waking up to this

Can life get any better then waking up to this?

No

the sweet innocence of you, the curiosity.......

the rays of light that you bring to my day

Thanks for being my sunshine in the morning.

a long time coming.....it has opened

After many years it is has finally opened it's doors to the public.

After many days (and years) of construction, it has finally opened it's doors.

After a son returning from a mission, getting married, another son entering the army, going to Iraq, that son getting married and three more grandchildren later, it has finally opened its doors. After countless Sunday dinners and family functions, it has finally opened it's doors.

After many permits after permits and wishing we could pop the heads off the people down in Chino City Hall, it has finally opened it's doors.

After countless questions of when is it going to open, it has finally opened.

After many restless nights on what to put on the menu, it has finally opened.

The Avocado House is now open for business!!!

For many who don't live in the great city of Chino, and don't know what the heck the Avocado House is, it is my mother-n-laws restaurant. Anyone and everyone who has been to a few weddings that she has catered, knows that my mother-n-law can cook. And finally today was the day that it opened for business.

So if you happen to be in Chino, stop on by and have yourself and a nice lunch. I'm sure she would enjoy your company!

For now she is open for breakfast and lunch only. She will be open for take out dinner in a few months.

so last year....

A little late is always better then never. Well that's me, always late (just not to dinner). So I had all the intentions of doing a nice sweet Christmas blog with a little of my totally last minute rocken new years eve party. Well life happens....and I didn't. Then on top of all that my computer is in the middle of mid-life crisis and just about to be chucked out. So what your about to see is half edited pictures and half not edited pictures. sorry, but that's life. I just know Marisa is dying to see these pictures. so here I am posting on my computers last leg of life, while I wait to for my new computer.

So this is the start. I had to put this one in. The day care that my grandma goes to had a Christmas program with Santa. Of course my boys freaked out so I don't have one of them, but my grandma just got a kick out it sitting next to Santa. Amazing how the little things make her happy. I love my grandma! Now a days this smile doesn't come around often so I'm so glad I got to capture it.

So my Christmas started with making cookies for Santa on Christmas eve. And nothing says cookies without a little flour.....all over

By far this picture and this reaction did it for me this christmas. Santa brought what Wyatt wanted so bad. A plane with a train. Translation: the geo-trax set that has the plane. I'm so glad Santa brought that too. That thing is dang cool. I'm totally hooked on it. I (me) play with that thing at least once a day. I can't wait for the boys birthdays......they might be getting another addition to geo-trax. I am excited






The best with Wyatt and his helmet and knee pads, is that he calls them his skills. Both Landon and I looked at each other when he said that and just laughed. Still calls them his skills.

So this picture is pretty funny. That isn't Shane being excited about the remote control car. That is Shane completly freaking out about the remote control car. Once we started he bolted to the couch. Sad, yes, funny oh yeah.


So this is when the fun started. New Years Eve about 9-10:00pm when all the kids are asleep and the adults bring out the Wii. I am not a video game playing person, but boy that thing is fun. Too bad it's not mine.


This picture captured by Marisa. Good Job! Love it! Like my empty picture frames in the background. I am in the process of putting pictures in them.

The hottest ladies there. (give us a break, it was about 1:30am by this time)


And our sweet one year anniversary picture.

All in all, it was great Christmas. I loved it. Sad it is all over, well there is always next year....only 11 months to go

12-30-08 Wedding

Just a little sneak peek to the last wedding of the year!
My favorite part of the wedding is when they walk out hand in hand for the first time as husband and wife.
The way they look at each other
We get to see just speck of what they feel
(it reminds me of my special moment with my groom....my favorite moment)

the katz family

So I know that I haven't posted much about me lately. Well, I haven't had much time to myself lately. Not with two photo shoots and a wedding within the week of Christmas and New Years. So I promise that I will post my christmas and the famous New Years party pictures that Marisa and Lydia are so dying to see. Soon....I hope.

So the other weekend I had the chance to photograph this cute family. A family that I just adore. And the dad just so happens to be the doctor that put my moms foot together. Lots of thanks to him!
And the little girls......so sweet and cute!

the salmon family

A couple of weeks ago I had the pleasure of taking the Salmon's family pictures. It was so much fun being around so many people and taking their pictures. The kids did so well considering that it was freezing at the beach. Here are just a few of my favorites.

spending time with our personal santa

For the past four years around this time of year Landon is gone quit a bit. Doing what you say? Well, he's Santa. At least for West Riverside County he is. Every year for almost the month of December is helps the Riverside Fire deparment gather food and toys for the families that are need of their help. Then he and other fire fighers deliver it to them.

This year was our first year that the boys and I came along. We had first row seats. (actually it was the back seat of the fire truck, but you get the hint). The boys had a blast! (so did mom). First they got to ride in the truck with fire fighters with the lights and sirens going, as well as knowing that their dad knows Santa well enough that he got to help the big guy out! You see Santa Clause himself called up Landon to ask him to help him out in this time of need. He even sent his suit for him to wear. So the boys were very impressed.






What was so amazing is that there were so many volunteer fire fighers helping out. It was a line just to get inside the house to deliver the packages.



Wyatt did so good with calling Landon Santa Clause and not dad. He actually was Santa's special helper a couple of times. And in between that, he chatted it up with the fire fighters



or goofed off with them. One or the other.



(just so you know this shoot was taken while holding Shane....I know, not so good)


Some of the fire fighters loved having the boys there with them. They would just take them under their wing. It was awesome






I would have to say that doing this really brought the Christmas Spirit. I wasn't to happy with doing this only because I knew Landon couldn't help me with the boys. We visited 15 families last night and that means getting the boys in and out of the carseats 15 times. Plus we were out till 10:30pm at night. So I just nervous about it. However, by the time we got to that first door, I knew I was so glad to have come. All I did was witness it. I didn't put time in organzing it, or volunteering my time (well it was my husband's time) but I didn't do much but watch. And it was the most wonderful feeling I had in a long time. To be able to see the happiness in the children's eyes was so moving. And to watch my boys give the presents to them was so heart warming. I really had to fight back some tears last night. It really put things in to perspective for me.

There was one other reason I was filled with joy last night. One that brought such happiness to my sense's. My husband had to wear a belly with the outfit. A pretty big belly. A belly that is almost the size I am when I'm pregnant. (if you haven't seen me pregnant....I'm HUGE!! I know I am. What do you expect when I deliver 9lb babies)
So when Landon was getting dressed and he was complaining about it, I just had the biggest most satisyfing smile on my face. I don't know what else could bring more joy to me. And when he asked me to help him put on his shoe.....oh the enjoyment I felt. I laughed. Then I said "ok next time I'm pregnant, don't laugh at me anymore when I ask you to help me put on my shoes"



And yes I did kiss Santa Clause last night!