JFP photo blog

Happy New, New, New Year!

In honor of the impending new year, there are all kinds of new, fun things to check out around here.  First, as much as I have enjoyed my lovely little Typepad blog, there is now a NEW BLOG  Run right over and check it out and be sure to memorize it quickly (or bookmark it, add it to your favorites etc...) as this one will only be here a little longer...never fear, all the old posts can still be found over there.  Second, I have done a complete overhaul on the website.  I have been having so much fun changing it all up!  (really, I did it all for myself as it all makes me so giddy and school-girl giggly)  Third, I have done some re-arranging and fancied up the walls in the studio...hopefully photos will be coming soon.  Anyway, all that business should help explain the complete lack of blogging around here for the last litle bit (never mind the whole holiday thing).  Anyway, go check it all out and let me know what you think....you know how I feel about comments!!!

And here's a little peek at a cutie that braved a slight hurricane for me.....you'll see more of her in the very next post....

The Director

This week the loved and lovable Kitty came for his photo shoot.  What I didn't know when scheduling Kitty was that he would be bringing his "people".  That Kitty is such a diva.  His "person" came right in, set up a chair at the edge of the backdrop and announced "I am the director" and then proceeded to let me know what Kitty is and isn't comfortable with.  "Kitty doesn't do that", "Kitty doesn't like that", "No, no, Kitty likes to be thisway", and then he would jump in and grab Kitty.  Who knew that Kitty was so particular?  Anyway, I think I clicked the shutter about 5 times and then Kitty was all done modeling but I think we can work with what we got....

 

That's Kitty's "serious" look.....think "Blue Steel" (and why can't I think of the name of that movie??  Help!)

 

The director coming to poor Kitty's rescue. 

Hope you are all feeling Zen about your holiday preparations and are ready for the kids to be home on break...that starts for us this afternoon and I actually can't wait!  I have all kinds of big, festive plans in my head....we'll see if they make it out into reality!

Attached

(This project was inspired by this site sent to me by my very smart friend.)

 

I have a kid who is attached to a special something.  Her special something is a blanket.  She can't leave home without it.  It has been loved to death.  Over the years there has been some angst over its demise.  So much so that another one was knitted, and now a third was has joined the exclusive club.  Though she did tell me last night that it wasn't quite as good and she wasn't quite used to it yet.  The newest one is now wrapped inside the 2nd one so that it can absorb some of the goodness.  If you checked out the first link above, you will know what is coming....here's my attempt at preserving this memory for all time (just in case they do actually, in fact, completely disintigrate.

 

Old B

  That is the special mini pillowcase it has to travel in now as it is basically just a pile of yarn now...you can see the many repair jobs performed by grandma.

 

New B

 

While New B is in better shape than Old B, but if you look carefully you can see that she has had all her edges repaired (see the darker yarn?) plus many holes in the middle.

 

New-New

(name hilariously inspired by the Teletubbies)

 

 

A slightly different color as the original color is no longer available....but this one is fresh of the knitting needles, no holes or mending to be seen.

Anyway, this is one of her Christmas gifts.  All three printed and hung in her room (though not quite 40 x 60 like the hippo from the inspiration...really,go check it out).    Love this idea and have scheduled a session with someones special "kitty" next.

 

Hope everyone's feeling some holiday spirit by now.  Mine finally got here yesterday when I finally hit on inspiration (or was inspired by someone else) for, not 1, but FOUR different hard to shop for people that I love.  Even better, all kind of handmade gifts...or at least full of time and effort and love (awww....how cheesy is that?).

Traditions

So, perhaps you can tell it is officially December on the blog?  We are busily finishing up all the photography related holiday stuff and happily moving onto the family fun portion of Christmas.  That means less blogging and more playing.  Here's a little taste of one of our favorite holiday traditions....a trip downtown to see the big man, ride the carousel, see some snow falling, and a special out-to-dinner treat.

 

The boys.

 

 

(Note the giant swollen lip...guess who is going to be singing "All I want for Christmas are my FOUR front teeth")

 

 

The girls.

 

 

The snow falling.  A gold star for you, if you can spot the newest addition to our tradition. 

(Here's the link to last year's photos in case you need some clues.)

If you have a favorite holiday tradition leave a note in the comments so we can all adopt your as one of our new ones.

More blogging sometime...in the meantime enjoy all the fun holiday stuff!

She's Crafty

She's just my type.

(Just wanted to show my wide range of musical interests...Sound of Music on Wednesday all the way to....well, can you name them?  I bet a few of you can.)

WARNING:  If you are in my family and stand a chance of getting a Christmas gift from me, either stop reading this post now so you can be surprised, or read on so you can pick exactly what you would like.

So we're starting to get a little holiday spirit around here and it all started with a fourth grade school project.  The middle kid will be participating in Market Day at school here pretty soon.  (Think gigantic market where you can buy all kinds of "handmade by fourth graders" loot with fancy, pretend school money...that's the best kind of $).  Anyway, she has opened her own little sweat shop at home, though  I will admit I have been itching to craft so I volunteered readily.  Here's what we have been working on...

 

 

 

This is the one I'm hoping she will hold for me. 

And then since we were already being so crafty, I decided to try out a different project.  I'll tell you right now, the big one is for me.

 

 

I love ribbon.

Happy Friday before Thanksgiving!  Woohoo!  Let the fun begin!

Goofs

Sometimes I have to beg my children to be guinea pigs.  Like this last week.  Needed to try out a new light.  Just thought I would share the proof that your kids are way more cooperative than mine, who are complete goofs.

 

 Then a little cheese to try to appease the "great & evil mom-lady"....

 

 

Of course, it is totally hilarious when there is smoke emanating from the evil dragon's ears...

 

 

(I do secretly enjoy that one...but don't tell the little beasts.)

And then sometimes, it's just not worth the fight and I try for something I think I can control....

 

 

(though again, secretly love this one because I have one of all their feet from when the littlest one was born)

Then a moment of obedience and we get this nice photo...

 

but then in the blink of an eye it all falls apart and we get this....

 

 

which I actually love WAY more! 

Nothing better than bringing my kids closer by giving them something to laugh at together...specifically the "great & evil mom-lady".

 

And then, in a moment of weakness, one of them decides to cooperate....

 

 

and it wasn't him.

 

 

Love her....

 

 

and am slightly obsessed with her lashes.  Lucky girl.

 

 

Happy Horror Halloween!

Just a little morning after glimpse at what it looked like at our house last night...and to all the little kids in he neighborhood: it will be safe to come over soon!

Our green vampire...sadly we didn't get the blood oozing down her chin like she wanted.

 

 

Our purple witch.  Don't think I want to run into her in a dark alley.

 

A witch who's all about the accessories.  (A girl after her auntie's heart.)

 

 

If you were unlucky enough to be a kid from his school, he probably came put out the bushes and scared you half to death.

 

It wasn't all so grim around here this week though...a little Monday morning cuteness...

 

 

 

Wee, adorable nephews to balance out all the spookiness.

 

And here's a little taste of what the boys around here spent a substantial chunk of time on....

 

 

The ghoul had red flashing eyes and was rigged up on a pulley so it flew over the trick or treaters' heads.  Definitely spooky but not the creepiest part of the whole deal (at least in my opinion). 

 

Check out the guy in the window operating the ghoul.  Yikes!  No wonder so many small people refused to come up on the porch.

Hope everyone had a safe and fun Halloween!  Good luck surviving your sugar-fueled beasts for the next few days!

 

Peace, Love & Ice Cream

I am new to this whole "have your birthday party somewhere" phenomenon.  We are boring, old, stay-at-home-for-your-party kind of people.  But this year we tried something new....maybe because we have a new Ben & Jerry's in our neighborhood?  Maybe because I was less than organized?  Who's to say?  Regardless, I am a changed woman.  I am officially adopting Ben & Jerry's slogan of "Peace, Love & Ice Cream" as my own personal motto and swearing out my allegiance to them here and now. 

BEST.  PARTY.  EVER.

Here's a little taste of the birthday girl's fun....

 
(You can click on the photos to see them bigger)

And my very favorite shot of the day....

 

Someone was super excited that her dad came to her party.  LOVE, LOVE, LOVE that one (and yes, I know she is a little out of focus, but I don't care...sometimes catching the moment is more important than technical perfection.) 

Moral of that story:  life is better with Ben & Jerry's.

It's a Little Buggy Over Here

And I mean that in the best, cutest way possible!

 

 

I'm so excited that the weather cooperated and we got to go outside...perfect for little bugs!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Can't begin to tell you how much I love these little girls (and their whole, entire family).  They are my special little bugs.

(Sorry for the complete lack of writing this morning.  Not enough coffee yet.)

Trick or Treat, Part 3

And no, I'm not trying to trick you.   Same cute costume, different cute kiddo.

 

Pretty darn cute.  LOVE the red shoes.

 

 

Last time I saw this little guy, he was pretty shy and kind of unsure about the whole deal.  This time, totally different.  What a funny guy.  We were friends right from the beginning as I am slightly knowledgeable about all things Thomas.  And so is he.

 

 

OK, maybe he knows just a little more than I do.  He brought a few of his friends along.

 

 

 

So clearly this morning I am digging some detail shots.  I really do love the red shoes.

 

 

And one big, cheesy, two year old grin for your Friday morning. 

More on Monday.  Have a great weekend!