Good Day!

When I am not slammed with editing or taking pictures I have these visions of things I want to take pictures of. When I get an idea in my head I can't stop thinking about it until I actually go take pictures of what it is I'm thinking about. About a year ago I took my couch out into the middle of a huge field for a maternity shoot just because I had a vision and thought it would be awesome. I am sure Toby didn't join in my enthusiasm when he had to help me load our couch into out yukon and go set it in the middle of a field. After the craziness of taking everyone and their dogs (literally) pictures through Christmas was over I felt like I could actually breath a little. Thats when the visions started coming again. I really wanted to do a shoot where I could incorporate my hair and makeup knowledge with my photography. So I started planning a little photo shoot. I got some models and invited some of my friends who are photographers and what started as a small little thing turned out to be a lot bigger then I had planned. We ended up with 6 photographers and 7 models. On saturday I started doing hair and makeup at 12:00 and then we did the photoshoot from 2:00 until 6:00. It was a really rainy, cold day but despite the weather everyone was awesome and had such a fun time. Some of the poor models were shaking because it was so cold but they still worked the camera and had great attitudes. When I was doing the hair and makeup before I was feeling a little rushed so I wasn't able to do everything exactly the way I had envisioned but its ok, I might just have to do it again soon.:)

These are a few pictures some of my friends shot throughout the day...

These are a few of the pictures that I have had time to edit. I have now started to get busy again and am having a hard time editing them all, so, the others will have to wait.

I wont grow up

Brooklyn has been taking tap and ballet this year and is loving it. The recital is coming up in a few months so its time for all the dance pictures. On Saturday Brooklyn had her tap pictures. She loved getting all done up and was so excited when I said she could have a little bit of makeup on. Her tap dance this year is to the song, "I wont grow up" They are dressed as little fairies and the two little boys in her class are dressed like peter pan.

Do it myself

Nikell LOVES doing things herself. When I go to help her with anything she say's "no mom, I can do it myself." I have been trying to teach her to take off her clothes and put them on. She has been doing pretty good, she usually only needs help with her shirts. She doesn't like putting them over her head because she says it's too dark. Well the other day I told her to go get her clothes on and off she went... then she came back with her hands in her pockets like this...

If you can't tell she put her sweater on upside down the hood is on her booty. Her pants were on the right way but totally twisted to the side.

Cute Bailey loves looking in to see what we are doing.:)

DISLIKE!

Do I have a sign on the back of my car that says, "Hey cops pull me over I have nothing better to do" ?? In the last 2 and a half weeks I have been pulled over THREE times, yes, THREE. Two of these was on the SAME DAY! I get that we need cops to fight crime or pull over drunk drivers or what not but there was a point somewhere between Elko and Utah that I started to really, really, really, dislike cops! Yes I admit the first time I got pulled over I was going 12 over, I will give him that one but then he asks me "is there any reason that I should have my dog come over and check your car for dope?" what is this world coming to when a cop asks a mom with two little girls in the backseat if she has drugs in her car. Really? do I look like someone who would have drugs in my car?? So if thats not enough I get pulled over an hour later. This time I was ticked!! My cruise control was set for 5 over and I had been driving super careful because I had seen a few other cops along the way. The stupid cop was sitting right after the speed limit went down 10 miles per hour because I was entering a city. I thought there is no freaking way this cop will give me a ticket he didn't even give me a chance to slow down after the speed limit changed. Did I get a ticket you ask? yes, he gave me a ticket after making me wait for him for 30 minutes while he took his sweet time writing it up.

Today I am driving home and right before I get off my exit I notice a cop at my side then he slows down and pulls behind me. Instantly flames are going on inside me! Seriously!! I was going the exact speed limit there is no reason I should be getting pulled over right now. So, I pull over into a gas station right off the exit and when the cop comes up to my window he asks me if I have had a little too much to drink tonight. "NO! I haven't! Do you want me to freaking walk the line or do a breathalyzer or whatever that thing is called? because at this point not much would surprise me". Needless to say I have anxiety now when I drive I kid you not, I am more of a danger now then I was before because I'm so freaking worried about getting pulled over again. So mad!

Leprechaun

Toby picked up Brooklyn from preschool on St. Patrick's day. I was so glad he got some pictures of our little leprechaun. She loves her preschool and is always asking me if it's Tuesday or Thursday, the day's she goes to school. She has two little friends at school that are sisters (Kiera and Kylie) and she tells me they are her best friends. I'm gong to have to get a few pictures of the three of them before the year is over. I am always impressed when Brooklyn comes home from school and shows me the things she has learned. We were at church the other day and I have a quiet book that has a she lace and a little shoe in it. She had been playing with it for a minute and when I looked over to see if she needed help she had tied a perfect bow. I couldn't believe it. I had no idea she had learned that at school. Hilarious! She has also learned how to zip a zipper which she thinks is pretty cool!

Nikell and is excited to start preschool this fall and tells me everyday when I drop Brooklyn off at school "mom I'm going to miss Shirley's class when I'm big". She also asks Brooklyn all the time how school was and she has remembered some of Brooklyn's friends names just by listening to Brooklyn talk about them so she will say, "Brooklyn was Joey a good boy today?" (Joey is the boy in class always causing mischief). Funny girl.

I have to point out Brooklyn's awesome socks. She really wanted to wear them on St. Patricks day, lol, at least they match!

Her Dreams

Brooklyn hasn't had bad dreams as much anymore which I am very thankful for. Every once in a while though I go in her room before I go to bed and she is talking in her sleep. I can tell she is definitely having some kind of a dream I'm just glad they aren't bad ones. As I was sitting on the computer editing pictures I overheard Brooklyn and Nikell talking while they were painting in the other room. Brooklyn said "guess what Nikell, I had a dream last night that Grandma was mad at me and she stuck me on top of the rooftop" Nikell goes "oh thats bad" Brooklyn then said "ya, but Grandma told me if I was good then she would let Rupunzel come and sit with me up there and that made me happy."

This made me laugh!

Brooklyn and Nikell have such a cute relationship. I love listening to them have their little conversations.

Pictures

While I was in Utah I was able to take a few pictures. My sweet little niece, Hadley was blessed while I was there so I took some pictures that day and then my sister in law, Anji asked me to take pictures of Jack and Ayden. Little Jack is so cute and it was so easy to capture his sweet personality. Ayden was adorable too, I love her little laugh she is always so happy and it was so fun to take her pictures!

Finishing up

One of the days we were in Utah I decided to drive up and see my parents in Logan. We aren't able to make it up there very often but when we do I am just amazed at the beauty of the place they live. It is so quiet up there it really gave me a chance to relax from all the craziness of the week. The girls had so much fun with Grandma and Grandpa and it was nice to hang out with them for the day. My mom really wanted us to stay the night so she made these cute pillows for the girls because I hadn't brought any of our stuff with us. The girls LOVE their pillows, and I promise mom, we will stay over night next time;). We also went to dinner with my Grandpa Branch. I haven't seen him in such a long time and it was so good to visit with him and give him a big hug!!

With all of the many people we needed to see and all the activities we were running to I didn't have very many opportunities to hang out with my friends, I feel like that is always the case. One of the days I was there my friend Kalli was able to meet me for lunch and then met us at the park later on I am so glad she was available because I haven't seen her in so long and it was so nice to be with her. I miss all of my friends and only with I could see them all more!

During the week I also spent a lot of time with my sister. I miss the time we used to have together when I would visit her in Washington. I love our talks and I love that she just gets me. I miss her more then I can say and was so glad she made time to be with me and my crazy kids.

I love and miss all of my family and friends and hope so much you all come visit us sometime so we can have more one on one time together without so much going on.

Kalli, my beautiful pregnant friend:)

Kai, Kallis darling little guy.

Family

While in Utah we hung out a lot with Toby's side of the family also. We went to a place called Pirate Island, the kids loved it and Brooklyn couldn't get enough of Taitum and Tess she followed them around pretty much the whole time. It was fun for me to have lunch with Jodi, Jamie, Jake and Tierani I miss them so much and was so glad we were able to all hang out together and talk! Later in the week we went bowling with the whole family. I seriously haven't been bowling since before we moved to California. The little kids beat my score, thats how bad I did.:)


On the weekend when Toby was with us we went up American Fork canyon and played in the snow. Our plan was to go Snowmobiling but we found out all the kids needed helmets so instead we just went sledding and used the snowmobiles to take us back up to the top of the hill. We had so much fun with Troy and Jodi and it was so fun to see Noah and Lou, LOVE them! I couldn't stop taking pictures of Lou Lou, she is seriously so dang sweet!!