{Photos From Vacation}

It's a kind of tradition in my family that when we're all together that we sit for professional portraits.  Always from Sears.  And I have nothing against Sears Portrait Studio, you understand, except the predictability combined with the outrageous cost of prints.  This time I nudged not too gentry to try out an independent photographer who could do outside photos for us in a more natural setting.

Enter Tiffany - the answer to all my prayers!  She's at ChilliwackPhotographer.com and I loved her photos right from the get go!  I also LOVED that we got all the reproduction rights ALL the photographs!  She even got us some previews within the week!!

Dad has a great park right accross the street from his condo that we opted to do the photos at.  The weather was really overcast, and even a little drippy, but it worked out great!  In the main photograph above (bottom left) is all of us.  From the top: Kerry (with Alora in his arms), Melissa my Sister, James my brother, Me, and Mr. Pie. across the bottom: Ashley, Gina, Jim my dad (in the middle), Marni-Lynne my half-sister and her boy James.

I just love all these shots!!  The one of all the boys cracks me up, and I ADORE the one of dad with the Grandkids!!

some more preview shots.  I love the black and white!

And then, low and behold a few days later... I got THIS in my email!

Mr. Pie and I smooching!!

Tiffany truly was AMAZING to work with and she was a natural with Alora and the other kids.  She felt immediately like someone I want to be friends with when I move back to town.  A totally cool chick, but also super professional and super talented.  We got SO much more then we expected, and we haven't even seen all the final photos yet!  I can't WAIT to get my disk in the mail!

If you're in the lower mainland and want some photos... or geez, in the Pacific Northwest at all (Or not!!) I would totally recommend Tiffany for any kinds of photos you need taken!

{Oh My Gosh! So Excited!}

I have a BUNCH of stuff that's making me all excited this morning!

Alora Loves Her New Sweater! 

Who doesn't love this face?  Poor girl's been sick and teething as of late, hence the glassy eyes.  She's still adorable though!

When I embroidered on those flowers, I didn't anticipate that they'd become a play thing for her, but hey! Who's arguing? She can't pull them off, just pull them tight so they make for something fun to do while getting a fresh diaper and such. hehe

I Got A Birthday Package From Jenny!
(from Jenny's Blog On Knitting)

It arrived looking like this and I was appropriately worried. lol  That little label on the top read "may have been delivered damaged."  GULP!   Not to fear though, everything inside was squishy and non-breakable!!

That GORGEOUS bag in the back was hand sewn by Jenny's sister, Sanna!  How gorgeous is that fabric?? It's going to be my new sewing notions bag! YAY!  There was of course tons of Chocolate to be had, but most didn't make it to the photo, unfortunately.  YUM  The green yarn is a 100% wool of Swedish origin called Kampes.  I think it's going to be my Christmas Tree skirt that I posted about in my book review!  (Jenny? I might need some red too! grin ) The Lin in the front is another Swedish yarn that I already had some of in my stash and had inquired about getting more through Jenny's LYS but held off because I didn't have anything planned for the yarn yet.  Well... ta da! :D  And the merino is from Drops- super soft!  I'll find a project to use it on for sure!

Then, I was putting everything away from the picture taking and found these guys hanging out in the bag! I missed them the first time and I was all like, "There's MORE??!?"

Thank you SO SO Much to Jenny and her sister Ana!! I feel so special to deserve a great birthday package like this one!! :D

I Was Featured on Tea Rose Home! 

Yesterday I was featured on the very popular home crafty blog, Tea Rose Home!  She really loved my 100% cotton baby sweater that I finished recently.  How cool is that??  Thanks Sachiko!