in case you were missed

hope you've had a splendid season.

merry christmas!

merry christmas to all...

and to all a good night.

:)

the reality of my children

the fact of that matter is they are reeeeaaallly hard to take a picture of.

i snap hundreds, urging them nearly to the point of torture to just "sit still and look at the camera". i don't even really need a smile... just a glance in my general direction will suffice.

but no, no...

instead i get silly tongues, crazy faces, alligator tears, and sister cat fights.

usually i rummage through all that mess, find at least one somewhat decent shot to show off to you and lead you all to believe i've got it together.. that my kids are precious, adorable, and obedient.

but it being christmas and all,

i suppose the gig is up

(at least this time)

so without further ado,

here are the tootsies

all decked out in there christmas fancies,

being every bit as adorable and wicked as they look...

*sigh*....

happy christmas

:)

oh mary, mary

this little lady...

it was her hearts dream to perform the role of Mary in the annual family nativity.

she took her part very seriously, walked so gently as to not upset her pregnant belly (yes.. my 2 year old was sporting a knocked up look. what?), and never broke character.

i love her so much.

has there ever been a sweeter Mary?

or a cuter mary and joseph??

and definitely never a cuter shepherd.

merry christmas my babies.

you did get the true meaning of this all,

even if for just a minute.

p.s.

having kids is really fun.

feeling MeRRy and bRIght mini session SPECIAL

i have finally put together an oliverminie j. holiday photography package.

hip, hip, hooray!

i am especially in love with these photo booth pictures these days, so here is my gift to you:

i will be offering 10 holiday photo booth mini sessions. they will all be about 20 minutes long and will be $75/shoot. that price includes the sitting fee, 5-8 edited photos (depending on how many people are in the group) on a high res. disc, one photo booth collage/strip, and the printing rights of the photos.

due to the nature of these, all sessions must be payed for in advance. i will be doing 5 sessions in December, and then 5 sessions the first part of January. we will be doing this first come first serve so that means that if you hurry up and book these i WILL have proofed and polished pictures for you within a week, making it very possible for you to have a fun and creative holiday card/ christmas gift to give! something i don't even have yet... :)

not to mention how gorgeous these look blown up on canvas hung on you wall..

very perfect.

so hurry up and book peeps!

the dates will all be afternoon shoots and

our december dates are quickly approaching:

wednesday december 16th

and friday december 18th

january dates:

tuesday january 5th

and wednesday january 6th.

{ after you have paid for your session through paypal you will recieve an e-mail confirmation and we will choose a date and time }

*sessions are nonrefundable, but we can be flexible with re-scheduling for another day in needs be!

feel free to call or e-mail me with ANY questions.

brooke

oliverminiej@gmail.com

or

brookechristine7@hotmail.com

(801)380-3533

where we've been

well it's that most wonderful time of the year, and alas the blog has been neglected.

really there is no good excuse..

well maybe one...

Bones.

my new favorite show that is.

TNT got me interested enough to go rent the first season, and well, i'm now a little obsessed. both dustin and i actually.. it might be a slight problem. but we are dealing with it by swiftly working our way through all the seasons. my day is not complete without an episode.

i love me some Seely Booth.

yes.... we are considering a 12 step program of some type. just as soon as i am caught up

:)

no really, truly, honestly we have been semi-busy with holidaying about. i've been staying occupied with photo shoots and we have already had a good share of Christmas parties to attend. combine that with decorating and dealing with minie's constant blows to her sister.. well blogging just doesn't seem to fit in the whole equation.

so here is a little snippet of what we've been up to.

friday night Steve and Alice took the chile renos to see Santa. it went ok. minie had a minor epileptic moment last year upon sitting on Ho Ho's lap, so this year i prepped her days before trying to explain what was going to go down. it actually seemed to work quite nicely. she waddled right up to Santa's lap and quickly informed him she wanted "a pony".. and then was more than a little upset afterwards when he produced a miniature candy cane in lieu of said pony.

we're still trying to help her grasp the whole mechanics of Santa, Christmas, and what it means to be naughty vs. nice.... it's not going so great.

sadly there was no probable way of prepping the one year old for such a terror of an old man in a red suit, so she screamed at what we like to call "poppy decibel" the whole time.

hmm.. maybe next year??

ben is also a santa hater. we didn't have photo documentation this year but look here for a reminder.

he is much more for the "spirit" of Santa.

miss louise also had her first ever trim.

her party in the back was just getting a little too out of hand, so off with the mullet it was.

she even got her hair round-brushed afterwards.

yes.. i thought it was odd too.. but they did it.

she is cute.

isn't she?

and here is my girl, mins.

she got out of the bath the other night and after putting on her nightgown insisted i take her picture.

she is crazy. i love that little round face. she drives me crazy.. but i suppose it is a good crazy.. because i adore her.

so there you have it. i am going to try stay current on this thing but i make no promises.

hope you are all cozy and full of christmas cheer!

grateful

this year i give thanks to much..

here are just a few in no particular order.

{my husband}

he is my best friend. i feel so grateful that i love his company above all. he is silly, and caring, and attentive and works so hard to provide everything for us.

{minie}

of course i am grateful for her.

she is my first born, my guide into motherhood. she pushes my buttons more than any other human being to date. but i adore her. i love that she is willing to try anything. she is quick to learn, and quick to please. i am so thankful for her laugh, and her silly games. as mad as i can be she always makes me smile... hearing "soowwy mama" from her lips is nothing short of perfect. she makes everything exciting in our lives, and my heart cannot hold the amount of love i have for her.

{poppy}

she is my sweet spot. i cannot think of her without feeling that familiar pang in my heart. she loves to be loved. she will melt in your arms... and she loves me. she always wants me. she's unhappy when i leave a room, and cries if i happen to walk past without picking her up. she is loud, and silly, and so independent. but she knows what she wants and she goes for it. i am so grateful for her coy little grin, and her sweet baby noises. she is what made us a family for real. my dark haired cherub. i will never go a day without thanking the Lord for giving you to me.

{my parents}

i am so grateful for the home they always provide. there are six of us.. yet i know we all feel individually loved and secure. no matter what, i always know where i've come from. my parents, whether sick or well, rich or poor. they are always there. their love is constant and reassuring. and in my lowest moments i know they are there. i know they will love me. and because of that, i know i will be okay.

i am grateful for them. grateful for their never ending service. and grateful for their example.

{seasons}

i may complain, but i love our state.

i love the changing of the seasons. i often try to pin-point my favorite but as soon as i decide upon one, the sticky summer air grows a chill, the leaves begin to change, and the whole process starts itself over again. i will never grow old of seeing the world around me change. every season i enjoy more. every season my children grow more, i fall a bit more in love more with my husband, or i make it through that incredibly difficult time... worn down, but just a little bit stronger. i can map my life through the seasons.. and every time a new one arrives i can't help the excitement of what it may hold.

{the gospel}

i am grateful for my Lord, Jesus Christ.

i have never questioned His existence. i feel His love... His sacrifice.. always. i know He is my redeemer. i know that through Him, anything is possible.

i know this.

and i am grateful.

i am thankful everyday for the opportunity i have to live with my family, with Him again.

{food}

i love to eat.

bottom line.

i am so grateful for food.

i love the smells. i love the way it looks. i like to cook it, i like to watch it being cooked,

and i looove. to. eat. it.

my perfect date is centered around a scrumptious full course meal, that took a good amount of time to ingest. couple that with my hubby right along side me.. well...

let's just say it happens enough for me to feel VERY blessed.

:)

{my sisters}

they are my best friends.

i talk to at least one of them everyday, and most normally all of them.

i am grateful for my unique relationship with each of them. i love when we get together and just laugh. i love that we know each other so well, that we can finish each others sentences. we know each others faults, and we accept them.. we laugh at them.. we love them.

i love being a mother with them. we are in the trenches together, and i couldn't do it without them.

{tv}

yes. i love tv.

i am grateful for it.

i am grateful for it's company on those late nights i can't sleep.

grateful for the quick moment it allows me to shower each day by entertaining my children.

that hour each night before bed... i love it. it is one thing i can count on to help me unwind, forget, and escape for a moment.

what can i do?

just accept it i guess.

{my camera}

i love my camera. through it i have seen so much.

it has forced me to stop in those silly moments and hold them still forever.

i love looking at the photos it produces. so many of the times i don't even realize i am capturing what i have. i love that it allows me to see the people i love in a different way. it documents my feelings so much better than i could ever dream of explaining.

it has given me confidence... made me feel like i can make a difference. has given me a way to feel like i contribute. it gives me a creative release. it has helped me be strong when i couldn't... when families hearts are broken, it has helped me to give them something they won't ever be able to replace.

i have so much to be thankful for...

my cup runneth over.

i hope your day is a happy one,

and that you all get that lovely turkey day nap.

:)

happy thanksgiving