*{Please Keep in Prayer}*

You may remember the story of little Miss Taylor from when I photographed her family in November. Today is the day that she is having her heart surgery. The surgery is around noon PST, so if you could pause for a moment and send a prayer up to the Big Guy, I know the family would be so incredibly appreciative.

Little Miss Taylor, we are thinking of you and cheering you on today. May God give you all the strength you need to get past this hurdle...and give mommy and daddy the strength as they wait out the unknown in the waiting room. You are loved.

Be Extraordinary Taylor,
m
xoxo

*{Mine...all Mine!}* Fort Irwin CA Photographer

So I've had this session up my sleeve for a little time now...I started doing my own kid's shoot every Spring. It is funny because I honestly feel like I don't take enough pictures of them...which is completely ironic being a photographer and all.

I received the Crewcuts catalog in the mail a few months back, and it was complete inspiration. The outfits were to die for and are inspired by Crewcuts; however, only Itsy Bitsy's skirt and Little Miss Sunshine's socks and belt are from Crewcuts. I was able to find all the other pieces at Target and Gap. And as for the hula hoop...it's Miss Sunshine's favorite thing to do at the moment so we had to throw hula hoops in! One of my favorite parts of the session is when I told Itsy Bitsy to hula and she immediately drops the hula hoop and goes into a Hawaiian hula dance...CLASSIC!

So anywho, here is some of our fun together yesterday. Sunshine is convinced she is a supermodel. And the funny part is she would go straight into her poses without any direction. She eats this stuff up and is convinced JCrew will be calling her one day! And both girls were thrilled to do the session because they wanted to be on Facebook...forget my blog, they were more thrilled with the Facebook idea. Lord help me! I'm almost embarrassed to admit my girls know exactly what Facebook is!

So here are my two sweethearts that I love to pieces...enjoy! ;)

Below is what happens when Itsy Bitsy has trouble hula hooping yet big sis is just tearing it up!




See what I mean about Miss Sunshine dying to be a JCrew model one day?!
And no, Itsy Bitsy doesn't wear glasses...but it was just too cute to not throw them on for a couple!
She finally got it going...GO GIRL GO!

*{So Here's the Deal...}* Fort Irwin CA Photographer

So here is the deal: (but first, aren't they so cute above...more of this family to come later)

I'm sitting here looking at my calendar and as of now, my weekends are pretty much booked SOLID between now and the beginning of July. Yes, JULY. If you can swing a weekday session, I *can* do that...but weekends are obviously the most popular choice for family sessions.

So with that...
Fort Irwin, you know the kind of heat in July and August, so it's time we think a bit realistic...the Fall! I suspect a lot of you are thinking about Fall sessions for Christmas cards, holiday cards, etc. SO HERE IS THE DEAL...

I am now booking FALL SESSIONS! Yes, I know it seems crazy to think that far in advance, but that is my reality right now! And, just to throw this wrench in there...we aren't quite sure when the Army is planning on moving us, but there is a possibility that it will be around Winter break. This is *not* definite, but it is a possibility at this point, and I want to be prepared in case it happens! So many of you have been asking when we are PCSing because you want to have photographs done before I leave! Well, I'm telling you now, DON'T WAIT! I will guarantee that my fall sessions will book up...it is a photographer's busiest time of the year, and I don't want you to miss out on the fun that we have together at my sessions!

So on that note, email me a.s.a.p. if you'd like to do a fall session and need a weekend date. Go look at that rotational calendar because I guarantee you those weekends will go first!!

Sessions outside of the Fort Irwin area:
I will be available for weekday sessions after May 21st or weekend sessions starting in July.

Payment of your session fee locks in your date and time.

Can't wait to get you in front of my lens!

Be Extraordinary,
m

*{Simply Mom}* Fort Irwin CA Photographer

Here are some more of my Mother's Day treat to some Ft. Irwin ladies! The Simply Mom sessions were SO.MUCH.FUN! I think all the ladies would agree with that. And I think God had a hand in part of it; we were blessed with the most gorgeous yellow wildflowers!

Every morning when I'd walk my 5k with my friend, we would scout out theses bushes of wildflowers. Leading up to the shoot, they looked completely dead...no sign of life. I remember actually sending up a prayer for the flowers...seriously!! I mean, when you are out in the middle of the desert, you have to work with any color you can find!! And being the girl that I am, most of you know I'm a sucker for a punch of color...so these bushes just had to come to life!

Well, the flowers seriously started to bloom the week of the session! 2 weeks before our session, I would have never believed they would look as beautiful as they did for our mini-session day. So thank you Big Guy!

And this family was just too precious. Um, can you say supermodel mama?! She is looking A.MAZ.ING! And her four kiddos were just too precious. I loved working with this family and can't wait for a family session with you all! Thanks for coming out and making my day!

Here is some proof of those gorgeous wildflowers...and the fabulous ~G~ Family!

Be extraordinary,
m



Love this shot below!





And I love little Mr. M and his case of the giggles! SO CUTE!

*{Simply Mom}* Fort Irwin CA Photographer

Here is a family that actually ended up doing two Simply Mom Sessions with me. See, she was a smart lady and not only did a session with her kiddos, but also did a separate session with her mom! How awesome is that?! And now she has some images she can treasure forever...I'm thinking it could possibly be the best Mother's Day gift ever! So here is Mrs. L with her mama and fabulous boys. Her boys were amazing...super awesome kids!

And my favorite moment of all for this session...seeing that her youngest boy arrived at the session with permanent marker all over his arms! They tried to wash off as much as they could...but let's face it, it is permanent marker!! And my favorite part about it was that mom didn't let it phase her one bit! It is what it is!! And if anything, these pictures will even have more meaning when they look at them in 20 years! I can't wait to hear the conversation, "Look what you did to yourself before our pictures!!" You'll see it in the first picture...I wasn't about to Photoshop that out! It was too stinkin' cute...and ALL boy!

Hugs to you all and thank you for the fun afternoon! :)
Be extraordinary,
m

**ROCK THE INK BUDDY!!!**





And a couple of Mrs. L with her adorable mother!

*{Love Affair Workshop}* Photographer Workshops

Check out http://www.loveaffairworkshop.com! They're giving away prizes & a seat to their workshop on the blog this week! Go enter to win!

*{Casting Call}* Fort Irwin Photographer

*{Just for Fun}*

The girls just came downstairs playing, and I had to take a picture of them together...capturing this moment, just in case either girl ever goes on to medical school. Why do I now want to be stuck with medical school bills just so I can enlarge this image and hang it in their office one day?!

Being a mom is so much fun!



Be extraordinary girls!
Love,
Mom :)

*{Facebook Is Where It's At...}*

I'm not going to lie...we even have more fun together on Facebook. If you're not a fan, I highly recommend it! :)

BECOME A FAN HERE!

*{Published}* Military Spouse Magazine

YEA! It was such fun news when my hubby received a phone call last week from an old co-worker; she opened up her Military Spouse Magazine and found our two munchkins in print! It was an honor to have two of my images selected to go with the travel article in the April 2010 issue. Both pictures were taken at the fabulous Hale Koa Resort in Waikiki. If you are military and have not taken advantage of that fine resort in the middle of Waikiki...GO.

Thank you Military Spouse Magazine for the opportunity! I feel honored.

Be Extraordinary,
m