Pear Blossom

I love summer  Especially when I have a month off with my kids, time to sleep in, make goodies, swim, shop and vacation.  LOVE IT!  I’m not ready for it to end, I am however very excited to get back to taking pictures!  I’ve had some awesome ideas for shoots, I’ve purchased a couple really cool props and I’m super excited for the fall season to start!  As a reminder, it’s never to early to start booking your holiday shoots!  It creeps up on you fast and there’s nothing like having your holiday cards ready to be mailed December 1st … so plan early.      

Every year I do a photo shoot with my kids on their birthday (or around it) … since Anthony just turned 10 (insane, I know!!) it was his turn to get in front of the camera.  We decided to do a sports themed shoot since baseball has been such a huge part of his year.  It was hot and very bright outside, I guess I could have picked a better time then 2:30 in the day … but it was the only time to fit it in so I went with it.  Anthony delivered exactly what I wanted, some serious, some silly and some sweet.  Here is just a small sampling from his birthday shoot.               Anyone that knows Anthony, knows how sweet and gentle he is.  He is always happy to entertain a baby, toddler or his 4 year old sister, he is gracious and considerate and loves to have fun.   Anthony has been a blessing since the moment he came into this world, Joe and I can’t even describe in words what a gift he is, we can only be thankful every day that we have him in our life!     

All new blog posts will be BELOW this!  If you’re a new blog reader or if you’ve just popped in after some time and  you haven’t seen the whole new Madison Ave Photography website please take a moment and take a look!  I’ve completely re-designed the whole site with new photos, featured galleries and a calendar feature which shows dates available for shoots.    

Madison Ave Photography   

You plan, plan, and plan and then it’s all over in a flash!  That’s how this birthday party went, so much prep work and then it just flies by.  Anthony had so much fun, we rented a water slide for the kids … it barely fit in our yard (literally squeezed in) it was huge.  Anthony was just having the time of his life the entire party, everytime I saw him he had the hugest smile on his face.  I was a terrible photographer and took hardly any pictures at all, but on the flip side I spent time socializing with all our wonderful friends.  After I looked at the pictures I was so bummed I hadn’t taken more of the kids, more of our guests and so on …  

Here are some of the very few images I snapped 

Mads didn’t even think about going down the slide, she stayed in her little kiddie pool the whole time, and once she was cold and done swimming she took all her little girl friends into her room so they could destroy it in record time (that’s my girl!)   it literally looked like a tornado swept in.  Those girls must have changed their clothes 10 times! 

Joe and I have our roles, I’m the photographer and he’s the videographer … I think both of us failed in our jobs this weekend. 

Fun times!  Happy Birthday Ant Bear :)    

Madison just started swim lessons for the first time this year and it’s very exciting!  She has sat on the side lines for so many years watching her brother do everything, but this year it’s her turn and over the course of the year she will have her turn at swimming, baseball and basketball (well over the course of a full 12 months from now) and she’s really pumped about it! 

Madison is so funny during swim lessons, she is one of those girls that really lets the teacher now what she is willing to do and what she’s not … getting her face wet has been an issue, but you can’t go swimming and not get your face wet so she’s just going to have to learn to deal with it.   I am happy to report that yesterday she did successfully get her face wet, baby steps I guess.  The most important part is that she’s enjoying it and looks forward to it.   

So my friend Jaki gave me the cutest little writing journal, she wrapped it in this really cool multi color satin wrap … it looked beautiful!   Anthony practices baseball 3 times a week and then a game once a week, so we spend 4 nights  a week with all the other parents and in turn all the younger siblings get to hang out as well.  Madison has made a very special friend over the season, they’ve gotten to be very close and it gives Madison something to be excited about when we go to the practices/games.  I decided to bring along my camera to take some pictures of the two girls.  

OK back to the satin wrap (see I came full swing) I used it for pictures the day I got it  Thanks Jaki!!! 

I love this hair style for girls … love it!   

and them my little Mads … can you see why it’s so hard to say no to her, look at those eyes and that sweet smile … this is the EXACT look I get every time we go to Target and we pass by the kids clothes.   

It’s kinda crazy to be thinking of the Holiday’s already, but if you’re a clothing designer then you know it’s never to early to start planning and prepping for the holiday rush.  I got a first hand sneak peek at Belle Ame’s new holiday line … it’s sooooooo cute and perfect for holiday pictures, christmas dinner, school performances and just those days you want to sparkle.  I’ve already put in my order for the leggings and tank top,  Madison currently has an obsession with small leggings and tank tops (she hates shorts). 

So I love my girl Rebekah, she always bring it, she comes complete with giggles, attitude and lots of flair … all the elements that I love so much.   

On a side note, I’m still on vacation, enjoying my kids (well enjoying might be an understatement at times) but all in all we’re having fun … lots of swim lessons, gymnastics, movies and fun days.  Anthony is celebrating his 10th birthday today, I still can’t believe that it’s been 10 years since he was born … this saying has been said time and time again but it really stands true … “it goes by so quickly” 

Anthony is so spoiled, he’s having a huge party this weekend, he went to the melting pot yesterday to celebrate (his one request).  Today he requested french toast for dinner, following dinner he’ll get to open a very special gift from Madison (surely going to make him giddy with excitement) he’s a lucky duck for sure! 

Madison and I went to a party this weekend where some of the cutest guests were the furry natured kind …         

I never shared photos from my Big Bear trip, we went up there to celebrate my birthday!  well lets be honest, it wasn’t my first destination when thinking about relaxing, I was thinking more of the warm sunny sandy kind but the kids and Joe really wanted to go Big Bear and do some fishing and it happened to be the only time we could get away for a while … so I was happy to do a warm cozy birthday celebration in the mountains.  We had originally expected really warm weather, the forecast the week before was amazing … then out of no where the weather turned to icy cold, snowy, rainy weather (the day we drove up!) I hadn’t even brought warm enough clothes.  The first day was perfect, we visited our favorite pizza place, then we poured into the grocery store to divulge on our inner child and throwin anything sweet and yummy into the cart … we followed that by a movie, warm cookies, popcorn and some chocolate.  The second day we froze our butts off in the snow when we tried to go fishing, bad idea even though I hear fishing is best when it’s the coldest and we did catch 9 fish … still it was freezing!!! 

We had such a great time and the kids had a blast, which in the end is what makes me the happiest! 

My favorite Jack gloves  

yummy pizza 

This is how it looked when we went out to fish, but it got nasty so quickly, the sun completely disappeared and it started snowing 

Ok not the most flattering photo I’ve ever taken but I’ll share since it was so fine playing in the snow with the kids … and being beamed by many snow balls even though I was yelling “watch out for my camera!!!!!!!!!!!”   

I had the pleasure of doing some headshots for a friend and I must say, they came out smashing!  It made me think about how everyone should have the opportunity to just have a portrait session, no reason, no one else in the picture … just them.  My grandmother had many pictures done of herself in her late 20’s, 30’s and they are beautiful!   Yet as adults we rarely take time to do a portrait session just for ourselves, most of the time it’s with our kids or on our wedding day.  Having a great portrait of yourself is a timeless keepsake!