Such a Big Boy Now

Back in April, I had the distinct pleasure of meeting M and taking her maternity photos. It was so much fun, and I left her place looking forward to hearing about her baby's birth in about six weeks.

I got a call two days later.

Our mutual friend called to tell me that unlike us, Baby T didn't have plans to wait around for his due date and was born that Easter weekend. After a moment of panic (did our session cause her to go into early labor??) and asking our friend if all was okay (it was), I asked the friend to keep me posted.

I got several reports during the next few weeks, telling me that T was a doll and was SUCH a sweet baby. In June, I got to see for myself.

Yesterday, I got to see what a big boy he's become since then. Despite his early entry into the world, he continues to thrive and remains a complete joy to be around. I think the only time he fussed at all was when I was holding him and turned in such a way that the sun got in his eyes. And by "fussed," I mean "squinted." :)

Without further adieu, here's Mr. T and his fabulous parents now:











And I just love how babies his age use ALL their senses to check something out. Even the big blue sky.



Until next time, guys!

Lovely Times Two

First, a little background on yesterday's session:

I've known J for several years now. She used to be a part of our bunco group, before she had kids of her own.

Given that 99.9% of our conversations on any bunco night revolve around our kids, birthing our kids, recovering from the birth of our kids, the cute little thing our kids did recently, how much we need a break from our kids, what's going on at our kids' schools, what we think the size of our kids' poop says about our kids (okay, so I'm not sure we ever did talk about that last one, but we probably discussed something like it)... well, I sometimes wondered if J occasionally got bored out of her mind or was storing up all of the graphic details and would emerge from the bunco experience a Super Awesome Mom, armed with knowledge of all the things no one told the rest of us before we became mommies.

Well, after spending time with J, her husband and her two adorable daughters yesterday, I realized that she really is a Super Awesome Mom.

Does it have anything to do with the extensive education we provided her?

I have no idea.

Probably not.

She seems like the kind of mom to whom it all comes naturally.

Anyway, here's the preview. And the two little beauties came with not one but two awesome outfits, making for some nice variety. This will be a fun gallery to put together.











And finally, a shot of the girls with their grandpa in his "car under construction."

Goofin' Around in the Backyard

When it comes to these guys, I can't help but go a slightly different route with my preview.

Yes, we got some sweet, traditional (posed) photos of these beautiful sibs... but don't you just love the dynamic among these three when they're just goofing around?











We even made them into bobbleheads. FUN.

Girls' Weekend

My guys went north this weekend to catch the Stanford football game in person (51-42, baby!!), and the girly and I were left on our own. She had big plans for our "girls' weekend."

I have had about a million things to do, but this is not a girl to go off and entertain herself. Beginning at 6:00 a.m., it was NON.STOP.CHATTER.



We made pancakes, we cleaned up the pancakes, we watched a cartoon, we tickled each other (a LOT), and then she told me what I should wear and how we should sit on the couch.



Where in the world did I get this girl??

Golden Hills

The hills around here seem to be covered with two things: cows and grapevines.

While my kids are thrilled with the big beasts who meander right up to the fencelines around our neighborhood and gaze out at us from under heavy lids, I prefer to take in the vines as we drive in and out (and in and out, and in and out).

The leaves on the vines are starting to turn golden and soon they'll all be gone. Fortunately, I got to take in the sight up close with some good friends yesterday afternoon.











By this time next week, or very soon after, things will look entirely different. And since the bare vines aren't nearly as interesting to me, I'll have to join my kids and stare at the cows.

Goodbye, Kelley and Map

Last night, we had to say goodbye to our beloved family babysitter, Kelley, and her husband, Matt (or Map, as we all call him in acknowledgement of Foxy's original mispronounciation).



Kelley and Matt have been a part of our family for a few years now, ever since Kelley was Noah's Special Buddy at the Cal Poly preschool lab. The two of them had a special bond, and she quickly became our regular sitter and a huge part of our kids' lives. Matt often dropped off Kelley's dinner while she was babysitting, and before long he was a part of the mix as well.

This summer, Kelley and Matt cemented their place as part of our family when they had the kids play a role in their beautiful wedding. (I'd add an image of the spiffed up group on the day of the wedding, but I've had some technical issues this week, and those photos aren't easy to grab at the moment.)

Anyway, Matt is a pilot and he recently got a job down in San Diego, so he and Kelley are packing up and moving out today. Matt's family is local, and they have lots of ties to the San Luis area, so they promise us that they'll be back to visit soon.

We will certainly miss them in the meantime. Good luck, guys!





***ETA: Alright, so in an effort to procrastinate and avoid dealing with the aforementioned technology issues, I dug up a few snapshots from the wedding. Not the greatest images by any stretch, but it's fun to look back at that day of celebration.





Don't they look proud to be a part of it all?



Oh, okay. Twist my arm. Here are a few more.









That's it. I've got to get back to my real work now...

What I Was Trying For

When this lovely family got out of their car, I had to admit: This was the look I was going for.

With my own family, I mean.

I was thiiiiiiis close to buying the stripey dress for my own three-year-old for our 2009 family photo session, and instead I bought another outfit with the same color scheme. I tried to dress the rest of us around it, but when I saw these guys, I realized that I had missed the mark. And they had hit it.

They looked awesome. Even if this particular shot doesn't showcase the outfits.







We got a bunch of different images, with a little bit of extra focus on little Miss S, who worked it with a wardrobe change (and then changed back when I asked if we could squeeze in one more all-kid shot). She was a trooper for sure.





They all were, actually. Seriously, would you expect this from two five-year-olds??



Finally, I can't resist posting this shot of L and her dad. I am a sucker for daddy-daughter moments, and this I caught this one as we were winding down. Doesn't this inspire an "awwww..."?



Thanks, guys, for the fun session. Glad we were able to soldier through the unseasonable heat!

In a Garage Far, Far Away...

... we snapped a few photos of Boba Fett, Queen Amadala, Commander Fox, Princess Leia and Darth Vader. Then we all went out to enjoy parties at not one but TWO friends' houses and more trick-or-treating than the Clausens have ever done.

In the end, we went to bed exhausted but happy to have spent a very fun Halloween together. Hope the force was with you, too.

Happy Halloween!

One of the things I love about living in a small town is the sense of community and the eagerness to enjoy time with family and friends.

Awhile back, one of our neighbors hosted a pumpkin carving party and potluck for everyone on the street. A bunch of us got together, the dads soldiered through the carving stuff, and we all enjoyed some food and conversation in the street as we enjoyed a typically gorgeous fall evening.

We did it for a few years in a row, and then things got busier and the tradition faded away. This year, our new next door neighbors and I decided that we needed to bring back the fun. And invite a few other friends.

Here are just a few snapshots from the Neigborhood Halloween Potluck & Pumpkin Carving Party 2009. Definitely worth doing again next year.























Now I'm off to squeeze in a quick run and then squeeze into my costume. Hopefully I can pull off a family photo of the Star Wars crew, for the family archives if nothing else...