My Baby Princess

We took pictures of her in her "princess dress".  She begs to wear it everyday, along with the new skirt Aunt Jenn made her.  She insisted on wearing her slippers to church last Sunday when she wore this dress for the first time.  I let her.  People looked at me like I was one of those Moms.  You only live once.  

She refused to smile for me.  She told me she was mad.  I gave up.  I guess at this age you just have to take what you get.  

I love that she is such a girly girl.
(Yes, I realize that these two pictures are almost exactly the same....but I love them both.)

Easter Sunday

We had a beautiful Easter Sunday.  We had delicious food, good company, and I was asked to take pictures...all of my favorite things.  I cannot emphasize how much I love these people. 

We did an Easter egg hunt and when we were finished Audrey kept looking for eggs.  One of the kids decided they would put out their empty eggs so that she could find more.  She loved it!  Monday morning she just sat and played with her eggs for hours.   

I may implement this process of finding things into my daily routine.  We could hide all sorts of things in the backyard.  Hours of entertainment.

 I was also asked to take pictures of this little girl for her baptism.  They weren't amazing, but I love learning more about photography every time I do another shoot.  

She kept reminding me a lot of one of my nieces who is eight.  It made me feel right at home when she started making faces at me.  She was so patient.  Thanks H. for letting me take your pictures!

Mormon Moments on Easter

I would be very ungrateful if during this time I didn't stop to think about this man and thank him for all that he has done for me.  Because he lives again I can too.  He made it possible for me to be with him and everyone else I love forever.  No words are enough to describe the gratitude and love I feel for him for so great a gift. 

 I know that he lives.  

Kimberly, I know you're going to hate me for posting this.  It's beautiful though, and it took me a long time to find it so I kind of feel like I deserve the privilege.  You are Awesome!!

First Easter Egg Hunt

Audrey had her first Easter Egg hunt on Saturday.  We only put out a handful of eggs.  She was so excited to find them. When we got done she went back to the door asking if she could go find more.  She was more excited about finding them than she was eating the candy.

Those who know Audrey know that she gets attached to stuffed animals.  Really attached.  It was all I could do not to buy one of the cute ones on sale.  I kept reminding myself that it would only add to the entourage I have to carry around with her everyday.  I settled for this tiny bunny.  He was so cute...I couldn't help it!  She loved it.  

Sadly I didn't really get formal Easter pictures of her...maybe later this week.  

Tailor?!??

I got a call on Thursday of last week to help with a dress for our stake Prom which was on Saturday.  There was a lot that needed to be fixed and I've NEVER tailored anything in my life.  My Mom and my sisters tailor....not me.  She told me she was desperate.  There was no one else.  I spent a day and a half working on it.  I was about to throw it across the room a few times...but I managed to make it modest.  Other members of my family probably could have done a better job.  However, I was proud of myself for accomplishing something I wasn't sure I could do.   

I have much more gratitude for my mother and her skills!! I love you Mom.  

Newborn Photos

My friend asked me to take pictures of her Baby now that she's been at home for a few weeks.  I fell in love.  It was so much fun.  It took a little while for her to fall asleep but when she did it was like magic. She's even more beautiful than she was when she was born.

And one of my baby.  Even though she's so big, she's still my favorite.

I'm still a closet performer...

Last week I was asked to take pictures for New Beginnings (taking pictures in the church with no indoor lighting equipment is hard).  I love these young women.  A few of them I've taught in Primary for two years and now they are moving to Young Women.  It makes me sad that I don't get to teach them anymore, but I know they are in good hands.   

I was also asked to sing ( I sang this song: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hm8G3wAc3hE).  

I love to sing, but it doesn't love me.  I have a really hard time not being nervous.  It makes me hate performing.  I worked to push back my own inhibitions and just sing for the girls.  I really wanted them to hear the message I had to share.  It helped that I was taking pictures too.  It kept my mind from wandering to my nerves.  

I hope to someday be able to sing in public the way I do in the confines of my own home.  I was reading something yesterday and I came across a quote from the famous Julie Andrews.  It gave me hope that one day my dream will become a reality.  She paints a picture of my exact sentiment when it comes to performing.  

"I've learned a lot of things about myself through singing. I used to have a certain dislike of the audience, not as individual people, but as a giant body who was judging me. Of course, it wasn`t really them judging me. It was me judging me. Once I got past that fear, it freed me up, not just when I was performing but in other parts of my life." 

~ Julie Andrews.

These two are my cheer squad.  I love them, and I love that they support me.