Visitors

We had visitors. We love having family come for visits. We have been very fortunate to have family come out off and on since August. We recently had Tara (my sister), Kensington (Tara's daughter), and my mom. A week later my sister Tobi and her Husband showed up in NC. They were celebrating their anniversary and were nice enough to join us for a night.

The girls had so much fun in their princess costumes. Dallin however did not want to dress up in his simple Jedi costume I made him. Oh well.

Tobi and Ron with the girls. Not sure where Dallin is again. 

When Did This Happen?

He has survived to the ripe old age of three. I can't believe it. He is no longer a baby. I love this kid so much it hurts sometimes. Literally. Having a boy has been a huge adjustment for me. He is always surprising us with new things he is learning.

Things he currently likes:
Chocolate Milk
Hot Chocolate
Bananas
Trains
Train Tracks
Anything to do with Trains
Throwing anything
Going on walks

Photography

Photography. I love it! I have loved it ever since I started posing my stuffed animals, cabbage patch dolls, and barbies. I now do it with people. I love to capture people as naturally as possible in an unnatural situation. Most people don't show up to parks in coordinated clothing and walk along a path with all hands being held.

I just did a photo shoot this past weekend in a very popular photo shoot location. The intimidation factor always goes up when many of the photographers show up with all their gear. Many different lenses, reflectors, and many props.

I have decided the more photo shoots I do the less I need. However a girl can always dream about different photo gear.

I have also found I need photo shop less. The better I have gotten with my settings the less I am trying to make the photo look better with photo shop. I have come to the conclusion that photo shop can't fix poor in camera settings it can only enhance good in camera settings. I do love photo shop for a good head swap. Here is a good example from a photo shoot this past weekend.

This is the straight out of camera version. Its fine as is. However it was a very dark gloomy day. I wanted to add some warmth in the photo and pump up the colors. Be careful with pumping some colors up because they can turn to neon. Yikes.

Here are some great photographers I like looking at. They are mainly wedding photographers which I am not nor will I ever be. I love their images. Julia Wade and Sloan photographers.

Here is my website. Tassi Photography

AZ Photo Shoots

When Tatum texted to say that her water broke I decided I needed to find a way to get to Mesa. I sent out an email to family members without Tatum knowing that I wanted to come but was wondering if anyone needed photos to help pay my airfare. The last thing I had to do was convince Brandon it was a good idea. He was very willing to take on the extra responsibility as long as I made arrangements for the kids while I was gone. I decided to keep it secret from Tatum with everyone else knowing I was coming. I think Tatum was getting annoyed by everyone trying to convince her she did not need newborn photos done in the first week.  I got in later Tuesday night. Chase had told us to come by their place to surprise Tatum. I knocked on the door close to 11:00PM. I definitely surprised her. It was a great quick trip. I wish I could have spent more time with different people. Here are some photos from the different photo shoots.

Tatum, Chase, Baby Sydney

Tara, Matt, Kensington

Tait, Bethany, Macy, Collin, Emily, Evan

Crystal, Kett, Abby, Spencer, Owen

I will share more on my photography blog in the next few days. 

I've Been Busy

I have been busy. Almost a month ago I was able to visit my family in Mesa right after my sister Tatum had her first baby. I had four photo shoots while in Mesa to help pay for my airfare. I then came home to my kids first track out from school. I like this year round schedule. Lots of walks, park time, YMCA, and jumping. One photo shoot before Brandon and I left town. Brandon and I cruised for 5 days. Thanks to my mom for being willing to watch our kids. We then came back to our kids last week of track out which I then got sick for the first few days of the week. I have so many photos to share of the last few weeks.

Took the girls bowling first week of track out.

 Pretty AZ desert

 The first day of our cruise.

 We bought dresses in Mexico for the girls.

 Lots of relaxing.

 Lots of reading.

Brooklyn's volleyball season ended.

Auction Photo Shoot

Last year Camden was attending a Baptist preschool. Every year they have a silent auction during Thanksgiving time. I decided to auction two photo shoots. Little did I know what I was getting into. It was a very complicated process just getting a hold of the families who won. Once we were in contact, finding a date and time that worked for both families was even more challenging. The first family I had their shoot in May and just completed the second photo shoot in September. I'm glad we were able to make it work. Both photo shoots were a lot of fun.

D Family

Mr. L

Check out more photos of the D Family and Mr. L on my photography blog.

My D Boy

There is so much to say about this kid. He keeps our life interesting. He is so loving and happy. There is another side of him we have been trying to figure out the past year. It has been a challenge for me. I keep being told that he is just a boy and that's what they do. I don't usually like that reply because it does not answer anything for me. I enjoy my alone time with him while the girls are at school. He is a much more relaxed child. Here are a few photos he allowed me to take.

He loves books.

He is also very curious.  He will touch everything especially the things I ask him not to.

No I did not pose him. I was able to grab this photo as he was rolling over. He is quick.

He thinks it is fun to fall down.

TEEEETTTHHHHH!!!

HEEEAADDDD!!!!

He thinks he jumps so high.