merry christmas!

I am a blogslacker.  :(  Work & the holidays have consumed me.  I’m also working on a new photography blog so things are a bit crazy.  I am photoshop-less right now on top of it all and that is depressing!!  haha  You know how I hate to post w/o a photo….

Anyway….I just wanted to say I hope everyone had a fantastic Christmas/holiday.  Ours was fun-filled for sure – Christmas Eve we went to my grandparents’ house which is usually pretty quiet since most of my family has moved away.  But this year, my aunt and her family showed up to surprise everyone; I don’t think I’ve seen her in 10 years or so – it was incredible.  Later that night we went to Dalin’s dad’s for the big family gift exchange, we were there until after midnight enjoying the craziness of a house full of nearly 30.  On Christmas morning we met my mom, my sister-in-law & family, and Dalin’s grandma and my mother-in-law’s for breakfast and gifts, the kids were so cute, opening gifts in their jammies…I want to squeeze them!!  In the afternoon, we headed to Dalin’s aunt’s home for another big family gift exchange and the yummiest food ever.  We passed out as soon as we got home last night.  Late nights + calorie overload = Hibernation mode.  :)

It was such a great Christmas.  Everyone seemed to love the framed honeymoon photos that we gave them…YAY for our 1st “married” Christmas.  

I have a few million pics to post as soon as I’m up and running again.  Promise.  

xoxo

i am thankful

A thankful heart is always close to the riches of the universe.

-Unknown

I know I’m late on the Thanksgiving post-tizzle but I have been working on a project for work for the last week solid (except for Thursday and a few hous on Sat).  My mind is so exhausted.  I need a weekend.  :(  Hopefully we can take off early one of these days since we’ve been working so hard.  I had so much to do I actually missed going to the game today…which actually might have been a good thing considering how the Chargers did.

I am TIRED but I wanted to show my blog a little love and just say that I am thankful.  For everything.  I am thankful for the joy, the sadness, the love, and the smiles.  All the experiences I’ve had and all the things I’ve heard, seen…and all the people who have loved me, make my life what it is today.  Of course there are things that can always be better but I am elated to have what I do.  

Thank you Mom, Papa & Grandma…thank you Dalin…thank you Heather…thank you Kathy, Robert & Dierra…thank you family…and thank you FRIENDS (you know who you are).  I hope you all had a fantastic holiday.  :)

I am leaving you with a mess of random images…this first picture is of the countertop and our Aunt Kathy’s house when we arrived late Thursday on our third and final thanksgiving dinner stop.  It cracks me up.  We were late so they were starting to clean up but that didn’t stop my dear husband from breaking out the zip lock bags and containers (that he brought with us) to take home the yummy home cookin’.  

And finally, one of my super-hero.  Just a quick moment in time – but I love it.  I think it’s the sparkle of his wedding ring.  He thinks it looks like a cell phone ad.

That’s it for now…it’s past my bed time.  

::hugs:: – C

finally friday

You can’t have Thanksgiving with no turkey.  That’s like 4th of July without apple pie, or like Friday with no two pizzas!”

-Friends

Are you ready for the weekend?

Man, work is a bit crazy these days and I’m thankful that when I wake up tomorrow it’s going to be Friday. Yes!  I thought it might never come.  I have an insane to do list this weekend so there won’t be much down time but at least I’ll be doing a few of my favorite things – spending time with family & friends, taking pictures (2 sessions this weekend!), and going to the Charger game (hell yeah!).  I know…they aren’t having the best season, but I must say, the fun of a San Diego home game remains uncompromised!! 

I guess this post was just to say I hope everyone has a fantastic weekend.  If you’re working as hard as me…you deserve it!

Here are a few pics from the last home game (just tryin to get you fired up for Sunday!)

Tailgating…Barbies & Beer

I’m not sure I can put into words how happy my husband was to see this:

Almost as happy as me when I caught this “What not to wear” moment.  I blurred the face cause, well…she’s a fashion victim.  

Audrey’s first game and she was a natural…

The wind trying to take my mom away..

Last but not least…I think it’s important for every man to see what a real man does for his woman when she’s in the port-o-potty.  :)

Good times….GOOOOOOOO Chargers & Happy Friday to all.

for lindsay

Love doesn’t make the world go round, love is what makes the ride worthwile. 

-Franklin P. Jones

I have very few pictures from Lindsay’s wedding (partying too hard apparently), but I went through and found a few I thought she’d like to see.  I loved all the bright colors at her ceremony so I decided to make the pictures really sunny and bright.  I *heart* all the natural lighting in these…

You looked tres belle, madamoiselle Linds!  :) 

Gorgeous Paper Items courtesy of Cathy @ Love at First Invite – Image Editing credit to: Heather Boland

I wish I had more…  The Bouchers intimidated me!  :)

my best friends’ wedding

To the world you may be one person, but to one person, you may be the world.

-Heather Cortez

It’s hard to shoot a wedding when you are:

1) In the wedding party

2) In tears

3) Not the “real” photographer… (somewhere in Vegas there is a wedding photog that hates me)

Regardless…I was pleased that I got some shots that I really love (Hubby got some good ones during the ceremony, too!).  Wedding photos are a whole new breed when you know everyone in them, their fears, their goals, and their triumphs.  This one of one the most important weddings I will ever go to – I was thrilled to be a part of it and I will never forget the happiness I felt that day.

I could spend forever processing these files – but knowing that it sometimes takes FOREVER for a bride to get pictures from her pro photog, I wanted to get these up as soon as possible so she has a least some pictures.

Of course, there are more…but these are my favorites (I know some are a bit grainy but I’m working on getting new lens):

She wanted a semi-vintage/classic style…

And the first one I posted in case you hadn’t seen it:

Oh, and…me…in all my proud bridesmaid glory….

I love you Mr. & Mrs. Gulley!  I hope you are loving your honeymoon.

ALOHA!