Cozy morning

We woke up to a rainy cozy day. To have rain in Arizona is a special treat. Rachel was so excited this morning as she said, "oooohhh is looks like Forks. I am going to where my i-pod ear plugs at school and sit by myself like Bella." What a nut. She also woke me up this morning by saying, "Now that I am more like a woman (something happened this week. wink), am I going to have crazy dreams like you?" She than proceeded to tell me how in her nightmare of a dream Dave and I were getting divorced and I had a boyfriend and when she confronted me about it, and said, "You told me you would never get divorce!" I just raised my shoulders and lifted my hands up and said, "ooopsie." This was a devastating dream for Rachel. With all her worst fears played out. I repeat this was only a dream that Rachel had. Anyway, she had just woken me up from my own crazy dream of being on a ship and there was no bathroom and I had to go really bad. The men that worked on it took me to a part of the ship that dipped into the ocean and said, "That is where we go, but look how cool it is to swim with the killer whales." I was than swimming with them and it was terrifying. I guess that would have solved my needing a bathroom. ha ha. Anyway, I told Rachel yes. The hormones are "strong with us" in this family, and this unfortunately is a side effect. As my sisters could confirm. I think that is why I don't go to bed until I am about to pass out, so I will be too exhausted to dream (or remember them at least). My Mom used to say that she lived another life in her dreams. So anyway, how did i get on this subject. Oh yah, woke up to a cozy day (by Rachel). Onward. I plan to spend my day in my robe enjoying my cozy house while I fold laundry, edit pictures, and wrap christmas presents. Let me show you.
Since we finally bought a fake big tree, I always buy a smaller fresh one, and put it outside my office so I can still have the yummy smell.

the messy wrapping station.

Look at this painting that Rebecca did at school. I love it. Their art teacher is so amazing.

I thought that making these to hang was very martha stewart. smile.

I love to get freshly cut pine boughs from target that they just throw away. I just ask for bags and they let me take as much as I want for free. I put them all over my house, for the look as well as the smell factor. A wreath from costco is a must as well. They are always so beautiful and so cheap. I love that combination.

This little guy hangs right above my computer. Isn't he cute?

Some of my favorite new ornaments. I love the vintage feel of these first two.

This one I got at Disneyland this year.

I love target. They always have great stuff to add to my collection each year.

Thanks Anne, for helping us make these. The kids had a blast decorating them last night.

My holiday nemesis. Ever since I went to sprinkles cupcakes, I have been in love love love with red velvet cake. When I saw this at Costco, my heart raced. A seven layer thick, baked from scratch red velvet cake. I thought this will be perfect for my Christmas party (wink). Do you know how hard it was not to cut into it for a whole 4 days until the party? Well, it did not disappoint. Go grab one, if there are any left. Or come and eat the last couple pieces of mine, that is calling my name from the kitchen. ha.

I love these cute sparkly ornaments that I got in Utah last year. Whenever I go to Utah during the holidays I have to hit Taipan, and Gatehouse Evans frontier for holiday stuff. I was good this year though and bought nothing. Such restraint.



I did on the other hand find these at Kohls yesterday and could not pass them up!!! They were 75% off and than I had an additional 15% off coupon. They are hand painted and match my house perfect and I love them. Can't wait to serve Christmas breakfast on them. I even got a matching platter, serving bowl, regular bowls, condiment bowls, and 8 mugs. It was cheaper than the thrift store! Which wait until you see the cool things I got 50% off there on Saturday. I can't tell until after Christmas though. smile.

Oh, and another thing. The best towels I have ever found are the Vera Wang collection and they are half off at Kohls right now. They are big, heavy, and yummy. They really wash well. They look brand new still and are at least a year old. I can't say that for any other towel I have.


One more thing. I just want to give a shout out to all of you wonderful people that I am so thankful to call friends. You are the reason that I would be happy if I never moved from Arizona. Which is huge for me. I love to move and be adventurous and see new places, meet new people. But how can any place compete with all of you. As many as came to our Christmas party last Friday, I was thinking of just how many more people there are that I love and weren't able to make it (or didn't hear about it! I will never do evites again.). How blessed we are to know and be surrounded by so many good people. As the people were coming in the door Rachel turned to me and said, "everyone is so nice!" It is true, I have surrounded myself with some of the nicest people on earth. I told Rachel, "now you can see why I am so shocked when I go out in public and people are rude. That is so not my reality." And I like it that way. Don't get me wrong, so so many people are nice when I go out in public too. So I thank you my friends. I thank you for caring about me and building me up when I am low. For serving my family, especially when things with Dave were scary. You have loved my children, and they are so blessed for it. Thank you thank you thank you.

I have to show this picture (don't kill me Jenn) of the most beautiful woman at the party. Isn't that belly the most beautiful sight? I love that silhouette. And how is she so tiny everywhere else? That was never the case with me. She was hoping to have the baby that night after the party, but I haven't heard anything.......

Hope you are having a cozy day too!

ps. Dave just came up to me and said that he read my blog post and that Jenn had her baby! I better call.

been busy doing this thing called life.

My 14 year old son Jacob. When did he get so big? I know he is just going to keep changing. We took him last weekend to finally get a haircut. It only took us 2 months to find the time. Isn't he handsome? I also had the great pleasure of shaving his little mustache thing off. You know that dark peach fuzz that they start to get. It was totally grossing me out! I am one of those moms that loves to have their kids take a shower and than I floss their teach, clip their nails, clean their ears. Pop zits, whatever. I love it! They tease me for it, but I know they love it too. Anyway, back to Jacob. Tonight we went to his first home basketball game (and they won!!!!). He made the freshmen team, which I think is awesome seeing as only 12 made it and there are over a 1,000 kids in the freshman class. I know he is a good athlete, but it takes more than that. You have to be confident, aggressive, and competitive. He has surprised me. He has really grown up this year. This makes me so happy, but also so sad. It is so hard to say goodbye to that sweet innocent little boy, even though he is all that I could ever want in a 14 year old.

I never told you about seminary. It was so awesome! I loved being with the kids. They are so amazing. They are so strong in their knowledge of the gospel and who they are. Just being with them was an incredible spiritual experience. It truly got me in the Christmas spirit. The real Christmas spirit. Where I want to cozy on the couch by the tree and read my scriptures every day. Just basking in the joy that I feel in knowing that Christ paid for my sins. That is why we celebrate his birth. He has provided a way for us to return home to our Heavenly Father. I was so touched also by the talks given in church yesterday. The spirit just whispered so sweetly again to my heart that this life is all about becoming more like Christ. And that all God wants of us is to have a humble heart and a contrite spirit. To be teachable and recongnize that we fall short and have need of Christ. We don't have to be perfect. We don't have to do everything right, we just need to be humble and willing to take counsel from the Him through the spirit. To try to be better every day. I really can't wait until I see the Savior again. I know my love for him will overwhelm me and I will bathe his feet with my tears. I am so very thankful for this time of year when every heart is filled with love, and we all become more like him. That is the joy of the season. I am so thankful for my children who demonstrate Christ like love so easily and are such examples to me. Their excitement to reach out and serve and help others is so contagious and beautiful to me. They bring me greater joy than I ever thought possible. Even when they are stinkers they are helping me be more patient, understanding and kind. Why is that so hard sometimes? These pics are right after we got back from getting Jacob's hair cut. It has been so beautiful out the past couple of weeks and the kids have been loving playing outside.

Here is the latest fun activity. Playing some sort of business. I love this old phone that I got for free at our soup and swap at church. They also use an old computer keyboard, old checks, a white board and they are happy for hours. Those were my favorite games when I was little too. I just need to find an old cash register and typewriter. )If you ever see one at a thrift store or garage sale let me know). On this particular day, it was a horseback riding business. Jacob was Rebecca's first customer and she is serving him a snack as he books his horse (the bikes). So fun to be a kid.

Laugh out loud funny

ok so I know I am supposed to be preparing my lesson, but typical of me, I am avoiding it and it is now 11 pm. But look what I found in my avoiding! Grant, aren't you so jealous that you didn't find it first?

So, I am thinking that these guys aren't married. Seriously, what married man has that much time. Maybe they were all at work together, and not really working.

I think I would go to a class at a gym if it had this on the class schedule.

Do you think this could be an Olympic sport? Synchronized treadmilling.

Wouldn't it be fun to make up a mock Olympics with a bunch of things like this.

Maybe, I should stop rambling and go do my lesson. (I have to be hard with myself sometimes).

ThinGs Are a cHangin.

Well, I have feverishly been working on my website (I wish), and hope to have it up and running for the new year! Being the decisive person that I am (I wish), it has taken me a long time to figure out what the next step will be in my business. AS my family is painfully aware. I have to know every option before I can choose anything. This makes my post processing of my images really quick (I really really wish. sigh). Anyway, I wanted to give you a heads up that I will no longer be including all of the images with the price of a session, and no I don't know exactly what my session fee will now be (I wish). I am still working out the details. I will still be offering the images if you would like to buy them instead of ordering through me.

This year has been pretty amazing. I attended two amazing workshops, where I learned so much. I began doing weddings, something I completely fell into. I never wanted to do a wedding because I was too scared that I would do something wrong, and that it would be really stressful. Than I did one and it was so fun, and I loved it. Since I love to document relationships, why would I not. There really isn't a more loving (and steamy) relationship than when you are about to get married. Plus, I fall in love with "love" all over again just seeing new love. It is fabulous. Anyway, all this to say that I have been working really hard to learn new skills for wedding photography, and researching what products I would like to offer. I showed you that KISS album awhile back. It really is so scrumptious. If you have any input to give, I would love to hear it!!! What would you want, or did you want and didn't get from your wedding photographer? I am open to suggestions for family, seniors, children etc. portraits too! Remember, I need to explore every option! smile.

Thank you to everyone who has been so supportive of me. You know who you are! Also, thank you to every single person that I have photographed. You all have been so wonderful, and I appreciate your choosing me to document the love in your life. It truly has been a pleasure.

Now, I'm off to plan a lesson for seminary. It is 9:20p.m. and I just learned that I need to teach a lesson at 5:45 a.m. tomorrow to a tired bunch of 9th graders about what took place in the Garden of Gethsemane. Piece of cake (yah, right). It's not like it is a light subject. Well, these are the things that keep us humble. Jacob thinks I won't be able to control the class. I'll show him!! Have a great night!

Kidd family

ok, just a few more.

her dimples are so amazing. And all of their eyes are amazing.

love you guys! I can't wait for next year! Or next baby (wink). no, no, Natalie is not pregnant. I don't want to start a rumor.
Wait a minute..... I forgot! I just talked to Natalie's mom and we are going to do a whole family shoot over Christmas. So all of her siblings and families too. I can't wait. And yes, they are all just as beautiful!

some more eye candy.

i love this one.

A guy can only handle so many lovey dovely pictures. I had to put this one in it was so funny. Ryan looks just like Crayton here.

love it.

my little lizzie.

I really just can't get enough of this girl. And she's the kind of kid that lets you just snuggle her and kiss her all over. It's a good thing too, since she is my youngest and I miss having a baby to love on all the time. She prays in every prayer though that Kelly, CoCo (her aunts who are significantly younger than me), and mommy can have a baby. You never know.
P.S. she just lost her tooth last week, the other is almost out. so cute.