July 08, 2009

precious - Santa Maria newborn photographer

I know that I promised pictures of that 'full week' that we had a little while ago, and I'm getting there, but I want to post one more little peek at a session that I did last week. 
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this little wonder may look like he was born yesterday, but he wasn't.  Mr. C was born premature a few months, but is now safe in mommy and daddy's arms.  And, I got to take some shots of him. 
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too cute. 

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I also didn't realize how blurry one of the pics of my friend were (problems with resizing stuff), so I'm reposting it by itself.  It's one of my favorites.
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July 07, 2009

Friends - Santa Maria portrait photographer

so, I'm just about out the door to head to a going away barbeque for a very special friend - yes, she is leaving.  But, as a gift, before she left, I took her out for a photo date.  and it was awesome.  I got to play, and sure enough, by the end of our time, she started getting into 'character'.  love you, friend
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so, here is just a smidgen of the shots I uploaded to day.  just a teaser!

July 06, 2009

Gorgeous Family - Santa Maria family photographer

I had a shoot with this gorgeous family.  I told one of the sisters that any time any of them wanted, to just call me up, and I'd come along with camera in hand!  Beautiful. 
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 and sisters are near and dear to my heart, of course...
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and then, they get married and add more people to the family!  isn't it awesome!
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I love families, and huge thanks to this one for a beautiful day!

July 01, 2009

Life

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Judah making amazing block fortresses for his dinosaurs
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Daniel feeling mighty and benevolent to the teeming masses.  "let them eat ... bread."
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should have thought about the guy on the inside of the window when I'm trying to get a picture
or our reflections!
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so cool!
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this is only one of the places that the bracelet visited!
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Somebody dared Cindy to run through the blown sprinkler, and I followed.  Very wet!
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I had to, and you know it!
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all of the God Chicks bracelets that we could find!
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Friends!
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With cool goggles comes great responsibility, or at least a feeling of it!
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That pretty much catches you up with what's been going on here!

June 24, 2009

oh.my.cuteness

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Isn't he precious?  A few weeks ago, I had the privilege of taking catching up with a little guy who I had shot as a bun in the oven!   I'm not sure that I posted any of these, and I'm not sure why, but I couldn't find any, so you get a two for one, today.

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aren't the the cutest?  and I have a moment of wonder about how adorable their little man is...silly of me.

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we even had time for a bath!

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June 17, 2009

full week

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Last week, my in-laws were in town, and we of course had a whirlwind of activities going on.  But, I'm going to sum it up from Thursday on.  Hugh and Nina had mentioned wanting to see some of the hugetrees in California, but we didn't want to drive fooorrreeevvverrrrrrr!  so we decided to see a redwood grove just outside of Santa Cruz.  But, on the way up, we took the PCH, or highway 1.  It was beautiful.  absolutely gorgeous albeit windy and steep.  It made me think of tiny roads that we would drive in Kosovo or Montenegro.  IMG_4319

But, before we got to really pretty stuff, Amber had the winning idea to stop and see the elphant seals.  The boys were getting antsy, and we all could use the stretch.  "No, it's off season and there probably won't be anything there," said Dan.  I finally convinced him to pull over - and you know it was one of those turn at the last minute things - and it was good that we did.

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ugly suckers, huh?  But, they weren't the wildlife that will be remembered by my boys.  oh, no, we drive two hours to see these magnificent sea beasts, and my children are enthralled with ....squirrels, or chipmunks, or some kind of rodent! yeah, that guy up at the top and all of his cronies totally captivated Judah and Caleb.

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we were slightly amazed that these little creatures were so brave as to come up and eat from our hands!!!  They even crawled up on our laps a few times!  We started getting worried they might riot when we tried to leave, and they did follow us around until we actually got into the car. crazy.  And, we did a lot more that day, and then on into the weekend, but I will have to wait to post those until tomorrow and the next day and so on until they all get posted or I don't have any more work to get done, but since that will never happen this will just have to drag out s..l..o..w..l..y!

June 09, 2009

the recipe, sort of, and the boys

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I've mentioned it before, but seriously, boys can be disgusting. (note: tongue about to make contact with cheek! - they have this war in the grocery store, too!! the little boys do, I mean!)
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but, of course, they can be absolutely wonderful, too!  tickle fights have been on the agenda quite frequently as of late
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and, I was informed that not including the recipe for my bagels was somewhat of a small crime.  I was also informed that I inspired other friends to attempt bagels for the first time : )  But, I will help you out.
The recipe that I used can be found here, but the only problem is that I changed it.  And, the changes were good, I mean they were yummy.  But I'm just not exactly sure what they were!!!  So, as best as I can, this is what I did.
Instead of 4 1/2 cups flour, I used 2 1/2 cups flour, 1 cup whole wheat flour, and 1 cup oatmeal.  Then, I added in about 2 tablespoons of flax seeds, 1/4 cup sunflower seeds, and about 1/2 cup chopped walnuts.  oh, I also added honey, maybe three tablespoons to the dough. 
So......
that's pretty close to what I did.  I also, didn't broil them.  Just did the boiling bit.  with the whole wheat ones, I would recommend the broiling, though. 
anyhow.  have a good day : )

June 08, 2009

on fear and homemade whole grain bagels

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hmmm......dough rising......oatmeal?....maybe it's.....well, what could it be?
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ooh,  it's either donuts or bagels.....or really big pasta!
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whole wheat....oatmeal...flax....sunflower seeds.....walnuts...honey.....yummmm.....
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sorry, everyone who voted really big pasta lose out on the big prize.....oh, wait, there isn't a big prize....anyhow, they're bagels....the boiled ones. 
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with homemade raspberry cream cheese!  I'm going to enjoy breakfasts for a while!!!!

 ~~~~~~I just called 911 for the second time in a four month time span.  That's more times than I've ever called that number in my life.  I'm considering putting them on speed dial.  My phone goes into emergency mode when I dial that number, all on its own.  I probably saved someone's life because I called.  But, I'm not sure that he would appreciate it.  And, I'm pretty sure the guy that hurt him doesn't appreciate me - because he got caught!  And, now, I'm a little fearful.  I'm a little afraid that someone would try to hurt me for getting them in trouble.  I'm afraid that as they sat in the back of the police cars (yes, our street saw some crazy action today, and no, my adrenaline levels are still not quite back to normal), they were figuring out who was the little rat that squealed on them.  I'm clinging to the promises that God has given me that he has a purpose and a plan for my life, and that means that every moment is known, and that He wants to see me fulfill that purpose and plan, and that means that I will trust in Him for my protection.  I'm just being transparent.  I'm having a hard time being brave right now.  The thought of taking out the garbage is more than I can handle right now.  It probably doesn't help that I read  in Ecclesiastes today!  But, I'm going to think about Psalm 34:19 - "the righteous man may have many troubles, but the Lord delivers him from them all!"  or Proverbs 11:8 "the righteous man is rescued from trouble..."  I know the world doesn't always work out that way, and sometimes bad things happen to good people, but right now, I'm thinking about my Knight in shining armor who will protect and rescue me.  I'll work on being brave tomorrow - and I might go and  buy a can of pepper spray tonight!

June 03, 2009

somewhat in love with my yard right now

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Maybe it was because I was sick for the last two weeks, but I am in love with my yard and home today.  I have been cleaning, weeding, tying up sweet peas, planting, scrubbing, dusting, mopping, cutting, and arranging.  And, I love it. 
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I have a miniature rose bush with the sweetest ever baby pink blooms! and the lovely purple behind it...
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don't know what it's called (...yet!  I'm learning), but it smells so intriguing.  yes, intriguing.  Something like patchouli and lavender mixed.  It reminds me of something but I haven't figured out yet what it is.
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lovely little sweet peas!  they have always been a favorite! 
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June 02, 2009

Change

A little more than a year ago, we came back from Kosova.  IMG_4031 copy
Since we had first gone, six years earlier, so many things in our lives had changed.  We of course grew closer together as a couple - it's bound to happen when you are that close of a proximity with your better half all of the time - We became parents for the first time, and then the second time.  We learned another language, culture, and many of the details that come with that.   I grew into who I am even while I had to keep it bottled up some because of the different culture.  Those differences only helped to cement my beliefs, convictions, and personality.
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It's hard to believe that we lived such amazing lives.  For heaven's sake - we traveled Europe!  What young couple wouldn't love to have that opportunity?!  I love the liberalness of the European outlook on many things, but also their grasp on traditions.  I was grateful for their family attitude and see a lack in the current American culture.  I wish at various moments of the week that I could go visit some such spot that I can picture in my head, but I am so happy that my home, and house, are in the United States. 
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Since we've been back, we've had so many changes and transitions!  We lived in a garage, Dan entered the 'normal' job world and we miss him daily, the boys have friends who speak the same language,  I'm always the over-dressed one, I miss Arta and the workers and Alban and Leslie and Dave and Cindy, but... I can run outside here and not get strange looks from every single person.  We won't even discuss how much fun cooking and eating can be when you have a plethora of ingredients available to you!!!!  So much traffic, so many things to do, sometimes too many, but all good.  I had thought that eventually we would feel settled, but I'm starting to wonder.
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My life will be in constant change.  Of course I knew this before, but for some reason it didn't get applied in my thinking towards this one change.  We loved our time in Kosova - so many wonderful memories, pieces of life that will forever shine, dear, oh so dear, friends that we loved, but we couldn't stay there.  Just as we can't stay in any one place or time in our lives!  I know we try, don't we?  Change can be a little bit painful, isn't it?  I kind of thought I had somehow learned who I was and that was that.  But, in learning more of who I am, I am now learning how to BE who I am.  How to live everyday as me, as the masterpiece that God created amidst the rest of the world - and all of its change! 
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I'm in love with my life, because I know who I am, who I was created to be, and now, I'm learning how to use it for Him.  That excites me.  That's what the point is.  We will always be changing so that we are a better and better reflection of the Creator.  He's made us each amazing so that we can share pieces of His wonder and Truth with the world.  I had a rare opportunity to be in a place where I had to stand up for my beliefs, convictions, and personality, or I would have lost them, or been changed possibly for the worst.  And, now, I'm moving into a new time when the strength of knowing will hold me when I might want to give up, or hide, or run away.  I don't get to.  That's what the change in our lives is supposed to do, strengthen us.  Cuz guess what?  There's MORE planned for us.  There's more planned for me,  and there's more planned for you.  Are you excited?  or scared?  If you're scared, let's chat.  I've been there.  I'm still there sometimes.  But, I have discovered more of who I have been created to be, and I know that because of that, there's good stuff coming!  Let me share it with you.