This beautiful little pair of feet is a sweet new life in San Jose, CA I captured back in December. Just had to share them because they make me want another!!
Anna Mayer is a professional child and baby photographer in the San Francisco Bay Area. She conducts photo sessions in the Los Gatos, San Jose, Willow Glen, Atherton, San Francisco, Palo Alto, Mountain View, Los Altos, Campbell, Saratoga, Silicon Valley and other bay area cities. Her design studio is located in Los Gatos, California. Her unmistakable, fun and happy style reflects the joys and delights of family life.
My Life: I am in San Jose this week, capturing 20 families and meeting with 11 more to share their images from October. Its a busy trip! I am so happy to be enjoying my lovely hotel room at the Pruneyard in Campbell. Its heavenly. The best part of my trip is my little assistant, Alayna. After whining to my friends for the last 5 months about how hard it has been to leave my children behind, someone said to me, “Why not take them with you?” After checking with the school and discovering that taking time off is not a big deal, I booked her a flight, and Isaiah for next month. Its so much fun! A girls week! On Saturday Alayna and her friends are all staying at the hotel with me for a girls’ night. We are going out for dinner, then to “Miracle Worker”, the story of Helen Keller, at Del Mar (Alayna’s old babysitter, Abby, has the leading roll!) and then to the jacuzzi tub in our room! Sounds like fun to me!
My Clients: Many of you remember little Audrey from my post about a year ago. Little Audrey was born with a heart condition and also without eyes. I photographed her through a local photography organization, Moment by Moment, a non-profit that connects photographers with families facing a grave prognosis. I think I get as much from these sessions as the families do. Their strength and joy is contagious and inspiring. Sweet little honey underwent major heart surgery last year and came through with flying colors! Praise God. She is a vibrant, happy little girl today. It was a pleasure to photographer her again in all of her joy and glory.
I can hardly believe it, even as I type it; my little boy is 16 years old! I remember the day he was born with vivid detail. I was just 17 years old that day; naive, scared, excited, sad, confused, yet so sure of my decision. Months earlier my father and I had a meeting set up with an adoption agency. It was just an informal type meeting with birth mothers, adopted children and waiting families, all sharing their stories. That morning I had this feeling in the pit of my stomach, this feeling that I just couldn’t do it. I knew, I had known all along, that there was no way I would be able to hand over my child. As we walked to the car to leave I told my Dad my decision. He almost cried with relief. He told me he had known all along, too. He said that he could hardly imagine his daughter handing over her child. His child who, over the years brought in baby birds with broken wings, countless stray cats and strange looking dogs no one else would take.. That no matter how hard the circumstances, I would find a way. Somehow I did. That first day, holding my baby in my arms, with his soft, fuzzy blond hair, his perfect little fingers, his beautiful blue eyes, I knew we would be okay. We were going to make it. And even though its been a long, hard journey, it has been a beautiful one. I could not imagine my life any other way. What a blessing he is to me. I love you, Ty!
My Life: Ugh, life can sure get busy in this culture. It seems that there is ALWAYS too much to do, too much to be and too many places to go. I cannot remember the last time I felt like I was “done” with everything I am supposed to do. Do you EVER get done? Our crazy-paced lives can really take a toll on family life. There is one solution I’ve found to fight back and to give our family a sense of belonging and identity that we all crave. It was a subtle change that had an enormous impact on our family and it is VERY simple; sit around the dinner table, as a family, for at least 45 minutes (our typical is an hour to hour and 15 minutes). If this sounds daunting, start small. If you normally only sit down for 15 minutes, stretch it to 25. If you spend 30 minutes, try 40. When we first started this ritual our children were naturally uncomfortable. They squirmed, they wiggled, they whined a little. I was shocked to discover how fast we had been eating and running off to our various activities. Over time, it became a habit, and one I will always cherish. Someday, maybe my kids will remember, and cherish it too. (If you ask them now, they may not agree!)
What can you do to fill this time? Well, I can tell you how we do it. First, everyone has a turn sharing their high and low for the day. Even though the kids all struggle now and then to listen and respect their siblings when its their turn, they are learning. And you can just see how good it makes them feel to have their turn to be in the spotlight. Who doesn’t like to be heard? This can take us as much as 30 minutes, depending on how many stories get thrown into it. Then, we all just sort of lean back in our chairs and visit. Its fantastic.
Kids visiting our home for the first time remind me how unusual this ritual is. They will often jump up, after just a few minutes, ready to run off to the next activity. But over time kids who know our family and who eat with us regularly come to love this ritual and wait with anticipation to share their “highs and lows” for the day. How cool is that?
Here is a video of Isaiah’s friends in California, at our dinner table one night. This was a reenactment, as you can tell by the over zealous acting, LOL, but it had just unfolded in pretty much the same way. It warmed my heart.
Photo Goodness: I had the privilege of photographing my sister and her beautiful family in September at the lake. If you’d have been there, you would not believe how great these turned out. Mr. Noah did everything he could be put an end to this photos stuff. Somehow, though, we pulled it off. Aren’t they a beautiful family?
My life: Wow, I almost forgot to post today. I would have broken my streak! Today was Day Two of my 5K training. There is no rest for this girl, with my 10 year old son, who is an uber-fast runner, and my husband, who is in perpetually good shape without effort, running along with me. Its great, really. If they weren’t doing it with me, there is no way I would be able to push myself the way they do. Well, specifically, the way Isaiah, my coach, does. He is encouraging, and challenging, all together. Its pretty great, actually. At one point, when Isaiah said to me, “Okay, Mom, this time you’re going to run to the stop sign, then keep going to the next one. Its not that far. You can do it.” Brian said, under his breath, “I’m glad he’s here. He can say what I wouldn’t dare.” LOL Day one I ran only .25 miles before I had to walk. Today I ran a mile, then walked .25 and ran the rest of the second mile. Walked a third mile, sprinting now and then. Much, much better than Day One, Yay! My goal race is in the Twin Cities, Minnesota, on New Years Eve, at night. Brrr . . . but I am running with my son, my husband, my sister, my brother and my nephew. How fun is that?
Photo Goodness: Okay, this might be my favorite baby of all time. I soooo wanted to take her home with me. She was the sweetest little thing. So so adorable!! You might remember this family from a year and a half ago, when big sister was born. See Here. And then from the sweet gesture their daddy did for me. See Here. I was heart warmed, this time, to photograph this family, all together again, after Dad’s tour in Iraq. He is in the reserves and will be home to see this baby grow. I love that.
Well, things around my house are just a little crazy this time of year. I honestly cannot believe its already November. Now, I know, everyone says that, but really, it snuck up on my like never before. I can at least be counting my blessings that the boys’ sports have ended for the season and that no one has signed up for anything else, just yet. Isaiah and I start our 5K training today when he gets home. That kid is a crazy-running-fool. At dinner last night his “high” for the day was that he got to go for a run after school (Alayna went with him on her bike). I think I might have to start out riding my bike with him for a good part of it. I haven’t done any real exercise for a long long while and running three miles with Mr. Speedy Gonzales might not be a good starting place. Ha! Wish me luck!!!
Photo goodness:
Could they be cuter? I don’t think so and it was quite a miracle, too. The day of their session was some crazy record-breaking day of rain in San Jose and my whole schedule was rained out. We reschedule for the day I was supposed to fly home to Milwaukee, moving my flight. The day came and so did the rain, again. Their mom called me, ready to call it off, but I was determined to make it work; and it did! We had to take cover once or twice, but we were able to pull of an awful lot of cuteness, rain-be-darned. And I’ve always wanted a family shot with an umbrella, so there you have it! Can’t wait to see you guys at your ordering session very soon.
Its that time of year. The BUSY season! There seems to be a time-clock instilled by our culture that says that fall, late fall in particular, is the time for family photos. I can’t tell you how many people call us AFTER the calendar has been booked solid, wanting to set up a session for their family. Don’t let that happen to you.
*NOTE- We just opened up one last short & sweet space at Capitola, click here.
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!
Okay, I have been a TERRIBLE blogger lately. One visiting my blog might think I’ve about gone out of business and have nothing left to write about. On the contrary! The problem is that I am TOO busy. Busy running back and forth between Milwaukee, Wisconsin and the Bay Area of California, and of course, busy with four kids. Blogging just keeps slipping off the never-ending to-do list. So, I am challenging myself to a photo a day, and my goal is 30 days of posting everyday. They say it takes 28 days to create a habit, so, maybe I’ll be back in the swing of blog-posting when my challenge is up!
I thought I’d start it off right with a brand-new life. Isn’t he the sweetest? I especially love this image because his mama told me that she often stops in front of a mirror while he’s perched like this, just to look at his beautiful smallness and savor the moment. You can say it: aaaaaaw.
I had the pleasure of capturing my dear friends and their adorable boys on the beach in Duluth, Minnesota while I was on tour last month. Our shoot got off to a bit of a rocky start. My friend gave me directions to the beach that sounded a bit like this: you go down the road past the lift bridge, then, when you get to the community center (you know, the one that is currently under construction and has no signage) you turn on 23rd AVENUE (you know, the one that is actually named 25th STREET), turn left. You will see the beach access right there (you know, the 10 inch break in the foliage on the dunes that is completely obscured) and you will be there! It reminded me of old jokes about rural “directions” using burned down barns that “used” to be there and restaurants that “used” to be named such-and-such. LOL I thought I knew which beach she meant, so I got there early and parked my self in the sand with Lydia and Shannon (who as hanging in Duluth with me). Unfortunately, the number I had was her HOUSE phone…not that it mattered because she left her cell phone at home! I ended up driving up and down the “road past the lift bridge” half a dozen times before I found a local who could help me decipher the directions and point out that I was just two blocks away the whole time!
It all worked out in the end, because their photo shoot was awesome, the boys were adorable and fun and the light at the beach was sweeter than it would have been had we started on time. All in all, it was just funny, more than anything. And since I abandoned Shannon and Lydia on the beach (and Shannon’s cell died so she didn’t know what was happening) I had to take them out for ice cream at the Portland Malt Shop, which I didn’t mind doing at all!
Thanks for sharing your sweet family with me, my friend. Next time we come to Duluth we are going out for drinks and steaks and some real catching up!
The best part of my trip is my little assistant, Alayna. After whining to my friends for the last 5 months about how hard it has been to leave my children behind, someone said to me, “Why not take them with you?” After checking with the school and discovering that taking time off is not a big deal, I booked her a flight, and Isaiah for next month. Its so much fun! A girls week! On Saturday Alayna and her friends are all staying at the hotel with me for a girls’ night. We are going out for dinner, then to “Miracle Worker”, the story of Helen Keller, at Del Mar (Alayna’s old babysitter, Abby, has the leading roll!) and then to the jacuzzi tub in our room! Sounds like fun to me!
