And They Say Bees are Busy...

I can honestly say that Babies R Us brightened my life. I know I know... you're thinking, ugh... Babies R Us is such an overwhelming place filled with millions of things parents don't actually "need," but luckily for me Babies R Us does have the supplies needed to baby proof your house once a little one decides to be mobile. Had Fraser and I not decided to go to Babies R Us that day, then I would have never bumped into Juan, Angela and Diego (only a month or two old at the time).

It goes back a little further than Babies R Us, to be honest. Fraser used to work with Juan at an accounting firm years ago. When they saw each other in the aisles of BRU they didn't even quite recognize each other in street clothes! Anyhow, we got to chatting... exchanging stories about puke and throw up as all new parents do. We then said our good byes with the standard, "We should meet up for dinner sometime soon."

I got home and started thinking how great it would be to get a little bit of practice taking photos of little Diego with my new camera. Juan and Angela agreed, and the baby crush began. I loved Diego from the moment I met him. I love his little half smile, and I love how much Juan and Angela adore him. He is their world. I'm also inspired by how much of their culture they are infusing into Diego's new world. It's fascinating to watch them from a distance.

We did the first set of photos in the studio. Juan then decided to give Angela an on-location shoot for her birthday in October (she's a fellow Libra). After working with Juan's busy schedule, and Angela's super crazy schedule (she's a doctor), and my growingly crazy schedule... we finally got a shoot scheduled. The day of the shoot I see Angela and Diego, but no Juan. "Where the heck is Juan, I think." Secretly I'm thinking that he just didn't wanna get up at the butt crack of dawn on a Saturday morning, but turns out he was legitimately sick. Poor guy.

So, we take some photos. Mostly of Diego. Then, on an all-glorious day in November, the stars aligned, the heavens awoke, and miraculously... Juan, Angela, and Diego were in my presence. And they looked fabulous. As always.

We laughed, we smiled, we snapped photos, and I got bird poop on my camera bag.

Here are a few photos from the day. I have yet to look at them all, so there may be some EVEN better ones in the bunch... hard to believe, I know!! These are great!

Enjoy.

I couldn't decide if I liked this one better in b&w or color... so I posted both :o)

16 Years... : Dean Sneak Peak

16 years. That was their answer. I couldn't believe it. I asked Kim and Vaughn how long they had been married, and that was the response that I got. I adore my husband, really I do, but sixteen years seems like a lifetime away. Vaughn and Kim have accomplished the goal that we all strive for... happiness. When I asked them to share their secret, it was silent for a moment... a hypothetical question maybe? Maybe nobody really knows the answer, but then Kim said something so genuine, so thoughtful that it knocked my socks off. It was as though the mom and wife inside of her was telling me what I needed to hear. She said... when kids come along it is very easy to lose yourselves in the lives of the children, but always make time for your marriage. Make time for one another. This was Dr. Kim at her best. I don't think that she realized how much that comment affected me.

Vaughn and Kim don't get to see much of each other as their jobs have opposite schedules, so getting to share one of their only Sundays together was incredible. It was like watching teenagers who have just fallen in love.

They have two beautiful... I mean BEAUTIFUL daughters. Not just on the outside, but on the inside as well. The first click of my shutter button practically made me see stars. You could feel the love that they had for one another. I was so gracious to be able to spend some time getting to know this family.

To the Dean Family: I hope you had a wonderful, rest of your Sunday out at Lake Las Vegas. If any family deserves some extra time together it is yours. I know that I'm giving you a sneak peak of your pictures, but thank you for giving me a sneak peak into your lives.

Here are some of my favorites from the day.

Because We Speak English? : Miller Sneak Peak

I was about 6 years old, and at my friend's house. My best friend that lived down the street from me for almost my entire childhood. I was staying the night at her house, and her mom and her mom's friends were watching the tv show "Life Goes On," yes, the one with Corky!! The tv screen was really dark, and I was having a hard time seeing what was going on. I asked, "Why's the screen so dark, I can't even see what's happening??" Everybody in the room cracked up laughing. I was so confused!! What the heck was so funny?? Well, now that I'm a bit older I can let you in on the secret... it was a "romantic" scene and so I guess things weren't supposed to be as bright as the cartoons that I was usually watching back in those days!!


I remember how curious I was at that age. I remember saying things that I thought were completely valid statements, and the adults around me starting to CRACK up laughing. It was as though I wasn't in on the joke. Today I got to be in on the joke.

I did a photoshoot with a fabulous family in downtown Las Vegas. As always, I was incredibly nervous as I waited in front of the big Neonopolis theatre. When the family arrived we chit chatted for a few minutes. Actually, I tried my best at calming their nerves, when really I had my own anxiety to deal with!! After our attempt at small talk we began walking across the street, and little Joey said to his mom, "Who's that lady?" I DIED laughing. This concept of walking around town with a stranger while she took your picture just hadn't settled into his brain. This was the first of MANY times that I shook with laughter today.


As we were walking and talking, and stopping for a few shots here and there, Kathy asked me where I was from and I begrudgingly told her that I was from New Mexico. Joey piped in at this point and said, "We're from Minnesota!" I replied to his statement by saying, "Yeah, I kinda know that..." and before I could say "because of your accent" he said, "You knew that because we speak English?" I lost it. I haven't laughed that hard in a while.


The curiosity was so thick during the entire shoot that you could have cut it with a knife. If only we were that young again, right?


Here are a few sneak peak shots from the day...




oh yeah... I can't forget to mention the car. The car that Joey's parents now have to buy him when he turns 16!! Joey loved this car. He couldn't believe that he was going to be put on the internet with this car. I swore up and down all over town that I would make sure to put him on two websites... in this car. Joey, I hope someday you have this car... maybe I'll buy it for you myself!! I definitely owe that to your parents seeing as how you probably haven't stopped talking about this car yet... 8 hours after the shoot took place!!



P.S. -- I love the swagger that you've got going on in this picture Joe... ride low.

I couldn't resist the urge!! I felt the need to put a few more photos up from the newborn shoot that I did last weekend. I only had one shoot scheduled this weekend, but it was cancelled due to the wind... bummer... so I don't have anything new to post from this weekend.

I'm off to the Great White North next weekend to see my in-laws, and for them to get their Hudson fix!!


Here are some more pictures from the shoot last weekend... LOVE THE MONKEY!!