I have been HERE!!! Just flying under the blog radar. Bad, i know. And i’m sorry! I’ve had a lot going on, some fabulous some not so fabulous… but i’ve been working as usual and going to try to put blogging a little higher on the “to do” list, lol…. But here is a peek on a few of the projects i’ve worked on in the last many months!

and i’ll try to be back soon. i’ve had some CRAZY fabulous sessions the past few days, and i’m shooting again tonite and again tomorrow (yay for FINALLY good weather so we can squeeze some weather postponed sessions in)!

{lara}

Yes, it is.  Geesh, when did that happen?

Well, i should be ready for 2011 later this week.  Uh, yeah.  And by this, I mean i’ll be ready to start booking spring/summer/fall sessions by Thursday or Friday.  So stay tuned!  I’ll first contact all those on my waiting list, and then make an announcement officially out loud that I’m booking!  This year, i’ll be booking less sessions than years past and only working certain times.  Life just continues to fill up, and in order that i maintain a balance and maintain having proper time for each of my clients, i have to accept less bookings.  So, if you are interested in a session this year, it may take more planning that it did in years past.

And next.  I just wanted to share her.  A friend (Hi Kim!) and i played with our cameras at a church about to be demolished.  My baby girl happened to be in the car while we went over, so she got to model.  And i’m *oh* so glad she did.

Oh — And Happy Valentines Day!!!!!

Nope, i mean i hang out at Virginia Techniques Training Center because that is where my children LONG to be every second of the day.  My oldest is on the competitive team and my youngest is not far behind…   We love it for so many reasons and feel so fabulously good that my girls get to be part of such an amazing place with brilliant coaches (Hi Stephen and Amanda!).  I  had the opportunity to work with the gym at the 2011 Kassidy RockStar Invitational Gymnastics Meet, which is hosted by Virginia Techniques, in honor of Kassidy Foster who was an Virginia Techniques Level 7 gymnast who tragically lost her fight with Osteosarcoma in 2007.

And, well, the Rockstar Invitational is an AWESOME meet.  VIP rooms for the gymnasts only.  Karaoke contests.  Teams from all over the State.  Nearly 350 Gymnasts.  COOL awards.  Oh, and *ah-mazing* gymnastics. Want to see some pictures and feel like you got to come?  Here you go — just click the play arrow below!

More blogs this week — i promise.  Getting back in the swing of things after the FOG that was January!

{lara}

First, and definately the silliest.  My honey’s aunt (center pic)  had a significant birthday [she turned 1578 - (2 x 759)].  So my cousin and i decided we needed to set up a photobooth at her rockin’ party  (my cousin is the top left pic – Hi SARA!).  And holy wow was it ridiculously fun, and i think all these shots are ones people wouldn’t mind my sharing.  Cause i KNOW there are some that people would NOT want on the internet, lol…

Oh.  And its summer.  Which means beach visits are MANDATORY.  And we got to go with cousins this time!  Going again in a few weeks.  Cannot.Wait.

And we were with The Grandparents for the 4th!  And i know, the center picture is well, less than in focus.  And i just don’t seem to mind.    And these pics were taken a few hours before i broke my foot.  By falling in front of a few hundred people.  Uh, yeah.  I did.   And yes, they cheered.

and a peek at a few portraits i have taken of  some of my favorite people over the last month…   and my oh-so-goofy 8 month old dog.

Ok.  I suspect you are on lara overload.  I am.  I’ll be back, next time with client images.  Because, we’ll, i’m WAY behind on blogging clients pictures!

{lara}

But, it needs to go away now so the world can start spinning again (translation, so my kids can go back to school!).  Anyway, i took a few portraits of my sweet girls over the weekend that i thought i’d share… gah, i love them.

oh, i love how her eyes are all squinty… like her face is a happy little line drawing in this shot!!!!

hope you all are enjoying the snow too, and now i’ve got to get editing one of the most beautiful little one year olds EVAH!  A peek coming soon…..

{lara}

But spring will come and we’ll get everyone booked!  I’m not scheduling 2010 sessions yet, but rather starting  a ‘contact for 2010 scheduling’ list — so if you are interested in getting on that list, please do let me know!

And i cannot blog without a picture!  I took this about a month ago and the file sat on my computer — i’m not sure if i even looked at it.  I stumbled across it a couple of days ago, and boy did it make me smile.  Its my Sweet Miss S in her own little world.  Oh, how i love her…

{ lara }

And i’ve been dreading this day horridly.  I knew it would be hard.  I sent my baby to kindergarten today.

And i warned you about my belly aching that was coming.

Well, i am a soild box of tissues down, crying hard, and laughing at myself all at the same time.  Anyone who knows me knows i am NOT a crier.  You honestly have to work hard to get me to cry.  Well, there is this one song that whenever it comes on i cry.  But you’d be hard pressed to get me to tell you what song.

But on the car ride to school this morning i lost it.  I heard C in the back quietly tell me “i love you mommy” while Miss S sang and was her silly little oblivious self.  Billy sweetly got me a tissue and i tried HARD to figure out how to collect myself before i parked the car.  This morning was about her, not me.  And i was NOT going to scare her with my tears.

I held it together.

Kinda.   Until i walked away.

And i pulled myself back together.  Well, till my dad called me about an hour ago.  gah.

So i’ve spent my morning looking at images of her.  Here she is from this morning just before i we got in the car (and yes, outfit by Miss S herself  lol…).

And from our summer vacation — The girls got their face painted and they thought it was THE best thing ever.  And Miss S’s was wicked cool……

and one of my favorite pics of her ever…   taken my the fabulous Kristi of Kristi Hedberg Photography in Asheville, NC

And yes, my gorgeous big girl also went to Second Grade today.  Well, that was just a *little* easier to drop her off than dropping my kindergartner off.    But oooohhh did i also  cry when i crossed the kindergarten bridge with Miss C two years ago.    And Miss C is SO much harder to take pictures of than Miss S…  She has perfected the “cheezy chipmunk” face.  But i managed to get a couple without it.  but JUST a couple.

and finally a few more from our 2009 summer vacation tour of the southeastern USA!

So, belly aching done.  Back to work now!!!!  See you soon….

{ lara }

I dropped off the first set of prints, and pulled into the driveway for my morning session.  Made sure my teeth were sparkly.  Made sure  my pants weren’t creased (if any of you know me, stop laughing.  and no, i don’t iron ANYTHING).  Ready to impress my new clients.

*knock knock knock*

The door opens.

The mom of a girl who attends the same preschool with my youngest opened the door  (D’OH!!!  No impressing her — she already knows me…   she’s seen me a BILLION times as i rushed late into preschool, looking… umm… LESS than professional, lol…) .  The mom of a girl whom my daughter thinks is a goddess.  Seriously — my Miss S has ‘tagged’ 2 kids on the periphery of her life and elevated them to superstar status.  And there was her mom,  standing elegantly in the doorway, and it was a FABULOUS surprise.  Because, on a personal level, I got to photograph a superstar to my daughter.  and thats COOL.  i love this little small town we call home.

So here are a couple of shots from their session i wanted to share.  And i’m silly excited to share them.  i LOVE this session.  Without further ado… my i present a superstar in my home and her big sister (who plays a cool sport with her dad!):

Have a happy Tuesday… and see you soon!

{ lara }

because time keeps passing.  my baby girl turns 5 today.  and birthdays make me cry.  its the passing of another year of childhood.  i know i know i know i know  its a new adventure.  and new age.  but 4 is magic.  pure and simple, the age of 4 is like not other.  capable.  pure.  loving. nonjudgmental.  uninhibited.  its filled with fairies and Easter bunnies.  giggles and honest questions.

but there is good news.  5 is my next favorite age

so happy birthday blue.  i adore every inch of you.. every second i’m with you… every time i get to breathe you in.

from your fingernails that grow faster than the dandelions outside to the spun gold hair that falls on your shoulders… from the way you tell daddie that “doctors are sewious” to the way you tap my nose in our super secret bedtime handshake.

i love you.

and i PROMISE more images to come soon from my trip last week.  I had the opportunity to shoot with an amazing photographer in Asheville, NC… and i’ll tell you guys all about it in the next day or two!

{ lara }

But WOW did we have fun yesterday!  We played in the snow and went sledding for a better part of the day.  And i had to get my camera out for a few minutes, although its probably mad at me now.  I think it was about 18 degrees when i took it outside yesterday.  And it wasn’t even wearing a jacket.

So i wanted to share a couple of pictures of my girls…. just because i can.  And because they make me smile.  And it TOTALLY cracks me up that Miss C still looks like a Jack-o-lantern in the middle of winter.

and HA mom — i think Miss C creamed you……

Anyway — i hope everyone is staying warm AND sane.  We are trying!  And i’ll have a couple of images to share from a last week’s session in a couple of days.  And a funny story to share about what happened after i left her house… embarrassing, but funny.

{lara}