WHERE DID APRIL GO???

Where do I start?...

I. Before & After
Not the most exciting news, but who doesn't like before and after shots. No it's not an extreme make over or a home re-modeling project... it's just my Lhasa’s and their cute new summer cuts.

ESPN and Miss Houston
and then looking ten lbs lighter...

II. Family FUN
Grandma and Papa picked up a "Wii". Enough said.

Classic "waiting for my turn" expression...

III. Ella Goes to Work
My dad has been assisting me on my photo assignments (as most of you may know). My mother runs a day care business out of their house now (as most of you know). Well, every time I pick up Papa for work Ella says, "Papa, I go with you". I finally gave in and Ella (she warms my heart) went to work with us. I knew the clients I was shooting very well and knew Nelly wouldn't mind one bit, so if she was going to go "today" was going to be the day.
On the way home we stopped by a Portland look out point (Rocky Butte) and did some sight seeing. Sometimes people do not tour their own city enough. I found a new favorite place to shoot. The lines, shadows/highlights, texture and richness in color kept me smiling ALL day long. I love the stones and think this would be a great place to dress the girls up in gowns and take (lack of a better word) princes photos. It's like their very one castle!

IV. The BIG Surprise!!!

Momma turns 50... I threw (with the help of my wonderful family, couldn't of done it with out you guys) a successful surprise birthday bash. It was a month of planning and it came and went SO fast. Everything ended out to be perfect, I only wish I had taken more photos... but sometimes you just need to be there.

Everyone pitched in for her gift. We found a basket and loaded it up with "Cindy's favorite things". Above are little hand made plant pots with a special message. There was everything from a homemade book of 50 goofy stories shared with her cousins to gift cards to her favorite places and her favorite candy and frames and photos and artwork and the list goes on... thank you everyone again for ALL your help!!! It was FUN :)

The year THEY turned 50!!!

V. The Coast
Having family come in from Utah for Mom's 50th, was the icing on a cake, the cherry on a sundae... they topped it off. What is a must when out of town family is here? A trip to the coast!!!

He's ALIVE!!!

The kids had fun...

...And so did the big kids. So here is the deal. If you can make it to Oceanside (just outside Tillamook) at LOW tide and I mean the lowest, it is a sight to see. The deal is you have to make it around two points and this doesn't happen often but when you do there is this AMAZING cave on the other side and it is just fun to explore and check out. This day the tide wasn't low enough to make it around the second point... it did not stop my Dad from trying. Nor did it stop me from following. Soaked to my neck and stuck on the rocks... it was worth every minute. The veiw on the other side was breath taking. I shot it using Dad's camera. Becky had mine safe and DRY in her hands... thank you Becky and Destyn for keeping us safe :)

FYI... wet jeans are no fun to rock clime in, but Dad's blue hat is stylin' on me.

Perfcet Oregon Coast shot. The rocks and beach combers in sweat shirts. I think I know these two... :)

Not a trip to the coast unless you feed them birds!!!

VI. THINK BIG! THINK PURPLE!
THE BIGGEST NEWS EVA!!! Jebediah is officially a Yahoo! employee. No more contracts! He went from a blue badge to a PURPLE badge... I'm so PROUD of you Jebs!!! Ok, so I'm a little excited, but he amazes me with his hard work and determination. No we did not have to move to Oshkosh WI or Sunnyvale CA. Jeb, in a time of layoffs and being a fulltime student was able to make himself so irreplaceable that we are now part of the "purple crew". So cheers to Jeb!!!

My favorite is when he received his conversion papers in the mail and opened the purple box it had the Yahoo! yodel... it was great :) (to hear it go to yahoo.com and click the !)

April has gone and went and I’m sure I left out some details, but these were my highlights. Here's to May… now that it's half over too!!!

SHOOT WITH MM

April 1st was no joke, I was part of an amazing photo shoot that will keep me smiling for a long time.

My good friend Terri Lodge hooked me up with the opportunity to assist Matthew Mitchell (fashion/celeb photographer) on an 8-10pg editorial shoot for a local LA mag "Thirteen Minutes" (May's issue).

I first met Matthew when he interviewed me at WMTG with owner Keri and Clayton Beck (Matthew's full-time assistant) over saw my photoshop test (his talents range from CS3 guru to model... and a great friend). Terri was an agent and is a makeup artist that Matthew loves to use while he is in town (her work is flawless). My work at the modeling agency was short lived, but the people that I have met will stay with me forever. One other talent that I want to mention is photographer Diana Sell (another wonderful individual that I met through working at the agency), she and I had the pleasure assisting Matthew together.

I cannot say enough good things about everyone I've mentioned, they have all been so nice, welcoming and are truly talented. I am so lucky and happy to have been apart of this Portland project.

Matthew (originally from Portland) wanted to represent everything Portland in this editorial spread, from the models, talent, fashion to the Gordan House (designed by Frank Lloyd Wright).

With Matthew's permission I snagged a couple of shots to document I was there :)

MM setting up the shot on set #3 (can not wait to see his vision in print).

Bryce (set designer) MM and Diana

MM giving the models direction (he is so relaxed and knows the perfect things to say to pull the right expressions from the talent).

Talent on set #3, wardrobe and Shawn (talent from set #2).

One thing that makes for a great photographer (or assistant) is the ability to think fast at solving each problem that arises with creativity and quickness. Story goes... Shawn sat down on set and up goes his pant legs to reveal white sport socks. Where are your dress socks? MIA. Anyone have any that he can use. No extras... wait I wore my boots today and have my black knee high socks on. Off go my shoes and socks. I save Shawn's day... and got to wear his white sport socks. It's the small stuff (details matter).

Matthew humoring me. Thank you!!!

Sweet young talent!!! (Kristi)

Clayton, Matthew, Terri and Me after a ten hour shoot (you all are amazing). The only one missing is Diana (thank you for taking the pic).

Again, THANK YOU to everyone for inviting me to be apart of this FABULOUS project!!!

SPRING BABY!!!

I’ve always enjoyed this time of year, maybe it’s because my day of birth marks the first day of spring. Or maybe it’s because the flowers are blooming and the birds are singing again. Or just maybe it’s the rebirth to life after a long winters nap. Anyhow, my birthday surly sets the mood for the thaw of winter.

3.21 My birthday. I’m just going to get straight to the point; it was one of the best birthdays I've had to date!!! All I wanted was to enjoy my day with Jeb. Whatever was to happen I just wanted to be in his company and we did just that, hung out all day together.

We woke up early… early enough for breakfast at my folks (mom was making my favorite, French toast with fresh strawberries). What a great way to start my day. I do have to say my parents spoiled me rotten; the very last thing I was expecting was the gorgeous Coach Hand Bag they’d gotten me. To be frank I never thought I’d own one. Then to top off the gift… like it wasn’t gift enough, there was a generous size box of Godiva dark chocolates. WOW. I’m still speechless… thank you Mom and Dad SO very much!!!

Then when I thought things couldn't get any better, I realized Jeb and I still had the whole day ahead of us. First on our list were pedicures. Yes I was able to talk Jeb into getting a pedi and we enjoyed it. Until later in the middle of the night... Jeb woke up with a burning sensation on his leg. Come to find out his right shin broke out in a rash (which he still has to date). Needless to say he’ll probably never go back with me for pedicures again.

After our pedicures we went back to the apartment to check the mail. I look forward to Cher’s birthday love every year. It had arrived and more chocolates for me (or my belly, how ever you look at it)!!!

We headed to the mall for a little shopping before seeing Duplicity and then ending the day with dinner at the Cheesecake Factory. We had both (on accident) left our phones at home, so when I finally reconnected with my cell I was able to listen to all my birthday wishes before calling it a night.

The fun didn’t end on Saturday; we got to celebrate all weekend long! Sunday the Brooks, Heupels and Andersons gathered for dinner and company to celebrate both Tj’s and my birthday. I wouldn’t want to share a birthday celebration with anyone else but T (no pressure, but T you really are a thoughtful gift giver)! More, more and more love. I want to also thank my good friends Annette and Robert!!! The Lathrop’s had us over for birthday dinner Monday night and… again a Godiva’s gift card ☺

So I feel kinda silly going on about my birthday, but these kinda birthdays do not happen often and I tell you 27 is starting off great (even if my mental state is all down hill from here… thanks Dad ;). Plus I hope everyone who may have sent me an email, FB comment, phone call and/or card knows how blessed I really felt this year on my anniversary of life!!!

Lesson learned; I have the most amazing family and friends and somehow I’ve made it clear to all of them how much I LOVE GODIVA DARK CHOCOLATE ☺