{The JOY of LOVE} : Day 8

Today's theme: Love from the Heart


What are some of the most precious gifts you've been given?


I can name so many, but at the top of the list (next to Tim of course :)) are my two little girls.


For some reason, I always imagined that I'd have three boys. I don't know where that idea came from (maybe growing up with two brothers?), but being gifted with two girls has been the most amazing gift!

Some shots of them right before their afternoon nap...

Praying that they will be best of friends one day...

Naomi is our witty, giggly, perceptive one....
Afraid of the dark, loves roller coaster rides, asks questions like, "Mommy, why is Goliath so mean to nice people?", and in the same breath tells me (with all confidence), "I think Jesus picks us up in his car to take us to heaven because it's far away."

Noelle is our fiesty, husky-voiced, comical one...
Loves to take walks outside, wear her sister's jewelry without asking, hug stuffed animals without discrimination and pinch her sister's cheeks with glee.

God has created you both so uniquely - we know life will always be an adventure with you in our lives :)


Visit Willette's site to frolic around blog land some more!

{the JOY of LOVE} : Day 7

Today's theme: Generations


Ok, I admit, today's theme made me throw a big pity-party for myself. Did this happen to anyone else?
Maybe it's the recent loss of a parent, an estranged relationship with one of them, or just the fact that you live a million miles away - I'm sure for many of us, the theme of generations doesn't always conjure up happy images.


Since both of our immediate families live in Seattle (we moved down to SoCal about 1.5 years ago), I knew that taking a photo with grandparents was not gonna happen. Commence pity party... I almost decided not to shoot at all today. I know, I'm a drama queen.


But then I realized how _______ (insert colorful adjective) I was being...


So here is a capture of how we often connect with our loved ones... Tim is at his desk (aka our kitchen table) studying and making a call.


I was really touched at seeing everyones' pictures of grandparents and grandchildren together...it is truly a special and precious relationship.


Click here for some more eye candy from other fellow bloggers!

{the JOY of LOVE} : Day 6

Today's theme: Who she loves

Daddy of course!

Little N has been sick for a while, still coughing with a runny nose :(
Drinking from her beloved bottle with daddy before her afternoon nap.

Look at this page for more lovely JOY of LOVE posts~
Happy Sunday everyone!

{the JOY of LOVE} : Day 5

Today's theme: love to hate


What drives you nuts about the one you love?


Here is little N rummaging in the fridge for the 100th time today wearing her heart pajamas.


I will open the fridge for a split second, and somehow she zips in between the cracks like her life depends on it. I swear she can teleport.


Thankful that the JOY of LOVE project is giving me another excuse to capture these moments that I otherwise wouldn't think of shooting...maybe b/c they seem too mundane or everyday! 


Happy shooting everybody~

{the JOY of LOVE} : Day 4

Today's theme: What They Wear


Here is little N wearing her diaper and big sis' tutu - still too big for her!
She loves wearing anything her sister wears and will even try to pull on her sister's underwear over her diapers. (Big sis remains unamused.)


I didn't think I'd be posting everyday, but really have been enjoying thinking creatively for each theme and especially seeing everybody's photos! 


Visit this page to enjoy other peoples' posts and blogs~

{the JOY of LOVE} : Day 3

Today's theme: Then and Now


Love seeing everybody's "Then and Now" photos - I think this has been the most tear-jerking theme for me as I look through my old photos and get a glimpse of other peoples' stories!


There's only a 7 month difference in these photos, but oh, what a difference 7 months makes in a baby!! Every momma knows what I'm talking about.

Click here to see other people's posts!

{the JOY of LOVE} : Day 2

Today's theme: How They Look


Shooting a photo a day for  Willette Designs' free online class documenting the ones you love! Click here to view all the other submissions - lots of inspiring shots!


Had to be at school all day so the only chance I got to shoot this was in the morning right before I left.


Naomi in her Hello Kitty pjs and eating her cereal. 
This is how she looks in the morning!

{the JOY of LOVE} : Day 1

Today is the first day of Willette Design's The Joy of Love online class!

Kelly Willette is offering a free 28 day online class on the theme of LOVE for the month of February to celebrate St. Valentine.


Did I mention it was free?


If you join, you will receive daily email prompts/assignments with instructions/brief tutorials on how to document those you love. (You can join at any time during the month.)


Her suggested class materials:

• someone you love
• a camera
• a desire to stretch your photographic skills

I probably won't be posting my shots everyday (and a little intimidated at shooting everyday, I admit) - maybe I'll post them per week?
This is my first time taking an online class - I know it will stretch me in my photography and looking forward to learning a lot! 

Today's theme is: What They Do

Here is my take: Noelle loves to play with the toilet, dump all the crayons on the floor, and then run away. This is what she does!

ShutterMoms Workshop

Had the privilege of attending Tim Park's ShutterMoms Workshop this past Saturday. A great time of learning, meeting other shuttermoms and fueling my love for photography! Min from L&M did a wonderful job coordinating the workshop with lots of yummy food, plenty of coffee (very important to mommies!) and awesome door prizes and goody bags.


One of the favorite things I learned -


"Every time we compose a shot, we have to think: What will and what will not be in the frame?"


Tim reminded us to be intentional about composing a shot and not haphazardly shooting away, hoping we get something good in the frame. 
He taught about a vision minded approach - how we are to be directors and storytellers with our images, instead of shooting 10,000 tight head shots of our kids (I am guilty of this!). 


There is so much more that was shared there, so if you want to learn more, you have to check out one of his workshops! He will be offering more workshops in the future, so to stay in the loop, join Tim's Facebook page for updates and to view his work.


I wish I could've taken more photos, but my camera battery ran out halfway through...yes, total fail. I was pretty sad :( but lesson learned!




The workshop was also very hands-on and allowed us time to handle our cameras.
So in the above photo, I took a photo of my friend Cindy for an exercise on how to use light to create different moods and effects. Very fun. (And isn't she beautiful??)


Happy shooting everyone~

My Free Spirit

Recently, I've been exhausted by the demands of my little girls.
I love them to death but exhausted nonetheless from the constant cleaning, negotiating, disciplining, cooking, playing and all the little details that equal motherhood. 


My littlest one, Noelle, has been especially shriek-y and difficult ...leading me to pray hard as never before, "God, please give me grace for today" and simultaneously rant to my husband about how the "terrible two's" must've come early.


Well, yesterday, I spent a refreshing day at an inspiring photography workshop (more on this later!) and then lunch with friends while Tim watched the girls.  


When I came home, little Noelle ran as fast as her little chubby legs could carry her, shrieked like a banshee and gave me a big hug.


My heart melted into a thousand puddles.


She is my little free spirit.
How I love her, tantrums and all.

[photos taken at The Huntington Library]