{Brooklyn} Hot August Nights & Back to School

I'm on a roll and posting my 5th blog in 4 days! Yahoo! That really feels like a major accomplishment considering my track record lately. I'm feeling like I've let too many moments captured fall through the cracks lately....both personally & professionally. So I'm taking an extra 30 minutes a day to let you know what's been going on in my life, for today anyways (we'll see how long this lasts).

It's hot! It's mid September and I'm melting in my classroom and at home too. I kinda just feel like going for a coastal drive afterschool because it's the only place I have A/C, in my car. Not a bad idea...I just might do that! It's really unbearable in my classroom upstairs with no A/C and close to 40 bodies breathing and heating up the joint even more. It's so frustrating to think that these kids should be focused and on task in this heat. I feel bad for them. I feel bad for me. And I really hate all the teachers on campus that are privileged enough to have A/C in their classrooms (okay...so I don't hate you...but I'm jealous w/ envy). I could feel sweat dripping down my back today under my dress while my face was glistening with perspiration. I'm sure I looked like a hot mess. Finding an appropriate wardrobe in this heat is a challenge too. Okay, okay...you get the point. I'm miserable. And just a bit of a disclaimer...I love the sun & heat on most days (just not when I have to work in the conditions & dress accordingly).

So considering we don't have A/C in our home too, it's time to get creative on how to stay cool. I love Brookie and all her wonderful ideas. There was this one time she decided to bathe in our front yard and most recently she loves spraying herself with the hose. I love her imagination & creativity...and I'm always thinking...why didn't I think of that? So here are a few captures of a hot August night and how she copes...

Btw, did you notice her dress is on backwards? She is at that age where she must do everything for herself, including picking out her clothes and dressing herself. It's bittersweet for me. I love her independence. And I hate her independence. I try not to cringe at the mix-matching outfits & mishaps.

And then it was too hot to even wear a dress...or it was just too wet. Out came the bathing suit...

B's friend & idol Kruiz came over to hang out for a few too. These two are super sweet together. Kruiz often takes on the roll of the teacher and instructs Brooklyn in a lesson. It's awesome! They are little brainiacs together! 

Our upstairs neighbors have two young girls too and they installed this swing & ladder from the tree in our backyard. It's an instant HIT with the kiddos. And makes for some cute photos too.

{Kruiz} Celebrating 5 Years

I devote so much time and attention to client images that I sometimes forget about our personal images. In an attempt to clear my computer from clutter, I was seriously surprised by the fun and adorable images captured from our dear friend KrisD's daughter, Kruiz's birthday party. She just celebrated 5 years and I kinda want to cry over that fact. I met her parents before she was conceived. I was even there to clean up when KrisD's water broke.

As neighbors, we would dine over conversations of Europe and travel and art and good wine (even if we couldn't afford it). I often blame Krisd for my affection for wine. We were kindred spirits and we have shared many of our life milestones together.

On another note, I pretty much compare all of Brooklyn's milestones to Kruiz. I know I shouldn't compare but she is my only recent frame of reference. Kruiz is brilliant! She knew the flag salute by the time she was two. She started reading letters at age three. The list could go on, but she is pretty much just a cool kid. I'm so happy to see her grow and mature!

Kruiz's birthday could not have been more fun or adorable...a make-up & hair station, bubbles, hot pink cupcakes, a teeter totter, and slide. What more could a girl ask for?

I love these next images

. Some day I may get in trouble for showing little Andrew (Kruiz's cousin) put on lipstick.

{Brooklyn} Our little diva

I'm not a girlie girl. I was super excited to have a baby girl when I found out, but not because I wanted to dress her in pink & princess. No thanks. But we had a birthday party to attend that called for a birthday tutu. So I swallowed my pride, and dressed my girl as a little diva. Of course, I had to capture a few images before we arrived....

I'm so glad I haven't wasted my money on toys, because B is perfectly happy with our iPhone, remote control, laptop, etc....

 

 

 

 

Starting Young

This is Kruiz, my friend Kristi's little girl. She is almost four (in March) and already knows her ABCs, can spell her FULL name, can count not only in English but in Spanish too, and could say the Pledge of Allegience by the time she was two. She's an old soul! I love this picture for so many reasons. First, because it was so quiet I wondered where she went and what she was doing (a toddler quiet usually means Trouble with a captial "T"). How pleasantly surprised was I to find her reading to her baby doll in Brooklyn's room. So sweet. I love how she put her baby in the baby Bumbo and is reading to her with the book facing her. Just like a natural teacher!

 

75 and beautiful in the LBC!

It's days like today when I'm thankful to be living in Southern California. I talked with my parents this morning and I could here my father say jokingly in the background "I hate my daughters". Of course he didn't mean it...he was just expressing his frustration that while he is freezing his but off in Washington State, my sister in Texas and me here in California are enjoying sunny warm days. We ended our conversation with my parents saying that this will be the last winter they stay up north. I don't blame them.

Here's some captures from the day at the beach with the Mauga's.

 

 

 

 

blues KRUIZ

I can't get enough of this girl! More recent favorites from our walk in the neighborhood.