winter montage of a father and son

a random collection of observations.... and..... the FBI

plumps of snow fall as if in slow motion, whispering the secrets of a prolonged winter that we can't quite decipher....why do I live in Michigan again? sometimes I wonder cause big sweaters just aren't giving me enough reasons....
so here I sit, watching them twirl to the ground into mounds of softness and I find that lately I have been noticing the tiniest details that lurk inside the warmth of my home....it's either that or get wrapped up in another government conspiracy about extraterrestrial cover-ups but who am I kidding, that is going to happen regardless....
and in the spirit of it all, rather than begin with my absolute treasure of a favorite, I will let it tell the story in the end....


soft, wispy, white curls, wildly strewn about after a long day of play....

I think our hair tells more about us than we realize....

the horse whisperers, perhaps they know the secrets of winter...but they sure aren't telling...

and this is just a glimpse of the herd that our little home boards...

"chugga, chugga, chugga..."

could there be anything greater in life? I think not.

a train and helicopter collision....(police cars already on the scene....)

one of the many that Thomas endures throughout the waking of every day....

an artist realized with the gift of a wooden easel...

this one speaks for itself...

written the first night of receiving her gift, she HAD to make sure her newest possession was secured throughout the wee hours of the night...

sigh.....what's a girl to do when the internet is down??

little legs strategically placed beneath for support as a vehicle inspection is carefully given....

"sing black sheep, audee!"...

and the greatest picture of the year....

FBI. mulder, are you there? (notice the suspicious, shadowy figure in the background..)

she is definitely my daughter.

a new beginning...

this year, more than ever, I really want to do things in the world that make a difference...I have so many ambitions for the new year and I am eager for it to begin....last year seemed to be a struggle in more aspects than I want to remember but I really feel that changes I have made in my life recently are going to lead me down a path that is really going to matter....I don't want to just TALK about them anymore, or constantly rewrite them on a list that I seem to make every few days but never really accomplish...this year, it is going to be all about living life.

here are a few things that remind me of, well, life...

some of my favorite quotes come from the X-Files, which I could watch all day and night (and I almost did last night..)
"regret is an inevitable consequence of life.." by the infamous cigarette smoking man
"if coincidences are just coincidences, why do they feel so contrived?" of course only mulder could recognize something so simple and profound...
and of course, my favorite ever, "I want to believe..." mulder's poster that I was pleased to see also appeared in the new film, and which I plan to have framed this month for my new room...




whenever I decide to indulge in a ridiculously expensive decaf grande white chocolate mocha (a mouthful that my husband LOVES to order for me..), I cannot help but smile when I read the cup label for RED stating just "do something good everyday", and I really am going to do that this year...and get a lot more coffees with my delicious starbucks giftcards that I am quite sure will last me a month..tops.

and of course my crazy little family...I wouldn't change the madness for a thing...




but I wouldn't mind a child-free bed every now and then...


and to start off the new year, I have booked my first wedding of 2009! I am crazy excited to shoot their engagment and wedding in the warmer months to come....thank you SO much, Kelly and Keith, for the opportunity to capture your big day...it is going to rock!

yes, yes, 2009 is going to be one upon which my life list scratches off a few more passions that I cannot wait to take on....

happy new year.

THE cousin shoot

I have been all talk about the cuteness that I was bursting with fruit flavor to share but had to wait until after Christmas and, well....now that gifts have been given and all has been revealed, shall it too be so here...
cousins. really, can it get any cuter? or more interesting... you never know what is going to happen when you toss a group of unwilling children in matching outfits together....

and the winner of a matted frame is...

a close second...though Audrey looks quite ready to throw a punch in this one...I still love it, mostly because of that sole reason.

okay so I cannot tell a lie, my "assistant" (aka mi esposo) actually snapped this shot whilst I was prepping the scene and backdrop....and of course it ended up being one of my favorite shots...Presley adores Caden. I did the editing though, that counts for something right?!
















Audrey HAD to sit by Caden in every shot and when politely asked to move to a different location, still within arms reach from him but not exactly RIGHT next to him, she responded as any practically-almost-a-teenager-girl with ample amounts of sass would: "well then I'm OUT of this shot," and proceeded to walk out. well then...


















oh I so love this picture and mostly because it reminds me of one of the best shots ever that I took at my sister-in-law's wedding in which these three were ring bearers and a flower girl and they were oh so much tinier and Audrey was holding Caden's hand and they had these ridiculously adorable grins on their faces even then....ahhh, where does the time go?


actually further investigation reveals a hint of mischief behind all that cuteness...

so no, every shot was not exactly the epitomy of cooperation or sanity taking place but like I said, they kept things interesting....sometimes they each had an idea of their own happening....

other times it was just sheer madness.....










you gotta love it. and I so do.

the in between...

something I read from one of my favorite los angeles based photographers ever is haunting me....capturing the moment in between....it's such a beautiful statement and simple idea but too often forgotten, especially when families are desperately trying to make sure everyone is looking at the camera, and dare I say...smiling.

but really that is not what it is all about, and that is why this holiday season especially I am really going to focus on the moments in between and see what becomes of it....our first celebration of the season is hopefully a taste of just that...


I have to say that this picture of gwennie might just be my favorite of her ever...her sweetness is so subtle but her spirit shines through...I love this.





opening presents is exhausting...

tickle torture: part of the holiday fun...

two very different opinions about st. nick's headwear...

it will most definitely be a white Christmas this year and I am so thankful for it.

winter activities

since winter and the holiday season will be pretty slow for an on location (mostly) natural light photographer such as myself (yes these blistering cold temperatures that make your face feel like it will crack if you smile too hard after only moments of being exposed to the winter wonderland outside, make it difficult to do many outdoor shoots, if you want smiling, joyous faces in them that is...), I will use my children as test subjects throughout the coming months as my lens has been neglecting them lately...

these are for you, Katie.

Perhaps I should sift through Presman's photos over the years and start a real "facebook".....


those lashes? so not fair.








in case you didn't know, playdough is serious business.

"Christmas! Santa! Ooohh!"

Christmas wouldn't be quite the same without a visit from, well, "Christmas," according to Presley (who, every time he sees a santa image shouts out with glee, "Christmas!"...so be it.) Until today. Wide-eyed and grinning from ear to ear, Santa's name will never again be forgotten.....

the excitement begins, waiting for a turn on Santa's lap....

maybe Santa will bring daddy a new pair of pants.....

Audrey thinking...how will I EVER fit my entire list into thirty seconds on Santa's lap?!

Santa: "And what would you like for Christmas?"

Audrey: with a dimpled smile and shy voice, "Barbies."

Santa doesn't even have to ASK Presley, who excitedly shouts out, "Christmas! Cars!"

hmmm.....big surprise.




Santa with his two new biggest fans.....




and let me just say that this Santa was the most sweetest, adorable helper I have ever seen (come on, we know he is just a helper, Santa is busy with the elves at the North Pole.....)

or is he?