Kat Willcox Photography

2011-12-02T09:10:00.001-08:00

http://keith.deathwinter.com/wp-content/themes/black-letterhead/inbexx.html

Cleaning house...

2011-04-11T10:18:00.001-07:00

I get intense satisfaction thinking of really beautiful (size 4) women who look crazy high maintenance doing their cleaning. There I said it. Ahhhhh I feel lighter after saying that. No matter who you are or what you look like you still have to go to the grocery store, you still have to scrub your toilet, you still get sick. And you still have a bad day every now an again. Life isn't easy FOR ANYONE. Maybe I needed to say this to myself but I felt like sharing it. Now I am going to go have a slice of pizza and then clean my house and hopefully I can have a better a better attitude about it.

Life really is about our view point. No matter what that is your looking at, it matters how you see it.

After Winter comes Spring

2011-03-14T10:44:00.000-07:00

I feel like something good is coming. There is an excitement. Like that song from West Side Story...

Could it be? Yes, it could.

Something's coming, something good,

If I can wait!

Something's coming, I don't know what it is,

But it is

Gonna be great!

but then I realize that what I am so excited for is this moment! Today! Spring!

While Travis was deployed I reached some of my darkest days. I was exhausted, depleted, stressed, worried and pretty grumpy. His deployment was one of the hardest things I have ever gone thru. All while trying to keep a happy face on. In front of the kids and in front of the everyone else watching. I tried but every day felt like a long and grueling marathon. Day after day, weekend after weekend, load of laundry after load of laundry, meal after meal, diaper after diaper. I can honestly say that I only pulled thru because I knew God had a plan and I believed He was shaping our family. And, some dear friends who let me lean on them, carried me the rest of the way. 192 days of being a single Mom was enough for me!

One Sunday morning (about half-way-thru) I went to church, to meet with my Sunday school group and one of my friends read a passage from a book that he was enjoying. I was dizzy with trying to get packed for church, get the kids in their Sunday school classes and trying to remember to breathe. The only words I heard read were, "Like spring after winter." I don't know who wrote the book or what it was called, what I do know- was in that moment I hungered for those words to describe my life. I yearned for the days when the deployment became a memory and not my current status on Facebook. Those words rung in my ears {like Spring after Winter} and became a goal. I wanted a spring after my personal winter. I choked down the tears that day and set my heart on those words. I didn't really know if I would be able to make it but I definitely hoped....

In California I lived in perpetual greenery, the land of palm trees and trips to the beach year round. So I have to admit, that I started to take it all for granted. I mean, there is Spring in California, but it is just a little bit greener, a little bit warmer, a little bit...... But In Virginia (ahhhhhhh) After winter comes SPRING!!! It is SO exciting!!

The birds are chirping, the sun is shining, the kids are playing in the yard. We are trying to start a garden. To many people who know me this is laughable because I have killed most every house plant that has ever entered our home. But my boys have know idea how challenged I am in this area, so I am going to make a go for it. And if it doesn't work out, I can honestly say that we had fun trying it. And Kai won't care because he has already found 50+ earthworms :)

Like spring after winter..... I really did survive. Wow!

Caitlyn is 1

2011-02-21T10:00:00.000-08:00

This is Caitlyn and she recently turned 1. There is a joy around her as she explores her world and also an infectious sense of humor. Caitlyn was ready.... set......gooooooo! Caitlyn is a busy little bee, so I was bobbing and weaving to get the shot. I can honestly say that enjoyed every minute with this family. It is such a treat to spend time with a family who obviously cherishes, the gift, of their child. And it is thrilling to be photographing families in Virginia :)

Don't you love the innocent look on her face. :)

I can honestly say that the world is a better place with Caitlyn in it. She is a beautiful little lady!

Probably Shouldn't--

2011-02-20T18:06:00.000-08:00

This was to good to pass by. I just wish I would have thought of it. Sick, I know-BUT FUNNY!!!

Blink less

2011-02-17T09:07:00.000-08:00

*****Don't blink *****
I am starting to think that I shouldn't blink because I am worried about what I will miss. My baby has turned into a walking boy and my little boy has turned into a little man. I spend my time as a photographer (and as a Mom) encouraging people to take pictures, so they will remember the precious moments. And the past 6 months have been so busy that I found myself not taking many pictures. (Granted, I still took a lot but not as many as I would have liked). It is so nice to look back on the days we have lived and the experiences that have shaped us.
Life gets busy. Well, ok I will be honest. Life gets chaotic. Every moment is filled with something and there aren't many "free" moments. I am learning, that I HAVE to make time for the things that are important. We recently got a digital picture frame that sits on our dining room table and we enjoy looking at the pictures SO MUCH! I have taken pictures of the good times, the bad times and the extremely honest times of parenthood. Not to mention the pictures of Trav and I before we were parents. I am glad that I have proof of that life :) We sit there as a family and laugh at them, have the opportunity to talk about the lessons learned, count our blessings, remember our friends that are far away and relive all our our adventures.
I would encourage Mom's to take more pictures and if you would like me to help. I am here :) (Shameless plug) I am happy to say that I am licensed and ready to do business in the Great State of Virginia. And I am ready! It is important for the Mom to be in the pictures and not always taking them. It is nice to remember us mothering our children. Not smothering but mothering :)

2011....

2010-12-31T22:27:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year! Happy New Start! Happy about new opportunities! Happy to be the best you! Happy.... I hope this next year is full of health and wealth and all things that make you humbled by gratitude. I hope this is a special year for you and for mine. I wish you the Best!

Baby Ethan

2010-07-01T10:01:00.000-07:00

I met Baby Ethan when he was 2 1/2 weeks old and he was already a charmer. Such a sweet spirit and a joy to be around. He made us all smile.

His Mom and Dad were overflowing with love for him. His Dad, Jason, kept saying, "Look at him. Isn't he cute!" I know that Ethan will always have a cheering squad for him and we all need that.

He was a perfect angel but maybe he will live up to this shirt when he is 3 :) (I say that because I wish I had a shirt like that for my 3 year old)

I think that the world is a more peaceful place with Baby Ethan in it.

And his future looks bright.

2010-06-19T21:21:00.000-07:00

Southern Comfort

2010-03-10T23:07:00.000-08:00

It has taken me a full week to post this because coming home and getting life back to normal with 2 small children was challenging. But better late than never :)

*******************************************************************************************************************************
I keep typing and deleting this over and over again. It has been such a good visit and it is SO hard to go, so no wording seems right. It is hard to put into words what this visit has meant to me. To laugh and carry on with friends and family has been comfort food to my soul. AND to introduce Bryden to this wonderful group of people has been very powerful. To have all 3 of my boys here in this little corner of my history is so satisfying. We have made new memories and had new adventures. It is so heart stretching to see my Grandma playing Lego's with Kai or my Mom reading a book to Kai. Going to the Circus, experiencing a Southern Baptist Church and playing cards late into the night. It has been good to be home.

So, my cousin has somehow grown to be a Senior in High School (which blows my mind!) and it was time to do some Senior pictures. She is such a remarkable young woman and I am so completely impressed with her. She is vibrant and fun and has a GREAT head on her shoulders. She is a living testament that if you work hard and stay committed to your goal that you can achieve it. She is an excellent student and she has the pick some of the best colleges out there. And I have to say that she has GREAT parents.

Charlotte is Two

2010-02-18T23:40:00.001-08:00

I have completely enjoyed watching this little girl grow up. She just turned 2 and it was time to capture what she is like at this age. We got together in Long Beach the day before Valentine's Day and it was definitely sweet. She was quick to smile and fun to watch her explore her surroundings.

The Valentine's balloon was SUPER FUN!

She has such a gentle side to her. Even when she is in some fun and edgy clothes.

And a tutu with fairy wings was a fun way to finish out our time together.

One of the benefits of my job is when clients become friends and that is definitely the case with Charlotte's parents. Yvette and John, Charlotte is so fortunate to have 2 such wonderful people as parents.

Hunter of the Heart

2010-02-15T10:49:00.000-08:00

I wanted to be prepared for Valentine's Day this year. So, I took pictures early and was ready to post them but I wasn't prepared for what I learned yesterday. On a day all about the heart, I learned some news that has broken mine.

There is a special little boy named Hunter and he is a brave warrior. A 3 year old warrior who has been battling cancer for the past 2.5 years. Yesterday I learned that his cancer is back and there are no more medical options for him. So his sweet family have taken him home and are going to love on him as much as possible while there is still time.

There aren't words at a time like this. The only thing that I know to do is to cry and pray. I don't understand this but I do believe that God has a plan and his ways are far bigger than I can imagine. Hunter has touched more lives and hearts that most people do in 3 long life's but for those left behind it will take a lifetime to move through the heartache.

Please pray for Hunter and his INCREDIBLE parents Lenore and Zen. Please take time out and pray for them. This family has taught me so much and if you want to learn more about their journey go to www.HealingHunter.com

Viewpoint of a Referee

2010-02-06T08:46:00.001-08:00

I did a little Valentine's day shoot with my boys and it was incredibly difficult. I am amazed how much I have become a "police parent." I spend most off my time protecting and defending Bryden from his big brother. I am starting to think that Bryden is chunking up and gaining as much weight as he can, so that he can defend himself better. Either that or he just really likes his Momma :) The look on Bryden's face speaks volumes.

Here is one of the outtakes from the other day.

Stolen Moments

2010-01-31T13:00:00.000-08:00

I love being around other women when they are pregnant :) It is such a special time and knowing that their little love lays inside, makes my heart flip-flop. These days (with a 3 month old and a 3 year old) I have to steal moments for myself, whether that is to go to the bathroom, do the dishes or to find time to do some photography. Yesterday I stole some moments to do some maternity pictures with an AMAZING woman.

She is such an inspiration to me. She is strong and capable, has the ability to be candid and vulnerable while still being dignified, is an AMAZING Mother to 2 little girls and a graceful wife. We snuck away for a little bit and here are some of the images we captured.

When this little guy arrives she will have 3 under the age of 3! She will have her hands full but Rosie will do it all in stride. Those kids are so blessed to have her as a mother.

And her husband has a FIERCE looking wife :)

After 2 girls and all the pink and soft maternity stuff. She wanted some more urban maternity pictures, for her little man.

It was such a fun time. If you can't tell, Rosie is one of my dear friends!

No she is not having a contraction. She was laughing at my joke. That is a good friend :)

Here is a picture of my "little" guy :) Busting out of his cocoon.

Newborn to Linebacker

2010-01-27T14:03:00.001-08:00

So the reason I haven't been blogging is because I have been CRAZY busy. And I mean CRAZY :)

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2 months and a lot of growth

2010-01-07T22:55:00.000-08:00

The last 2 months since Bryden was born have been a wild twister of a ride, there have been serious ups and downs. It has been a tons of work (diapering, rocking, swaddling, laundry, restocking, more laundry...) but it has also been such a sweet chapter in our family book. Coffee has been a major help!

It is hard to believe that 3 years have gone by since taking these pictures of Kai as a little baby. In so many ways Bryden is a carbon copy of Kai. So I did a little photoshoot to see how much they look alike at this stage. I think Kai was a few weeks older w

hen I did his pictures, so I might redo it in a few weeks. Only because Bryden is experimenting and developing his expressions.

I can't help but wonder what our little girl would look like :) And the reason that I titled this post, "A LOT of growth" is because Bryden has gained 6 pounds in last 2 months!!!!! But I guess that is what happens when you feed every 2 1/2 hours. Little man loves the boob....

The Reason for the Season

2009-12-21T23:04:00.000-08:00

I can't believe that so much time has passed since I last sat down and wrote. That is a bummer, because my family has been making so many sweet memories but thru a haze of sleep craziness, I am sure to forget some of it.

These days have been full of trying to learn how to juggled two and still stay sane. Some days I am successful and some days I have been in tears by 9:00 AM! This picture is how I feel in the morning when it is time to drag my butt out of bed. I am officially not a morning person. But God's grace is new everyday and I am gr8phul for that!

I hope that your Christ-mas season was a special one. I pray that the meaning of Christ-mas was not lost or fogotten. It isn't about presents, it is about His presence! The King of Kings came to earth as a little baby born in a manager. In a humble stable... And heaven and earth were forever changed. This is our little guy who was our Christmas present this year, since he has arrived on the scene everything has changed at our house.

Four years ago my husband's SPECIAL Grandpa Joe passed away on Christmas day. In his final act on this earth, Grandpa Joe dramatically affected the way that we do and view Christmas. After that Christmas, Travis and I knew that something had to change for us. Gift giving didn't seem as important. So for a few years we didn't do Christmas, but it has slowly crept back into our lives and we are struggling with what Christmas should look like. I saw this last year and I thought it was VERY interesting. So I thought I would share it...

The Advent Conspiracy Promo Video from theadvance on Vimeo.

A Snapshot

2009-11-13T14:50:00.000-08:00

Blessed! Fortunate! Gr8phul! Love!

The past 7 days haven't been perfect but they have been Gr*8! A new baby means more work, less sleep but MORE LOVE! More love in my marriage, more love for my firstborn, more love for our new addition and more love for my Mom, who has been with us for the past 2 weeks helping in any and every way possible. I am soooo gr8phul!

He very rarely cries, and we know that there is a reason when he does,

Look at the poor little baby foot and how many times it has been poked and tested.

This is what my heart looks like! These boys are the greatest gifts in my life!

My Mom has shown me a whole new side of herself. She has been watching Seasame Street,

and playing robots with Kai, she has cleaned everything in our house and loved on Baby Bryden

whenever she can. She has blessed us in a way that will not be forgotten-EVER!

A Re-Fresher...

2009-11-12T00:55:00.000-08:00

I have been poked, prodded, cut open, and down right violated by the medical community lately and I am trying to take it all in stride. I did have a baby and that goes with the territory. But with Bryden having jaundice and him having to go through it all, well, let's just say it has brought my Mama Bear out in me---BIG TIME!

He has had his heel stuck more times than a pin cushion, and had to go through light therapy (which I think Criss Angel must have endured as a child, it would explain a lot) The difference between Bryden and me. He doesn't really fuss and well, I kinda have a hissy fit. I get so upset when they prick his heel that it is hard for me not retaliate. So Bryden and I were having a talk about it yesterday and he decided that I needed a visual reminder of how to behave and so he modeled for me.

In just 6 short days Bryden has already started teaching plenty. And he said I am getting an A+ in Love :)

He's here!!!!

2009-11-08T15:56:00.001-08:00

It started off as a usual Thursday night but then suddenly ended up as baby Bryden's birthday. It got a little "dicey" there but ended up being another one of God's miracles. We welcomed a 7lbs. 13 oz. COMPLETELY HEALTHY!! Baby boy on November 5th and I am excited that God picked his birthday :)

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Confessions of an Unrested Mind

2009-11-05T05:29:00.000-08:00

Some people can have 6 children, but Angelina Jolie I am not. I can barely manage and parent the one that I have and I am up in the middle of the night thinking of all the challenges, anxieties and fears I have of taking on another. Aren't tabloids suppose to make me wish I was thinner and prettier and had more money, but now they have crossed the line-because they are affecting my view of Motherhood. That nagging thought that Angelina Jolie has 6 kids and is still so rockin', Jennifer Lopez has twins and Heidi Klum...well, isn't it enough that she is a Victoria Secret model?

So, the sad humor in my current state is that I tell and attempt to teach a 3 yr old ALL day that selfishnish is a bad thing. But, the irony is what is keeping me up are my own selfish fears. I want to cuddle up in my selfish blanket and make it all about me. I am scared that I will disappear while caring for 2 small children. You are probably thinking that it might be a good thing for my "personality" be dialed down a bit and if it takes 2 children to do it, than so be it. Your probably right but it looks like a scary process. I am pretty nervous about being a waitress too two small children. One has me running ragged already. Am I going to become a complete domestic mess? I am already the inventory keeper, the grocery shopper, the uber scheduler, the occasional cook (I married well in that department), the picker upper, the stay at home Mom, the family researcher, and a lot of other stuff that I can't think of right now. These are not classes I took at school or skills I acquired in the working world. These are skills that I learned by trial and error and a certain amount of heartache. The school of hard knocks is hard and I don't want anymore homework.

I keep telling myself that I need to hunker down and be unselfish and after a few years I will be through it and I can snuggle back up in my selfishness. Sad but true. But, my Mom is a glaring example that it never ends. My Mom is here and she has been here for nearly 2 weeks. She is here being as unselfish as any human being can be AND being pleasant through it. Talk about setting the bar high. My stomach is churning just thinking about it. Oh, nevermind that is just the baby squirming. I am a few days from jumping off a cliff into a whole different experience of Motherhood and all I want to do is be a baby myself. That is not a good sign of what is to come. If their were standardized testing for Motherhood, I wonder how I would do. The SAT of Motherhood. It makes me smile just thinking about what sort of questions would be on such a test.

Well, I have to go shave my legs again. I am so nervous about going into labor and being that sad cow with hairy legs. Selfish and surface I know, but the truth just the same. I am considering carrying a razor around in my purse, so I have it “just in case”. Then the contents of my purse would be crayons, coloring book, purrell, lipstick, thank you cards, wallet and razor. Wow, that is kinda scary. Can you imagine if I get pulled over for a speeding ticket and I am trying to find my wallet and license and I pull out my Lady Shick. Would the cop bring me to the station or take pity on me?

I clearly need more sleep! :)but that won't happen because a certain 3 year old just woke up... I curse daylight savings time!

And here is a picture that Kai took of me yesterday. He even directed me and told me that he wanted me by the plant. He amazes me!

He's 3

2009-10-29T17:12:00.001-07:00

It is official. Kai is 3 and I am too. I am a 3 year old Mom, I have 3 years of experience on my Mommy resume. That little baby that Travis & I brought home from the hospital--that flipped our lives upside down has now been an official member (central focus) of our family for three years. I am just not sure where those 3 years went. Oh yeah, they went to diaper changes, feeding times, laundry, driving to and fro and a long list of other things... And not much of went to sleeping or sitting still :) The common denominator of all 1,095 days is an unimaginable amount of joy from living and laughing and tickling and kissing and facebooking all his funniness.

I am adding a few pictures from the past few years, partially because I am disbelief that he has grown and changed sooo much. And also because I am having contractions that make me want to crawl into a hole and die, so it helps to be reminded of why I am going through all this for baby #2. But Kai really has made it ALL worth it. I love that little cowboy more that I ever thought possible!

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Everything is about to Change

2009-10-22T11:22:00.000-07:00

It is really starting to hit me, that we are about to meet our new little man and be the parents to two boys. Well, I guess I should say that it is really starting to kick me, push me and contract me. These past few days and weeks have brought back memories from 3 years ago. The waddle, the trying to get comfortable in my own skin, waking up again and again in the middle of the night. The final stages of pregnancy are definitely challenging but I know that it is nothing compared to what I have ahead of me.

Kai and I have been having fun trying to imagine what the little man will look like. Kai wants to know about his feet and eyes and his questions about them are pretty priceless. But the truth of the matter is that as excited as I am to meet the little man, I am down right weepy about thinking about my first born baby being ousted into big brotherhood. I am the baby of my family so I don't know what it is like to have an younger sibling but my heart hurts for him. The fact that these are my last days with Kai as my only little guy is not lost on me. I just want to snuggle and cuddle him up and that is what I am doing. Our days have been filled with Play-doh, sidewalk chalk, lots of pretend games and so many kisses and snuggles (but somehow I never get enough).

I am so gr8phul to God that last week at church our Transparents group talked about learning how to live the moment and live IN the moment. I realized that I have been guilty of the thinking that "once I wasn't pregnant then I would _________." But the truth is this day is the only day like this one and I need to live it out for all it's goodness. I soooo needed that lesson, but God knew that ;)

My Mom will be here on Saturday from North Carolina and she will be staying all the way through the birth and bringing the new little man home. I am SOOOO gr8phul to have her coming. I can admit that I have been wanting my Mommy :) and the fact that she is going to be here through such special times really does get me excited! Plus, I NEED the help :)

Were getting there :)

2009-10-11T01:14:00.001-07:00

I usually like to hide behind the camera but tonight a dear friend Rosie took a few family/maternity pictures. America's Next Top Model, I am not ;) but how sweet to have some pictures of us before the newest Willcox arrives!

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Wedding: Mike & Lisa, CA

2009-10-06T16:14:00.001-07:00

I just saw that I haven't put together a blog post since August. Wow! I am pretty behind. September was FULL month for my family. And I am definitely slowing down now that I am nearing the end of pregnancy. Ok-All my excuses behind me and I still feel delinquent.

So the update on the Willcox family is that we are up for a move with the Air Force and we still don't know where we are going. So for now, I am done being a photographer in California. I am kinda sad about that but I finished out my time photographing in Cali with one of the BEST couples of all times. The last post I did was of Mike & Lisa's Engagement pictures and they are going to be my last wedding post til.... ________? But I was major-ly blessed to get to work with them. They are such an incredible couple! During the ceremony I wanted to put the camera down and just enjoy two amazing people joining their lives together. They are so completely in love and their group of friends and family is comprised of incredible people. They are a perfect match and I know that the life ahead of them is going to be filled with love and FUN!

Lisa was already beautiful when I showed up. I didn't think it was possible for her to look any better.

Her dress was AMAZING! Lisa has such a stunning sense of style. She exudes class while still

staying true to her style. She was glowing all day!

Aren't these shoes the BEST!!! To say that I loved them is an understatement!

Her Mom is a SUPER cutie and it is obvious that she loves Lisa beyond words.

Lisa's bridesmaids were a BLAST and they were up for anything. Plus they were stunning :)

I worked with Aaron Thompson and he did a gr8 job. He got this shot of the boys while I was with the girls.

Aaron also got this picture of Lisa glowing while walking down the aisle.

Their smiles are infectious :)

After the ceremony we headed down to the beach to do pictures and these two were so sweet together. I could tell that they got married for all the right reasons. They are such an inspiration!

Their family portrait. There hearts are as beautiful as the rest of them. They are a special family. Maybe you can tell by now that I kinda like them :)

Aaron took this picture of us... and it makes me smile when I look at it. I am SO gr8phul that God brought these people into my life. They are so special and they were a gr8 way to go out of wedding photography in California.

So consider yourself warned, after this post, this blog is going to be more about everyday my life. So that will mean the chronicles of the last few weeks of pregnancy and the blessings and challenges of being a mother of 2. That might means talking about contractions and the ridiculous stories that seem to accompany them, swollen ankles and what ever delivery might bring... no topic is off limits :)

Engagement: Mike & Lisa

2009-08-26T00:17:00.000-07:00

From the moment that I met this couple my smile got turned on. Lisa is so vibrant and her smile radiates all around her. And Mike's strength and fun vibe compliments Lisa perfectly. She and Mike have something very special between them. They have been together for 5 years and there is a bond between them, that is really inspirational.

They also have a VERY SPECIAL little boy named Donovan. He is 5 months old and he was incredible that day. He didn't fuss a minute and even when he was starting to get tired he managed to stay chill. He gave me hope that my little boy to come might be as chill.

They way that they ebbed and flowed and laughed and enjoyed, made the whole experience a joy for me. I am looking forward to the up and coming wedding that is just around the corner. It is going to be a gr8 day with amazing people :)

An Ideal Guest: Andrew

2009-08-11T21:54:00.000-07:00

My nephew left today and traveled all the way back to North Carolina. It is a sad day at our house, but we have a lot of gr8 memories. Andrew is SUCH a great guy at 16, I can only imagine what his future holds. I am proud of his accomplishments and thrilled to see what he is willing to try. But what I am most excited about is his heart. He is a good guy with a gr8 heart. He is patient and kind and he was a gr8 role model for Kai and for me.

We went to Aquarium of the Pacific in Long Beach and enjoyed it. We made friends with a Shark, touched bat rays and feed the parrots.

Andrew's future is bright... and I couldn't be more excited to see where he goes!

J* Workshop

2009-08-04T15:40:00.000-07:00

Today I am at Miss Jasmine Star's Workshop and I am enjoying all of her fabulousness. It is fun to meet other photographers and have the opportunity to ask questions. Plus it is nice to not have to worry about potty training and making dinner :) This is my first workshop and I would really recommend going to one if you are considering it.

I am looking forward to when she has a shopping workshop because she always looks Fabulous :) Plus I love a girl who can ROCK the boots! Just for the record- I don't think she will be doing a shopping workshop anyime soon :(

The models were past clients of Jasmine's and they looked beautiful no matter what they were doing. Vern and Melinda were fierce :) They have been married 2 years and she can still rock that dress!

Vivian Tran did the make-up and she brought her A game!!! She did a stunning job. I wish I could do my make-up like that... maybe I should have her do my make-up before giving birth..hee hee

The flowers were done by Carissa with JL Designs and she clearly is a talented person.

I also want to add that I was so touched to meet Jasmine's Mom, Milly. If you have ever read Jasmine's blog and how she got started, he Mom played an integral part of the story. Her Mom was battling brain cancer and wasn't suppose to make it, so Jasmine walked away from a full scholarship from UCLA Law School. Now that I have meet her Mom, I can see how she came to make that decision. Milly, has 5 children and that KNOCKS MY SOCKS OFF!! I am so inspired by Mom's. I have so much to learn and I am so touched when I meet a exceptional parent. Meeting her was worth the price of admission for me.

Jeremy & Alex: Wedding

2009-07-30T11:57:00.000-07:00

Canada has such a special place in my heart and it is because of the people. I meet a special family last year and I was blessed this year for them to bring me back and shoot their wedding. Alex and Jeremy are an awesome couple. Watching them is so special because it is obvious that they feel comfortable with each other and they show each other a part of themselves that is sacred and vulnerable. They had such a beautiful day and it was so genuinely them. They were themselves and it was fun to celebrate them and their love.

Now that I am a Mom, it tugs at my heartstrings to see a parent interacting with their child on their wedding day. I get all teared up just imagining Kai on his wedding day. So now a days I notice that I want to capture a parent and I feel so honored to be allowed to witness those precious moments.

Jeremy and Alex have a quiet presence but you can tell that they fill the space between them with love.

All 3 sisters had been given pearls by their parents. The way that these parents loved their girls brought tears to my eyes, more than once. I kept blaming it on the fact that I am pregnant :)

I love how much fun they were having while we were taking pictures. They really were footloose and fancy free. It was a gr8 time and I am now looking for a way to get back to Canada :)

Land of the Free and Home of the Brave

2009-07-03T23:49:00.000-07:00

This July 4th I have the privilege to be in the land of the homesteaders and surrounded by God's beauty. In my opinion, one of the most stunning and awe inspiring places in our country. And to think of all the people that have fought and served and died to give us the freedoms and peace that I am able to enjoy, makes me really want to celebrate being an American this July 4th.

After watching how the election has been handled in Iran, I am gr8phul for a government who can peacefully go about their business. Even during the current recession, we live in the land of plenty and we have way more than most. Being an American affords us a LOT of privileges and opportunities and I will be extemely gr8phul for that as I bring my son to the parade or watch the fireworks go off over head.

God Bless America!

27 Years strong....

2009-06-25T15:40:00.000-07:00

Some things get sweeter with time. Love can be that way and that is the case for Kelly & LeAnne in Canada. Their love is so sweet that it spills over and runs into the people that surround them. This past week I was blessed enough to be one of those people. Kelly & LeAnne celebrated their 27th year of marriage and they were just as cute as any newlyweds I know.

I had the pleasure to do a little photo shoot with them in their back yard. Rather than trying to get them to loosen up in front of the camera, they had me cracking up. Their smiles are infectious and the joy that they have is palatable :)

Today is Trav and my 5th Anniversary and I have a heart full of hope that when we reach the 27 year mark, that we are every bit as joy filled as these two. I am so excited to celebrate 5 years of marriage! Thank God that I married my sweet husband, I doubt that any one else would put up with all my antics and craziness. And still love me :)

Driving on the 405

2009-05-31T13:47:00.000-07:00

Hi There! I know I am slow but I just realized that a blog is like a journal and Facebook is for the quick onliners. It's just quick and that is just one of the reason that I have fallen in love with it. Facebook is fun, interactive and I have reconnected with SO many friends. That was said like a true addict. I will have to work on that...the addiction.

Life moves so fast and is sooo busy. But it is going to be getting even busier in November. God has blessed Trav and I, and we are expecting a new little family member around Thanksgiving! I figure it is time to write about it because my belly has popped out and there is no more hiding it. We are looking forward to having another little munchkin to try to keep up with. How Angelina and Brad have 6 is beyond my comprehension. And twins in their. How is it that there aren't any pictures of them with unruly child, with 1,000 bags of stuff and having a bad hair day? They have tons of help, right?

The first few months of this pregnancy were a roller coaster ride. I will spare all the gory details but let's just say I was SICK! I have such a new appreciation of women who get sick while pregger. It is hard to imagine until you are walking in those shoes. It is BRUTAL. But it looks like it is getting better and I am extremely gr8phul for that!! Extremely!

Anyway, Trav and I are trying to get out and do some fun things while we can and before I get too big. (Kai was almost 10 pounds and I was HUGE) So we took Kai camping last night up in the San Gabriel Mountains. It was crazy to see Kai in that element. He is 100% little boy. I am going to start calling him mini-T because he is a carbon copy of Travis.

**********Here are just a few of his comments while packing***************

He looked at the overcast sky and said, "Mom, it looks like I am going to need my rain coat."

And when we put him in the car he said, "Dad, when we go on the 405 can you please not put my window down because I might get kinda chilly."

WHAT?? He is 2!!!! What 2 year old says things like that. If he didn't come out of my body I would question if I am his mother. I didn't start asking questions like that till I was 30. And not till my mid 20's did I even have a concept of what road I was driving on. I was too busy singing a song or dreaming about something.

Anyway-enough chatter, Here are some pictures from last night :) It was a beautiful sunset! It is always good to get away from it all and have some quiet. As quiet as it can be with a 2 year old around.

Doesn't it look like he is talking to one of his homies?

And now for angelic...

and now for silly...

And I am going to try to take a few more pictures of Trav and I. I realize that I have spent the past 3 years behind the camera and I don't have many pictures of me because of it. I think I am like a lot of Mom's out there, always taking pictures but seldom in them.

*************************************************************************************

Update: I was trying to reflect on my Facebook addiction and decide if it was healthy. And I have to answer that with an overwhelming "YES!" I have kept a document of all the status updates from 2009 and I LOVE looking back on it. It is such a GR8 way to remember all of the Kai-ism's and those precious moments that I NEVER want to forget. It reminds me of how blessed I am and how gr8phul I am to be Kai's Mom and Trav's wife. It reminds me to be more than content and to celebrate the joys in my life. I am blessed and I need to not take that for granted.

So- Here are my top 10 "Kai-ism's" from 2009

Kai said, "I did sleep Mommy. I closed my eyes, now you give me a sticker. Don't tell me no that would be naughty." 1/4/09
Kat said Kai please don't touch my privates. (He was grabbing my boobs in the store) He said, "I am not touching your privates, I am touching your bra!" 1/28/09
Kat said, "Kai it's naptime!" and he said, "Come on, I can't keep doing this everyday." 1/29/09
Kai said, "I smashed the ant and he got died" 3/25/09
Kai's Statements at nap time- "I don't know how to sleep", "it's not dark yet", "I am not having a good attitude". 4/7/09
Today Kai was there while I was photographing the groom getting ready. Kai said, "Mom, why is he getting married?" I said because he fell in love. Kai said,"Mr. Chris there is still time, you don't have to fall." 4/18/09
Bath time quote, "Mommy, Mommy I just smacked Daddy's buns!" 4/20/09
Kai spilled juice everywhere and then he said, "Hold on, I am going to call Daddy." He then took out his pretend cell phone and told his Dad how he made a mistake. 4/23/09
This morning Kai sat at in church with us. The Pastor said a few things that made people laugh, so Kai asked me kinda loud. "Mommy, why is that man telling jokes? Then a minute later Kai started laughing at everything Pastor Glen said. :) 5/3/09
When Kai was in the bathtub tonight he pointed his junk up and then peed all over his face. 4/24/09

I hope these make you smile as much as they make me. That is the whole reason I share them. I love the things that kids say. I can honestly say I love them more than chocolate. And that is a BIG statement coming from me :)

Disneyland Tips and Tricks

2009-05-08T19:45:00.000-07:00

My Mom and I just spent the past 2 days at Disneyland and we really did have a magical time! It was bliss, that place of complete enjoyment. So cool!!!! I have one story to relay that might help you like it helped us. :) I heard someone talk (and I can't remember for the life of me where.) about what I am going to share and it is a great tip.

After waiting for Kai to wake up from his nap, LA 5:00 traffic, parking and ticket lines we finally entered the Magic Kingdom. It was 6:00. We were planning on only staying till' 7:30, so I was kinda bummed that we would have such a short visit. We decided to see how long the Nemo lines were...and found out that the wait would be 30 to 45 minutes. Bummer! The parade starts at 7 and we didn't want to miss it. Here's where the tip comes in, someone said to go to one of the people who work at the ride and ask them (as nicely as possible) "if they can make dreams come true?"

As soon as it came out of my mouth, the guy (Patrick) smiled and said he could!!!! Woo Hoo He then lead us to a special entrance and we got on the ride immediately!!! It was AWESOME! My Mom thought I had given him a tip or something. Later when she was telling Trav the story she said, "I didn't know what Kat had offered the guy." Hahahaha That doesn't sound good, but it made me crack up. So try it, it can't hurt to try :)

After Nemo we headed over to the parade and we had a BLAST!! Kai was so fun. He was ready to party and shake his tail feathers. He was leaping to dance with The Chipmunks, Donald, and so many others that I lost track. He was so much FUN!

Here's a video of him getting his groove on. I have such a Fun son, he is more fun to hang out with than most adults :) And we bought an a Annual Pass and I am so excited to bring him back there. It was AWESOME~~~

Family Session Manhattan Beach

2009-05-03T23:55:00.000-07:00

Last week I had the pleasure to spend some time with an awesome family. I met them right before Kai was born, 2 and a half years ago. Amy and I were both days away from delivery and we connected instantly. Our husbands work together at LA Air Force Base. We ended up having our boys at the same hospital just a small time frame apart.

When we were at the hospital trying to convince Kai to join us. The nurse tried to encourage me that a women down the hall had just given birth naturally to a healthy 10 lbs. baby boy. We later found out that was Amy & Dan and Max. I am will be forever impressed by that. And then she was brave enough to do it again. Just over a year ago Christian arrived.

They are such an awesome family and their easy personality is both fun and infectious. Amy & Dan are always quick to smile and don't let things stress them out. We have been gr8phul for their friendship and we are sad to see them pack up and head to Washington.

They make some beautiful children. Their son

Max owns a piece of my heart. He is such a sweet and smart little man.

He has been such a good friend to Kai.

Here's my favorite of the day. Sometimes when the kids won't cooperate or just cause... stop what you are doing and kiss your spouse. I thought this was pretty funny but also pretty sweet. They have been married for 10 years and still have a spark between them :) That Rocks!

We wish you all the best and we hope to see you soon. You guys are a special family and we are better for knowing you!

He's a Dancer :)

2009-04-26T23:11:00.000-07:00

We went out and took some pictures and he was a jumping and dancing monkey. I hope you had a good weekend :) And yes, he is going to kill me when he is older :)

Wedding- Texas

2009-04-21T14:51:00.000-07:00

We just spent the past few days in Dallas, Texas for a Wedding. It is so interesting to me how different parts of the country have different traditions and customs. This was a laid back Texas wedding, with some great people and some Tex Mex food.

Rachel Joy Scott-10 years since Columbine

2009-04-20T15:56:00.000-07:00

I can't believe that it has been 10 years since Columbine. I can honestly say that event changed the course of my life forever. I had just returned to the States after being in Central America for a year. I had traveled in war torn countries on my own where people carried guns constantly but when I returned to the States, the safety and security I was expecting was shattered. Home no longer felt safe. 3 days after I got home, I watched the events of Columbine unfold and I was ROCKED!

A year later I saw Rachel Joy Scott's Dad give a presentation on his daughter's life, journal entries, desire to be "used by God to reach the unreachable." God used that presentation to move me, challenge me, humble me and show me his love. I could no longer deny God, he was real and I couldn't pretend to not see Him.

I share this to say, that I was one of the unreachable that Rachel mentioned. I didn't want to be a "Christian." I had a stigma of what that meant and I tried to fight it. But God showed me His plan, His mercy, and His Love! I owe so much to a teenage girl named Rachel Joy Scott and her families faithfulness to share their painful story. My heart goes out to them and all who suffered at Columbine. The God of love still was able to use it for His glory and for that I am FOREVER gr8phul!

A book that explains Daryl Scott's presentation and the life and choices of an AMAZING teenage girl is Rachel's Tears I am not doing this life changing story justice, the book is incredible. And I have a copy is anyone is interested in borrowing it. :)

Craig Scott Rachel's brother was one of the only survivors of the library. He watched 10 of his classmates and friends die and shortly after found out that his sister had died also. He has an amazing story and this is a video of his addressing President Bush. It is a powerful statement. One that I couldn't agree with more.

{Info from Baby Center}

2009-04-06T22:37:00.000-07:00

I read this online today and it both shocked me and seriously disturbed me. I am just posting it in case you might be interested. And this is a product that is suppose to be safe.

CDC finds rocket fuel chemical in U.S. baby formula

Fri, Apr 3, 2009 (HealthDayNews) -- A rocket fuel chemical called perchlorate was found in samples of powdered baby formula tested by U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention scientists, but it's not clear how much of a health threat it poses to infants.

The largest amounts of perchlorate were found in baby formula derived from cow's milk, said the researchers, who wouldn't disclose the brands of formula they analyzed, the Associated Press reported.

Scientists have said significant amounts of perchlorate can affect the function of the thyroid, which helps set the body's metabolism. Fetal and infant brain development can be affected by thyroid problems. But the level of risk posed by the trace amounts of perchlorate in baby formula is difficult to assess, the AP reported. Formula sold in the United States must contain iodine, which counteracts perchlorate's effects. Other factors that influence risk include the infant's size and how much formula they consume.

Potential health risks weren't examined in the CDC study, which was published last month. The Environmental Working Group issued a press release Thursday to draw public attention to the study.-- HealthDay

And just because I like pictures, here's one I like. :)

Bye Bye Friends!

2009-04-03T16:12:00.001-07:00

Today I am pouting. Well, some sweet new friends and their little people are packing up and moving away. Josh and Sarah really radiate something special and that light will be missed. We wish them ALL THE BEST on their journey and new life, but we South Bay people might be pouting for a little while.

Last week we got together and did a beach outing. So they would have a few pictures to remember their time in sunny California. Sarah and Josh just roll with the punches and don't let things get them down for long. You would not be able to tell in these pictures that that they had been pushing themselves to the limit... packing up boxes, selling their house, selling a car, saying goodbye to friends, all while watching 2 children and not sleeping very much. But all of that stress in tension didn't show up for a millisecond. That is remarkable!! Truly incredible!! They were able to live in the present of the moment and enjoy it for what it is worth and that really inspires me.

Josh, Sarah, Sophie & Jake you guys are a special family and I hope that our pathes cross again soon. You are in my prayers and you will be missed. I pray that God sustains you through it all and gives you immeasurable JOY*

Oh yeah--did I mention that they were doing all this and Sarah is expecting their 3rd child. She is a strong and beautiful woman. I really respect her.

At the beginning of our time together Sophie broke down in tears and said that she didn't like the camera. I am so gr8phul for the ocean and waves, she LOVED them!!! She was SO MUCH fun to watch play in the waves. :)

The Shack

2009-03-25T23:27:00.000-07:00

I had a number of people recommend the book, "The Shack" by William P. Young and I always thought that I would read it someday... If you saw my bedside table and the heaping pile of magazines and books you would laugh. In the reading department by intentions are way better than my actions. (I am working on that)

Anyway-after a few more friends mentioned it in Vegas I got home and found a copy on my doorstep. I guess God was really trying to get me to read the book ;) My neighbor had brought it for me and I finally decided to read the book.

Wow, Am I glad that I have made the journey. I an 2/3 of the way through it and I have really enjoyed it. There are so parts of the book that are hard to swallow, it is just one of those times where you spits out the bones and enjoy the meat. And there is a LOT of meat. It is such a beautiful picture of holy love and I think this will have to be a yearly read. :)

I love that SOOOO many beautiful people in my life knew that this book would really touch me. It makes the book all the more special. So I am saying-- READ IT! :)

Dr. Lorri

2009-03-24T11:18:00.000-07:00

I had the pleasure to meet and photograph Dr. Lorri. She was such a treat! What a beautiful woman, inside and out. She has written a book called, "The Authentic Life" and from what I witnessed she is living authentically and loving every minute of it. She was a joy to work with and her jack russell stole my heart. Oscar is the cutest dog and watching them interact made my job easy. I will be buying a copy of her book when it comes out.

It is so nice to be around someone who is so calm and peaceful. She was quick with a smile and a laugh but clearly not trying to be someone that she is not. This woman has a LOT going on but she was able to be present in our moments together, in a way that is rare. I learned a lot just by spending time with her. Dr. Lorri is some one special!

A Fun Saturday

2009-03-22T15:14:00.000-07:00

I was never into trains. I didn't know anything about them and honestly I didn't care too. But love has changed that. When the Doctor's handed me a beautiful baby boy, everything changed. In a split second, and I honestly had no idea.

Now I spend my days driving around looking for construction sites, so that my little Bob-the-Builder can watch the front end loaders and concrete mixers. And if there is an excavator that is a major bonus. Well, yesterday morning Kai and I went on a little field trip to the Lomita Railroad Museum. It does something to me to watch his eyes light up and a huge smile bust out. He was pretty excited about the trains, and that made me excited about the trains. :)

I just wanted to share a few pictures of my little conductor.

A real Problem

2009-03-21T22:58:00.000-07:00

It has been a year and a half of Trav working on his Masters and I have been meaning to post a picture like this since the beginning. This is the type of problem that he has to deal with. YUCK! In the past year, Trav has done pages and pages and books and books of this type of crap. So it is official, He is WAY smarter than me. WAY!

I couldn't complete or figure out a single equation. So my hat is off to my cute and smart husband. But I miss him and I can't wait till this program is completed. Just 6 more months to go and then it will be time to party. And that is an equation I am happy to solve.

Life is a Ride

2009-03-15T20:38:00.000-07:00

When I was in Vegas I rode the New York, New York roller-coaster - twice! I couldn't stop smiling for half an hour. But today we went to Santa Monica Pier and the Ferris Wheel almost made me nauseous. Not the ride of it but the fact that my 2 year old was up that high without restraint. I was fit to be tied.

I literally couldn't speak. Trav had a good laugh. Considering that it was my idea to go to Santa Monica Pier because I wanted to take Kai on the Ferris Wheel. I never imagined the ride as a terrorizing experience. I was so happy when that ride ended and I could safely see Kai's feet on the ground. Today I learned again that love can hurt. My stomach was in knots for a while after the spinning death wheel stopped. Ok-Maybe I am being a little bit dramatic.

If I love Kai to the point of pain. I can't even imagine God's love. God has watched my teeter totter from high (and low) scary places. He has wanted to keep me safe and was ready to rescue if necessary. I have to think that God got a little giggle seeing me freak out-up there. Well, I didn't "freak out" but on the inside I was! Trav snapped this with our point and shoot...hahahaha!

It's neat to think that God isn't Kai's grandpa. He is his father too. We both share the most wonderful Father that is. And He is so personally invested in us. That thought blows my comprehension.

Unleased

2009-03-13T13:37:00.000-07:00

I took the advice of a DEAR friend and took the morning off. (Thank you Amie!) Entirely. No workout, no chores, no agenda...just Love and Happiness. I am blessed. That is what I realized through the experience. Kai was thrilled to have a Mommy's undivided attention. He is kinda an attention hog-but I can relate. So we hogged as much attention we could from one another. And at the end of it, right before the nap time melt down, he ran over to me, gave me a pretend flower and a KISS. It was straight out of a movie.

That and I have something to celebrate!!! My sister got a JOB!! In this economy that is no small thing. I am thrilled for her and she starts on Tuesday. She has been thrust into a time of a LOT of work and challenges and she has been kicking some butt. Major Butt! I am pretty proud of her. :) It is inspiring to see her making it happen.

Just another manic Monday and Tuesday

2009-03-09T14:14:00.000-07:00

So, I think the time change is affecting us more than I would like to admit. Kai is not sleeping very well, which means that Trav and I are not sleeping very well, which means I get grumpy. It's the truth I will admit it. Some days I need a helmet and knee pads for motherhood. Wear do I buy those?

Life has been busy...as always. Life really does seem to keep a lighting bolt pace and I spend a lot of time trying to keep up.
I just want to squeeze every drop of cuteness out of these days because I know Kai will grow up one of these days. So this past weekend, on a whim, we packed up and headed down to San Diego for the night.

It was just what the Doctor ordered. Seeing Aaron, Amy & Riley is always a treat.

Happy Hump Day

2009-03-04T14:46:00.000-08:00

I just saw this on David Jay's blog and it cracked me up. This is fantastic!

A little Changeling

2009-02-25T00:30:00.000-08:00

I had kind of a bad (challenging) day and my sweet husband tried to make it better. He surprised me by ordering from my favorite Thai restaurant. I was so excited! I like the food but I like my husband being cute and romantic even more. We put Kai down early, after a NO nap day, and the food arrived. We piled our bowls full and just as we went to sit down, my bowl slipped out of my hands and shattered to the floor. It was a sad and spicy site. My Pad See-U (I can't spell the names correctly) was ALL over the floor :( Bummer! And I was determined to eat it anyways-until I found a chard of ceremics in it. That was the end of that.

So in my grumpy state I decided to go retreat to our room and trying to recuperate. So I watched a movie, Changeling and was blown away. Midway through Kai woke up to his teething pain and I rushed in there to get my hands on my son. That movie was very disturbing. I am still considering sleeping on Kai's floor tonight. That movie really got to me and I can't believe that it is a true story. It was excellent but disturbing.

So just as a question. Do you ladies ever feel disrespected for being a woman, or "just" a stay at home Mom (my blood boils on that one) or do people think you are incapable of thought? I have had a few challenging days in this department and after watching this movie, I want to brainstorm for some healthy ways to make a change. Classy ways you have handled moments that made you want to scream or cry.

On an unrelated topic, I downloadeed the new Safari 4 and so far I am impressed. I think the new features will help to be faster and more productive. I like the top 10 feature, I suspect I will use that a lot :)

WPPI (Wacky People Playing Intensely)

2009-02-16T00:11:00.000-08:00

It is midnight and I am to excited to sleep. I am tucked in at the MGM Grand in Vegas and I can't stop smiling. I had a gr*8 first day and I got to meet some cool people. I just feel so fortunate to be here and I am looking forward to the week ahead, but there are 2 boys back in LA that still have my heart.

Absence really does make the heart grow fonder. :)

Wedding Video

2009-02-11T21:55:00.000-08:00

My Sister-in-Law (a.k.a.-BFF) just sent me this link. I want to go to that wedding.

Baby Charlotte is now Lady Charlotte

2009-02-08T20:41:00.000-08:00

A year's gone by,
How time has flown,
We can't believe
How Charlotte's grown
She's such a joy
And so much fun,
Oh my! Sweet Charlotte
Turned One!

Yesterday's session was FUN! I did work myself into a sweet chasing Charlotte around and trying to cover all the technical stuff. Her cuteness was distracting, but it was SO FUN! Charlotte was in a great mood and ready to explore and it is always a treat to see her parents and catch up. We all met a year ago when Charlotte was tiny and sat still :) and their family have definitely grown to be friends. They are a reminder to me of what a blessing it is to have my own business and be a photographer.

They are the type of clients that photographer's dream about. They are up for anything and Charlotte's Mom (Yvette) picks out the cutest clothes ever. If I ever have a little baby girl, I know who I am calling for hand me downs.

We went to the Lucky Strike Bowling Lanes. Yes, not the typical place for a 1 year old's pictures, SO FUN! Charlotte explored every inch of that place, even the top of the tables and the top pool table :)

Here is a picture of her from before she was mobile. :) It was one of my favorite kids images of 2008. I mean, look at her in that hat. TOO CUTE!

And here she is Now!

And the message around the collar of her t-shirt says, "Only Mommy can judge me" How fun is that? I love it, I want one in my size :)

And these are just a few of my early favorites, there are still a bunch more with other cute outfits. I might have to make this a 2 part post. That is how cute she was :) Kids are the BEST!

Rain, Rain Go Away

2009-02-01T11:33:00.000-08:00

Coughing, every breath leads to more coughing, nose in need of tissues, ears popping, not sleeping well. Ba Hum Bugsssss We all get sick and right now it is my turn. So I am trying to get some rest and kick this thing, because I tried to ignore it and see if it would pass. That didn't work out so good :(

But I still have a TON of aawesome blessings in my life to be gr8phul for. I will just count them one cough at a time. :)

Lucas & Cristin Engagement

2009-01-21T19:45:00.000-08:00

Last Saturday was a beautiful day, the wind was warm, the sun was out and 2 people in love were galavanting around Malaga Cove in Palos Verdes. It has been brough to my attention (by my husband) that I am a bad writer so I am going to let the pictures say it themselves. Meet Cristin and Lucas...

Like anyone could shut me up :) I am a bad typist but it comes from the heart. And honestly that is what matters to me. And It comes from the heart for Lucas and Cristin. They will be getting married in August and they are going to be a stunning bride and groom.

Cristin and Lucas thanks for letting me be a "Michael Scott" and spend the with you. You guys

are cute like Pam and Jim :)

It's a Beautiful Day

2009-01-20T00:27:00.000-08:00

We (Trav, Kai & I) headed for Long Beach for a whale watching tour. For a family that is always late, this made us NERVOUS! If you miss your boat you miss your chance. We hurried ourselves out the door, got a little turned around on the drive down & and then wa-la we arrived. We felt complete relief that were actually there early. *Gold Star* We showed up with gloves, a blanket, enough snacks to feed the whole boat of passengers--twice. Every freckle on my body was eager with anticipation.I didn't want to put out time effort and money only to turn out disappointed. I was pretty nervous. Let me re-phrase that... I was going on a boat with a 2 year old for 2 1/2 hours. I was wondering if we were crazy.

It was the first 9am boat for the season, so we were nervous that the whales might still be sleeping :) and that we would be at a loss. But, only 5 minutes out of the harbor and the amazement started. Grey Whale 12 o'clock! We watched the big guy surface a few times and after a couple of minutes it "fluked". I could have stayed there all day but the boat voted and everyone wanted to keep going. These people were gamblers--Vegas style!

*One small comment on this picture. The brownish cloud layer was the smog. The Santa Anna winds pushed it out far to see. It was thick. It make me happy that we own a Prius and my husband bikes to work but I might be buying a gas mask soon.

That's when "IT" happened. I saw out of the corner of my left eye something leaping, jumping and swimming. As fast as it's little flippers could carry him. A "common" dolphin was racing to the boat and it was a picture of unbridled joy. It was a moment that froze in time for me. Every fiber of me cried out to God in gratitude. It is how I should be running after God. It is a scene I won't forget anytime soon. But before I knew it every one on the boat was saying, "dolphins!" It was like popcorn popping--everyone was announcing dolphins. Out boat was in the exact middle of a grouping of 150 or more dolphins. They were as far as I could see. EVERYWHERE!! It was such an AWESOME experience. They were playing at the front of the boat, doing acrobatics off the side and ska-dattling everywhere.

After 10 minutes of bliss, the captain saw another grouping. So we went and !!again!! played with another 100 or so dolphins and this time there were some Californian sea lions. Everyone was brimming with excitement, it was like our little boat had been electrified. So when the captain said we had to head back we were completely satisfied.

The fun wasn't over yet on the way back into the dock. The captain spotted a Momma and baby grey whale. He estimated that the baby was only 2 weeks old. Man-what a sight to see. I kinda got a little baby fever. From a whale?!#* Hmmmm....odd.

I am gr8phul to have been able to see such beautiful and captivating creatures in the wild. There was such a truth seeing these animals in the natural habitat. I loved that the were still wild and free and the end of the day. It was Trav's first time seeing them and the smile on his face spoke volumes. And I am gr8phul for all the aquatic activity, they kept Kai somewhat entertained. And the rest of the time he was learning to get his sea legs. :)

Being back on a boat reminded me how much I love being out there. When I lived in Honduras I lived on a 64 foot schooner for a month. It was my version of Disneyland. It was good to be back on the water today and be so profoundly blessed. Now Kai has been saying all day, "I saw dolphins and whales, it go jumped in the air." On the way home from the backseat we heard him talking to himself and he said, "That was AWESOME!"

When we got home we decided to make it a super killer day. So, Trav went surfing for a few hours and then Trav and I went to LACMA to see a photography exhibit I have been wanting to see. It was educational and inspirational. That museum is HUGE!! I will be going back--hopefully sooner than later.

So now it is SUPER late and I don't want to go to bed and have the day be over. It was a gr8 day! But I need to close my eyes.

I don't want to be groggy and grumpy for inauguration day.

Transformation

2009-01-18T21:12:00.000-08:00

God Transforms Lives

I am gr8phul that He has transformed mine and Trav's

Gr8phul!

God has brought me from the depths of hurts to the heights of joy.

And he's not done yet!

It's almost Friday!

2009-01-15T15:31:00.000-08:00

Joy.

So much to be gr8phul 4

2009-01-13T16:06:00.000-08:00

I am down in bed with a cold and I was looking back on the pictures from 2008. Colds suck but getting to look back on all the amazing moments from the past year is a blessing. I just got an e-mail from Tom & Erica yesterday telling me about all the AWESOMENESS in their lives. They are such a special couple and sweet friends. I love that I got to be with them on their wedding day. Even though I am sick, I am not sick of my "job" :)

A New do for a New Year

2009-01-11T21:23:00.000-08:00

A picture is worth a thousand words :)

the red does wash out :)

asleep at the...

2009-01-10T14:28:00.000-08:00

Don't fall asleep and drop your computer. It is a bad thing to do. Thank goodness I just got a small cosmetic ding on the frame and no real damage. I always heard of people falling asleep while smoking, and I always thought it was kinda crazy that they could ACTUALLY fall asleep that way.

We'll I have no more judgement for them. I am amazed that I could "crash out" and go to sleep and totally let my computer crash to the floor. Just one more reason why I have no business smoking.

There before the grace of God go I.

Happy New You

2008-12-31T14:13:00.000-08:00

"Happy New You" is what Kai thought we were saying, so he likes to say it at the top of his lungs to random strangers. :) So tonight marks the passing of another year. I personally am sad to see 2008 on the way out. It was a FANTASTIC year for us. We had a blast and traveled a ton and all the while Kai cracked us up. As the year progressed we fell more in love with our family. So I can only hope that we will keep that heart in 2009 and learn more about how to prioritize our short time on this earth.

My only resolution this year is trying to be where God is and seeking after him. God's love really is unending and the most amazing gift ever. No matter how bad I screw up or how off course I get, HE is constantly loving me. And not just loving me but showering me with goodness and blessings. In my weakness HE is STRONG. So I am gr8phul to HIM for allowing me to still be me and the fact that he redeems with strength.

God is SO GOOD. No matter what 2009 holds, I am gr8phul that he is the one holding it.

Jumping Bean

2008-12-28T23:06:00.000-08:00

We took him skiing for the first time and he did GREAT. He had his own tiny skis and helmet and he looked like a baby penguin. Here are a few pictures from the P&S camera.

He made us laugh all weekend. ALL WEEKEND! He cracks us up, so I put together a little clip. By the way, he is such a blast of energy that we put a mattress in the living room for him to jump on. "A poor man's trampoline" and we were hoping it would be a little safer, but now he is jumping off anything he can to "get air!" HELP!!

The Day After

2008-12-26T15:53:00.000-08:00

Ok, so Christmas has come and gone and I am left feeling a little off.

A few years ago Trav's AMAZING Grandpa passed away on Christmas morning and it rocked our world and changed how we saw Christmas. The following year we didn't "do" Christmas, we donated money in everyone's names to the Blood Water Mission and it was a great Christmas. Some people still gave us gifts and we were super appreciative but we felt a little weird about it. So the next year we did a half & half. Half contributing to Blood Water Mission and half small gifts. Again people gave us presents and we felt awkward. Appreciative but awkward. You know that weird thing when someone gives you a gift and you have nothing for them.

All that to say, that this year was our first year "back." Presents are great but we really feel that some things are more important. I just saw this video on [B]ecker's blog and it sums up what I am struggling for word's to say.

The Advent Conspiracy Promo Video from theadvance on Vimeo.

So next year we want to encourage everyone to donate to the Blood Water Mission. I would rather that a child somewhere in the world gets clean water. Kai has a TON of toys and plenty of water. Thank the Lord!

A heart filled Merry Christmas and a smile is gift enough.

Merry Christmas!!

2008-12-25T21:00:00.000-08:00

Merry Christmas. I am going to keep this brief. I pray that you have a day filedl with all the blessings that God has granted us. If you would take a minute to help someone less fortunate... it only takes 2 clicks. 1st Click the link, then click to give a cup of food to someone with need. Corporate sponsors pay for the food, all you have to do is click :)

Merry Christmas!

A Not So Perfect Christmas!

2008-12-21T15:42:00.000-08:00

I love Christmas. The little girl inside relishes every chocolate covered second of it. Christmas trees, presents and Christmas cards. I love saying Merry Christmas to complete strangers. I love making family traditions. And, this year, I love watching Kai learn what Christmas means and represents. I want to breathe Christmas in deep and savor it.

But through all that tinsel covered excitement, I have to admit that there is a lot of hurt and sadness. Fighting back tears and trying to stay strong is not what I had in mind for Christmas. Well, last night I lost the fight and the tears spilled over and ran like a river. And, they are still going.

Let me backtrack. A huge piece of the Christmas's gone by was my Dad, our traditions, and being together as a family - singing songs at the top of our lungs, picking out the Christmas tree, just being together. Well--that has all changed, and it hurts a TON. Now, instead, I miss my Dad so much that it can be hard for me to breathe, hard to stop the tears and deal with the shock and disbelief that things are like they are. We have only talked three times in the last two years and when we have have, it didn't go very well. Some how, he isn't interested in being in a relationship with me anymore. I have tried, but the only way that it is going to work is if I can forget about the HUGE hurts without even acknowledging the part he has played in them, let alone working through it together.

If you know me, then you know that I don't avoid pink elephants in the room. I want to, I need to, work through things in order to be able to truly move on. I can't pretend like it is all fine while my heart is broken. I have chosen to be true to myself and not cave in. I am worth more than that. My hurts should be acknowledged, my heart break should be noticed. Not just swept under the Christmas tree and asked to keep on as if nothing ever happened. I hope I don't do that to Kai, or Trav for that matter. Life has some major hurts in it and when they come I hope I can be there for the people I love and help them to work through the hurt. Especially when I am the one that caused it.

All this to say, Christmas can be a hard time of year for some. I don't want to act like everything is perfect in my camp, because it's not. I do have a lot to be gr8phul for and I AM, but I am no Martha Stewart. It isn't all perfect and tidy. Come to think of it, she is not so perfect either--Martha Stewart spent some time in the slammer. :)

Today, Trav went to church and met with our Transparents group alone. I hid away because I just couldn't stop the tears and I didn't want to be a downer. But, Trav came back and told me that our Sunday school group talked about family traditions, and some people were, well – Transparent. They talked about their struggles at Christmas, and a few people even cried. Thank goodness for that group! I am so encouraged by their authenticity--even if it was from afar this time.

To all the people who are crying in their eggnog this year. I am with you. If you want to sit next to me, I can relate.

Thank goodness God is the best Father of all. I know he will never forsake me. He will never choose anyone over me. No Matter what! He loves me so much, that he sacrificed his precious son, so that we could be together forever. That is what Christmas is all about. I know I am loved.

Trav took this picture. Nice huh? It is a reminder that we all have mountains to climb and were just doing the best we can..

And, if my Dad is reading this, your little girl misses you like Crazy. Every time I hear Josh Groban singing I get choked up. I miss you, and your Grandson is a one in a million. I mean that! How you have put someone higher than that, I can never understand. But I still love you! Merry Christmas!

My Dad and I always blasted this song at the highest volume possible. We have sang it in the living room and in the car. It was the first thing that we put on when we got in the car together. One night while we were in the mountains of North Carolina we were so into the song that Dad didn't notice the car in front of us, whoops! Everyone was fine and there was no damage to the cars. We cracked up and then had to pull it together to talk to the people in the car in front of us and apologize. That just one of the thousands of fond memories that I have of days gone by.

Something Funny

2008-12-19T15:16:00.000-08:00

Picture me on the side of the road TRYING to change my flat tire, when a guy driving by yelled, "They won't be hiring you for Nascar!"

If I had a camera I would have taken a picture of my facial reaction. Good thing that it is Christmas time and I felt like being a happy little elf. I just smiled and waved, as he drove off. Grrrrr! There I was running late to pick up my little boy, wearing an outfit and shoes that weren't conducive to changing a tire and struggling to get the tire off.

I want to be sure to pass on something I learned today. Crack the lug-nuts before you lift the car. Because once you get the car in the air it is nearly impossible to get those things off. And putting the car down and starting over is a bit of a pisser.

But it is Friday, so I am going to go eat pizza and friends and look forward to the weekend! :)

Christmas Greetings

2008-12-15T00:11:00.000-08:00

We sincerely hope that you all have had a great year. 2008 has definitely been full of fast paced fun. We have done so much, got to visit so many great places and spent time with encouraging people. Through all the trips and experiences we are amazed by God's love and how we are falling more in love with each other as we go. At the same time, Kai brings us SO much joy and laughter. He has reminded us of what is truly important in life and has challenged us to be better people and parents.

This year, we have decided to go the e-mail/blog route with our Christmas card for a number of reasons. 1) It is environmentally friendly 2) less spendy yet still fun and 3) this way you get to hear Kai's version of jingle bells. You can't do that with a traditional card.

We are putting the slideshow up on my blog, because we don't want to clog your inbox with a huge file. I hope you enjoy it because I really enjoyed making it for you. Looking over the past year has reminded us of God's provision and Love, and we are excited to share some of that with you.

In Love & By Faith,

Travis, Kat & Kai

Priceless...

2008-12-12T13:29:00.000-08:00

Kai watched a woman walking by with a little baby, stop outside our window and give the little girl a flower pulled from a near by bush. He said, "She give she a flower, and now she happy?" I smiled and said, "Yes!" Then he proceeded to say something that I will hold onto for the rest of my life.

He said, "You had flowers when you married Daddy? I wanna get married Mommy." I asked him who he wanted to marry and he looked up with a heart melting look and said, "I wanna marry my Mommy!"

That is a moment that can't be reproduced or bought in a store, and it truly was priceless. I am going to be floating on cloud nine for a few days. My heart is literally floating!

A Parent's Rant

2008-12-11T13:54:00.000-08:00

Ok, is it just me and I growing to be that uptight woman that I never thought I would be? (Please don't answer that :) I was shocked when I took Kai to a nearby park today. The language, behavior and overall vibe was sketchy. It is a kids park, with lots of play equipment and things that should be boring to most older kids. But today, it was infested with kids that were bad influences, with gross mouths and even a few smoking pot. I was pretty surprised and disappointed. I just couldn't believe what Kai was being exposed too. So I took him home and locked him back up. He might not leave the house again until he's 30. Ok, strike that, I would go crazy before then. We don't let him watch much TV because of what he would be exposed too, and now I can't take him to a park?

Is there anywhere that is safe for a kid in this culture? Somewhere wholesome? Is that too Laura Ingle and Little House on the Prairie? How am I suppose to protect his innocence and still provide him with a childhood? Of course, I am going to respond by being over baring. He's my precious little baby, I don't want to expose him to the truth of this world just yet. I want him to see the world as a magical place full of possibilities. I am ready to move to a farm in Iowa, somewhere far away from the city. You are probably thinking that the grass is greener on the other side, your probably right, but today please let me indulge myself on that dream.

I have a problem

2008-12-03T14:41:00.000-08:00

If the first step is admitting it then I am here to do that. I have a problem. Not just I have been working through numerous issues with my new MacBook Pro. Not just dealing with kernel panics, erase and installs and being on tech support all hours of the day. My problem is I am a computer addict. Today I had to leave my Mac at the store and it became increasingly obvious I have a problem.
At first I thought I would just get other things done during Kai's nap time. But after cleaning the bathroom, doing laundry, doing the dishes, making phone calls and tidding up the house. That's when I couldn't fight the temptation any longer. So I broke down and pulled out my old dinosaur of a laptop and here I sit now. Like a junkie in the corner getting a fix. At first it wouldn't power up and that made me wild inside but then I realized that the battery needed to be charged. Then it wouldn't power up because I had used a bad outlet, but before I realized that I was starting to freak out. I didn't say I was a smart junkie. Just a junkie.
Is this an issue for anybody else? Has the information super highway started to leave you strung out? The hyper connectedness, the IM'ing and video messaging made us crave more connection than we realize.
I have no solutions to this problem yet. I just know I have a problem and I am going to try to be a bit more disciplined about it. After I check my e-mail...

Back that thing up

2008-11-29T23:44:00.000-08:00

Ok, I will admit that I am getting a little paranoid, but everywhere I turn lately I am just in time for a story of a hard drive crashing or a fire taking out a backup. Ugggh. That is my nightmare. I had a rough start with Mac and hard drives but thank goodness I had back-ups of my back-ups. It made the process a lot less scary, still stressful but less scary.

Such avoidable tragedy! I have spent a ton of time lately backing up my back ups. It would be so devasting to loose all my pictures. There are so many precious memories attached to each image and my photos serve as my memory in a lot of cases. With the various back-up methods and services like Phanfare, it really is easier than it sounds. And once everything is just as you would like it, take it somewhere other than your house, just for the rare chance that something happens, your images will be safe and sound.

I have used Lacie, Iomega, Western Digital, and Maxor external hard drives and I have liked them all. One thing that is helpful in picking out a external hard drive is knowing if it is NTFS or FAT32 Also there is the decision on RAIDED or mirrored hard drives. Mirrored is just as it sounds the drive is split evenly into 2 parts and are an exact duplicate or the other. Raided is a bit more complex. It is probably better if you google it, because I don't think that my definition would make sense. It makes sense to me but I can't figure out how to write it out. Google is my friend :)

image from John Boston on flickr

Happy Friday!

2008-11-28T14:40:00.000-08:00

I have to admit that I searched the web this morning for some great "Black Friday" deals and I am happy to say that I got some on Amazon.com I don't know if I found some typos but I am talking screaming deals. I got a 16GB thumb drive for a PENNY!! And I don't want to say the others because they will be Christmas gifts :) But here are a few sites to check out the site and happy hunting.

www.Amazon.com
www.CircuitCity.com
The Shootsac

TODAY only, Save $20 off a School Membership to PhotographyMentor.com!

And one of the coolest guys in Wedding Photography, David Jay, is having an AWESOME sale on his slideshow program. It is an awesome program. To get an incredible $100 on Showit Web PRO by typing in "turkey" when you order...and this is version 2.7 and it comes with two new FREE songs! Click here to get it - http://showitfast.com/web/

Happy Thankful Day

2008-11-27T10:31:00.000-08:00

I have so many people and things to be thankful for... things like health and happiness and people like super supportive friends and family. Things that can't be bought in any store. But I am thankful for some of the material things like my new replacement computer that Apple gave me. Hopefully this one doesn't crash on me :)

I am also happy that my beautiful husband will be coming home today. It is really cool to think of how many Thanksgiving's we have spent together now. And this will be our 3rd Thanksgiving with Kai. That is a lot to be Thankful for!

Happy Thanksgiving!!

Double the fun at the Beach

2008-11-23T14:33:00.001-08:00

I am getting ready to snuggle in a read a book while Kai is napping, but before that I wanted to post a few pictures from yesterday. My favorite little twins aren't so little anymore. They are almost 17 months old and they are way different than the little babies I remember. Pete, Erin and I took them to the beach and the big challenge was trying to keep both children inside the frame. They were off in 2 different directions. I am so in awe of twins and how busy they can be. Can someone explain to me how Angelina and Brad have twins and four others but they are still talking about adopting more. Do those people just have WAY more energy than me? Yes they have help, but with 6 kids they still have to be busting their butts. Doing all that and movie careers. How is it possible?

Ok, sorry. I got a little off track. Kids are so fascinating and different. Each child is so special and unique. I really enjoyed watching them explore the sand and surf. It is so interesting how they are wired so differently. Ryan was all boy and go, go, go. While Sophie was more into figuring out the details and really examining things. The innocence in the eyes and and the way the interact is so fresh and sweet. Being around the 2 of them, really was double the fun!

Thormodsgaard's Family Pictures

2008-11-21T14:20:00.000-08:00

Special families affect their community. Well, I was granted the good fortune of getting to spend some time with an inspirational family recently. There is no dramatic story, it is just plain and simple. These parents love these kids more than anything else. They relate to the boys in a sweet and real way. Coda and Zane had me laughing so much that at times it was hard to take pictures. I had to keep fighting my desire to join in the fun or tickle the boys till they couldn't take it. These boys listened, were respectful and were FUN! Tad and Kelly love their kids and each other so much that they are and have something special.

If you are thinking about buying a home, call Tad. He has been in the real estate business for a while and he is a really nice guy and straight shooter. He is someone that is trustworthy in a market that can be pretty scary these days. Just in the time we talked about the market he was able to offer sound and reasonable advice.

Due to the recent fires the sunset was incredible. It was still a reminder of how fragile our lives are and how we shouldn't waste a moment.

I went home wondering what Kai will be like when he's older and examining my parenting ways. I want to be sure that I am giving him my best. Kids are SO worth it!

Thankfulness is the reason for the Season.

2008-11-16T12:50:00.000-08:00

Thanksgiving is around the corner and I have SO much to be thankful for this year. So very much! While people are battling fires locally, I am reminded of just how fragile life is and how it can all change lighting fast. Tonight I did a family shoot down at the beach and the sunset was stunning because of all the smoke in the sky but I know that it comes at a price. I am just left speechless at all the abundance I have in my life. I am so blessed to have an abundance of love, laughter and friendship. And a family that brings me to tears of gratitude. My prayers are with all the people facing the fires and I have hope that there will be a silver lining for them in these smoke filled clouds.

A few weeks ago I did a shot for a precious family. That was before my brand new, fresh out of the box, Mac crashed. That is why it has taken a little bit of time to post these pictures. Tech support now knows me by name and when I walk in the Apple store it is like Norm walking into Cheers. They know my name alright but it might not be a good thing. My replacement computer will be here in a few days, but till then I am hoping the one that I am on doesn't have a "kernel panic", that is Mac talk for CRASH! I am so gr8phul that I have back-ups of my back-ups of my back-ups. You can never be to careful.

Anyway-- I got to spend a fun afternoon with Timmy and his parents. Timmy is one of Kai's good friends, so taking pictures of him was near and dear to my heart. Timmy is a trip. He talks up a storm and all in the sweetest little voice imaginable. He is only 2 and he can really talk, he had me cracking up. We started the day at a local park and then finished up near the Manhattan beach pier.

I met Mary Elise while we were doing MOPS (Mothers of Preschoolers) together last year. We have traveled in the same circles for a while but God has brought us together in a special way in the last few months. She is a talented card maker and owner of KungFuKitty Cards. She makes beautiful cards. I have one hanging in my house because I can't bare to part with it.

Timmy and Kai have a LOVE of boarding. Timmy really has some good moves. I think he has learned from his Dad. Bill is an avid surfer and "boarder".

And boys climb trees. Boys really are fun! :) I like to climb a good tree from time to time.

I am so thankful to get to spend such fun quality time with such special families. Each encounter encourages me as a parent and makes me want to grow as a friend. Family is such a

Gift! I never knew how big a space in my heart I was saving for my family, but now I am reminded daily of how much I have to be Thankful for! Happy almost Thanksgiving!

Busy as a Bee

2008-11-12T19:40:00.000-08:00

The other day I had a woman that I was chatting with ask me a question that has had my wheels spinning ever since. She asked me, "What is it that keeps you so busy?" At first my jaw dropped from the way she said it-- I mean come on. Isn't it obvious, then I realized maybe it isn't. I have a l...o...n...g laundry list of all the things on my To Do List. But then I realized that we, WOMEN, all have a ton on our plates. She does too.

Whether it is planing a wedding, chasing children or buying groceries. We all have a ton to accomplish, so much that it can be hard to just breathe. But God is bigger than ALL my To Do Lists and he really does have a strength that passes all understanding.

So between Kai's birthday party, Halloween, catching up on all my editing, switching over to Mac and having problems with the hard drive, birthdays, incoming phone calls, outgoing e-mails,trying to get a jump on Christmas stuff and just trying to get dinner on the table...all during nap time and bed time... I have been busy as a Bee. Whoops I guess that is my laundry list, well part of it.

I have been meaning to post to the blog. But it fell of the list somewhere. Actually I should probably get back to my To Do List. And at the top of the list is reading my Bible, so I can get my battery charged to keep going.

Here are a few things that I have been working on:

Wattage

2008-10-26T20:55:00.000-07:00

If you could see me right now I would expect you to laugh. I am at my temporary "workstation"--my bed--with my DVD player because it helps me focus, my new Mac at the ready, my old PC because I am transferring files and working on a wedding, one of my external hard drives + plus the baby monitor and my cellphone. I wonder how much electricity I am using within 4 feet of me? No pictures because that would be to embarrassing.

I have seen the light

2008-10-24T23:58:00.001-07:00

I am the excited owner of a MacBook Pro. I feel like I have had a new baby- it has me totally distracted because I want to tinker with it, it is keeping me up at night, I am humbled and thrilled at the same time... and I don't want anybody to touch it (yet). Ok--Maybe if they Purel before they touch it :)

I am so excited about my new computer that it is embarassing. I never knew how much of a techie I am, but my inner geek is very apparent these days. I know have joined the masses that say that Mac is the Best! I can't believe how easy it has been to use, how user friendly and FANTASTIC! I just wish I had taken the plunge sooner.

I do have pictures to post but I will have to do it tomorrow. Right now it is time for beddy-bye! I miss Travis... It has been almost a month without him and I want my husband back. Just a few more days.

25th and 26th Flights

2008-10-13T04:41:00.000-07:00

Some people do marathons or triathalons but I do flyathons. Today is the day I have been nervous about for months. Kai and I are flying back to LA. I am speculating that because of the flight times that there will be NO nap. I am just hoping for no major drama... one can hope.

Regardless how it goes today, I want to say that we will be skyping more in the future. SKYPE is my friend. Airlines are not. I have heard a lot about this service and when I get home, I am going to set up my account. Skype here I come!

On a side note I have to say that Kai has been so well behaved on this trip - it is AWESOME!! He is talking more and he is FUNNY! He loves to make people laugh. Once he has you laughing then he says, "What Kai did?" He is my best little buddy and everyday he melts my heart in new and amazing ways. So let's hope I feel that way once we land in LA. :) Please say a little prayer for us today, if you will. It would be gr8ly appreciated.

Mac Rumors

2008-10-12T04:54:00.000-07:00

There all sorts of rumors about what the 14th will offer. Apple has a event where they will be launching their new notebooks and I can't wait. I have been following the MacRumors website for months and antipating the big day. I didn't want to go buy my first Mac and then have a new laptop released, so I have been waiting and saving my pennies.

http://www.macrumors.com/

I am curious about whether or not the new MacBook Pro will support Blu Ray, about the glass track pad and what gestures it will support, the speeds overall, and will the case be different?

I am about to jump off and over to the other side. I am excited and nervous. This is a huge step for me!

Expect More

2008-10-05T20:31:00.000-07:00

I realized that I haven't posted any of my recent shoots lately. Sorry! I think that Kai is the most interesting and amazing little boy, but I realize that everbody's world doesn't revolve around him. Please don't tell him that :)

Here is one from a shoot a couple of weeks ago and I will post more soon! I will post more once I get back.

An interactive Day

2008-10-05T05:21:00.000-07:00

Wagon rides, visiting friends, playing in the backyard, exploring Mime's house and all her fun toys, and then to top it all off, we went to a nearby lake and had an AMAZING experience. It was better than Disneyland. He got to feed the ducks that literally were flocking to him, see so many sizes of turtles, see a blue heron, and then the craziest of them all a bearded dragon!

I saw someone walking by and I noticed that she had a "lizard" in her stroller, at first I thought it was a fake toy because it didn't move and then I saw it blink. I was pretty taken back. She noticed my reaction and said, "Oh you saw Spike!" Well, Spike is there family pet and he was SO COOL! He sat perfectly still, he doesn't bite, he has a 3rd eye on the back of his head and he is totally use to children.

** I have to say that it was hard to take pictures while Kai touched and held Spike. He looked pretty scary and I was a little tripped out. What a strange internal conflict, I wanted him to experience it but I was pretty terrified. Motherhood really is a rollercoaster ride :)

** I have to go because Kai is in his crib counting to 10 and then clapping for himself and saying Hi Mommy. I think someone is trying to get my attention. Haha

We have landed

2008-10-03T21:42:00.000-07:00

To say that I am gr8phul is an understatement. We made it through and we are in North Carolina! After a L-O-N-G day of traveling with an almost 2 year old. We are here. I am gr8phul to the man that offered to help when I had all the bags, I am gr8phul to Jerry that sat next to us on the first flight, I am gr8phul for a DVD player and lots of snacks. I am so gr8phul right now! Gr8phul for the friends that prayed for us, and the ones that heard me out and helped me think of planning. And I have to admit that I am gr8phul that my computer made it (it was risky--I checked it--I had to) and I am gr8phul that after this long day I can kick back and catch up on all things internet. Truly gr8phul!

Ok--So 2 stories! This one is kinda crazy!! At LAX airport this morning they were stopping every car while driving in, then there were a LOT of police officers at each terminal. I am talking about a LOT!! There were K9's going through the terminal and then it happened. Kai and I went through security and we were still getting our stuff put together when all of a sudden a SWARM of men in blue (Police officers, TSA agents, and some other "blues") bum rushed a guy right behind me. It happened fast...SO FAST. I guess it can really shake things up to have that go on at the terminal, so they had him hauled away in under 2 minutes. It happened like a flash. It definitely didn't make me comfortable about flying. I was pretty spooked. I just hope that guy was guilt because he is in some hot water. I don't think I will ever know what that was about, but it left me extremely gr8phul for getting here safety, and the people who work so hard to protect us. It was pretty sketchy!

So--The other story is not so dramatic. It was a suddle thing. We sat next to Jerry on our first flight and over the course of the flight Kai warmed up to him, a lot. At the end he was playing with Jerry and looking out the window while kind of laying on his chest. Here's the thing, there was such joy for him that he was allowed to love on a kid. I could tell that he was cherishing the opportunity. The way he touched Kai was so full of love and respect I am gr8phul that he reminded me that one day my little boy will be all grown up and I will long for the snuggles and interaction. It reminded me to cherish it even more today and build memories to draw from later down the road. Jerry was a good dude and I wish his all the best with his new house in Virginia. He had already closed on it but had only seen a picture. His wife had scouted it out for his family, and he trusted her entirely. Pretty Cool!

And lastly, here is a video that I saw on Becker's blog and I really liked it. It is so important to vote! I for one will be happy to have this election decided and for a little break from campaign trail. I will be voting, will you?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0vtHwWReGU0

Another Flight

2008-10-01T16:01:00.000-07:00

I now know what Amelia Earhart felt like the day before she did her big solo flight. I'm getting ready to do a cross country flight with 2-year-old and it's got me pretty nervous. Kai has flown 22 times in his short life and you would think we had it down by now, but we don't. I have tried just about everything, and it works for 5 minutes but the flight is 7 1/2 hours of travel time. The entire day! We are headed to North Carolina for 10 days to see family and friends. I am looking forward to seeing everyone and for Kai to spend time with my family. We have lots of FUN outtings planned, so I am sure it will be a good trip...I just hope that it is a good flight.

Here are a few pictures of Kai and his cousin Riley from last week. Ever since we got home Kai has been saying that he wants to go to Riley's house. It was really special watching them together, 2 little partners in crime.

And here are a few from my Point & Shoot--with 2 kids my little camera came in super handy.

A whole new RESPECT

2008-09-24T14:07:00.000-07:00

Kai and I are down in San Diego babysitting for our cousins Aaron and Amy, their 17 month old Riley. I have a whole new RESPECT for Moms of more than one kid. Whooo I am beat. These 2 little WILD monkeys are precious but exhausting. To all the women out there who have more than one. My hats is off to you!

Right now everything smells like poop, I am hungry, I have kid songs running through my head, and the house needs to be picked up. I am starting to realize my age, because this experience is making me feel old. But it is definitely double the joy and laughs. Watching them play together is hysterical.

I will post a picture next week when I get home and just have one little crazy man running around. Well, I will try because I will also be packing for Kai and my next adventure in North Carolina. Life is full these days!

3 little monkey's

2008-09-20T13:52:00.000-07:00

When I lived in Nicaragua I had a "pet" monkey. I named him Tony and he was my little buddy. He would come into my room and steal things (like my keys) and play with my rotating fan. I LOVED him! LOVED LOVED LOVED! I have so many fun memories with that little monkey. He had the ability to come into my life, shake things up and make me laugh. I call Kai "monkey" and it is because he has the ability bring me back into the joy in the moment and want to sqeeze every bit of fun out of it.

Well, when we were in Jackson I had the PLEASURE of seeing a dear friend Annie and her 3 little monkeys. From the minute they arrived they were wild. THEY WERE SO MUCH FUN! They were running, jumping, hiding, rolling, and laughing through the whole encounter. It was so much fun to see them. I will cherish the memories from that day, it was so special to see how they interacted as sisters and with their beautiful Mom. Those 3 monkeys stole a piece of my heart.

Jott it down

2008-09-16T13:52:00.000-07:00

I just heard about the *COOLEST* service, it is called Jott, you call (866) JOTT-123 / (866) 568-8123 and you are able to say what it is you want to type, for those who aren't good typist, it's a perfect service. I have been non-stop "jotting" since I heard about it. I have set up my cell phone and home number so I can "jott" all the time. You can even "jott" something and it will be sent as a text message. So now there is NO reason for someone to be texting while driving.

Driving while distracted can be deadly, and it’s suspected, but not known for sure yet, that the engineer of a Los Angeles Metrolink commuter train may have been text messaging when the train ran a stop signal, crashing into an oncoming freight engine. There is never a good excuse for texting while driving, NEVER!

Ok--I will get off my soapbox. Other fun uses for "jotting" is To-Do Lists, Grocery Lists, drafting a quick e-mail, or even "jotting" what you eat, so you can keep a food journal. It is pretty effective when you are about to eat a piece of Chocolate cake, if you have to place a phone call and tell on yourself. You then get an e-mail in your inbox with the context of what you Jotted or ate!

I am pretty excited about this! Can you tell?

Happy Monday!

2008-09-15T06:11:00.000-07:00

Well it was another busy weekend but a FUN one! I had the pleasure of doing some family pictures/ maternity pictures for the Merica-Jones family. I will be posting a few of them soon. It was really smart of them to do family pictures now for their Christmas cards, so they are going to be prepared when December pokes its head around the corner. Because Christmas is going to be here before we know it. Yes, there is Halloween and Thanksgiving first but somehow every year Christmas still sneaks up on me.

Kai is discovering how many expression he can make with that cute little face of his. He has been practicing them in mirrors or anything with a reflection. I thought I would share a few with you.

Also, My prayers and thoughts are with Jasmine Star and her family as they face her Mom battling cancer again. Her Mom's story with the first fight can be found in the pages of Jasmine's blog. It is a miracle filled story! If you have never read Jasmine's Blog-- then treat yourself. Make yourself a cup of tea and prepare to get lost in the virtual pages of her blog. She is a firecracker of inspiration and an incredible writer and photographer. Basically she is the whole package and a sweet heart as well. She has inspired my business like none other and I can't help but want to model her zest for God, Marriage, Life, Photography, Service and Fun! (Can you tell that I like her?) Here is the link to her site: Jasmine Star Photography

The Tree of Good and Evil?

2008-09-09T11:18:00.000-07:00

First off- I am more of a computer dork than I ever thought I would be. I just scheduled my life around a Steve Jobs/Apple event. Ok--I will be truthful. I didn't just schedule around it, I obsessed about it! And now I am left sad! There is no new news for the MacBook Pro. :( If you want an new iPod Nano then I guess your in luck, I will try to just be happy for those people while I continue to work on my patience.

I have been waiting to jump to Apple for a while now. I didn't want to make the switch and then have a new product revealed days after--that would stink. I have been a PC girl forever and now I am going to have to keep on waiting ~ and working on my old and boring PC. Bummer

Eve got tempted by an Apple--hmmmm I wonder if I am falling into the same trap?

Older and Wiser

2008-09-07T23:00:00.000-07:00

30 years ago today my sweet husband entered the world and he has been rocking out ever since. I am so excited to say that he had a Happy Birthday and the day was filled with well wishes and fun videos of friends and lots of love. I am just so excited that so many friends were able to celebrate with us at The Green Temple. It was a fun night with good food and Travis felt loved.

By the way--Kai decided he wanted to be dressed as Elmo, he didn't like what I had picked out for him. That cracked me up!

And were off...here goes nothing

2008-08-28T13:41:00.000-07:00

Flying can be so much fun or it can be terror, Kai gets to decide. Today he will headed to Jackson and I am just hoping that he feels like a wiggle free flight. A mother can dream.

I can't wait to go and we just got news that there will be a SPECIAL surprise when we get there. I am beyond excited. I was literally jumping around our bedroom last night. Till I can talk about that--I just want to say that God is Good! So Good and I am gr8phul that we get to head home for a little bit, being in God's country is always a treat!

Why I am Late

2008-08-20T21:46:00.000-07:00

I am getting it, more and more everyday. I realize, that when I thought of Motherhood -- I thought of having a little 2 year old with that heartbreaking angelic voice, who said the funny little sayings and then followed everything up with a hug or a kiss. I am now there. I am trying to realize the world can wait while I enjoy every solitary second of it. Today is the only day like today and I am going to drink it in as deep as I can. Kai is funny, smart, sarcastic at times and cracks me up, he is demanding (like his Mom and Dad), he is creative, everything that rolls off his tongue is the funniest thing I have ever heard... He is just down right adorable! I know I am his Mom and I might be biased but Michael Phelps has nothing on this kid, he is better than Shawn White, he is a dream I had long ago--he surpasses any gold medal. He is the Best and everyday that I get to spend with him, I am richer for it. So if it takes me a little while to call back or send an e-mail, please cut me some slack. I am just trying to take sometime and smell the roses with my little boy and am having a blast in the process.

Today I peed on the potty and he told me, "Good job Mommy!"

This is right before he drank the pool water, that he knew I said not to.

And this is right after. It is hard to get upset with him when he is that cute.

This is G-o-o-d!

2008-08-20T14:44:00.000-07:00

I watched this the other night and it had me cracking up! I hope you enjoy it as much as I did. This is for Bailey! Happy Birthday Sister!

Up and running

2008-08-18T22:38:00.000-07:00

I am sending this from my phone. Technology is amazing. I can't believe how fast the mobile/internet world has grown and ho far reaching the capabilities are, I for one am amazed!

Back that thing up

2008-08-18T15:40:00.000-07:00

I wish that I had a picture of my trying to unravel ALL my files and get things sorted out and back up, but then again probably not--because I look like a deranged computer dork. I didn't realize how much of a project this was going to be when I started. I have spent hours and hours getting everything ready for my New MacBook Pro. I am pretty excited, but I still have a ways to back up before I am ready.

Just back things up because ______ You just should

I am still seeing Stars*

2008-08-08T00:04:00.000-07:00

The other night, I was reminded of that life changing moment when Trav said, "Yes!" No, I didn't propose to him (he proposed to me--it was AWESOME!) When he said, "Yes!" that I could buy my first real camera and I could pursue my dreams of photography. I couldn't hold back the tears. I didn't even want to fight them. In that moment, I knew that he really believed in me. There have been so many days since then when I could hardly muster up enough belief in myself to be myself but he has always encouraged me. That was Sept. 11th 2004. I rushed out that day and bought the camera, and when I say rushed I mean rushed... I wanted to buy it before Travis changed his mind.

I couldn't wait to get started. I was overwhelmed by all of the controls, I realized how much I had to learn, and I was terrified but I WANTED it. Did I ever WANT it. I wanted to be a photographer more than anything else. Within the first 10 exposures I took this picture and I was hooked. Something chemically changed in my brain when I looked at the LCD and I saw something that I liked. I was hooked. I wanted to be a photographer more than anything, I really wanted it.

Since then I have spent hours and hours and hours and days reading manuals, magazines, websites, blogs. Anything that I could get my hands on to learn about photography. I would go to the college bookstores after the students sold there books back and I would snatch them up. I was on a budget and I was hungry for more information. I was so driven to learn... :) I still am. It is pretty normal for me to spend the late night hours (once Kai goes to sleep) scouring the internet, trying to learn more from my photography heros. Just trying to get better.

Last wednesday I went and saw Jasmine Star and David Jay speak for the Free to Succeed Tour and they knocked my socks off and reminded me of why I got started and how much of a priviledge it is to be doing this as a career. If you get a chance to see them speak, count yourself fortunate. In my opinion they are better than 15 workshops put together, they are like lightning in a box. I am still feeling their electricity a week later.

I love what I do, I am passionate about what I do, and what I do is more than a hobby-- it IS my lifestyle and I am priviledged to say that. I am so gr8phul to be able to do something that I love SO much!

This is straight out of the camera, it is simple and yet it summarizes how I felt--like I was about to bloom. I want to live that feeling everyday! As a woman, a wife, a mother, a daughter, a collegue and a friend. I want to live in the reality that God isn't done working on my yet. I am SO not perfect, that I am fragile yet strong and I am just about to bloom.

Any day now :)

A long road to truth

2008-07-28T21:26:00.000-07:00

OK, so this is going to be the longest post e-v-e-r! I apologize in advance. It is hard to unjumble all of the memories, thoughts and emotions but I feel like I have to try. We got back from Canada a little while ago and I have been meaning to post these pictures ever since, but life got in the way. The reason I want to share these is because these pictures are burned into my heart. We had an AWESOME trip! We were able to slow down, relax, and spend some heart changing time with spirit filled friends, and on top of that-we had a few good adventures.

Kai was pretty excited about this situation. He has a construction equipment addiction. You think I am kidding, but I am not. He can't get enough of diggers, dump trucks, excavators and any other big metal construction machinery. I am amazed by how he remembers all the names and I am getting better ;) This is a dear sweet man named Kelly, and he is an awesome example of a man. His heart ROCKS! He was the brides father and a kind friend.

When we first arrived on the scene Kelly took Kai for a Bobcat ride. One that he still talks about, it was a BIG deal in Kai's world .

These are the newly weds from last summer, they are just shy of their 1st Anniversary. These 2 rock my socks off. 1st off they are so cute together and they are also super fun to be around! They are definitely a blessing to have in your corner. I have had Amie in my spiritual corner now for a few years and she has spoken so much love, truth and joy into my life. God's PEACE and GLORY is all around them!

I love having a P&S camera, I think the Canon Elph's ROCK! A few of these pictures are from it.

Everyone up there was willing to make an investment into us. Regardless of how long we were going to be in town. There was such a sense of family and support up there. It made it easier to be more vulnerable, to dig even deeper and laugh even louder. The cute blonde is Heather P, she is a fire cracker. She can make me laugh to tears. She is SO fun!

Ok-so there needs to be a explaination of why my son was sleeping in the box. This is his make shift crib and playpen while on vacation. Hahaha It was pretty funny how much he liked it. Speaking of boxes, Kai was having a blast playing in boxes, bins and closets. He is literally testing his boundaries as much as he is testing mine :)

We took him for a hike. It was so nice to be out in nature and experience some wide open spaces. I needed it, we needed it. That is Trav's hat by the way...it killed me to see it on Kai. Too Cute!

Trav is an incredible cook when he is in the kitchen...get excited! No wonder I am constantly battling weight, my husband can COOK!
But these pictures go to show how content Kai is with a peanut butter sandwich. I just get a kick out of how much joy he got out of it.

We also took Kai camping. Or maybe I should say that he took us. Trav got this one of me in the morning, I think I was extra specially gr8phul after a night of sleep.

Wildflowers and bouldering. What a perfect compromise between my husband and I :)

Like Father like Son!

We had such a good time it is hard to believe it wasn't a dream. It really was wonderful and I am hoping that another Canadian bride will bring us back for round 3. Let me know if you are interested :)

We'll be there with bells on and Big Teddy and Mr. Green in hand:)

A Root of Praise

2008-07-25T20:53:00.000-07:00

Today has been a day of BLESSINGS! Well, every day is a day of blessings but today I also had my prayers answered and my fears calmed. I went to the Dr. this morning for the root canal and after the evaluation and x-rays he said that he didn't see a need to do the root canal!!! Woo Hoo I was SO HAPPY that I hugged the man. I am so relieved that words won't cover it. Then, my day got every better.

I came home and had a call with a computer EXPERT! This guy knew his stuff backwards and forwards and I was impressed with his vast knowledge and understanding. Well, he talked me through how to save the drive out of our desktop that has been crashing. So I/we didn't loose all of our pictures and info on that drive. Plus, he thinks that he can help us to salvage that machine.

Then we went over to our friends house, Laura and Steve and their little dude Jake and hada blast. So, Today has been a very good day and God be praised in it! :) God be Praised!!!

The Marshall Crew

2008-07-23T22:00:00.000-07:00

I had the pleasure of meeting the Marshall family a few weeks back. I have been meaning to post a few of the pictures, but I have been having technical difficulties...again. So I went yesterday and looked into jumping out of the PC world and into a Mac. Hmmmm I have been considering the switch for a while, but I am pretty nervous about it. Everyone that I know that has made the transition says that they haven't looked back. So that is encouraging.

Also, I might have to disappear for a few days. I am having other technical difficulties...in my mouth. I have to have a root canal, but not just any root canal. I have to have a 2nd root canal on the same tooth. Yup, not once, but twice. Lucky me :( So tomorrow morning I will have the pleasure of paying out of pocket for ANOTHER root canal. YUCK! Any prayers are gr8*ly appreciated.

Ok--back to the Marshalls. The were a fun family and the type of people I could hang out with. They were a fun bunch and a beautiful family. We started with the whole crew and the finished up with Chris, Kristi and Alyssa and the newest member of the family. That will not arrived for a couple more months... Kristi makes being pregnant look good. She almost made me think about going for another one, but after I got home and had to clean and care for Kai...I realized maybe were not ready, yet. Anyway, their little girl Alyssa might have a future in modeling :)

Thank you to the Marshall family. I really enjoyed meeting you and I hope to see you guys again in the future :)

It was AWESOME, Eh!

2008-07-19T16:52:00.000-07:00

O Canada! How I Love thee!!! It has been a while since I posted anything and that is because we have been in, incredibily beautiful British Colombia. I didn't want to post that we were going out of town, because that seems sketchy to me... My Mom raised me to be paranoid...I know.

Anyway, Canada was a treat all the way around. I had the distinct honor of photographing Dan and Amy's Wedding and they were so fun to work with, that I was blown away. I met Amy and Dan while I was up there photographing Matt and Amie's Wedding last year. This year's bride was last year's groom's sister. Confusing? Anyway--I got to go back and it was SO AWESOME to be back there with all of them. Definitely a reunion, a sweet sweet reunion. We shared so many laughs and tears and the deepest places of our hearts. It was such a treat. I want to be back there already, I am really hoping that a bride will call me back there for next year!

Dan and Amy have known each other for a few years. She was good friends with his sister and his Dad is/was her Pastor. They fell in love and that was that. These 2 are a perfect fit, and when they are not perfect it is obvious that they will extend grace and grow through it. Amy really took care of me and my family. She was so thoughtful that she knocked our socks off. She even had the whole hotel room set up for us with every detail. I can't say how cool that was. I made a deep impression on me. It made us feel loved and special and it made things go so much smoother for us.

There are going to be lots of pictures posted over the next few days because I am having a hard time picking favorites. I am excited about the pictures but I am more excited about how God has used this couple already. I get the chills just thinking about it. They are going to have a bright future. These pictures I am posting are just a few of my favorites from after the wedding. There are still tons of others.

Sorry for the bad writing, I am still so in awe of the trip that it is hard to communicate the feelings.