Twins {Cotati Newborn Photographer}

Before I had children of my own, I remember thinking how wonderful it would be to have twins. The adorable matching outfits, best friends for life and sure it would be a lot of work to start with, but it would get easier and they would always have someone to play with, to confide it. Then I had my first child and was overwhelmed and tired and wondered how anybody would be able to do it with two. Now of course we never had family around to be able to help, but even so...parents of twins have my utmost respect and admiration!

I recently had the pleasure of photographing adorable twin girls. So tiny and perfect! Twice the fun and twice the work; we had to be patient and just as one would finally settle down, the other would awake. In the end I think it was all worth it, they are beautiful, just like their Mama. Enjoy!

A Day in the Life - August 2012

Often photographers end up neglecting the documentation of their own families. Sometimes it can be due to being too busy with client work, or a lack of inspiration, or just not being able to balance everything. This is my 'Day in the Life Project'. I have chosen the first day each month to document, from morning to night, so that each month I am guaranteed photographs of my family and my life.

August 1st came and went and I completely forgot it was my day to document. Oh well, there are no rules so I just chose another day, which ended up being August 7th, the day after I realized my neglect. My poor husband worked the previous night and came home at 3am that morning, with a toothache. He ended up with an emergency dental appointment and five hours later a (very expensive) root canal! These things cannot be predicted.

These are not technically perfect (far from it), or portrait-worthy, this is just real life. If you are doing something similar leave me a comment with a link to where I can follow along with you, I would love that!

Welcome Baby Owen - Bjerke Sneak Peek {Davis Newborn Photographer}

You are duly warned, this is a picture heavy post :)

Two people making a new, perfect combination of themselves and in a moment life is changed forever! Each child brings change, but the firstborn turns lives upside down. Never did time fly so fast and so slow simultaneously. Sheer exhaustion and elation.

It is an amazing thing when a child is welcomed and loved and a family is created. The chance to finally understand, in the smallest of ways, how our parents must have felt, the chance for relationships to change and grow.

It was so great to visit Jenny and Mark and see them as parents! Crazy in some ways, yet perfectly natural now that it has happened. I loved his little room they worked on, with all the owl details. I wonder how many hours were lovingly put into making each little owl perched on the branches of the tree and hanging from the mobile?

Owen is the cutest baby, all 9lbs 2oz of him. Just look at his adorable lips and chubby cheeks. If I was his Mama I would be kissing and squeezing him all day long.

Of course there was even an owl hat!

 They are a family!

  

Congratulations again Jenny and Mark, Owen is just perfect!

A Day In The Life - July 2012

Often photographers end up neglecting the documentation of their own families. Sometimes it can be due to being too busy with client work, or a lack of inspiration, or just not being able to balance everything. This is my 'Day in the Life Project'. I have chosen the first day each month to document, from morning to night, so that each month I am guaranteed photographs of my family and my life.

July 1st was a Sunday; we headed to church and that Sunday we also went to a Creekside Picnic. My kids love to play in the creek and it's always fun to hang out with friends. These are memories being built and friendships being strengthened. Thanks again to the Burtts for sharing their space with us all!

These are not technically perfect (far from it), or portrait-worthy, this is just real life. If you are doing something similar leave me a comment with a link to where I can follow along with you, I would love that!

Happy 4th July

Happy Birthday America! This is the country I call home, and have for over 13 years. I am blessed to live here and to get to appreciate the freedoms it shares. Of course I miss England and the people I left behind there, but I have nothing to complain about. I have made amazing friends, I get to live in the beautiful Bay Area and I do not take it for granted.

I skipped the parade this morning but will be celebrating, with friends and family tonight. Stay safe and don't forget to be grateful everyone!

Blackberry Chocolate Chip Scones

I recently found a recipe for White Chocolate Raspberry Scones, which looked and sounded delicious. Unfortunately, I had no raspberries OR white chocolate chips, but I did have blackberries and dark chocolate chips. So I set about making my variation. I'm posting my version here as the recipe I followed was way, way, too wet (I had to add almost a whole cup more flour) and I also had to increase the cooking time. They turned out pretty well. I like scones, not so light and cakey, not too sweet, no need for perfection, they are deliciously rustic.

Blackberry Chocolate Chip Scones

Prep time: 15 mins    Cook time: 20 mins    Total time: 15 mins    Serves: 8

Ingredients

• 2 cups flour
• 2 tsp baking powder
• 3 tbsp sugar
• 3 tbsp butter
• 1/2 cup buttermilk (or use 1/2 Tbsp vinegar and add milk to make up to 1/2 cup, let stand 10 mins)
• 1 egg
• 1/4 cup blackberries
• 1/3 cup chocolate chips
• 1 tbsp milk
• Sprinkling of granulated sugar

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees/F.
2. In a medium bowl, combine flour, baking powder and sugar. Whisk together.
3. Using a pastry cutter, two knives (or if your butter is hard enough- a cheese grater) cut in the butter into the flour mixture.
4. In a separate bowl, whisk together the egg and buttermilk.
5. Add the chocolate chips to the flour mixture and stir to distribute.
6. Add the wet mixture to the dry ingredients and stir to combine. Mix until it is consistent in texture. If dough is too sticky, sprinkle in another tablespoon or two of flour, or if dough is too dry, add another tablespoon of buttermilk. The dough should be able to come together to easily form a ball but without being overly sticky. Do not overmix as the dough is delicate.
7. In a small dish, smash the raspberries with a fork just to break them down a bit.
8. Incorporate the smashed berries into the dough.
9. Using your hands, roll the dough in a ball and flatten slightly into a disk shape, about 7-8 inches in diameter.
10. Using a knife or pizza cutter, cut the disk into 8 wedges to form the scones.
11. Transfer the scones to a baking pan lined with a silicon mat or parchment paper.
12. Using a pastry brush, brush the scones with the tbsp of milk and sprinkle the granulated sugar over the tops.
13. Bake for approximately 15-20 minutes or until edges are golden brown.
14. Once they have cooled slightly drizzle the tops with melted chocolate (because you can never have too much chocolate). 

I enjoy these for dessert, a snack, or even breakfast...how can you go wrong?

Happy Father's Day

These three have got to have one of the best fathers out there! I am so grateful for the father my husband is and the relationship he has with our children. They know they are loved, they know they are safe, there is no fear. I do not feel like a single parent, we are parents together. My children are so blessed (as am I) with the love and encouragement that is poured into their lives - every day!

James you are appreciated and loved by us all! I hope that is something you will never, ever doubt. Thank you for who you are and all you do. Happy Father's Day!

Just for fun, here are the previous three years :)

2011

2010

2009

A Day in the Life - June 2012

Often photographers end up neglecting the documentation of their own families. Sometimes it can be due to being too busy with client work, or a lack of inspiration, or just not being able to balance everything. This is my 'Day in the Life Project'. I have chosen the first day each month to document, from morning to night, so that each month I am guaranteed photographs of my family and my life.

June 1st was a regular school day, but I then headed out to a Women's Retreat and my husband headed out to take the kids on a mini-camp out.

These are not technically perfect (far from it), or portrait-worthy, this is just real life. If you are doing something similar leave me a comment with a link to where I can follow along with you, I would love that!

Click here to see May.

Bjerke Maternity Sneak Peek {Mill Valley Maternity Photographer}

 
If you have been following my blog for a while, no doubt you will recognize this beautiful Mama to be. I met her as a child, she babysat my children, I was there taking photographs on her wedding day in 2009 and now she is about to have a child of her own.

Yes it makes me feel old! But I feel privileged to have met her and to continue to be a part of her life and to be the one who gets to help her document some of these important milestones. In just a few short weeks there will be newborn photos and I cannot wait!

Enjoy your sneak peek Jenny and Mark, so looking forward to meeting your little guy and watching you grow as parents.