Little Miss B – Michigan Child Photographer

A cup of cuteness+ a tablespoon of sweetness+ a dash of spunk= Little Miss B.  And her mommy wouldn’t want her any other way

 I hope that your week has been filled with sunshine, lollipops, happiness, and love!

5 Things That Made Me Happy This Week – Michigan Child Photographer

Since I wasn’t home yesterday, I am sharing the 5 things that made me happy this week on Monday instead of Sunday

5 Things That Made Me Happy This Week

1. Birthday parties with friends, and family.  My daughter, and my husband share the same birthday, and this week we celebrated their birthday 4 times, which of course means that we have all eaten more than enough cake, but getting together with people that I love to celebrate an important day in the lives of my family makes me happy

2. The occasional quiet rainy day.  We had 2 or 3 this week, but my kids were very mellow those days, and totally content to stay inside coloring, and watching movies.  The occasional rainy day is like a mini vacation, and that occasional brake from everyday life makes me happy

3. Blog comments.  There is something wonderful about opening my e-mail, and finding out that someone took the time to let me know that they read, and enjoy my blog.  Hearing that my photos, or words have inspired someone, made them stop to think, or simply made them smile makes me happy

4. Friendship.  This week we spent time with a wonderful friend of mine from elementary school.  We ate pizza and cake, and then showed off our singing skills on her karaoke machine.  It’s amazing to watch our oldest sons play together, and realize that we were about their age when we first met.  Lifelong friendships make me happy

5. Trips up north.  This weekend we went up north to visit my grandpa, and his wife.  Since they now spend 1/2 of the year living in Florida, we don’t see them as often as we used to, so this trip was a nice time to do some catching up.  Also, my boys went tubing for the first time while we were up north, and it was awesome to see their smiles as they experienced something new.  Creating memories, and spending time with my family makes me happy

What made you happy this week?

I hope that everyone’s weekend was filled with sunshine, lollipops, happiness, and love!

Happy 4th Of July – Michigan Photographer

It’s that time of year again.  Time for parades, flags, bbq’s, and fireworks!

The 4th of July holds both happiness, and sadness for our family.  We run around enjoying fireworks, and bbq’s just like everyone else, but in the back of our minds we are reminded of my grandma. 

The 4th of July was my grandma’s favorite holiday.  She loved to have all of her children, and grandchildren visit for the weekend.  She loved to cook more food than we could possibly eat.  She loved to go on the boat to watch the fireworks, and she always decorated her home so beautifully in red, white, and blue. 

5 years ago on July 3rd while our family was up visiting my grandma and grandpa for our annual 4th of July trip my grandma suddenly passed away.  While it was completely unexpected, I truly believe that God had a plan, and I am honored to have been there with my aunts holding my grandma for some of her last moments here on Earth.   

I am grateful for the conversations that I had with my grandma that day.  I am grateful that I can still picture the excited dance that she did when she found out that I had arrived.  I am grateful that I can still here her giddy voice saying, “Sarah’s here, Sarah’s here!”   

After the trip to the hospital by ambulance, and the trip to another hospital by helicopter we were all given the news.  That day was filled with hugs, tears, and incredibly heavy hearts.  My grandpa made the decision to donate my grandma’s organs, a decision that her recipients, and their families will be forever grateful for. 

Since it takes a little while to get everything lined up, my grandma stayed on life support, and her death was not offically pronounced until July 4th.  So, while we are celebrating, and laughing today our hearts hold a sadness, and longing.  I am sad to know that our trip up north this weekend will be very different than it used to be, but that’s life.  Things are always changing, and you can’t re-live the past.  You can just be grateful for the life that you have, and that God has given you another day to live it.

(my grandma)

With that in mind, please tell someone that you love just how much you love them today.  Please hug someone just a little tighter, because you never know if that hug will be the last.  Please forgive someone today that may need your forgiveness.  Please apologize to someone today that you may have hurt.  Please live today like there is no tomorrow, and remember to fill your days with sunshine, lollipops, happiness, and love… 

(my mom and me on the day of my grandma’s funeral) 

To everyone that has put, and is still putting their own life on the line for all of us, including my mom’s cousin Gerald who was killed during his 3rd tour of Iraq, thank you.  

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8ZZf619DIpo&feature=related

?! – Michigan Child and Lifestyle Photographer

Seriously, it’s July already?!  I’d love to know where June went…

No yesterdays are ever wasted for those who give themselves to today.  ~Brendan Francis

May your month be filled with sunshine, lollipops, happiness, and love!

Dinosauria 2009 – Detroit Michigan Child Photographer

My younger son’s class took a field trip to the Detroit Zoo  http://www.detroitzoo.org/ a few days before they got out of school. 

One of the things that we got to do was see the dinosaurs, and to be honest, I was a little nervous as to how the kids were going to react.  I remember going to see a dinosaur exhibit when I was about 6, and it was SCARY!  It was in a dimly lit room which seemed scary enough on its own, but then you add huge creatures with sharp teeth, making loud mean sounds and it becomes a lifetime memory, and not necessarily in a good way.  So, as I said before, I was a little nervous about how the kids would react…

(The dinosaur featured above spit water, which my son thought was awesome!)

Well, I must say that the Dinosauria Exhibit http://www.detroitzoo.org/Attractions/Other_Exhibits/Dinosauria_2009/ at the Detroit Zoo was a great way for the kids to experience these amazing creatures. 

 

When we first went down the path I kind of felt like I was walking into the Jurassic Park movie.  (You know, in the beginning of the movie before everything changes…)  It was sunny, it was inviting, and I am happy to report that I did not hear one scared or crying child the whole time we were there. 

Each dinosaur had a sign that taught you some things about it, and there were even a few carts that had different things that the kids could see, and touch.  They thought that it was neat to see how big a dinosaur claw was compared to how big their hand was.

One of the knowledgeable staff members told us that the Iguanodon was the first dinosaur bones to ever be discovered, and that the man in England that discovered the bones thought that it looked like a large Iguana.  And that my friends is how the Iguanodon got it’s name!

After you visit all of the dinosaurs, there are some sand tables where you can discover dinosaur bones.

They even have some tables and chairs that you can sit at to take a break, or have a snack.

Luckily for me, I didn’t have any children with the “gimmes”, because the exit out of Dinosauria is through the gift shop   

All in all, it was a great experience, and for those of you that are interested in going, the exhibit is open until Labor Day.

(There is an injured triceratops in the exhibit, and there was one dinosaur that had been caught by another.  Some children may be bothered by that part, but it is also a good teaching example about dinosaur life.)

I hope that your summer has been filled with sunshine, lollipops, happiness, and love!

5 Things That Made Me Happy This Week – Michigan Lifestyle Photographer

I am going to try to blog about 5 things that make me happy every Sunday.  (The keyword being try, LOL!) 

Since this is the first week, and I am feeling extra happy you get  6 things.  Lucky you!

5 Things That Made Me Happy This Week

1. Watching my husband walk around in the shorts that we gave him for father’s day.  They fit, and he liked them.  And that, made me happy

2. Seeing family members on Father’s Day.  Between Mc Donald’s, and the get together at my aunts, I’m sure that I consumed way too many calories.  But, it was worth it, and it made me happy

3. Spending time with my family, and friends at the beach.  I love to watch the kids splash in the water, and dig in the sand.  It makes me happy to see them happy

4. Summer bbq’s with the kids running around, and everyone getting along.  Not to mention delicious food hot off the grill, and yummy salads to go with them.  Eating good food outside makes me happy

5. Watching fireworks.  There is something so romantic about snuggling your kids, and holding hands with someone you love under a dark sky filled with fireworks.  It’s almost like going back in time to simple days, and that makes me happy

6. My mother and father-in-law.  We are truly blessed to have them in our lives, and that makes all of us happy

God gave you a gift of 86,400 seconds today.  Have you used one to say “thank you?”  ~William A. Ward

And since I wouldn’t want to blog without a photo, here are some silly ones that my oldest son and I took in the parking lot of Lucky’s Steakhouse after out dinner date. 

Thank you Lyndsey for the photobooth template.  You helped to fill my day with sunshine, lollipops, happiness, and love!

Little Mr. B – Michigan Lifestyle Photographer

Little Mr. B is the super cute younger brother of Little Mr. J, and Little Miss B. 

This little cutie loved climbing up and down the slide. 

I loved that his mommy and I could let him, because we were the only ones at the park that day

If he hadn’t won me over with his long haired surfer look, 

he definitely would have won me over with spunky personality, and fantastic smile! 

And to all of my wonderful blog readers, may your day be filled with sunshine, lollipops, happiness, and love!

Little Miss B – Michigan Lifestyle Photographer

I recently had the pleasure of photographing the adorable Little Miss B.

During our time together she showed me her pretty smile.

She showed me how great she is at doing cartwheels, and walking on her hands.

 

And she even showed me that she is missing a tooth!

And because these last two photos make me smile, I have decided to show them to you…

Thank you for being so wonderful Little Miss B, and I hope that the chocolate milk came out of your shirt  

I hope that all of you have a week that is filled with sunshine, lollipops, happiness, and love!

Little Mr. J – Michigan Kids Photographer

Little Mr. J has a sweet, yet slightly serious personality.

But inside of that serious little guy there is also a playful, and silly side!

Little Mr. J wants to be Superman when he grows up, and even though I gave him some great superhero names of his very own, he has decided to stick with plain old Superman

He even offered to save me when he grows up.  So I guess that makes him my hero, sigh… 

Hopefully his biggest fan won’t mind sharing him with the world!

Enjoy being 5 Little Mr. J, and I hope that your summer is filled with sunshine, lollipops, happiness, and love!  Especially since Kindergarten starts in the fall

Happy Father’s Day, From Our Home To Yours – Michigan Family Photographer

It’s hard to believe that it was almost 9 years ago that my husband and I welcomed our first baby into the world. 

When I look back on our first night together as Mom and Dad as we lay in my hospital bed holding our first baby my eyes fill up with tears.  It was amazing, enchanting, tear filled, and incredibly romantic all at the same time.  Those memories I will treasure for the rest of my life.

I am so grateful that my husband and I also went on to have 2 more amazing children after that, and I feel blessed everyday that my children have a father that truly loves them.

It was once said that the greatest gift that a father can give his children is to love their mother, and that is a quote that I believe with all of my heart. 

Happy Father’s Day M, we love, and appreciate you! 

And to all of you other Father’s out there, and all of the Mother’s that play the role of both Mother, and Father, happy Father’s Day.  May your day be filled with sunshine, lollipops, happiness, and love