Happy Father's Day!

My Dad's the greatest around. He's reaping the rewards of parenthood by grandparenting all these crazies plus tiny Samantha, brand new.

Jason, your reward will come in about 15 years when we get to grandparent :0) It's not my cooking that keeps you coming back, so it must be the kids.

x0x0x0x0

Is it too much to ask for all of them to look at the camera?

Crazy cute Georgia.

Handsome, smart Isaac.

Dramatic beauty Liv

Sweet Mae

Big baby Noah

Adoption! Spread the Word!

To the Relative Who Doesn't Understand
by RevaBeth L. Russell
(my awesome neighbor)

When I was young I played with dolls and imagined.
Other interests replaced the dolls
But I would remember.
Marriage,
And as a couple we made plans
But we were to wait and wait
And wait.
After time
I kenw that I would never be a birth mother.

Well-meaning people had their suggestions.
Silent crying
We smiled and nodded.

A nine-month pregnancy couldn't seem as long as my
two-year adoption pregnancy,
A doctor checking your weight, blood pressure
must be easier
Then the official lady
Checking
On your fitness
For parenthood.
No stranger questions a birth mother about her money,
marriage, home, and childhood.
No letters of reference are sought as to her character.

Well-meaning people discussed adoption,
Telling of "so-and-so" and "it only took them two months."
We smiled and nodded.

Listening to the heartbeat
Feeling the strength of a kick
The final minutes of labor
Sitting carfully on stitches
Could not bring more pain than
"It will be eight months to a year
Before we can process your papers."

Well-meaning people inquired how many children we had
Telling fo the joys we were missing.
We smiled and nodded.

When your boy was placed in our arms
And as a couple you realized this child was yours, forever,
Did you ever think that even when our child is placed in our arms
We would still haave to wait
For the adjustment period to be over
For the judge to say he was ours
Legally.

Well-meaning people say,
"Oh, you had your baby the easy way."
We smile and nod politely.

I want you to acknowledge that this child is mine.
I have cried the same tears as you.
I have said the same prayers as you.
Your child was born from under your hears,
And close to your heart you fed him.
My child was born from within my heart,
And close to my heart he was fed.

Now I plead that you will accept him and his differences.
He  may not look like us
As would one carrying our genes,
But he is ours:
Carrying our training, care, and love.  I watch him now at play...imagining...
And these words never rang more true:
"For unto us a child is born,
And unto us a son is given."

Had the pleasure of taking pictures of this wonderful, waiting to adopt couple. 

Dave and Michelle Mitchell

daveandshelladopt.blogspot.com

See other photos here.

New DollFace Pics

I've added a few pics to the DollFace Blog (see link to your right).

You might just know a baby there.

Thanks to Luann for bringing up textures in her blog (to link or not to link? I don't want to infringe). I did A LOT of playing around with them on these kids' pics.

Teaser:

She's just as fun as she looks!

I Promised

I promised some folks I'd have these posted last night, but alas I was editing at 2:30 and decided I must sleep before I could coherently continue. It's just too much fun once you get going.

So, here you go!

{Miss Jayci} For her 1st Birthday

And

{the boys - Spencer & Jack}

Funny story, these little guys belong to the first friend I ever made here in the good 'ol U to the tah. Rachel Madsen. We did all sorts of dumb things that 11 year olds do, and we did it all together. I'll never forget the time I asked her if Mormons believe in birth control ~ I here they don't you know~ She asked her mom (who has 22 children). Just kidding, they only had 7 I think, maybe 9. Anyway, after moving here and there, she ended up in Mayberry (Springville). AND get this, her husband (who I also went to school with), works for the law firm my Aunt works for (where I worked while I dated my husband and went to school. I was a TERRIBLE employee :)). Small, small world.

The Kinross Family

This week I sent an e-mail pleading for help from one of my photo idols. Then I took it back. I did some thinking today, as I prepare for some sessions I set up to get some practice. I think what my biggest problem is....is envy. I want to be just as cool and creative in photo (or anything for that matter), as some of the heros I've collected. Truth is, if I were as neato-speedo as they were I probably would be looking for new heros. So, I've come to the conclusion that I just need to stick it out, find my OWN voice and hopefully when I do I own it and have some pride in it. So, be on the look out for that and drop me some hints if you think you know in which direction I head- I sure don't.

Anway, without further adooooo, the Kinross' (who's hardworking, repectful, freckle-faced sons and daughter I've already dibsed (sp?) for the holy matrimony of each of my darlings {if they don't take a Carvajal or a Roundy or a Strong, or a...}. So get your own). The first of many dry-runs this week. *thanks Jane for letting us use your pretty-enough-to-be-a-backdrop yard*

Looky there, I've already discovered some other edits I want to do while creating this post.

Pray for me. Tomorrow I'm in Jason's video studio trying to make it work as a photo studio. No pressure, just a baby's 1st b-day photos and another baby's blessing photos. yeah.