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Look Alike

We were at a party recently and this nice woman I just met said "As soon as I saw your son I thought he looked like a young Daniel Craig...you know, the new James Bond."  I didn't know who she was talking about, so I Googled him and found his picture.  To be honest, I was a little surprised.  I think he does look like him..so strange to think of what my little guy might look like in 30 something years...what do you think?

Pure Evil!

Dear Halloween Candy-
Why are you trying to ruin my body, my teeth, and my running??? You think your so cute in your shiny little wrappers giving off your chocolaty nutty smells.  You beckon me from across the house  "C'mom Steph, just one...you know you love us...you can't resist!"  STOP!!! I have no will power against you.  You convince me that I deserve at least one piece of candy...after all, I did run 10 miles today.  But you know I can't eat just one... and I have to hide it from my family.  My kids ask "Mom, where did my peanut butter cups go?"  "I don't know honey..uh, maybe the dog ate them." Then my husband comes home from work and finds me passed out on the floor in a candy induced coma, with remnants of chocolate smeared all over my face, and candy wrappers plastered to my forehead.  He covers the kids eyes to protect their precious, impressionable minds..."C'mon kids...I don't want you to see your mother like this.  Don't worry...we are going to get her help."  I slur my speech..."C'mon...lighten up...it's just a couple o pounds of candeee."
I wake up the next morning, my head hurts, my teeth hurt, I have gained 5 pounds, and I can't even run to the end of the driveway without feeling sick.
See candy...see how you are destroying my life and my family...please release your evil grip!  Anyone have Dr. Drew's number?

It's bananas up in here

Sorry for the lack of posting, but like the title says, it's bananas up in here.  I love to hear my dorky self try to talk like one of the cool kids....so not working for me.

This is the time of year where I start living off of coffee and candy, then coffee and pie, then coffee and Christmas cookies...you get the point. Pretty good diet for a half-marathon runner, right?  I suppose if I ate better, I would have a faster time...but I love candy, cookies, and pie.

Anyhow, in the craziness of the holiday sessions (which I am so thankful for), Halloween, getting ready for the holidays at my house, and getting getting into the heaviest part of my training for the race; we decided to throw in dental surgery for my 6 year old and some plumbing/water problems....yea, that's how we do around here. 

We took the entire weekend off of any work or editing to just spend some good family time.  We had a terrific time at a Fall Festival, but got so busy, I did not take photos.  I did take photos of one of our favorite family activities.  After church on Sundays, we all put on our running shoes and load up the kids, big wheels, balls, and airplanes and head out to the track.  The kids have a great time running around the track (they are faster than me) and playing in the grass since there is such a lack of it here in south Texas. Although they are not great, here are some photos of our day at the track.

 

 

 

 

 

  Right now I am off to eat a snack and ice my knee and Achilles.

Trader Joe's...don't miss out!!!!!

Trader Joe's is my favorite grocery store in the whole wide world. They sell amazing cheese's, chocolate, wine, coffee, great organic produce, beautiful flowers, and exotic foods.  Sound's expensive right????  So wrong.  The prices are extremely affordable.  In their words "we keep our costs low, cut out the middleman whenever possible and pass our savings on to you in the form of terrific everyday prices. So you can afford to be adventurous without breaking the bank."  They are also privately owned and they do not sell their stock....that puts us, their customer's , at the top of their priority list.

When you walk into Trader Joe's, they have a very relaxed "Aloha" atmosphere.  The decorating in beachy/rustic, advertising is done on chalkboards, and all the employees wear aloha shirts.  There are no annoying PA Systems, just some big bells (think dinner bell or cow bell) that they ring when assistance is needed.

Everytime I go into Trader Joe's, there is something different to try.  If you like to try new, yummy, exotic, and interesting foods at a great price, you have got to try Trader Joe's! I know I sound like a commercial, and no, I am not getting paid to do this...I JUST LOVE THEM!!!!!

There is a problem....there is not a Trader Joe's in San Antonio...there is not even one in the whole state of Texas!!!!!  I have been feeling deprvived since I moved here and I feel bad for my friends who are missing out!  Since they are not franchised, the only way they would consider opening up a store here is by demand.   There's hope!  All you have to do it fill out this form and submit it.  You are seriously missing out San Antonio!  What are you waiting for???? Fill it out!

Vote yet?

I took these photos today when I voted.  The officials there were looking at me like I was crazy and asked what these photos were for....told him I was just so excited to vote that I thought I would document it.  He stared at me suspiciously the entire time.  I think he was afraid I was going to go over people's shoulders and take pictures of their votes.  I kinda felt like I had stepped into a communist country.

4 left

Due to high demand I have extended the Holiday Portrait Special and there now only 3 spots left....call or email soon to get these spots.

Run Like an Animal

 My husband and both love to run....I consider him a runner, but hesitate to call myself a runner.  When I think of a runner I think of those people who put in 15 miles a day, the ones at the front of the pack, the ones who run faster than my average 9 minute mile pace. 
The other night Josh and I were having a discussion about why we run.  Lots of times neither of us are stoked to do a run and have to psych ourselves up to run. Running is hard..especially on these hills around here.  Running hurts.  While we are heavily training, we are constantly hurting or sore, even on the days we don't run.  My knee hurts often, my calves get sore, today my quads hurt so much that I can hardly carry my 2 year old up the stairs...but know what....I love it!  I love the pain I feel because it means I didn't just jog, it means I RAN!
During our discussion we talked about how running isn't just physical, it really spills over into all areas.  Before I started running, I used to be quite a procrastinator ( I still am sometimes).  Running doesn't let you procrastinate. Sometimes you will run 5 miles away from home and at that 5th mile , sometimes you don't feel like running back..but you have to.  The only way you can get home is to suck it up and run the 5 miles back. You can't quit or you won't get home.  You can only depend on yourself and your own 2 feet to get you home.you don't whine about it, you just do it.  This now follows me into all areas of my life.
Running is my drug of choice...if you happen to drive by me during my runs, you might see my eyes glaze over and a goofy ass smile on my face (think of the drug movies where you see a heroine addicts shoot up in a movie...you know that crazy look of relief they get on their faces) this usually happens at about miles 3, 5, 7, and 9 along with goosebumps and a feeling of elation.
Running doesn't always look like that.  Many times if you drove by me you would not recognize the huffing, puffing, limping, sweaty, pained, squinting, red faced girl.  My own family might not recognize me on those runs. They would just drive by and wonder where that old sweaty homeless woman got those cool running shoes.  Most of the time (in between the 'high' miles) my running is this ugly....like a rabid animal. Although in my mind I imagine I am one of those pretty and graceful runners, I am not...I have seen enough pictures of myself running to prove it.
What they say about a runner's high is true and it carries me through the entire next couple of days.  A half marathon can keep me feeling like this for 4 days...seriously.
It benefits our kids too..not only are we better parents (it makes us calmer, more patient(sometimes), and gives us more energy) , but our kids think exercise is just something you do...like brushing your teeth and now they want to run their first mini kid race on Thanksgiving.
Sometimes running sucks, it almost always hurts, and there are lots of times we don't want to do it...but we do it and are better off for it.
This morning my husband taped this to my bathroom mirror.  I love that he did this because it shows that he understands what running means to me personally and to us as a couple. It is something that binds us together.  Most girls probably wouldn't consider this romantic, but to me it has romance all over it!

What I Love

 

One of the things I love most about my job is that I get to see families grow from 2 to 3 to 4 and sometimes more.  When I first met Ross and Tracy, it was just the 2 of them and Tracy was pregnant with their first son.  I got to photography their sons first birthday and then their first family portraits together.  They have very recently welcomed another son into their family and I was honored to get to take their portraits again.  It makes me feel like an old friend when I get to come back time and again to capture the growth of children and families.  I am so excited that I get to do this for this family too.  I love knowing that I get to capture these adorable boys growing for years to come and that I can help them create images that will last forever.
Here are a few images from their session.  Don't let the newborn fool you.  He stayed awake for the entire time I was there.  I had to hurry and try to get photos when he blinked just so it looked like he was sleeping...little stinker.










san antonio newborn photography

Chirstmas in the Truck

As promised, here are the details on my "Christmas in the Truck" Special. 

Cost: $125 (plus tax) due at the time of booking.

What's Included:

-a 30 minute mini- session for up to 5 people (an extra per person
charge will incur for extra people)
-a CD of AT LEAST 15 - 20 images from your session

and

-25 custom flat 5 x7 Holiday Cards (Christmas or Hanukkah)
*OR*
your choice of two 8x10 prints

The times I have left are 9am, 1pm, and 2:30pm.

Contact me soon...we are booking quickly and there won't be another special until next year.

san antonio holiday session

Christmas already?????

I know you might think it's just way too early to start thinking about the holidays, but people, they are right around the corner.  I don't want them to sneak up on you the way they sneak up on me most years and I end up sending family and friends "Happy New Year" cards instead because I procrastinated.  Here are examples of Holiday cards I have to offer.  They were designed by the very talented Jamie Schultz.  Remember that I can change the text if you need it to say something different.

The old truck in some of the images is going to be part of our Holiday Special..stay tuned for more info about that. I took the photo from the front of the truck using my timer just so I can show you what the truck looks like, but it will be moved so that we can use the bed of the truck too.

Let me know if your are interested in different holiday photos and having these cards made.