Walking in a Winter Wonderland....

Walking in a Winter Wonderland....

Clearly not written for those afraid of a little snow....and the plan was to play in the snow....

but we never got any!!! 

 The beautiful Murphy family were rock-star brave as we decided to make a go of an incredibly cold and frosty morning out in Machias {a great roadside find of those cool trees and the Christmas tree farm were perfectly frosty}.....baby girl Randie {who we would shoot for 90 seconds and then bundle for several minutes} was so sweet and so patient- even their pup Kodiak fell in line for a photo!

We had to work quickly but we sure had fun!

Thanks for playing with me guys!

xoxo Didi V.

*****

Special Thanks to Chad at Coast Cabins &  tree farm for letting us invade the u-cut section of the tree farm! 

http://www.coastcabins.net/#

Waiting on a girl....

There just aren't words for how incredibly beautiful this couple is....

You might remember them from:

http://didi-mycrazycrazylife.blogspot.com/2010/01/love-is-in-air.html

And this first set of Mrs. C just knocks my socks off.....

{I for one- NEVER looked this amazing when I was pregnant....} 

I think her studio shots are just sublime..... and for our lifestyle shoot out in the leaves- the weather couldn't have been any more perfect!

{And Mr. C- just about the most patient man ever for putting up with all of our girly silliness}

*****

I can't wait to meet Amelia when she arrives

Eclipse

Sometimes, it's the strangest things that turn into a family activity.

I saw a "How-to" on Jodi Friedman's blog for her absolutely fabulous MCP site. {Have I mentioned I love her photo tools??????  I do- I heart them a lot...}.... any hooo... I read that 12.20.10 was to be a fab full lunar eclipse.

I decided to break out the tripod that was still in the box- collecting dust in the corner for oh..... 6 years.... and give it a whirl. 

I'm not going to lie... it was cold as all get out on the patio.... playing with my settings and trying to figure it all out.  Pretty soon- Big Daddy was out there- bringing me a jacket and with his video camera and tripod in hand.  Soon after- the girls came outside- to inquire what on Earth we were doing out in the cold.  They of course had the smartest plan- to watch from the hot tub.  So they disappeared to get suits and towels. We grown-ups had to rely on the rum in our egg-nogg for warmth. {WINK}

We laughed and answered their questions as we watched and waited as big fields of clouds rolled through- giving us the occasional perfect view of  a most spectacular moon.  And as the shadow began to move in to the bottom left of the moon- unfortunately- so did a solid mass of clouds..... and just like that- our perfect view was gone.  We watched and waited, and waited, and waited.... nothing.  I went back out periodically- but you could barely make out a faint light source- and you had to really strain to see it.



And while this is certainly not NASA worthy... I felt it was a decent job for my first attempts with my tripod and new lens.  I shot this with my Canon 50D with a prime 70-200 EF 1:2.8 IS II USM at F11 100 ISO

Thanks again for the tips Jodi!

And- I was able to laugh and spend some quality time with my family.

Go chase the moon tonight!

The Boys are back!

I am one lucky girl....  I am- really truly!  Not only did I get to hang out with friends and family and chase all over to sporting events- I got to play and snuggle with some super duper cute babies and their families this weekend! 

My adorable little neighbor baby (who thinks my two girls are the coolest thing since sliced bread and follows them around and wants to play with them from sun up to sun down.)  She's a built in baby doll to them- so it's a mutual adoration.  And makes me giggle that she just comes right in- pulls up the stool at the island in my kitchen and chats or has a bite of whatever we're fixing.  I love that our friends are so comfortable in our home.

Brothers Brayden and Michael popped in with their folks to see me for some holiday studio shots ( we were originally going to go and find some snow- but Brayden has been sick this week- so we just hung close to home.)  And I think both boys have grown just since we shot on Halloween!!!!  And they  both are just so stinking handsome!  Those blue eyes are crazy cool!  I love, love, love that I get to follow my client families- who have become great friends as they grow.

 Oh- and by the way- Gerber and GAP- I have your next models right here in greater Lake Stevens... just sayin.....



Blue Christmas

I'll have a blue Christmas without you, I'll be home for Christmas, Silent Night, Silver Bells.... and the Ave Maria... all traditional holiday favorites. And certainly some of mine to sing and memories of mom and I singing them together as we would decorate the tree....

But this year as I break out the egg-nog and decorations and spin the Christmas carols.... it's bitter-sweet. Of all the years since I moved to Washington.... it took my mom's passing- to bring me back home last year. (I am struck with irony and regret on that point....) I am ready to enjoy the holidays- do fun things with my family and sing songs... but a little part of me is feeling overwhelmingly blue...

This week we turn over the calendar to December- to baking and decorating, singing, parties, craft bazaars, shopping, holiday mass.... and to the month where I lost my bestest girl friend ever... my mommy.

I can't believe how fast this year has turned over!.... After losing three of the corner stones of my life in the last year, along with other unexpected peer losses this year.... I'm amazed that it's already time for the holidays again.... and sort of relieved that 2010 is coming to a close. It definately makes you take stock of all the good things in your lives! May 2011 be a fresh start- and may the luck, love and blessings in my life continue.... for I am a very lucky girl!

I'm also reminded again of the quote, "That which does not kill us- makes us stronger..." I was pretty sure that my mom's unexpected death would bury me as well.... how would I survive without my best friend? My biggest cheerleader- my protector and my confidant? I miss her so much- and still reach for the phone to call her.... and then I feel so silly- like how could I forget that?

I decided to decorate for Christmas in her honor.... blue, white and silver- with lots of glass, beads, sparkle, glitter and glitz.... I think she'd approve... it's so not me- but it's definitely her! And if you're a believer of signs..... the big flashy neon sign moment came for me at Target the other night..... I was looking for a couple of things to complete the decorating (as royal blue- not really in my rainbow- that was all momma) and to my astonishment - the one ornament that stood out a me....was ONE, SOLITARY, bright blue peacock ornament.... if you knew my mom- (and she referred to herself as one) she was the biggest peacock ever! If it was bold color, flashy-sparkly, beaded and enough to drive my poor dad crazy..... she'd wear it! And she rocked it too! So I bought that silly ornament and he's sitting proudly near the top to preside over the tree.

That silly ornament was also a signal to me to live in her honor... to live colorfully- and to live out loud. We have to remember to make the most of our everyday.... don't wait to burn that pretty candle... or wear that expensive pair of earrings... or hug & kiss those near you. Life is short- make it a good one!

I wish you all a brilliant December- be safe- and have a phenominal holiday season!

Winter Wonderland

Winter arrived with a small skiff of snow this year- but lots of ice to make it all kinds of difficult to get around last week!

While we had less than 6" of powdery snow- the ice that lie below was wicked. We had had much precipitation and high winds and the drop in temperatures wreaked havoc on the Puget Sound with trees down across roadways and some power outages.

The kids were quite excited that they got an extra two days tacked on to their Thanksgiving holiday.. of course if this keeps up... they'll be in school 'til the 4th of July.... but to be able to play non-stop in the snow for 2.5 days before it rained and melted off- was priceless!

The "Big Dipper" as all the neighborhood kids call it was like a thriving metropolis of kids and sleds and colorful winter wear... and had it not been so danged cold- I probably would have hung out longer- but the windchill was in the single digits!!!!!