Marla Laramie Photography

Four years ago today, our second child was born.  I always knew I’d love her, but I had no idea just how much.  I can’t even imagine our life without her anymore.  Sweet Anna, you make us laugh every day.  You are such a joy to be around, your enthusiasm for life and everything in it is hard to resist.  I love to hear you laugh … its the biggest reason why I love to tickle you.  At four your favorite things are so easy to see.  You love the computer (almost as much as Mommy), you could jump on the trampoline for hours, and ride your bike all day.  You love silly jokes (How do you make a tissue dance?  You put a little boogie in it.).  You dance even when there is no music to hear … or you just make your own.  You sing in bed at night, you sing in the car, you sing in the grocery store (Jingle Bells in February anyone?).  I love how you’re making friends and how much you enjoy them.  You’re so even tempered most of the time … when you do lose your temper … LOOK OUT!  Truth be told, I love every. single. thing. about you.  Happy birthday sweet girl.

Last week was picture day at dance class.  Naturally I had to take some of my own later at home.

Lest I be accused by my family of not getting this posted … my girls’ Valentine’s Day cards.  Design courtesy of someone who can design (not me!).

As promised to my mom and my brother, I’m finally making my Valentine’s Day post.  I’ve been seriously nagged to get these photos up, ASAP!

I’ll come back tomorrow or Monday and post our Valentine’s Day card, plus a few more photos of my girls.

My sweet Anna is truly part of the Early family from my mom’s side.  She LOVES to talk.  She talks, and talks, and talks, and talks, and … well, you get the point.  And those of you that know me well, understand this is a trait that has been passed through multiple generations.

She loves to talk on play phones, real phones, any phone.  She’ll have long conversations on her play phone with her friends from preschool, her sister at school, her daddy at work, or me —standing three feet away.  And if Anna has no one in particular to talk to, that’s ok, she’ll just make someone up.

So when I wanted to work some more on lighting, I figured my old pink cell phone was the perfect accessory!  Whatcha think?  Cute or what?!

And a close-up … just cause.

P.S.  There ya go, Mom, your other little granddaughter. 

I hope you all had a wonderful holiday and were able to get in lots of fun, family, and yummy food.  There’s nothing more magical to me that seeing Christmas through my childrens’ eyes and this year was no different.  For the first time, Stewart the Elf came to visit us.  The girls loved the challenge of trying to find where he’d moved to each morning, and seeing what mischief he’d gotten into during the night.  This was the first year Anna was totally and completely into Christmas.  She was thrilled with the wooden grocery market stand that Santa brought.  And Sarah has been playing Hannah Montana endlessly on her new Nintendo DS.

I have to say I really have enjoyed my time off.  I love being a photographer and have been blessed with such wonderful clients … but these last two weeks have given me a chance to recharge and relax.  I even managed to catch up on all 8 episodes of Grey’s Anatomy I had on the DVR!! 

Oh and guess what … I didn’t take ONE SINGLE PHOTOGRAPH over the holidays. I know, my family is still in shock, too.  So many times I miss being a part of the moment because I am so busy trying to capture the moment.  So this year I left the camera put away and just soaked it all up.

I hope your holidays were as blessed as mine were.

And so as not to leave you with just a bunch of words to read … a few shots of my stinkers.  I recently purchased some lighting equipment and am working on learning how to use it.  These are a couple of my test shots from just before Christmas.  So far I am in LOVE!

P.S.  Check back tomorrow for the first in a series of flash-back posts featuring several of my very first clients.