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IT'S RAINING...FINALLY! :)

I can't remember the last time it rained. I LOVE IT! Now if only it would snow! :) Chris and I were driving home today after visiting with Phyllis Lane and the other great people of Couture Books (more on that later) and I told him that I would love to do our family photos in the rain. Of course, he's giving me that look like, "you're crazy." So when we get home I grab the camera and tell him to get his glasses and come outside. He's such a good sport that he doesn't go out kicking and screaming. After spending about 3-5 minutes this is what I came up with. Awe...my husband is a supermodel. ;) (at least in my eyes.) This definitely makes up for the Halloween picks that I posted up of him. :)

We Survived...

Yes, we survived the Thanksgiving weekend. I don't think Chris or I picked up the camera once Thanksgiving day. He was too busy cooking and I was busy trying to relax, which I realized was kind of hard for me to do.
Chris didn't even ask me once to help cook. (I think that says a lot about my cooking when I do cook. hmmm?) These are all the images I have to show. Sorry. And don't let these cute faces fool you. They are full of energy, and complete LOUDNESS! As you may all know, we only have ONE child and he's loud as it is, but to add three more boys all around the same age is complete madness. Don't get me wrong, I love them. I love them a lot, but thank goodness Chris and I only agreed to have only two kids. I don't know how my sister does it, but she does, and she's a pro! I envy her. If she could have more kids she would. In a heart beat. And let's not forget the only little girl in the family. She's a cutie and so content with everything that happens around her. The only time you hear a peep out of her is when she wants to eat and even then she's not loud. :)
I hope you all a had a wonderful Thanksgiving!

Chris & Rebekah...

There is so much that I can say about these two...all good things of course.:) They are the two most kind hearted people. We have all become good friends since they met with us to inquire about photographing their wedding. Not only did we do their engagement shoot, we've done a boudoir shoot with Rebekah, then it was their beautiful wedding and then soon will come trashing the dress. :) Yippie!
Chris is graphic designer and was completely up for anything when we would suggest things. I LOVE IT! Rebekah, well...she kept saying she "trusts us." :) I LOVE IT!
Thanks guys for letting us be a part of your day. :)
Here are a few images from their wedding and of course their slideshow---> "click me"

Terah & Joel....and little Grace :)

We had such a great time hanging out with the Terah and Joel for their engagement session, and their wedding is TOMORROW! :)...exciting! Here are a few images from their session along with their sweet, precious, cute, adorable (I could go on and on) little Grace. I wanted to hold her the whole time, but Chris had this look on his face "put her down, Yes, I know you want another one, please put her down" :)
Be sure to check out their slidshow here --------> "CLICK ME!"

Blog Giveaway Contest!!!

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On the Personal Side.

Last Week I returned to my first home in Northern New Mexico, near the Four Corners. I dropped everything and left rather quicklly, you see I spent a large portion of my life(practicaly raised) with my grandmother and grandfather. My grandfather had passed when I was a teenager and at the time I lived in Wyoming and wasn't able to see him. So when I heard that my grandmother was very ill I left to return home. With fear lingering in the back of my mind I grabbed what I could, including my son and left. The six hour drive didn't help very much, having to much time to think can be a bit exhausting.

Before I left I had called the hospital where she was being treated. I spoke with the doctor Briefly and he had told me she had pnuemonia, was recovering but had been hospitalized for 4 days and was being released but would not share any other information about her condition over the phone. UGh!!!

I arrived at her home in the evening, my heart sunk when I saw her. She was absolutely exhausted and could barely speak. She had lost soo much weight, she had told me that she had just been in bed all day. I was absolutely floored that the hospital released her like this!! But she told me she was fine and she wanted to just stay home. I respected her wishes.

The next day, I couldn't believe it, She was up and walking around and seemed soo much better than the day before!! It seemed as though she wasn't even sick!! And she hadn't even picked up her meds from the pharmacy yet. My brother had come in the previous evening and our plan was just to spend as much time as possible with my grandmother and stock her up for the coming winter.

The next few days I found myself walking around the property and photographing the things that I've never really noticed before. Things that I knew had alot of meaning and value but things that as a child and a teenager I took for granted.

As a photographer I have the explicit privilge of capturing moments in people's lives. These moments are sometimes very personal and private, others they are full of joy and pride. These images that I create are deeply rooted in emotion and personal history, they are treasured by the people that I share them with. Often I find myself in a position that allows me safety because rarely do I share my personal memories with anyone other than my family. This blog is our chance at sharing some of the emotion and personal history in our lives. It gives people a chance to look at the things that we cherish and love. Behind the camera there is a human being, a story to be told. This is my story.







A few facts on my grandmother; she has 2 birthdays and 2 birth certificates. She grew up on the Navajo reservation before Social security numbers, or birth certificates were used (on the Rez). Her aunt who raised her said she was born around the same time the lambs were being born. She had come through the "old" boarding schools where they cut off your hair and made you speak only english. She could shoot a Coyote from 500 yds away. The things most important in her life is her family, land, and sheep. The Navajo Rugs that she makes are considered to be done in the "old way" and are rarely found these days. Everything in her rugs are hand crafted including the wool she spins from sheering her own sheep. She can live on less than $200 a month, and still have an abundance of food. She still tends her crops and her livestock. Shes worked all her life and refuses to rest! She and my grandfather refused a large uranium mine settlement because the believed the money would cause conflict among family members.

The Wii...
Yes, I gave in or as Chris would put it, I got "lucky" buying the Wii. It has been the hardest thing to come by. While Chris and Treston were gone over the weekend I found myself at Target at 8:00 in the morning. Why 8am? I'm still not sure. But for some weird reason I briskley walked over to the electronics to see by chance if they had it in and THEY DID?! WHAT?! PRESSURE! So of course I stood there trying to think of different reasons why we really don't need it...the cost...the additional games that would have to be bought...my husband's addiction...blah blah blah. But all I could see was how happy it would make Chris. He had a tough weekend and I'm sure this will somehow lift his spirits up. So I gave in, and as I sit here typing away, my lovely husband is in the other room playing the wii. :)...Addiction! But guess what? I was back at Target the next day, (yes I live there too) and they already sold out of 58 boxes!!!

Home Alone...
These past couple of days I have been home alone. What a quiet house it is. I've heard things that I haven't heard in a long time...quietness. It's kind of creepy if you ask me but then again peaceful. I've been able to take showers without a 2 year old waiting outside the door asking, "mommy, I want milk, mommy I want milk." I don't have a husband asking, "did you get this done, have you called so and so?"
Ahhh, what a quiet home it is, but I think I only enjoyed it the first day. Yes, I miss my boys. Treston called me 4 times today, and my heart sunk each time. I have 3 mores days to go. What ever shall I do besides edit a ton of engagements, weddings, and seniors?! And yes, I have been editing away! :) I've gotten a lot done. The husband will be proud ;)
Here's just a couple of random images I came across today. It made sad and happy all at once.

Happy Email...
It feels good when we get emails like this from our clients. :) It definitely helps us to recharge our batteries and makes us LOVE our job that much MORE!! Thanks Cindy. :)

"I wanted to take a minute to tell you what I was thinking. You and Chris are wonderful! Not just wonderful photographers but wonderful people. I was thinking how many brides, grooms, couples, etc..that you must have met with in the past. Still after doing this day in and day out, you managed to make us and our session feel special! You guys have so much energy, charisma and peronality. Your love for your job, your clients and each other is reflected in your work. I'm not great in front of a camera or in front of a lot of people. I was a little nervous but you and Chris made us feel at ease. Everything just flowed! It's nice that you and Chris are so easy going, funny and obviously caring. I love that taking pics with you and Chris felt like we were just haning out with a couple of friends. You were both so fun and able to make us laugh with your silly wit! You guys are a great team or should I say a great couple?"

Here's a sneak peek from your engagement session...because I know you check out our blog loyally. :)