Weekend Full of Joy

The weekend started like any other: Me coming off of work with 4 kids to be upgraded to 5 (not complaining, I love what I do). I loved seeing Little Jenna's expression when I held the balloon above her to grab at after changing her diaper. ADORABLE! I had a photo shoot, this was the best picture. After that I decided everyone needed a picture, some kids needed some motivation to pose, but they were all cute (of course).

(Of course Dallin would be doing Legos.)

(Candid shots always bring the biggest laughs!!!!)


Took about 5 shoots before I finally got McKay to look at me and smile. :D



We celebrated my big sister's birthday on Sunday (not her actual birthday but this way she gets a week of celebration). I'm so proud to call her my sister, she's incredible!!

and of course the night ended with more pictures of my nephews and nieces. Miss Evelyn has the funniest faces!~

Old Memories Made Anew

Tonight, the Johnson's and Evelyn came over for me to watch while their mother's joined Mom and Dad to the temple. It was interesting night. Amy had warned me Evelyn might cry, but she didn't until almost an hour into my sitting, then she cried of and on for another hour. It took a diaper change with her cousins tossing balls in the air to fully distract her. The Cinnabun cinnamon rolls weren't as great as all of us tossing balls up and down the stairs together; just like Karl and I used to do when we were younger. Awww memories, love 'em!

Breakfast Fun

This morning I peeled my eggs and pulled at one to get the yoke out. I paused when I realized it looked like a mask, so I grabbed some pepper corns and had a photo shoot!

Watch out for the eggscaped ninja!!!

A Night of Beauty and Adorableness

Tonight at dinner we celebrated my Grandma Radcliff's 81 birthday (again, she had her own party the day of) and then my nephews spent the night.

(I love this lady~)

Reminds me of my cat Panda, how she would sleep in strange positions.~

Paint Adventures at Work

At work today, my boss mentioned that she had an extra canvas that needed to be painted. Since me and my kids (I had 2 at the time) were going to paint their pinewood derby cars for President's Day and she suggested we take it with us to paint as well. After a little argument with another child, he participated (the hand prints), as well as me and a couple of other providers. I loved the way my hand looked so much I just HAD to take a picture - hence I keep my camera in my purse. Then one of my kids held up the painting so I could take a picture of the painting. It was fun!!~

Photoshoot at the Park

Last week I had an idea for a picture book (though if it will ever be accomplished is another story), and needed some reference photos for the positions. Stephanie let me take three of her kids (Dallin was in the shower after a muddy accident) to Candlelight Park by their house to play and take pictures. Most photos the kids pretended to be talking to imaginary friends but some were just them playing. Sophie didn't exactly understand my concept and kept posing and smiling straight at the camera (adorable), but McKay seemed to understand, though he was his usual quirky self, and even came up with some ideas of his own. Parker had lots of ideas and was really excited to do anything. It was a really fun experience and I hope to do it again.

Here are some of my favorite pictures. We didn't get out of the house till about 5:30pm so my lighting is funny and sometimes dark but if you zoom in you can see the adorableness.

Parker wanted to pretend to push someone on the swing.

Parker started climbing up the slide, McKay was sliding down, a collision in the middle was resolved with a twisted exchange of positions.

I told him to pretend he was driving with a friend... I'm not sure why he got angry...

Aw the far-off look.

McKay's idea: digging at the park.

I asked Parker to go catch an imaginary football, he did great - TOUCHDOWN! Even McKay joined in. Sophie is that pink speck in the sand pretending to be a dog.

My idea is "Dinosaurs at the Park." Here is an example piece that I did earlier this week with a picture I took of Parker a long time ago. Back then I took it for my high school AP Studio art class as an image of children with the imaginary friends. Now Parker whispers a secret to the dinosaur. After I digitally sketch in the various dinosaurs, I plan to convert them into pencil sketches and then color them with watercolor or marker; that part still isn't completely done.

My First Orchestra Concert

I took orchestra for about a month in 4th grade, so I'm really happy that my nephew Parker has been continuing his ambition to play the cello. His first concert was on Wednesday, February 1, 2012. It was great seeing how happy he was seeing all his family watching him from the audience. I'm glad I was able to go.

Theme was about Arizona's Centennial Birthday, so everyone was dressed in cowboy and pioneer clothing.

The little cowboy cello-ian.

(Sophie wasn't in the best of moods that evening.)