderful welcome inside the groom's house as well. One of the things that I love so much about Craig and Sarah is how laid back they are about everything. After meeting their families I now know that this calmness has been passed down from their wonderful relatives. We headed outside for a few shots of the groomsmen looking oh so handsome.

Seriously Craig. I love it.

I scooped up the groom, and we headed back over to the girls' place. As Sarah finished getting ready Craig waited for his bride at the end of the dock. Sarah and Craig chose to see each other before the ceremony due to the fact that after the ceremony it would be dark outside, and they both wanted to have photos done beforehand. Of course, I completely obliged. We arranged for Craig and Sarah to see each other for the first time, and it was hilarious to hear the whistling, and cheers coming from the condo balcony!!

So we headed out for the best part of my day... the bride and groom photos!! I had so much fun snapping these shots of the beautiful couple, and they were such gamers trekking through snow to get to some great locations!

Sarah, you made my job easy!!

The girls met us at the ceremony/reception venue and we snapped off a few shots. These girls were so much fun, and soooo helpful in making sure that we got all of the family shots we needed! Thank you girls, I had a blast!!

Then, it was time for the good stuff...

I could not have asked for a better couple for my first wedding!! Craig and Sarah, you are fantastic. I hope you enjoy every moment of being husband and wife. I was honored to be able to spend the day in Tahoe with you and your closest friends and family.

Porky Pig Contest

If I start to 'oink' at any time during this post, I apologize in advance.  

This e-mail was posted on the discussion board at one of my high schools, and I died laughing throughout the entire thing.... here goes...

Well, here we go again.  In fact, before I even get going, let me state for the record that I don't know why I do this every year - I always lose my money.  Then again, I do realize that I am starting to look like I coach bowling...  

        BUT THE PIG IS BACK!!  

        And let me assure you, there are many reasons why you should join the Porky Pig Contest this year, most of which are hidden within the rolls of your plump torso.  Let's start with the easy ones, shall we?  The Holidays are passed, and let's face it: you ate too much and you know it.  Your new clothes don't fit, your shadow's got stretch marks, and the other day your mother-in-law caught you putting mayonnaise on your toothbrush.  You made some sorry New Year's resolution to lose weight when you were drunk, and by now you're already blown it off for a double Tommy Burger.  Your life is in shambles, and to top it all off, you've come back to work from the big mid-year vacation only to find there's more than half a year left, and the same sweat hogs in your sixth period are back to fail a second semester.  It's time to get on a plan, fattie.  It's time for the Pig.

        The Rules

        1.  The Pig is a contest where each participant attempts to lose 7% of their body weight over several weeks (i.e. a person like John Dixon who weighs in at 100 lbs. would have to lose 7 lbs. by weigh out).  Contestants who make weight get their money back.  Contestants who do not make weight do not get their money back.  All contestants are invited to attend the Porky Pig banquet at the T-Bird Lounge on Eastern on March 19.  The banquet will be paid for with the proceeds of those sorry souls who did not make weight.  I open a bar tab with the loser's money, and we eat and drink until the money wears out.  After that, everybody's on their own.

        2.  Contestants must give me a $50 check or cash at weigh in.  Checks will not be cashed until after school on the day of the weigh out, and if you make weight, you get your check back.  You cannot compete if you are not paid in full and weighed in by Monday, January 11, 2009 at 1:30 P.M.

        3.  You must be weighed in and out on the scale in boy's PE by either myself or one of the PE coaches ( Coach Goroff, Claridge, Ehrke ,or myself) Ladies who are uncomfortable with the idea of being weighed by a man can arrange to be weighed in by Coach Lawther or Coach Dickinson.  You must have one of these certified witnesses present at weigh in and weigh out!!!  NO EXCEPTIONS!!   All contestants must wear similar clothing at weigh in and weigh out (no bulky sweatshirts and two pairs of jeans at the start and a Speedo at the end).  Contestants may weigh nude, but please come armed with a serious explanation as to why exposing your body to a co-worker with the ability to speak is worth fifty dollars.                         

        4.  All contestants are expected to weigh and pay sometime between now and Monday, January 11 at 1:30 PM.  All weights are rounded to the nearest 1/2 pound.  All contestants will be confidentially given an individual weight that they must attain by 2:00 P.M. Friday, March 12, 2010 in order to get back their fifty bucks.  IF YOU DO NOT MAKE YOUR TARGET WEIGHT FOR ANY REASON, YOUR FIFTY WILL NOT BE RETURNED AND WILL BE PUT INTO THE BAR TAB...AND YOU WILL FEEL SHAME.

        5.  If you are a person who does not need or want to lose any weight, but would still like to attend the party, feel free to give me $50 to put into the bar tab.  Paying non-contestants are entitled to as much as they can eat and drink at the party.

        6. The contest is open to anyone who can read the rules, pay me $50, and weigh on our scale.  Please feel free to get your spouse involved, but please don't misconstrue that invitation as my passing of judgement on your wife's weight.  

        

        Remember:  the Pig is our bridge through what is arguably the worst part of the the school year.  Dealing with 170+ teenagers at the end of February is almost a fate worse than death.  To do so while wallowing in a sweaty, bulging waistline is truly unthinkable.  Get involved, have some fun, suffer a little bit, and have a good time at the party with your coworkers.  Anybody with any questions should feel free to email me or come by the PE office anytime.  

OINK, OINK.... oh geez... sorry, it slipped.

Yes I signed up, and yes I paid my dues, and yes I weighed in....  oink oink oink.....

I have to lose 13lbs over the next 10 weeks.  If any of you want to do the math to find out how much I weigh, go for it, but prepare yourself.  You may never be the same.

So, I have to lose 1.3lbs per week for the next ten weeks, and guess what... you're in for a treat... you get to hear all about it!!  Stop back soon to hear me whine, complain, bitch, and gripe my way through the next ten weeks!!

A photo just for fun....  This is from the batch of family photos taken by the fabulous Gabriel Ryan!!  Yes, I photoshopped my leg, don't hate.

photo credit :: gabriel ryan photographers

New Years Resolution(s)(s)(s)...

I remember playing on the playground at Del Norte Elementary School and talking about how cool things were going to be in the year 2000.  I was going to be graduating high school, heading to college in my flying car, and making my robot clean my dorm and cook my meals.  Where are the flying cars and robots?  Seriously, it's 2010??!!  I can't believe that not only has the year 2000 come and went, but ten more have been tacked on!!  Is somebody playing a practical joke?  Could I seriously be having my 10 year high school reunion this year??  Ugh.... Auntie Anxiety is creepin' up on me, so I'll change the subject...

My New Year's resolutions always come in multiples.  I can never pick just one thing.  I know that to change a behavior you should concentrate on just ONE behavior, but I just can't help myself.  I always have a laundry list of things that I want to work on, so I figure that if I have ten resolutions over the course of ten years then things should even themselves out, right?  riiiiight....

So I'm resolving to have a healthier home.  I want to cook healthier meals and cook more often, make sure that Hudson is eating more of his fruits and veggies, facilitate good emotional health between Fraser and I, exercise regularly, create a more "zen-like" home environment by keeping my life more organized, STOP PROCRASTINATING (this is on the 10 year plan), continue to grow my photography business, etc etc etc....  you see what I mean?  I can't pick just one.

Because every post needs a photo or two -- here's a batch of my nephew and niece that I did over Thanksgiving.  Happy New Year everyone!!

Merry Christmas!! :: Snoozing, Before Photos, and Breakfast

This might very well be the last Christmas that we get to sleep in... I'm guessing that next year Hudson will be bounding out of his bed in the wee hours of the morning to see what Santa has brought him.  Hudson knows what Santa looks like in his Christmas book, but doesn't quite get the whole concept yet.  So when I stretched awake at 8:00 this morning, and he was still snoozing away, I took a moment to savor what will probably be my last chance to sleep in on Christmas.

When I stumbled down the stairs I found Dad and Fraser chatting in the kitchen.  Fraser was cooking breakfast, and Dad was probably taste testing.  Again, I took a moment to watch them interact.  To be grateful for two wonderful men in my life.  As they talked about golf and baseball in the kitchen I snapped a few photos of the untouched Christmas in our living room.   Hudson woke up and instead of stopping to gaze all the new presents under the tree he ran straight into his Daddy's arms.  His Daddy showed him his gifts, and he immediately took advantage of the surplus!

As we sat and ate breakfast we all took a moment to realize that this is probably the last Christmas that we will be able to have breakfast before opening presents.  This morning was wonderful, but I also can't wait until the excitement is bubbling over so much that I don't have time to snooze in the morning, take photos of the "before" tree, or eat breakfast prior to the wrapping paper rainfall.

Merry Christmas everyone!  I wish you all warmth, love, and happiness on such a wonderful day.  Here are a few snapshots of the day -- the ones of my parents are to die for... I feel like I captured the essence of Christmas in just two photos.      Enjoy!

My Favorite Time of Year

Each year when I was growing up the music started earlier and earlier in the year.... the Christmas music.  First, she would wait until the day after Thanksgiving, but each year it just kept creeping up a little at a time.  Mom would blast the Christmas music through the house and busy herself creating the piece of art she called a Christmas tree.  Most of the time the lights were still up from the year before so Dad and Jason would be on the roof trying to figure out why they didn't work.  It seemed as though the Christmas music got louder and louder as we neared Christmas day; therefore, we (me and my 3 siblings) got louder and louder as we shouted for it to be turned off!!  

You see, Christmas music never just meant that Christmas was coming hence a fantastic time of year, but it also meant a monstrous chore list.  There were always pecans to be picked up from the yard (which led to raw noses from wiping with a gloved hand), leaves to be raked, baking to do (which led to a dirty kitchen), laundry to fold, presents to wrap, etc... etc... etc...  As I lived through this "torture" during my childhood and teenage years it was annoying to say the least.  What wouldn't be annoying about that music playing on repeat all day long while Mrs. Claus ordered around her elves in order to get ready for the season?  Now that I'm grown and moved away, these memories make me smile.  I miss such a simple time.

You know what the funny thing is about how things change??  I bought a Christmas cd the other day... and it's playing on repeat, right now.

To my family and friends, and their family and friends.... I wish you all a wonderful holiday season and a prosperous new year in 2010!!

Photo credit :: Gabriel Ryan Photographers :: www.gabrielryan.net