Today,May 30th, is my dad’s “would-be” 70th birthday…  He passed away exactly 2 weeks ago today, almost making it to this huge milestone birthday.  Today, along with my mom, 3 of my 5 siblings, 1 sister-in-law, my husband, and 5 of the 10 grandchildren we celebrated his birthday and shared many warm thoughts and memories of him.

I miss him dearly.

I took the above photo of him about 3 years ago…  My dad was a hard working man.  A machinist, to be exact, for most of his life and owning his own shop for the past 20 years or so.  I remember when I told him that I wanted to do a “photo shoot” with him working at the shop as my focus, he laughed a little bit and happily consented.  I’m sure he thought I was crazy for wanting to do such a session!  But, in all honesty, this session for me has been hands-down my favorite session ever.  Not because I had a great camera – because I didn’t – and certainly not because I had some fancy new lens to try out – because, actually, my lens at this point was pretty lame .  This session was my favorite because it was one I had been wanting to do since I first had the urge to try my hand at photography.

I had so much fun that day working with him… I remember him laughing at himself when I made him pose with a pencil behind his ear and a mug of coffee  and blueprints on his desk, as if he were hard at work doing something really important!  At one point, I even made him pose with a phone to his ear!  He got such a laugh outta doing that!  Even though, I’m sure I made him feel so silly doing some pretty goofy poses, he went along with it all with no complaints.  And, to top it all off, we got some really awesome photos of him that day (like my favorite above!), as well as some funny ones too when I made him pose!  I’m so glad he and I did that together…  Fond, fond memories in my heart forever.

Happy 70th Birthday, Daddy!  I love you!!

Totally fun.  Totally unique.  Zozo does it again!

I’ve been meaning to blog these photos I did for ZozoBugBaby over a week ago, but things got out of control busy for a bit!  This adorable little top hit the shop last week and is completely adorable!  It’s also being offered in dress length for even more fun!  Go check it out… It’s called the Avery Twirl Top!

Love the back of this top…  so cute and unique!

That’s all for now!

xox, reata

I’m not really sure where to begin with this story…  I guess I should start with how I first heard of Layla Grace, who she is, and why I’m posting about her.

It was a few weeks ago when my good friend randomly asked me if I’d ever heard of Layla Grace and I simply replied unknowingly, No… What’s that?  Errr, I mean, who’s that?  I had no idea how heartbreaking the next bit of info would be.

My friend told me about a sweet, beautiful little girl who was in the last stages of Neuroblastoma Cancer….  A bright-eyed, high-spirited little girl whose loving parents had started a blog to keep their friends and family updated on her progress as she went through horribly tough, tough times fighting her terrible desease.  Although the initial intentions of this blog were not to gain recognition, this blog eventually started being following by thousands (literally) of prayerful well-wishers… all praying for peace and comfort for this one lovely family.

My friend told me I should check out their blog if I wanted… but she knew for certain, I would cry while reading it.  Of course, later that evening as I read along, I cried and cried. And cried.

After reading Layla’s story and seeing the gorgeous photos that Cypress based photographer Christie Lacy had done for them, my heart was so incredibly heavy with grief, hope, love, and pain for Layla’s entire family…  I could not, for the life of me, get them out of my head.  Their family is similar in make-up to mine:  three young girls, about the same ages as mine.  I couldn’t image how Layla’s parents were making it through each day – obviously, they are very faithful servants to the Lord.  I prayed and prayed for them – and I still do.

Four days after first hearing about Layla,  I received a phone call completely out of the blue from Christie Lacy (the photographer who did their family photos)… She did not know me and I did not know her.  As she explained who she was and told me the exact same story I had just read online four days earlier, I realized God was setting the stage for something He knew I couldn’t refuse and I was in awe.  Christie explained to me that this special little girl and her family had touched her heart…  My heart pounded. I was shaking.  And,  I was completely astounded…  Why in the world am I receiving this call??  How did she even get my number?!  

Christie asked if I’d join forces with her in a charity event benefiting the family of Layla Grace… After working with the Marsh Family, she was so touched that she wanted to do something more for them – A Charity Mini Session Event, Party For Layla.  And, because of the overwhelming response she was getting from so many wonderful, prayerful families who wanted to book a mini session, she realized she would need help from other photographers.  This is why she called me.  I was in 100%.

I am beyond honored and feel truly blessed that God led her to call my phone number – after all, there are tons of photographers in the Houston area… why me?!  I am estatic that, in addition to the prayers I have been offering up to God for the Marsh family, that I have been asked to help a little bit more….   I am hopeful that we will have an amazing turn-out for this event!

If you are interested in helping the family of Layla Grace, please check out our Party For Layla Website and consider booking an appointment for a mini session with me (or one of the many other awesome participating photographers)!  The entire session fee is being donated to the family and each 20 minute mini-session will receive one 8×10 fine art print!  

Read the details HERE.

xox, Reata

So yeah…  I thought I was going to really get creative this morning and actually make a real recipe for breakfast…. No cereal.  No microwave outmeal.  A real, hot breakfast.  

Well, my first attempt at making a yummy looking breakfast with a cute name turned into a hot mess shortly thereafter!  I wanted to give this simple little recipe a test run before making it for my girls for breakfast; so, this morning after everyone was at school, I gave it a go!  Not quite what I imaged it’d look like, but it still tasted scrumptious.  :)

My review of this easy-peasy breakfast:  LOVE it!  Love the name, the look, and the taste!  I think I’ll make it a bunch this spring…  The girls will adore the fact that they can help me cut the holes in the bread and sprinkle the cheese… wow! 

xox, reata

There is no doubt about it… Spring is here and the flowers are in full bloom!  I LOVE this time of year…  I love the colors found in people’s yards, the colors of the wild flowers (and some weeds) growing on the sides of the road, and switching over from our snuggly winter wear to light and fresh spring clothing!   Spring is just simply gorgeous from any angle….  

And to help usher in the luscious sights of spring, Julie Martin from ZozoBugBaby is coming out with the most wonderful twirly, spring inspired outfits… Her designs make you want want to dress up all cutesy and go out for a walk in a garden!  Or, go out and sit in a field of full of wild bluebonnets.  Or, better yet, take your kids out for a fun picnic in a wide open field of yellow flowers and clear blue skies…  Just for the heck of it!  The color palette that Julie is using just makes my head spin and makes me love spring even more!

Here is one of her latest creations, The Addison Swing Top and Capri Pants…. This outfit will added to her shop some time today, so get ready!

Lovely little notted tie at the top:

And, matching cute little pink/cream capri pants:

This outfit is just too perfect for hanging out on a nice spring day!

This one is probably my favorite:

And, obviously this outfit must be fun to wear… My little A was in such a silly mood during this shoot while modeling:

That’s all for now…  If you like The Addison Swing Top and Capri Pants,

you should definitely go check out Miss Julie’s other fab creations in her shop

AND be on the look-out for this one to hit the store sometime today!  ;-)

I am beyond thrilled with the shots I got this afternoon of my little girls…  I literally almost jumped out of my seat when I saw this one of my youngest flash across my computer screen…  I think I even let out a little yelp!

This image is part of a commercial project I’m working on for a fabulous children’s clothing designer…  As soon as I’m done taking/editing the images, I’ll share more.  For now, this is all you get…  :)

No, I don’t really have what you’d call a ‘prissy’ dog.  He’s not a teacup or a mini anything.  He’s just a small Wizard of Oz Toto dog  (Cairn Terrier)  named Toto.  And, who knows, maybe I’m turning him into a sissy little sassafras ninny, but I dunno…  I just don’t like it when his feet are dirty.  or dusty.  or contain any evidence that he’s been outside.  And, I certainly don’t want his semi-dirty pads getting anything funky on my light colored rug.  Eeeek…  I shiver at the thought!

So.  I wash his feet.  

Not every time he comes in from galavanting around the backyard.  But, most of the time.

Now, enough about my dog feet washing oddities…  Here’s to a pleasantly clean doggie-feet-day!

I’m sure it appears to all of you Blog Readers, that my 2010 New Year’s Resolution must have went a little something like this:   1) blog less 2) be lazy  3) go MIA

BUT!  I assure you, this was not the case!  I’m still here.  I’ve just been so super busy doing “behind the scenes” work that I honestly haven’t been able to bare making myself take the time to prepare images for a blog post!  ( Gosh, that really sounds pretty stinkin’ lame, doesn’t it?!  But, it’s actually so true!  )

Sorry about that, Blog Readers!  I promise to start doing better at communicating again…  I’ve actually got some exciting stuff to share with you, but not quite yet (although, if you are a fan of my facebook page, you’ll probably hear about my exciting news sooner!).

Until then, enjoy these images from my oldest daughters’ most recent photo session…. She loves being in front of my camera.  And, I think my camera loves her to be there too.  :)

She looks so sweet here:

Adding this tree branch as a prop was her idea and I LOVE it!!  So goofy and SO her:

And, lastly, my without-a-doubt favorite from the whole day…

xox, reata

But, just when I thought my evening was coming to a much desired quiet and restful place, I get a phone call from my mom…

And the words she tells me shakes my world for a second and then I gasped and the tears fell.  ”Precious died.”

Precious is my childhood cat.  I got her for my birthday when I was in third grade. Third grade.  Seriously….  Third grade!!!  For those of you who don’t know how old I am, I am 29.  I got her when I turned 9.  This sweet, little cat has been in my life for 20 years…  seems like my whole life.  I can still remember her soft pink nose, fluffy black and white hair, and beautiful green eyes peeking up at me out of the gift bag and the intense excitement that rushed my body.  She was all mine and intended to take good care of her.  And I did… we played dress up, she rode in a baby buggy with my baby dolls, she snuggled with me, she played cat games… She was always very sweet.  (Well, except for that time she was batting at my hair and her claw got stuck in the delicate skin on the fold of my ear… That wasn’t very sweet.  But, I think she apologized for that right away.)  

Although I feel sad that she’s gone, I’m actually glad she’s finally resting.  These last few years haven’t been that easy on her… and especially these last few weeks.  She looked like a totally differnt cat yesterday when I saw her and petted her tiny little body.  I plan on remember the plush, healthy, bouncy kitty in doll clothes.

When I decided to write this post, I planned on ending it with a photo of Precious… but oddly enough, I can’t seem to find one.  I think they are all at my mom’s house.  So, instead, I will post a photo of something that makes me feel really happy inside… My 5 year old.

xox, reata

This weekend was grand…  So many little common, everyday memories to try and keep in my heart forever.

♥  baking with the all three girls while looking fabulous in anthropologie aprons (yes, even my 2 yr old had on an anthro apron!).

♥  visiting with my dad, who is currently fighting stage 4 cancer, and watching his eyes light up and a smile flash across his lips as my two year old lovingly calls him PeeWee.

♥  watching my 3 girls play barbies, pet shops, and ice-skating-dance-show together without any arguing.

♥  dining at IHOP with my family only to realize afterwards that we could have made the same meal at home for about $27.68 cheaper… and then laughing and making jokes about it with my husband for the remainder of the night.

♥  making a connection with a fabulous children’s clothing designer and the excitement that followed an accepted proposal to do business together.

♥  having my ten year old ask beg to spend the night on my bedroom floor and then follow me around for the entire night as I did random chores… just making conversation.

♥  cuddling with before mentioned ten year old in the morning, after she somehow made it to my bed in the middle of the night.

♥  going on a mini photo shoot with my husband Chris so he could shoot my photos for a little project I’m working on.  Then, loosing my handcrafted prop which you see in the photo at the top of this page.  Which of course was followed by driving around town looking for the handcrafted prop which apparently blew out of the car at some point….  finally, finding it and then freezing my patootie off as I tried to look cool in my pictures.  Only, I probably just looked like a nut wearing inappropriate warm weather clothing on a insanely cold day.

♥  happy that Chris happened to snap up these two back-to-back photos to help me remember:

xox, reata