Christmas 09

As far as Christmas pictures go i know these aren't the stereotypical ones. No tree, or presents, or gift wrap. Just some pictures i took around Christmas before Jen and the kids left for Alaska.

This was probably Aaron's favorite present. He rode it around the hosue non-stop before they left.




Uh, no, that's not my smoke detector with the battery compartment obviously open and empty. Doh! At least Aaron is cute, right?

And here are some pictures of Ellie being all cute and drooly.

Gwyneth

I know, i know: you thought blogger had deactivated this blog due to a lack of activity. And yes, i also know that lately, every blogpost of mine has started like that. Sorry.
This is my beautiful little niece Gwyneth. By the way, if i spelled her name wrong it's Jen's fault.



Of course, these pictures were taken back in April (he he, sorry), so she's not really this little anymore - but she's still just as cute!



Marti, Gwyneth's mom, my (step) sister, had her birthday party yesterday and i wanted to blow up one of these shots for her gift. Unfortunately, a variety of computer/software problems (and, i'm sure, procrastination) prevented me from getting this accomplished in time.



So instead, i'm posting them here so Marti and Andrew can tell me which one/s they like best so i can get them printed.



In other news, if you haven't noticed by my lack of posts, it's been a busy summer. Trips, weddings, and life in general have done a pretty good job of keeping my busy. So it's not that i don't have any pictures to share, on the contrary, i have LOTS and LOTS of pictures to share, just very little time to actually choose my favorites and post them here.



However, i do think i'm (finally) starting to get caught up. Phew! So check back soon and i'll (hopefully) have some more pictures for your viewing pleasure! And don't forget, you can also always check my (lame) website for updates, i actually post pictures there very regularly.

More Birthdays...

Last weekend we got to celebrate Drew's birthday with his family and friends. I'm pretty sure they only meant to invite Jen and the kids, so to make up for being a birthday party crasher (hello, they had root beer floats, of course i was going to crash the party) i decided to snap some photos during the party. Plus i really wanted to test out my new lens: a Canon L series lens (i get the goosebumps just writing that): the Canon EF 70-200mm f/4.0 L IS USM. Uh, i'd appreciate if you did NOT do a price search on that particular lens though - i don't really want to get mugged for my lens. And yes, i did have to raise my prices to make up for that particular lens. But it's WORTH it! Well, at least i think so. (But i bet my clients will appreciate it too).
Here's the birthday boy himself, Drew, the captain of our airplane-themed party. Jen and I have known his parents since we were both beginning our families back in Taylorsville. His parents, i might add, did a GREAT job setting up the party, activities and refreshments (remember, root beer floats). And all the kids really seemed to have a great time.

This is Ana, Drew's little sister and i think is the cutest little girl! And she cracks me up too.

I don't actually remember who this is, but i thought he was pretty cute too.

Hey, i know him! He's cute too, the cutEST as a matter-of-fact! Although i'm not too sure about his pose or airplane throwing technique. And what the?! What is that circle sticker he's wearing? Everyone is wearing one. I wonder if that's how they got the party favors, no wonder i didn't get one. Dang sticker!

Here's the birthday boy again. And see, he's got one of those stickers too!

I know her too. Although according to Jen you wouldn't know it. Apparently she was displeased at the low volume of Anya pictures in my previous blogs. So look, here she is, i DO know her and i DO like her! And i'd like to add HER airplane throwing technique is VERY good.

And here's a cute dog who followed me around the party eating all the food i kept dropping on the floor. It beats sweeping.

Las Vegas: Joe & Grace's Birthday Party

We left Vegas just in time on Monday to get to my dad's place in time for Joe and Grace's combined birthday party. One of them was turning 1 and the other, i don't know. But i am fairly certain it was Grace who turned 1, but you can never be sure. And actually we weren't really "on time," everyone else was just late so it seemed like we were on time. But i'm glad we made it.
Grace was being hilarious, she was making the funniest faces. Of course, as soon as i got the camera out she stopped making those faces or at least she waited until after the shutter had closed to make the silly face, but she was cute anyway. I think this first one is the cutest one.

This is probably as close as i got to capturing the funny face in its latter stages.

I'm sure Joe will be flattered that this is the best picture i got of him. But i say, hey, it's his own fault.

And here's Grace enjoying one of her new birthday presents.

Happy Belated Birthday Joe and Grace!

Las Vegas: Random Portraits

Before leaving for Vegas i got a new camera and of course had to bring it with to try it out on unsuspecting family members (or are they suspecting by now? They probably should be). Anyway, here are some random portraits from Vegas, enjoy.
Yeah, i know, this isn't really a portrait. But i didn't know where else to put it. Emily decided it would be fun to go out to Red Rock and hike to what a week or so previously had been a really cool waterfall. Go figure by the time we got there the waterfall was more a watertrickle. No, not because it took us so long to hike there, just because it's Vegas and the temperatures had already been in the 80ies for long enough to dry it out. But it was a fun hike anyway.

Ah, my son. How i love that he won't hold still or make a real, non-squinting smile when i try to take a picture... Yeah, i'm just kidding. i don't love that all. i frequently ask myself, "self, why couldn't i have kids who actually like to be photographed enough to hold still for longer than two seconds and make a non-silly face?" Probably has something to do with the faces i made as a youth in similar pictures. Don't ask my mom. But he's cute anyway.




Here's Caden, he's super cute too. And look, that's a good smile with no squinty eyes. Caden was super cute the whole time we were down there. Always ready to cuddle or play, or just have fun. i miss him already.



i don't remember why he was crying, but i wanted to catch the little tear running down his cheek. (No, he was not crying because of me. Well actually, i don't remember, maybe he was).

These are some birthday portraits i took of Gavin. What a handsome little boy! And can you believe he actually held still for a few pictures?



Hey look, it's Jaxon! i thought these pictures were kind of funny. In the last one i can't tell if he looks mad. He wasn't, but the squintly little eye and squished cheek...


I know i should know her from somewhere... She's cute too.