Whoopie!!!!

What's that chocolate thing called again? 

 A whoopie!, I said  

Oh yes, I remember WHOOPIE!

Have you ever heard of a whoopie?  or maybe you call it a scooter pie.  In any case, all you need to know is that it is chocolate cake mushed around marshmallowy goodness!

Meet my two little bakers!

They helped me pour and scoop everything (be prepared for flying flour)

and of course we took just a few licks

then we decorated them with sprinkles!

Ta Da..aren't they awesome!!

( Note: on a baking with kids messy scale....off the chart.  Marshmallow fluff.  Enough said)

It's a sneak peak! | Cleveland Children's Photographer

Playing peek-a-boo in her blanket. 

Too Chicken

Jasmine Star, one of the best wedding photographers, once wrote on her blog, "Why am I such a chicken? I swear, I should just lay an egg to complete this metamorphosis."  All I could hear in my head when I read this was BabOk baBOK.  This is soooo me.  I mean, I hide from pregnant women at the coffee shop... as if they know that I am a newborn photographer!!  If I am walking home...I will take another route or at least make no eye contact when passing a mom pushing her toddler in a stroller.  I am not kidding; it is that bad.  I start breaking out into a sweat before I ask friends if I can photograph their children.  

I was doing some email at a coffee shop one day when I overheard two women planning their friend's baby shower just a table away.  I thought to myself, " they should gift the mom to be with a newborn session!  What a great idea!"  Then my palms began to sweat.  It took me at least a half hour to build up the courage to offer them my card and idea! I clumsily stood up, gathered my gear and approached them.  With a shaky voice I said, " Umm excuse me...."

As I left the shop, I was out of breath and beet red, probably because I had been holding my breath for the last half hour, but I felt so accomplished.  I mean it's not like I was conquering world hunger, but it did feel like a big step forward

This is obviously not good for business and it needs to stop!  Is it just that I am shy? Scared of their response? Afraid of being intrusive or annoying?  I know it is not the fear of being intimidating.  I mean with blue eyes, baby cheeks, and the face of a teen...I don't think I have a chance at being intimidating.  Whatever it is that is causing it..I am waging a war to fight it. 

Fun at the Carnival

Eyes lit up as the bounce house castle filled with air.  The smell of cotton candy & popcorn attracted the noses of children and adults around the church neighborhood.  Everyone was invited.

This little man stepped on up to be transformed into batman.  I just melted when I saw those long eyelashes through my camera lens.

It was a perfect night to turn your tongue blue with a snow cone.

Cookies!!

I couldn't choose between these next two....  she is so excited!!!

I soooo wanted to get in this bounce house!!!

My Beard

I thought it was the silliest poem ever.  Every time I heard it I died laughing.  I loved it.  I recited it in front of my fourth grade class.  I had to practice over and over and over again so I could make it through without laughing...I didn't.  I knew it by heart and still do.  Here is how it goes...

My Beard

by Shel Silverstein

My beard grows to my toes,
I never wears no clothes,
I wraps my hair
Around my bare,
And down the road I goes.

Beautiful Day | Cleveland Newborn Photographer

They waited so long to meet him.  Days passed the due date.  It had to be soon.  Friends and family glanced down at the bulging belly, " Still here?"  Mommy rolled her eyes and smiled as she looked down at her belly hoping that that very day would be the day.

The day came, a little later than expected, but all was forgotten when they held their little boy in their hands. 

Please welcome this handsome fellow at 6lbs. 13 oz

I think he has just the cutest little nose.

Surrounded by so much love and many doggy kisses.
I had to add this one in...Dunkin would not leave my side while I photographed. Every time I got up he rushed in to give a kiss.

Splish Splash - Cleveland Baby Photographer

We had bath time outside

with a little 50's vibe.  This little girl is always such a joy to photograph.

 Her curls too cute and I am lovin' that tongue sticking out.

All wrapped up and smiling at her mommy.  As soon as she hears her mommy's voice she giggles with joy.

Check out those cheeks!!!

I can remember when she was just a few weeks old and now look at her sitting up!!! Yay Payton!   

Yawn...sitting up is hard work

What did I get at the Grocery Store?

It was supposed to be an easy dinner, at least that is what the magazine said.  Grilled Chicken Taco Pizza- how could it go wrong.  Well...

First you need to season the chicken...no taco seasoning.  Oh, well I will just make my own.

Then you need to roll out the store bought pizza dough...forgot that one on the grocery list.  Oh well, I will just make my own.

Next, comes the guacamole. Great, I had all of the ingredients. I made my own.

After that salsa. After questioning the layer of mold inside the jar...I opted to yet again make my own.

Easy recipe...ha took me two hours!  What didn't I make?! Well thank goodness I didn't have to cure my own cheese or raise a chicken.

And I think I made everything in bulk- what was I thinking.  

Now that is A LOT of salsa!

Then I finished off the 2 hour meal by baking berry crisp.

14 Days Old (Cleveland Newborn Photographer)

Happy Friday!!

sit back...relax...laugh a little

More cuteness overload to come!

All the pretty ladies (all the pretty ladies)

Sing with me... now put your hands up.

 All 7 of us college roommates met up in Ann Arbor for a girls weekend!  What did we do...

...what girls do best: chatted like crazy, shopped, danced, watched girly movies, and ate ice cream and lots of chocolate.

Ha.  Take a look at these old school glasses...I really should have purchased these.

Aren't they beautiful!  Yes, your legs are beautiful too (who stole the camera and snapped that picture?  Becka? must be it's way artsy)

Beautiful even on a Sunday morning at the diner.

There is something about this picture that I love ( Becka I think this is one of yours too).  Is it the motion, a story being told, or just the memory of that ice cream melting, dripping all over me.

I wish I had more pictures, but at the end of the day sometimes I need to simply put down my camera and enjoy the moments.  I couldn't have asked for a better weekend.  Meet up next year!