everybody say AAAARRRRRRRG!!!

Olivia is FOUR! I still can't really believe it. And she pretty much overnight has become a big girl - she goes to her best friends house (our next door neighbors) pretty much daily, she's demanding her independance, and she wants to do everything herself. She also now flies off the handle at the smallest setting off, which is frustrating! What happened to my good natured girl??

Saturday was her pirate party with her cousin Niko. He turned six. There were about 10 kids at the party, and Olivia loved every second of it. It was definitely a humid mess out, and we were sprinkled on a couple times, but overall I thought the party was really great!

This was actually the second cake I had made... the first attempt was at an open treasure chest, and all was going well, but somewhere in the construction, there was disaster. I got so frustrated with the whole thing that Tim and I just ate what wasn't destroyed, and I made a new one after I got home from work.



Here's the pirate princess in all of her glory




The highlight of the party, for the kids at least, was the bubble machine. They just loved those dang bubbles!











I loved this one would be the kids' bands cd cover


Olivia technically didn't blow out any candles this year, because it was just too windy. She was confused by this.


And here's some more of present opening, and guests...




























Thanks to everyone who came out and made Olivia and Niko's party special!!

best session with these two to date! {Columbus Children Photographer: Purple Platpus Pictures}

I always say that my kids are the hardest kids to photograph. And I still stand by that. But my nephews notoriously have been the next worst. Until yesterday! Wendy called me up to see if I was free to do a quick session with her youngest Aiden, and it turned out I was. Sure Olivia had to tag along, but she loves her cousins (and her Uncle Eric!) so she did really well. I haven't had a chance to go through all the images yet, because I saw this one and had to work on it that second. I just love it!

Our little men!

benched players

First, a fun silhouette of Claire

129 of 365: I want to go outside


I spent Mothers Day with my sister-in-law Wendy. We ate great food, did some shopping, and spent an entire day away from our families. It was great :) But the original intent for me to spend the day there was to take photos of her oldest with my oldest. Olivia and Niko's birthdays are only 2 days apart (though 2 years apart as well) so it only makes sense that we combine their parties (otherwise we both would have to spend an entire weekend doing the party thing, and I don't think either of us are interested in that.) I like to make the kids' invitations, and I needed a new photo of the two of them. Since those two will obviously get their day (when the invitation arrives in the mail) I dedicate this to unimportant kids this time.

Claire, enjoying some Tball and some rad hair


and 130 of 365: Stiff as a Board
Poor Aiden... would just turn and look at me straight as a board... might as well have been a mug shot (just slightly cuter)

the boys are back in town

Niko and Aiden are my nephews, and I don't get to photograph them as often as I'd like. They came over to my house the other day, and I took that opportunity to practice.

Niko spent the whole time I was shooting in our recliner, and chewing on the Wonderpets flag. He did stop watching tv, though, to turn to me and say "Cheese!"

Aiden barely looked at me once! He was far far too busy for that. But I could tell he knew I was there (and that there was a camera pointed at him)

And like always, Olivia was oblivious to the whole deal

a pirate says "ARRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR"

Every year, I buy a zoo pass. We don't go too terribly often, but we're guarenteed to go twice a year.. and according to their propaganda (and math,) thats enough times to go for the pass to pay for itself. We always go to see the Holiday Lights, and we always go to Boo at the Zoo.

I'm one of those weird moms that loves to make their children match. I think it stems from my hatred of being matched to my sister growing up... but dang-it if its not cute as heck. This year, Olivia is a pirate. She'll proudly tell you exactly what a pirate says if you ask her. She spent the entire zoo trip running, so I don't have the best of photos of her costume just yet. But she had so much fun.

In an effort for matching, we had Claire go as a parrot. Apparently, there's a shortage of parrot costumes in the market right now. But lucky for me, Parents magazine had an article on how to make a no-sew one (its essentially a poncho and a tail) I sewed mine, just because I know how destructive my children are (yes even the little one.) She was pretty dang cute.

And because I can't leave him out - my nephew Aiden was just adorable in his Tyrone costume!