Wow. Where has the last month gone? Or the year, for that matter? My blogging has been pathetic lately. Pathetic.

It has just been kind of a whirlwind. You know, Lucas' birthday, then Thanksgiving, then the rest was just a blur. As my sister so eloquently put it, I was thrust into the Holiday Vortex. It was a good vortex, though. We were super busy filling photo orders and just trying to stay caught up. Holiday gifts for clients, unveilings, you name it, we did it. I am just now getting to the piles on my desk that I guess I was somehow hoping they would just take care of themselves. No such luck.

But its all good. And I'm back blogging a bit!

Lucas' Party

Well, it's only a week later, and I'm just finding time to post photos from Lucas' Birthday party last weekend (can you see a pattern, here?!). Life gets in the way, and that's ok.


We had a fun time celebrating with family and a few of Lucas' friends. Auntie came all the way from Gunnison! Lucas got some super nice toys, books, money, and the game of Trouble. We have been playing that a lot as a family (Ethan likes to pop the little dome thingy).


Lucas has been really into pirates lately, so he wanted to have a pirate party. We found him a great little pirate do rag, an eye patch and hoop pirate earrings. Then he decided not to wear any of it for his party. So, I didn't get any pictures of him in his getup. But we did have a great pirate cake. Lucas and I made this ship model and painted it. Gil drew the jolly roger flag and added the cannons along the sides. Pretty cool, huh?

Gotta love Lucas' reaction to everyone singing Happy Birthday to him! So cute!

Ethan got a little blowing-out-the-candle action, too!

The Birthday Boy

Well, I couldn't find time yesterday to post, but it was my big boy's 5th Birthday! Sweet little Lukie is growing up so fast, and there is nothing I can do to slow it down. It seems like just yesterday I was in labor, spending that very long day at Aspen Valley Hospital.


Lucas has so many characteristics that it is hard to put them all into words. He is sensitive and fragile, tender and loving. He loves his mommy like no other. He adores his little brother, but gets very frustrated when Ethan plays with his things. He desperately wants a baby sister. He loves to take walks, push the cart at the grocery store, and make wooden models. He used the phrase "on the other hand" yesterday. And used it correctly. He loves to pray and sing lullabies at bed time. He has memorized Psalm 23. In the King James Version. He is teaching me how to play Risk.

He is still so little yet so big. I've been keeping a book of "Lukieisms" since he could talk, and it is so much fun to go back and read them.


He is spending the night with his Grandma in Marble tonight for the first time. Just the two of them! They are going to do crafts, make jewelry and watch movies. Gil and I joke that he is our little girl, but I am so thankful that he is so sensitive. I know that he will grow up to be a loving, sensitive man, and that is so important.


He was having a hard time grasping that yesterday was actually his Birthday, because we aren't having his party until Saturday. He told me yesterday morning that it couldn't really be his Birthday because we weren't having a cake or anything. So, of course, I picked up a box cake (what a terrible mom) and we made him a crumb cake last night and decorated it with his new pirate Lego's that he got. He was very pleased!

Happy Birthday, my little man! We love you so much!

Catherine

I've known Catherine since she was a tiny baby, but I hadn't seen her in many years. Wow. What a beautiful young lady she has become. I love her soft smile and gorgeous eyes. Thanks, Catherine, for a great session on a beautiful fall day. Enjoy your sneak peek!

And The Winner Is...

Bobby!!! Congratulations to the Delaplanes, the runaway winners of our October Photo Contest! It was neck-and-neck there for a while! Thanks to all who participated, and thanks to all who voted. Your comments were thoughtful. Twenty five custom Holiday cards comin' your way! Yay!

October Photo Contest

It's time for our monthly photo contest!!! Everyone in this contest had sessions with us in the month of October.

Here are the rules:

- I choose one favorite image from each session

- You must leave a comment on THIS post to cast your vote - no emails! Leave a comment with the number corresponding to the photo you want to vote for and WHY you are voting for them.

- You may only vote ONCE.

- Anonymous votes DO NOT COUNT and will be deleted!

- Please spread the word however you would like in order to get votes on your photo! Anyone can vote!

- Contest is open for voting until midnight Tuesday (November 3rd)

- Winners will be announced on Wednesday

The winner will recieve 25 free 5x7 folded Holiday Cards!!

So here they are:

#1 - Laura & Ella

#2 - Ryan

#3 - Baby Turner

#4 - Delgadillo Family

#5 - Catherine

#6 - Samson

#7 - Camp Family

#8 - Bobby

#9 - Glenn Family

#10 - Don & Diana

OK! There it is! Now get to votin'!!! Good luck to all!

Massie Family

I love my job. Really. I love working with sweet families and capturing precious moments for them. It's sessions like the one I had with the Massie Family that keep me coming back for more.

It helps a lot that Samson is one of the cutest little boys I've ever seen. What a sweet little man! He is only two weeks older than Ethan, so I'm quite familiar with this age. And he was perfect! He played with his trucks in the leaves and hammed it up for the camera. It was cold, too, and he was a trooper. He didn't care - he just loved being outside playing.

And Mom and Dad were perfect, too. I love sessions where I have to give very little direction. They just played and interacted and we got some great shots.

LOVE his hair!

Can't you just hear the truck noises that Nick is making?!

I love this little sequence of photos. We decided to put Mom and Dad in the background as Samson was playing. Well, he figured out real quick where they were. And I just love the expressions! They were saying that his face was so cute, but I love their faces as they interact with him. So cute!

I actually had to ask Nick not to toss Samson so high in the air - he was going out of the top of the frame! He was loving it, though!

Thanks, Nick, Jessica and Samson, for a wonderful session! Enjoy your sneak peek!

Delgadillo Family

There's something about families that make them so enjoyable to photograph. Especially families like the Delgadillo family. First of all, they are super beautiful! Second, they are an extrememly close family. I had never met them before, but I could tell they are really close just in the short time that we spent together. Actually, I could tell that in the first 5 minutes! Seriously. It is so neat to see families that outwardly show love and affection to each other, especially when the kids show it. I was most impressed with Cristian, who is a Freshman in high school. What teenager outwardly shows love to his family? I mean, come on!

Thank you, Mario, Susie, Cristian, Stephanie and Ryan, for a wonderful session on a crisp fall day. Oh - and thanks to you too, Chanel!


This isn't the most technically correct photograph, but I love it! The action, the smiles, all of it!

We promised Ryan that he could jump on the trampoline if he was a good boy for the portraits, and man, did he deliver! Way to go, little man!