May Birthdays

So, I have been back living at my Dad's house for almost 9 months.  Moving back as an adult with kids has it challenges, but then it has its positives too.  My kids would list the quantity of ice cream birthday cakes we have gotten to eat this year probably as the number one best thing about living at Abuelitio's house.  We probably have two months in the entire year where we don't have a birthday.  But they land on the holiday months of November and December, so it's not like we get a break from the extra calorie intake.  I think that's why I don't bake as much as I use to.  

Anyways, we had two birthdays in the month of May.  We had my Dad's birthday and Josh's.  So we got to eat two birthday cakes this month.  No complaints where uttered by my munchkins.  It's been fun getting to celebrate everyone's birthday.  That was one thing I missed out on a lot when I lived in Arizona. So I am enjoying all the celebrations before David and I move out again.  ( May be soon )  For my Dad's birthday we took him and the family out to eat at  Slater's 50/50.  If you like a good hamburger like my dad, that is the place to go.  Then for Josh's birthday we went out to DiMilles.  They have such good pizza.  So there's been lots of eating this month.  Hence, why I have been working out 5-6 days a week.  I can't say no to good food so I exercise.  Then I get the best of both worlds. 

 That's Micah with my Dad.  He seems to glow in all his pictures.  I think it's because he has perfect creamy baby skin.  Dad I love you! Thank you for letting us stay at your house these months while David has been finishing up his bachelors.  I love that in your latter years you have allowed yourself to express your love more outwardly.  The kids are loving you so much.  And I am so thankful they have such a loving grandpa, who gets on the ground and pretend plays that he is Hook, an alligator, and ninja, or whatever else my kids dream up.  I love you tons!

 This is my brother Josh.  We have become really good friends since we have both matured a bit.  He seriously is like one of my best friends.  He is always there for me, and we talk about everything.  I am such a proud older sister.  He started his wild land fire season again.   And it has been really fun to see how much effort and work he puts in to getting ready for the season.  He is so dedicated to reaching his goals.  He makes David and I laugh all the time.  You and David have become really good friends.  You go to the gym all the time together, and love to gang up on me and tease me.  You can make David and I laugh so hard that sometimes we cry. David always says how much you remind him of his brother.  He is sure the reason why you two haven't met yet is because the world couldn't handle you both in a room.  You love my kids, which naturally just makes me sooo Happy.  Viggo thinks you are so strong and looks up to you a lot.   I know you have so much to look forward to in your life, and I am so excited to see where your life's journey takes you next.... maybe to jumping out of planes as a smoke jumper :0)

(Ariana is always ready to blow out candles....even when they are not her own.)

 

Mother's Day

I don't know why but this Mother's Day felt out of control.  Maybe it was that David wasn't home, or that I find myself living at my Dad's house with everyone, or simply that I am now a mother of three.  But nonetheless it felt chaotic at home.  Ariana and Viggo both were having emotional breakdowns that morning, and my little Micah was teething.  So it was not the relaxing morning I had imagined for myself.  But in the end I sat back and realized that this is what makes me happy.  It's the one thing in my life that is constantly challenging me and making me strive to become a better person, mother, sister and wife.  In between their tyrannical terr-aids on Sunday morning, I found a moment of quiet that allowed me to appreciate and really realize how special my kids are to me.  As I started getting ready for church I put a video on for them, and the room went silent.  I could hear their little giggles, and Ariana and Viggo trying to soothe their little brother when he would begin to whine every now and then.  They would tell him how much they loved him, and then would proceed to go back to their comfy positions to continue watching their movie.  Once I let myself just be in the moment, I was able to appreciate the fact that I love being a mother.  I have a family of my own, and I get to take care after these three little munchkins, that have the ability to just make my heart melt ( and at times make me want to pull out my hair ;0) ).  By the way I got my first official mother's day card from my little girl. I mean an OFFICIAL one, one where she wrote it all on her own.  It was the BEST gift ever.  Her words touched my heart so much.  She is such a good little writer. I have to take a picture of it and post it.  Because, I never want to loose it!

I was able to capture my quiet moment on Mother's Day.  All three watching a movie.

Isn't Micah getting so big? Excuse the bed it was Sunday, and we like to spend as much time as possible in bed together on Sundays.

This is my mom with my baby.  I appreciate her so much more now, that I have my own kids.  She had six, I only have three.  I sometimes ask myself how she did it?  But she did, and I love her for it.  Happy Mother's Day mom!

Sneak Peek Wedding Shoot

I am so excited I think I can see light at the end of the tunnel. I am getting pretty close to finishing up some photos I took recently at a wedding.  I knew Katelyn when she was little so it was so fun to get to shoot her wedding. (Also made me feel really old :0) ) This was probably one of the most challenging I have EVER had.  The San Diego temple is so beautiful, but because it is so beautiful I have personally found it hard to capture just how gorgeous it is. Plus it is really hard to get the whole temple in while shooting people.  Then I had to contend with shooting in the middle of the day. Yup having to deal with harsh shadows dun dun dun.  As challenging as it was I really enjoyed rising up to the challenge.  I felt like I learned a lot on this shoot.  So here it is a sneak peek. I like to give a sneak peek, because I am not a girl who likes surprises, nor do I like to wait.  So, I just assume everyone else is like me, and would love to get a little taste of what is to come.  I just hope they will like them as much as I enjoyed shooting them.  Enjoy!