Jesse

There’s a reason this face is hardly seen here on the blog. If there were ever a kid who hated- excuse me, loathed- having a camera in their face, its my Jess. Instead of fighting it over the years and helping him overcome this awkwardness, I thought it better to leave him alone. Why force it. As his senior year approached, I knew I would have to face this day eventually! And honestly I was part excited and part filled with dread. I wanted this to be fun for him, and not just all about what his mom wanted. In the end, all I truly wanted was to capture his amazing smile, his sense of humor and the zany side of his personality. The kids a total rock star. His favorite channel is Comedy Central, he loves Moes (probably spends his paychecks there), beanies, vans and has really cool taste in music. When he’s not working or going to school or playing a gig, he’s writing music and teaching himself new riffs. He’s just rad, what more can I say.

 

Jesse loves music, I love light, and this is what we came up with. Sorry for the overload of images, guess I have a lot of years to make up for.

Mom/Gramma - . . . how about TOTALLY rad! You did it! These are simply wonderful, Christy! So proud of you both!

tracey - All of them. So great in every way. The light and the colors. The one of him walking in the parking garage. I just love it. You think I could get my thirteen year old to do this in a few years? #wishmeluck

rhonda - my FAVORITE one is him walking in the garage!! SO COOL! Great shots!

Just a Few

What a crazy semester! Who knew how crazy senior year would be- have yet to take Jesse’s senior pictures, let alone plan his grad party. Gage has been working, flying and rebuilding a plane. Lila still potty training- insert tears here. Addy has proven to be one smart cookie and such a creative spirit, so enjoying the daily illustrated stories she brings me. Lastly, Jim is closing out his 3 grueling courses (thank God, how I have missed him around here. And all those papers to proof read? Oh my eyes!) Just trying to keep up with daily life and not loose whats left of my mind while trying to magically be in 3 places at once. Time online is sparse and I have been choosing to be more engaged in the real world, hence my absence here….and that other place….;)  It’s easy to rely on my phone for pictures and documenting, but still forcing myself to pick up the big guns. Here are a few favorites from the last 4 months. All edited with actions from my Private Collection. Spending mere minutes in Photoshop now rather than hours. Gotta love that!

 

Although my true favorites still somehow end up coming from that little iPhone….

Laura - Love!

tracey - I love it when you post here. I love Instagram, but I miss people’s blogs. I love the little four photos of your daughter and the crayon mustache especially.

What Milestones Looks Like | Lifestyle Project Month #15

 

Our November was filled to the brim with milestones and so many memorable turning points. This month we helped Jesse complete his college applications and ordered his cap & gown (how is this possible?). Witnessed Addy tie her shoes for the first time and read her very first sentences (that one still gets me). Potty trained Lila (work in progress) and listen to her utter her first near-sentences (spoken in a raspy little voice that usually begins with the word “NO”….no potty, no nappy and my personal favorite, no pitchuure). Prepared Gage for his driving test (he passed!). And celebrated a few birthdays in between- Addy 6, Gage 16, and Lila 2. So many big milestones and new beginnings all at once, I could barley stand it at times. The months only get crazier as the kids grow and take on new things. As a result, there’s not much else that gets done around here. I have somewhat given up on keeping a perfectly tidy house. Cleaning around here is like shoveling snow in a blizzard. But pictures, yeah I made time for that. So with all the goings on this month, I have lots to share…

Life with Addy is a bit of a roller coaster, as I am sure it is with most girls. We have some of this…

A whole lot of that…

And very little of this … (still)

My little emotional artist. She is incredibly strong willed, but possess a heart of pure gold. She is sensitive, pensive and tenacious.

Starting over is hard sometimes.

But well worth the effort.

 The box on the bar top. It holds keys, odds and ends like chalk, broken glittery hair clips (why I keep things like that don’t know), magnets and most importantly it holds one of my favorite old photographs of my Grandma, or as we call her, Tutu, our little Hawaiian endearment.

Li is a lover of books and music, equally. She will climb into her rocking chair with piles of them and sit there sometimes for an hour at a time quietly rocking and looking through the pages. Every now and then I can hear the faint singing of pieces of nursery rhymes from the other room.  So precious. I am amazed at her independent play.

And of course a day would not be complete without snuggles from Tucker.

And lots of play…

One of his gifts- he gets to fly again. That always make him happy.

We have a tiny circle this month. Please follow me on over to view the lovely work of Stephanie Moore | Tucson Family Photographer. Can’t wait to see what her November looked like!

Lindsey B - Christy….what a sweet month. So many big events and yet your images look like small intimate captures of a busy family.

Stephanie Moore {Tucson AZ Photographer} - These are so gorgeous and love the lifestyle shooting here. Your black and whites are so beautiful and grainy, I Adore them! And your lighting, it’s amazing!

rowe - so many beautiful moments captured! i love reading your words too. im with you on the tidy home front… its something i want desperately but its just not the most important thing to me anymore because life is too short to choose cleaning over playing with our kids or outings!

Rachel Clare - I love this project so so much. Such a great month for you, too. xo

laura - i love this post. that is really all i can say. genuine~

Sarah c - I absolutely love how you capture your family! Each one of these photos tells a story and I love all the emotion you really transcend with your images!!! Congrats on so many big milestones too wow!! It really has been so busy your way! I can only imagine how proud you must be mama!

tracey - So many beautiful photos I loved…the climbing onto the chair, the swing, the chalk creations. And random…I love your shower curtain. :)

One for me, One for her

Now that we are potty training, its all changing so fast. She’s changing. Watching her grow into this nurturing sweet creature has become my greatest joy. From the moment she was born, and in those first few days of getting to know her, we quickly came to know this gentle little soul that somehow, God found fit to bless us with. All those sweet tender bits about her, are coming into full bloom.

Rebecca Cooper - These photos are just beautiful Christy!! Oh my….I’m seriously breathless. What a little sweetheart with her little babes. :) I need her to come and convince Alivia that going on the potty isn’t scary…we’re still a LONG ways away from potty training I think. Thank you for linking up your photos! Have a great week!! :)

Ruthie - I love this series of photos!! SO beautiful!

Bekah - Wow!!! These are beautiful!!! Your little girl is darling!! I can tell just by the photos what a sweet tender soul she has!!!

Bekah - Beautiful! Your little girl is darling. I can see the tenderness in her pics!

tracey - These photos are a treasure. So precious and sweet. They remind me of my Bean when she was little. Oh how I miss those little days.

What Trick-or-Treat Looks Like | Lifestyle Project Month 14

 

 

Still cannot believe October has come and gone. Although I was actually on the ball this year and started costume planning early for a change. Sadly, my Addy has passed the princess stage (insert broken heart here) and has moved onto “big” girl things like pop stars. Katy Perry was her choice and Grandma came to the rescue and helped us create and sew her a kid friendly KP costume. As for Lila, her obsession with Minnie Mouse continues. Her Minnie dress hung in her room for weeks and she awoke every morning squealing with delight while pointing and chanting “Mouse! Mouse!” The boys have long outgrown trick-or-treating of course…(insert bleeding heart…).

 

So this year since we didn’t quite make it to any festivals or punkin patches I decided to try and capture the girls getting ready. But as usual what I want is quite the opposite from reality. Melt downs happen a lot around here….and not just my own…….

 

Lila’s turn. Although she was doing quite well on her own, till Mommy appeared with camera in one hand and attempting to help with the other.

 

And wait for it…….Double meltdown. : )

 

We live in a great little neighborhood. And over the years the excitement and energy on Halloween night gets bigger and bigger. I love walking out into the street at that golden hour and instantly feeling that festive spirit that exists between us and our neighbors. Everyone pretty much camps out in their driveways, someone always has the grill cranked up and the kids, young and old who have all grown up together,  are oohing and awing over each others costumes. Then comes the racing back and forth between the houses on our street while everyone gears up, waiting for the right moment to take off through the neighborhood…..leaving me breathless to try and catch a few decent shots. As the hours go by, we are amazed at the wall to wall families that appear….usually by the van loads…..literally. Its a wonderful time, and as exhausted as we all are by nights end, we can’t wait to do it all over again.

 

 

Some IG favorites…

 

And since its officially November, and having treated myself to a new camera this week, I must cheat and share a November shot or two….

 

Next up in our circle is one of the loveliest, strongest gals I know Jules Trandem | San Diego Family Photographer. So please follow me on over to see what a little fun looks like……

shalonda - eeeekkkkk love your halloween post of course but you know how pumped i am for you that you got the new camera!!!!!!

Sarah Cornish - Oh they looked so precious!! I love the shots of them getting ready too! My oldest lily is also decided she was over e princess stage and it was bittersweet for us! I love that you all go trick or treating. When it’s light out! Everyone starts at dark here which made it hard to get pictures of them actually trick or treating!! Yay for the new camera!!

Lindsey - The double meltdown cracks me up. we get that so often but I am usually too off my rocker to grab the camera. Laugh. Love that you got so many pics of them getting ready. Such a fun time in their lives. love the whole series.

Wanda Ann - Christy, your pictures are just beautiful, you capture the expressions so well. I too loved the getting ready shots, we get so busy that we forget those moments and how precious they are. Thank you sharing your pictures and your adorable girls.
Wanda Ann

tracey - Yes, my Bean is too old for princess costumes too. She went as Raggedy Ann and her bff went as Tragedy Ann. Trying to find an appropriate costume was hard. Teen and adult Raggedy Ann has cleavage and wears a garter belt. Really????