Archive for the ‘my life’ Category

twelve years

June 26, 2010

Sixteen years together. Twelve years since we have said our vows.  We have experienced so much together.  Laughter, tears, loss, joy, promise, hope.  I can not imagine my life without him.  He is everything to me.

It feels like springtime in winter
It feels like Christmas in June
It feels like heaven has opened up
its gates for me and you

And every time I close my eyes
I thank the Lord that I’ve got you
And you’ve got me too

And every time I think of it
I pinch myself ’cause I don’t believe it’s true
That someone like you loves me too

I think that you’re truly something
Yes, you are, and you’re every bit of a dream come true
With you baby, it never rains and it’s no wonder
The sun always shines when I’m near you
It’s just a blessing that I have found somebody like you

Happy Anniversary to my Jerry.  In the words of our 3 year old, Jenna, “I love you more than yesterday.  I love you more than chocolate chip pancakes.”

Thank you to most lovely, amazing and good gracious gorgeous Jenny O’Donnell for taking these wonderful photos of me and my love.  For those couples that haven’t had their photos done in FOREVER, what are you waiting for?  Take those photos now.  Those moments are fleeting.  Don’t wait until you lose a few more pounds, until you have enough money, until the weather gets better.  Document your LOVE now.

I know I say this all the time but, where did the time go?

This last weekend, we celebrated Memorial Day & your birthday at the beach.  Your ultimate favorite place to be, well other than playgrounds.

You flashed me your biggest and most adorable smiles before we headed out.

You ran up and down a monstrous sand dune at Cape Kiwanda & splashed in the 50 degree waters while looking for sea anemones & starfish.

You happily watched outside your window as we drove the loopiest & longest way home.  “This is such a fun trip!” you exclaimed.  And I started to see your talent ooze during out venture into the woods.  “I don’t need to be carried and you don’t need to wait for me, I’m a photographer!”

Happy SIXTH Birthday Malia Janelle!  I can’t imagine my life without you.  I adore you and will love you until the end of time.

Such a tease

May 29, 2010

Oh dear Oregon. Give us a break this Memorial Day weekend pretty please? Look at the Kauai & Guam weather forecasts causing you shame. :)

Fancy Nancy party!

May 4, 2010

Our awesome neighborhood library threw a “Fancy Nancy” party the other day and the girls were so excited about it!  They dressed up, Malia in Little Mermaid of course and Jenna picked a ladybug costume.  We added a ton of accessories like necklaces, bracelets & rings.  But we didn’t forget the stunna shades!  We arrived on time and the room was filled with little girls and boy dressed up in their fanciest!  The girls colored some pictures of Fancy Nancy, got a pretty flower temporary tattoo put on her hand, made a beautiful butterfly with coffee filters and pipe cleaners, created a pencil with a plume (that’s a fancy word for feather) and finally had a parfait (that’s a fancy word for an ice cream sundae) that they ate with their fingertips.  Here’s a photo (taken with the iphone) of the girls in their most fancy iridescent, positively radiant outfits!

They will indeed be looking forward to the next “Fancy Nancy” party next year!

I’m real.

March 21, 2010

I’m not perfect.  I make mistakes.  I feel guilty.  I am human.  I’ve had a hard life.  I’ve had a great life.  I’ve hurt people’s feelings unintentionally.  I’m sorry for that.  I’ve made people laugh uncontrollably.  I’d love to do that again.  This is my life.

Let me let you in on a secret about me.  I’m real.  Things haven’t been the same for me the past couple years.  It might have been everything leading up to this that has caused it.  Sickness, death, life, pain, sorrow.  All of it.  It’s made me a different person inside.  I used to blog a lot.  I used to laugh a lot.  I used to get up from bed happy and sprightly.  But a lot has changed.  I’m fighting that bad feeling.  Not fighting change because that’s what’s made me, me.  I just need to look forward, be happy with what God gives me.  Even if it is bad, because it teaches me lessons and that life needs lessons.  Good, because it teaches me to live life to the fullest.

If you’re still with me, I thank you.  I thank you for following me on my journey.

Every year, we make it a tradition to go down to the downtown waterfront to take photos at the cherry blossoms.  I thank God for the blossoms, for the beautiful city, for my wonderful family.  Spring is here to tell us that it’s time to grow again.  To spread your wings and fly and make life worth living.

Is that spring coming?

February 25, 2010

The weather is starting to warm up, the sun is out longer & the flowers are starting to bloom!  I brought the girls out to a park this afternoon and the field was filled with yellow blooms.  Here are a few that I took of the girls.  :)

Oh and just to note, a great friend of mine, Andrea R. was able to resurrect my old blog posts from waaaaay back.  So please excuse the mess if you are heading back to my earlier posts.  There seems to be a \ or a / next to any apostrophe or quotation mark that was made.  I’ll hopefully have some time in the future to fix all that up.  :)   Thank you Andrea.  You are amazing.

16 years ago, I was attending the University of Guam.  I was working on getting my degree to become a middle/high school science teacher.  It was my second semester and I was determined to finish up my general requirements first.  A class called “Culture and Education in Guam” opened up.  It was just a trial course but it did satisfy as a general course.  So I took it.  Fast forward to the first day of class.  It was in a room in the university library.  Air conditioned and I was bummed I forgot to bring a jacket or light sweater.  The tables were formed into a big U shape.  I took my seat.  Our instructor, when through the syllabus and then we were put into groups.  He was in my group.  Let’s fast forward a couple weeks.  He decided to call me one night.  To ask if we had any homework.  I was perplexed.  We’ve never been assigned homework in this class.  Hmmm.  We ended up talking a lot the next couple days.  We shared information about our likes, our dislikes, our dreams and aspirations, our family, our friends.  He asked me to marry him two weeks later.  No really.  We were on the phone in the early morning and he just asked.  I said, “Yes.”  We married 4 years later.  Now here we are.  Our life hasn’t been all roses & smiles.  There have been some very difficult times.  But we’re still here.  It’s made us stronger.  It’s made us love each other more.  It’s made us cherish our lives together.14 years ago today...Taken when we were still dating.

10 YEARS BABY! Taken two years ago on our 10th wedding anniversary.

I attended the Sandy Puc Family Tour last night and was once again pleasantly happy as I drove home.  This is my third seminar.  I attended the Bellies & Babies tour two years ago and the Tots to Teens tour last year.  Every year, I leave with a wealth of information & inspiration.   Last night was no exception.  I left knowing what I’m doing.  What I’m put here to do.  What my role as a photographer is.  It’s to capture memories.  Freeze a moment in time.  I need to remind my clients & friends that THIS IS IMPORTANT.  You don’t purchase the paper the photo is on.  You purchase the memory printed onto it.  And I thank you.  I thank you for allowing me into your lives.  For allowing me to do what I love.

MLP_2814web all smiles MLP_0354web smoochin' in the background tender kisses the b family for moments like this it was THAT fun

Thank you.

She’s officially old…

February 19, 2010

but still as hot as can be!

Just wanted to wish one of my BFF’s Emily of emily g photography a very very very happiest of birthdays today.  In a few days she’ll be adding another sweet thing to her brood.  A great week for her indeed.  Another decade older & the arrival of Griffin soon!

Here’s some photos I’d like to share of my sweet friend, her family and her belly.  :)

From our photo swap back in October last year…

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I adore her family so.

And from her maternity session taken December of last year…

The lady is stunning inside and out. I’m honored to call her my friend.

Happy Birthday Em. You are loved.

My poor baby Bean

February 14, 2010

My youngest sweetest girl has been admitted into the hospital for the second time in her short 3 year 3 month life.

The first time she doesn’t really remember. It was the day after we were released from the hospital. I delivered her via c-section just 5 days prior and she was jaundiced. That stay lasted less than 2 days. She was a very compliant little baby girl.

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This time she’s in because she has pneumonia caused by RSV. She started really not feeling well on Thursday. She was seen in urgent care & they did the chest xrays & blood draws. We went home with the pneumonia diagnosis and possible UTI. They prescribed Tylenol for her fever and amoxicillin/augmentin for the pneumonia. Fast forward to this morning. She still isn’t doing well. Not keeping her fluids down including her medicines. She wasn’t sleeping well because her cough would wake her up. Her fever was still high. So the doc decided to admit her.

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The IV placement was difficult. She cried a lot but was tired enough that she couldn’t fight. Right now they’re giving her strong antibiotics and the Tylenol/ibuprofen combo for her fever. Were also doing chest percussion treatments to loosen the yuckies on her lungs. Poor thing has to wear diapers again because she can’t control her peeps and poops. She hates it.

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She was extremely sad and crying when she found out her daddy & Lia had to go home.  She kept crying “I want my daddy and sissy.  I want to go home too.  I’m all better.”  Breaks my heart.

The machine for oxygen saturation keeps beeping because her level keeps dipping below 91%. They might give her oxygen later if this keeps up.  She’s tried to pull her IV out 5 times already while in deep sleep.  I guess this momma isn’t going to sleep any time soon.

The doc says she may be released Monday but most likely Tuesday. I’m so happy she’s in good hands. The Lord is watching over her and a ton of people are praying for her quick recovery.