A Day In Your Life Photo Blog

Can I Renew My Wedding Vows???!!

Okay..I had to quickly post this video that you must watch! I had seen part of it a few days ago on the news and a friend of mine (thanks Tracie) posted it on her blog. It truly made my day! I was teary eyed and smilin the whole time (sorry to all the customers at Starbucks!)...I want to run out and renew my wedding vows! No more of that walking down the aisle trying to contain my excitement..trying to walk slow when all I really wanted to do was run..or dance for that matter! Turn up the volume and enjoy!!!

The Craziest Tricked out Buses I Have Ever Seen!

Well..we made it! Guatemala here we are! I have to admit I had my reservations about going. I knew I was always going to go but seeing as we were taking our two oldest children and leaving the two youngest with my sister..well that made me a bit uneasy. I knew the babies were going to be in great hands. I guess these feelings just come with parenting. It is not just me I am responsible for but my children as well. I did however really want my children to experience another culture and another country. What a great experienced for them! And seeing as it was my first time in Guat I figured it would be so much fun to experience it together.  I really wanted to see it through their eyes.

Let me just start by saying that Guatemala is a FEAST for the eyes! Especially a photographers eyes! I don't even know where to begin so I will begin with the Chicken Bus.

 The chicken buses are one of the most colorful parts of this country. Come to find out..the chicken buses are modified and tricked out school buses from the U.S. They are privately owned. And by the looks of them they are the owners pride and joy! They are called chicken buses because the local people usually transport live animals via chicken bus! They all have names on the back of them and I was told that the men (yes it is mostly men) driving these buses sometimes put their girlfriends names on the back.

 Who really knows if this is true but let's just roll with it. So as we were leaving the airport in Guatemala City and heading into the hills toward Antigua I noticed these bright colorful brilliant buses passing us along the highway. They are driven at a speed that I am afraid of..especially when I am in a bus with too many passengers and driving along mountainous terrain. No thank You. The Guatemalan bus system is definitely a bit different from ours here in the states. There usually is someone hanging out the front door..and no, it is not a bus driver or anyone affiliated with the bus. Then as the bus stops.. the back door..you know the one usually saved for emergency exits here in the states? ..well that flies open and people jump off or on. It's true blue free entertainment.

 

They are so much fun to look at. I could not stop snapping photos of these colorful behemoths plowing their way through Guatemala.

Xootr Scooter!

I have to say when Jeff walked up to me and said.."well, I just ordered us some "adult scooters".. I had to laugh. Adult Scooters? They are called Xootr Scooters. He said they were a huge hit in New York City and we had two on the way! According to Jeff they are the Porsche of kick scooters! Just wait and see he told me. I shrugged it off. Well..they arrived!

 

And I LOVE it!! They are sooo much fun I can't even stand it! I will admit I was a bit apprehensive at first. I thought I would look goofy riding up and down the street with my husband on his and the kids on their little scooters. After I jumped on.. that apprehension went out the window! People..these are such a blast. They are easy as pie to ride. And they are perfect for going on rides with the kids. If you feel the urge you should really try one out. I dare ya!

Bye Bye Training Wheels!

Just the other day we arrived home from visiting family..it was late in the day..Sam my oldest (4) decided that it was time. Time to take the training wheels off! Jeff and I ran..grabbed the tools..and proceeded to take the training wheels off his bike.

There was this quiet confidence about Sam when he told us. He just knew..a lightbulb went off and wallah! As a parent that is when I know. There are so many times when I beat myself up trying to help my kids achieve certain milestones..I get frustrated when it doesn't work. Then I let it go. Sure enough, this is when the magic happens. I always look back and say to myself ..they will do it when they are ready. And they always do!

So Sam proceeded to balance himself and within about 15 minutes he was on his way!

 

 

Max hanging by Sam's side for support!

 

 

 

The look on his face was priceless  after he realized he was riding on 2 wheels.

 

 

Now that was not the end of it. If you didn't notice Max in the photo above scooting next to Sam..well..he couldn't stand it. That child grabbed his bike and asked us to take his training wheels off! I couldn't believe my eyes. I asked Max if he needed help over and over. He politely told me " no thank you" every single time. Sure enough..he nailed it! I realized this was one of the pros of having 2 children within a years time. They are motivating each other without knowing it! Max totally learned how to ride two wheels after he saw his brother doing it. I am so proud of my little doodles!

 

 

 

Hello Is Anyone There?

Okay.I am really trying hard to keep up with this blogging business. After entering into the world of photography I soon found out that having a blog was a big deal. After attending a workshop last year, held by a photographer I highly admire,I really learned that having a blog is essential to my success as a photographer..and it is! It keeps my followers up to date on photo shoots..ideas..thoughts, reflections, etc...so I have been filing away ideas and topics and photos and such...topics I can blog about. I tell myself.."yes..great idea..great topic....put that one down..they will love that!" And suddenly I stop and I have to laugh to myself because I am jotting down these topics as if I am about to present a speech to thousands of people..subscribers in my case. When ,in actuality, I am writing to really no one! Don't worry..I am definitely smiling as I write this..I am not going to close my computer and sit in the corner with my head in my hands. I suppose I am just having a difficult time with the fact that being new to the blogging world means that it will take some time for people to catch on. So I figure that the best approach is to write as if I am putting pen to paper and closing my journal...and maybe hoping someone finds it under my bed and reads it!?! It is definitely a state of mind. And I am trying desperately to get past my "who really reads this stuff" funk. Anyway......onto the next topic! Stay tuned!

First Communion Memories!!

I had the pleasure of taking photos for my niece Kelli's First Communion..so much fun and vey funny..funny because the memories that taking these pics brought back were priceless. First of all not much has changed since I had my First Communion! The veils are the same..the shoes and stockings are the same..I guess one of the major differences was that Kelli was playing with her iPod Touch  while getting dressed..I think I was maybe..maybe trying to talk on the phone..you know the phone..the one attached to the wall.. that had the cord that was stretched out from trying to hide while talking it? It was almsot like a cordless because the cord was soooo stretched out. And I certainly wasn't listening to my music on an iPod..but a "BoomBox". Anyway..it was a ton of fun seeing my niece go through the steps..Love You Kel Kel!

 

 

 

Who could forget the standard "First Communion Pose" ? I think my hands were this way permanately all day. I was in fear of not seeming "holy" enough if my hands were not clasped in prayer. Plus, I think I had been to church approximately once a day for what seemed like my entire life in order to prepare for the big day!

Do You Know Eliot?

So I am literally in tears..at least I was in tears about 10 minutes ago. If anyone caught Oprah this morning then you will know what I am talking about. The show was about children who miraculously beat the odds..Most were born with severe physical challenges. Most of them overcame these odds and are living and thriving. The last story was a story about Eliot Mooney . He was diagnosed with Trisomy 18 when his mom was six months pregnant. He was not supposed to survive. His father started writing letters to him when before he was born.. actually 2 months before he was born.

"Dear Eliot: Right now you are two months from being born," Matt wrote in one letter. "Doctors tell us that you won't likely make it to birth. Your mom and I are praying against that. We're praying for healing. We are praying for nothing less than a miracle. You're our first child, and the day of your birth couldn't come sooner."

Eliot passed away 99 days after birth. He was not supposed to make it past a few days.  His young, amazing parents fought the hard fight and won for a short period of time. They look at his short life as a blessing..a gift. He beat the odds.

After watching this amazing amazing video I was so moved..beyond words. My heart felt like it was being pulled from my chest. I thought about how absolutely incredibly lucky I am. I have four thriving healthy boys. When I look at what could have possibly gone wrong I think of how lucky I am. I am fortunate to have children that are growing, walking and talking. When I look st what can be taken from me in just the blink of an eye I thank God for all that I have and how absolutely precious it all is. There are no guarantees in this life. I try to remind myself of that everyday. Especially when I am feeling like I am the victim.

So please please please cherish what you have. Hug your children, your parents, your grandparents,your spouses, your significant others, your animals, your friends. Cherish them and cherish what they bring to your life. We never know how long we will have the extreme pleasure of their company.

Post It !!

I will admit..I am a post-it girl. I love them. My husband can't stand them. So..when I saw this fun little doodad at one of my favorite paper stores in the city.. I had to have it. Even Jeff loved it! They are made by a company called Schleeh. And they are a great alternative to the average everyday post it!

Stella Rose....!! Loving my lens!

Here are a few more pics from my shoot with Stella Rose..By the way ..I shot 99% of these shots with my 24-70 2.8..I took a workshop with Me Ra Koh this past winter and she said that if you can shoot with any lens ..get the 24-70 2.8! She called it a work horse! Said she could shoot a whole wedding with this lens! She was right. My 85mm lens was out of commission so I shot the entire session with my 24-70! She pulled through like a champ!

 

 

 

Baby Art !! Simply Beautiful ...!

I was just browsing through one of my fave sites and thought I had to share it here on my blog..This site just blows me away! Baby As Art is the name and I just love the things they do with these newborns! Their pics are amazing!