Aunt A-ka.

I have no idea what it is about my name that makes it soooooo hard to pronouce for a little kid, but whatever the reason....it is. I have been called Eh-nika and Eka. My cousin, Sarah, couldn't say Ericka and called me Urlicka forever. My Aunt Jean will still call me that when she calls me on the phone. My sister couldn't say Ericka when we were little so she just called me Ketchup. (Of course, that could've had something to do with the fact that I ate ketchup on practically everything.) And Danicka is just carrying on the legacy.

"Aunt A-ka".

A couple weekends ago (I know!! I've been so busy I couldn't even find time to post these until today!!)....Anyhoo....a couple of weekends ago, I kept Dani so my sister could go out to celebrate her birthday with some friends.

I love this kid.

The only time she didn't have us in stitches was when she was sleeping. We laughed so hard at her, the things she said, and the things she did. I kept my camera handy for most of the day just to catch her in action. Don't worry, I'll save you the bare toosh pictures.




See what I mean?! This girl is a comedian in her own little world. I wish I would have taken a picture of the aftermath of the Spaghetti O's. Oh my gosh. Bryce is our messiest eater in this house, and Dani put him to shame.

This picture makes me smile so hard....from the inside out.

The cool thing about being an aunt is spoiling the kids. You know, letting them do the fun things at your house that they'd get in trouble for at home -- jumping on the beds, eating Spaghetti O's with no silverware, eating candy before dinner -- the really cool things that make "Aunt A-ka" really cool. (I'm always up for some extra cool points.)

I took this set of pictures in about ten minutes. As in, ten minutes total. Once she crashed, she crashed hard.

Once the plans were made for Dani to come to my house, I immediately started scheming ideas for a photo shoot. The last time I did a mini-session of her (remember these?!) she ended up winning a Cute Kid contest. I think she'd win again......I'm just sayin'.

These were actually taken in my kitchen in front of a half wall next to my patio door. It was late afternoon and I was losing the available light pretty fast...so I had to work quickly. And with a 2-year-old, it was probably a pretty good idea. I fired off about 20 frames and ended up with some pretty amazing shots in the little time that I had. This one was, hands down, my absolute favorite!!
Now, if I could just get my nephew for a couple hours........

2009 Year in Review

2009 was good to me.

Reeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeally good to me.

Like, almost-one-of-the-best-years-ever good to me. Yeah, THAT good.

I looked back at the 6500 images I took (no joke, it was that many!!) and tried to find the best picture of the year. Something that highlighted the year.

But, when I started looking, I couldn't find one. I could find 32 of them. And then at one point I narrowed it down to 15, but I couldn't find just one.

Then, I asked myself, "Why do I have to pick just one?".

And that tiny little thought led me to 158 images that I compiled into this amazing slideshow. Which to me, was a 5 minute smile chiseled into my face.

As easy as you'd think this would be for me -- a photographer, mind you -- it was so hard trying to weed out the "unimportant" images. We had alot of important stuff happen over the course of 2009. There were birthdays, and milestones of a first tooth loss, there were sporting events and life events of babies being born. There were holidays and vacations.

But my all-time favorite times from last year were the in-betweens. The Halfdozen sledding trips and snow forts, the family trip to the Ohio State spring game, the night all of us went to dinner at TGIFridays and Cassanos, and our Yahtzee games. Then, there were the summer nights of the kids playing in the backyard, or the hot afternooons at the swimming pool. The lazy Saturday afternoons of sidewalk chalk drawings and the backyard football games.

How is one person suppose to choose a favorite? I couldn't. And believe me, I tried! Chris always makes fun of me for have 100 favorites of something -- movies, colors, foods, shoes. "They ALL can't be your favorites...", he'd say. But there was just no way for me to have only one favorite.

I hope my family gets to look back at the gazillion (that's really a word) pictures that I have taken over their lives and appreciate the moments that I was able to capture.

It's like memory insurance.

One day they'll be old, with kids of their own, looking back at boxes full of pictures. They'll tell their kids "man, I remember when we went here"....or "remember how mad mom got when we broke that clock?"

I want them to feel their hearts swell when they look back at these pictures and remember how much they were loved. Then maybe, just maybe, they'll have a tiny idea about how it felt to be their mom.

The Doyle Family

Geez-o-peets.

This session was by far one of my favorite sessions ever! This group of kids -- count 'em 5!! -- was so fun and easy to work with -- they did anything asked of them and the smiles never left their cute little faces.

I had such a hard time picking my favorites from this session!! But, I think I have it narrowed down to these:

(Would you believe me if I told you these two were twins?!?!???)

Aren't they all just adorable!?

Heather, their mom, is one of Chris' best childhood friends. They practically grew up together and have remained close all these years. And, she's the only one that gets away with calling him "Chrissy"....so you know she's special. =)

To old friends...

I know I've said it before, and if I had to count how many times I've said it, I'd probably hit triple digits.

"It's funny how life works."

If someone were to sit Jerame and I down back during those long summers at the pool where we lifeguarded together and told us that years later down the road our families would be close -- inviting each other to your kids' birthday parties, celebrating engagements, or comforting mutual friends grieving -- neither one of us would believe you. In fact, we probably would have laughed at you.

Once your last summer guarding has ended, you really don't anticipate seeing either other again. Being from neighboring towns, you go on to bigger paying jobs and down different paths of life. Sure, you might cross paths again later on in your journey, exchange hellos and go on, but never would you think that you would be in the same circle of close-knit friends together down the road.

But, that's just what happened for Jerame and I. He and Chris are best friends and have been for years. And now, years after we were summer co-workers together, our friendship has picked up right where it left off all those years ago.

His beautiful wife Sara gave me the pleasure of capturing their cute little family for them. She knew the perfect place. So, we waited until the leaves got just right and viola!

(Can't you just hear her giggling? So stinkin' cute!)

I can only imagine that this is the first of many shoots for this family over the course of the next 30 years or so. I'm sure there will be more family sessions, senior sessions, weddings (don't kill me for mentioning this one guys!)....because that's what old friends do.

Edited to add a little surprise:

His Day

If you were to ask me what a typical day is like in our house with our little Half Dozen, the first thing I would tell you is "chaos". Mad chaos. Sometimes we try to organize it, but other times it's just flat outta control.

Then, I'd tell you how much love we have trapped in the 4 walls of our 2-story brick house. I would tell you about our red-headed-freckled son that has an uncanny resemblance to the Cookie Monster when he eats. I would tell you about our 11-year-old daughter who we believe secretly has a Sports Agent for her softball career. Then I'd tell you about our girly-girl who usually has her nose shoved in the binding of a book, reading to her baby, Molly. And I'd tell you about our super-star quarterback 10-year-old with a laser rocket arm. I'd tell you about how the 4 of them run thru our house like excited dogs searching for an open door. I'd tell you how loud it gets in our house from the laughter -- typically following one of the boys, or Taylor, farting. I'd tell you how we sit down to eat dinner together nearly every night and how my most favorite part of the day is when we tuck them in and get hugs and kisses..... x 4.

But then I'd tell you about the man that holds everything together. I'd tell you about how he works endless hours some days to make sure our house runs like a well oiled machine. I'd tell you about how he spends his "day off" doing way more housework than he should, without ever complaining, to make sure we can have quality Half Dozen Time when I get home from work. I'd explain that my passion for photography would never be pursued without the love and support from my best friend....even if it means he has to bear a bigger load for the next 2 months. I'd tell you about a man that gives his unbiased, genuine advice that nearly always follows the rule of "doing the right thing". I'd tell you how my heart warms to see Harley snuggled in his lap asleep. Or how I fill with pride to hear him and Brenden talk football at the dinner table. Or how adorable he is when Bryce is following him around the house wanting to help him with any chore he might be doing, like his very own personal assistant. And of course there's how he gets all sweaty passing the softball (or football these days) with Taylor in the backyard....then proceeds to give me a big 'ol (very sweaty!) bear hug.

I would tell you how he chuckles at me for leaving the closet light on. Every. Single. Day. I'd tell you how he has stood by me thru some of the darkest days of my life and how he's influenced me to be an amazing person. I would tell you how he loves my freckles and kissing me on the nose. I'd tell you how he tries to prevent me from burning myself when I cook dinner, and cleans up after me while I cook. I'd tell you how my days are sweeter and colors are brighter because of his smile. I'd tell you how I still get butterflies when his name pops up on my phone.

Sunday was his day. His day to be taken to breakfast, sit in the A/C, and be catered to all day long -- even if he did have to mow the grass. And that's exactly what we did. Because nothing says "we love you" and "thanks dad" like a glass of sweet tea and burgers on the grill. Which seems so inadequate for what he gives to all of us every other day of the year.

Couldn't wait!

Ok.....I'm not even half way thru editing the session I did with Jaime, Jason and their son, Jayden, but I couldn't help but post a quick peek. I absolutely loved this little man. He had such character!

My favorite part of being a photographer....ok, well, there are many, so let's just say ONE of my favorite parts of being a photographer is capturing personalities in my images. If I laugh out loud when I'm editing a session because I see an image that comes alive, I know I've done my job. There were quite a few times while I was editing these images that I just chuckled, out loud, at the expressions on Jayden's face...like I could almost hear his cute little giggle. Absolutely adorable, this kid is!

One of my other favorite parts of my job is trying to figure out what it takes to make my clients smile. I've done some pretty radical things to pull a smile out of the frowniest (I'm sure that's not a word). With Jayden, all it took was a high five. I'd high five him, he'd smile. We had it down pat.



Check back...I'm sure I won't be able to contain myself while I process the rest of the images!

I absolutely love my job!!!!!!!!!

xo,
e

Photo Essay -- Mother's Day

I realized this morning that I never posted any pictures of my Mother's Day.

Mother's Day used to be one of the most dreaded days of the year for me. After losing my mom at the age of 15, it was a day of constant reminder of what I no longer had. It was a day that forced me to remember how her laugh sounded, what her smile looked like, and what her love felt like. And the more days that went by, the harder it seemed to keep those things fresh in my mind.

But then.......then, you have kids of your own, and as amazing as it is, the focus shifts from what you don't have, to what you do. From a day you don't get to be part of, to a day dedicated to you.

This Mother's Day was even better than year's past because it was multiplied by 2. Double the hugs, double the love, double the laughter and double the smiles.

We spent the day outside in the garden with the girls waiting for the boys to come back home. Some of my most treasured things of my mom's are the pictures that keep her memory alive. I realized I rarely allow myself to get in front of the camera -- since I'm normally behind it. So I made a conscience decision to try to get in some of them. (Even though I hate nearly every picture of myself, I'm going to do better at that. Although I think I might be the only person on the face of the planet that actually LIKES my drivers license picture. Go figure.)




I am truly blessed with the people who are in it.

O-H!

If there's one thing I've learned by living with (and loving) an Ohio State grad, is you eat it, sleep it, breathe it, love it, speak it, watch it, dream it, feed it, marry it, scream it, and live it. Ok, that was more than just "one thing"...

I've always been a Buckeye fan, but Chris takes it to a whole new level. His passion for the Buckeyes is like a German chocolate cake with whipped milk chocolate icing to a sugar deprived kid. Naturally, we are trying to instill that crazy passion in our kids.

Part of passing down the craziness is taking them to the spring football game. Ask anyone in a 20 mile radius of The Shoe and they'll tell you it's a national holiday....or should be. So, Saturday we packed up the troop and headed to Columbus for the un-official Spring Game Day.

I was too chicken to take my big camera -- plus The Shoe has this ridiculous policy of no detachable lenses -- so all of these were taken with my crappy point & shoot.



I have this thing I do when I shoot where I don't hold the camera up to my eye, I just aim and shoot. This is one of the shots. I really didn't anticipate it coming out the way it did, but I totally dig it.



The Columbus Skyline



This picture actually has a purpose. That building behind them is where Chris spent the 2 years he lived in Columbus. The window just above his head was his bedroom. This was the first trip back to Columbus with Chris with me. It's so much different seeing the city thru his eyes....the memories, the nostalgia, and the bittersweet good-bye.



Again with the graffiti?! I can't explain my fascination for it. I think there should be an art history class on it...



The staple family pic in front of the rotunda. You can't really see it, but the rotunda has these huge, HUGE windows of mosaic stained glass pictures. Amazing.



Anything about 50° in Ohio in April is considered a heat wave....at 70° people kick on their central air....and 80° is borderline global warming. On Saturday it was 84°. We all had sunblock on (in April!?) and STILL managed to get sunburned. And to make it worse, we all got it on only one side of our bodies. Except for Harley....she spent the majority of the game under the bleachers playing her Leapster. Yeah, football isn't her thing. Maybe if they wore pink tu-tu's and sprinkled glitter everywhere she'd pay attention.



Meet The Buckeyeguy. From the look of the nuts around his neck, I'd say this guy is pretty cool. Anyone who wears gloves and a turtleneck in 84° weather, has to be cool.



Out of the whole day, I got 3 pictures of the actual football game (and none of them are even posted!). Spoken like a true photographer....

Sweet nothings...

I love little notes in the mornings.


Even more than the automatic timer on the coffee pot.



xo,
e

Table for 6

Occasionally, there are times when someone says something to me and I'm so floored by the words coming out of their mouth that I swear I hear a record scratch.....everything comes to a complete standstill....and the crickets chirp. You know you have that ridiculous look on your face -- the one where your nose is all scrunched up, you look throuroughly confused and the only word you can muster up to say is "HUH!!???" Yeah, that one. That reaction is usually the result of the words "you're pregnant" or "Your 9-year-old daughter needs a size 7 shoe" ...

Now, though......now those surprises come in form of "The toilet's overflowing" or "Let's jump off the roof" and "I tried to eat it"...


Amazingly enough, I also use find myself somewhat confused when a waitress would say "Table for 6?"


Our little Halfdozen (as we affectionately refer to as ourselves) went to TGIFriday's the other night for dinner and I realized that I didn't have my normal reaction to the reference of 6. I'm use to it now. What used to be 'my girls won't eat....' or 'my boys would rather...' has now turned into "our kids". It's like the Brady Bunch coming together only better. Except I''m Carol AND Alice. Well, that and the fact that there's only 4 kids instead of 6.

And if anyone is ever looking for a little entertainment and there's nothing on TV, try coming to dinner with us at a restaurant. It's hilarious...messy, but hilarious.

xo,

e

#862

I love lists. I think I have a list for everything.

I keep lists of:

chores to do
funny things my 7-year-old says
groceries to get
Things To Do Before I Die
Places I Want to Go
People I love and adore
Things I want to get
Things I want to get rid of
Movies I want to see
Recipes to try
Bands I love (which changes almost daily)
The kids' favorite foods
And the foods they dislike (which also change almost daily)
My favorite colors
Blogs I read
Favorite images
Things I love about our kids
My favorite t-shirts
And flip-flops


Apparently, I even keep lists of my lists. For some, odd reason lists make me feel like I'm organized, like I won't miss anything.

I also keep a list of reasons why I love Chris. The list is long...and gets longer every waking day. He does thoughtful things for me, he reads to Harley, he fixes me coffee in the mornings....

Good things. Thoughtful things.

This morning I added something to that list.

This guy greeted us at the kitchen table this morning when we came down for breakfast. My body warmed with happiness and a huge smile covered my face. I laughed and realized how lucky I am to have such a wonderful man in our lives. And he's pretty funny.

Happiness. I have a list for that, too.

Family Pictures in December?

For real. It was almost 50 degrees out on Saturday and couldn't have been better weather for the S family shoot. Granted, it was still cold--after all it IS December, but the sun was out.

An absolutely adorable family! The boys, C and E, were entertaining and so well mannered. I had a blast working with them!