Folklife Festival '08

Last Saturday we went to the Folklife Festival in Seattle and had such a great time. The festival brings together cultures from all over the world who perform and display their native, and sometimes modern traditions. There's tons of singing, dancing, music, and well interesting people watching. I was a sucker for the street performers, they get me every time. The little girl playing the violin, while hula-hooping, while balancing on an exercise ball was amazing. We also really enjoyed the Japanese drummers and of course watching Kinsley dance her heart out the whole time. It all made for a super day.

More Photography

Here's a sneek peak from a recent senior session I did. Get on over to the website and check it out! youreverycolorphotography.blogspot.com

Happy Third Birthday, Kinsley

What do you get when you bring a vivacious 3 year old and a four-eyed aardvark to a birthday party? I'm not sure, but whatever it is we have pictures of it. Andrea was the talent behind this masterful work also known as "Arthur- The Life of an Aardvark" or in the underground world of cake decorating as Arthur Spice (it really was spice cake!). Okay, Andrea has given me the hint that I am getting too verbose and over-the-top. Arthur is Kinsley's favorite character and she was thrilled to have her very own Arthur cake.

Kinsley was so excited to blow the candles out this year. She talked about it all day and when the moment finally arrived, we thought she might hyperventilate. Kinsley was successful in blowing out all three of her candles. Lately when people have asked Kinsley how old she was going to be she would say: "three months old." But yesterday she finally got it right and told everyone that she is "THREE YEARS OLD" as she hold up her hand, trying hard to only have three fingers in the air.

For all of you readers of the blog who think time is going by fast, it really is. It wasn't that long ago that Kinsley was just a little baby, now she is 3, going on 30. This became more apparent and alarming when Grandma asked Kinsley what she got for her birthday, to which she replied "a boy toy"(calm down folks for Kinsley the Barbie car we bought her is a boy toy because it is blue). Kinsley was also very excited for her other gifts: the Cinderella purse, My Little Pony, and sidewalk chalk. After the cake was eaten, she requested to go outside and draw on the patio. She talked about her birthday all day today so we know she had a great time.

We hope that everyone has had a great Mother's Day and we're glad you took the time to look at our blog. Happy Birthday Kinsley, we love you!!!!

Check it out!

Just in case you missed the post about my photography biz or you haven't checked the blog out lately here's the link. Just trying to spread the word :)

www.youreverycolorphotography.blogspot.com

Happy Birthday GRANT!

Here are a couple newborn pics. Look how much he's grown!

I can't believe my sweet boy is already one! Wow does the time fly. We just had a simple party with some of our friends. Grant really enjoyed his cake as it was his very first experience with sugar. We let him have it long enough to make a huge mess of himself and get in a bite or two. He really enjoyed his birthday song. He started grinning and clapping excitedly once everyone began singing. He got a little Elmo guitar which he carries around all the time now dancing to the songs it plays. Kinsley was quick to ask for her turn after Grant opened the gift but I was impressed with the level of patience she exercised. She was a great sport about letting it be Grants special day. I love the picture of Shawn dancing while Grant was opening his gift. What a goof! We love you!

Grant hasn't started walking yet but he's really close. He likes to grab our bar stools or kitchen chairs and use them as walkers. Now that we have hardwoods it's easy for him to glide across the floor. He has three teeth, although one of them is big enough to be considered two. We call it his dinosaur or mammoth tooth. Grant loves to climb on everything. He spends most of his time getting in (and falling off of) Kinsley's toddler bed. He loves to wave and try to communicate with every new face. He's already proving to be as social as his sister.

We love you G-man Happy Birthday!

to see more pics from his party visit our family web album: http://picasaweb.google.com/thesorensenfam

My Photography Blog

The moment we've all been waiting for is finally here! Okay really it's the moment I've been waiting for. I've been working on this blog for what seems like forever. After lots of portfolio building and much more to come I'm finally ready to make my site public. It's been interesting trying to make a blog work like a website. I know what you're thinking why doesn't she just get a web page? Money, money, money, plus writing the html code, getting it to look just how I want it--there's just not time for that right now. We'll without further adieu here's the link: http://www.youreverycolorphotography.blogspot.com/ Why Your Every Color? Not only is it one of my all time favorite songs by Train, but it's really at the heart of what I do: working to capture the moment, our uniqueness, our every color. Check it out and PLEASE, please, please leave your comments, your constructive criticism, share it with your friends, etc.

Happy blogging everyone!

Andrea :)

My New Favorite Movie

I rented and saw this movie last night and just had to write a post about it. I remember seeing the previews for it several months back and it was one of those films I just knew I would like. My goal was to get out to the theatre and see the movie, but going to the movies isn't the easiest thing to get around to doing when you have young kiddos. Anyway I loved it, loved it, loved it!!!!! I can't emphasize it enough. The music in the film was beautiful, the cinematography was breathtaking and the story was uplifting, charming, fairy-tale like, and inspiring. I'm sure some of you won't feel the same way, or may perhaps think it was overly sentimental and cheezy and to you I say you're crazy! This movie is wonderful! Go and buy it!

I also need to add-in this picture of Grant I took a few days ago. I just love it. He is such a good looking kid! Grant turns 1 year on the 20th. Watch for the "Ode To Grant" post coming soon.....

More About Kiki

7:13 A.M. A model like me needs to prepare herself for a day of 'shooting'. I find it best to start of with some good funny faces to help stretch out the face muscles that will be used so much throughout the day. If you click on this picture you will see a larger image of my morning excercise experience. I find the disproportionate reflection in the kitchen faucet keeps me grounded. When you are as cute as I am you have to do 'little things' like this to remember that it isn't all about you--even though it is. I follow my facial exercises with a hearty helping of my mothers made-from-scratch pancakes and maple syrup (nothing grows a sweet smile better than maple syrup).

10:31 A.M. The clouds well overhead now and I think I am getting a cloud burn. The clouds here are so strong you can feel them beating down on you all day long. Every now and then the sun pokes through and lightens things up, but that is a rarity. For sensitive skin like mine I would suggest a cloud screen of 15 or 30. You can never be too careful. I once knew a kid who never put on cloud screen and now he lives in Utah.
In my spare time,
I have started to rhyme.
I think I might write,
a poem one night.

1:35 P.M. After a quick lunch of gourmet macaroni and cheese and animal crackers (I have to keep my girlish figure, but I am soooo craving a cheeseburger). I am hard at work flexing my cute muscle. Back to my career as a poet, I have recently strarted my own version of Itsy Bitsy Spider (this is actual text from one of my brillant renditions)
Itsy bitsy spiders went up the water spout
Faster, faster, hooray they all did shout,
10 little spiders got ready to go,
But the itsy bitsy spider was moving very slow.

4:05 P.M. The afternoon breeze has picked up just in time to get the shot of the day. Oh I was such a good model for mommy!
P.S. Daddy really wrote this post. So no more comments about how clever mommy is with her writing. We all know who the funny one is in the family....LOL. While parts of the story may have been dramatized, Andrea really does make from scratch pancakes and syrup every morning and Kinsley really is making up her own rhyming songs.

Easter 2008

We had such a wonderful Easter holiday. Shawn had spring break the whole week and it was marvelous. The Monday before Easter we went to the Baughs to dye easter eggs for FHE. This was Kinsleys first experience with easter eggs and we couldn't pull her away. She loved coloring on each of the eggs and ended up doing 24! We just couldn't get her to stop. The primary activity was the Saturday before and Kinsley was able to go on an easter-egg-hunt throughout the church building. We didn't do anything special Easter morning but instead waited until the afternoon, as we were having friends over. We also were graced with the pleasure (okay really the stress) of speaking in church that day. Shawns talk was on the atonement and mine on forgiveness. I think we did well. It's always nerve racking speaking in front of a new ward.

Shawn prepared and incredible turkey dinner and I did the fruit salad (tough job, I know LOL). Our friends brought over some candy filled plastic eggs and together with the hardboiled eggs we had quite the hunt. Kinsley and our friends son dashed around the house. Once Kinsley figured out that the plastic eggs had candy in them she wanted nothing to do with the harboiled eggs she had put so much effort into decorating. After the hunt was over we told the kids they could have a little candy after dinner. Kinsley however found some way to smuggle some chocolate. She would have been successful in her secretive indulgence had she remembered to wipe the chocolate off her face before joining the group again.

What a great Easter holiday!

To see more photos from Easter visit our web album:

http://picasaweb.google.com/thesorensenfam/Easter2008

My Projects

There aren't any big events to write about this week and I don't have any new pics that I've taken of the kiddos so I thought I'd write a little about what projects I've been working on.

As most of you know I've been trying to get a photography business up and running. I've got a blog set-up now but there aren't many pictures on it yet. I'll give all of you the link once its ready. I had a photo shoot last Saturday with two senior girls from my old ward. I asked them to come be models for me to help build my portfolio. I took them to Snohomish, a little historic town just 20 minutes away. We had so much fun! Here are a few pics, these aren't necessarily my favs but some random ones I picked out of the like 50 million I took, LOL. None of them have been edited yet. I just need to do a few color corrections. One day I'll get this whole camera exposure thing down! I'll post a lot more on my photo blog shortly.

I've also been trying to get little girls accessories business going. Its called Little Lilies. Here's is a sneak peak of some of the flower hair clips I've been making. They're my staple product but I'll also be selling headbands, and tutu's as well. I'm in the process of figuring out which company to use to process customer credit card payments. Once I get that squared away I'll be ready to launch my little online biz. I'm still selling Layers clothing too and have had a couple of parties recently. I have two more booked for this month and I can't wait! The new spring line is super cute. Oh I've been busy but I'm having a blast. Seriously I don't know where I find the time. I'm really being blessed!