15 Minute Photo Session

Every now and then I like to pick up my camera and turn it on my own kids. Of course I have no patience with my own kids. Other kids, I can photograph all day whether they cooperate or not! So anyway, since they were already dressed that day for Valentine's Day I took advantage. We went in the backyard to "play" and I started snapping away. The lighting was terrible for me to just take candids. (Yes you nee good lighting to compensate for camera speed etc. when kids are on the go) so I had to make sure they were standing in just the right spot. Did they want to? Of course not!!! Did I make them? Of course I did. So instead of showing you ALL the good ones (to make you think that its easy to get kids to cooperate) I will show you the truth! Hahahahah

Now individually they do pretty good! Lainey will ham it up a longer than Mayley, hence the extra pictures of Bug. 

         

         

Now this is where the real fun begins! As soon as I sit them down next to each other this is what tends to unfold. I think the pictures will speak for themselves! One word, GIRLS!!!

Happy Valentine's Day!

With photography, the photography blog, editing, accounting, family life, sports, etc. I tend to neglect my own personal blog here.

The kids are watching Mini's Bowtique downstairs and I snuck away with my coffee in hand to the office. Seriously though, I hardly drink the coffee. It makes my stomach hurt but it makes me feel like an adult for a minute. hahahahahah

I really wanted to send out actual V-Day cards again this year but time has slipped away. My very good friend Heather of (Heather K. Photography) was so kind to photograph my two girls as part of her Mini shoots. I rarely get to photograph them (well rare for a photographer) so I jumped at this chance.

I spent and hour at Hobby Lobby buying up the tool, feathers, hearts and anything that had glitter on it. Oh yes! I wanted...no I needed to have a girly shoot for once. I spent a few hours making them these oh so cute tutu halter dresses and the rest is history!!

Before I share their photos I will give you a little update on my girls.

We are currently researching schools since Mayley will be starting Kindergarten this year! I can't believe it! She is still very much into her swim class. I can't wait to start her on a swim team. She still loves, cars, dragons, planes, and wants to be an Olympic swimmer and a pilot one day. She is extremely smart, loves to explore and play outside, and rid her bike. She even took her first snowboard lesson this year and loved it! She is a natural!  Her latest favorite thing to do is play in her room with Lainey and blast the radio. I guess they created a dance party club in there.

Lainey is into everything! she loves loves loves to dance, walk around in high heels, scream, piss off her big sister, through stuff, anything Mini, play outside, eat sweets and green beans (I know, odd), she talks very well for her age,  and is sweet as pie. She is such a snuggle bug and a mommy monster!

Seriously can't thank you enough Heather for capturing my girls just the way they are! If anyone needs a photo shoot (and of course I am unavailable! Hahahahha) check her out www.heatherkphotography.net

Also, My other very good friend Juiselle and I are beginning a new company making custom tutus, tutus halters and other fun things. Let me know if you need something frilly, fun, and girly! perfect for photos!!

And of course I would never leave out Ashley Adams of http://ittybittybands.com who makes al the beautiful head bands that I use. Photographers all over the country come to her for custom pieces. She is so talented in her craft!

Part of My Soul

http://acallihanphotography.blogspot.com/2013/01/parts-of-my-soul.html

Lainey's first job!

Yup I put her to work! Why not? LOL Well sort of. Lainey got to model for the new Fall/Winter Pedi Ped catalogue. Our good friend told us they were looking for baby girls around her age so I sent inher photo and babe she got the job. There was no guarantee to make in the catalogue but she did! She also has a big picture up in the store. She did so good she got her own page spread :) That a girl!!! I'm so proud of my little babe! You can find it in stores or online soon at the pediped site.

Happy 4th Birthday Moo!

I seriously cannot even begin to tell you how fast this last four years has gone by. We officially have a four year old!! What??? And wow has she grown. I'll cut to the chase from  my normal sentimental build up through miles of paragraphs to draw you in.

She started pre-school this year. She goes three days a week for three hours. She absolutely loves it. Last year she went twice a week so she was excited to get an extra day. Everyday she come home she is talking about something new...the moon, China, caterpillars, healthy food, dragons, you name it she probably knows it! Just like her father :) She is so smart and has an amazing memory.

At her last dr. appointment she got four shots and cried :( and Lainey cried out of sympathy for her and then received three shots herself. Not a fun day. But it turns out she is in the 50% for height and weight.
Healthy and happy!

Mayley has had a very big 2nd and 3rd year! She became a big sister and had to get used to the shared attention. But she has been a very loving and helpful big girl. She got potty trained, learned to do almost everything on her own, memorized about every book she owns which is a lot considering I was a teacher, she enjoyed ballet/tap class as well as hip hop. She started swim class and officially wants to be an olympic diver when she grows up and a part time dragon. Here are a few photos of her being 3.

And then there was her 4th birthday! This is where mom wipes tears away. I asked her this year what kind of party she would like to have and she very confidently said, " I want an olympic party!"Well of course she would say that. She had been glued to the TV during the olympics day dreaming of being a diver. So naturally we threw her an olympic themed party. 

Note to self! Don't buy red or blue cupcakes=big mess!

Mayley got her wish! She wanted a bike with a carriage on the back sooooo bad. She loves it! We go for bike rides every day and she is getting so good at it. She stops at stop signs to look both ways and won't get on her bike without her helmet :) 

Thank you cousin Bayleigh for shoving this cupcake so far up my nose I was blowing blue snot out the next day :) 

We did our best to get that one family picture. 

Four generations of wonderful women. Me, my grandma, my mom and my two girls. :) So lucky to have these ladies in my life. 

I could share pictures for days since well I have a million of them. But I just wanted to give a quick update on Mayley turning four. She had the best time at her party! 

As for the rest of us...I have been very busy with photography and am loving it so much. When I am not doing that on the weekends I am enjoying my time at home with my girls and trying to be the best mom I can be. That means occasionally I hide in the corner with a cocktail and chocolate bar in my hand. ;) I have also been training again for a few races I have coming up and I am really excited about them. Brad and I are doing the Tough Mudder and then I will be doing the Ragnar a month after that. 

Lainey is almost 1.5 now and is everywhere and into everything. up and down the stairs and into all her sisters fun toys. She is such a snuggle bug and loves to dance and throw wet wipes everywhere. She isn't a huge eater but loves her milk. Her last weigh in she in the 10% for weight and 90th for height! Long and skinny she is. She says, kitty, mom, dad, sissy, wow, eat, milk, more, no, hi, bye, bebe (the cat), bob (its a character in her favorite book), peepee, ugh oh, ouch, bath, I think that's it. I'm sure she says more. She has her 10 teeth, takes one nap, and enjoys the Mickey Mouse Club house, goldfish, books, music, snuggling, and harassing the cat. she is going to be taking a mommy and me swim class pretty soon while Mayley does her big girl swim class. 

Brad is still working and working hard as usual. He golfs when he can and hits up the gym at night and then we both lie on the floor together complaining of our aches and thinking we are only 30 something! Well not me...yet. LOL 

But hey over all we are doing well! We are all healthy and happy and are enjoying our time together as a family and those fun moments we get with friends and an occasional night out alone. There are some big changes on the horizon so stay tuned as I will do my best to keep up with this blog, aside from my photography blog, photography, running, cooking, cleaning, mothering, wifing, editing, daughtering, chauffeuring, friending, and occasionally melt downing hahahahahha.