Yesterday I photographed my first full wedding on my own and I think I did pretty good.  I love taking pictures but weddings are not my specialty.  They are very time consuming and intense.  I was so nervous that something was going to go wrong.  If I make a mistake with a family photo shoot we can do it over again but a wedding you can't repeat (not that I make it a habit of redoing photo shoots).  So I was all about backing everything up and fortunately there were no mishaps.  I'm feeling pretty good about what I shot and I'm hoping everyone else involved does too.

Following are some of my very difficult collages that are practically impossible for anyone else to do.  But just in case you'd want to give it a whirl - I do use a Mac (I'm a Mac snob) but it's all done on Photoshop.  If you have Photoshop give me a call and I can easily walk you through it.

Also, I must give my husband accolades:  he has been so supportive of me in anything I want to do and yesterday was just another time that he was fully supportive as I was gone all day and night in order to shoot the wedding.  I married a Super Star!!!!  

FIRST PINEWOOD DERBY

Not only was this the first pinewood derby for Gib but it was the first for Paul too.  With the help of Gib's Uncle Cameron they made a killer car which won every race except the race against the winner car.  Gib had a great time and I would have to say it was a success.  Of course we hoped for the coveted trophy but in the end it worked out better.  Gib had a great time and now wants to try even harder next year to make a winner car.  I love that kid and couldn't ask for a better oldest child.  

HAPPY EASTER

I love these kiddos even though having a photo shoot with them turns into a complete disaster. 

They seem so put out to actually have to smile at the camera and I get so frustrated when they don't cooperate like all my paid clients do.  Maybe Paul needs to pay me to photograph his children and things would go a lot smoother.  
What a great day!!!  What a great week!!  I have  loved spring break and having my kids around and what a great way to end it with Easter Day.  

Angela made dresses for all the girl cousins eight and younger and they all looked pretty dang cute!  Thanks so much to my sister who put so much effort into it and I didn't have to stress about what Ruby would be wearing.  How lucky am I to have Ang as my sister!

We spent Easter evening at the Henries and had an Italian themed dinner (I made a mean dish of chicken alfredo at the request of Amanda),  an Easter Egg Hunt in the back yard, a bit of Simon Says, over-indulgence on soda and candy and an intense game of tetherball.  Every Easter event needs a game of tetherball.  If you'd ask me every event needs at least one good game of tetherball.
The blossoms smell absolutely delicious and I think this may be my new favorite time of year.  Every time I walk outside I can't help but smile because of those blossoms.  The weather is divine and I find myself looking forward to summer and having the kids home for a longer period of time.  But until then I must get back into a routine.  Life is good!!

A Sad Day!

Almost three years ago Paul and I moved to Arizona for the very reason of raising our kids around family.   We felt it was the best decision for our family because we wanted our children to know their grandparents, to be comfortable around their aunts and uncles and to be best friends with their cousins.   As we searched for a home there were times that Paul wanted to look further outside of Mesa so we could have more home and more property for less money but I was determined to be within bike riding distance of my family that lived here.  We found a home and it couldn't have been more ideal.  It was approx. a miles radius from my parents and my three sisters yet we were in a different ward, even a different stake so we would be able to have some of our own identity.  I really felt that I had arrived and this was what we had been working towards for the last eight years - to live by family.  

Soon after we moved here one of my sisters moved about 15 minutes East of here (may not sound that far but it wasn't part of my plan).  About a year and a half later my parents announced they had sold their home and had bought a home in Alpine, UT.  We were shocked.  These were my roots and they were digging them up without my permission.  It hurt pretty bad but time has helped heal and I've held tighter to my sisters and the bonds we developed as we worked through it.  

Well, it gets worse, because yesterday my baby sister moved to Utah with her cute little family.  Of course she let us know months ago yet I held on to the hope that it wouldn't really happen.  Even when her husband found a job in UT and started to commute I still held onto that hope because I didn't want her to go.   She was supposed to be a part of helping raise my children and I was planning on helping her raise her kiddos.  Maggie (her 6 year old) was supposed to be a teenager hanging out at my house after school and telling me about her latest boyfriend.  Johnny (her 4 year old) was supposed to get in all kinds of trouble with Charlie and my disciplining would be equal to what his mother would give.  And sweet Ashton (her almost 2 year old) was going to consider me his favorite aunt (he really does adore me) and thank me at the pulpit as he was giving his Missionary Farewell talk.  I had it all planned out and it was taken away from me.  The hope that I had held onto is now gone because she's gone and she took her cutest kids with her.  It's not going to be the same without her and her family and there will definitely be something missing at our family events.  But I don't doubt they're doing what's best for their little family as hard as it is for us left here in AZ.

We had a goodbye party for her at my house Friday night and Charlie helped put things into perspective for me.  After the party was over Charlie said to me in his sad four year old voice, "I'm sad Johnny is going to move."  But without missing a beat his voice perked up and he said, "But I'm so excited I'm going to be five."  It reminded me that it's o.k. to be sad for a moment but there is so much I have to be happy about and it's time to focus on that.  I love Anna and her family and I know we'll still stay connected though far apart.  I have two of the greatest sisters who live here still and combined they are giving my kids 12 cousins to love and I have no doubt we'll be there for each other as we raise our children.  Life is good!!

What a Party!!

Today we had Ruby's 7th birthday party and what a party it was.  We gave out 30 invitations and had about 30 girls there.  I was a little nervous because I took a great idea from my sister-in-law of decorating bikes and I turned it into a parade party.   The kids came and immediately started decorating their bikes and making their "license plates".   We attached little baskets to the front of their bikes so they'd have a place to hold their candy that they would throw to all the spectators.

  They were a great group of girls who all seemed to enjoy a project and were patient with Paul and myself when they needed help.  They were also all willing to share if we had run short on supplies.  

The parade was to begin at 10:45 a.m. so pressure was on to be ready.  Paul led the way and the girls had noise makers with Hannah Montana blaring from a boom box.  It was rockin'!!  

Ruby scored on presents and said that today was pretty comparable to Christmas Day - that's huge!!  It was great to be able to do this for Ruby and I'm so proud to be her mom.  She has got great friends and I love that she just likes people - she has a strength and she doesn't seem to judge people.  She's a great example to me!!  Love her!We also learned that Eli loooovvvves Cheetos.  Don't worry our driveway is always clean.

I've arrived!!

A couple of weeks ago I was able to purchase a Nutrimill wheat grinder.  Since then I've been on a quest for a beautiful loaf of whole wheat bread.  I've tried various recipes, I've discovered wheat gluten and dough enhancer to make my bread look "more voluptuous", I've tried red wheat and white wheat, and  I feel through it all I've put in some serious effort to make this phenomenal loaf of bread.  Well, yesterday it was going to happen.  After a half hour of letting my dough rise I glanced over and saw an almost visionary sight . . . my bread had risen famously that I had to take a picture:Absolutely beautiful - wouldn't you agree?

So I baked my bread and somehow, unfortunately, burned the bottom.  Then when I pulled it out to cool I turned my back for a moment and Eli had crawled on the counter and thought he would help out . . . by punching the "dough".

Sad for a moment but had to laugh.  He also stuck his fingers in another loaf.  So, I haven't quite arrived yet but sooooo close.  It still tasted delicious though.