A few of my favorite pics....

I have literally taken thousands of pictures in the past month. These are a few of my favorite images. It's probably time I just started a separate blog devoted to photography...but you know what...I don't have time for that, and I don't really want to.

It's been a very fun month. We had so much fun in Utah visiting family, and I am so grateful for the opportunity to photograph my nieces wedding. It was so fun! Thank you for trusting me with your special day Lexi :)

April and May were VERY BUSY picture taking months. So much so, that I want to throw the computer out the window and maybe let my camera collect a little dust. Notice how few pictures I have of my own family...Time to take a step back and thoroughly enjoy my kids this summer. Speaking of which ONE MORE DAY UNTIL SUMMER BREAK!!!!!!!WOOOO HOOOOOO! I was just called as Bear leader. I'm pretty excited to get to be so active in cubs with Noah. Not sure if he shares the sentiment...Jared was called to be Deacon advisor and he is loving it.

Jared just returned home from a week in Wisconsin. I surprised him with a fun stay at Starr Pass. We thought about getting the kids in the morning to swim, but soon decided relaxing by the pool listening to a Hopi flute player mixed with the sound of morning doves was a moment that probably wouldn't be duplicated anytime soon. Speaking of pools... I would really like one.

So, Happy Summer everyone!
Thank you Belli's for opening your home to us! We love you!!

I love this girl! I shot her engagement, wedding, baby, Christmas, and now maternity pictures. She got up at the crack of dawn with toddler in tow...and it was cold outside.

What's not to love about Mariachi's?

I had a alot more images from this wedding shoot-but these are my favorites.

This kid is amazing. Full ride scholarship, and was just baptized. I wished the shot with the train cart advertisement saying Building America in the background would have come out. This young man represents so many amazing youth that make our country so strong.

My Dad. I love watching him play with the grand kids.

Bradeigh and Grace....So cute.

Noah, surprised with a pair of hamsters from his sister right after getting home from Father and Son camp out.

Maddie and Kat...Almost all grown up...

Lexi...

This is probably my favorite picture from her bridals. I love the movement of her dress.

Super Terrific Amazing Incredible Wonderful Week! x TWO

It's been a pretty great two weeks. Last week was the kids Spring Break. We stayed in Tucson and just hung out together. Jared took the week off and we hiked Sombrero Peak with some friends. I was so proud of Hannah and Noah, they are never afraid to try hard things. I love that they can look at the summit everyday and know they reached the top. We have had a couple really great FHE lessons lately about working hard and not squandering the gifts Heavenly Father has given us. We specifically were studying the parable of the talents. We have read it several times together, but this time it was different. Hannah and Noah really took to the lesson. When I asked for their thoughts Noah's really touched me. He said, "It's like the difference between having a job and being able to create jobs." I think I just may remind him of that inspiration when he wants to shirk from putting a 100% into his homework. :) We had a wonderful week together, and it was hard to let it go.

This past week Malea's children were on their Spring Break and they came to Tucson to share part of it with us. We had such a wonderful time having them. The highlight was when we took the kids to Sabino Canyon. When we arrived, I realized I forgot to pack the stroller and carrier. It was a really warm day. so we decided to treat ourselves to taking the tram. What a blessing!!! We ended up taking the tram all the way up and getting off on stop 9. Stop 9 is very special. Besides it ample opportunities for swimming and exploration, it's where Malea and I spent many youth outings together. The kids had an amazing time. James Malea's son who is between Hannah and Noah's age caught a Blackneck Garter Snake. They played with this snake for hours. Hiked with it, swam with it, and of course begged us to take it home. All was well until we spotted another one. A group of lets just say uppity women started screaming at our children to stop pulling on the snake-they were going to hurt it, and an animal was a living thing etc etc.... I replied they were not hurting the snake, and to stop yelling, everything is fine. Despite our annoying encounter, we continued to have a great time and ended the day at Monkey business where the kids played games, won tickets and bought handfuls of "squishy frogs" while Malea and I got to visit.

We also celebrated Bradeighs second birthday this week!!!!! We had family and friends over to help us celebrate. It was really fun to have so many people that we love be together in our home. I am so grateful for the people we have been so blessed to have in our lives. We ended the week with Jared's birthday. He and I went out after the morning session of conference and then later went swimming with the kids and out to dinner. Noah thoroughly enjoyed setting his Dad up to be sung to and ride the saddle at Texas Road House. It was just our little family together, hysterically laughing at the scene of Jared on the saddle and Bradeigh scooping up his birthday ice cream with her hands in between claps. I love being together as a family. I love those moments when I can pause life for just a moment and relish in the love we have for one another.

Sombrero Peak Hike

Hannah's Mosaic Class at Sonoran Art Glass Academy

Bradeigh's Bithday Party

Bradeigh's Two Year Old Photo Shoot

Sabino Canyon

Green Photography

I've had some fun shoots lately. Here are a few of my favorite shots.

February

What a great month! Febuary is a fun time for Tucson. The Gem Show, Daddy Daughter Dance, Matchplay, The Rodeo, Arizona's birthday and of course the crazy weather. In fact, I don't think another month can quite characterize Tucson any better. I feel like I need to some how attach my camera to my head then I would be able to capture EVERYTHING. But as it stands my picture taking is hit and miss unless I schedule it in. I arrived late for sacrament on the Sunday it snowed. A good friend of mine asked if I took a side route to take pictures of the snowy desert. NO-I was trying to get us all to church and failed to do so in a timely manner that morning. I wish I would have been able to get us all out the door and had time to take the long route to church to take scenic pictures too. 9:00 am has been a little bit of an adjustment from our 1:00pm time last year. :)

So what did we do this month...

I was able to go to a photography workshop for a few hours, while Jared stayed home and watched Bradeigh.

I finished reading Three Cups of Tea, which I thought was okay. Truth be told, the first half of the book drove me crazy, and the second half I found really interesting. It didn't feel as inspirational as I thought it would.

Jared and Hannah attended the 3rd annual daddy daughter dance. So cute to watch them get all dressed up. LOVE IT. Noah, Bradeigh and I had a fun ice cream date.

I bought a really cool text book from the Arizona Historical Society- The Arizona Story. It's part of the 4th grade curriculum. Hannah had it home while she was sick, and I was really impressed.

I became very active in opposing the proposed 20 day extended school calendar. It's been a while since that part of me has been ignited. I was nervous about whether or not I would be able to articulate my concerns and frustrations in such a public setting...yea...not a problem. In fact I'd say I leaned a little to far to the confrontational side of things. It's been a great experience working with women who I admire and respect, and knowing how much power we have to make a difference in our community.


Rodeo weekend was so much fun. We had Zane over and Hannah's friend Grace for the weekend. We went to the zoo, made pizza, watched movies and went to a Marana rodeo event.

I have never been to a rodeo event, and I have to say it was disturbingly entertaining-or should I say it was entertaining because it was disturbing...Either way, it was fun.


Yee HAW for February!