Peace and Pandemonium

I feel like I have been so busy with life lately that I haven't hardly had a minute to blog about all of our happenings. The most exciting update is that yesterday was Isaiah's last day of first grade!! I couldn't be happier! Not because my little boy is growing and moving up in the world like you might think. Oh no, my reasons are much more superficial than that. I'm thrilled because now I can sleep in!! We went to his dance festival on Friday morning and watched him shake and wiggle...literally. It was very entertaining. We are now looking forward to a summer full of bug catching and swimming and play dates with friends. Whoo hoo!








Matias has been growing and developing so much lately. He has figured out how to butter me up before asking me for things. The other day we were standing in the kitchen and before he asked me to give him something delicious and unhealthy no doubt, he said, "Mom look at my face." I glazed over this request and went on doing what I was doing so he asked me again, this time with a little bit more angst, "Mom, look at my face!" Once again, I was busy in mommy la la land and totally ignored my sweet little boy. Finally along with grabbing my shirt roughly and tugging he yelled at me in a very frustrated tone, "MOM, LOOK AT MY FACE!!!!!" This of course got my attention and when I finally glanced down he flashed me this face.





This is his 'look at how cute and adorable I am' face. His 'you couldn't possibly say no to me when I look like this' face. Needless to say he got whatever it was he was asking for and I giggled about the whole episode for days after.

Isaiah recently came home reciting the old joke, Guess what? Chicken butt. Guess why? Chicken thigh. Guess who? Chicken poo. You get the idea. Ok, a little back story before I go to much further in this story. Matias has this thing with underwear. He thinks it's gross. I have no idea why. Poo, good. Farts, no big deal. Burping is cool, but underwear is gross. Anyway, once Matias heard this little two line joke he thought it was hilarious. Only he's kinda like Biff on Back to the Future...you know, the part where he says "Make like a tree and go away." He doesn't really get the punchline to the joke. Matias thinks this joke is funniest when it goes like this. (of course it doesn't start without the incessant need to have my full attention.) Mom, MOM, MOOOOMMMM!!!! Guess what? Chicken underwear. Guess why? Chicken underwear! Mom, Guess who? (you guessed it) Chicken underwear. It's so stupid that I cant help but laugh EVERY SINGLE TIME! No wonder he wont stop.

Another funny thing that Matias has been doing lately is asking me for hotdogs for dinner. Ok, that alone isn't all that funny but when it's accompanied by, 'with bums', it's hilarious. The first time he asked me for this I thought I had just misheard him. I asked him to repeat what he had just said and sure enough it was, "I want hotdogs with bums." Yes, bums. I'm laughing while I type. I don't even think he knows that it's supposed to be buns. He doesn't actually hear all that well, (he has diagnosed hearing loss for those of you who didn't know) so the innocence behind his request is the sweetest thing in the whole world. Man, I love this boy!





Sophia is just as sweet as ever. I'm about to attempt potty training. She is VERY reluctant. The girl is three in August and she is reluctant!! I cant figure it out. I was potty trained at 15 months and I heard that girls were easier to train than boys. Not so in my household. This girl has been holding strong. I'm going to break her though. Just you watch. I will triumph! Then I just have to teach Matias to wipe himself and I'll be home free...almost.








Life has been so good lately. We have so many wonderful things happening in our lives. Steven's new job has been wonderful so far. He has time to be a dad and a husband and an active member in our family. He is around so much more and I hear from him ALL THE TIME. I get regular phone calls throughout the day. I love it...most of the time. ;) Just kidding babe, I love it all the time. (That was just in case Steven is reading this right now.)





I have been taking lots of pictures lately and wanting to take more. I stumbled back into photography after an almost 10 year hiatus, thanks in large part to this blog. I finally have a place to post pictures. I've never been a scrap booker, in fact I hate the very idea, so before this blog all of my pictures sat on my computer, lost in file after endless file.

Many things have changed in the world of photography since I was in high school ditching all of my other classes so that I could spend the day in the darkroom. Digital has revolutionized the industry, creating a bit of a learning curve for me in the process. Photoshop is so fun, it opens the flood gates for creative artistic expression. I have so much to learn. I love art. I love expressing myself through art. I was never very good at drawing though and my painting skills were always falling short because I lacked the basic skills of good drawing. I have rediscovered that photography is my way of capturing the image in my head. Other artists may draw or paint or sculpt these images but I like to find them through light and lens.

Thanks to all of you who read this blog, who comment, and who cheer me on. Your kind words and inspiring messages have fueled me along.

Well, that's our life in a nutshell. I'll try not to get so behind from now on. I so love this blogging business. Isn't it fun?

This week I got to take pictures of triplets! I know, so cool right? I was so excited and for good reason. These babies are precious. I honestly don't know how their mom and dad do it, they literally went from having one baby to four overnight, but they are obviously very patient and loving parents. Carter is such a good big brother and a total sweetheart to boot. I was so impressed with the love this little family has for one another! Meet the Oeser's...

This weekend I took pictures of a large family. There were 27 people and let me be honest by saying, I was a bit of a scattered mess! Trying to keep up with eleven kids and trying to remember who I had already taken pictures of was a challenge! Thankfully, the family are old friends of mine so they were very kind and understanding. These are a few images from our session that caught my eye. Not surprisingly, many of my favorites are the individual portraits.

Today Sophia got into my makeup and painted herself up all pretty. I couldn't help but snap a few pictures.
Since that time, I haven't been able to get this tune out of my head. I feel it is fitting.

God gave a present to me
Made of flesh and bones
My life, my soul
You make my spirit whole.





Never forget who you are
Little star






Shining brighter than all the stars in the sky






Never forget how to dream
Butterfly






Never forget where you come from
From love

These two especially...

This photoshoot is from a session I did with my friend Wendy's boys. We all went out to Heber and explored an awesome ranch. We saw horses, cows, hawks, and even caught a glimpse of superman and a character or two from Lord of the Rings...scroll down to see what I mean. : )
I'm not exaggerating one bit when I say that these three are some of the brightest and most imaginative boys I've ever met. Meet Max, Grey, and lil' Nicky...

My little Lily is such a source of joy and inspiration. She never ceases to amaze me!! The love runs deep...



She comes in colors ev'rywhere



She combs her hair



She's like a rainbow



Coming, colors in the air



Oh, everywhere



She comes in colors

My friend Rachel graciously agreed to let me take pictures of her sweet lil' angel baby. She was so cooperative and willing to let us prop her up here and there and she never complained...until she finally got tired of us and decided to show it by projectile pooping all over her dad, but that's a whole different story. : )

These are the first newborn pictures I've taken so bear with me. Thankfully lil' miss Zoë was an excellent model. These are a some of my favorites...









Happy Mother's Day!

This weekend my sister, my mom, and I all went to the Bonneville Salt Flats for an ethereal shoot. This series is of my mother (don't all gasp at once.)

This mesh covering may be thin, but Claire has many mysteries and secrets that remain concealed...maybe forever.




Don't Let Your Mind Get Weary And Confused
Your Will Be Still, Don't Try
Don't Let Your Heart Get Heavy Child
Inside You There's A Strength That Lies



Don't Let Your Soul Get Lonely Child
It's Only Time, It Will Go By
Don't Look For Love In Faces, Places
It's In You, That's Where You'll Find Kindness



Be Here Now, Here Now
Be Here Now, Here Now



Don't Lose Your Faith In Me
And I Will Try Not To Lose Faith In You
Don't Put Your Trust In Walls
'cause Walls Will Only Crush You When They Fall




Be Here Now, Here Now
Be Here Now, Here Now


Words by Ray Lamontagne