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Salt Flats September 29, 2010

Posted by Emily in : Exercise, Family, Little Man Dallin, My Handsome Husband, Princess Hannah, Utah , 3comments

Last year, when we moved back to Utah from Kansas, I mentioned to David that one of the things on my bucket list was to visit the Salt Flats which are West of SLC.

They are amazing, and it’s a popular location for people to come look at tons, and tons of salt. :)

Because I am a Probst at heart (which by definition is synonymous with being a lover of “all things salt”) I knew I needed to see the world’s salt mecca.  :)

It only took a mere three hours to drive to this spot out in the middle of nowhere, but it was a poppin’ place when we got there!

The kids loved all the open space to run, and run and run . . .

But they did not like it when they both fell down on the gritty sharp salt crystals which drew blood.

And I’m just going to point out the obvious . . . SALT and BLOOD are a bad mixture as evidenced by their uncontrollable cries.

I love this face SOOOO much.

This is not our car, but it was beautiful against the white salt and blue skies as it drove out on the salt.

This little bullet is actually a motorcycle.  You see, we happened to drive out the Salt Flats during the very time some people were trying to break the international land speed record for motorcycles.  This motorcycle is encapsulated in this bullet-like-thingy to make it more aerodynamic.  The world record for motorcycle speed is 367 MPH.  This motorcycle had to beat that speed by 1% to officially “break the record” so it had to get up to 371 MPH that day.

Bummer, it only made it to 366 MPH and we were all so disappointed.  I mean, we drove ALL THE WAY OUT THERE and it couldn’t even go 4 MPH faster to break the world record?!  :)

Oh, and guess what else?  An air show was going on in Wendover as well!  Turns out we picked a good day to drive out to the Salt Flats!

David enjoyed a little run WITH shoes (as many of you know, he is a barefoot runner) protecting his feet from the sharp salt crystals.

After our nice little outing, we drove a few more miles (and by a few, I mean like five) to Wendover, Nevada for dinner.

It’s fun to discover Utah.  Maybe we’ll stay a while.

I’m bursting at the seams to do a photo session on the Salt Flats, any takers?

The First Day of the Rest of My Life September 28, 2010

Posted by Emily in : My Handsome Husband, Thoughts , 1 comment so far

I heard a song on the radio tonight that reminded me of my first date with David.  I then looked at my watch while driving down the freeway trying to read the small numbers.  Yep, sure enough, today is September 28th, the day of our first date 14 years ago.

I remember coming home from our date and telling my mom I was going to marry David (keep in mind, we had only spent an hour and a half together) and 10 months later I did.

When I know, I know.  :)

Light Check September 23, 2010

Posted by Emily in : Photography, Princess Hannah , 3comments

A couple weeks ago, I set out to do some light checks at some new locations and Hannah decided to come along as my little helper.

She is such a good little assistant, willing to help set up gear, or pose for me.

I caught this picture which made my heart melt . . .

And this one right after the breeze blew some seeds into her mouth!  Love that expression!

Hannah really wanted me to photograph her new Hello Kitty Pez dispenser and after examining this image on the LCD screen on my camera, she decided to showcase it differently to “really show it off.”

So she strapped it to her dress.

What a creative assistant I have!

(And a cute one too!)

120 Pound Inspiration September 20, 2010

Posted by Emily in : Exercise, Thoughts , 1 comment so far

David came across this video and it inspired both of us. In fact, right after I watched it, I went for a mile run.

I know it’s not a lot, but it’s a mile more than I planned to run today.

You know what?  I feel a lot better and I’m happier.

You can’t watch this and NOT be inspired!

Two Golden Anniversaries September 19, 2010

Posted by Emily in : Family , 1 comment so far

Today, my parents celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary.

Today, my in-laws also celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary.

That’s right my friends, my parents and my in-laws got married on the same day, same year, and in the same temple!

They didn’t know each other until David and I met, but I’m sure they unknowingly bumped into each other on their wedding day and passed this secret thought, “Hey!  Let’s both have a bunch of kids, and surely one of your kids will marry one of mine!”

Today, we saw this little treat in the newspaper:

For years now, David and I have joked about how we would handle the 50th wedding anniversary celebrations with both of our parents sharing the same day.  (It’s not like you can ask one to move their special day!) Fortunately, David’s parents went on a Mediterranean cruise so we were not faced with choosing between two “once in a lifetime parties” on the same day!

Congrats to you both!

My Clean Children September 13, 2010

Posted by Emily in : Daily Life, Little Man Dallin, Parenthood, Princess Hannah , 3comments

We love bubble baths.

A lot.

Hannah takes her sisterly duties very seriously, and takes every opportunity to teach Dallin a few ballet moves.

I love my clean children.  :)

Hannah’s Official Client Session September 10, 2010

Posted by Emily in : Parenthood, Photography, Princess Hannah , 4comments

To see more of this shoot (bigger and better!) visit my photo blog.

Since this is my personal blog and Hannah belongs on the personal blog, I’ve copied and pasted from my photo blog a quick summary of what happened:

I’ve been wanting to put Hannah in a modeling agency for some time now.  She doesn’t mind having her picture taken, she follows direction well from anyone, she loves to perform, and she speaks more articulately than most adults! Plus, as her parent, I think she’s a doll, so of course I think she’ll be a great find for any agency.  Unfortunately, the gypsy lifestyle is not really conducive for anything that requires you to stay in one state (or one country!), so I have not really looked into it until now.

You see, we’re going to be in Utah for a while.  Did I not mention that before?  Well, now I have.  Last week, I took Hannah to an agency, and they liked her.  The lady asked me if I knew of a photographer that could take her pictures to put together her portfolio.

Ahem.  Do I know I know a photographer?  I smiled and said, “Yes, I have connections.”

Turns out, I didn’t really have any pictures of Hannah on hand that would work for a portfolio.

HOW IRRESPONSIBLE OF ME!

OK, enough with the dramatics, but seriously, why is it that my own kids don’t get great sessions?  Oh yeah, because I don’t pay myself to do it!

Note to self:  PAY YOURSELF.  BE YOUR BEST CLIENT.

So, after feeling like the “negligent mother of the year” (I mean, what kind of mother, who is a professional photographer, DOES not take professional pictures of her own kids?!) I made an appointment with Hannah (meaning I cleared my schedule and told her to wear what I told her to and bribed her with a sucker if she would just WEAR what I asked her to!) to shoot her portfolio.

I loved so many of these images (you can tell this is my kid because you cannot critique images logically when it’s your own offspring, you only think emotionally) so I’m double posting them in black and white and color.  You will see a double dose of images matched up in different sets.

This last one is my ALL TIME FAVORITE.  EVER.  Should I get this in a 24×30?  :)

Be sure to check out the full entry of this shoot in my photo blog!  I’ve posted some tips for photographing kids!

Labor Day Weekend? CHECK. September 8, 2010

Posted by Emily in : Family, Friends, Photography, Princess Hannah, School, Thoughts, Utah , 5comments

Labor Day weekend:

Swiss Days? Check.

Swimming at the Lindon pool for the last time this summer?  Check.

Attended the baptism of good friend’s daughter?  Check.

Girls night out with my sister-in-law Angie?  Check.

Family get together?  Check.

School at AAU started?  Check.

Ate LOTS and LOTS of Hi-Chew?  CHECK!

Photo session with my favorite little girl?  CHECK!  CHECK!

(More from this shoot coming up!)

The Greatest Candy in the Whole Wide World, FOUND! September 3, 2010

Posted by Emily in : Daily Life, Parenthood, Princess Hannah , 3comments

Hannah and I were out for a little “mommy and me” time when lunch crept up on us and before we knew it, I was ready to inhale a couch and Hannah could have scarfed down a love seat.

Being the perfect mother that I am, I drove to the nearest gas station/grocery store I could find.

It happened to be a Walgreens and Hannah asked to eat Starbursts for lunch.  Heck, she could eat 12 packs of Starbursts for all I cared!  We needed food and FAST.

As I quickly surveyed the unfamiliar store, I noticed some starburst-like candy by the register.

Perfect I thought.  We’ll take 290 packs.

And then . . .

I shrieked!

HOLY HANNAH!  ARE YOU KIDDING ME!

HI-CHEW my friends!  Have you not read my post about HI-CHEW, the greatest candy in the whole wide world?  (Please, read here!)

I must be doing something right for the universe to plant such wonderful candy at my fingertips in the USA of all places.

Seriously people, you have never tasted a party in your mouth until you try this candy.

We bought LOTS of packs.  We needed them!  I believe in a healthy lunch just as much as the next mom, so I was sure to get a variety of fruit flavors so Hannah could have lots of fruit in her lunch.  :)

David was as equally excited as I was with this gold mine of a find.

The big question is this . . . now that I don’t have to buy 100 pounds of this candy (clearing out every store I can) when I go to Asia, what am I going to buy to put in it’s place?

Honestly, I was telling Hannah about this great candy and how I would bring some back from China in a few months, and now . . .well . . . should I save the luggage space and just visit my local Walgreen’s store on the way home from the airport?

Custom Made Child September 1, 2010

Posted by Emily in : Daily Life, Parenthood, Princess Hannah , 5comments

There are days that I feel totally and completely inadequate as a mother.  A few weeks ago, I ran into a friend of mine at Thanksgiving Point (we were at the petting zoo) who was there with her four children who are all under the age of FOUR.  Yes, she has a four year old and triplets who are almost two.

She was there, with no assistant, with TRIPLETS.

(Deep breath, deep breath . . .)

The Lord knows better than to send me triplets because I would never dare to leave the house.  EVER.

Yet, there she was, happy, beautiful, and skinny as ever, with her FOUR kids in tow.

I was excited to see her, yet felt totally inadequate in her supermom presence because I brought my niece along to assist me with my TWO children.  I really prefer the odds of one-on-one versus two-on-one.

Last night as I was working on several images for clients, Hannah walked up to me and said, “Mommy, you are the perfect parent for me.”

WHAT?!

I stopped straightaway and looked at her standing there with her arms outstretched.  I squeezed her and thanked her for telling me that and then she said, “This calls for some celery!”

And then I was all, um, where have I done you wrong?  Celery is not a common food of choice for celebrations, but who am I to tell her any different?  She thinks I’m a perfect parent!

More fun things she said last week:

Thank Thee to live on the earth and to live in life.  (Overheard during one of her personal prayers.)

Jesus, why did you make Emme not walk?  I was just wondering.  (Hannah asking very specific questions in her prayers.)

Mom, I really like living on earth.

One of my favorite conversations with her came last night as well when she said, “Mom, can we go to China?  Kai-lan lives there and they use chopsticks!”

I told her it was too far away . . . it’s further than New York (she knows how long that drive is!) and it would just be too long of a trip to take her right now.  I then told her I was planning a trip there in a few months, but I couldn’t take her. With a sad face she looked at me and said, “Oh.”

I thought for a second and said, “Hey princess!  I’ll bring you some chop sticks!” And she was all, “You will?  Oh you are the NICEST mommy EVER!”

In that moment, I realized for the millionth time that this child was custom made for me.  Not only does she think I’m perfect, but she is totally happy with a booby prize of chop sticks!

I love this kid.