Christmas is around the corner...

I am so EXCITED to be offering Holiday Cards this year...they are so BEAUTIFUL. To see samples of the cards that I will be offering, please click on the right side link " Holiday Cards" . I will be adding some more in the next week or so...keep checking. If you have not booked your session...call me as soon as possible. I only have a few weekend slots available. In order to get Holiday Cards and prints in time for Christmas, your orders have to be in by Decemeber 1st. So hurry...don't miss out!


Michelle

To Mr. "J" from Ms. Charlotte...

Little Mr. J and his family were so much fun to photograph...I think I could have followed them around all day long. He was soooooo darn adorable...especially when he would call me Ms. Charlotte...yes from Charlotte's Web. When his parents asked him "What is her name? ...he would answer in his almost 2 year old voice...Ms. Charlotte. :) Thank you Mr. and Mrs. "K" for such a wonderful session...I know I tired you out. I promise it was worth it! I hope you enjoyed that drink when you got home.

Enjoy the sneak peek!

Michelle

For My Friend "Ms. B"

I had such a great time with this shoot. It was a gift to my very special friend, Belinda. She has the heart of gold! Her "Girls" were here from Texas and she wanted to capture the sisters together. Her sweet grandaughter was aslo included....she was a doll.

Enjoy girls!

Michelle

My Girls..

With school starting we of course have school pictures...my kids wear cute outfits and fix there hair and say cheese for the camera person. Then they come home and smile for their"MOMMY". I still need to get the boys to do it...maybe tomorow.

Thanks for looking!

Michelle

The California "Texan"

I just adore my little neighbor, Mr. "C". His lovely parents are from Texas and Mr." C". has inherited their little accent in some of his vocabulary. I love to hear him speak. He calls my family "The Guys". Isn't that adorable? These photos were taken during the summer , while we were having what I call "The neighborhood carwash". I wanted to have a play with them. I believe this photoshop action is called "Acidic". I love the look. Do you? Be honest!

Thanks for looking!

Michelle

For the beautiful Miss Rebecca...

As promised here is a little sneak peek of your little beauties. I have to say that these are my new favorite. Congratulations Lil Miss "G" on becoming the NEW BIG SISTER!

Thanks for looking!

Michelle

Field of Dreams...

Just wanted to share a few images of my son playing baseball at an amazing field close by my home. I love to watch him play because he plays ball with his heart.

Thanks for looking!

Michelle

For all the Mommies....YOU MATTER.

A wonderful woman on a photography forum shared this. I thought it was beautiful. I know I get caught up in the chaos of raisng 4 children. I will print this, frame it and read it every day. I know God blessed me and I needed this reminder that I have a purpose.

I'm invisible. It all began to make sense, the blank stares, the lack of response, the way one of the kids will walk into the room while I'm on the phone and ask to be taken to the store. Inside I'm thinking, "Can't you see I'm on the phone?" Obviously not. No one can see if I'm on the phone, or cooking, or sweeping the floor, or even standing on my head in the corner, because no one can see me at all. I'm invisible. Some days I am only a pair of hands, nothing more: Can you fix this? Can you tie this? Can you open this? Some days I'm not a pair of hands; I'm not even a human being. I'm a clock to ask, "What time is it?" I'm a satellite guide to answer, "What number is the Disney Channel?" I'm a car to order, "Right around 5:30, please." I was certain that these were t he hands that once held books and the eyes that studied history and the mind that graduated summa cum laude - but now they had disappeared into the peanut butter, never to be seen again. She's going she's going . . . she's gone! One night, a group of us were having dinner, celebrating the return of a friend from England. Janice had just gotten back from a fabulous trip, and she was going on and on about the hotel she stayed in. I was sitting there, looking around at the others all put together so well. It was hard not to compare and feel sorry for myself as I looked down at my out-of-style dress; it was the only thing I could find that was clean. My unwashed hair was pulled up in a banana clip and I was afraid I could actually smell peanut butter in it. I was feeling pretty pathetic, when Janice turned to me with a beautifully wrapped package, and said, "I brought you this." It was a book on the great cathedrals of Europe. I wasn't exactly sure why she'd given it to me until I read her inscription: "To Charlotte, with admiration for the greatness of what you are building when no one sees." In the days ahead I would read - no, devour - the book. And I would discover what would become for me, four life-changing truths, after which I could pattern my work: No one can say who built the great cathedrals - we have no record of their names. These builders gave their whole lives for a work they would never see finished. They made great sacrifices and expected no credit. The passion of their building was fueled by their faith that the eyes of God saw everything. A legendary story in the book told of a rich man who came to visit the cathedral while it was being built, and he saw a workman carving a tiny bird; on the inside of a beam. He was puzzled and asked the man, "Why are you spending so much time carving that bird into a beam that will be covered by the roof? No one will ever see it." And the workman replied, "Because God sees." I closed the book, feeling the missing piece fall into place. It was almost as if I heard God whispering to me, "I see you, Charlotte. I see the sacrifices you make every day, even when no one around you does. No act of kindness you've done, no sequin you've sewn on, no cupcake you've baked, is too small for me to notice and smile over. You are building a great cathedral, but you can't see right now what it will become." At times, my invisibility feels like an affliction. But it is not a disease that is erasing my life. It is the cure for the disease of my own self-centeredness. It is the antidote to my strong, stubborn pride. I keep the right perspective when I see myself as a great builder. As one of the people who show up at a job that they will never see finished, to work on something that their name will never be on. The writer of the book went so far as to say that no cathedrals could ever be built in our lifetime because there are so few people willing to sacrifice to that degree. When I really think about it, I don't want my son to tell the friend he's bringing home from college for Thanksgiving, "My mom gets up at 4 in the morning and bakes homemade pies, and then she hand bastes a turkey for three hours and presses all the linens for the table." That would mean I'd built a shrine or a monument to myself. I just want him to want to come home. And then, if there is anything more to say to his friend, to add, "You're gonna love it there." As mothers, we are building great cathedrals. We cannot be seen if we're doing it right. And one day, it is very possible that the world will marvel, not only at what we have built, but at the beauty that has been added to the world by the sacrifices of invisible women.

written by: Nicole Johnson from Women of Faith, a book called the Invisible Woman .


Thanks for looking!

Michelle

Empty Nest...

Well for a few hours...3 times a week. My little BABY is off to pre-school..sniff-sniff!! It's hard to believe..I think I am still in shock!!!!!!!!! To be honest, I only teared up a little...another shocker...I thought for sure I would ball my eyes out. If you know Miss "J", you know she is attached at my hip, so I totally thought she would give me a hard time when I left her class. So much so, that I pre-warned the teacher. Well...I began my "Mommy is leaving and I will be back ( I promise) in a few hours...have fun and I love you". I gave her the TIGHT hug and I waited for the "Mommy, don't leave" and all crying that went with it. It DIDN'T HAPPEN!!!!!!!!!!! So then I thought, when she sees me at the door, it will hit her. Again...It DIDN'T HAPPEN. So of course, I had to ask for another hug and kiss....isn't awful...I wanted her to cry for me. I am pathetic!!!! Anyway, I finally made my way out of the classroom and I will admit I looked a few times, to see if she ran out to look for me. Hmm...I am sure you know the answer to that. I did take a 4th look and there she was, in a line with her new friends, skipping with her adorable smile. She saw me and waved and went on with her class! Now that I am writing this, I am feeling really sad because I am realizing she is growing up. I love my sweet baby!

Thanks for looking!

Michelle

p.s. I just read this to "J" and she said " Mommy, we were going to the bathfroon (bathroom) and I wanted to give you another hug and kiss...but I couldn't". Sighhhh....my heart is so happy!!!!

Post Process fun....

Sometimes a photo screams to be vintaged. These photos are screaming it to me. The baby is my adorable little nephew, who just turned "1". Happy Birthday baby "J". The little beauty is Lil' Miss "K"...she was a perfect model. Last but not least, is my little guy Mr. "L". He does not look like this anymore...he now has a missing front tooth and no hair. And it only took about a month for the change. I promise to post a photo of his new look soon!

Thanks for looking!

Michelle

Soccer Queen...

I still remember last year how my Lil' Miss J begged to play soccer...she was only 3 years old and we had to repeatedly tell her she had to be 4 years old to play. She loved to watch her older brothers and sister play. And let me tell you...she could dribble the ball just as well as them. It was adorable to watch!!! I cannot believe how time flies!!!!! Tomorrow is her time to shine on the field...it is her first ever SOCCER GAME...she has been counting down the days. I am so excited!!!!! Doesn't she look adorable in her soccer gear? I also have to mention that my older 3 have games too...but I had to let the baby shine in this post. Good Luck to all my babies!!!

Thanks for looking!!!

Michelle

Kindergarten SADNESS....

For me...not her!!!!! Today was the first official day of Kindergarten for my little Miss H. I thought I was ready for it (beyond ready) and it did not hit me until we were waiting in line to get her until her class...that I was so wrong...I was sooo NOT READY!!!!!! My eyes just filled with tears and I wanted to hold on to her and not let her in her class. I silently cried all the way to my car....and when I got in my car, I read this note the teachers left for us....

THE FIRST DAY

We gave you a little wink and smile

As you entered our room today.

For we know how hard it is to leave

And know your child must stay.

You've been a loving guide,

But now, alas, the time has come

To leave her at our side.

Just know that as you drive away
And tears down your cheek may flow

We'll love her as our own

And help her learn and grow.

For as parents, we too know

How quickly the years do pass

And that one day soon it will be our turn

To take our children to class.

So please put your mind at ease

And cry those tears no more

For we will love her and take her in

When you leave her at our door.

So, I of course began to ball my eyes out. I eventually felt better and I now am completely excited that I have 3 down and 1 to go....YIPEE!!!! Just wait till next week when the baby of the family starts pre-school! OH NO!!!!!!!!!!!!! sniff..sniff!

Thanks for looking!!!

Michelle

It's been awhile...

Gosh, I have been back for 2 weeks and have not had chance to update my blog. So much has been going on....I really need to catch up. Let me start with Chicago...it was such a wonderful experience. Audrey was so amazing and shared so much. I met so many photographers and learned from them as well. Here are some images I took at the workshop.

Thanks for looking!

Michelle