It's a miracle!

It's 8:54 on Friday, November 30.

I just emailed my last holiday slideshow. On time.

Every order for holiday cards that was received by our first deadline has been printed, packaged, and is either here waiting to be picked up or has already been taken home.

We are waiting for 2 more shipments to arrive with remakes of certain prints, and 1 massive card order to arrive late next week (How much do you think 2,150 Christmas Cards weigh? Feel free to hazard a guess-We recently found out and it's a *heavy* package...I need to bake cookies for our postman when that puppy arrives!).

All this to say. WE ARE CAUGHT UP!

I keep waiting for the other shoe to fall...this season has been *way* too organized. Where are my sleepless nights? When do I wake up in a panic mumbling something about cards and computers and cameras? I sort of miss my dream about showing up at a session naked (okay, not really)...

I owe it all to The Girls. Mindy and Debbie have been amazing at keeping us organized, focused, and covering all of our bases. Thanks ladies!

As of tomorrow, things will slow drastically. I have two sessions next week, one the week after, and then have time to enjoy the holidays and my family.

I feel sort of aimless tonight...I should be designing one of the fine art books that is waiting for me in a HUGE MASSIVE STACK. Or our Sugar holiday cards. Or even updating the site.

But for now...I'm going to curl up on the couch with last night's episode of Grey's, some leftover Halloween candyI just found (score!), and enjoy the Christmas tree lights while listening to the silence of sleeping children.

PS) If you haven't heard of this little Elf...I credit him for convincing my two to stay in their beds tonight. I *heart* him!

Baby love...

Fellow photographers-you know those sessions that you should *not* be looking at? Yet, you set aside other sessions that are next in line to play with the one?

This is that session for me today.

I need to pick my kids up from school.

In 20 minutes.

And here I sit...unable to tear myself away from this gorgeous little baby.

I had the great pleasure of meeting Sian today, daughter of a dear friend and uber-talented photographer (remember her urban maternity from a few months ago?).

If there was ever baby to make me seriously think about another of my own, it would be this sweet baby girl. Words cannot express how yummy she is. I'm not even sure the photos do her justice...

It's all in the genes...

I hope everyone had a wonderful, family-filled Thanksgiving!

We had a little change of plans here...we had tickets to fly "home" (El Paso) to visit the cousins and see old friends, but my grandfather was admitted to the hospital, then sent home, and the doctors said there was nothing more they could do.

In order to enjoy as much time with him as we can, we canceled our trip and brought Thanksgiving to my grandparents' house. My grandfather never woke up, but we offered a loving diversion for my sweet Granny (for whom Sugar is named), surrounding her with family and good food...which is what Thanksgiving is all about.

While there I saw my little cousin Katie (she lives with my grandparents), who I haven't seen in about a year. Let me just say right now...that in our family we have what we call 'the awkward stage'. Teeth are usually encased in braces, glasses are thick and unattractive, and hair is unruly and never brushed. When I saw Katie over Thanksgiving it was with the instant realization that her awkward stage was OVER.

People, she is 14!


She is such a breath of fresh air, completely unaffected by so many things. She has no cell phone, no internet, and no email (I'm not sure how to show her these photos-I guess the old fashioned way!). She is just a beautiful girl, inside and out. Our grandfather must be so proud.

Our Thanksgiving was filled with family and love, laughter and tears.

I hope yours was equally wonderful.

Newborn baby goodness...

Matthew's big sister is a celebrity 'round here. Caroline was the one that instigated our baby plan "way back when" (almost three years ago), and I was thrilled to be asked to photograph this little guy during his first year of life as well (not to mention, beforehand as well).

Yesterday was his newborn session, and he was such a sleepy ball of sweetness that I wanted to take him home!

Of course, it took his mommy a little while to convince him to snooze. You know that ten day old phase of "WOW! There's a WORLD out there!"? He was smack in the middle of that, and did not want to sleep.

His mommy prevailed, however, and we have lots of yummy sleeping pictures to show for her hard work.

Here are a few of my favorites from yesterday:

Maggie and the Terrific Two's!

Maggie had her two year session over the weekend, and I'm just now blogging about it, because, well, because her Mom did a fabu job of blogging it for me!

There was lots of talk beforehand about the potty-training-vs.-photo shoot-dilemma. Do they take a potty? Use pull-ups? Stop for breaks? I loved all of the comments on Jenny's blog and yes, by all means, keep on keepin' on...I have a few kids under my belt, one who is currently on the tail end (pun not intended) of PT'ing as well, and I know all about consistency.

But...in the photography world...sometimes it's not the best idea to have to stop halfway through for a potty training break. Potties mess with your mojo.

I'm just sayin'.

After Miss Maggie refused to "try" before we started, I had a good chuckle as Jenny slapped a diaper back on her so we could get started without the fear of an accident.

Jenny chuckled back when Maggie refused to look at me or play the 'Stop!' game (fyi-she doesn't stop, LOL).

We both ate our words of wisdom, but the results: Sugarlicious!

It's the simple things in life...

This morning was our urban family session with one of the area's most talented photographers. I am honored that Marquette asked me to photograph her family, even more so when she said that it was their first family session in five years.

Pressure?

Poor thing called more than once yesterday as she shopped for their clothing (can you imagine styling a family of five?), and commented this morning that she really understands how her clients feel as they prepare for a session. (the stress, the pressure, the agony of deciding what to wear...). I remember feeling the exact same way after our session, and only hoped I would be able to do her and her fabulous family justice.

Take a peek at this family, and their sweet pack of three, Madison, Jack and Luke (who, it must be said, is one fast little kid!).

Just call me the Elf...

Husbands-now is the time to start organizing your holiday wish list. But not for you, for that lovely, fabulous woman in your life that you call your wife (who is also, you know, the mother of your children).

Each year we are contacted by more and more members of that elite club of Sugar Dads and Husbands (hmmmm....I think that sounds a bit naughty?).

Anywho-let us help you with surprising her on Christmas morning with that perfect gift!

Remember those prints she bought but then never had framed?

Or the purse she's been dropping hints about?

Or the ever-popular, always-easy gift certificate?

We gotcha covered.

Last year we shipped out secret canvases, contraband handbags, and adorable certificates that left husbands puffing their chest with pride and patting themselves on the back. Because it was, truly, The. Perfect. Gift.

It's that time again, fellas! Make me proud!

Modern Brotherhood...

Palmer and Nathaniel had their urban session this afternoon, and we rocked the house! We worked amid buses of touring bands, a few of the helpful homeless, and the gorgeous setting sun-very modern and cool, these boys!

Sweet Palmer was my Ben's classmate last year, and it was wonderful to spend a little one-on-one time with this heartbreaker-in-training. He made sure that I took *excellent* care of his raisins (which, of course, I did...and am now finding stray 'tortured grapes' in my sweatshirt pocket). He and I speak the same language...that of the newly turned 3 year old boy (think tenuous, enigmatic, and "I can't heaaaaaar you!"). Love this kid.

Big brother Nathaniel thinks being 8 is pretty. darn. cool.



And, as you can see from that top photo, Nathaniel's number one fan just happens to live in the same house! Any guesses who that might be? ;)

Jack and his Pumpkin...

Baby Jack is back-this time he's bigger, smilier, and has a head full of hair (unlike his last session, LOL).

Of course, we had to get Mr. Jack with his best buddy, Pumpkin. The photo from the blog of the two of them cuddled in Jack's crib garnered a *lot* of attention-so here's one for all of the Pumpkin fans out there:

Jack is not really sitting yet (or so his Mommy said when I arrived). But look at this big boy-sitting like a pro! (of course, he toppled about two seconds later...doesn't he look a little concerned, like he's figuring out what all the fuss is about? I *love* that his parents now have a photo of the first official time Jack sat. Love that.

These little expressions just slay me-he has the biggest eyes, and that hair! Could seriously eat him up. That sock shirt...*sigh*...if they had one in my size, I'd be wearing it right. now.

Baby blues...

Say hello to sweet Chloe!

Baby girl is now almost 8 months old (big sigh here), and has, hands down, the bluest, biggest eyes that I have ever seen. And lashes to die for. She has that somber baby look down pat (the kind that always makes my heart go pitter-patter). These blue eyes are the first I've seen that can compete with my favorite Dallas Child cover kiddo (she was sick and didn't make the cover, but isn't she gorgeous as well?)

Anyway-where was I? Oh yeah... Miss Chloe.

She was a teeny tiny newborn, and is now a very alert 8 month old. See those eyes? Not once did she take them off my big camera. And the 'ker-thunk' noise of the shutter never sounded so frightening as it did today. Just ask Chloe. But she rallied, and put up with our numerous wardrobe changes as only a true diva-in-training would!






And those eyes...they take my breath away!

I spy with my little eye...

A wee missing tooth in this familiar freckled face!

Kayla and Will are growing up-*sniffle*!

We met this afternoon for our annual family session (fourth year now? third? I need to go back through my calenders and look).

Regardless-it is such fun to see them year after year (after year) and to note the changes.

Will-Definitely a talker now, he broke his bone earlier in the year and "it was NOT funny!". I totally believe you dude!

Kayla-Loving Kindergarten, wants to be a pop star when she grows up (or at least for her 7th birthday party, happening TOMORROW!), and loves nothing more than to be asked to go and fetch her brother (much to his chagrin and howling protest).

One more-in honor of the "Sugar" kick we've been on lately...

I'm enjoying a lovely, long weekend of NO sessions! I plan to sleep in, work out, and cheer on my daughter at her soccer game. We're jumping right back into our holiday craziness on Monday...more editing, more ordering, and even MORE sessions!

I'm just a girl that cain't say No!

Pucker Up!

This morning's session was so sweet! Makenna is now One, and Jackson continues to love and adore his little sister. You should have heard her calling for him this morning, it was adorable!

And, as usual, it was another piece-of-cake session with this family. Could they be any cuter?

Jackson has some skateboarding skillz-check out this move!

Their Mom and I talked yesterday about clothes...and she did a fabulous job picking outfits for today's session! Her original idea was to go with brown and denim, which I personally *heart*, but I encouraged her to add a splash or two of color, just to brighten things up a bit. (Scroll back up-do you see how great these colors look together in both color AND black and white? She did a fabulous job of styling her kids)

I admit that I sent her to my new favorite kids' store, and I loved what she came with this morning! That little pop of color is so perfect.


Happy Birthday Makenna!

Check back later today for this afternoon's session...happening in just a few hours! :) Still no light at the end of this holiday tunnel, but even in the madness I have to admit that I sit back and think "I *love* what I do!".

Thanks Monique for the Starbucks this morning! That little boost of caffeine was much appreciated and VERY necessary! You rock!