Baby Love and Don't Miss Out.

First the Baby Love Part:

Almost 2 weeks ago my friend Ali came over and we took some fun baby pictures. I love to experiment with the babes cause they usually don't complain too much. Between Ali and I we have 8 kids. So imagine 7 kids running around, one dog trying to be in on the action and then the newbie trying to fit in. We managed pretty well. Thanks Ali for letting me use your baby to get that photography fix..You're the best!









We're so glad that captured this little dude when we did cause Ali said that he gain a whole pound in one week and is chunking out. That's a good reminder...Make sure you schedule your photo shoot with in the first 2 weeks of the newbie's life to make sure you get that baby fresh look.

Next the Don't Miss Out Part:

For the sake of my family blog I am now only going to post photography shoots on my photography blog from now on out. So don't miss out and add it to your list.

Good ole Luck of the Irish!

We had fun this year trying to figure out the kids "Green outfits". You know elementary kids are the least forgiving when it comes to not wearing green and will pinch you all day long. I was lucky to catch these two blue eyed beauties right before Liv ran out the door to school. I still don't know how I ended up with two blue eyed kids where Matt and I both have dark brown. I always wished as a kid that I had blue eyes so maybe my wish kinda came true.











My kids are funny because they are the hardest for me to photograph. They don't listen. They don't look at me. They goof off. They are just plain hard and purely frustrating to work with. I have to pull all sorts of tricks out of my hat to get that one good one. I probably have to take 100 shots to get one or two that I love. In fact if I remember correctly the ones of Harrison here are the ones where I had to pretend that my camera was tooting. Yes I said it...tooting. He is so boy. He gets this horrible and sometimes very embarrassing humor from his dear old dad. Thanks Matt.

One day last week Harrison had pictures at preschool. When it was his turn he just hugged to my leg and was acting really weird. He didn't want to sit on the little chair and act along very well. I had to do a song and dance for him and still not one turned out. He kept putting his chin down to create 20 double chins or he would open his eyes really wide and then smile with his 20 double chins. Urgh!!! I just said pick the best one you got. Well on the way home I asked him why he was acting so weird about getting his picture taken. And you know what he said..Bless his heart. He said, "I only like you to take my picture mommy!" Ahhh. He gets brownie points in my heart. Thanks bud for building up my confidence. So I guess I should be content with what I get from him. Cutie bug.

Browned Eyed Girl

I can't believe the twins are 2 years old now. Amazing how time flies. It is also amazing how destructive 2 year old twins can be. Someday if I get brave enough I will post a photo of how destructive they can actually be. Some days I really wonder if I should even clean up the toys or just endure it. Because as soon as I pick them up they some how end up right back out all over the place.

Now that the weather is finally turning nice I am getting the photography bug again. So I dressed up Isabella and headed outside. I realized how much I love capturing emotions that happen in front of my camera. I have been waiting for the twins to get over their lovely spring snot colds and take their 2 year pictures together but I dread doing that because it is like trying to catch the wind in a jar to get them to hold still, let alone to even look at me at the same time and actually smile. (Not the typical screaming and pulling on each other). So we'll see. I was exhausted even after the mini shoot with just Isabella. She didn't want to even sit still. So most of her shots are scowling, crying, climbing up and down on the chair and climbing through the arms of the chair. I was lucky to capture what I did with this busy girl.

These are some of my favorites of our mini session which included about 10 breaks for a quick snack here and there.






Well I'll be back for more later. Lots more photos to come of the kiddos and what's been happen in our chaotic corner of the world.

It's not Christmas anymore at my house!

I guess it's been awhile since I've visited my own blog. It has been christmas for a long time. Not that I've got that cleared up I guess it's time to catch up. But of course my time allowance is gone for now so maybe later tonight I can do that. Ta Ta.

New Family Picture

Well I am finally done with our new family picture. It was nice doing it this way cause I could focus on one kid at a time and try to get a natural looking pose. Try is the key word. It is almost impossible to get 4 young kids looking and smiling at the camera all at once so this was great.



I also finished our family christmas card and got it ordered. Hopefully it will come in the next few days and then turn around and get them out the door.




I can't believe how big the twins are getting. They are not little babies anymore. Sniff Sniff. Every new stage is a fun stage, (very exhausting) but fun. They are starting to say words and can really understand what you are asking them to do and usually follow simple directions. Isabella said "Gracie" (our dogs name) yesterday plain as day but hasn't repeated it again. Max will usually repeat certain words you ask him to say. Like Momma, Daddy, Baby, Doggy (sometimes). He points to his tummy, nose, ears, mouth, and of course has to stick his finger in yours as well. Isabella loves to show her tummy to you if you ask her. Isabella is also turning into Maxwell's little mommy. She wants to get him out of his highchair, help dress him and tries to control him if he is doing something she doesn't want him to do. Oh dear. Not another little mommy around here I don't know if I can handle another one.

As for Olivia and Harrison, Liv is going to be 6 and Harrison is going to be 4 on January 15. Yup they have the same birthday. 4 kids and 2 birthdays. Crazy and very exhausting. I can't believe Liv is going to be 6! I'm getting old. She lost her bottom 2 front teeth this last few weeks and is growing up so fast. She is learning to read and sometimes she memorizes the story and thinks she is reading. She calls me on the phone all by herself if there's a babysitter. It is actually fun having her a little bit older cause she is starting to like hanging out with the girls and going shopping. Oh no watch out...shopping.

Harrison is probably the most thoughtful little boy I know. I refer to him as sweetie, or honey often and he will sometimes refer to me as sweetie or honey back and usually out of the blue. I love it. Hopefully I can teach him to be a kind, loving little boy so when the day comes and he grows up it will come natural to him. Keep my fingers crossed that it works.

Thursday is my birthday and I don't know how I feel about it. I cried last year when I turned 30 so I'm hoping this next one wont be as traumatic. I don't know what is was. The fact that I wasn't in my 20's anymore or what. I know that I wouldn't want to be 20 again. Cause that has been a long hard 10 years. I'm glad to be where I am at now with my life and have gained a lot but surely wouldn't want to relive some to the trials we have been through. So wish me luck on not being depressed on gaining another year and I'm sure 10 more wrinkles to come within this next year.

Christmas Cards

I have been so busy getting picture orders out it's beginning to feel like christmas for me when the delivery man comes to my door. I have also been having fun designing christmas cards for some clients. Here are a few samples.





I can't wait to get my done and out the door. I guess I can't put it off any longer christmas is going to be here before we know it. So if you get a late christmas card from me you'll know I had good intentions on getting them out on time.

It's late and I can't even think straight or spell right since I am backspacing every word...so I'll write more from the heart later.

Gari Lu's beauties

I don't know if I should use this for my photo sneak peaks or my Photography blog??? What is easier for everyone to see? Here is my friend Gari Lu's family. Such beautiful children...can you please share some of that beauty?




{She didn't even order this one! But I had to put it on there. They are perfect together}







Can't wait to see these in print! Off to do more proofs:)

Sassy Caroline

Caroline met me for a photo date last week and she was workin' the camera. What a sassy girl. She knows she's a cutie.
We are going to order one from her session on canvas and I can't wait to see which one they pick.



I have also been busy designing a new logo for one of my clients, Christi Hirschi from "For the Love of Thread". I love this new design. It has an antiqued yet fresh feel that I know will draw people to buy her quilting patterns.



So many things are happening in our lives right now it is hard to keep everyone straight. Olivia has lost her two bottom front teeth this last week and the twins are telling me NO all of the time...hmmm I don't if I like that new thing or not. Harrison is the biggest helper with everything when he wants to be, being the middle child isn't the easiest thing to be.

So far behind!!!

I can't believe how easy it is to fall behind in blogging. I have so much to talk about and so little time. I have so many beautiful pictures to post about halloween, Isabella's quilt (just like Max's put pink), a fun filled girls weekend, and oodles of family pictures. So to start here is a teaser of my beautiful neighbor's senior pictures. She was so fun to photograph and man her skin is flawless...so jealous





So hopefulyl I can have a power blogging day and get tons of photos ready to share:) And for all of my friends you better leave a comment and say hello...and yes I will know who you are. (You know who I'm talking who).

Well wish me luck I am off to Tavacci sining performance at the festival of trees, and a late night trip to Utah to go to Tai Pan for christmas tree hunting. Fun Times for me.

Ewww! Gross!

This morning everyone is running every which way and the babies were playing downstairs with all the big kid toys, which is a new favorite thing for them to do. I was getting ready to comb out Olivias hair and braid it for school, but I had to get a few things done first and the kids were busy playing. Isabella came up to me with wet hair and I thought maybe Olivia sprayed her hair with the conditioner since she waiting so patiently for me. So I ran my fingers through her hair trying to comb it out. Well the next time I saw Max he had wet hair too. Hmmm. Well I didn't really think too much of it and went on about my next thing trying to get Olivia out the door for school. I asked Olivia if she had sprayed the babies hair with the conditioner. She said no Harrison did it. I asked her if Harrison had sprayed the babies hair, and she said no Harrison got it wet with the toilet water from downstairs. WHAT!!! Ewww! Gross! Isabella hair had been dripping wet and Max's hair was spiked. Great, nothing like toilet water in your hair and all over your hands. Not to mention that I felt wet spots on the carpet downstairs. Thanks Harrison for adding just that extra little spice in our lives.

Break out the sewing machine cause here I come.....

Since the weather is starting to turn cold I've started sewing. I finally finished Maxwell's quilt and want one for myself. It is so cozy to cuddle up with. I've made one for all of the kids and are in the process of being quilted. Here is a picture of Max's quilt. I also had to include Max's help in decorating his wall. When ever he wakes up in the morning or from his nap he stands up and swings the stars back and forth. He thinks it's the greatest thing. It has actually burnished the wall and has made a worn path and is darker in real life. I put Isabella in his crib for a minute last week and that was the first thing she did...swing the stars. She probably has always watched him do it and has been jealous that she doesn't have stars to swing. A coveted activity.





Also last weekend I went to The Quilt Shoppe in Rigby and bought every Portabellapixie pattern they had. It is the cutest stuff. I've never made kids clothes but this made me want to. I started with the cupcake pincushion. So cute and pretty easy.





Now that we've got those projects out of the way. I am making Olivia's halloween costume...a pink cowgirl. I've found the cutest brown corduroy with pink polkadot and pink on pink fabric to use. I'm using one of the Portabellopixie patterns for the skirt and a vest to match. This week I bought an inexpensive serger to help with all of these projects. I'm a little scared to use it. I'm just going to have to do it and learn hands on. Any advice would be great.

Well I'm off to start another project. Have a great weekend.

Little Beauty

The leaves are starting to turn and it's time for those fall pictures. I didn't have to try to hard to get Olivia to model for the camera. I can't believe how grown up she is becoming.

Man where does the time go....

I still can't believe that summer has come and gone.  Buying jackets and boots...wait a minute did I just write that.  I know it can't be happening. 

Well to get started with what's been happening at our house I had really good intentions to learn how to can our home grown green beans.  I went to Rush's and bought the top of the line canner and I was ready to go.  Then I waited for more beans to come to have a good batch and then I lost that cannin' feeling.  So the ziploc bag of beans sat in the fridge for quite a few weeks and waited and waited.  Then I thought I would bottle peaches.  Hummm yeah right.   I bought a whole bunch of peaches in Brigham and brought them home.  And they are still sitting on my counter as we speak.  Good idea but no time.  

I currently have the sewing fever.  I am finishing a few quilts that I hope that can be ready for christmas presents, I learned how to sew a zipper in a little bag (which is my diaper pouch for my purse, I'll take a picture and post later), I've got aprons to sew, a new "dolly" bag for Olivia to get goin' on, and oh yeah a few other quilts.  The best of all is that I am attempting to sew new drapes for my dinning room.  Fancy ones, oh no not just your average tab top drapes that I already currently own, but ones with tassels.  We'll see if they turn out I show you.  

We already have our Halloween costumes picked out and this year Olivia is going to be a pink cowgirl, Harrison is going to be a hotdog, Maxwell is a dinosaur, and Isabella is a cute bumble bee.  We tried on costumes today and they are pretty darn cute.  

Olivia and Harrison started Terri's Tavacci Singers this last week and so far are loving it.  Their first performance will be for the festival of trees.  You are all invited to see them...if they have the guts to be up in front of a lot of people.  Olivia is still in cheer and constantly makes up her own dances daily.  

Well more rambling later, my bed is calling me.

New Photography Website

A personal goal of mine was to get my own website. Silly I know but is was. So I finally did it. And you can check it out Here.  It has been fun putting it together.  Something really simple not too fancy.  Just a place to view my work.  Thanks for everyones support.  

First day of Preschool

Harrison is going to preschool.  I have been a little worried about him because the few weeks prior to preschool he would make comments that he doesn't want to go to preschool.  He is so tender hearted that sometimes the littlest things make him get teary.  So when the morning came to go I talked to him to try to prepare him that I was going to leave and come back in 2 hours to get him.  When we got there he was a little quiet and wouldn't let go of my hand to walk on the rope with the other kids to class.  So I walked with him there and when we got inside I told him good bye and that I would come back and get him in just a little bit.  He didn't even flinch.  He started to take off his backpack and sweatshirt and was ready to play.  Shewwwww!  He turned and told his teacher that he was going to be there for 2 hours.  I guess he was really listening.  

Gotta look cool for school!

Coming back from school wasn't as scary so he held on like all the other kids.

And does this face say, "I think I liked school?"

Yeah I think so too.

First day of Kindergarten.

ell Olivia has officially completed 2 weeks of kindergarten and seems so grown up already.  She is in the afternoon session and on her first day we all walked to school and she insisted on pushing the twins.  She is definitely very independent and has to do things her way whether you like it or not.  On her first day they just had a short scavenger hunt around the classroom to help them get used to where things are.  Pretty important stuff.  When she came home she said that the boy who sits next to her is kind of mean and isn't very nice to her.  Great boys hitting on her already.  Everyday when she would come home I would ask her if this boy was any nicer that day and she would usually say no, or yeah a little bit nicer.  One day she said that he put up her chair for her.  And one day she said, "I think he is learning to be nice."  She is such a sweetheart with a little bit of sass in her at home.  

She is also so ready to learn to read.  The whole first week of school she would say that she could read a certain book and when I would have her read it to me she would say the words and when I would ask her what one of the words were she was stumped.  Hummmmm!!!  What I think she was really doing was memorizing the story to pretend that she was reading.  Stinker.  She is getting better at recognizing words though.  Only time until she is reading my secret notes.  

She is taking cheerleading this fall and comes home and puts on quite a show.  Kicks everywhere.  In her younger years she has been known as the pole dancer of the family.  Gotta love that confidence.  

Today when we came home from church Olivia said, "Mom I'll take care of the babies and feed them lunch so you don't have to."  What who are you?  All of a sudden you are so big.  I recently go a fabulous calling to serve in the nursery in our ward.  Like I don't get enough kid time as it is they thought I needed some more time with babies.  But I will stick with it a just get as much time with my own 3 kids in nursery.  Yes 3 of my kids are in there at the same time.  Lucky me.  So she probably could tell that I was a little tired and stepped up to help.  Thanks Liv.  

Long Time

Wow it has been a long time since I posted last.  Our summer has flown by.  We have spent a few weeks down in Utah at my parents house doing all the fun summer stuff.  We went to Hogle Zoo, Lagoon, twice,  and of course SHOPPING!  I can't believe that Olivia is going to start kindergarten in only 3 weeks.  My baby...is growing up.  We bought her some cute school clothes and she got her back to school haircut now all we need to know is who her teacher will be and what time she goes.  She is already starting the count down.  

Back to Lagoon.  Olivia had the best time.  She is only 5 but is tall enough to go on all but the Samari ride.  She went on the Colossas with me twice, the old white roller coaster, and wild mouse.  She loved the bat roller coaster and we had to go three times in a row and wait for the front.  Oh it was so fun.  I even tried out the new Catapult ride.  I loved it.  A human ball in a giant sling shot.  Olivia decided to sit this one out.  Although after I was done she was begging to go on it.  Next time babe.  

Be sure to check out my Photography Blog.  I have posted some fun pictures there of what I have been busy doing.  www.butterflyeyesphotography.blogspot.com.  or there is a link to the right.  Oh does anybody know how to make a link in a post here.  Like above.  I have looked and no luck.  Please help.

Messy Braids

Gotta love those messy summer braids.  After a day at the park, walking around town, and oh yeah a few days old.  What's not to love. 

Oh by the way our 3rd summer pool was destroyed on July 4th while we were blissfully watching the parade.  Guess that's the end of the pool phase for us this summer.

Summer = HOT

These few past days have sure been hot.  And you wont hear us complaining.  We went out and bought our 3rd pool for the summer yesterday, thanks to one of our dogs Gracie who loves to chew anything and everything up in our backyard.  There's nothing better than a cool dip on a hot summer day.

Max liked standing up in the water and if he got splashed then he really didn't like it anymore.

Isabella just plain didn't like the water and just looked cute in her swimsuit.

Here's Olivia inspecting her new summer injuries.  

She fell on her bike two nights in a row to create this beauty. (So if you like this look that is how you can get it.)

Those eyes get us every time...to do what she wants.

Harrison never stops.  He was having fun walking in our stream and of course enjoying his left- overs on his face.

My smokin' hot husband.  His eyes make my heart melt every time I look at him.

And here is Gracie.  The puppy who cant get enough of that new summer pool flavor. 

Well I better go.  There are snow cones to be eaten, diet cokes to be drank and oh yeah kids to be taken care of.  More later.

New Photography Blog

Well it is time to separate things out.  I have started my photography blog.  The address is butterflyeyesphotography.blogspot.com. There is a link on the right that will get you there.  Yes I know it is 2:30 am.  Insane.  But it is the only time I get to myself sometimes.  I'm sure some of you understand :)