Sweetness
A few weeks ago I took pictures of my cousin’s twin babies to celebrate their first birthday. I think I got a lot more outtakes then portraits- one year old baby twins move fast! But I learned some and I had a great time trying. 
Isn’t Elizabeth perfection?
Dolphin Smile
It’s a beauuuuutiful butterfly.
Six Flags Discovery Kingdom, originally uploaded by phae.
My son with a butterfly on his hand, and Grandma in the background. Joy.
Six Flags Discovery Kingdom
Six Flags Discovery Kingdom, originally uploaded by phae.
Yesterday the hubs, the kids and I joined my husband’s extended family (some visiting all the way from Mississippi) on a spontaneous day trip to Six Flags Discovery Kingdom. Discovery Kingdom is all about exotic animals, crazy roller coasters, fun stuff for kids to do and buy. We had a blast despite the incredible expense. Which we can thank Grandma for taking care of, mostly. (What a great Grandma, right?! We’re so lucky to be spoiled so.)
Anyhoo- I took a bunch of pictures. Can you believe it?! 
I took along my old Canon EOS 20D, which unfortunately has some dust on it’s sensor and can create spotty photos, instead of the 40D. (Of course a little sensor dust isn’t anything a moment in photoshop can’t cure.) And I was glad I did too- when I got drenched, and when I had to leave my bag so I could ride roller coasters. My 20D didn’t do too bad, I think. I really missed my telephoto lenses though.
Our group of 13; including 7 children, kept me from shooting some of the stuff like I’d like to. There were huge crowds and the littlest ones had no fear. They darted in and out of view, climbed things and generally made me nervous. So I feared enough for everyone. 
One day I’d love to have a photog buddy to go on phototrips SANS kids.
Oh, but the children had so much fun. And so did I. I even rode a wicked roller coaster. Twice. And giggled madly the whole time. Nothing more precious than the memories you make together, surely. I’m sore today. Oh well.
Beautiful Day
Nom noms
Cupcake has been in an extra fiesty mood today- she must be teething because she’s been chewing up everything in sight! We’re doing what we can to keep her entertained so we don’t lose any furniture or appendages… thus the gigantic bone offering of today. Which she promptly tried to bury. It was actually quite comical when she tried to bury the bone in the middle of the grass with her nose- it just wasn’t working out like she planned. After she realized I didn’t want her to bury the bone (like the last one, which we haven’t seen since) she flopped down and chewed it to non-existence.
I took a bunch of photos of Cupcake and our other dog Lady and put them on flickr if you are interested! Lady looks so funny- we took her to Pet*smart to get her hair did and they did a very sloppy job of it. Luckily Lady doesn’t care- she’s just happy to be nice and cool again.
Anxiously Awaiting Drew
Today I did a photo shoot with a lovely couple who are expecting their first baby in a few short weeks! I love maternity sessions; meeting the expectant parents and seeing them so anxious to meet their beloved.. getting to court clients who hopefully will allow me to grow with their children. (Since I’m all done having babies I have to live vicariously through others.) Getting to take pretty pictures of baby booties! And celebrate a woman’s natural beauty. All-in-one bliss.
The couple I worked with today were champs. It was mid-day in the California summer heat and they never complained a lick that I was dragging them all over, having them get up and get down- lean here and there.
What was most unique about today’s session is that my husband came along to lend a hand. It was cool- he carried my stuff and is tall enough to hold my light diffuser and reflector above other tall people! I think he had fun, he loves meeting new people and he got to watch me do what I love. If only I could convince him to be a photographer so we could be a team- that would rule. Not counting my chickens just yet…
I’ll be posting more from this session on my respective websites and flickr stream later. I hope you like them!
Meet Cupcake
Today I adopted this Boxer mix from the local animal shelter. She’s a sweetie- and so smart! We are so happy to welcome her to our family!!
The Mini Me’s
It’s not too often that I get a photo of all three of my spawn- looking at the camera and smiling! Aren’t they something? I’m so proud of them all.
The school year has wrapped up for the little one and she will be starting kindergarten in the fall. She did so great in preschool- never once getting in any type of trouble, she had so much fun. She is really into bugs and reptiles and animals of all sorts now and hopes we will decorate her new room in a Zoo theme. She wants to be a biologist or entomologist when she grows up.
The eldest is finishing up grade school this month- he gets to go to his first school dance in two weeks! And in no time at all he’ll be starting at a new school, a Jr. High. It’s a special school he worked hard to get into, he’ll be studying science primarily. He can’t wait. In the last few weeks he’s transitioned so apparently from a boy to a pre-teen… I’m beginning to see what kind of man he will be.
The middle child is also bringing me so much joy- she loves to read just as much as I did at her age and we can finally talk about books we have both enjoyed. Everyone loves her and she loves everyone. She will be starting the fourth grade this fall, growing up so fast now. She is so eager to please and happy to help… and confident in herself.
We had a great time on our trip this weekend, obviously. It was a nice escape from the sibling rivalry that has been fueled by the heat and fast-paced lifestyle we’ve been living, what with all that’s going on in our lives right now: end of the school year, buying a house, etc. There is nothing that warms a mother’s heart like the giggling of her children, and I got to listen to a lot of that.
I’m sure I won’t be so enamored with my children in a few weeks when they are all out of school and driving each other and me nuts again. But at least they’ll have a lot more yard to run around in. Perhaps I won’t hear it so loudly.
I have a little work to do and then I’ll be off for a month or two so I can organize and pack and move my household and help with my parents move. Things are coming along! See ya when I see ya.
Beardsley Butterfly
We had a magical time at Beardsley Lake this weekend- butterflies of all sorts fluttered around while cotton blew off the trees above like snow. The light quality was amazing, and a storm across the lake provided us with a lightening show and incredible thunder. We had a picnic lunch and hiked and lazed about- and even swam in the ice cold lake. I spent a good amount of time with the butterflies who were oblivious of my presence. I didn’t have a macro lens on me so I made do with my 50mm.
What I Want
