Remember the Days When...

Remember the days when we wrote on our personal blogs like every day?  Me either.  Ha ha.  Well I took a jog down memory lane this evening and came across this goody:  "Tag, you're it."  I was laughing because most of this is still true!  (PS this is when I was an elementary teacher...just to clarify #4).

#1 I am VERY conscious of my personal dental hygeine. I actually love to brush and floss my teeth. By the end of the day, I often comment to Richie, "Oh I have GOT to go brush my teeth, they are so fuzzy!" He thinks that's that strangest thing. Haven't you ever felt like you have fuzz growing on your teeth?

#2 I remember faces VERY WELL. I often see people I "know" by their faces, and I usually go right up to them and say, "I know you!" And I really know that I do know them somehow. I often can't remember how. But the response I get 99 percent of the time is, "Oh! Hmm, I don't think I know you!" Richie's laughs all the time and comments, "You think you know everyone!"

#3 I absolutely HATE drains. I refuse to clean one out, get too close to one, or reach my hand down one to retrieve something I dropped. I would rather clean 25 toilets. Drains are DISGUSTING.

#4 I have a super sensitive sense of smell and sound. EVERYTHING smells! (Good or bad.) I smell stinky kids every day--especially in the morning when they haven't brushed their teeth. I smell their fabulous body odor in the afternoon after recess, and I just smell STINK when I re-enter my classroom at the end of the day. I smell other teacher's coffee breath too(that's one of the worst). I smell funky smells outside--dog poop and such. And I always think I smell smoke in my house from the residents above us.
As far as sound goes, I am always asking Richie to talk a little more quietly, turn the tv down, turn the radio down, etc. The strange thing is, I am always saying "WHAT?" becuase I can't hear, or miss parts of conversations somehow. Go figure.

#5 I secretly love 70's music. I don't know why I get embarrassed about that, but it's probably one of my favorite types. (I really love music PERIOD) To name just a few, I like James Taylor, John Denver, Jim Croce, Bread, Chicago, Stevie Wonder, Carpenters, Ann Murray, Jonathan Edwards, Harry Nilsson, Billy Joel, The Eagles, BJ Thomas, Carole King, America, Abba, Beach Boys, Beatles, Jimmy Buffett, Phil Collins, Neil Diamond, Fleetwood Mac, and Simon and Garfunkle. I can't think of any more. My parents are proud of me. =)

#6 I want a scooter. BAD.

And if I were to redo this today?

"Six Things You Wish You Didn't Just Ready about Me."

#1  "I know if I can make you smile or laugh in the morning, it must have been pretty funny!"  This is what Richie tells me often.  I am a night owl.  I stay up too late EVERY SINGLE NIGHT.  When my alarm clock wakes me up in the morning (my children), I am a very unhappy mama.  I am NOT a morning person.

#2  I am authentically a happy person and I love people!

#3  Currently my favorite upbeat song on the radio is "Can't Hold Us" by Macklemore.

#4  My husband is a rapper.  (And he's good.)  No joke.  Someday I'll have to put him on YouTube!

#5  I still hate drains.  And I am adding laundry to my list of things that I loathe.  (Have 3+ kids and you'll totally get it.)

#6  I LOVE light pink lip gloss (MAC) and hot pink toes.

Laguna Beach Engagement Photos: Kelly+Chris

I had never met Kelly and Chris until the day we met up to do engagement photos!  I immediately felt a connection with them both--they were so easy to talk to, outgoing, fun and up for ANYTHING!  (as you can tell from the last photo!)  We had such a great evening together, and they couldn't have picked a better spot to demonstrate how much they were in love--Laguna Beach--which is also where they went on their first date.
After a long time of long distance dating, Kelly finally made the plunge and moved herself and 5-year old daughter from Virginia to California to be with the man of her dreams.  It was SO apparent how in love they are.  I witnessed how much respect and love they have for each other, it was beautiful to watch.
Enjoy!

Addictions, Chores and Disneyland

WE are addicted to media.  TV, smart phones, iPads, computers.  It's all arounds us, all the time, and it I'm pretty sure it's not all that healthy!  (Except for the fact that my barely 2-year old knows his shapes, colors, how to count, and can identify all the letters of the alphabet.  Thanks iPad apps!  Hey maybe it isn't so bad after all!)

I knew once summer hit I would get even more lazy about allowing my kids to dwindle their day away on these devices.  That's when I came up with a daily, summer, chore chart:

1.  Play with your toys
2.  Play outside
3.  Educational computer games (20 min)
4.  Kindergarten workbook page
5.  Read 3 books with Mom
6.  Mommy's choice (real chore)
7.  Exercise
8.  Rest

I'm thinking I wish this was my daily chore list!  (Especially number 8).

When I introduced summer chores to Mylie, I got a grumpy face with arms folded kind of reaction.  Epic.  Totally how I would have responded!  As I verbally listed off her summer chores, the grumps went away, the smiles made their appearance and she was chiming in after every chore:  "EASY!"  I tried my best not to giggle.

We promised that if she did her chores every day all summer long, we would take her to Disneyland in the fall.  Don't worry that we took her only 2 weeks later.  Ha!  We couldn't resist the urge to buy season passes.  We caved.  Big time.  And that's not a cheap cave I tell ya!

Surprising your children with something as awesome as Disneyland feels sooo good!  Here are Mylie and Michael (and my cute hubby) on the bus, ready to hit the rides!

Rancho Cucamonga Family Photographer: Wach Family

The Wach family is sooo sweet.  Each with their own personalities and senses of humor!  The oldest boy, Michael just got assigned to serve a 2-year mission for his church in Paris, France!  The interesting thing about that is that he will be speaking Spanish.  The family wanted to get family pictures before he left!  Imagine little Joshua and how big he will be when his oldest brother returns!  This family has a lot of love for each other, it was very apparent.  Grandma came to visit from Acapulco, Mexico to say goodbye to her grandson.  She was such a kind lady.  Our communication was limited as I only speak English and she only speaks Spanish, but her sweetness radiated.  I love this family and was so grateful they chose me to help create their last memory before sending off Michael to France!

Redlands Temple Wedding: Alysa+Josh

Missionary Boy Falls in Love with a Pretty, Hot Blondie: It's true. Josh served a mission for his church In California and saw this beauty in the congregation he was assigned to. He told a buddy that he wanted to marry her, who responded that she was way out of his league. Ha ha! Upon finishing his mission, he returned home to Minnesota where he told his mom all about this amazing girl in California that he wanted to marry. Soon after, he attended Brigham Young University and found that Alysa Pendleton was in one of his classes. They joined the same study group, hung out a bit, and soon he revealed his undying love for her. She was apparently surprised, she was clueless that he had any interest at all. As soon as she got used to the idea that they weren't JUST friends, it was history! One of my favorite parts of the day was when Alysa was upstairs getting ready. She saw Josh pull up in the driveway and exclaimed to all the girls present, "Oh Josh!!! He looks so handsome!" She was so giddy and you could tell how in love they were the whole day. What a sweet couple, they were so grateful to me for taking their photos, but I was so grateful to them for choosing me as their photographer. Thanks for a wonderful day! You two are a match made in heaven!