Free photo sessions in Utah!

Calling all Utah friends! I am taking a last minute trip to see my grandparents, which will include two days in the Salt Lake Valley. In an effort to build up my photography portfolio I am wondering if any of you are interested in a free photo session. I realize this is totally last minute, but if you are interested email me by this Tuesday evening at lori.sheets@gmail.com!

4 years!

How can 4 years go by so fast and so slow at the same time?! Sometimes it sounds like a lot and other times it sounds like oh so little. It feels like we were married just yesterday yet life before Paul seems like it was ages ago. I can't imagine who I would be without these past four years. I have learned so much and have grown in so many ways. It's a beautiful thing to love and be loved! Lately I have been reminded of how many wonderful things we have ahead of us. There are so many things we have yet to experience together. We are still learning new things about each other and what makes us most happy. In the grand scheme of things 4 years is just a drop in the bucket, but to date it has been the most significant four years of my life.

(Photo taken at 7:30am this morning before going to The Original Pancake House for breakfast)

Thanks for making them so wonderful love! Each year has proven that life with you only gets better. We have so much to look forward to! I love you!

Love,

Lori Ann

Recent videos of E

E Update!

Emmett is so cute about saying prayers. We started praying with him a few months ago when we would put him down to bed. Over the past few weeks he has really caught on to blessing the food. The other day when we were at the grocery store I gave him a sample cookie from the bakery and continued shopping, when I looked back down at him he was staring up at me with his arms folded and his cookie was sitting on the seat next to him. It was the most adorable moment! I had to stop in the middle of the grocery store and bless his cookie before he would eat it! Who is this kid?!

On Monday night we were ready to start FHE so I started singing "If you're happy and you know it." Emmett immediately ran to the piano and climbed up on the bench. When I sat down to play it for him he was squatting on the piano bench next to me. When the "clap your hands" part came he would bounce his little bum up and down to the beat.

He knows about 25 signs now and is continually surprising us with new ones. I am so glad that we got him the "Baby Signing Time" DVD's. Watching him learn and communicating with him is much fun! Right now his favorite things are bubbles, books, balls, cars, water, yogurt, string cheese, going down the tube slide head first, swinging, and of course playing on mommy's computer (this is the "game" I let him play).

Saturday Swimming

We attended 2 pool birthday parties this weekend. E didn't get to swim at either of them so we took him swimming late Saturday afternoon.

Timmy The Turtle

He's cute in his own little way, don't you think?

Cilantro Recipes

I can't remember which blog I found this salsa recipe on, but it is AWESOME!

D's Famous Salsa

2 (14.5 oz) cans stewed tomatoes
1/2 onion, finely diced
1 teaspoon minced garlic
1/2 lime, juiced
1 tsp salt
1/4 c. canned sliced green chiles, or to taste
3 T. chopped fresh cilantro
1/2 can jalepenos (If you like it hot)
1 tsp of cumin (I added this on my own)

From my friend Christie's recipe blog:

Cafe Rio Tomatillo Dressing

Cafe Rio Chicken

From Paul's Mom:

Black Beans

1 Large can of black beans, rinsed and drained

1-1/2 c. tomato juice

2 cloves of garlic, minced

1 tsp ground cumin

2 T. olive oil

1-1/2 tsp salt

2 T fresh, chopped cilantro

In a nonstick skillet, saute garlic and cumin in olive oil over medium heat until you can smell it. Add beans, tomato juice and salt. Continually stir until heated through. Just before serving, stir in the cilantro.

Lime Rice (like Cafe Rio's)

1 T. Butter

1/2 of a yellow onion, chopped

4 cloves of garlice, chopped

3 1/2 C. water

4 tsp. chicken boullion

1/4 bunch of cilantro chopped

1 tsp cumin

1 small can diced green chilies

1/2 tsp lime juice

1/4 tsp salt

1-1/2 C. long grain rice, uncooked

Saute the butter, onion and chopped garlic.

Meanwhile add the water, chicken bouillon, cilantro, cumin, green chilies, lime juice, and salt into a saucepan and bring to a boil. Add the browned onion and garlic to the boiling water then add rice. Reduce heat, cover adn simmer for 30 minutes.

Yields: 71/2 cups prepared

(Can anyone tell me why the spaces aren't showing up between recipes when I publish this post?)

I am craving a bike ride...

(Stumbled across this old bike in Santa Monica last weekend.)

Charlie's 1st Birthday Party!

The Details:

The Guests:

The Fun:

The Birthday Boy:My friend Emily did an awesome job planning this adorable party around Charlie's favorite book "Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See?" Each child was asked to wear a certain color, which coordinated with an animal in the book. Can you believe she designed all of those hats on her own?! She has got skill! We had such a great time celebrating Charlie's 1st birthday!

French Bread

Paul thinks I'm wierd for putting these two pics together... I just think it's funny.

What do you mean you don't have beautiful eyes?!

The other night Paul and I were discussing how I can build up my photography portfolio and he said, "You know what you need to do? Find someone with really pretty and unique eyes." My response was, "Everyone has really pretty and unique eyes." He said, "I don't." I said, "I'll prove it to you!" So, here's your proof. As corny as it sounds I really believe that every one's eyes are beautiful in their own way.

I just can't get enough!

(I left E's buggery nose on purpose in the photo above. This will help us to always remember the time he had 4 teeth coming in at once and his nose would not stop running! Despite all of that, look how happy he is!)

Thanks for always making us smile Bubba!

Pear - fect!

I shot these the other day when practicing some lighting techniques I learned in the photography class I just attended. I love the way they turned out!

Brittany

I got together with some other photography finatics on Saturday to do a practice photo session. Our hot friend Brittany was kind enough to be our model. Isn't she awesome?! The last picture in the bottom right corner was taken when a group of boys who thought Brittany was really cute (or maybe famous) asked if they could get their picture taken with her. Isn't he adorable?!

GNO!

I had a great time tonight at Wahoo's and Golden Spoon with these ladies!

Can't wait until next time girls!

Photography Class

On Saturday I went to Nicole Hill's photography class in Newport Beach. I learned A LOT! I can't wait to get practicing. Below are some of the headshots I took at the class. This was my first time shooting in RAW, so I am looking forward to seeing what editing is like with RAW vs. JPEG. For now these are straight from my camera...

Aspen Grove Highlights