Logan Temple

Now that Christmas has passed, Roy asked me to post a picture. When these mounted photos arrived I jumped up and down and danced my happy dance! It's such an awesome feeling when I create what I envision. This photograph had a mission. I have a wall in my home that you see when you walk in the front door, when you walk up the stairs, when you visit in my kitchen, and it's the last wall you see before you hit the hay. I wanted to hang a photo that would create a standard for the family.

A couple weeks ago, on a early frigid Sunday morning, I headed to Logan to snap this shot. I'm sure people driving by thought I was looney - But I got it. The mission, to have a constant reminder of what we are working for, who we are, and why we need to live a little better. When people come into my home they'll have no question where I stand.

Moving {Project 52}

I have loved posting project 52 so much that I created a family blog. You can click on the project 52 link to the right and it will redirect you there. This site will remain especially for my photography. On occasion I will post my favs.

I hope you visit my royzgirlz often and leave me so me bloglove.

RoyzGirlz 9/52 {Project 52} Day two Christmas Break

We spent today with our awesome friends at the Cache Valley Figure Skating Club. They are the greatest in all the world! Cherakie loves Shania Laird, she's an amazing skater, I used to watch her when my kids were in learn-to-skate prior to competing, and I'd think someday my girls will skate like her. {In my dreams I can skate like her}. She is so sweet to Cherakie, and also an awesome rodeo queen.
The paper today said they're working on Merlin Olsen park ice rink, Chantel and I skated there 7 years ago, the last time weather supported the rink. Neither of us could stay on our feet. So maybe in the future you'll see us there, also we're praying grandmas pond freezes.

RoyzGirlz 9/52 {Project 52} Day one

Since it's Christmas Break, and since my kids have nothing to do, I thought I'd post daily. Day one, Hailey set out a salon. The bratz dolls have the styles and prices. I am constantly telling my girls that BEAUTY KNOWS NO PAIN, as I brush through their snarls, YIKES I forgot how tender my head is.

RoyzGirlz 8/52 {Project 52}

Huge snow flakes are falling now, it's Christmas Break. Thursday while driving out to the ice rink, Rudolph the red nose reindeer came on the radio, out of nowhere and simultaneously the girls shouted out, "Reindeer", and "like a light bulb." It made me smile because of the sweetness of childhood. They just get one part wrong, Rudolph didn't go down in history like Columbus, it was the Broncos!
Here we are playing uno, we love playing games, (and we are really having more fun than it looks). Battleship is Raquel's favorite.
I think I discovered gymboree too late in the game, my girls are almost growing out of the sizes. Where have I been? Yeah I went a little crazy, but I could wear those dresses all day if they made my size. They look so comfy.

RoyzGirlz 7/52 {Project 52}

We had a tradition growing up when we saw the first snow. We'd get donuts and hot chocolate. So here we are, my girls and I, celebrating our first real snow of the winter.
I'll admit I get way too excited when it snows, although I rarely need a reason for treats :). I love hoodies, fuzzy socks, and curling up in a warm blanket, just to look at the lights, listen to the music, and watch the snowflakes dance to the ground. This year I'm so excited for Christmas. Maybe it's cause I'm more in the moment and not in the overscheduled to-do list of it all. I hope this Christmas time we can all slow down enough to be grateful for the precious moments of life.

The little kid-lets

{Dilemma} Getting 5 kids to smile at the same time!?!

{Solution} One on One Heatha time ;)

These are the kids of one of my dearest friends, who has put up with my OCD photography for over 5 years now. Before she moved I took tons of pictures against her barns, and in her orchard. You could probably say, that is where I began. These kids are adorable inside and out - I love their endearing smiles, and those lashes, wowzah!

RoyzGirlz - 6/52 {Project 52} Desperaux

Kate DiCamillo is by far my favorite children's author. I love reading books to my children where I am also enlightened, touched, and moved to stand a little taller. I decided to read the Tale of Desperaux, by Kate DiCamillo, with my girls for the next two weeks so we can see the movie that comes out just in time for Christmas Break. {The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane}, is my other favorite by DiCamillo.
Last year Chantel brought me home, a book a week from the school library, and then all summer I found myself escaping to worlds of great adventure. I remember my mother reading Nancy Drew books to me at night before bed, she always wanted to read just a little bit more. I think that helped stretch my attention span, and develop my love for the written word.

"M" Kids

I{heart}these guys, they've trusted me to take their photographs several times over the years. They are beautiful, (I mean it "K" you are so photogenic) and handsome {guys}, and the most grateful people I've ever met. I truly appreciate your support. I've so much more to go through, talk to you tomorrow :)!

RoyzGirlz - 5/52 {Project 52}

My inlaws celebrated their 50th Anniversary by taking their family to Walt Disney World. Here they are at their Thanksgiving Dinner.



Two years ago I erased over 600 Disneyland pictures. We bought a compact camera so I wouldn't have to pack my camera around, {well we actually purchased it twice because the week before our trip, Roy put it in his back pocket at scout camp and sat on it}. Then after spending 3 days at Disneyland I formatted the disk. All my magical pictures drifted off to never{happened}land. The next picture is the first one of the rest of our trip. I think my kids felt so bad for me that they didn't dare get mad at me for erasing their princess pictures.



Sooooo, when we were planning our princess day, Raquel firmly said, "Don't erase the pictures!" I made an appointment at the Bibbiddi Bobbiddi Boutique, but then decided I could do the updo's and save $50 a princess, after 3 1/2 years of ice skating and dance competitions and performances, surely I could handle Cinderella's Ball.



There are moments that I call {serene}, moments where getting the camera out doesn't even cross my mind - I found one of those moments just before we landed back in Salt Lake. The sky was overcast and as we flew across the cottony moonlit clouds, endless pillows of soft blue glowing majestically, I found heaven. I am grateful to find heaven here, to be a part of an eternal family, for time, for touch, for love.

RoyzGirlz 4/52 - {Project 52}

At this point I am truly feeling empathy. It is hard being on the other side of the camera. You guys make it all seem so easy.

This week my sister returned from Saudi Arabia. Seeing her come home was Ah-mazing, I hope that everyone has the opportunity to share in that experience at some point in their life. Seeing the big army jet land, and the flags, the respect, it was so cool.

My little "Weed" adores my sister, and you could see it in her eyes, being dressed up in her little army costume, she felt and saw that pride that comes when you sacrifice for your country. I saw {sigh} belonging in her little 8 year-old stature.

I want to mimick the words of my husband's boss we ran into on the way down. "Tell her thank you." With honor I say {thank you} to my little sis, brave enough to not only make it through training but to serve our country across seas. With a humble "thank you" I express my gratitude to all who sacrifice for our freedom.

PROJECT 52

I saw this project on a photographers blog and decided I had to do it. I've been posting it on a couple family blogs but decided to post it here instead. As a photographer I am rarely in any pictures, I actually defend myself by saying "if you zoom in real close, you can see me and my camera in their eyes, so yeah I am in the photograph." But knowing kids, and how great their memories are if a photograph is taken, I was saddened to think they may not remember much of me if I'm not there documented. So I've had to do two extremely horrific things, number one - hand over my camera - (it causes me great anxiety) and number two - I have to be on the other side of the camera, I'm not like my kids who naturally pop the photogenic "I'm an overphotographed child" smile.

The interesting part I discovered going into week four is that I am not wanting to photograph the huge events as I normally would, but the little moments I'll want back when they're gone, i.e. making cookies, eating popsicles on the porch, playing in a stream, dancing in the piano room etc. So if you want to join in on the bandwagon here are the rules:
1. You have to be in the photograph with at least one of your children, hubby, etc.
2. Take a picture at least once a week for a year.
3. Have fun! :)
I've given myself a Sunday Evening Deadline. Leave me some comments, I'd love to hear what you're doing!



3/52 Project 52
There is nothing more beautiful than a manicure done by a six-year-old. They're always begging for a beauty salon and I need to take more time to appreciate their kind acts of service.



2/52 Project 52

I know I am not really in the photograph, but this is a sport we love as a family. I hope when my girls see this picture they remember my cracked and calloused hands from tying all the skates.



1/52 Project 52

We weren't going to purchase Aggie Tickets this year because of the expense but after three years of going, Roy couldn't pass up the fun family outting. The first game landed on Halloween.

Little Old Woman

I have been the Little Old Woman who lived in a shoe with so many kids, yada yada yada. It has been a {party} but a busy one. ;) It's amazing how organized you can be if ya work at it. I've discovered kids will do homework afterschool if steaming hot gooey brownies are staring at them, (right next to the jar of sharpened pencils).

This sweet girl is one of the twins that stayed with me, she has so much character in her little 3 year old self, and a giggle to melt anyone. Many a time I'd catch her dancing in the piano room singing, "I know you, I walked with you once upon a dream." I look forward to formally photographing the twins, and their family.

More of the boyz

The "A" Family

Hey "L", here's a small sneak peek! I had so much fun running all over with you guys, your boys are a riot! :) See ya in Candy Land!

Freckles

One Sunday, a sunbeam of mine, looked at my daughter and said, "oooo, a princess" she then touched her freckles and said, "dirty face." We all had a good laugh, but I LOVE her freckles! Capture those moments, photograph those things that make your kids unique. Time is sooooo short. Hug 'em and kiss 'em tons! :)

Fall Baptism

Miss "P" you're a delight! My girls miss the fun times on the ice! I wish you the best on your special day!!!

For the love of Pigs!

My little "Fern" wannabe (charlotte's web) has begged for this picture forever. Most girls walk babies, not my piggie lover.

More of the B's

Hey S, here's a preview. Gotta love this indian summer!!! My kids still aren't in the mood for pics. How unfair :0( Have a nice weekend.