About a week ago, I was given the opportunity to celebrate a friend’s 50th birthday party!  Doug turned 50 on Halloween.  You probably remember Doug from a special engagement session a few months ago.  Usually his birthday party is a held at home and the guests are in costume.  But this time was different.  Turning 50 is a big deal!  His partner, Dan organized a wonderful party.  Everyone was in cocktail attire and the party was in the screening room at the Hotel deLuxe in downtown Portland, Oregon.

I took photos during the party and boy was it a blast!

This photo was taken during the secret slideshow that was shown on the big screen.  It was so fun to see Doug throughout the years.

Friends & family came from near and far to celebrate with Doug.

Here’s the birthday boy, Doug partying up with friends!

Dan had his turn to get down on the dance floor too.  Man, those Container Store employees do know how to PARTY!

The snazzy birthday boy in is nice grey suit with his partner and party planner extraordinaire Dan.

Dan and Doug’s mommies watching the festivities.

Dan’s mom and dad.  So cute!

Did I mention that there were hot guys at this party.  Well, look there’s one right now!  I asked him to dance with me several times. 

And I danced with some of my funny, awesome buddies from the Container Store too.  Woohoo!

Good food, good friends, good music, good dancing!  Thanks Dan and Doug for having us and a very Happy Birthday to you again, Doug!  Wishing you 50 more awesome years!

Before Halloween, I talked to the girls extensively about what they’ll be dressed up as.  Malia wanted to be Ariel, The Little Mermaid, use the same dress she used on her fifth birthday earlier in the summer and she wanted me to color her hair red with that red powdery spray you can get at Sally Beauty Supply.  Jenna wanted to be Tinkerbell and use the same costume she wore on her birthday party when she turned two last year.  But, I wanted something different.  So I toted the girls over to Toys R Us and Target and found two identical costumes that just super adorable!  Behold… my Supergirls!

When I hear that answer from a toddler, I could tell it’s going to be a fantastic session.  This is little Keara.  She’s turning 3 very very soon and loves to giggle.  She has the cutest toothy smile and my goodness could a little redhead in pigtails be any cuter?  I think not.

Most of our time together was spent looking for birdies in the sky and making silly faces.

I just adore the colors in this jacket of hers.  It really brings out her bright blue eyes and red hair.

Isn’t her toothy grin just so cute!

She was having so much fun inspecting all the wonders of fall.  So I just let her.

Thank you Keara for spending a few minutes with me.  I enjoyed our walk around your neighborhood.  Can you do me a favor and teach my girls that they should always say “Sure!” to me? 

If you don’t already know, Jerry’s in the Air Force Reserves.  So once a month during a weekend, we drive up to Tacoma, Washington.  Sometimes we get lucky and stay at a hotel.  Sometimes that hotel has an awesome pool & spa.  Here are some pictures of my loves having fun.    I just adore them!

Malia J.  I need to remember to enroll her in swim classes again.  On this day she learned how to float on her back.

Sweet Jenna Bean.  She loves to swim and I’ll have enroll her in swim classes too.  But first, she needs to get rid of those pesky diapers!

They love using the spa more than the pool for some reason.  Haha.

Lia and her daddy.

Jenna and her daddy.

Tiffany received a gift certificate from her sweet cousin, Amy last Christmas and decided to use it on a nice fall day.  We took photos of her and her darling little girl, Claire.  Days before the session we were so worried about the weather.  The rain would not stop pouring.  I told Tiffany to just be prepared because the session can still go on.  Just bring Claire some little rainboots and a cute umbrella and we should be good to go!  Fast forward to the day of the session and the skies parted and gave us some sun.  Sun!  We were overjoyed and the session went off without a hitch.  Except for 3 white balloons flying into the sky way before we wanted them to.  But that’s okay.  I got more than enough cute photos of sweet little Claire!

See, isn’t she just adorable!

Claire and her gorgeous mommy, Tiffany.

Our favorite topic? Pizza!

We did end up breaking out the umbrella.  But not on the count of rain, just because Claire wanted to show off her twirling skills!

Capturing moments like this is EXACTLY why I just love my job!

Thank you thank you thank you again Tiffany and Claire for spending a wonderful fall afternoon with me!

It’s been three years since we’ve lost my mother.  I wish I could say it’s gotten easier.  It hasn’t.  I remember her daily.  Malia does too.  I look at my little girls and remember my mom’s face and her skin and her touch.  And most especially her smile.  This year on the anniversary of my mom’s death, as I stared at my girls, I saw a special glimmer in their eye.  I know that she’s still here with us.

I miss you mommy.  But I know you’re still here.  In my daughters.  You’re still here.

Can you believe it?  The year has just flown by and I have been blessed so much.  I’ve had the opportunity to meet so many new clients and I’m proud to show them off in the holiday card lineup for this year!  Just before I show you, I need to let you know that the year is almost fully booked.  Call, text, email, leave a comment or contact me via facebook or twitter to schedule your holiday special session today.  Okay so here are the cards!

A few days ago, one of my BFF’s and awesome fellow photog, jenifer johnston, set up a super sweet photo session for my two daughters.  She found Malia & Jenna the cutest skirts and orchestrated the cutest party ever.

Here are a few photos I took from that day!  Let’s hope you don’t get a cavity from the sweetness.

Ring pops make any kid happy. 

Jenna Bean looks so much like her late grandma Lulu here.

Malia J, my girl of many faces.

Yeah, she’s pretty cute.

She wouldn’t share any of those gumballs with me.

Checking out mommy’s fave, lemon drops!

Better make that appointment to the dentist stat!

Thanks jenifer for organizing this and for being such a wonderful friend to me and a wonderful auntie to my little girls.  We love you!

xoxox,

car

The next few days are going to be a whirlwind.  I’ll be spending the morning finalizing 2 galleries before noon.   After that, I’ll be taking Malia to a dental appointment.  Poor thing has such large teeth in a small mouth so cavities have been inevitable for her.  She receives her first filling tomorrow.  I hope to have my camera so I could capture her loopyness after she’s giving the nitrous oxide.  Haha!

After that, we’ll be waiting pretty close to the porch for a very super dee duper important present for a family that has had their heart broken this week and preparing the 4runner for a trip to Yakima.  We will be attending funeral services for a pretty awesome lady.  Her name is Cheryl Russell and she passed away on Sunday.  I remember my immediate shock when I received the news via a phone call from my cousin Dre.  I just talked to Cheryl the week earlier and I can not believe she’s gone to the higher heavens.

I’ve known Cheryl since around 2003.  She’s a wonderful mother to 4 beautiful children and 6 pretty sweet grandchildren.  She leaves behind a husband that simply adores her.  This past June, I photographed the wedding for her baby girl, Jennifer.  Cheryl, but I call her Mama Cheryl, was a treasure.  She was kind, sweet, always putting people before herself.  She had a smile that would light up the room.

Please pray for our safe travel to and from Yakima.  Jerry is still in Virginia for military training so it’ll be just me, the girls and baby sis, Faithe.  The viewing will be tomorrow afternoon and the funeral will be on Saturday morning.  And please say a prayer for her family and friends.  It’s sad to know that I have this loss in common with them but am very grateful that I’m able to be there this weekend to celebrate her life and the legacy she has left behind.

Here are a few photos that I took from the wedding in June of Cheryl.  Look at how beautiful she is.

Here’s Mama Cheryl painting her nails right before the ceremony.  She was busy helping everyone get ready and left this little detail and time to herself.  Isn’t she cute!

Mama Cheryl giving her baby girl, Jennifer once last hug right after she helped Jennifer get dressed for her big day.

Her hubby giving her a sweet glance.  You can tell he loved her SO much.

She will be missed dearly but the heavens above will be gaining an angel.  An angel filled with patience and love for others.  Mama Cheryl?  Please say “Hello” to my mommy, baby son and father-in-law, Cheryl.  We love you.  You will be missed dearly.

It’s official.  I WILL happily be traveling to Kauai every year from now on to visit my sister & her family plus sharing the “aloha” with other families there by giving them some fabulous photo sessions.  This is just my second year so far but by golly do I love it.  I get to see my fabulous middle sis, Frances, her baby munchkin, Mariana, her hubby Anson and his family.  The islanders are super nice and sweet and tiny, just like me! 

Now, here’s a sprinkling of sugar from my sessions there.  First up is Ayami, a senior from Waimea High School.  Such a cute smile and giggly spirit.

Another Waimea High School, Arlene.  A sweet quiet little thing but so friendly!

Next up, yup yup, another senior from Waimea High School, Chaslene!  This little lady was funny and hyper.  We couldn’t stop laughing the whole session!

Dayton was the first gentleman senior from Waimea High School I took photos of, he was super shy but eventually became much more relaxed when we walked onto the pier he often goes fishing at.

And one last one for this post.  This time it’s a sweet couple.  Maile & Terrence.  I took Terrence’s high school senior photos last year.  This year, it was Maile’s turn to do hers!  And we did have a little bit of a sweetheart session this time as well.  They shared with me Maile’s new promise ring.  Oh to be young and in love again!

Part two and three of the kauai sessions are coming up soon!