To Frame, or Not to Frame

So, you've had your family pictures done and now you have a cd full of cute pictures of your family.  Now what do you do?  Which ones do you print?  Which ones pull at your heart?  How will you remember your kids at this age?  Is it the one with the cheesy fake smile, or the one with their sweet little profile that is so easily forgotten?  Decisions, decisions.

 Ok, so that one might not make the wall, but I love it.  Did you notice the fingers wrapped tightly around his brother's neck while trying to give him a kiss.  It was not done in malice.  It was a loving gesture, just an aggressive loving gesture.

What about the wild goose chase?  Will that make the frame?

How about climbing out of the hole?

The cute squat that they can do so easily (you know the one that makes you groan when you are a grown-up, yet a chubby little 18 month old can hold the position for hours)?

The profile.  Will that make the photo album?

How about the cute little guy holding on to mama's leg with all his might?  So cute right?

What about this angle?  How can you resist a super-cute red head?  Probably won't frame that one, but it is nice to know what they looked like from your angle looking down on that sweet head.

How about your boys walking over the bridge?

Or walking the bench?

Brothers walking through life together?  Can you put that in the album?

How about the shadow picture?  I think this one is more of what your memory holds dear when you think back to the good old days of when your kids were young.  You won't remember how hard it was to get them to smile for picture day.  You are just left with happy memories of your babies.


So, I guess Amy has her work cut out for her.  If you want to see the ones that will definitely make the album, hop over to LiLo Photography and check out the rest of the pictures.

Looky What I Found

Remember my blog/rant about boys clothes and shoes.  Today I had a break through.  While shopping the sales rack at the Gap (the only place I shop at the Gap) I found these babies.

Trust me, they are cuter in person.  Can't you just see 3 cute little boys in these with some Christmas sweaters on.  Can you say "Christmas Card".  Now, to find a day when said 3 cute little boys will smile at their mama's camera.

Two pairs purchased.  Now the hunt begins for the third pair.  If anyone is at a Gap and sees these shoes ($12.99) in a size 8, 9 or 10 (toddler) BUY THEM and I will pay you back (with interest).

Many thanks!

Out Takes

I love the candid funny shots that come from photo sessions with families.  I love how it shows their personality and fun side of the family.  Here are some candids from a shoot with my nieces and nephews (and sister and brother-in-law.  Hope they make you smile!

The pure joy of leaves

Seriously funny, right?

Notice the deer in the background?

You

Any Guesses?

I took some pictures of a really special family last weekend.  Can you guess who it was?

I bet you are right!  Check out LiLo Photography on facebook for more pictures!

Octopus for Dinner

Do you have picky eaters?  I do!  Just the other day, a friend on facebook was trying to get her son to eat and wanted suggestions.  I pulled something out of my hat that I had almost forgotten.  It is a really special treat at our house and a guarantee that ALL of my kids will eat a huge dinner. 

Want to know my secret?  Octopus.  Yep, you read right.  Octopus.  Not the kind that swim in the sea, but the kind that kids go crazy for.

Ingredients needed:  Hot dogs, water, spaghetti noodles.  That is the best part.  Easy peasy.

Take the hot dogs and cut them in thirds.  Take 4 raw noodles (or a random handful like I do) and break them in half.  Stick the 8 noodles into one of the thirds.  Continue until you are out of hot dogs.  Then stick them into boiling water.  Boil until the noodles are cooked.  Remove from the water and serve!!!!

My kids go nuts for these and eat a TON.  We rarely have leftovers.  That is saying something for the three year old who lives on nuggets and cereal.

Once I was reminded of our favorite dinner, I looked in the cupboard and viola!  We had all of the ingredients for octopus.  So guess what we had for dinner.

You should try this fun and easy recipe.  I bet even your pickiest eaters will go for it!

Creative Clients

Last Sunday, I got to photograph the Nudge family.  They are a delight.  We have known them for years, but have lost touch a little over time.  Glad we were able to get together again.

I love to be creative with my photography.  However, after doing five shoots in one weekend, I was running low on ideas.  Luckily, Becki had my back.  She had done her homework and knew just what she was looking for.  It was so fun to have some new and fresh ideas.  Here are some of her great ideas in action.

She wanted a profile picture.  I was a little confused at first, but I hope I captured her idea.  Not the easiest thing to do with two adults, an 11 year old and a 6 year old.  I think it is a cool idea and a fun record of profiles. 

Her next idea was brilliant.  Chris and Becki just celebrated their 20th anniversary (Congratulations!).  She brought along her wedding album so that we could incorporate some of their wedding pictures into current pictures.  So fun to recreate old poses (thankfully Chris had gotten rid of the mullet).  I love the touch of their kids holding the picture, although Sam did NOT want to hold the kissing picture.  Kids.  Funny.

I couldn't pick which one I liked the best, so I had to include them all!

Thanks for the inspiration Becki.  For more pictures, check out my facebook page at LiLo Photography

Sneak Peak-The Stockings

Last weekend was a busy one for me.  I did FIVE photoshoots.  It was awesome and I loved every minute of it.  Now I am slaving away at my computer trying to edit all of these pictures (probably close to 1000 pictures).  I have now finished 3 of the 5!

How to I describe the Stockings?  Awesome, inspiring, tough, grounded, content, and loveable.  We first met Jason and Robin (and Christopher) at church.  We both started attending the same church around the same time.  Robin stuck out because she carried oxygen with her everywhere and we all wondered what was going on with the lady.  Over the next few years, they captured our hearts.  Robin had Cystic Fibrosis and came to Colorado to get on the waiting list for a double lung transplant.  We all became friends.

A lot has happened since then, and it has been a pleasure living life alongside this family.  Two years ago, Robin lost her battle and is now dancing with Jesus.  We grieved with Jason and Christopher over Robin and have walked a long road with them.  They are amazing.  I have never seen such a happy and content child as Christopher.  Anytime you ask him how he is doing, the response is always "great".  He is quick to smile and is a good boy.  Jason is a great dad and has handled being a widower with grace, spunk and a sense of humor.

I was so happy to go with them to Lair of the Bear Park and snap a few photos of these great guys.  Here is a sneak peak.  (check out my facebook page at LiLo Photography for more pictures)

This is one of those friendships that touches the soul.

An Amazing Mom and Dad

Do you have an amazing mom and dad?  I do!  I got to spend part of the day today at my parent's house.  We haven't hung out there in awhile and I have missed it.  Chris headed out of town today, so I headed to mom's.  Where else do you go when you are tired and need some love (and distraction for the kids)?

My parents have an amazing house.  My friends in high school called it the party palace.  It was always the hangout place.  My parents planned it that way.  The fridge was always stocked with food and drinks and our friends were always welcome.  Brilliant thinking on their part.  They always knew our friends and what we were up to.  They didn't wonder where we were at 1 am on a Saturday night.  We were watching movies in the living room.  I am pretty sure the other parents liked it too (hence the friends being over at 1 am).

My dad (and mom) built the house from land up.  It was a labor of love and it has been 34 years in the making.  Just when you think the house is perfect a new project comes up.  Well guess what....a new project came up.  A few years ago, my nephew started asking Bapa (my dad) for a tree house.  It has been on the back burner for awhile, but an interesting turn of events came about and now.....there is a new project at the Coombs house.  A new neighbor moved in and needed help on his sprinkler system.  Dad offered to help (can't keep him away from a needy sprinkler system).  In return for his help, the bachlor neighbor offered to give Dad the HUGE wooden playset in his backyard.  My dad came home and priced it out.  Let's just say it was worth more than my car.  Within hours, there was a spreadsheet and a CAD drawing (that is how he rolls) of how to incorporate the playset into their existing (awesome) one acre yard.  He found new supports for the playset and even figured out how the tube that you crawl through (aweome) rests exactly on the existing branch of the old maple tree in the back, back, yard.  There is even talk of a crow's nest and a zipline.  I am thinking that we need to have a party when this thing is done!  In true Coombs' fashion....he doesn't mess around and this thing has taken shape in less than two weeks (now you see where Julie and I get the git r dun philosophy). 

Today the boys were "helping" hammer shingles (yes shingles) onto the roof portions. 

Meanwhile, Nana was in the sewing room chained to her sewing machine.  She (and I, mostly she) is making chipmunk costumes.  The boys are going to be Alvin and the Chipmunks this year.  I know.  So cute, right.  Can't wait until they are done and I can show you some pictures.  My mom is amazing with fabric!  She has made the most amazing costumes.  Let's see if I can name all of the costumes she has made for my kids (plus all of my sister's too-which I will not name).  Skunk, tractor, spider, ant, hedgehog, Mickey Mouse, Donald Duck, parrot, pirate, Crayon, Lego Man, dragon, knight.  Needless to say, I came home tonight covered in chipmunk fur.  My poor mom has been furred for days!

It was a fun day and a nice night.  Here are a few pictures I snapped while I was there.

The new tube

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The shingles they worked on today

Can't go to Nana's house without a tractor ride!

The work in progress

Timed waterfall shot.  Just playing with camera settings.  Waterfall a project in summer 2005.

Think we might have to make another appearance tomorrow at the party palace to get our chipmunk on!

The Hindes Family

I love the Hindes!  They are our neighbors friends.  I was able to take a little time with them last night to take a few family photos.  We went into Golden, down by Clear Creek and the weather could not have been more perfect.  We had a lovely time walking along the creek and pausing for pictures.  It was controlled chaos, but so much fun.  Between two dogs and two little girls I can't believe we got any pictures.  But they turned out AMAZING!  This is such a beautiful family (inside and out) that I couldn't help but get good pictures.  Here are some of my favorites.

I love how Kristin just glanced at Andy when I snapped this picture.

Seriously cute, right?

You can't even tell how out of breath Andy was from trying to get the dogs into the right position.  And I thought it was hard to take pictures of kids, but dogs bring it to a whole new level!

I am a sucker for leg pictures.  Weird, I know.

Sisters.  Love it.  Reminds me of my sister.

Love those eyes.

I'll just say what you all are thinking.....awe.  I love how Maddy just cuddled up to her Daddy.

The Lucas Family

Two posts in one day!  Wow, I am on top of things.  

On Sunday, I caught up with the Lucas family.  I took pictures of baby Braylon when he was two weeks old and on Sunday, I did family pictures.  Braylon was a super cute newborn, but now at almost 5 months....he is downright adorable.  I put some pictures up on my facebook page, but there were so many good ones that I had to share more here.   These three are the same picture, with just different looks.  Which one is your favorite?

Color

Vintage

Black and White

It is hard to pick, right?

Hubba Hubba

I love how the sunlight is playing off her hair.

Candid

I am a sucker for the candid shots.  I love how Lauren crinkled her nose on this one.

Another candid.  Lauren just lifted Braylon up and I snapped a picture!

This family was a pleasure to shoot!  Want me to shoot your family too?