Little Man

A quick follow-up peek at a newbie.... I LOVE doing newborns.... 

Schneider Fam

I know that it probably goes without saying that I'm WAY over-due in posting these... but here's a sneak~peek at the Schneider family at Bothell Landing.  We had about 35 seconds of sunshine and then it was a mad dash to see if we could beat the raindrops- but we did it!

It's so fun watching the girls grow and change every year- both are so pretty and with their own very unique looks.... going to be so gorgeous as they grow up!

Thanks for playing in the rain with me guys!

xoxo Didi V.

The Sparks family

You remember my handsome friend Cody, right?  Well meet the rest of his beautiful family!

We caught some good laughs and some  sweet light at sunset a while back at Howarth Park.

A whole lot of good looking happening in this family, that's for sure!

Thanks for coming back to play with me folks!

xoox Didi V.

Back 2 the Present

Last night I shared the vintage doo-opp of Tommy & Ilene's anniversary session... and now I bring you the fun hip & now version....

Thanks for choosing me guys- you're done!

xoox Didi V.

"In the Mood.... oh joy!"

Ba da-da-dat dat duh duh da duh de de duh..... can't you just hear Benny Goodman and his orchestra playing "In the Mood"????  Or the Andrews Sisters with "Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy"?

We did a little vintage nod with Tommy and Ilene as part of their 20 year anniversary and it was scream!

She loves the vintage look and he was a career Navy man- so this was the perfect combo!

We had the fabulous L. Sam Samano on hair and make-up and my girl Fi-Fi on props- add some Absolute wild tea and lemonade and a gorgeous evening.... magic!

NAP and Lake Schools could use your help....

I'm asking for a little blog love this week... My good friend and neighbor Kristin has put together a proposal for a $50,000.00 grant from the Clorox Company to help fund summer programs for the kids here in Lake Stevens.  It is NOT school specific- we just want the kids of our community to have some great opportunities and experiences this summer that are painfully lacking here currently.

You can vote two ways everyday!!!  Help us make a difference for the kids in our community!  Look for Summer Discovery Camp Grant or by city and look up Lake Stevens, WA.

With much love and graditude..... Didi V.

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It is so simple to vote for our kids! click on the link below and register, and text "clorox2414" to #44144


Clorox Power A Bright Future Program - Summer Discovery Camp Scholarships VOTING PHASE

www.powerabrightfuture.com

Clorox is giving schools a chance to win school grants. Vote for your favorite entries between 10/24 and 12/9 at http://powerabrightfuture.com/!
 
You can also join the group and follow our progress on facebook:
 
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php#!/pages/Summer-Discovery-Camp-Grant/184954834918610

Halloween

Take a "stab" at what my favorite holiday is..... LOL!

I tend to go a bit overboard when it comes to Halloween....

I love to decorate both the interior and the exterior of our happy little suburban home... and at the end of the decorating day- if it hasn't run away on it's own- it's been decorated. 

My house this year was once again dripping in Halloween and  the creep-tastic!

I'm sure it's because I'm and All Saints baby- so pretty much every birthday I've ever had has been Halloween based... and I love it!  I've been collecting decor for years... and now that my kids are getting older- I can start to bring the dramatic rather than just the "cute"...   And this year, they were really able to help, create and cook and it is making the holidays just that much sweeter.

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Gabbi is and always has been a horse nut- so when Onika found several components of an equestrian outfit at our favorite 2nd hand haunt- it was as if the costume Gods were trying to tailor the perfect costume for my girl this year.

Not surprising that Onika wanted to be a Vampiress- again.... {for the umpteenth year in a row...} just with better accessories.... LOL-  Oh well- she rocked it.

We had a fun little get together with friends and neighbors and rocked the pre-trick-or-treat snack and the post-frozen children dinner.... witch's fingers, chocolate chip cookies, home-made chili bar, spiced apple cider and a jack-o-lantern pizza.... goodness on a plate!

I even got in on the action as a sugar skull pulled from el Dia de la Muerto lore.  I had fun with it- but felt bad- I scared the pants off of several little ones who came to "twik o tweet" my house.... they were definitely NOT ok with whatever I was and where the heck was Mrs. Miles at?????

Hope you all had a fab Halloween!!!

{and now... back to work for me}

xoxo Didi V.

In the garden of good and evil.....

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!!

I'm not sure if anyone understands the way my brain works most days.... and I'm sure that my kids certainly did not Saturday morning.... but after a little bit of prodding.... they decided to humor me.... and I'm so happy that they did....

I have wanted to go play in the gorgeous old section of the cemetery in Everett on Broadway for years..... it's incredibly beautiful- the gravestones are enormous and ornate, with wonderful moss invading the nooks and crannies.  The trees are Jurassic in size and the leaves are falling in a perfect orange and gold swirl all around on the emerald grasses.

{we paid special attention to stay on the paths and to walk the rows carefully- we wouldn't want to be disrespectful-

 just appreciative of the beauty around us there}

It was magic as far as the lighting went- sunny as the fog lifted... so it was dreamy and soft

....mmmmmm.....

And of course- I'm biased... but I got to work with two of the prettiest girls I know!

It was so funny to look back at how we spent the morning... because the rest of the day- was spent in sweaty gymnasiums in basketball gear- looking NOTHING like they had a few hours earlier....

I guess Lisa Leslie's book title says it best...

"Don't let the lip gloss fool you..."

Because they played like total rock-star jocks all day!
What a great day with my kids.
xoxox Didi V.

And now... back to our regularly scheduled workload...

Olivia II

No- you're not seeing double nor are you  losing your mind...

Yes, you did just see a post about the same adorable little girl further back.... 

Miss Olivia was lucky enough to have visits with both sides of her family just a couple of weeks apart so were were able to catch the fun with more grandpas and grandmas!

She is one adored and lucky little girl for sure!

Thanks for asking me to join you guys- I loved seeing you again!!!

xoxo Didi V.

New Baby Goodness

Everyone~ 

I'd like you to meet my new friend Devon- he's new in town...

He's a little tired from this trip but he's sure glad to be here!

{and so are we....}

I had to share a sneak peek at the squishy newborn goodness that came to see me yesterday!!!

*Squeal- sooo much good stuff!!!!* 

Fall/Winter.... is here.... and I've been shopping for some new looks as the rain drives us inside... so you'll be  seeing some changes at Garage Studios-

Book your session now!

Summer fun with Olivia

I'm in catch up mode again this week {but that seems to be the norm anymore...} and I am beginning to feel like I'm in one long marathon to the finish line that just never ends.... and honestly- I have no idea what I'd do if it did!

I thought I'd share some end of summer photos with Miss Olivia and her beautiful and super silly fun family. 

This is one very lucky little girl- her fans- I mean family.... would do anything for her.

{including bubbles until they were blue, exploring every single piece of play equipment, hoola-hooping, and chasing the soccer ball around the whole park!}

And speaking of soccer- they are huge Sounders fans- and I love that they all wore their gear for their family photos!

Baby~Baby~ Baby.....

Meet Dave & Adrienne...

 I first met them back in 2005 when I shot their engagement photos.... and then I did their wedding photos in 2006 and have loved staying friends beyond their big day. 

I was over the moon happy when I found out this spring that they were expecting their first child- and even happier when they asked me to again journal their lives through photographs.

Not only do I love hanging out with them but they are both so gorgeous that you cant help but over-shoot because it's just so good.....

I can't wait to meet the little guy coming our way... very, VERY soon!

xoxoxo Didi V.

***Adrienne puts the "S" in stunning & sexy pregnant for sure!***