I have said it before, but this part of town is so fun!  I really hope that it continues to get business and stay afloat!  In the fall it just has beautiful green grass and fun color all around!  This beautiful family met me down there back before Christmas for their family photos.  We walked around and took pictures here and there.  How exciting too that M is pregnant with #2.  I have to share a super cute story too.  They had gone in for their mid point ultra sound the week that we took photos and they asked their tech to “peek” and see the gender of the baby, but to not tell.  She put it in an envelope for them and took it to their baker.  They asked the baker to make a cake with pink and blue flowers on the outside, but on the inside whatever the gender of the baby to make the cake (either blue or pink).  So, we took pictures the week of Thanksgiving and they were going to do the big reveal on Thanksgiving!!  Well, I just recently found out that they cut into the cake together to find PINK inside!!  So, excited for your family!!  Mr. J is going to be a wonderful big brother to his baby sister who is coming next month!!  :)  So, here are some images from our time together that I loved…

Thank you, again F Family!!  I can’t wait to hear about your precious new bundle of joy!!

Blessings,

Janelle

Have you figured out that life isn’t easy??  Sure sometimes the road seems smoother with less bumps and other times you need a serious off-road vehicle to navigate.  I am always reminded whether the road smooth or very bumpy that I am not in control.  I have no way of seeing beyond this moment to know what my road may look like ahead.  Sometimes that is a blessing and sometimes a curse.  However, I have a God who knows my road…every bump, every crack, every curve…whew, to me that is a huge load off my shoulders and a reminder that I can only live one moment at a time.  I hope that you have not been overwhelmed this week with life…with worry…with stress…I pray that you too can live each moment to it’s fullest and sit strapped into the passenger seat securely knowing that God is in control and that He is driving.

So, I have to share an epiphany!!  Like I said, life just isn’t easy sometimes.  As a mom of three little ones, one being in kindergarten, our mornings can sometimes get a little hectic.  Let me first say that if there had not been the invention of coffee I probably wouldn’t even be awake at noon.  I am not a morning person.  Ask my parents…they yanked me gently awoke me each morning over and over again until I quite literately rolled out bed.  I spent most of my high school years in my pajamas, ask my husband I didn’t even bother to get dressed for school!  Sometimes genetics are a funny thing in what your children will inherit.  My son got the please leave me alone in the morning gene too, uh-oh!!  So, the morning is somewhat of a whirlwind for me because my two more than cheery girls wake up bright and early and my son and I lay lifeless in our beds until the clock tells me that if I don’t get up right now I will be in big trouble.  Then it’s change a diaper, maybe get dressed, pour the coffee, do something quick for breakfast, brush our teeth Gage’s teeth, now hurry everyone in the car…last one in is a rotten egg, right?  And seriously, if you leave one minute late you will be punished by a loooooonnnnnggggg line of parents in vehicles all waiting patiently & cheerfully, to drop off their kids.  Did you notice in my haste to get out the door I forgot something?  How about my son’s lunch!!!?????  Ok, so I have to admit this has happened on more than one occasion.  Soooo, this brings me to my epiphany…sorry it takes me awhile to blurt things out sometimes!  Why not make life in the morning a little less hectic and a little less embarrassing for my son who’s mother can’t seem to pull it together to make him lunch…so this is what I did this morning…

I bought two loaves of bread and decided to premake peanut butter & jelly sandwiches and freeze them!  I know they make these in the freezer section of Fry’s however this was a lot cheaper to do it yourself!!

So, I started spreading the peanut better on jelly on almost twenty slices of bread!

Then I used my cut-n-seal from Pampered Chef.  Do you own one of these??  This has to be one of the best inventions ever!!  It’s only $9 and it makes the best little sandwiches because it does just what it claims…cuts & seals!!

Aren’t they cute??  I popped each one in a ziplock bag and threw all 16 of them in the fridge!!  Of course wouldn’t this have been a smarter project on Sunday instead of Friday, but now we will be prepared for Monday morning at the Zeller House!

If you have any time savers for getting your kids out the door…post a comment and let me know!  I can use all the help I can get!! 

I’ll be posting a family session from back in November that was taken in downtown Glendale in the morning…so check back!!  I hope you have a wonderful start to your weekend!!

Blessings!

Janelle

Oh my there are so many things on the horizon right now, both personally and professionally.  I can’t wait to share some of them with you.  At the present moment I am overwhelmed with things to do that are never ending!!  Do you ever feel like there is so much you don’t know where to start?  I have sat down at the computer on several different occasions to “work” and I find myself staring blankly at the screen because I don’t know quite where to start.  Which is why I haven’t posted to my blog lately, bad I know!!  Seriously, my Google reader is about to explode when I open it because I haven’t looked at so many of my favorite blogs, again where do I start when the number a the top of the reader says over 100 new posts!!

Lately, my pregnancy brain has been getting the best of me (at least that is what I blame it on!! - haha!!) and I have been forgetting my train of thought as soon as it comes into my head.  Perhaps that is why I am overwhelmed…I can’t even remember my own thoughts!!  Yikes!!  However, I want to share with you some of my thoughts (if I can remember them) and what is coming soon.  Then I want to share a photo my girlfriend took…many of you have seen, but I wanted to share it here!

So, my random thoughts.  One is where have I been with this whole Twilight series??  My friend, Erin bought me the first book for Christmas and I left it on the nightstand for the last few months.  So, one night I decided to just pick it up and see what the hype is all about.  Two days later I am reserving the remaining three books from the library.  I have finished book #2, but am now pausing a moment as I have a few priorities (like talking to my family, making dinner and sleeping) that went lacking while I became a bookworm and couldn’t tear myself away.  I feel like a love struck teenager as I read through these silly books, but although I must say that even though I do realize that my husband is not a vampire I am seeing him through the eyes of a love sick girl looking at her soul mate more and more…haha!!  See these books do benefit him after all.  So, I am sure that I will give in and book #3 will become an obsession before the week has ended.

Things that are on the horizon…well there are many.  Personally there are a few that immediately come to mind or what is left of it.  One is that I am more than halfway through this pregnancy, which is hard to believe.  We had our midpoint ultra sound a few weeks ago and everything looked beautiful and this little one was VERY active.  In fact, I was surprised that there were any pictures from the ultra sound since the tech could hardly get this baby not doing somersaults.  However, the baby did pause as we got a perfect toilet between the legs and I believe that there was no mistaking that this is a little boy!!  So, that makes us even at the Zeller house…2 and 2!  We are all thrilled to meet this little man.  As for names, well we are still in negotiations and I think the reveal will be after we get to meet this guy!!  Other things on the horizon…we will be moving sometime in about three months.  Only about a mile away, but there is nothing quite like moving with kids or how about moving right when you are supposed to be nesting!!  Haha!!  Hopefully, this little man stays put until we can at least get somewhat settled, but only God knows and it will all work out.  We are excited about the move and what it brings for our family as we simplify life a little bit, if there is such a thing.  The last thing that I will share personally is a huge step for our family and that is we have decided to enroll two of our kids at a Christian School in the fall.  It’s huge because it is a huge commitment for us in the financial department.  We have come to know that our money is not our own, it’s Gods.  It’s nice that he loans it to us while we are here.  Knowing that it isn’t ours has made this decision a little easier, but as humans we still get nervous on the hows.  However, if God presses something on our hearts (which He did for both my husband and me) and we continue to pray and ask his guidance, how can I then not be obedient to Him because of a fear that is nothing for God.  All I hear in my ear is…Trust me, I will provide. I do.  I still have a twinge of fear that likes to creep in now and again, but then I hear it again, Trust me, I will provide. So, wow I love that God is always faithful and I do know He will provide.  We just have to make the steps to be obedient and I am always excited to see what God does with that.  It is rarely what I expect.

Whew…so now to business!!!  There are so many things to share, but I will keep it a little short since I just got way long winded back there!!!  Haha, I am a preacher’s daughter - it comes with the territory!!  :)  So, I can’t wait to reveal my new logo that is currently under way!!  It will be completed soon and I can’t tell you just how thrilled I am!!  One of my wonderful brothers did my first logo, which I loved, but I have known for a little while that it was time for a change.  I needed something that was 100% me!  The concepts that sweet Aleta has come up with have been just that and we are finishing up the last touches…oh I can’t wait!!  So, more to come on that!!  Other things that are coming…I am changing my structure a little bit and the way I do my pricing.  I want to better meet the needs of my clients and make things as easy as possible for them.  So, as all of that comes together I will be sharing more soon!!  A lot of things I have been dragging my feet a little bit because I want to use my new logo, so it is coming soon!!  I am so excited for some up and coming weddings these next couple of months.  Two of them out of Phoenix!!  I have always loved weddings…being a preacher’s daughter I have been to my share of them (over 50 at least), so it is fun to be able to be more than a bystander and to share in the joy of two people joining together in front of God, family and friends AND to get to capture that with my camera so, that those precious memories from the day are forever remembered, it’s just amazing!!

One last thing, although most of you have probably given up on all my ramblings at this point!!  Those of you that are still hanging onto every word I type…haha!!  Since summer will bring a move and a baby upon our family I will be taking the months of June, July and August off.  If you are wanting to book a session before then please contact me soon.  I have many of my clients with little ones turning a year in May that will be taking up many of my weekends…I can’t wait to see how big these cuties have gotten, so if you haven’t officially booked please contact me soon so, that I can get you in before June!!  Thanks for letting me ramble and share with you.  I love that I can do that on here.  It’s almost like my own version of  a journal, which by the way would love to start doing again in my spare time, however I haven’t found any of that lately!!  :)  Here is the photo of my family that I promised…by far one of my favorites.  If this doesn’t show the personality of my kiddos right now I don’t know what does!!

Blessings!

Janelle

So, remember my last post about LOVING color!!  Well, this particular week of shooting included a few families at this same location in Glendale.  So, I thought I would show all the fun colors this time!!  The C Family was such a ball!!  D & R are just fantastic people…you just feel good when you are around them!!  Mr. Kai is the cutest guy ever!!  Can you believe those beautiful locks???  Not only is he just so stinkin’ cute, but has the sweetest little personality!!  Music is a big deal in the C Family’s house and I LOVED that they busted out the drum set, harmonica, and the guitar!!  We had so much fun playing around and I really enjoyed my time with this amazing family.  This job has so many blessings and this family was definitely one of them!!  So, here is Mr. Kai & his number one fans!! 

Thanks C Family!!  I had so much fun with you guys!!

Blessings!!

Janelle

I love color…I enjoy shooting in places that have all sorts of it!!  However, for this post I wanted to show you how awesome black and white is too!!  This family requested all of their images not only in color, but also in black & white.  I love it when families love both options!!  The M Family was beyond fabulous and made my job so easy.  They were laid back just enjoying their family the whole time and letting their kids just be kids; running through the corn fields, climbing on the tractors & just being kids!!  We had so much fun together!!  So, the only bummer about doing the whole black and white deal is you miss out on the bluest eyes ever of their little girl!!  Trust me you can almost see the gorgeous color in the black and whites…is that possible??  Just a beautiful family!!!

Thank you M Family for a fantastic time with you!!

Blessings!

Janelle

I absolutely love Old Town Glendale.  The last few years it seems though that a lot of the shops have been closing due to lack of business.  I suppose with all big shops in town it makes these personal boutiques and unique shops more of a dying breed, but still so sad.  I love the feel of this part of town.  The Old Spicery was built in 1895 and was such a cornerstone of Old Town.  Unfortunately, it has closed and although it has been on the market for someone to buy it still sits vacant.  I love looking inside and seeing the old wallpapers still up…there were fun teas, bridal showers, etc. in this fun little place.  I think that once The Spicery went under so, did a lot of the local shops that relied on their customers.  There is still a little bit of life left however, with some unique corner restaurants with that mom & pop feel.  If you have never been down for Glendale Glitters it is beautiful and fun.  The City of Glendale is one of the only cities that still holds an annual Fire Prevention Day & Parade.  All that to say if you haven’t been down there, go!

The area is full of old houses, some are boutiques with lots of color & character.  Walking the streets I feel like I am in Pleasantville.  I decided to do a few of my mini sessions for Christmas down in this beautiful area.  I did five families down there and wanted to post an image from each of their session…here they are…

Thanks to all of these wonderful families for letting me capture some images for the holiday memories!!

Blessings!

Janelle

Again, I realize how much I have lacked in blog love the past few months when I still have a slew of sessions to post.  I will get there eventually and I don’t want to skip out on posting these sessions even though it has been a little while.  In the meantime I am working on some different things for my business as I have had some wonderful down time.  My husband and I just recently celebrated 10 years of marriage and had an amazing little get-away in California, but a post on that a little later.  However it gave my hubby and I some time to talk about our life, family, goals, work and our direction for the next little bit.  Although we realize that God is driving where we will go over the next few years, we are praying through some of our “soft” decisions and goals.  I am working on a post of that too!  Basically, I feel like I have enough things to post for the next few months, so now just to get my booty in gear (like my hubby who is doing P90X Plyometrics in the other room as I write and I’m so jealous…ok not jealous of plyometrics that particular workout it killer, but maybe I should at least be doing some prenatal yoga instead of nothing at all…hee hee!) and get these posted.

So, here is a wedding that I was able to photograph back at the beginning of November.  A beautiful ceremony filled with love and centered around Jesus.  I was delighted to be a part of it.  Right after the ceremony we ran over to Saguaro Ranch Park for some beautiful scenery.  Here were some of my favorites from our time at the park.

Thanks, Mr. & Mrs. Carrothers for letting me be a part of your day…Congrats!!

Blessings,

Janelle

So, for obvious reasons when I am with Katie & Brandon I want to just repeat over and over again…”The beautiful people…the beautiful people…”  The answer to the question you are thinking if you know who sang that song…is no I have never listened to that artist’s music, so NOT my genre, however that is the only line of that song that I know and it fits!!  Haha!  Well, they are beautiful people not just on the obvious outside, but completely on the inside too!!  These cool cats were game for whatever as we strolled the streets of Old Town Scottsdale and did a little sneaking on the outskirts of a gorgeous cotton field.  Also, a HUGE Thank You to The Garage by Ivy for providing the exquisite bouquet for our shoot!!   I have been dying to post these and although I had a whole slew of them I narrowed it down to a several faves from our afternoon together.

Thanks again you two for a fabulous session!!!  I hope that you are enjoying married life to the fullest!!

Blessings!

Janelle

I had SOOO much fun with this family!!  We had to reschedule their shoot initially and it turned out that was best because since we waited the grass at Scottsdale Center of the Arts was so lush and green!!  The littlest M of the clan wasn’t totally sure about the green stuff, but he decided it was alright after all.  The C Family came to their shoot ready to just have fun with me.  From the get go I knew we were going to get great pictures of who they are as a family and the true joy they have together!!  I had many favorites, but I narrowed it down to share them with all of you!  I can’t wait to see this family again!! 

**Top Favorite** 

Girls, you are both BEAUTIFUL!!

Sissy Alert!

Just want to squeeze him!!

One of my other top *favorites*

Love all those flowers

Seriously, how gorgeous is D?

C family I enjoyed meeting all of you and can’t wait to see you soon!!

Blessings!

Janelle

Oh how I love to photograph newborns.  Sometimes a newborn shoot can take several hours and as much as it can worry parents I always assure them that my job is to just wait for baby, so I am in no hurry.  Saying that Miss Maddie was quite a super star and slept for most of her shoot without much coaxing at all.  Can you believe all that beautiful hair?  This little girl is one lucky girl…she has the sweetest parents ever.  Her mama and I go way back to high school, which is another reason I love this job, I get to reconnect with dear old friends that I have lost contact with over the years.  K and I were great friends and it has been such a pleasure to get to know her again.  Her and her hubby both are teachers not surprising one bit!!  They also own a fantastic side business called Happy Feet Inflatables, so if you are looking for a fun bouncy house for your next birthday party definitely contact them!!  Anyway…enough about all of the back history and let’s get to the sweetness of this precious little girl…

Safe in Daddy’s arms

Mommy and her girl

Precious baby feet

Sweet little angel

I love sweet baby smiles

Thanks K & J for letting me capture sweet Miss Maddie…

Blessings,

Janelle