Family portrait: Wenatchee siblings

Got to spend a few minutes (a 13 minute photo session anyone?) shooting these siblings this weekend. Met with them and their Dad (all of whom I've shot before), and it was raining. Not a full on pour but definitely more than a drizzle. Dad wanted to go ahead and we were all game so spent a few minutes getting some shots. He normally has an annual portrait taken at the local "mega-studio" (who shall remain nameless, but if you're from Wenatchee, you know who I'm referring to), but was so happy with the family portraits I did for them a year prior that he asked me instead. I'm thrilled to have another repeat client and they commented at the end that they wanted to do the family sessions annually and I would be hearing from them soon. Love that, getting to see, and document, a family grow and change over time. Thanks Smith family!

If we were sticks

I was commissioned to create a set of stick figure people for Nestlings, who does all sorts of wonderfulness, including vinyl cutting. If you're so inclined to sport your family on the back of your rig (or anywhere else for that matter), check them out. Lots of choices for looks and pets and even a horse (a horse!) And no, I don't get a commission, LOL, I just think they turned out cute so thought I'd show 'em off.

fifteen

These awesome teen pics are not from me. They are by Carsey's best friend. She has a Flickr stream, http://www.flickr.com/photos/25102068@N08/, and goes by tolhousecookies. Quite the teen photog herself! I love seeing her images because she captures the teen Carsey and not the daughter Carsey, if you know what I mean. Anyway, Happy birthday baby, love you to the moon and I am SO PROUD of you. Who you are as well as who you're becoming.

Birthday girl

She said the sweetest thing last night. "Shouldn't the presents and celebration be for you? You did all the work, wasn't like it was that much effort for me." She's 17. And it floors me that I am the mother of a 17 year old. Holy where-did-the-time-go, batman! Happy, happy day, Shadey-shoe, love you to the moon!

Update

I thought I'd give a little update on my Dad. So many of you put us in your thoughts and I can't tell you how much it means. My Dad is not the best patient and when this happened he turned very negative, saying things like "I'll never leave this hospital". Trying to remind him that attitude is SO IMPORTANT has been all I can do, from 1,000 miles away, and dealing with my own recovery. Having your well wishes to pass on to him is such a gift, so thank you.
He hasn't had surgery yet. What was discovered is he has 2 pockets of Staph infection on his L4 and L5 vertabre. He underwent a test today where they radiated a pint of his blood and then re-injected into him in hope of then doing another MRI and seeing where the now nuclear blood goes...should lead to any other "hotspots" in his body. Hopefully we'll know more tomorrow or the next day.

I am recovering from my back surgery and it feels so slow. I think "I should be up and doing something" and then can barely make it from the couch to the table and have to remind myself its only been a few days. "This too, shall pass..."

I recently found, and fell in love with, the work of Sarah Bowen. When I saw she was hosting a Twelve Days of Christmas class, I signed up post-haste. I've not been in the position to really feel much holiday anything lately, so thought this would help. I saw she posted her first project today and am excited to put my focus on something a little more creative than nausea, heartburn, backache and constipation, LOL.