Seven days in the City: NYC

Things I learned from NYC:

If there is a gust of wind coming up from the Subway stairsway you better hustle cause thats your train arriving. Or you will have to wait for the next one.

You can always expect to be entertained by con men on the R subway line. also expect them to ask for donations.

Be thankful when the thug behind you says dont worry Im not going to steal your purse. Smile your in New York.

Do buy Wicked tickets before you get there : all other shows buy in Times Square the morning of for 1/2 price.

I love Battery Park. It feels just like the movie "Youve got Mail"

Central Park has a softball field , the original field of dreams. Danny thinks hes big time because he plays in a league there. Whateves :)

If your at the Met Museum surrounded by the great art works of all time and your daughter is looking at the parquet flooring ... I think she is hungry and wants to go.

The smegal prototype is in the sculpture garden. among other things

Coco puffs are 6.00 a box.

Cab rides are scarier than any theme park ride.

The most important thing I learned: If you want a fountain drink diet coke the GOLden ARches is pretty much your only option.

A shout out!!

A big thanks to Higginson Tire in Queen Creek for so graciously letting us shoot at their tire and wheel shop. As you can see from the image they have some awesome rims (not that I know anything about them) but a lot of people seem to have them on their cars :)

It seems that my visions are often bigger than the time I have to shoot. I would have loved to shoot there all afternoon. But you know kids .... they have places to be, namely a really big dance called Prom and people to see.

More pictures to come later.

SongBird

Its funny the gifts God gives us.

Jessica is a senior this year. I love it and hate all at the same time (mostly sad). I hate change.
Lately I have been reflecting on her childhood. Did I teach her enough? Did I teach her the things that matter?
She was such a sweet, kind girl. She is alot like her Dad. I admit I often dont understand the way she thinks. I always assumed my daughter would be like me and want to do the things I like. I thought she would love to dance, be competitive and bossy, and completly passionate about the things she loves. So far only one thing she got from me, her passion.
So after trying to get her to do the things I love, I let her choose. She choose guitar and singing. A friend once told me once I let my kid be who she really was we were both so much happier.
Who knew?
Luckily I know a great singer, guitar teacher and mentor. My uncle Jeff Arnett. Not only did he teach her to play and sing but he taught her how to write songs. He is always pushing her ways I never would or could have. And to him I am so grateful for helping her find her God given gift I couldnt have.

So here it is. The new song on my website Jeff and Jess wrote. Jess vocals , Jeff guitar.

I love you both. I am so proud.

Birthday Madness

So I hit a milestone last week. I turned 40. As I get older I really think Bdays are dumb. Yadayada. Wendy celebrated with me by sending a surprise visit. see here

But even more fun ... My sisters and sisters in laws ( Jackie and Sara were MIA) had a fun photoshoot.
As you'll notice I am not that photogenic or comfortable in front of a camera. It is much easier to direct.

So I will just give you the breakdown of the roles we played..

Channy the pretty, educated and frugal one.
Heidi the fun, crazy and when not crazy restfull one
Wendy the pretty and smart, perfect one.
Brittney the practically perfect in every way one
Frances the tall, kind , sweet one.

Thanks Ladies I had a ball.

too see the rest check facebook

Morgan , Brooke and Taryn

I dont remember exactly what grade Taryn was in when she came home and told me that Morgan was her best friend. It might have been 2nd. She asked me if she could come over. Of course. When she brought her home I realized that Morgan was special. Morgan has Downs Syndrome. They spent the afternoon listening to High School Musical , dressing up and dancing like all young girls do.

Taryn never mentioned that Morgan might be different than her. Isnt being 7 great, when you dont notice the differences between you and everyone around you. To Taryn , everyone around her was the same... on equal footing.

You may think what a great opportunity for Morgan to be in a regular classroom setting where she got to learn different social behaviors and have academic success that may not have been otherwise possible for her.

But the biggest change was for those in the 2nd grade classroom who got to know and love Morgan as a person, peer, friend and best friend. This would not have been possible with out Morgan being there every day for the most part of the day.

One day in 4th grade Taryn came home in tears. She told me of some girls who did not know Morgan were making fun of her in the bathroom. Taryn could not believe the cruelty. Why would they try to hurt her. Maybe if they just had the chance like Taryn had in 2nd , 3rd and 4th grade to get to know her they would not have said those things.

Taryn , Morgan and Brooke(Morgans sisters in 5th grade also her other BFF) are in 5th grade now at the new Middle School. Morgan is in a different class now. She spends more time in resource than she used to. Taryn still sees Morgan at lunch , but one cant help but wonder how many more lives could be changed if Morgan still had the opportunities to be with her old peers as she did at the elementary.

Many of the decisions for our children are based on budget constrants and old ways of doing things. What we thought used to work. Morgan needs a 1/3 time helper. The regular 5th grade teacher has some 30 kids in the class room and logistically isnt possible to help Morgan with out an aid. Someone who can make sure she is where she needs to be and is on task with her abilities and yet push her to accomplish what we thought might not have been possible. With the finacial state of our school district Morgan doesnt have that person. She needs a part-time volunteer.
Maybe a high school senior who gets out of school early or someone who is looking to make a difference. I dont have the answer but I know with some research and good old fashion team work this would be possible.

Morgan isnt the only one. There are many of them who could benefit from this type of assimilation. How many Morgans are out there who didnt have the opportunities given to them that Morgans mom had to push for. How grateful I am that Taryn had the chance to get to know Morgan and love her. She has made our life better. We are more compassionate and are more likely to get to know people of all kinds around us because of her.

I know I dont have concrete answers but I do know this is a problem some of our neighbors and friends are facing. Maybe we could help with volunteering,voicing our opinion at school board meetings, or simply being aware of the situation and being an understanding friend.
Sometime the way to change is opening up our hearts and being willing to try something different.

p.s. You will notice Addie from the previous post is special person as well who also brings so much to our lives.

18 and counting.

Ok I admit from time to time I get jealous of my clients. I want romatic , fun , fabulous photos of me and Wayne. It just that I am not that photogenic. (code for really picky) Anyways for our anniversary which happens to be the day after VDay the girls took pics of us. I think it was kind of traumatic for them. We didnt get any great kissing ones. I think we were trying not to scar them to much. However they did get some ,I do love. Is this vain showing you?

I am so blessed to married to a great , kind, funny handsome man. I dont deserve him. He keeps me sane. I love you Wayne.

Ill show you my scar if you show me yours.

Its that time of year again here in Queen Creek. London's Run. Many of you know my youngest daughter lost a dear friend to leukemia 3 years ago. I often feel guilty that I still have my daughter , and her family misses her everyday. Every time I see them I feel a certain pain. This event is to honor her and raise money for others suffering from cancer as well. You can go to this website to get more info. Londonsrun.org Her story is also linked there under the caring bridge.

They are in need of people to make appointments for the blood drive that day.

700 blood donors are needed DAILY in Arizona to supply the hospitals United Blood Services serves… including Phoenix Children’s Hospital.

This year London's Run and Ride will have TWO UBS buses to accommodate extended donation hours and walk ins! We are confident that London's Run supporters will generously donate and help save a life!

Appointments available from 7:30am - 2:00pm.

Here is the kicker. I will take 50.00 off of portrait sitting for any one who donates that day between those hours.

So go ahead show me your scar :)

Rock Stars:cmt style

So i posted these already on my personal blog. but they are to fun. These is going to be my samples for urban sessions.