Thanksgiving

I know, I know...it' 1 week away from Christmas, and I'm just getting around to what happened at Thanksgiving...this fall season I have been swamped with photo shoots. It's good, but has definitely kept me busy...since I'm at the computer editing photos so often, my kids don't like it when I'm 'blogging'. And neither does Troy...

This Thanksgiving, I had the grand idea of going to Idaho. Troy's grandparents live in Blackfoot. I have only been to Blackfoot twice in my life (once for Thanksgiving 11 years ago, and once for Grandpa Korth's funeral - when I was pregnant with Kyle), and my kids have never gone...this summer I have come to realize the importance of family, extended and immediate and am trying my hardest to strengthen ties...so, going to Idaho seemed the perfect thing to do. I have loved being able to take my kids to MY grandparents farm, and Troy hasn't gotten to do that. It's not that we haven't been invited, we have, we have always just had conflicts that have prevented going up when everyone else has gone up...so, enough with the excuses...I kind of had my mother-in-law invite us for Thanksgiving, and then somehow the rest of the Korth Family decided to follow suit...let's face it, I don't think I was the only one who felt guilty...

We arrived, and the kids went outside to ride Grandpa's Train that he has painstakingly made...it is incredible. The kids were IN HEAVEN! Kinlee wouldn't get out. Literally. Then, grandpa pulled us around on the hood. It's the hood of an old truck that you lay on. THEN...grandpa got out the cherry picker - a rectangular cage that gets lifted up by a tractor. Heaven...bliss...the kids only came in to eat, and then were back outside. Here are some photos... there are a million, but I don't know what ones to leave out...everyone wanted copies, so here they are...I do have a few favorites, they will be last...you can scroll down to see my description of them...
















My favorites...I know what you're thinking, how rude we all are to make grandma do the dishes...don't worry, we all helped (especially Cherice...she gets the award) but I made everyone move when I got my camera out. I love the authenticity of these...

Grandma and Grandpa, thank you for a perfect Thanksgiving, we will not wait another 11 years to visit...Korth Siblings...it was a super fun day with you all...(it is always best when we are only together for a few hours at a time, isn't it?) LOVE YOU ALL!

Boys had a busy weekend!

Well, I must document the craziness of the past few days. On Saturday morning, I woke up and Troy told me he was going to shave a 'Y' in the boys hair. Their hair has been way too long for awhile and I had been telling Troy that he just needed to shave their head, cause I just was too busy to get their hair cut. Well, Jake came out of the shower and showed me this:

I said, "HOLY HELL!" and the boys thought that was hilarious that I would swear. Here is a photo of both of them. Before they went to the game, I had to run a few errands. We ran into some friends, and they told me that the hair MUST be blue, and offered up their can of blue spray to do the job. They not only sprayed the boys hair blue, but they taped off their heads, so JUST the hair would be blue. Dedication, I tell ya!

They went to the BYU v Utah game, and came home and told me they were famous! They said EVERYBODY (including the kid selling drinks through the stands) asked if they could take their picture. They begged to go to church with their hair in the "Y-hawk" as Jake dubbed it, and we let them (minus the blue)...then they got to go show their grandparents, and then it came off. FINALLY! I was so sick of looking at it. Now, here are my two baldies!

This morning, I took the boys to the orthodontist, and Kyle got braces to pull this crazy tooth down, and Jake got some appliances to make his mouth bigger. Jake is missing his front 3 teeth, and has been for sometime now (since February). Apparently it is like a log jam up in his gums in regards to his teeth, so until we widen his mouth, they won't come down. Here are photos of them at the ortho...
Jake has appliances in the top and bottom of his mouth. Poor kid...
Hopefully the boys will survive the braces...
DISCLAIMER...most of these photos were taken with my phone...sorry for the horrendous quality!
In the next few days, I will post about our Thanksgiving in Idaho...stay tuned!

Haley is THREE!

Today my baby turned THREE! I can hardly believe this past 3 years has flown by so fast! 3 years ago, we were in Virginia...2 short weeks after Haley was born, we boarded a flight to move to Utah...I can't believe we have owned our home for 3 years! CRAZY!

Anyways, here are things about my silly sassy girl...
1. Lately she has added the word 'bum' to the end of every sentence. It drives me crazy.
2. She cries whenever I leave.
3. She likes to snuggle.
4. She LOVES Dora, and it's awesome to watch her watch Dora. She does EVERYTHING they ask her to do and is convinced it is real!
5. She sings. Her favorite song is "Love Story" by Taylor Swift.
6. For her birthday, she got this silver puffy vest and silver boots...she wants to wear them everyday! (we celebrated her birthday on Tuesday)
7. She is happy with the simplest things.
8. She loves her brothers and sister.
9. She constantly asks when Daddy will be home...
10. We sure do love this little diva.

Here are a few photos from our 5 minute photo shoot in front of our house.

Leaving, on a jet plane...

I just got my boarding pass...headed to Portland tomorrow morning! I can't wait! Seeing New Moon tomorrow night with my Nielsen Girl Peeps, taking photos Saturday (a few spots left if anyone is interested) and a girl party Saturday night! If anyone wants details and an invite to the girl party email me! SEE YOU SOON!!!!!!!!!!!

Oh, and for anyone who sees my girls in the next few days, offer to do their hair for Troy...actually...they have the primary program Sunday morning...will someone bring rubberbands and a comb to church? PLEASE?????????

WARNING!

I am on the snowy roads again...I suck at driving in the snow...it's time to lower my auto insurance deductable for the season! Don't worry, I usually only run into curbs, but thought I better let you all know that I don't know how to drive in the snow. I may need help in the next few months getting my car to and from the shop. ...sigh...Here's hoping to a better winter driving season for me!

'Tis The Season...

...for snow. Last night it started snowing. It was our first snow of the season (last time we were in CA). I was prepared. Old Navy is having their 50% off outerwear sale right now, AND I have a 30% off coupon for EVERYTHING (if you want it, let me know, and I will forward it to you)...so, the kids got new coats. I have been amazed to find that coats for my boys are no 'pass down-able'. One a season...they are completely hammered by spring. So, I got them all a coat...for a great deal. Kristin was SO excited for this faux fur coat...naturally, she posed for me...and I couldn't resist...I LOVE this girl...




I know there are technically only 2 photos, but I couldn't decide what one I liked best, sepia (my own - trying it out), BW, or color...what do you think?

On a side note: for one of Kristin's homework assignments, she had to go around the house, and count how many photos she was in...NOW...if you've been to my house, you would KNOW this would be a daunting task...that is my decor...photos...the boys had to help...I think she got to the upper 50's....sheesh...craziness...

Just wondering...

How much the school district would charge me to send my boys back to school 1 week early....????? (They are off-track for 3 weeks) They are driving me insane! Monday can not come soon enough!

Our first day of...

Was spent at the beach.




We all had so much fun, we came home, swam in the pool, took naps, ate dinner, and went back to the beach for the sunset. It was absolutely a nice, relaxing, gorgeous day...



...tomorrow we hit Disneyland...
(Thanks mom, for being the one to snap the shutter! - you are WAY better than a tripod)

I am on my way to Oregon!

Just planned a trip to Oregon! I will be there November 20-22. I will be offering mini-shoots on Saturday, November 21st for those of you who are interested. The cost is $150.00 for a 30 minute session and you will receive 12-20 high resolution images on CD.... I will take family shots as well as individual shots of your kids. Contact me if you would like to book a slot! Just for fun, here is one of my favorite shots I took last year when I was there...

My favorite kids...

They did good...don't worry, they were HEAVILY bribed..$5 each, gum, and a quarter for candy machines...sorry...family shots will go out in Christmas Cards...let me know if you want on my Christmas Card List! I couldn't decide if I liked the 'honey' finish on these photos, or just regular color...what do you think?









For the record, I did NOTHING to Kyle's eyes...those are his natural baby blues!

Still here...

Okay, I'm still here...and still busy. In fact, I was running around trying to do so many things at lunchtime, Kristin finally said, "Mom, I'm gonna close my eyes, when I open them, the bread is going to magically appear!" Well, that finally caught my attention. (the bread DID magically appear) I seriously stink as a mom these days! I think life is slowing down just a tad! To see what I've been busy with, you can become a fan of my photography on facebook! Here's the LINK.

Kyle had a flag football game today. He scored a touchdown. I wasn't lucky enough to attend. The weather was horrible, and yesterday Kristin came down with strep throat. Even though she got her tonsils out 6 months ago!

Jake has been struggling in school. So much, I have met with his principal and teacher a few times in the past week. Things are looking better, and I'm glad I spoke up and did what I had to do.

Haley is a stinker. Like always! Really, she's a good kid. Happy to play. Her new love is Dora. The only thing she'll watch!

Troy is great.

Well, that was a little bit of an update...I will try to do a real post...well, real soon!

I'm still here...

My My My...

I have been so busy. Seriously, chicken running around with his head cut off...BUSY!

I went to Vegas last weekend to shoot a wedding with Erin. It was fun. It was a short trip, but fun. It was fun being a second shooter. I didn't stress about the shots, just got what I wanted...you can view some of my favorites on my PHOTOG BLOG.

I have been busy with photo shoots, and Young Women, and Volleyball, and Flag Football, and Soccer...phew! I've also gone to the temple weekly the past month. Have volunteered in the kids classes, and turned 32. WOW. I am OLD!

It was a fun day! Boy, being on Facebook, so many people wished me Happy Birthday - I have to say, that was fun. My kids were awesome. They woke up early, and without being told, started making me cards. Troy gave them permission (on his way to work) that they could wake me up at 7:30. They came in singing offering their goods. How cute are they? My mom took me to lunch with my girls at Gardner Village and I used her birthday money to buy me(let's be honest, my kids) some new barstools, that I LOVE! THanks IKEA!, a few friends kidnapped me, and we went to the Cheesecake Factory...all I know, is that I need to go back, and get some Red Velvet Cheesecake...seriously? TO DIE FOR! Another friend also threw a breakfast for me! She made YUMMY pumpkin chocolate chip waffles...I want some more of those! Troy managed to make it to lunch with me (I know, it was a 2 day affair) and my Women's Volleyball Team won again! We are currently undefeated. I love volleyball. I don't suck, either. It's so much fun playing a team sport with some GREAT women! Unfortunately Troy and I haven't been able to play tennis much. I'm hoping we can squeeze it in tomorrow.

I also got to see a few friends from BHS (Bakersfield High School) Liz, and Amanda...we got caught up on facebook and decided to meet for lunch. It was so much fun! Here we are (14 years later) at Chick-fil-a. (photo is from my cell phone)

So, that's the quick version.

Things to look forward to:
Next week I have 2 weddings that I am taking pictures at.
San Diego at the end of the month (Brothers, be ready, Family Photos on the beach Friday night...don't even TRY to get out of it).
Doing some shoots for long lost friends...can't wait to see their families and catch up.
Conference. It starts tomorrow...definitely need a pick-me-up.
More Volleyball.
I LOVE my girls in YW.
Peter and LeeAnna and their girls getting sealed.
Hmmm...and the majority of these are just in the next week. I'll try to be better at catching up!

One last photo - my girls at Gardner Village. They do this big Witch thing throughout the month of October. My kids all love it. If you haven't been, you should go!