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!

Park City and the Alpine Slide

This weekend we went on a mini vacation up to Park City with the girls. It was fantastic, the air was nice and cool, it was beautifully green and we had no schedule to follow. We went swimming, watched tv in our bed (Paige thought that was pretty cool) and road the alpine slide. All in all and pleasant trip. I am just going to post a few pics in case any of the 2.5 people that actually read this are interested in seeing what it looks like up there. I had mentioned the alpine slide which Mike was gracious enough to let me take Paige on while he waited at the bottom with Mia. We rode up to the top of the mountain on the ski lift, which is pretty high, especially if you are three. Paige told me her heart was feeling a little wigglish, which I took to mean she felt a little nervous but once up at the top she was all grins and giggles, and absolutely fearless, I kept having to pull the brakes because she was taking us down at such break neck speeds. I will never forget how much fun we had or how brave she was. You can check out the alpine slide and other fun attractions by clicking here .

Farmers Market

Its Farmers Market time! and Salt Lake downtown farmers market is the best one I have ever been to. Aside from farmers vending their produce, there is a pluthera of other hopefuls sitting in tents hoping to sell their wares or make a name for themselves. There is also a ton of food. Every type of food you can imagine. Mexican, Indian, Argentinian, Bavarian, I even saw a group of yoga spiritualists with their own food booth. And on every corner is a musician hoping to entertain the crowd and fill his or her instrument case with some dough.

Paige and I went to check out the action on Saturday. We decided to let Daddy stay home with Mia because while he will go to these festivals with us, I think he secretly dreads the heat and the crowds. We had a blast getting ready and heading out. Paige dumped her piggy bank savings into her wallet and off we went. There wasn't a ton of produce because of the crazy weather we had this spring but there was a booth selling mushrooms. I pointed it out to Paige who said "yes, that is what I would like to buy with my money." And then she went to the booth, a lady helped her pick out her mushrooms, Paige paid her with her quarter and walked away with a bag of five Porcini mushrooms that go for 28 dollars a pound. I could hear the sales people giggling and I am fairly confident that they gave her a good deal as we walked away. I asked Paige what she wanted to do with her mushrooms, she said "oh I don't like mushrooms mom, you and daddy can eat them tonight for dinner." Little pretty! We had a great time the rest of the morning even though it was so hot. We wanted to get some delicious organic juice or some limeade but the lines were too long so we ended up getting snow cones instead, which was Paiges favorite part of the market. Here are some pictures from the day.