my puppy dog

We went to our ward halloween party tonight and this is a cute picture I got of Zach. What a cutie - this is some of the few minutes he actually wore his costume. He took it off shortly after he put it on, but he still had a good time.

Some fun pictures

I thought I would share some pictures from my latest photo shoot. This is Darrel's cousin, Leilani's family. Aren't they good looking. We had a great time at the shoot and afterwards we all played soccer together (our two families) - well, I guess the dad and kids played and the moms watched.

Saturday

Well, we just finished our Saturday round of Soccer games. Both Alex and Johnathan's teams won so that was a happy thing. Alex and I went shopping after his game and got his Halloween costume for the Monday night ward party. All my boys are very excited for the party. I need to raid my October/Halloween stuff out of my garage so I can decorate. I also have the preschool party this Tuesday so I need to decorate for that also.

Right now Darrel is at Walmart with Johnathan and Zachary picking out pumpkins to carve. We need to clean up the house a bit and then we can spend some time decorating and getting ready for Halloween.

I took another soccer team's pictures this last Thursday and I think they turned out quite well. I also got a job for another soccer team in November. That was happy day! Thanks to Joy and the tremendous help she was we made some good sales and it went very smoothly. I have two families to take pictures for this next weekend. I am nervous, apprehensive, and excited. I'm sure that things will be fine I just need to talk myself into some confidence.

Happy Halloween pre-weekend!

our tree broke

The other night we had quite a windstorm while we were visiting with Darrel's cousin and her family across town. When we got home we realized that our tree had broken while we were gone. It was quite the site. I called Joy and she came over with her saws-all (sp?) and Darrel sawed it into smaller pieces so we could put it out for the trash man. Our next door neighbor from across the street was very kind and offered the help of her sons, but we didn't end up needing them. We are now debating whether or not to let the tree stand or to cut it down all together. It is quite the dilemma. :0)

The Great Blue Heron

When I went to take pictures of the Lopez family this past weekend we happened to see a Great Blue Heron just hanging out in the little pond at the park. It was so awesome! These birds are amazing, if you've never had the pleasure, you should seek one out at some point. They are such beautiful birds.

better late than never

I took this picture of Alex a couple of weeks ago when he had his first choir concert. I wanted to share it with you because I thought he looked so handsome. He did a great job in his concert. Elise was kind enough to film it so Darrel and I could watch it later. I was teaching preschool during the time of the concert but Elise and Joy went and supported him...thanks guys!

hello

Hello again. I don't feel like I have much to say but I really felt like blogging so you get to be the beneficiary of my ramblings. Today we went to the park. It's a new park in our area and it is so awesome. The kids just love it. I took Daniel, Zachary, and Caitlin to our church playgroup. We were there for almost three hours. Caitlin is now napping and Daniel and Zachary are playing the computer next to me. I need to stand up and start some laundry but instead I am sitting here blogging.

I have officially made the decision to join Weight Watchers. I'm joining tomorrow. I am tired of being fat, feeling fat, and not having any clothes that I feel good about myself when I wear them. I am really going to try my hardest to make a lifestyle change and lose some weight once and for all. I really believe that I have this in me. Anyway, I'm going to join tomorrow night with a friend.

Yesterday after Johnathan's soccer practice I was taking Alex, Zach and Caitlin home when I heard the funniest conversation from the backseat. Keep in mind that both of the children talking in this conversation are buckled into their carseats....

Zach - "Tatelin (Caitlin), wets play hide and seek."
Caitlin - "Otay"
Zach (covering his eyes) - "One, two, tree, seven ready or not here I tum" "Oh, I see you"
Caitlin - "My turn, one two, ready here I come" "Oh, I see you"

I was officially busting a gut at this point. I mean, seriously, it's not like they can really hide, they're buckled in for heavens sake. Kids are so funny.

Well, I really do need to start a load of wash and get stuff ready for preschool in the morning. I'll try to post some pictures later. Have a great day!

another day

Elise left this morning. She called while I was laying down with Zachary this afternoon to say that she had gotten home alright. We will miss her and her two adorable children but I'm glad that she came to stay and spent some time with us. I was also glad to hear that she had a safe return back home. Traveling is never fun but traveling with two small children by yourself is an adventure all its own.

The boys are doing homework while I type - well kind of. I was sitting at the table right next to them and they seemed to be doing alright so I moved down to the computer and now I've had to tell Johnathan twice to sit down on his chair and keep going and Alex is currently in the bathroom. Keeping these boys focused is a never ending task. Can I just say that after school homework time is one of my least favorite times of the entire day!!

This afternoon we have soccer practice for Johnathan at the park. We are hopefully going to leave in about 45 minutes but we'll see. I have proofs of the soccer pictures I took of the boys last week. I hope they look alright. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that the parents are happy with my work. I currently have one family scheduled and three other families that have talked to me about taking their family picture. I hope I can live up to expectations. I do truly love taking pictures. It is one of my passions.

Well, I guess I better go. I have to crack the whip again with the homework thing. Wish me luck!

These two are just too fun...

These two girls are so much fun to take pictures of...I have such a great time finding new ways to get them on film. These pictures were taken while we were at the park for a soccer practice. They were playing in the sand and then playing peek-a-boo with and behind the trees. They were soooooo funny playing peek-a-boo. It's been fun having Elise and her two kids here, she is leaving on Tuesday and we will miss her A LOT! Come back soon!!

pictures of my cute neices and nephews

I have been having an absolute blast taking pictures this past week and weekend. We had a great time while Jackie and Jaxon were here and we get Elise for another fun-filled week. Having family here is so great and it gives me the awesome opportunity to snap some great pictures for my portfolio. It's nice to have cute subjects to photograph. Enjoy the pictures, I know I enjoyed taking them.

another Saturday...and soccer....again

Alex and Johnathan both had games again today. Alex's team won their game and Johnathan's did not. We had a little overlap on games and I didn't get to Johnathan's game until about half time and I missed seeing Johnathan play, but Joy said she took lots of pictures for me. He got to play his favorite position (goalie). Alex did a good job during his game also. His game ended in a tie, again, for the second week in a row, and they had a sudden death shootout situation again. Alex's team did a great job blocking the shots and shooting the goals. After both games Darrel took Alex to his pictures and everyone else came home. We have lots of company this weekend. My parents came into town for the weekend and so did David, Jackie, Ben, and a good friend of the family, Heidi. Elise and her children are also still here and we are just having a grand time all together. They all game to the soccer games today...thanks guys! Everyone will be here until after the second session of conference tomorrow. It's been fun having everyone here and we look forward to a nice day tomorrow.

more fun with Elise

We're having more fun with Elise here in town. Last night Joy, Elise and I went out on the strip, saw the atrium at the Bellagio, watched the dancing water, and ate at the Cheesecake Factory in Ceasar's Palace. We had a GREAT time. It was so fun just being with my sisters. Yesterday during the day I was with Elise at her condo and I had Joy's kids with me. We took the kids swimming in the cool condo pool and we got some really, really good pictures of Jacob and the other kiddos...and a few good ones of Elise, I might add. This morning our sister-in-law, Jackie came into town with her little one. She and Elise are going to stay at the condo this week, do a little shopping tomorrow and maybe have a spa day on Thursday. My parents are coming into town this weekend for General Conference weekend so we'll have a full and fun house.

Isn't he just the cutest thing you ever did see??!!