Wednesday, February 22, 2012

P/HD+M [7:52]

Ah - this week was fun. Valentine's Day, parties, crazy kids and a ride in the convertible.  Doesn't get much better than that! This week also marked a few other things in, "life." February15 marked the 7 year anniversary of my grandmother's passing and her birthday was on February 17. I miss her so much. I wish she could have met my husband and my girls. But, it does bring peace to know that she's smiling down on them everyday. 

Here she is in the middle with 4 of her sisters
(yes, there is another sister! She stayed back in Spain - yes, we are Spanish!)
Can you imagine 5 teenage girls in your house, all of the time??

February 17th also marked my Mother-in-law's birthday, followed by my hubby's birthday on February 19th. 

Greg has also been itching to get out of the house and do something and since this California weather has been treating us so nicely, we decided it was a great time to head down to Monterey and visit the aquarium!

We have annual memberships to the aquarium - which pays for it's self in less than 4 days - plus you can bypass the entrance line and you get additional little perks during the year. Thank goodness for this membership - the line was unbelievably long on Sunday. I mean crazy long.  The place was totally packed.  We could barely push the stroller without running into someone.  It was like Disneyland after the fireworks. Nuts. We only stayed for a few hours - long enough to visit the penguins, see the otters get fed and pet some starfish. 











A few others to check out:
Shawna at Styleberry : A super creative mama with a bun in the oven.
Lisa at Adventures in Mommyhood : A new mama, blogging about life and motherhood
Christine at Raising Turtlebird : A new mama, blogging about life, work and motherhood

This project is not about being a photographer. It's about being a better mom to my girls.

Monday, February 20, 2012

P/HD+M [6:52]

Not much to write - we're back in the kitchen! This time for Valentine's Day cookies! I swear, next week we'll get out of the house! But what can I say, my girls love baking and making!
All of this yummy-ness purchased at Target. 
Target tip - Buy great holiday-themed items (including cookie and cake mix) at 1/2 the price the day after the holiday.  Many times, items like this Betty Crocker cookie mix is exactly the same, just the packaging is a bit different! Great way to save a few bucks.










A few others to check out:
Shawna at Styleberry : A super creative mama with a bun in the oven.
Lisa at Adventures in Mommyhood : A new mama, blogging about life and motherhood
Christine at Raising Turtlebird : A new mama, blogging about life, work and motherhood

This project is not about being a photographer. It's about being a better mom to my girls. 

Babies Under Construction!

It's been all about the belly the last two weeks! I've done three maternity sessions for beautiful women that I've known since middle school.  With our friend Chelsea (you can see her session HERE), that makes four babies in less than four months!

Here are some highlights of these beautiful first-time mamas-to-be.


Heather and Eric
Expecting #1
March 19, 2012



 Allie and Tim
Expecting #1
April 13, 2012


 Anna and John
Congratulations!
Baby Grace
February 19, 2012



No. I will not be joining them anytime soon.

Thursday, February 16, 2012

Wardrobe Wednesday

Here are some of the latest fashions! Perfect for a spring session - or for just a fun family outing!

Friday, February 10, 2012

P/HD+M [5:52]

Totally late - again.  I know. I will get better, I promise! This week was a bit of a cheat - but fun.  We took it to the kitchen again.  I was *trying* to get Hayden to eat something other than, "Passa" or chicken - frankly, I'm a little tired of cooking both in every way. While grocery shopping...alone [gasp], I saw some pizza crust.  Now, I must be the only parent on the planet who's pre-k'er doesn't eat pizza - but Hayden won't eat the stuff.  Delaney is a garbage disposal - I never have to worry about her. I thought to myself, well, maybe if she make her own pizza, she might have more interest in it, right? At least the thought was good. 

Both girls worked together (rather well this time too) to create a pizza with cheese and ham only.  Yep. No sauce. If it's red (or green) they won't eat it. Crazy - I know!


 Fin
No, Hayden didn't eat the pizza that she made. Nor did she eat the zucchini. Oh well, at least Delaney did. 

Friday, February 3, 2012

P/HD+M [4:52]

Okay - Yes, this is late... again.  I know. I'm actually taking the day off of work to catch up on all of the stuff I'm behind on! I have two maternity session waiting in my que, print orders to mail/drop off, and prepping for two more maternity sessions this weekend! Yeah, it's the season of babies! I'm also hoping to "borrow" my friend Chelsea's newest addition for some newborn practice.

The February Photography Special just launched as well - check it out HERE

I haven't been home a single evening this week.  Hayden had gymnastics (she's now doing cartwheels!) and ballet on Monday - I also had to jet back to work to photograph the 6th grade girls basketball game.  I did something Tuesday, I went to dinner with a few other photographers from the area. Wednesday was a KINDERGARTEN meeting - yep, Kindergarten. Scary stuff. Is Hayden ready? Is she not? She's young, she'll likely be the youngest in her class. She'll be 17 when she graduates high school and goes to college - but the upside of that is she will not be able to check her self out of school her senior year. Her PreK teacher says she's good to go on everything, with the exception of her ability to sit and focus after an activity that she's already finished but others are still working on.  To me, that might be more of a classroom management issue.  You should always have a silent activity for kids to do after they are finished with the classwork/test/writing etc. Not my fault that my kiddo grasps concepts faster than others. She's always been that way. She just seems to know things - in a scary way.  It's almost like she's an old soul or something. In 7 months I will have a Kindergartener. Thursday I went to the talent show at my school.  We have some super talented kids.  I should get their autograph now while they still know me.

As I said before, I know this is late - but the girls and I last Sunday went to lunch at Eddie Pappa's in Pleasanton.  My mom and sister joined us - a good time was had by all.  Even if Delaney didn't eat and kept bugging the table next to us (it was the owner, thankfully he has three little ones of his own and he totally was okay with my flirtty 18 month old).

Delaney tried some cotton candy - she wasn't too sure about it - that's fine with mom. Hayden nabbed a pixie stick on our way out.  She had no idea what it was, but she does now!

After lunch, we loaded the girls in the car and I headed to the Walt Disney Park while my mom and sister went to the mall.

Delaney loves swings. period. If she had her way, she's stay in a swing all day.  I'm not sure where this stems from, but I don't even think she was ever in the swing as a baby. I had to hold her EVERYWHERE. But, she loves in now - It's more exciting than the slides and even more fun when big sister pushes!

 Trying some Strawberry Cotton Candy


 If Delaney ever sticks her tounge out at you and blow rasberries, you know where she learned it from. Thanks Auntie Laura.




 My helper.

 Best friends - for now.

Loud like her mama! She loves to scream when she's excited - she's excited a lot.



This project 52 is not about being a photographer - it's about being a better mother to my girls.


A few others to check out:
Shawna at Styleberry : A super creative mama with a bun in the oven.
Lisa at Adventures in Mommyhood : A new mama, blogging about life and motherhood
Christine at Raising Turtlebird : A new mama, blogging about life, work and motherhood



February Photography Special

Here it is! The February Photography Special!

This months special features a mini-session (30 minutes), an online gallery, digial downloads, prints and more! Please feel free to share the special with any of your friends and family!

A $195 value for only $75!


This special will not be offered again by Orange Blossom Photography - promotion ends on 02.2.2012 - Good for any session in 2012 - session must be paid in full by 02.29.2012 - session must be booked by 12.31.2012