NEW TEMPLATE TEST!!

Well, I know I've already shared these pics with y'all, but I was having some fun with clipping masks, and templates, and designed one for myself. I wanted to use it right away, to test it out, and all my client pics are on cd's, and my kids are in my comp files, so I decided to use them again. This template would be more for a baby. I also designed a back for it, but it's pretty plain, and more for wording, so you really don't need to see it. I'm thinking about designing a few more, and putting them in my etsy shop. I've only ever sold one item from that place, but maybe I'll sell some more if I add more to my shop... You think? ... :) anywhoo, I loved the colors, LOVED my new digital papers, and of course I love my little girl. Give me some feedback on what you think about the template. I'd love to know.

So what have YOU been up to?

Okay, be ready for photo over load...
I've been busy lately. Some parents have waited until the last minute for senior pics, AND ANNOUNCEMENTS!! So to say the least, I've been designing, and cropping, and sending proofs, re-wording, etc...
Today RIGHT after church (which was awesome)I took my hubby's little bro. out for some pics. He's graduating from the 8th grade. Actually, he's bieng "promoted" from the 8th grade. This guy has it all. He's sweet, goofy, loves the Lord, and in the last year he has turned into a "looker" I think it's his height... Anyways, I am super pleased with the way they came out, and I think his mom is too (my mother in law) We even designed an announcement/invite. All that took up my WHOLE day. Seriously.






This guy here is my high school sweet heart. He's my bff. I also think he's kinda super gorgeous. He's also known as my superman. Been married almost 9 years, had lots of ups and downs, but I think we're doing alright. God is at the center of our marriage, and I'm glad because we wouldn't be able to stand eachother if we didn't have our eyes on God. Thank you Jesus! and thank you Hunny. For loving me.... even when sometimes i'm not so loveable...

HA! I just took a few of my little girl (suprise huh) Just so you all know... I do have other children. I know it may not seem that way, but I do. I have two boys. I know you mostly see this little girl, but I just can't help it!!! I love the faces she makes, and how she gets all wierd when the camera comes out! Okay... gotta put more of the boys up...





I did this guy's senior shoot just last week. He was easy. He knew what he wanted, and only had 1 change of clothes! Nice!

Did I mention his graduating class is 5?...

This is not his car. But he saw it in the parking lot, and HAD to take a pic next to it!

ARE YOU READY FOR A BEAUTY? This girl is totally super pretty. If we were in H.S. together, I would totally be intimidated by her beauty. But since I'm old, she was just a beautiful young lady. Well, I'm not that old. She even said so herself. I told her "wow, class of 2010 already. I graduated in 2000, can't believe it's been almost 10 years" and she said "Oh, I thought you looked young!" Yep. the young one called me young! Celebrate all...

See... pretty...

Um... can I please go back to H.S. and be this girl reincarnated?...

And the best part is... she loves the Lord! Now that's a keeper.
Okay, I'm tired.... comment please... PLEASE!!!!
G'nite...

I heart faces again...

Well, I thought I'd take a shot at it again. It just so happens that my last post had a picture that I thought would be perfect for this weeks challenge. The theme is flowers and faces. Here is a photo of my little girly girl holding a flower from my mothers day boquet! Just so you know, she was smelling the flower, not eating it... She did however try to do just that later on...

Lovely girl

Just wanted to share a pic from our walk today. As I was passing an alley, I noticed that this home had a pretty climbing foliage at the back of their house. They do this to prevent graffiti... If they only knew how to prevent trespassing photographers!! HAHA All the dogs in the neighborhood were barking at us. Got a few cute ones though. Enjoy...

Little miss Em

Hi everyone! and HAPPY MOTHERS DAY!!
I had the honor of photographing the cutest little baby girl for her first mothers day! Grandma and I wanted to suprise the new momma at church for our mothers day service, but I ran late, and didn't have them printed in time. <:( But she will get them tomorrow FOR SURE!! Here she is...
So pretty...

They grow up so fast. Enjoy her while she's still small. Trust me, Hannah's all over the place, it's only a distant memory of when I could just swaddle her, and put her to sleep.

It's a special job being a mommy. I truly hope all the best for this little baby girl, and her mommy. Much love.
- JG

Random pics, and what I did on thursday

Just a little funny one here. I've been wanting to snap a pic of my girl and her scrunchy face! She does this all the time, EXCEPT when the camera is in her face! So, here she is, enjoy, laugh, and hope she doesn't do this when it comes to school pics! = )

This one is just a simple little shot, and I wanted to share it, because she looks just like her big brother Eli!

My neice Gabrielle has got to be the cutest little girl! Again, LOOK at those eyes!!! She just celebrated her 2nd birthday, and we made her a gift this year!! Handmade gifts RULE!! I'll share what it is that my hubby and I made...




Her purple picnic table!! Yeah, we made that table!!!! thanks to ANA from knockoffwood.blogspot.com If you haven't been there, you absolutely need to visit! Guaranteed you'll LOVE her site!!

And we made another one for us!! It's bigger, and not painted yet! We love it!!!

C/O 2019

Saturday was a hectic day, BUT I have been wanting to get my kids their pics done since picture day at school passed! I don't care anyways, because I never like the way school photos come out! Plus they're expensive, and you have NO options! But my kids got a fresh hair cut anyways so that at least when other kids see their class picture they don't remember my boys as some homeless harried dirtballs! :) And the class picture is a whole other "issue" with me. I'm not sure if it's just my kids' school, or not, but I HATE how they just put individual photos of each kid onto an 8x10, and that's supposed to be the "class" picture. I remember when the kids had to stand together, and smile all at once. I liked those ones better. They have more feeling, more character! Any whoo, Here are my chil'ren...

Elijah's got to be the HARDEST child on the face of the earth to capture a decent photograph of! When I say smile, he smiles and closes his eyes, when I say "no, open your eyes, he opens his eyes, and stops smiling, then when I finally get him to do both he's completely looking the other way. He is just not a natural when it comes to the camera. As soon as the lens points his way, a wierd boy comes out who doesn't understand what a regular face looks like. He's known for his cuteness, but you wouldn't know it by his "outtakes", and trust me, there are plenty!

But I actually did get a coupld decent ones. You should of seen me on the other end of the camera, acting a fool all jumpy and squeeky! Whatever works... Whatever works.

I accidentaly took this one when I was trying to get my settings on my camera right. I just liked the colors, and the background, and how you couldn't see anyone's face.

She wasn't supposed to be in any, but she insisted on getting in my way! So I figured, hey, she's there, my camera's out, might as well. She was not at all dressed for pics, and her hair wasn't done, she had no shoes on, and slobber down the front of her shirt. But I like it. She was trying to eat those flowers too by the way...

Ahh.... Gabe.... He's a natural. He's always been a little model. I'd put him in modeling if I didn't worry about his "attitude" Seriously, this kid LOVES to pose. He has all his own ideas, and outfits in mind. He knows what he wants it to look like, and he's not afraid to tell me "no mom, take the picture from down there" FOR REALS!!! He tells me which angle to shoot! Crazy kid...

I can't complain tho. He makes portrait photography look easy. It is easy with him... He does everything for me. Love this guy. He's growing up too fast.

Again ladies and gents, He does his own posing...

I din't mean for their "school" pics to come out all senior portraits ish... They just did.

Well, that's all for now... MORE TO COME!

Dramatic BW from youth camp...

yikes.... Lets see how I do here.... I thought I'd take a chance on the weekly photo challenge over at i heart faces! This weeks theme is dramatic black and white. I chose this photo because I could barely see through my viewfinder to catch these girls with my eyes full of tears. Today was the first day of youth camp. Our young people go through so much, and it's refreshing to see some of them worship, and lay down their burdens. These girls each have a story of their own to tell, but for now, just let the photo speak to you, and maybe even provoke you to lay your burdens down too...
-God Bless...

Happy day!

Hi THERE! I am blessed this morning. I feel good. My family feels good, and best of all, God is good. Well, He's always good, but still, if you're having a good day, you better mention how good He is! This weekend was nice. My hubby's tia came down from new mexico and hung out with us for a while. Then we had our weekly friendship group which was "cook off" themed. I didn't win. Actually, i didn't "technically" participate. We were supposed to make CHILI RELLENOS! I can't make that! So, I cheated,and made ENCHILADAS! Besides, there was no way my kids would sit down and voluntarily EAT chilis! Our next "cook off" is actually a bake off! I'm going to make this supreme chocolate cherry cake!! ooooh.... Okay, with no further adieu, here are some pics. This one here is at our evangelistic event. Gabe and I were painting faces, and he did a WAY better job than me. This little guy spoke only spanish, but even without understanding him, I could tell he had a great time! My hubby too. He's so cool.

Here are my 2 precious, sweet, upstanding,little gentlemen, and their friends. Okay, so I exaggerated a little. They're actually rough and tough, dirty and frankly, kinda mean. But I love em! These are my next door neighbors, and the boys from up the street. They always play in my front yard. We're like the hot spot for the neighborhood kids. And now, they're all growing up, and into football. Long gone are the days of little trains, and army men. boo.. ENJOY!

And now one of my baby boy elijah. Okay, he hates it when i call him my baby boy... He's 6. It's a little blown out, but I still like it! Hope you do too.

Whatever things are lovely, and are praise worthy... think on these things!

Hannah Banana-Bear

Isn't she lovely?... Isn't she wonderful?....Made from love.
I love this little girl. I can't stop taking pictures of her. And pretty soon, before I even see it coming, she's gonna be one of the guys with her brothers, always dirty... Always making a face right before I click the shutter... or turning their head. I remember when the boys were young, I could pose them, prop them, flash a silly face, and get what I wanted out of them, and now... well.... they make good "boys" that's for sure. And I know Hannah too will one day not cooperate with my lens in her face constantly, but for now. When she has no choice, I'm gonna soak it up. So bear with me will you, because here's another one of this baby girl that I'm sure any reader of this blog is familiar with.

Picnic day, and a loooong ride!

Oh, what a day! Went bike riding in this gorgeous weather, took the kids to the beach (grassy side) for a picnic! Then to the cemetary to visit my dad, and Officer Javier Bejar. THEN... we had to RUSH home to take the kids back to school, because they had parent teacher conferences today! Mostly good. I won't go into details, but we did reward them for the good with yummy ice cream afterwards. Here's a little snapshot of my little girl after running away from me when we got her out of her seat! Not the best pic, but certainly a good memory. I'm not as fast as her... LOL! Her hair was in her face, I think she got lunch on her dress, and there was still some lunch on her chin. (thanks to photoshop, you really can't see the lunch pieces on her chin) ENJOY!!!!

To Minister...

Today we had our friendship banquet for church. For the last few months, we have been praying for someone, someone that God has put in our heart. My person did not come. I was sadly dissappointed. My husband's prayer person did not come either. We were kind of ignored. Instead of just being told no, we got maybe, then all calls made by my hubby were avoided. He's pretty bummed about it. But other people did show, and we had a great time! I love my church family so much. I am blessed beyone measure. My cup overflows! Here's a humorous little pic of my old man helping to clean. He's always had a servants heart, but it's not often he does this kind of serving,... or cleaning should I say... I love the expression on his face the most! He's my man... and I love him...