Best Instagram Pictures from January and A Winner

It's February!  How can it be February all ready!  The month seemed to go slowly, yet it flew by as it is over already!   This year I am trying to actually do something with my pictures, rather than let them live on my computer, so at the end of every month, I am going through my pictures and starting a photo book that I will then print at the end of the year.   If I wait until the end of the year to do it, I know it will never happen.

Today, as I am going through pictures, I decided to share the top ten most liked pictures from Instagram for January-- and right after that I will be announcing the winner for the Hotel-stay giveaway.

#10

#9

#8

#7

#6

#5

#4

#3

#2

#1

Now for the winner! I put the got the qualifying entries and used random.org to pick a winning number and the winner is KellyR78 with a follow on Instagram.

Congrats Kelly!  

Birthday Beach Photoshoot

Ten years ago today we calmly packed our bags and headed to the hospital.  We arrived only to hear the fire alarms go off, they asked if we needed to hurry upstairs, since I was obviously very pregnant, we told them we were good.

Soon we were able to head up to your scheduled c-section, your older brother haven't not lead the way very well.

I felt very calm, relaxed, almost sleepy.  Before we knew it we had this beautiful baby girl.

As you grew we realized to our shock that you had red hair-- and the personality to go with is.

Now you have officially reached double digits.

You live life to the fullest, with the biggest personality... yet you can be so calm and quiet and some might say almost shy at times.

Your teachers adore you as does your Daddy, you are definitely his girl.

I have so  many dreams and hopes for you and I know you will do amazing things, it really feels like there are limitless possibilities with you and I am fascinated to see what directions and paths you will choose in life.

There are little moments when I see worry or fear in you that first shocks me- but then reminds me more of myself at your age.

I will always love you, you will always be my girl; I know someday this fact will be even more significant as there is nothing quite like a mother-daughter relationship.

I hope you live your dreams, but always remember what truly matters most and that your heart always stays good and kind.

I am so proud of who you are and the things you stand up for, for how you live your faith and life.

To my red-headed daughter, I love you.

Happy Birthday.

Every Photographer Should Get Their Pictures Taken

I think it should be a requirement as a photographer to get your pictures taken.  Take your turn on the other side of the camera.

This last Saturday my family got our pictures taken.  I have a dear friend who is also a photographer (Find more of her work here) and is pregnant, and so we exchanged sessions, a family session for my family and I am going to be take her newborn pictures soon.

I was so excited for the pictures and then it was time to pick out outfits...

I am a photographer!  I take pictures of families all the time.  I see the cute outfits they pick out, yet it felt so incredibly difficult.

After I went to way too many stores and spent way too much money, I finally had it- what would be the perfect outfits for my family.

We decided to do an early morning shoot, which was very ambitious of us.  From problems of rolled sleeves bothering the boys, me accidentally burning Alex's head with the curling iron, and leaving 15 minutes later than I wanted to, it was a little chaotic to say the least.

As we were pulling up late, it made me have a lot more empathy for when my clients arrive seeming a bit frazzled.  You forget what all goes into it on the other end.  Remembering this will help me feel a little more understanding next time my clients are a few minutes late- as sometimes things are just crazy.

In the end, we got amazing pictures that I love and everyone had a great time and I cannot wait to take pictures of Angie's new baby.

Here are just a few of my favorite pictures-- it was hard to pick as I love them all!

The kids really wanted to "photobomb" a picture

Had to put this one it to show how much bigger Eric is than me- and I am wearing heels! 

A Birthday Snow Day

When we visited Utah for Thanksgiving, I have to admit I hoped it would snow.  I grew up with snow, but now living in Arizona then California, my cold tolerance has greatly dropped; but while we were in Utah I was hoping.

The forecast called for snow the day before Thanksgiving, nothing came.

The last day of our trip was also Alex's birthday.  We woke up to snow!  Not a lot, but to this California kids it was enough.

Only a California kid would first be out in snow with no gloves.

But then they got wise and got gloves Grandpa (or Pappi) tried to shovel as we continued to play It truly was wonderfully fun and I forgot how beautiful everything is all covered in white. The hill near my in-laws house had just enough snow to go sledding on (though all the locals probably were laughing at us)
It truly ended up being the perfect birthday present for Alex.  

Halloween and a Ghost Photoshoot

There are some things I want to make sure I always document, and one of them is my kids Halloween costumes; especially since this might have been the last year that Lucas dressed up.  He kept saying he didn't want to but in the end finally did, so not sure if he will next year or not.

We finally carved our pumpkins on Halloween.  In fact we bought our pumpkins on Halloween.
We went to our local grocery store, where there had been pumpkins all week and there were none.  Needless to say there was a bit of a panic, one more store and no pumpkins and now I was beginning to panic.
Thankfully on the way to Alex's soccer game we noticed a little road size stand with any size pumpkins for $5.  They were awesome pumpkins and ones grown on the land right next to the stand by local cow farmers.  Not only did we get huge awesome pumpkins for an amazing price but supported a local farmer, win-win.

Left to Right: Lucas' upside-down pumpkin, Alex's cat in moonlight, Ryder's scary face 

This year my kids were a BYU football player

A spooky ghost (she loved this costume)
And a creeper (yes all things Minecraft in this point of Lucas' life)


Alex and I decided it would be fun to do a spooky shoot, so Saturday we got her dressed early then headed to a great wooded spot nearby.

She totally got into character and the setting was perfect.





The kids had a great time trick-or-treating.  I stayed home and handed out candy but we by far had the fewest amount of trick-or-treaters we have ever had.   It was a fun Halloween. Do your kids dress up for Halloween?  Do you?