The next Arapahoe Acres Home Tour is scheduled for Saturday, August 28th 1-5pm. Head over to the site for more information.

This is the latest home I was honored to photograph in the Arapahoe Acres neighborhood.

Here’s Zed playing his part in the wrestling match. Just a kick and nudge here and there. He looks pretty calm about the whole thing, don’t you think?

I’ve run out of gift making ideas. But I’m pretty sure they loved it. It’s a pretty big print (my lab was having a nice sale) so I’m curious to see where they put it.

Such a pretty girl. It’s so fun to see her grow.

Yes, yes. I feel I haven’t been posting much lately. It’s true. I have quite a backlog of images. I sent this book out who knows how long ago and I’m just now posting about it.
It is always sad to send the albums I make away. I want to keep them all, they are so beautiful. I can image my kids looking through them in 10 years. “Who the heck are these people?” It’s very good (for everyone) that I send the albums to their rightful owners.

I love this paper and am so happy with how the cover turned out.

Just a couple of my favorite pages in the album. I really like the images to take up the whole page… and more.

Yes, yes, yes. But are you sure you aren’t from Nigeria? I’m sure that’s where you’re from! Ha! Oh, and I decided not mention my lack of knowledge as to where anything is on the African continent. Wow. I guess when I made that map of Africa last year for our Ethiopian baby shower the info went right out of my mind. I do know where Ethiopia and Namibia are, thank you very much!
Ok, let’s get past my obvious lack of geographical knowledge. These two met at school and fell for each other. After 6 months in Kenya, Edwin made it back to the states to marry his sweetheart. I know their wedding will be a special day and I can’t wait to photograph this beautiful couple again.

Ain’t summer grand? This summer has been awesome. Swimming, playing, and the ubiquitous lemonade stand. Ezra has recently been brainwashed by Disney into thinking he wants Buzz and Woody dolls. I told him he’d have to earn the money. This stand was pushed by both kids, but Ezra was the driving force behind it.

India made a great sales woman. She needed some help with the pouring, mainly since our jug has a top that won’t stay open. We should really upgrade.

Zed is very proud of his drinking skills and shows them off as often as he can.

All Ezra needed was a giant lemon costume.

But of course he had to drink 3 or 4 glasses himself.

I can’t believe how big my littlest one is getting. He is still a tiny, but soon he’ll be tearing it up. He already tears up the house. We have been trying to keep the place picked up and the older kids have been helping to pick up the toys. We find it doesn’t really make much of a difference. The baby’ll just pull everything out again. The toys stay away maybe for the rest of the evening. So we pick up every other day (or every other, other day).

That little smile of his is so sweet… I know there is trouble brewing behind the cover of sweetness.

Look how little this guy was when he came home to his mommy and daddy and sis. He traveled with them all the way from Ethiopia. This was taken at the little welcoming party we had for him a couple months after his arrival.

Now he is such a big boy and still as sweet as ever. Reggae music was requested and thanks to the Pandora app. on my phone and my speakered dock, I was able to oblige. Ahhh, technology.

He was only so happy and smiling when his mommy was talking with him. He sure loves his mommy. No doubt the feeling is mutual. Can you feel the love?

It is unbelievable to me that she is so old. I remember the days when we would walk to the park each day after nap time. I would push her in the stroller to the tot lot. We would often smell the Indian restaurant getting ready for dinner. Ahhh, those were the days.
Now we are trying to get in a habit of riding bikes to school. At pick up she is often ready to go home, but her little brothers need some time to get their wiggles out. Most of the time she is patient and will wait. Typically she will eventually have fun with friends after only a bit of complaining.
All in all India is a sweet girl. She is always concerned for her friends, making sure they feel included. After living here for 3 years she has finally found her niche. Not to say she hasn’t fit in, but now I can say she has a good group of friends who care for her as she does for them. Lots came to support her on her birthday when she was baptized.

Every February this village on the boarder of France and Italy hosts a citrus festival. They make structures out of lemons and oranges. This year each depicted either a movie genre or scene from a film. There is also a parade, but we missed that. Zach did see a posse of Cowboys and Indians twirling ropes and riding horses. Welcome to France. He says the French love westerns.

Zach bought a crepe and I bought a hot lemonade (it was cold out) along with some orange shaped candy to take home to the kids.

After seeing the citrus we wandered through the streets until we came to the Mediterranean. There were some pretty crazy signs and the sea was beautiful.



The sign with the alien wind surfer cracked me up.

That night we ate pizza, seeing as we were so close to Italy. There we were, 4 adults and 6 kids in a little restaurant with only one who can (more easily than some) speak French. We were enjoying each others company while the staff watched us intently. Then a large group of what looked like a middle aged soccer/rugby team came in. I thought for sure they would be louder than us. Nope. Not a word passed between them. Were they listening to us? Do Europeans not speak while eating with friends? What gives? I imagine that after we left they continued on with their lives. Which included speaking while eating together.

I busted out this tree and name plate after looking at a stamped bag from Fancy Tiger for several months. It is so cute and I thought “I could do something like that”. I’ve always wanted personalized bags, but couldn’t see purchasing printed bags or even stickers with my name on them.
Once I ran out of bags to print I kept thinking of what else needed some printing. I decided the backs of the watercolor paper I mount my prints on could use some pretty. Pictured is my latest order all dressed up and ready to go! My client even ordered 2 sets of the mini brag book. I’m sure her family will love her for it.

Our crab apple trees have finally bloomed. I mean to say, bloomed for the first time in the 3 years we have lived here. It’s sad we have missed this beautiful display each year because of late freezes. I think the first spring we arrived the trees bloomed (we didn’t live in this house). But coming from lush Maryland this high desert spring couldn’t compare with the one we had left behind. Our yard is quite beautiful in its spring glory.
Some new developments in the Smith home. Zed is walking and Ezra finally decided to play with the counting game I made him for Christmas.

Really? Well, probably not really his first cake. He is the third child after all.

Our friends who live in the neighborhood made these shirts for Zed and I. This was their maiden voyage.

This one is our brown baby. Brown hair, eyes and skin. I’d like to get a shot of all three kids to compare skin tone. Maybe this summer.

Not only is he brown, but he eats just about anything you put in front of him. Green being his favorite color to eat. How cool is that?
FYI, I do not recommend the Safe Sippy (which Zed is holding). It leaks on the floor, leaks in the bag. It leaks, leaks, leaks! They include a plug which can be inserted while traveling, but you have to unscrew the lid, dripping liquid everywhere to unplug the thing. That doesn’t help at all when child throws it to the ground. I’m a sucker for BPA free stuff, but let me be the only sucker who buys this thing!
Ok, just read that they will replace my leaky sippy. Maybe now I can really have a safe sippy that will keep me safely sane!

Gift to mom… at least one smile. I think we got a few. Thanks W.X. Last time we had to wrench it out of him.

Sister has so much love to share… I think brother might be more interested in hugs once he discovers the joys of wrestling. This blue dress is to die for, with its Alice in Wonderland feel.

Need I say more?

After photographing these two monkeys, I thought about the cliche I hear often. “Where do they get that energy? I wish they could bottle it and give me some!” Such a cliche, but too true. I was thinking they could use that energy to power a house, a town even… forget solar power. It’s boy power.

The littlest in this family reminded me so much of Ezra. It amazed me that the last time I spent with this family, he said nothing. Now such a chatty guy, and so serious and “knowing” that I had to hide my smirks. Time sure does fly!

I love this kid. He has so much energy and is always running, running. Humm. I wonder where he gets that from. Probably mom and dad. Both have been working on restoring and adding to their Arapahoe Acres home, doing much of the work themselves. It is beautiful and my kids have loved digging through their dirt these past couple weeks.

I loved meeting this little family. Mom works on hair at the Salon on Pearl and dad works on aircraft. This little one is destined to be creative. But just now all she has to live up to is being super cute and so, so sweet.
I think she lives up to that perfectly.

Such the little ballerina!

This is the street where we stayed our week in France. Atop this hill was an old ruin dating back some 800 years. The streets were so narrow, it was hard to believe any cars drove it at all. Our first time driving up the hill, we missed this street entirely since a car was parked at it’s head. I thought it was a driveway, Zach new it was a street… the street. Tells you who has driven in France before.

As we walk down the hill to our safely parked cars we passed two fountains…

one in a little cobble stone square with this on it’s edge…

As we head down the hill the road widens enough to allow some parking. Love the French cars. So tiny.

This is the wall in the parking lot. I wanted to photograph the family here, but every time we were in the lot we were off to some destination… wearing heavy coats. Oh the weather! Too cold!

This is Mary’s favorite door. Was it really that blue? I can’t remember. We may need to collaborate to get the right color balance.

We haven’t been making too many gifts this year. I think that means we haven’t had too many parties. Actually, we missed two while in Cali/France. Sad… for the kids. Zach is always happy to miss a party.
A month or two ago, Ezra was invited to a train party. He and India helped me sew this little train mat. Yes, I said sew… can you believe I sewed something? Since we were pressed for time, as these things always go, there was a lot of hot glue used.
India made the design, I cut it out and added flowers, and Ezra pressed the foot peddle. I think Ezra liked that… it seemed very close to driving a car. The gift also included a small Thomas which lights up and talks. Both mat and train were a big hit.

Just a couple from today. Happy birthday to baby Zed is also in order. Photos of him devouring his cake soon to come.

Sweet, even while trying to escape!

We were able to attend church in Toulon and Zach was even recognized… after an absence of 14 years. This guy immediately recognized him and even recounted some stories about Halloween and pizza making. He then went and got the missionary book to find Zach’s entry.

How amazing is that?
After church we visited a town called Bormes-les-Mimosas. This town was to die for. Tiny streets with mostly foot traffic. Beyond the beauty of the secluded corners and the charming “Venelle des Amoureux” this is the heart of the Mimosas festival. I love that in Europe the seasons and plants are celebrated. An entire festival for a flowering tree? When we returned to California I swear we saw Mimosas on the hillsides of So. Cal. Here they are nothing. The blossoms not treasured, or even noticed. I’m pretty sure I’ve seen them all my life and never thought twice about them. Humm.
Here are a few images from B. Mimosas.

View from the ruins.

The girls running.

Some of these are a bit blurry, that come with evening shooting using a point and shoot. The color and texture of the stone caught my eye.

Me.

My cute niece. Don’t judge the focus… point and shoot. Kicking myself that I left the SLR behind that day. So frustrating.

Such a beautiful mimosa tree.

Did I mention it was Valentines Day? Thank goodness we had some evidence of romance on this trip. With 6 kids, there wasn’t much smooching going on.