C & E's adventure {San Jose, California, family photographer}

This past weekend I got to hang out with two fun boys and man did they make me work! I'm only use to girls and all things pink & purple but I LOOOVED my time with them. So much fun balled up into two sweet boys!!

Thank you C & E!

Cookies, lemonade and donating to the hungry

This past summer Early Bird wanted to have a lemonade stand. Unfortunately we weren't able to get around to doing it until a couple of weeks ago. Since we live on a cu-de-sac we don't have much foot traffic, however, our church definitely gets alot of foot traffic after the services so we decided to set up there instead!

I asked her what she wanted to do with the money and she said she wanted to donate it to the hungry. (She must get that from me ;).

So, we finally set up her stand after church service a couple of weeks ago and she did a GREAT job! A few days before we made a sign, Snicker doodles,  oatmeal and store-bought chocolate chip cookies (shhh! don't tell anyone the chocolate chip cookies weren't homemade!). 

She ended up making $134.50 and we did donate it to the hungry!

We had so much fun and loved getting to help those in need that we might make it a yearly event.

Also, that morning, before church service, we were the official greeters. She passed out the bulletins and I shook their hands. We made a great team and had alot of fun in the process!

monthly quote blog hop - october (san jose, california, family photographer}

It's time for October's edition of Monthly Quote Blog Hop

Any quote from Dr. Seuss has to be a good one, right?! Here's a classic.

"Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don't matter, and those who matter, don't mind." - Dr. Suess.

This particular quote reigns so true in our house hold right now. Trying to navigate the waters of parenting can be tricky for anybody. Throw in a very spirited, opinionated, social butterfly daughter and it becomes even more perilous. I want to give her what I didn't have growing up..... courage and self confidence in yourself. 

I was always (and still am to some degree) worried about what others thought of me. Do they think I'm nerdy? Is my question dumb? Do I look silly wearing this? Do I measure up to their standards? Etc, etc. The one thing I told myself when I had my daughter is that I want to teach her how to be confident in her choices, in HERSELF and not worry about what the world around her thinks. Because ultimately, those who matter don't mind!

So, I decided to step in front of the camera and, of course, show my daughter that I'm not afraid of what I look like or how others perceive me. That I can and AM confident in myself... and so should she!

We grabbed the handy remote, set up a backdrop and had a little fun. Are these pictures technically correct? NO! Could I have done a better job with the back drop? Yes! But, I stepped outside of my comfort zone and we did it together! And right now, that's all that matters! "Be who you are and say what you feel!"

Head over to Tami Siriani's fabulous blog and see her interpretation of Dr. Seuss.

hawaii-the big island vacation {san jose, california, family photographer}

Last week was my bday (Holla!) and for a very special treat the family and I went to the Big Island of Hawaii, also known as.... Hawaii. And we quickly realized why it's called The. Big. Island. Because.... it takes 3 + hours to drive across.... in lava fields. At one point Early Bird said it looked like Texas and as I looked around at the miles of small black and gray rocks, also known as lava there, and the short, dry scrub brush, it actually did remind me of the west Texas that I grew up in. However, I promised Early Bird that this wasn't ALL Hawaii had to offer.

Luckily it got more lush for her... and the hubby and I as well! And after a day or two Early Bird warmed up to Hawaii! The only two things she requested before we left were to play at the beach and go to a luau. I'm glad to report both those things were checked off her Hawaii Bucket List!

I'm also happy to say that I had a great birthday!!