Parents, if you want wonderful pictures of your children, never teach them to say "cheese"! Please learn from my mistake or you will have thousands of photos just like mine - squinted eyes, scrunched up noses, clenched teeth, and an image that just screams "say cheez!!!". Join me while I search for that one perfect shot that doesn't conjure up images of dairy products. Oh, and unless you like that *messy* look, you'll probably want to clean their faces before you snap away. I never seem to remember myself.

An imporant sidenote is to make sure you document your life! Recording the little details of the who, what, where, when, & why makes for wonderful stories and captures your life for years to come. Because if you are like me, you'll forget it all 5 minutes later!

Monday, December 29, 2008

Favorites of '08

It is so hard to choose just a few favorites! There are many different reasons why I may like a particular photo - maybe it is the composition, the lighting, a happy accident, technically good, or just because I like the subject. But often, I'm not sure exactly what it is that I like in a photo except for the fact that it just speaks to me. I love capturing the moments of our life and the world around us. I love freezing a moment in time, to be remembered forever. Most of all, I love the emotions that photos can evoke.

These are the photos that, for whatever reason, really touch my heart and make me happy. These are the photos that may not be technically perfect, but hold much meaning and feeling for me. These are the photos that tell some of our story this year. These are {some of} my favorites of '08.

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On the ferry after visiting the Statue of Liberty. This was a wonderful family outing, my kids really seemed to get the meaning of Lady Liberty, and the ferry ride back was serene.

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Visiting Letchworth State Park in NY was so much fun. The sights were gorgeous and we all enjoyed camping, hiking, and hanging out as a family. My husband made sure that I got time to explore and photograph the area - our world is beautiful!

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I have a deep love for the ocean and the rocky shoreline we have here in the Northeast. This was another trip where I was able to spend time photographing our world. I could just sit and listen to the waves crashing on the shore for hours - it is so relaxing and meditative for me! Montauk doesn't disappoint. {Neither do wide angle lenses :-)}

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Fortunately my family loves the ocean as much as I do! They can skip rocks, search for sea glass, and chase waves for hours. And I just love watching them so carefree and content.

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This was such a special day. We went to Vermont for skiing and sightseeing. I couldn't ski because I was pregnant so my husband wanted to make sure I was able to have a photo journey. The weather was bitterly cold and the snow was piling up, but my husband insisted we still venture around the area...and it was glorious!

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Birthdays are so special...as are the secret wishes one makes.

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A happy smile from my beautiful daughter makes me want to stop time forever.

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Children & bubbles...a match made in heaven.

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She is a wonder through and through. She can be so girly yet so headstrong and tough. She loves dressing up and exploring. Getting her to pause for a moment is a treasure!

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My baby came early and reminded me once again how incredibly special life is and how deep love can be for someone you've only just met.

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They are my world and I love how tender she can be with her brother.

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There just aren't words to describe how much he means to me.

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Two of my favorite boys. My husband was a real trooper putting up with all of my ideas for capturing pictures of the two of them!

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A huge moment in this six year old's life...he lost his 1st tooth! After all, he and been waiting FOREVER for it to fall out!

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Getting a photo of one child smiling is often challenging, but all four?! A treasure so rare that I will totally look past the technical flaws here! Gotta love mommy goggles. :-)

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This shot sums up a happy Christmas morning...being in the moment, loving the surprises, and finding joy together.

I hope that 2009 is filled with much more living in the moment, lots of happy surprises, daily delights, and total carefree joy for all.

Tuesday, December 23, 2008

Not enough time...

For me to keep up with multiple blogs. So I've decided to combine my personal blog with my photography blog. Seemed like an ok thing to do since the majority of my photography is my personal life anyway! I imported all the Rainbow Pumpkin posts into this Say Cheez Please blog, which was so simple (thanks Blogger!). So for now I'm going to only post here and see how it goes. Knowing me, and how I like everything to be categorized and organized (in my very disorganized way), I'll soon come up with another idea. But for now, this is how it is!

Saturday, December 20, 2008

Christmas in NYC

We let the kids play hooky from school on Monday for some NYC holiday fun...a shopping trip to FAO, window shopping along 5th Ave., Rockefeller Center (where Jonah almost crashed the taping of the tv show 30 Rock), The Radio City Christmas Spectacular Show, Toys R Us in Times Square, and bingeing on candy at Dylan's Candy Bar. Asher was strapped in the Bjorn all day so photos weren't easy to capture, but none-the-less we have the wonderful memories in our minds.

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Happy Holidays!

Tuesday, December 16, 2008

Finally A New Post!

So I'm just not good at updating the ol' blog here! Maybe that should be a new year's resolution... :-) I have a few layouts to share here, all currently on display at EY Crafts in Bethel. I was lazy & didn't feel like breaking out the scanner so instead took photos of them. I won't make that mistake again! Anyway, here is some of what I've created over the past few months...











Friday, December 5, 2008

POTD - He Melts My Heart!

Little A is just the most adorable, precious, magical little being! He is so incredibly happy and is really starting to interact with me - he has amazing eye contact and just lights up when he smiles. And today...he had he first real laugh! Oh he totally, completely melts my heart!

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Sunday, November 30, 2008

Santa's Helpers!

The cutest little elves ever! :-)

Send your own ElfYourself eCards

Thursday, November 20, 2008

She makes me smile

Most of the time, anyway. :-) This was one of those times.

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Sunday, November 2, 2008

Happy Halloween!

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Tinkerbell, Sweet Pea, Shark Man, and Peter Pan...what a clan!!!

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Thursday, October 30, 2008

Inside the mind of an 11-week old...


Oh no, mommy's got that blasted camera again.


Aww man, I don't want my picture taken AGAIN! How am I ever going to get out of this?


Crap. I can't.


Oh, maybe if I give her a quick smile she'll go away.


Ok mom...ready...set...


Go!


Hmmm, she's still pointing that thing in my face. And making the dumbest noises ever.


Geez, I can't believe she is my mom. Is this what I have to look forward to the rest of my life??? A dang camera constantly poking me in the face?


Hey, I got an idea!


I forgot my idea, but look at that silly face she is making!


Why is she still here? Digital sucks, she never stops!!! This is getting annoying.


Oh I don't think I can take much more of that flash going off in my face. And thoses noises...really - WHO talks like that?!


PLEASE, somebody, anybody, make her stop!

***Yea, a repeat of some of the photos, but hey cut me some slack. These are the things I come up with when my behind is glued to the couch all day long nursing my sweet little one. And with his appetite and strong desire to never. ever. ever. leave my arms, I have a lot of time to let my mind wander. :-) Scary, I know.