If you haven’t heard of the Silicon Valley Moms Blog you’ve been missing out! A couple of years ago I was a contributor to this great mommy resource and I still stop in to read the thoughts of some great mothers in Silicon Valley. This month I had the pleasure of working with a group of the writers and their families to give them a glimpse of the joy I capture for so many families in the Bay Area. Here are some of the happy images from their sessions! How cool are these?
One of my favorite places in our house is this certain corner of my couch. I don’t sit there to watch TV or to enjoy a fire in the fireplace. In fact, you can’t even see those things from there. I sit there and gaze at the wall where a large gallery of photos looks back at me; photos of my children, my family, our life. Some of them are happy, some are serious, some are just plain silly. All of them are a beautiful tribute to our life together and the four little lives I am watching unfold before me. Sometimes when I am enjoying the view I smile to myself. I smile because I know that I have had a hand in creating hundreds of beautiful memories just like this for countless families in Silicon Valley and beyond.
I so love my job! I truly believe that what I do is important. I don’t just record an image that shows what a child looks like at two or five or nine. Instead, I seek to record his spirit, her energy, and the love they share with siblings and parents. Capturing that spirit is at the heart of every encounter I have. Ooooh, I get goose-bumps just thinking about it. What a privilege it is to be a special part of the lives of so many families!
If you want to see a whole lotta’ cool galleries that my clients have shared, visit the Images by Anna Facebook page.
I’ve made it THREE days now. Can you belive it?! Today was more of a family day and I almost didn’t remember . . . It was COLD here in Milwaukee today. The actual temp was 43 degrees but it was windy and the “feels like” temp was 33. It WAS very cold. My kiddos had fun anyway. We carved pumpkins at lunchtime and then dressed up and headed out for an afternoon of Trick-or-Treating. Apparently there was once an abduction or something on Halloween night in Milwaukee, so they moved Trick-or-Treating up into daylight.
Here are my three youngest, all dressed up. (the Teenager volunteered again this year to hand out candy at home.) 
Lydia was the most adorable Sock Monkey I have ever seen. Poor thing is still very sick (been sick since Monday, I think the Piggy Flu) so she only made it to a few homes. Made me so sad, because she has been looking forward to trick-or-treating for weeks. These are from before we went out. I should have taken a picture a minute later, when she laid down in the leaves from exhaustion. 
MissAlayneous wanted to be a Gypsy and we struggled with finding a costume that was appropriate. Then, on Wednesday afternoon she and I raided my closet and viola!; a Gypsy. A pretty one, too. While Layna was parading about in this get-up, Lydia asked me “Mommy, did you not ‘buyed’ that costume? You made it?” I told her I did and she said, “You are GREEEAT, Mommy!” Sigh- I’ll take it!
Isaiah’s costume was a HUGE hit in the neighborhood. He was a Ace garbage can. LOL. He would waddle up to the porch and get all put away. Alayna would ring the doorbell and the people would come out and wonder what was going on. Until . . . Isaiah’s hand would pop out of the can! Several people thought we’d dragged a big garbage can with us to hold all the loot. Too funny.
Here is a little video of Isaiah’s costume in action. ha!
Um, Isaiah is ten. ‘Nuf said.
Sometimes, when I sit down at my computer and peek at the images I captured at a session, I see an image that makes my heart skip a beat. This is one of those images. I just love what this image communicates. Of course, I love this family, too, which probably helps. I have enjoyed getting to know them and watching their family grow. What a cool job I have, doncha’ think? 
When my 3 year old, Lydie-bug saw this she said, “Gross, mommy! *I* use my fingers for that!!” LOL
I can’t say it enough, I love my MissAlayneous. She is just a good person, inside and out. She loves people, wants to make others happy and she brings a smile to my face everyday. I was so pleased to grab this shot. I was playing with Lydia and Isaiah on the front lawn after a walk and Layna got home from art class. She started playing with Bug, swinging her around, got dizzy and laid down. She just looked so beautiful to me, so grown up!! Love you, Layna!!
Last week I had the pleasure of capturing THIRTY families over three evenings at a local childcare center. Our photo shoots were part of the “Turn off the T.V. week” events they put on for their families. I had so much fun! I can’t believe what a good looking group they are. So many favorites . . .
I love this project! Just so silly and sooo fun! This little man has been in front of my lens since he was just days old. Had fun capturing him and his big-sister in their goggle-get-ups. I will share her’s soon. If you haven’t sent me goggle-goodness, its not too late! Check it out.
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I missed you all last year and I am sooo excited to re-connect with all of my favorite Minnesota clients. I will be in Fergus Falls area July 18-20th and up in the Duluth/Iron Range area between July 28th and July 31st. Contact Rachel right away to learn about our mid-west special and we can get you all plugged into your sessions! I can’t wait!
July 28th- 8:00, 10:30 & 7:00
July 29th- 8:00, 10:30 & 7:00
July 30th- 8:00, 10:30 & 7:00
July 31st- 8:00, 10:30 & 7:00
*Note that the 8:00 am and the 7:00 pm are perfect for outdoor sessions. 10:30 am will be for sessions in your home.
*** If any of you have a darling with Goggles for my project, let me know! I can even do underwater sessions. Cool, eh?
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