the good stuff

The better to trick-or-treat with, my dear

Halloween...a brief stop-over in the journey to Christmas.  Well, that's what I think every year.  It isn't my favorite holiday, though I start dreaming of costumes in about July.  And as it happens every year, I have a crazy fun time, and the kids go nuts, and I wonder why I don't love the holiday more!

Ever since Jane was born, I have been trying to get them to wear coordinating outfits, to no avail.  I had a grand idea when Jane was little to dress her as a white rabbit and have Sam be a magician.  But you'll never guess, he wanted to be a dinosaur.  When I showed Jane a photo of a Red Riding Hood costume, she thought it was perfect, and Sam, looking over my shoulder, nonchalantly said, "yeah, and I can be the big bad wolf!"  Oh, thank you, halloween, I love you.

My mom found the Red Riding Hood costume, and my Auntie Pam was going to pick up some material for Sam's, and I had a plan for a furry vest and headpiece.  When I asked my mom if Pam had procured the furry goods, she said, "Sa, she's halfway finished with the costume".  SCORE.  Pam was responsible for the best costumes that Rebecca and I wore as kids, and at that moment I KNEW Sam's was going to be incredible, and it DEFINITELY WAS.

Like last year, we went to the Miller's house, and because Halloween was on Saturday, we were able to come home from Sam's hockey practice and head down the street.  They were dressed and out the door while it was still light out (a HUGE bonus for a photographer who prefers natural light!).  45 minutes later, the kids said they were all set, ready to go home.  LOVE IT.  They had mac and cheese, and were just as happy sitting out on the step handing out candy to the approximately 638 kids who came to the house.  We were home and pajama-ed and watching It's The Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown! by 8:00.  PERFECT.

Took some photos, thought I'd share.... ;)

 

 

 

 

(this next one is a favorite favorite favorite of them, maybe ever.)

A treat indeed, having Grams come out with us!

 

Of course, Big Bad has a growling roar. Which I'll say is hard to distinguish from that of a T-Rex.

She is, as she loves to say, "the beautif-est"

Jack, the walking Dalmation...he was LOVING trick-or-treating!

Hannah the butterfly

 

 

She's screaming, "MOM!! MOM!! THEY ARE GIVING ME MORE CANDY!!!" Wish I could bottle that enthusiasm up...

 

 

This guy wins for best at-home costume.  He came to the door, and the kids FROZE WHERE THEY STOOD. Jane is brave and all, but this house required Daddy's hand....

I love the look of this next one so much that I think I see a print of it hanging somewhere in my house....

Kevin + Amanda {married}

So, can you remember the crazy awesome session that was Kevin and Amanda's engagement session? The prepare your eyes for an onslaught of photos from their FREAKING AWESOME WEDDING.  And you KNOW I really mean it, since I said 'freaking' AND wrote it all in caps.

A little background, Kevin is the brother of a high school classmate of TK's, who also happens to be one of my favorite people in the world.  No surprise when I met Kevin and Amanda a year and a half ago and thought, Sweeeeet....it runs in the family. And in the future in-laws.

They were married on what may have been the hottest day of the summer, in the quintessential Cape Cod church, followed by the reception at the amazing Hyannisport Club.  

Like most of my non-professional-model couples, they were a little uncomfortable about me shoving a camera in their face for the entire engagement session, but by the time the wedding came around, they were old pros, and I KNEW they had been drinking the Sweet Jane kool-aid when we were doing our post-ceremony formals and they spotted the "snack bar" sign and said, "Let's go there!!"

My friend and fellow photographer Heather was my second shooter (more on that later) and we were in our most serious Ninja-Photographer mode, the shot below of Kevin and Amanda driving away in the convertible was captured by Heather hanging out of the passenger window of my car as we were following them to the reception.  Nothing we won't do.... ;)

A note to future Sweet Jane couples--if you can pull it off, have the guys wear REAL bowties, as Kevin and his groomsmen did.  They don't look any different when they are tied, but the way they look during the party-phase of the reception, untied and loose around their necks, is about the coolest thing ever.

This was also the first time I was shooting a wedding, knowing that one of the bridesmaids was about to be a Sweet Jane bride (3 weeks later!) and the bride was going to be a bridesmaid!  So fun!  Bailey and Gus, your images are coming soon!

Kevin and Amanda, I could seriously write for days about how much I enjoyed your wedding.  I haven't had that much fin shooting FORMALS in...well, ever, actually. I feel like I'm an adopted member of your family, and wonder when you're going to invite me over for dinner, for heaven's sake.  As a photographer, it's really something when you feel a connection to a couple, and it is something else entirely when you feel like you've made real friends.  Thanks for that.  And for letting me share your beautiful beautiful day.

Now hang on to your britches, there are a lot of photos in this here sneak peek.....

 

(the tattoos are NOT on the groom, but I couldn't NOT put Finnan and his whale in this post.)

 

Had to include this next photo on the left of Kevin, because see that awesome expression?  He's saying hello to ME.  =)

 

 

Their ceremony was personal and touching, (yes, I cried) and the best part was a poem that was split into different parts and read by family members in the congregation.  I literally wept through it.  And below, on the left, in the kick-ass dress, is Kevin's sister Kristen, the aforementioned one of my favorite people on earth.

Yet another wonderful touch:  I came outside to catch them coming out of the church, and just before they walked back down the aisle, Kevin's sister Katherine came running to the back, and started ringing the church bell.  Loved that I was there to catch that little moment!

(are they Hands?  Or Kennedys??)

 

Another note to future Sweet Jane couples...if you can get hold of a red convertible, DO IT.  It is always a plus when you have an uncle who has the perfect wedding getaway car....

 

 

(one of Heather's, and a real favorite of mine:)

 

 

 

Bridesmaids and cupcakes...they go together, right?  =)

 

( a little action shot, courtesy of Heather!)

I love when brides dance with their dads, how they can at once look like a woman AND a little girl...it's magic.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I'll end the post with Kevin, mid-Thriller....

so cute, where else can I use this??

My Family from WiddlyTinks.com

Have to find a permanent place for this on the blog somewhere...

the road to fame and fortune travels straight through 7-11

So.

I have this photography business, you know?

And I have a website that I love, except for the way that clients are able to view their image proofs.  I went back and forth all summer trying to make some modifications...to no avail.

So.

I signed up for a separate proofing site (some of you may have noticed a recent change on the website's splash page, notice that extra little box to click?) and I was glad to have a solution.

TK, webguy-extraordinaire, did his thing with the custom code so that my little storefront looked EXACTLY how I wanted it to.  Though, as a PC user, he was swearing and cursing at my poor iMac, which was completely uncalled for, the computer is still waiting for an apology. BUT I digress.

After I was signed up for the new proofing site, I got their newsletter, with a note on the side about submitting photos to be used on their new corporate site.  The deadline was literally the next day, but I thought, what the heck, I'll give it a whirl.  I read all the details, thousands of photos, they won't reply to submissions, only if your photo is chosen, blah blah blah. I picked my five favorites, send them off, and promptly forgot about the whole thing.

Then I got an email on Friday....Congratulations!  Your image has been chosen for the new site! 

(insert me squealing like a little girl)

One of my favorite images ever, from Rob and Kelly's wedding last year, of Kelly in her dress in the candy aisle at 7-11 is now one of the 15 new images on the instaproofs site. 

The site went live yesterday, and there are 5 screens that feature these images, and it is totally random how the computer chooses the images, so I was closing browser windows and reopening them like a nutcase until I found the image on the pages!  It was SO. COOL.

So I realize that it will be mostly photographers who see the site, and I know there is a chance my image won't even come up when they are there...but I can't help but be totally excited about it.

I took some screenshots of the different screens on the site when my image was up....notice the text over the photo on the "search" page, it is so fitting!!

 

 

 

(pretty sweet, huh???)

porn for women

Lots going on in the old Kristiansen house...lots to blog about, but no time today.  Have lots of weddings to preview, some beautiful families and a couple of sweeeeeet newborns.  There is even a new and improved blog on the way, and some VERY EXCITING news for Sweet Jane Photography! 

Until then, I shall leave you with a little porn.  You're welcome.

Hot Buttered Avon Walk

It is a BEAUTIFUL October day, in the beginning of Breast Cancer Awareness month...did you see all of the NFL players who were wearing pink on Sunday? 

Now,the Pink Crusaders have walked already this year, and we decided that NEXT year, we would talk our walking shoes on the road and do the New York City walk.  My very dear friend Kelly (and next year's NYC teammate, I hope!) is walking this coming weekend with her mom, in honor of her cousin who is battling as we speak.

Today's post has FOUR parts:

NIMBER ONE: Go and visit KELLY'S WALK PAGE and donate, if you can.  I know these are tough times, but if you have a little extra, this is an incredible cause, and touches so many lives.

NUMBER TWO:  Sweet Jane Photography is going to sweeten the deal.....  For the rest of the week, anyone who donates more than $100 to Kelly's page will receive a $50 print credit toward their next session.  Donate $200 and your print credit to use for a next session is $100.  Donate $300 and receive a complimentary session AND a $100 print credit.  If you have plans for a shoot this fall, or next year, this is a great way to give a little and get a little back for yourself!  Just leave a comment here telling me that you donated, and I'll confirm the amount with Kelly and get you a nice gift certificate!

NUMBER THREE:  GET YOUR MAMMIES GRAMMED.   Women in their 30's should be getting an annual mammogram, EVERY WOMAN should be doing a monthly self-exam, and remember that EARLY DETECTION is the key to a cure.  So start squeezin' those ta-tas.

NUMBER FOUR:  As soon as this weekend's walk is over, I will be registering for the NYC walk for 2010.  Love to have a nice big team this year...let me know if you want to walk! 

(me with three of my favorite women... Kelly, yours truly, Julie and Steph)

Marco & Stacy sneak peek!

Marco and Stacy were married on one of the HOTTEST, most BEAUTIFUL days this summer.  After two months of rain, drizzle, cool weather, rain, and some more rain, August 1st dawned bright and sunny, with miles of blue skies above.  In my opinion, if you're getting married on a summer morning, it doesn't get much better than that.

What I loved best about Stacy's family is that they are crazy emotional.  As a person who cries at tv commercials and every milestone my kids reach--like picking out their own clothes and getting dressed (yes, really.) I felt totally at home with a family who was constantly keeping tears at bay!  And Stacy is one of those brides who was SO emotive--one look at her face and the joy was palpable.  Makes for very nice photos, If I do say so... ;)

It was also the first time I had been to St. Clements Castle and I need about three more days to explore the grounds....so gorgeous, and I am sure there are a million nooks and crannies I need to find!

Marco and Stacy, THANK YOU for letting me be a part of your day--I feel like we planned for so long, and to finally see all the plans come to fruition so seamlessly (okay, except for that ONE TIME we lost a bridesmaid) was such a pleasure.  I hope you enjoy the peek...your gallery will be ready soon!

 

 

This next one will go down as one of my favorite getting-ready photos of all time....

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Favorite favorite favorite:

 

 

 

 

(Oh yeah....these two don't have ANY FUN at all.....)

 

 

 

 

oh, help me.

We have begun a list of projects around the house.  We're in the middle of ripping apart our back hallway, adding lights, painting, very exciting.  This new motivation to smarten up the house began with adding a cabinet and some shelves in our bathroom upstairs.  I put together an elaborate cabinet (really, people, do these things HAVE to be so gosh darn complicated??) despite with Jane's help--she wanted to hold out every little screw for me, and there was a constant stream of "here, Mommy! Here you go! HERE!" Yes.  Very helpful.

In any case, the whole Kristiansen clan was in the bathroom for the hanging-of-the-cabinet, and despite the fact that TK and I were really too fat to fit into this tiny space, we managed to get the thing hung.  TK, high on the kids being all together TOO interested in what he was doing, thought it would be a RIOT to pull down my pants as I was leaning over to screw the cabinet doors on.  As you can imagine, the sight of my rear end and my subsequent freak-out to being pants-ed sent the kids into absolute hysterics.  We had to talk about how funny it was for a good hour.  The humiliations I am forced to endure in the name of Sam and Jane's entertainment...

SO.  Tonight we finished reading in Jane's room, and she and I were all snuggly, I got to hear my favorite pillow talk about how she loves me,if I am going to be very long at the computer downstairs, the usual.  What I was NOT prepared for was the sudden memory that popped into her head about the pants-ing from a few weeks ago.  It took me a minute to figure out what she was talking about, at which time I could barely speak for laughing so hard.

My daughter said:

"Mom?  Remember when you were screwing and daddy pulled down your pants?"

Am I going to lie to you about this???  I am only thankful that there isn't a classroom where Jane visits on a daily basis to tell these heart-warming stories about her parents.

Jaimie & Rich sneak peek

I met Jaimie and Rich at the fabulous wedding of Meg & Jeff McGuinness last year, and was thrilled to be able to shoot their wedding in July.  It was at the ultra-fabulous Waters Edge Resort in Westbrook, Connecticut, and the day was simply glorious.  Her bridesmaids looked so perfect in pink, and I loved that every detail reflected the pink-ness of the day! (so do these handful pf photos I am sharing...thought I'd run with the theme)

Thanks, Fiscos, for the pleasure of being part of your day...your gallery will be up shortly!

There was a 2-way tie for my favorite image...here's number 1:

and here's favorite number 2:

(and this one was a front runner as well....)

Many many congratulations, Jaimie and Rich!  And I say we start every session from here on out with a nice shot of Akvavit!!

Lellow Sum-burine

Ah, my Janie Girl.

Last night she told Rebecca that she thought she lived in the train station.

She very plainly tells me that although she loves me when I am around, She loves Grams more.

When I tell her I think she is gorgeous, she replies, "Yes.  I am."

She is getting to be long and lean...I saw her in a pair of jeans I was certain would be too big, too long for her, and they fit perfectly, and my heart skipped a little at the sight of my pudgy baby in these long skinny jeans.

She has rediscovered Sesame Street.  Sam was majorly into it, but Jane kinda skipped it, watching whatever Sam wanted. But now that he is in school, she looks forward to that 10:00 show.  I LOVE that.

Her favorite pretend game is "hairdresser".  She will wash, cut, and style me...and when it is her turn to have her hair "done", she rattles on about losing her car keys.  She even wants to be called "Tricia", like our favorite stylist on the cape..

She is a singing fool, and does a flawless rendition of "baby you can drive my car" by her favorite group, The Beatles.  "Lellow Sum-Burine" is also a favorite.

She is also partial to all of the songs from the Mamma Mia soundtrack, and has the uncanny ability to sing "slipping through my fingers" when it makes me cry, like when we were in the car on our way to visit the preschool she will soon be attending. 

She loves to watch Jeopardy with me, I say the answer, she shouts it out, and screams "WE WIN!" every time we're right.  When I don't know the answer and am quiet, she supplies her own answer, the same every time.  "TURKEY!  TURKEY!"  Turkey is very rarely the answer, but we don't really care. (Rebecca and I have started saying "TURKEY!" when we don't know the answer too...)

I've mentioned before that when the kids ask about their whereabouts when I was young, I answer "you were a twinkle in my eye".  Last night Jane elaborated and said, "remember when I was a twinkle in your eye?  Then I went down your throat ("froat") and into your belly, and then I just popped out!"  That's about as far into the birds and the bees as I am willing to go these days.  I just say, "Yep!  You popped right out!"

My favorite Jane story of late, happened after we watched her new "Barbie in a Christmas Carol" movie.  We watched the making of the 2008 holiday barbie, and when she saw the finished product, said, "oh, mom, I want that."  She had no idea that she has received the holiday barbie since before she was born, from her Auntie Bobbee...i have always just tucked them away, thinking she wouldn't understand why she couldn't open them...

So I said, "Actually, Jane, you already have it."

Incredulous.

We marched up to the top of the stairs.  I opened the little cubby and pulled out the very Barbie she just saw on tv.

She was beside herself.

Then I pulled out another.

And another.

And another.

I thought her little head was going to explode.  And for one shining moment, I was the best, most magical mommy in the world.

We brought them into her room, lined them up, She called TK in to look, who (bless him) acted as excited about the whole event as she was.  They lined them up chronologically, by favorite dress, grouped by designer, by favorite hair, you name it. 

We've decided that they will stay out in her room, we are just trying to decide on the perfect place.  Jane wants me to clear off the ledge with my favorite photos.. she said, "mom, let's get rid of all that stuff, and just put my Barbies there." We're still in negotiations.

(Thanks, Auntie Bobbee...I wish you had been here to see her face!!)

That's my girl these days...all sassy and smart, and just perfect.

at the quompound

I had a brief respite in between Friday and Sunday weddings and celebrated with the Keane/Queeney family on the cape.  Nan's parents (Hi, Rosemarie!), sister Lauren, and Lauren's gorgeous girls were in town, and we had some fun with a little photo session.  Jane and Sam were with me (Janie and I had hair appointments with Tricia in the morning) and though I cautioned them that these photos were just of the OTHER kids, I couldn't resist a couple of my little ankle-biters too.  I was rewarded for all of this playing with what Nan called "whipping up a little dinner", or as I like to call it, "Sarah gets to eat like a queen, and even her kids tried the cous-cous, it was so delicious."  Seriously, people, of you are ever lucky enough to receive an invitation to eat a meal that Nancy Queeney has prepared, say YES immediately and prepare your taste buds for pure deliciousness.

Couldn't resist adding a few of my favorite photos from the day.  Lauren, I can not believe how grown up (and brooke-shields-y) the girls are.  Whenever they have that itch to stand in front of a camera, you better call me.

Nan, my house next.  Apple picking, and dinner that will be decidedly less awesome than you could make, but I promise to scour Real Simple for something wonderful...

 

 

 

 

 

Mom....new banner tomorrow, I promise!!!

first grade

Here's where I usually talk about how astonished I am to have a child in first grade.  How these last few years have zipped by, how bittersweet this newest milestone is, and how I cried when I left him at room 107, skipping to the rug to join his friends who were hopping up and down and waving, saying "SAM!!!"

I could marvel at how handsome he is, how excited he was about his SHOES of all things, how when we were preparing him for the routine of school again and mentioned homework he threw his hands up, ELATED, and said, "I LOVE homework!!"

I could remember the first day of his first year in preschool, three years ago, when we were hoping for nothing more than some comprehensible words, and possibly a kid who would be a little more sociable, and found ourselves at the end of that year with a happy, friendly, TALKING boy.  He exceeded anything we could have possibly hoped for in that first year.  You can't imagine the joy we felt yesterday as we walked to first grade, and ran into that first preschool teacher, who scooped him up in a hug--as she has found a permanent spot in our hearts, it seems that Sam has one in hers too.

I could say how happy I am that he will still give me a kiss in the school yard.  I know THAT won't last long.

But what I'll say is that yesterday morning, we were in the front yard, my camera in hand for the traditional first-day photos, and I was snapping away as usual.  It wasn't until I was editing the photos that I really saw the change in Sam.  That indefinable but unmistakable look that is self-confidence. 

Sam Kristiansen marched off to first grade, sure of himself, and excited about what lay ahead. And of that I am exceedingly proud.

 

 

 

 

when you look and shout "OH MY GOD, THAT IS AWESOME!" don't say I didn't call that one.

Wedding season = less blogging, or so it seems.

Remember when I said, "maybe I could do this photography thing for a living?"

Remember when I said, "wouldn't it be SWELL if I got to the point where I was REALLY busy with weddings? So busy that I would have little time for anything else?  Like blogging?"

You don't remember that?

Well, I am there.  (I'll wait until the cheering stops. That is, when I stop clapping for myself.)

The good news is that I am entrenched in wedding season, meaning every weekend brings at least two weddings, and it doesn't let up until October.  SO AWESOME.  Really couldn't have asked for a better year. 

The bad news is that every time I think, "I need to update the blog!" I realize that if i have 15 idle minutes, I should probably be editing photos! 

Thank heavens for my mom, who has been here for the entire month and has taken the children for days at a time, to Camp Marlin Road where they have morning swim, long nature walks, art time with Auntie Becky, afternoon swim, dance party clean-up, slushies and cupcakes.  Every day.  (go ahead, world, be jealous.  I am actually jealous of myself, it is that good.) 

I would ask her, "do they want to come home?  Do they miss me?" 

Her response, "um, no."  

Okay.  Good. 

Last weekend I was on the cape for a crazy fun wedding (peek coming soon) and spent the night with my favorite Queeneys.  Rebecca and Mike were there too, so that she could finish the mural in the boys room that Nan had comissioned...

A little background--Nan loves a particular Shel Silverstein poem, and wanted to have a mural painted in the room that Liam will soon share with little brother Desmond will share.  Nan comissioned Rebecca to do the painting, and after lots of back and forth on what illustration she thought would work, they decided on an image from "The Giving Tree" to accompany the poem.  Rebecca described the mural to me, but I was not prepared for what it actually looked like in person.  When I had the first look at it, I GOT GOOSEBUMPS.  It is That amazing.  I got to help with a little painting at the end, (Rebecca pointed out that she and I like to have our hands in each other's creative endeavors) and I still am amazed when I look at the photos....

The Artist and a VERY happy customer

 

the view from the hallway

a little love for Desmond...this kid is going to become one of my favorite photography subjects, I just KNOW it.

 

Want a mural for yourself?  drop an email to Rebecca and let her know you saw it here...

(and I TOLD you you were going to shout, DIDN'T I??)

why did we wait until the END of the summer?

Conversation this morning:

TK:  I'm running to the gym, do you need anything?

me:  Yeah, swing by a Benny's or something and see if there are any kiddie pools left, might be fun.

So off he goes, returning with this 8-foot blow-up family pool.  WHICH IS AWESOME.

Seriously, we set it up, filled it with freezing cold water from the hose, and the kids went nuts.  And the thing is, I KNOW this is something that the toddler-set is totally into, I just have NO idea why we waited until NOW to get one.

Mostly because I got to sit in a beach chair with my feet up on the edge of the pool for an hour while they splashed and played.

In fact, it took the promise of watching Mamma Mia to get Sam out of the pool.

Now.  If I could just teach one of them how to give me a pedicure while they are in there, I'd be golden.

 

 

 

Now, I have gotten used to Abigail's teeny tiny little self, but it never fails to amaze me, seeing Sam next to her...he seems like a GIANT.  A giant who shares his toys with Abigail.  Good, good giant.

My tiny dancer, pirouetting even in the pool.

 

 

 

It should be said that Abigail is talking up a storm.  And it isn't just talking, everything is at 1000 decibels.  Well, when you've got something to say....

 

Dappled sunlight + wide open aperture = photography magic.

 

 

 

And her birthday was honored with a giant slip 'n' slide

Miss Emily Conquest Tredwell turned ONE YEAR OLD over the weekend.  Right, I have no idea how that happened either.  Like my own little ankle-biters, she continues to grow despite my cries of "knock it off already!" and we headed to Connecticut to celebrate with the Tredwells. (This was also the end of our visit with Kathy and the girls...those goodbyes do NOT get any easier.)

I could spend the next few paragraphs gushing over this girl, how sweet and smart and funny she already is, how the next year will bring the first of 4 major surgeries, a bigger burden than any child should have to bear, how we are constantly amazed at her superbly ordinary self--crawling, standing, getting into absolutely everything, with no care that one leg is 8 centimeters shorter.  On the contrary, the shorter leg is the perfect length for climbing--where most kids have to hoist themselves up on their knees, Ems is, quite literally, a leg up over the rest.  I could tell you all of this, how much I adore this perfect little person, but you already know.  She is.  She does.  I do. 

(besides, her dad did a bang-up job already.)

I WOULD, however, like to talk about the party.  Or, as it shall go down in history, the day Tim made the awesomest home-made Slip 'n' Slide in the history of the world.  And the cake.  Oh, there was cake....

Behold:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Is it me, or does he look EXACTLY like Calvin, from Calvin and Hobbes???

 

 

 

had to DRAG the child off of the slide...the promise of cake always does the trick....

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ems, my darling, I love you more than I can say.  I REALLY love your mom and dad, and am so proud of them for the wonderful parents I KNEW they would be, and I sure am glad that they gave us YOU.  We're pretty darn lucky. 

Happy birthday, baby girl.