Hello from Paradise!  Everyone here is complaining about the heat but I’m loving every second of it.  We stayed in Sand Key, FL for a couple of days and I was able to stroll the beach collecting shells and listening to the ocean.  I took a few shots of Noy and the kids and managed to capture this one.  It’s my new all-time favorite image!

Listening for the ocean in a sea shell:

“I want to show you somping.”

Sandy toes…

My favorite boy in the world:

I’ll be back in town on the 11th but I am checking email from paradise so I’ll get back with you as soon as I can!

Well it’s late at night and I am sneaking in to Dawns office to hi-jack her blog!  (It’s me, NOY).  I just wanted to give you a peak at what I have been up to the last few days–DIRT BIKING in MOAB!!!  Dirt biking is my hobby/obsession (when I am not assisting Dawn at her weddings and other shoots, that is) and this week I had the opportunity to go to Moab with the boys and have some fun!  We rode many famous trails (Poison Spider, Gold Spike, White Wash Sand Dunes area, 7-Mile Rim and others) and I was able to snap a few photos with Dawn’s magic camera that I had kidnapped for the trip.  Now I am just an “assistant-in-training” but am loving all the things Dawn is teaching me about photography.

Here are a few photos I was able to catch while on the trail.  I wish I would have taken more, but now I have a reason to go back SOON!

I had this idea for a project and as any good photographer, you choose the best subjects you know for the shoot.  Of course, that means my girls, without question, have the job.  It’s not exactly easy being the photographer and the mom but we managed to pull it off thanks to a few people!

First, my husband’s Aunt, Ann White (Annie) helped me put together the table.  She’s a party planner/wedding coordinator in town if you’re in need of one of those, let me know!  Second, The Bundt Shoppe in Castle Pines is the cutest little cake shop EVER and their bundt cakes are to die for!  If you haven’t tried one, you’re missing out!  Finally, my cousin Tiffany let us use her yard and help me set up everything for the shoot.  Thank you everyone for your help!

I hope you are taking a break to enjoy your friends and family.  I know I haven’t posted in awhile but my kids are just growing too fast and I took the remainder of December to enjoy them.  We’ve baked a lot, played a lot, watched a lot of movies and just enjoyed being together.  I’ll start posting regularly again next month!  Have a WONDERFUL new year!

From our family to yours,

Julian is turning two in just a couple of weeks.  Since birth, I’ve had a hard time getting him to be still enough to photograph.  I really wanted to document his birthday with some great pictures.  Being the third, he does get fewer pictures taken of him but I’ve tried to be good about keeping up, especially since he’s my only boy.

When we first heard the news we were expecting for the first time, people always asked if I knew what I wanted…a boy or a girl.  I knew I wanted a daughter.  When she was born, we were beyond elated and she has been the most amazing blessing to Noy and I.  When I found out I was expecting again, we wanted another girl.  Our view of boys were these little rambunctious creatures that people couldn’t control.  Little girls just sat there and looked pretty…so sweet.  I remember my good friend Robyn telling me that she hoped that I got to experience the joy of having a son one day.  I thought to myself, that’s sweet but I’m good with my girls.  So two girls later and we were in sleep depravation heaven.  Bella and Maiza are SO different and we couldn’t imagine anything more beautiful than what are family was.  It was complete.  Then, expecting one more time, I thought, okay, maybe it would be nice to have a little boy but I knew I would never be disappointed with another girl.  When the ultrasound tech told us that she was 150% positive this was a little boy, we were excited but nervous about that crazy rambunctious creature growing inside of me.

Today, almost two years later, I have to say that there is nothing that could compare to having a son.  I love all three of my children.  None more than the other, but the relationship between Julian and I is something I just can’t put into words.  The way he snuggles with me; his eskimo kisses; the contagious laugh that pours out of his entire face and the obvious way he loves me makes me wonder how I ever lived without him.  And he IS that crazy child that we can’t control and that I can barely manage to photograph but I don’t care.  He makes our family truly complete!  Happy Birthday Julian!  You make your mommy VERY happy!