"Can you take a picture of me touching my brother's teeth?" Of course I can.
I'm pretty sure this one will blown up huge and framed by the entry way! LOL. Or maybe this one...
I had a lot of fun with these kids. They were so easy I can't say it enough! Thanks guys!
And even though this lighting is so heavy from behind-I love the natural feeling of this one! I think it's my favorite!
To see a few more from this shoot click here!
I just can't seem to get enough of them! And as mischievous as two can be these two made up for it with their gorgeous smiles, smirks and oh so convincing good looks. Just look at the eyes on both of them. They had me convinced they are nothing but angels. LOL. To see a few more click here!
A name could not be more fitting for a perfect little baby girl. I mean just look at her. She's so precious and so new! I just loved all the pink in the room too!
To see a few more from her shoot click here.
Well, not really the park but a stroll none the less. And boy did we see some cool stuff. I just love when I can get a curious little boy out in nature and show him turtles, frogs and fish for the first time. I had so much fun. Thanks guys! To see a few more from this shoot click here!
That makes it girls-11 and boys-7! But I think this one is so cute he could count for ten baby boys! He was so stinkin' good for us too! Thanks little man! To see a few more from his first official shoot click here!!!
I took them aside after the huge grandkid shoot and gave them their own! They know me fairly well so we got right to business because we all agreed doing a photo shoot in 95 degrees while wearing black is not fun! But they look good! Thanks guys! I had a blast! To see a few more from your shoot click here!
Count them-12 grandkids! Wow! But they're still smiling! What fun they must all have!
It seems there are lots of girls these days. And, they are the cutest things ever! Now little T is a big brother to little L! I remember when I did his newborn photos at about ten days old and he rolled over on us. I wonder if little sister will be able to keep up the pace! We shall see. Now, if you want to see more from this shoot click here! Thanks, Jane
Let's start with Big Brother! Can you tell he is used to being in front of my camera?
Yep! Another girl! Welcome little one! And someone is a new BIG sister! To see a few more from their shoot click here!
...And I thank you, Laura & Chad, for being so patient with me! I hope it was worth the long car ride to Chicago, the very long walk we took around the city and the very long week you had to wait for these photos. I had a blast doing the shoot and proofing it! Thanks again, Jane
PS. I had way too many favorites for this post. CLICK HERE TO SEE MORE!
And how cute is this last one? All Laura's idea! I will have to use it again in the future! :)
Back to posting about Mexico. I hope you aren't tired of these posts yet because they only get better. Today is day five of 14 and we arrive in Palenque after an all night bus trip from Merida. We're pooped but we keep going. We arrive at the bus station, walk across the street and ask for three rooms at Hotel Avenida. Again it's about 95 degrees and 100% humidity. I am told we are now in the middle of the jungle. Myles and I drop our bags in our room and head down to the back of the hotel. I love the look on his face as he explores...
Then, off to the bus station and we headed to the ruins of Palenque...
I just loved looking out into the jungle and not knowing what could be out there!
After the ruins we walked up the hill to look for Ernesto. My dad met him a couple years ago. He does some awesome lime stone carvings. We learned later that the vendors were all moved to a new location so we took a taxi up to see him. As soon as dad got out of the car a huge smile came over Ernesto's face. What a site. Too bad no was expecting it so we missed the photo op!
Then it was back to the hotel to get some rest before tomorrow's big adventure. But, now without a little lizard hunting before hitting the sack!
More photos added the the Mexico Album!
...to bring you a few photos of M & M! Someone is still learning how to hold his little brother. He'll catch on soon enough! Matt is now 2 years and Michael is already three months old! WOW! To see a few more click here.
I just want to kiss these lips!!! His momma sure is lucky!
Our last day in Merida, Mexico before we head off to Palenque. Today we hung out in town and went to Plaza de la Independencia to see the traditional dancers perform. They perform here every Sunday all year long for the local people. Merida is known for being the cultural center of Mexico. We saw several dances performed from different regions through out Mexico. It was a very entertaining and enjoyable show. My father has been coming here for a few years so he has come to recognize and be recognized by some of the locals. He takes their photos and returns with them on his next visit. A lot of these people do not like their photos taken or feel it is "taboo". So, when he is allowed to take photos and give them back it is an honor. Today we were all allowed "back stage" and got to take some photos of our own.
Here is my father sharing his photos on his iPod Touch with some of the young dancers. They were thrilled!
We were then given front row seats so we could take more photos through out the performance!
We are leaving Merida tonight on a 10pm bus. So, we checked out of Hotel Reforma...
And, we spent the day walking around town.
One park had this awesome statue in it. It was park dedicated to Mothers! I love it!
We're still Merida, Mexico. Today was the day we boarded the 8am bus to see five ruin sites. Let's put it this way...my sister Linda asked if we were on the "Amazing Race" and if so, she thought we were the losers! LOL. It was a fast paced day trip to say the least. But, we saw more in four hours then I thought I would see the whole trip!
We start in Labna...
Then we went to Xlapak...
After twenty minutes it's back on the bus and off to Sayil...
And I think it was only twenty-five minutes later when we were off to Kabah...
And just minutes after this we were off to Uxmal...
Be sure to check this album for additional photos with each post!
ETA:we did five sites-not four! Thanks Dad for clueing me in!
It's our third day and we have walked a couple miles to the bus station only to realize we have to turn around and walk all the way back and a little further to another bus station! We finally make after a little rest in the park on the way. We buy our tickets and we are on the bus to Izamal. Izamal is a city known for being painted all yellow and white. Here we visited a gorgeous old church built with stones from an ancient Mayan ruin. From on top we could see another ruin in the distance. We also had a wonderful dinner at Los Mestizos. (Don't forget-I add to this album with every post! Click here!)
After this day trip we headed back to Merida, dropped our bags and took a walk to the Patio Central Universitario. Here we saw the Ballet Folkloria Universidad Autonoma de Yucatan. Amazing talent and colors. After the show a few of stopped for a drink and some snacks before collapsing into bed!
We start day 2 waiting for the taxi to take us the airport where we will board a flight to Merida, Mexico. It's a short flight so we are all very excited to get there and get going again! Here, Linda is letting us know exactly what day it is! LOL!
Once we get to Merida, we once again, grab a cab, checked into Hotel Reforma and hit the road running. This time we walked to the bus station and bought tickets for our trip to Progresso, Mexico. This city is located on the gulf side. It is beautiful.
The city is known to have had a major meteor land there 65 millions years ago creating fresh water pools and cave rivers. This was written in an article in National Geographic. Anyway-here are few more photos.
The lovely bus terminal. For some reason it looks so nice and cool in photos! LOL!
I just love all the color for my eyes when we walk the streets!
Lunch on the ocean front!
Myles and his cousin Mary on the beach!
Outside waiting for our return bus!
Be sure to check this album for additional photos with each post.
I think it might be best to post photos of our trip one day at a time as I download and proof them. I realized I have a lot of pictures. LOL. I stopped counting at 1600.
So, I will start naturally at the beginning. This is day one as we sat at O'Hare airport waiting to board our flight to Mexico City from Chicago.
I have to be honest and say that I wasn't quite sure where this trip was taking us. I knew we were traveling through out Mexico but at to which cities we were exactly visiting I wasn't too sure. I knew we would be spending a few days here and a few days there but I had no idea what we were in for! My father-who planned this trip-wanted to keep most of it a surprise and asked my sister to not give us too many details about where they had been last time. I honestly don't think she could have put into words what we were about to experience even if she tried.
So day one continues as we arrived in Mexico City and hit the pavement running. We arrived, found a hotel (Hotel Fleming), checked in, drop our bags, grabbed our umbrellas and off we went. We walked to the heart of the city and along the way we saw several gorgeous churches, beautiful parks, lots of vendors and the Aztec Ruins that were discovered (to the best of my knowledge) sometime in 1978 by city workers laying cable lines. It was amazing!!!
To see a few more photos click here. Each day I post I will add to this album until all my photos are uploaded!
The question really is-Where haven't I been this month? I left on July 2 with my son (Tim stayed home and took time off to be with Emma)! Myles (13yo) and I headed to Mexico for a two week "adventure" with my sister, her husband, her daughter, our father and my other sister! For two weeks we traveled from Chicago to Mexico City to Merida to Progresso to Izamal to Palenque to Bonampak to Yaxchilan (down along the Guatemala border in a "boat") to San Cristobal to Zinacantan to San Juan Chumula to Oaxaca back to Mexico City and finally home to Chicago...for two days and then off to CHA in Rosemont for three days. But now I am home and ready to post some photos. I know everyone is waiting for photos from our trip but I have to first post some from CHA.
I love CHA and all the trade shows that involve my love scrapbooking along with my passion for photography. I love them mostly b/c I get to meet up with friends from all over the world that I would otherwise not get to see. The greatest and biggest group being the Fiskateers. I was honored to be asked to do a mini shoot of the new five lead Fiskateers during the show this weekend. And, here they are ... to see a few more click here.
I have been doing lots of babies lately so it was a fun change of pace to get some older subjects! Amazing how they can follow directions so well. LOL. Here are a few of my absolute favorites! We even got some great soccer shots. Click here to see more!!!
Another beautiful baby girl this week! I could just bite those cheeks they are so perfectly round and pink! She is true little model working the camera. She even gave me my favorite "pirate eye baby" at the bottom here. To see a few more click here!
This mommy to be is expecting twins! I can't wait to meet them! To see a few more from her solo shoot click here! Here are my favorites!
This beautiful newborn baby girls bring the score to 8-6 with the girls winning! She is so precious. I can tell you one thing about her-she loves running bath water! Thanks guys!To see a few more click here!
We did a few not so formal photos of the boys in honor of their FIRST and THIRD birthdays. I just want to pinch those cheeks while I stare into those blue yes! A few more here.
I certainly cannot believe it! Happy Birthday Luke!
