Going back to Cali

I am headed out for my cousins wedding this weekend in San Diego, and I can't wait! Unfortunately I made the decision to go out a month ago and booked only one ticket thinking it wouldn't be a big deal for Paige to just have some "daddy time" but now that it is approaching, I feel so sad that she isn't coming along. It will be a good chance to have some one on one time with Mia however and I am so excited to take her to the beach. I will be doing some photos of my sister's friend's newborn, seeing one of my closest friends Emily, eating at Filipis, and of course spending some quality time with my sister and her family. I feel so lucky and blessed to be able to travel back and forth to California as much as I have and I have to say a huge and heartfelt thank you to Mike for being so supportive of my overthetop, insatiable love for my home state. I have made a short list of things I really really love about the Golden State.

1. The smell. I can't get enough of that orange blossomy smell that you only notice if you have been away.
2. The rolling hills, dotted with an old Oak Tree here and there.
3. Walking barefoot in sand after a long day in the water, all sunburned, before it starts to hurt and after the sun is too low to burn you any longer.
4. Going to San Fransisco and eating at Fog City Diner, and taking in the Golden Gate.
5. Diversity. I recently read a book that talked about certain geographic areas which were happier then others and it was suggested that areas of the world that were homogeneous were happier. Maybe. Maybe not. But I am always tickled when I am not one of a million blond haired blue eyed mothers to small children, that is certain.
6. The Spanish style architecture, especially in San Diego area.
7. The nail place that does a pedi/mani for $17.99 near PB. I wonder if they have raised their prices because of gas too? Who cares, even if they raised them 20% its still a steal.
8. The sound of those birds (are they doves?) in the morning at my grandparents house.
9. Disneyland, more specifically, the smell on the Pirates of the Caribbean ride.
10. In and Out Burger. (ok, as a disclaimer, I don't really LOVE the food there. But the mere fact that it is unavailable out here in Salt Lake City is reason enough to put it on a list)

I have lived in six different states, one different country and have been gone from California for eight years now, but every time I get off that plane, I feel like I am finally home again after a long absence. So look out, cause tomorrow I am comin home!

Zina and Mack

I did a photo session, another family reunion this weekend and I couldn't wait to get in and write about it! There was a pretty big group, all children, grandchildren and great grandchildren of this fantastic couple. It was pretty chaotic event, with all the people and some very excited kids. They were all troopers to hang in with me even though it was 102 degrees out, not even a grumble out of the men. As all the kids were leaving the park to eat dinner, I hung back with the mom and dad of the family and had a wonderful visit with them. They have been married somewhere between 45 and 47 years (there was a little loving discrepancy between the two of them on how long) and met at a regional dance that included several areas of the Salt Lake valley all that time ago and have been together ever since. Isn't fate remarkable? Out of all the people there that night, they found each other and have built a beautiful family that now spans four generations. I adored this time with them so much and I hope that the images we captured can convey the way that Mack so completely cherishes Zina, after 45-47 years together. The hands fluffing this adorable baby's dress belong to the mother, the grandmother and the greatgrandmother. Women can't help it, we just love babies!

Some more recent pictures of my little cuties

Memories

Are you up for the challenge?
Here are the directions: 1. Add a comment on my blog, leave one memory that you and I have had together. It doesn't matter if you knew me a little or a lot, anything you remember. This can be about me, or any related memory of my family.... 2. Next, repost these instructions on your blog and see how many people leave a memory about you. It is actually pretty funny to see the responses.

Pink Tutus

I had a client put her kid in a tutu and diaper for her pictures so I just had to take a couple of Mia in one too. And then I must have gotten carried away because when a mom brought over her little darling all dressed up in a full tuxedo, with cumberbund and all, I couldn't help myself, I had to use my tutued daughter as a prop in his photos too. I got this thing in the dollar section of target, by the way, and it is darling but if you are reading this blog, Susanne Pedro, I cannot wait for you to start selling yours, make sure you let me know!!

Gettin Busy

With photo sessions that is. I have had a fantastic week and have gotten to spend time with some great people, starting with the Nielsons, mom, dad and two wild and busy little guys who are all boy. (I thought Paige was fast, but these guys put her to shame!) They are oh so cute and will do just about anything for a starburst, except for hold a pose for longer then two seconds. Luckily along came a snail and they were mesmerized long enough for me to capture their cherubic little faces doing what they love to do best, get close and personal with the creatures. Did I mention that their mom is just about the cutest person on the planet and she has a really great southern accent? Well, it is true. I love a southern accent and would move down to the south just to aquire one.

I also spent some time with a few other families but I am not quite ready to show those yet, maybe later this week. I did have a very important visit from Mike's awesome brother Jason this afternoon and we were able to do a few pictures for him to bring back and show all his friends in New York, yes thats right, I said New York. We totally covet his life. Anyway, it was a great visit, and a fun shoot. Maybe he didn't have quite as much fun as I did, since I was feeling pretty sarcastic and teasy, which maybe doesn't go over as well with in laws as it does with actual brothers, but I had a blast nonetheless. My assistant Paige was right there with her fisher price camera telling him to "put his knee a little more over that way", and if he could please just "stick his nose and eyebrow out further". Did I mention that she wants to be a "photoddler" when she grows up? Anyway, here are some pictures for your viewing pleasure.

The Ashtons

Do any of the four of you that read this blog (I raised my number due to popular response) have a shoulder angel? You know, a conscience that has an actual voice and guides your moral decisions you make every day? I have one. (several voices but only one that acts as a moral compass) That voice belongs to Linda Ashton. She was my sunday school teacher and partner in Sunday crime. (ie skipping sunday school to sit in the car to hear the A's game or heading to In and Out to fill our tummies so we could pay better attention to the church speaker) As a young teenager she had the patience to take me under her wing and show me the beauty of Christs gospel in a way so profound that here I sit fifteen years later confident that I can pass those lessons on to my young daughters. I am truly grateful and fortunate for her kindness and example. And I am not the only one. I had the opportunity to do a photo session of her family who was gathered together this holiday weekend to celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary and it was quite a site to behold. Mick and Linda Ashton were married 50 years ago when she was merely fifteen years old. There were over forty five people there for the shoot, all of their children, their childrens children, and in two cases, their childrens childrens children. Such a dynamic group of people I have never seen and I had a blast getting to speak with a few of them. The part that sticks out in my mind more then anything else during that crazy shoot was at one point having to pause as she looked out at the see of white shirts before her and welled up with tears as she saw what she had created and the legacy that had been started fifty years beforehand. She said (in a voice I know all to well, as it also plays the role of my shoulder angel) "Are you seeing what I am seeing? Isn't it incredible." And it really is incredible. Here are some previews for you to see and if you happen to read this, Thank you Thank you Thank you.

This is a great grandson, he is adorable! He is also eating a Starburst in this shot if anyone is wondering.

And here is mom with her girls.

This is Steff and her husband John and the second great grand baby, Autumn. I hope to post a blurb completely dedicated to Autumn sometime in the future because she is a doll and I can't wait to do her pictures!