It’s been a dang fine month. And I’m sort of wishing this project was called 25 on 25 or something, cuz I have lots of images I want to share. But I will try to limit it to 11-ish. If you don’t know what this 11 on 11 project is, you can read about it right here.

Let’s get this party started. If you saw last month’s post, then you know my daughter turned 10. I had fun with her pictures for that. She celebrated her birthday with her friends at a gymnastics place. She had a blast. And because I didn’t want any leftover cake, those kids got the BIGGEST pieces of cake ever. LOL. I don’t think any of them even finished their plate.

We went for a hike. It was a really pretty day.

My daughter was having a grand ol’ time.

My son… well, he was sighing heavily because I made him stand there for 2 seconds. Poor child of a photographer.

The planets aligned this year because all of my siblings’ kids had the same Spring Break. This hasn’t happened in three years.

It.  Was.  Awesome.

I love my family.

Of course, we had to go to Target. And in a rare moment, the dude WANTED me to take his picture. Shocking.  Seriously.

We went to Japantown in San Francisco. I am in love with this wall.

And for a very strange reason, my daughter’s head grew very very big. Her usually normal sized hat now looked incredibly small. Weird.

My niece is actually a panda with duck lips.

And my nephew is uber cool.

My niece is seriously just the cutest little girl. I adore her little underbite and her voice and her giggle. She’s fantastic.

This is my  youngest nephew. He’s in love with my kids, especially my daughter. He is energetic and adorable. I swear, my siblings make really cute kids.

Um, 11 is not enough pictures when my entire family was here. Don’t count. I can’t stop.

My dad has a photography gallery going on right now. He’s an incredibly talented photographer.

My mom continues to fight hard. She starts “maintenance chemo” this week. Hoping those brain tumors get the message and just stay the heck away. I love the relationship my daughter and mom have. It makes me melt. That one on the left was a simultaneous blink from the two biggest blinkers in my family. I love it. I love them.

OK. Let’s pretend that I have now shared 10 images. I will now share my 11th image!  A self portrait of sorts. A family self portrait at that!

The story that goes along with this picture is a doozy. If I ever see you in person, you should ask me about it. Let’s just say it’s a miracle that this picture happened with relatively everyone smiling. Most of the spouses couldn’t make it since they have non-school jobs and don’t get a Spring Break. My sister in law was respresentin’ the in-laws. She’s aces.

And one last one of my parents and their four children. The one in the striped shirt is their favorite. Obviously.

I had to do some serious culling to get that down to 11, or um, close to 11. Next up is the insanely talented Sallykate Photography. She’s such an amazing photographer, and I am honored to be part of this blog circle with her. Go check her out. She just got a fisheye lens, I’m just gonna take a guess that MAYBE she’s showing some of that stuff off over there.

Bye now!

…

This last month may well be remembered as the month that I didn’t shoot very much. I love taking pictures of my kids, but sadly, they don’t so much love me taking said pictures. In an effort to keep them loving me and not running in fear when my camera comes out, I have been, for the most part, just been leaving my camera in its bag. The horror! I’ve enjoyed many uncaptured moments which include making Oreo truffles, painting wind chimes, building Legos, reading books, dancing in the kitchen with our socks on, throwing football… you get the idea. Life has most certainly been happening, even if my camera hasn’t gotten the chance to document all this fun.

But I was determined to get my 11 pictures for this month. If you don’t know what this 11 on 11 thing is, you can read more about it HERE!

So, while pickings may be slim this month, what I can show you is this:

This is Om Nom. Om Nom is the lovable little green guy in the game ap Cut the Rope. My kids are obsessed with him. Um, so am I. He is totally adorable.

My daughter performed in the San Francisco Chinese New Year Parade for the second year in a row. This parade is the biggest Chinese New Year Parade outside of China. They work SO hard to learn their kung fu moves, songs, and dances. Here’s a shot of her before the parade.

My little guy got his orange belt this month. He refused, I mean REFUSED, to let me take a picture of him wearing his new belt. But I did manage to get this shot of the guy.

He hates my camera now. It’s such a bummer. He used to be my go to guy for pictures, but not anymore. This is more what I usually get. And why is he smiling in that last one? Oh, because he’s doing a spit bubble. Well, at least he’s smiling.

And if you’re counting, these three count as one, cuz I said so.

Wielding a light saber is serious business.

My sweetie had a birthday this month. Can you guess how old she is?

You got it! She’s TEN! HOW did my little baby turn TEN?  How have I been a mother that long? It’s been an amazing ten years, and watching her grow into the amazing ten year old that she is makes me all sorts of proud and giggly. She’s an amazing child. She has been growing her hair out forEVER and is getting ready to chop it all off to donate to Pantene Beautiful Lengths so that her hair can make a wig for someone who is fighting cancer. She decided to do this on her own, and I think that is amazing. She’s a special girl.

Ten candles for ten years.

I got a little weird with this one. But I LOVE it.

And finally, the self portrait. This almost didn’t happen this month. It’s March 10, and I shot this today. SO thankful I have mad skills in Photoshop. Goodbye wrinkles!

Next up is the amazingly talented Atlanta Area Family Photographer and Rockstar, Kate T. Parker. She’s insane. Like, in a good way, insane. Like, OMG, does every picture she take have to be so dang good??? Answer? Yes. Check her out!

And if you like what you see and want to follow me on Facebook, I won’t complain. …

How the heck is it February already? Seriously? Really? Nooooo…. really?  OK fine.

If you are just tuning in, I am very much honored to be participating in a monthly project with incredibly talented photographers. On the 11th of every  month, we will post 11 pictures. The doozy being that the 11th picture is a self portrait. It’s our attempt at getting some pictures of ourselves. We all recognize the importance of being in front of the camera, even if we are way more comfortable being behind it.

Let me start with this: an image of my amazing mom and my beautiful daughter. My mom has been fighting brain cancer for three years now. The cancer and the chemo have taken a lot of her strength, and sometimes, I fear it has taken her spirit away too. But when I see a picture like this, where all I see is her strength, and her spirit, and her love shining so powerfully out of those hazel eyes, I take pause, catch my breath, and remind myself to be grateful. I look right back into those eyes and whisper quietly, “I love you mom.”

And here’s a shot of one of our pretty kitties. I loved how the sun was lighting up her whiskers.

My little guy turned seven. That’s a lot of years that I’ve been loving him madly. I’m looking forward to loving him madly for the rest of my days.

This counts as one picture cuz these two kids complete me… you know, in that dramatic Jerry Maquire sort of way. hehe.

I love her joyful face celebrating her little brother’s birthday. I love his puffed up cheeks. Yep. They complete me.

The dude loves orange soda. I’m personally not a fan of giving them soda at all. But as a very special treat, he got some.

He sort of kind of loved it.

This also counts as one picture cuz 14 on 11, um or uh, 17 on 11 doesn’t have the same ring….

I really just wanted a picture of him sitting on his bed. I got these instead. But I love them even more because it’s him. He lies on his back all the time with his feet in the air. He loves Gangnam Style. And he loves not listening to me. LOL.

Come on…. Look at the camera…..

For his birthday, he had his best friend over for a sleepover, and his sister had her best friend over.

I played a little with some long exposure/light painting with the kids. It was kinda fun. Can you see me?

I love swings. I love love love the happy expressions I always get out of this guy when he’s swinging. So carefree.

I much prefer that happy face to the “I’m lost in Nintendo DS world” face.

Oh, who am I kidding. I love all his faces.

Last month, my son tested for his yellow belt. This time, it was my daughter’s turn.

She’s got a mean sidekick. This makes me giggle every time I see it. Kiai!

And I’m just gonna pretend you aren’t counting pics here, cuz I had to share these two of my beauty, just standing in front of the house being her, which is beautiful. Like, crazy so.

OK, seriously. I do know how to count. But, c’mon. How could I NOT share this one?

Getting a self portrait this month almost didn’t happen. I’m bummed I cut off my beautiful Miz Mooz boots, but super happy I have a picture of me with my kids sitting outside our house. They make me all sorts of happy.

I’m doing a horrible job of limiting these pics, but I  just can’t stop myself. Look at my sweet little girl. I love her room. The cloud with the rainbow above her bed was made by my mom. The paper cranes that are hanging in the corner? Also made by my mom. And the butterflies? Well, some came from Pottery Barn, and some were made by me. I love her room, decorated by the women who love her best.

You guys are just not gonna believe the talent that this blog circle has! Go check out Columbus Ohio photographer, Alison Janki Photography.  I know you’ll love her!

And if you want to see more of my stuff, I am better at posting to my Facebook wall. Come on over and like me. I’m a sucker for new likes. 

…