I'd like you to meet my friends Megan and Lily visiting all the way from the warmth of Maui Hawaii.
Megan, I had so much fun visiting with you! Can't beleive Lily is already one. She's beautiful! Next time you come, do you think you could bring some of that paradise sun with you?
I had a conversation with Jordan today, it went something like this...
jordan "Mom, I wanna go outside and play."
me "I'm sorry honey, it's too cold."
jordan (long sigh) "Can you put the snow back in the clouds so we don't have to take anymore pictures?"
I really don't want to put the camera away, but I do wish I could put the snow "back in the clouds" :)
January has been such a nice month for our family. It's been nice to take a break and slow down from the fast paced holliday season; a time to really slow down, re-adjust, and spend quality time with each other.
As much as I dislike the cold weather, there is an upside to staying inside all day. It helps get your creative juices flowing.. the things you come up with just so your kids won't get bored and want to turn on the TV yet again. (A mom can only take so much of Dora and Diego.. oh and don't even get me started on the wonder-pets song.) We spend countless hours making loooong train tracks (with dominos of course,) building forts, reading books, dancing in the kitchen, coloring (that is until Jordan decided to make our couch his masterpiece,) playing basketball with the laundry, and Jordan's favorite... eye spy with empty toilet paper rolls. As for Kinley, as long as she has visual contact with Jordan.. she's all smiles.
Oh yeah.. every now and then, the camera comes out to play too:) 
Lee and I were able to leave the kids with Nanna and Gumper for a few days this month so we could spend some time in Las Vegas, celebrating our fifth anniversary. Five years, it has definitely gone by quicker than I could have imagined.
In ways those five years have been harder and sweeter than we thought, providing us with more than we could have ever hoped for. I'm so lucky to have such a good husband. I don't know how many other wives would have been able to pull their husbands all over Las Vegas with a camera and tri-pod in stow. The best part, I don't think he uttered one word of complaint:) 
My beautiful friend Tiff delivered the sweetest baby girl over the Hollidays and I was lucky enough to be able to photograph her. This was my first newborn (Kinley doesn't count, I was too exhausted to really practice on her) that I have been able to shoot. It was wonderful. Every time you get to hold a brand new baby in your arms you forget how small and tender they really are. Everything is so new and perfect. She was absolutely beautiful!
And to all a good night!!
Just a quick post to wish you all a very Merry Christmas. Our house is filled to the brim with excitement. It's the first year that Jordan has really started to understand Christmas (the Christ child, Santa, Elves, Angels, Candy Canes, lights ect.) It's amazing how quickly a child can bring back the "magic" that was there when I was younger.
Hope the magic is there for you as well. Merry Christmas everyone!
I had the opportunity this week to shoot a family with two of the cutest daughters ever. Definitely made me wish Kinley had a sister (pretty sure she'll just have to settle with a brother for a couple of years!) Until then, I'll live vicariously through the fun families I get to meet. Hope you enjoy your peek, sorry it took me so long to get these posted. 
~remember to click on the horizontal pictures to view them larger
This was definitely the quickest session I have ever done. Keysha.. your family was so good to brave the freezing cold like they did. By the time we were finished I couldn't even get my finger to press the shutter anymore. Honestly five minutes into the session and I'm sure my own children would have been screaming, These little guys were such troopers. Thanks Keysha, hope you like them:)
For some reason some of the images look distorted when I upload to typepad.. make sure to click on them, to view them larger.
The week before Thanksgiving I had the chance to take Jordan and Kinley (unfortunately Lee got sick last minute and couldn't come with us) to Colorado with my family. My Dad's mom (Grandma Halls) turned 94 and we were able to go down to help her celebrate. Let me tell you... if I live to be 94 I hope to in as good a shape as she is. She's one heck of a firecracker, you'd better watch your back when she's around
. Jordan had the time of his life in Colorado... what boy wouldn't when you get to ride tractors and four wheelers all day long? One of the highlights of our trip was visiting the ranch where my dad grew up in Ouray. You'd be hard pressed to find a more beautiful place to live.
There is a beauty and reverence connected with that land for me, that I have yet to find anywhere else. Even though the homestead burned down a few years ago, it holds still holds wonderful memories. I was so grateful to be able to take Jordan and let him experience some of the things that I loved so much. Running through the fields (trying not to step on the cowpies,) playing cowboys and indians in the underpass, watching the deer, being chased by the bulls. Don't worry Jordan wasn't really being chased by the bulls.. that's something only I can lay claim too:) I'm pretty sure he's too young to remember most of these things, but it means something to me that I was able to take him there. I'm thinking we'll need to take a trip back again pretty soon, so Lee can come along too:)
This is for you Kellie.. cause a little bird told me you've been hitting refresh all day long:)
I had so much fun with you and your sweet little family in Park City. I'm So glad that I've been able to become friends with you and Keri.
For everyone else.. I have so much to catch up on, so check back for a couple of posts this week. Sure hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving:)
