I was on cloud nine when all the rumors were put to rest last night as I was driving home from the grocery store...there will be a Starbucks walking distance from our house. The open soon sign was in the window of the new building with the promising picture of that wonderful mermaid.

I must confess, I feel guilty everytime I go to Starbucks (and Walmart for that matter). I feel like I am the type of person who would regularly support small businesses...and the artist in me LOVES all the funky coffee houses that are out there.

But Starbucks makes me so happy. I love that I get to know the people working there. I love a good Caramel Macchiato. I LOVE all the mugs and festive holiday stuff. I LOVe that I was introduced to Blue Note music there. I love the smell. I am so happy.


Also, on another happy note, I just finished reading "The Encyclopedia of an Ordinary Life", by Amy Krouse Rosenthal.(buy it here) It is brilliant and funny and brilliant again! Loved it. But that's not the happy thing. I emailed Mrs Rosenthal to tell her how brilliant she was (just in case she had forgotten that day) and SHE EMAILED ME BACK!!!!!
Is that happy or what?!

this picture is here so that I will remember to cheer up. Tomorrow, my daughter has to go to the dentist to start the process of getting an expander put in her mouth to correct a cross bite. This is probably the only orthodontic work she will need (which is good, cuz my son needs major work done and I can't sell BOTH my kidneys!), but I just feel pained about this.

You see, I had an expander when I was a kid. I know too much. I can't just brush it off...it's hard to talk and there will probably be some tears, which just breaks my heart. I am dreading tomorrow.

Okay, I'll just think happy goldfish. :) happy goldfish, happy goldfish. (sigh)

Sneak peek from my Saturday morning session...

This family was so fun, so close, full of love. And it was a LONG session!...I kept having more ideas! Thanks for hanging in with me! Enjoy your preview!




And because I have become obsessed with laying in the grass and all that great grassy texture!...

For the last day of school tomorrow, I was asked to make cookie bars. Okay. No problem. I love baking. Piece of cake.

Um...how do I do that? I grew up having these...mostly chocolate chip, thick and a little bit cake like, easy to cut into nice little rectangles.

But I have no idea how to do it. How is it that I got through 10 1/2 years of being a mom and I don't know how to make cookie bars.

To be fair, I know how to make lemon bars, raspberry bars, bars with cream cheese, bars with coconut. But no bars that a bunch of 4th graders will eat.

So I bought the Pillsbury Bakes in the Pan kind. but it is like 5x7 inches...that feeds approximately 2 4th grade girls.

So I'm making brownies as well. You can call that a cookie bar, can't you?

Adrenalin and a peacock

There was major lightning today...I was sitting in the kiss-n-go line in my car at the kid's school (this is a huge part of my life) when a huge flash occurred and then huge crack of a sound. I could feel the hair on the back of my neck stand up...the electricity in the air. My hubby doesn't think I can feel the electricity in the air...he thinks it's adrenalin causing those stinging sensations...because I'm scared. I never thought I was scared of lightning before...but there is something about how powerful it is, and how small I am that does freak me out I guess.
Oh, and because every post is better with a picture...a fine looking peacock for this fine, almost done Tuesday (taken during a 2nd grade class field trip to the zoo last week).

Two sisters and a brother...

Here are a few from this morning's shoot...I had to come home and play with a few before running my boring errands...(do my kids REALLY need to eat tonight?...aren't they full already?!)...Also, I just have to say this...Iced Caramel Macchiato's are the BEST drink in the world...nonfat with whip...yum...like a little sip of heaven.

yikes...a few days without blogging! I promise some great pics and interesting reading material soon! We're coming to the home stretch...school is almost out...everything is winding down...
I'll be back soon! :)

I just found out that the principal at the kid's school is taking a different job...

let me go back...I LOVE this principal. He's done a great job and he makes the school a bright and fun place to be.

Plus, there are a WHOLE lot of changes going on...teachers leaving, teachers taking new positions, etc. It doesn't seem like people are leaving cuz there's a problem, but they are all happening at the same time.

I HATE change. well, I like change that I can control...like rearranging furniture or getting a new hairstyle (actually, the hair causes me great anxiety...so it's really just rearranging furniture that I'm okay with).

All I want in my kid's school is a creative place for them to be...and nurturing...and safe...and educational...and fun...and inspiring...a place they want to go and I don't get that feeling in the pit of my stomach when I drop them off.

I need to let go...God is in control, not me. (big sigh here...can you hear it?...and some deep breathing) It's time to listen to the Rob Thomas song, "little wonders" (see my song box to the right)...it starts off "let it go, let it run right off your shoulder, don't you know..." I'm sure I'm not getting that right, but there's something about it that speaks to a true control freak like me.

Happy Monday!

I was in the middle of proofing a shoot when I came across this one...just had to share! She's sweet like candy! :)

While we were in church today, they announced that one of the guitar players was going to Marine Boot Camp on Tuesday, then on to 29 Palms, (and then my husband thinks probably off to Iraq).

I looked at my husband and whispered, "He's just a baby!"

My husband said, "honey, no one goes INTO the Marines looking like a man."

At which point I burst into tears. I don't even know this young man, whose hair is already shaved...all I was thinking about was saying goodbye to my own son, with no guarantees on how it would all turn out.

So, in light of Mother's Day, why don't we take a moment and pray for all the mothers out there who said goodbye to their sons and daughters who are faithfully serving us overseas. And pray for their safe returns. Happy Mother's Day everyone!

Love...a photoshoot.

This wonderful couple got married yesterday and I got to photograph them that afternoon!...what an honor! Plus, they were the cutest couple EVER...totally giggling and laughing the whole time. You guys are the best! Thanks for including me in your day!...here's a preview of your photoshoot. :)

3 little blonds...oh, LOVE them!

Here are some photos from today's morning shoot. (hey, C, bet you didn't think it would be THIS quick, huh?) :) I had to share the first few that popped out at me while looking them over.

My daughter's class gave all the moms a Mother's Day Tea...it was wonderful! But my favorite part was when my sweet girl wrote on the white board "I love you...take me home" :) It was toward the end of the day...she was done and I couldn't blame her. Okay girly-girl...let's go!

Life is in the little things

Wed Packets...this has been one of my "jobs" at the kid's school...every Wed...for 4 years. I will likely do it for 3 more. I like doing this job, the stuffing of info, the predictability of it, the weekly-ness of it. And it's a big part of my life...can I have coffee with a friend on Wed afternoons?...nope. Everyone knows this is what I do.
Why'd it take me 4 years to take a picture of such a common occurrence in my life? :)

one more from this shoot!...

I saw this while I was finishing proofing today and just HAD to put it up! I could just die at the girl's expression...pure joy!

thank God I don't have a Mercedes!

During my mad dash in the minivan in the rain to Joann Fabric (in search of a scrapbook book) with a 40%coupon in my hot little hand, I notice 2 things.

1st...I smelled like bacon. We had breakfast for dinner and it's pretty impossible to get rid of that smell. This made me think of the fact that I won't take a shower til after I workout tomorrow, which means that I will smell like bacon while I workout...not the worst smell, but not one of my top 50 choices.

2nd...I really dislike my windshield wipers. The kind I have start on either side of the car and overlap to meet in the middle. As I was driving, I noticed how almost every one's wipers wipe in unison, going in the same direction, like little synchronized swimmers. My wipers...not so much. The left goes up, and then the right has to go super fast to do it's little job and then get back in time for the left to overlap it again. I realized how much anxiety this causes me. What if the right one feels a little slow and they crash into each other?

While I was thinking all this, a truck drove next to me and must have driven through a small lake and drenched my entire front window, leaving me without any visibility for what seemed like an eternity (probably only 2 seconds). Maybe I should be showing my wipers a little more faith and love.

By the way, the smaller Mercedes only have one large wiper...like driving a large cyclopes. Thank GOD I don't have a Mercedes. I don't think I could take it.

I've added music!

I LOVE music! I love hearing what other people listen to. But I'd love to hear your thoughts out there...do you like the music? Or does it bug you? I'm thinking that if music on sites bug you, you already have your volume muted! (yes, that's you mom!)

Please comment and let me know what you think. :) Plus, I get a little skip in my heart beat when I see there are comments!...isn't it exciting knowing that you have that effect!?! :)

Happy Monday!

This is what today was about...

I felt like I was in "Searching for Bobby Fischer" or "Akeela and the Bee"...it was the other version of soccer parents...you could feel the tension.

I spent the day reading my scrapbook magazines. :)

Sneak peek from my latest photoshoot...

One of my dear friends is in the middle of saying goodbye to someone very dear to their family...he is just moving, but it has been emotional. Here is a peak of the photos from today's time together. :) I was honored to be part of it!

Busy Day

I am especially busy today. Some fun stuff (like scrapbooking with my friend Traci) and some work (photoshoot) and some blah (grocery shopping). I start to get overwhelmed until I realize that I am SO blessed with all these things. I am thankful today. I CHOOSE to be thankful. :)

By the way, I am booked through May and am booking quickly for the summer. If you have a photoshoot that you'd like to schedule, contact me soon so I can get it on my calendar. :)

You know it's almost summer when the market starts stocking good artichokes.

And I just have to say this...I can't believe america voted Phil off American Idol.

Pure Goodness

I went on a women's retreat this weekend...there were so many great things that happened...but one of my favorites was going on a hike up to 2 natural reservoirs. It was totally uphill and completely worth it.

I loved this hike so much that I took the kiddos on it yesterday. They are not too fond of hiking, but I thought if there was a lake at the end of the walk, it might encourage them to do it. Well, we ended up meeting this random fisherman named Ted who told us all about the trails, the rock caves, and best of all GEO-CACHING.

If you haven't heard of it, it's hiking with a purpose. You need a GPS (the kids are now going to save up for one, or I might upgrade my cell phone to one that has navigation controls on it)...and you look online for different geo-caches, it's coordinates, and you're off on a hike where you can find treasure buried or hidden. The kids are so excited and I'm totally into it too...exercise with the family...outdoor time...pure goodness.