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I hate it when businesses start to promote Christmas in July.

August 10, 2010 – 12:39 am

So I decided to wait until August.

Seriously though, for those existing clients (or potentially new clients) who are pondering giving Bugs and Butterflies Photography portraits this holiday season, now is a good time to book your appointment if you’d like to select from premium dates and times.

In order to provide the very best customer experience, I limit the amount of sessions I take per month. The past three years in a row, I have had to turn away several families wanting sessions in October, November & December because they contacted me too late in the season and I was booked through the rest of the year.

If you’re planning on giving Bugs and Butterflies Photography portraits as holiday gifts, it is recommended you complete your session by the end of October.

September is a beautiful month for outdoor family sessions at a park or on the beach. But I always have great ideas for families who would prefer to come into the studio for their session.

I’m looking forward to seeing you soon!

(Yes, this is the same baby from the former post, but this is how he reacted when I told him I might be booked if he calls me for a session too late).

By bugs | Also posted in Random thoughts | Comments (0)

Ahh…summer!

July 14, 2010 – 7:05 am

For the first time in years, I’ve taken a good part of the summer off and taken several vacations…hence my lack of posts! Here are a few images from the first vacation, which was just local. I spent some quality time with my little brother Kenny who lives in New Jersey & came to visit our family for several days. If you didn’t guess, these are from Big Sur and 17 mile drive, one of my favorite places to take out of town visitors. Love you Ken! :)

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Happy 10th Birthday Tanner!

April 14, 2010 – 5:45 am

Happy Birthday my big Man Tanner!  We had a WONDERFUL day today celebrating YOU.   I love you with all my heart.  There is nothing you could ever say or do to change that love.  I will continue to support you each step of the way as you grow older.  It made me happy this evening you let me know before you turned in what your favorite parts of the day were.  I held back a tear when you said your favorite part was when we brought your birthday card in and everyone gathered around the bed to watch you open the card and your gift.  (Even the dog who had a bone in her mouth and was wagging her tail furiously!)  I guess you felt the value of LOVE AND FAMILY today.  OK, enough mush, let’s get to the good stuff.   The reasons why I dig you in a big way.  Here we go….

I love that:

-You’re a really good big brother.  Even though he tests your will and patience every single day, you put up with Max kicking you in the shins for no good reason, eating your Halloween, Easter and other candy treats without asking, breaking apart your Lego creations after you painstaking put them together, and his successful attempts to continue to annoy you further once he’s found a hot button.

-You have a sweet and gentle nature.  You are a warm, caring and sensitive boy who is growing into a young man I am so proud of.   You are affectionate and I love that you still think it’s ok to give me hugs and kisses.  Even if you’re just about as tall as I am.

-Your dream is to be a professional hockey player.   DREAM BIG or GO HOME.

-You are funny and have a great sense of humor.   You love to laugh! Mr. Gish says you have a pretty advanced sense of humor.  I can tell you where THAT came from.  (Hint, it’s not from Mommy’s side of the family).

-You already have strong opinions regarding politics.  (Hint, that’s not coming from Mommy either).

-You love to eat! (Ha, I DID contribute something!!)  Seriously, I am amazed at how much you can put away but glad to see you’re fit and active.  You’re strong and healthy!

-You spaz out with small boo boos.  Admit it–you really lay it on thick when you get a cut or bruise.  You COULD take up acting if the hockey thing doesn’t work out.  Drama seems to come naturally for you.

-You have a wonderful smile and beautiful eyes.  They will win some chick over some day and I’ll know how you snagged your wife.

-You’re never the first to break our hugs.  EVER.  I don’t know who taught you to hold on so long, but that’s totally cool and unique.  You’re daddy also hugs this way and I always feel very protected and safe when he hugs me.   This is one my my favorite things about hugging my boys.

-Your little brother LOVES you.  He doesn’t say it with words often and he expresses it in odd ways, so how about if I use a cliche as I explain that “Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery”.   Think of all that Max does that copies you.  In his own way, he’s letting you know you’re showing him the ropes and helping HIM grow up.  Always remember you’re in the spotlight there and he’s watching what you do and say.

I could write more, but I think that’s enough for this year’s birthday.  You have been such a blessing to your dad and I and I know I said this already, but I’m very proud to say you’re my son.

I LOVE YOU.
-Mom

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Happy 5th Birthday My Little Max

January 20, 2010 – 7:07 pm

Happy Birthday my little Max.  I love you more than words can express.  You completed our family.  Here are some of my thoughts about you today.

I lOVE THAT:

-Your dad and I won’t encourage you to stop sucking your thumb because we think you look precious cuddling with Lion as you touch his soft ears.  You LOVE everything soft.  Sucking your thumb is one of the last visible signs of your babyhood and we are clinging to it like nobody’s business

-That no matter what we do or how many sweets you eat, you won’t budge past the 40 pound mark (oh how i want to move you to the booster seat!)  You need to eat little man! At least we didn’t pass on the “fat” gene here….

-Whenever we ask what you’d like for dinner, you respond enthusiastically with “MEAT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!” You are my red meat buddy.

-You will take anyone on and seriously think you can take them.  You are a tough little boy–a little rough, but all boy!

-On the flip side, i fought tooth and nail with Daddy so he’d be o.k. with you getting that kitchen set this Christmas.  I bought it before asking of course, but I would have taken it back.  Anyway, I knew you’d love it! I especially enjoy the bug soup and the poker chip stew you’ve been cooking up lately and that you go and get the “real” dishes (aka breakable ones) out of the cabinet to serve your creations.  The other day I couldn’t find any of our plates and low and behold, I discovered them neatly stacked in the cabinet in your retro red oven.

-You think Riggs is a toy.  (Riggs is our black labrador retriever).  Although she is 12 years old, she tolerates you tying her by leash to our furniture, dragging her where you want in the house, teasing her with table scraps (you give up more than you think), and on occasion, giving her hugs and kisses.  If we are walking down the street, you feel it is your duty to pet everyone’s dogs.

-You constantly steal daddy’s wallet, using his ‘paying card’ everywhere you go, including signing “Max” at the bottom of our dining bill once the waiter brings the check

-I can ALWAYS make you smile.  Even when you just got a boo boo.   I have my tricks and I’m not afraid to use them.  Although oddly enough, these same “smile” tactics don’t usually work with children who aren’t mine inside the studio.  Go figure?!!!!!

-Recently, you want to cuddle up in our rocking chair, under the blanket and have me sing to you as you fall asleep.  We did that when you were littler and it’s back “in” this month. Who am I to refuse, even though I know it’s just a bedtime stall tactic?

-Daddy doesn’t mind me taking naps on the weekends (with you of course), because you won’t stay in your bed unless I’m there with you.  (The sacrifices I have to make, I tell you).    By the way, I’m still not ready to give up the nap.   Stay with me buddy….

-Your favorite music rocks.   I think it’s pretty cool that you request Deep Purple’s “Smoke On The Water” to listen to on your way home from preschool.

-You have all your special ‘boxes’ full of STUFF.   You collect the oddest items and hide them in random containers.  Keys missing? Check Max’s box.  Paying card gone? Check Max’s box.

-For you….DADDY IS IT. You need to go everywhere you can with him.  Every errand, every thing he does.   When you can’t go with him, you cry.  He has a shadow.  Sometimes I see Daddy’s eyes roll up in his head when he has to take you with him yet again (I guess you add a little time to each task…) but I know deep down he will always remember and love this about you.   He may not think you walk on water forever Kent….

-Even though he doesn’t recognize it, you idolize your big brother.  Tanner adores and wants to cuddle you because he’s a cuddle bear.  You’re the opposite, the rough and tumble, stingy-with-the-hugs-and-PDA kind of kid.  But every once in a while, we catch a sweet moment between the two of you and I quietly put it away in my heart for remembering later when you are about to kill each other.

I could write a lot more, but just know you’re the icing on our cake.

I love you,

Mommy

By bugs | Also posted in Babies, Family, Kids | Tagged , , , | Comments (1)

Toes…the new toy

December 5, 2009 – 4:48 am

This little boy is about four months old and fun to photograph.  He has dimples when he smiles and during our session showed me his fondness for his toes!

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Happy Halloween

November 10, 2009 – 7:40 am

Yes, I am writing my ‘Halloween’ post about a week late….

But I couldn’t miss posting a few images of my boys in their costumes!  Max went as Dash, a character from the movie Incredibles, and Tanner went as Jason from Friday the 13th (because he got to wear a hockey mask, have a bullet hole in his face and lots of blood spatter on his shirt).

Tanner’s outfit cost us about $10 since he wore the cloak from his Star Wars costume from last year, but Max’s costume was pieced together from 3 hours worth of work on the internet scouring multiple sites for the various pieces.  Most of what Max wore is for girls, like the cheerleader briefs, red tights and turtleneck leotard, but that’s the magic in having a four year old who didn’t see the packages these items came in….

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Ahh…quality sleep!

September 14, 2009 – 5:34 am

I am so excited! This is going to be a ‘personal’ post this evening.  For the first time in about 8-9 years, I am finally sleeping completely soundly through the night.   I used to have a hard time falling asleep because my sweet husband Kent snores.  Very loudly.  When I brought the topic up one day, he told me he had had been meaning to order something he saw on a TV commercial.  I thought, sure, why not!? I was willing to have him try anything and was thinking we might need to go see a doctor about it to find out if he had sleep apnea or something else.   Anyway, this gadget he bought WORKED THE FIRST night and when he wears it, he doesn’t make a peep.  Not one little snore!  Anyway, the product is made by Pure Sleep….LOVE IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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4 things I am excited about this week

July 8, 2009 – 5:56 am

Ok, so I am just listing things I am excited about related to Bugs and Butterflies today. 

1) FANCY NEW AUTOMATED BACKDROP SYSTEM.  Yes, it did cost as much as a new camera, but this is exciting because instead of changing out my backgrounds clumsily and recklessly, I now press a button on a remote and the ‘chosen one’ comes rolling down from the ceiling.  The families I photograph benefit because we get different looks and moods during the session with the use of different colors and textures used in the backdrops.  

2) MY NEW TUTUs.  Well, not my tutus.   I have an addiction to web sites where I can special order items for my photography sessions.  I buy custom made tutus, diaper covers and bloomers, hats, and blankets and now my drawers are over flowing.   You can see many of these items in the images on my site.    I take great care in choosing items I think most compliment my style of photography and art.

3) DIGITAL FILES:  For clients who are interested in the ability to ‘archive’ the art we’ve created in our sessions in digital format, digital files are now available for purchase. 

4) NEW FRAMELESS PRODUCTS:  I have two new products in my already stellar line up.  Photographic art mounted beautifully that can be hung on the wall sans frames.  They are BEAUTIFUL….and the samples are a must see in the studio.   Clients who’ve seen these can’t resist them.  Most likely a savings over mounting and framing, THEY ALSO JUST LOOK COOL….

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If I Were In Charge Of The World…

June 11, 2009 – 7:52 am

Every week, my son comes home with a “Wednesday envelope” from school filled with school work, projects, exercises and the like.  This week, I found this gem among the wealth of goodies.  It’s titled:  “If I Were In Charge of the World.”  Tanner is 9, and I am including everything he wrote.

If I were in charge of the world, I’d cancel school, educational tv shows, bed times and also marriage.

If I were in charge of the world, there’d by 300,000 more video games, your very own space craft and a transportation portal.

If I were in charge of the world, you wouldn’t have McDonalds, obesity or bad rollercoasters.  You wouldn’t even have death.

If I were in charge of the world, all desserts would be a vegetable.

If I were in charge of the world, all tv shows would be rated E and a person who gets mad and sometimes forgets to do his chores would still be allowed to be in charge of the world.

 

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You have to see the humor in things.

May 12, 2009 – 6:19 am

My 4 year old son Max is very….inquisitive.  He is always getting into something he shouldn’t.   Kent and I were both hoping his destructive habits would subside by now.  Tonight he was upstairs for less than 10 minutes alone and managed to get my cosmetic bag down and proceeded to apply eyeliner, lipstick and mascara to the bathroom counter, sharpen the eye pencils, and of course, apply the make up to his own face.  He crushed all my blush in the process.  After a little talking to, I took him outside for a few snaps, where you can see his ’smug mug’.  He has a sly expression–doesn’t he? I may use these images on his wedding day as blackmail.  And I’m going to keep stockpiling images like these so I have a WHOLE arsenal by the time he proposes.  But seriously, take a look at his sweet, cherub face.  How could I EVER stay mad at him more than a few minutes?

By the way, the flowers I ordered for myself turned out to be a disappointing fiasco.  They looked NOTHING like the picture I embedded in my blog yesterday.  No lemonade pitcher, no fake lemons floating in the water.  WHAT?! Can you say false advertising? I called the company this morning and told them I was not satisfied.  They are sending a second arrangement tomorrow…supposedly more representative of the picture on the web.     I should snap a pick of the imposter flowers that are currently on my kitchen table.  Not only was I missing the cool lemonade pitcher and lemons, the included a TON of green leaves and hardly any flowers–we’ll see what tomorrow brings.

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