Ahhh vacation.  It’s the best.  It’s been years since I have been back to White Sands and the thing I love most about it is that it’s just as beautiful as I remember it and absolutely nothing has changed there.  This past March was our first vacation with the twins that did not include family members and it could not have been more perfect.  There were a total of 6 families all vacationing together and we all just had the best time.  The weather was perfect, the food was delicious and the company was stellar.  I feel so lucky to have such great friends in my life even though we live all over the country.  We still manage to make time for each other.  Thank you to each and every person, (big and small! ) for helping to make this such a wonderful trip for us!

I really wanted to hold out on getting a haircut for Frankie as she has such cute curly locks but it had started to get out of control and way too hard to manage.  Barrettes and hair elastics work great but only last so long before she is reaching for them and pulling them out.  Oh well!  I was also certain that this experience was going to cause her to have a major meltdown but the folks at Kids Cuts have this routine down with tons of distractions for the little ones!  I was super impressed with them and so proud of Frankie.  Such a big girl now!

This Easter was such a blast.  The twins have a bunch of friends around the same age so all the families got together for a little Easter egg hunt in a local park.  The weather was beautiful and we all had such a great time.  These are just some of the moments that I love to capture on film.

I love exploring California.  They are so many great places to see in this state.  We recently spent a long weekend up here at Mt. Shasta and had such a great time.  We rented this house which was not only super cozy and comfortable, but it had so much great space.  Something we are severely lacking here in San Francisco.  The weather was cool and beautiful.  If you have not been up here, I highly recommend it.  And if you have recommendations of great places to visit in CA, please send them my way!

Do not stand at my grave and weep.//  I am not there.  I do not sleep.//  I am a thousand winds that blow.//  I am the diamond glints on snow.//  I am the sunlight ripened grain.//  I am the gentle autumn rain.//  When you awaken in the morning’s hush// I am the swift uplifting rush// Of quiet white doves in circled flight.//  I am the soft stars that shine at night.// Do not stand at my grave and cry;// I am not there, I did not die.

People have been saying to me, “Doesn’t it feel like the first year just flies by?”  For me, the answer is no and I think the reason is because I was awake for the majority of it.  I can remember the days vividly, always watching the clock, making sure that the twins stayed on schedule because the idea of NEVER sleeping frightened me to my core.   I worried about them constantly.  Were they breathing at night, are they getting enough food, are they developing properly? All these things kept me awake quite a bit this year.  My sisters make motherhood look so easy.  I strive to be more like them, more calm and relaxed. I am getting better. Slowly (very slowly) but surely.  I am so thankful that we have such healthy babies but I am just as thankful for all the people who helped us to reach this milestone.  From the nurses and doctors in the hospital to our friends, families, and childcare givers who showered us with gifts, food, support and love.  We could not have done it without each and every one of you.   Thank you all so much!

Once again, I have had the wonderful opportunity to connect with old friends and classmates.  I went to high school with the Bowen girls and was thrilled to hear from them about photographing their family while I was back east.  In school, these girls were not just beautiful and smart but they were also tremendous athletes.  We all used to play lacrosse together and had so much fun kicking butt against Moses Brown and Wheeler.  They are still as sweet as ever and it was so great to meet all of their new additions.

On my trip back east, I had the opportunity to photograph a few families that I have grown up with.  Missy and Alicia, the moms in this shoot, I have known the longest.  We all went to elementary school together.  I was right in the middle of them, grade-wise.  To this day, they have remained close family friends.  And they haven’t changed a bit!  They are still the kindest, funniest sisters you’ll ever meet with the nicest husbands and the SWEETEST kids!  Seriously, non-stop smiley kids who were so much fun to photograph.