Mothers Day Video 2011 - Becky and Audrey

Ok, Becky and Audrey are going to kill me for posting this...but I couldn't resist.  I love these girls!  At church, I was asked to video the young women of our ward.  They answered some questions about mothers and then the videos were combined to make a big video full of clips from the youth of our ward.  They showed it on Mother's Day.  Although it was awkward (for both of us) being behind the camera as they answered questions about their mothers...I was so grateful to have such beautiful daughters who said such beautiful things.  My favorite part was the wonderful tributes they gave their grandmothers! 

gone fishin'

Every year in our ward, our High Priest's quorum puts on a salmon feed.   A good friend of ours, Don goes salmon fising every year in Alaska and shares his catch with us.  YUMMY!  Last year they asked me to take some pictures.  Tim and got creative and set up some fun props and we had a little fun with the green screen.  Here is our picture...gone fishin'!

Natalia turns 5

Sad to say, I am almost a year behind in the blog.  SAD!  Shame on me!  Little Natty will be 6 in a few weeks...and here I am posting her 5th birthday pictures.  It was at this point I decided to take all of kids yearly pictures on their birthday.  Most of those from last year have been posted on my portrait photograpy blog.  I've wondered if I should just combine the two blogs.  But, I'm not sold on that one yet.  Anyway...Natalia on her 5th birthday...

 Due to late Spring snow storms, our poor little cherry blossom tree just couldn't hold up.  The wet snow was too much for it's branches...thus having some sweet pink flowers just at Natty's height. 

 LOVE THOSE BROWN EYES...MY BROWN-EYED GIRL!

This picture sits on my office desk...not sure if she's thinking, "oh mom...another picture again!" or "how's this pose?"  Either way...to me it captured her 5 year old personality.  I loved the sunlight just peeking through on her hair. 

 I  love my sisters!

 I love my sisters!

Birthday breakfast with friends at McDonalds! 

Friends include Luca, Brando, Maddie, Aiva, Analise, and cousins, Sacia and Anna.

Natty's first ferry ride

We thought it was about time that Natty experience a ferry ride.  How can you live in Seattle and not do that at least once!?  We traveled over to Port Orchard last April to look at a boat for sale.  It was a quick hop off and hop on kind of ride, but nonetheless we had a great time! 

Fun with my new lens!

Last March Mom got a new 50mm lens for her camera!   Yea!  Since then I have been using it for most of my photography work and have been very happy with it.  Here are Natty and I testing it out in my office/studio! 

Testing it out at the store...Natty makes any lens look good!

Reflection, shooting into a mirror.

 Showing off her latest preschool creation!

I have to thank Tim, for making my dreams come true and helping me chase after my passion.  I love you!

Together we sing!

Both and Audrey and Celeste love to sing and have been in choirs for the last 4 years.  In March 2011, their choirs came together to sing.  Here are the two songbirds (Audrey - Chief Kanim Middle School 8th grade choir and Celeste - Fall City Elementary 5th grade choir)

Celeste Rodriguez - Girl Scout

2011 was a fun year in Girl Scouts for Celeste.  She is with a great group of girls and leaders and they have a lot of fun.  Sadly the troop hasn't been as active this school year, but tweens do get older and find other things to occupy their time.  Here are some memorable moments from 2011.