It's beginning to FEEL a lot like Christmas!

Hello December!

Where did you come from?!!  Wasn't it just February!??

Alas, the holidays are among us, in full force!

Halloween has come and gone, we've been grateful over turkey for Thanksgiving, and now it's time for the grand finale: Christmas!

I love holidays, but I especially love Christmas:

cozy clothes

decorating trees

hot chocolate

lights, lights, and more lights,

giving gifts

nativities

But, what I love most about Christmas are the things you can't see: 

the spirit of Christmas

the joy of Christmas

the love and laughter

the bonds that are strengthened

It's such a magical time of year!

This year, I wanted to spread more than cookies and gifts, I wanted to spread Christmas cheer (ok, I promise, I'll cut back on watching the Elf...)  But really, I wanted to spread the spirit of Christmas.  I came up with this idea last year, but since we moved Dec 19th, December was just too crazy for me.  So I was SOOOO excited to get my Christmas-joy-spreading-jig on this year!

What was this idea that I've been obsessing over for a whole year you ask?

#projecthelpfulelf

Forget the sneaky, naughty elf that sits on a shelf..

I bought 24 Helpful Elves. (on amazon, of course, here)

Each night, we choose an elf, name it, choose an act of service, and a family and deliver Christmas cheer!

So, far we've taken out trash, done dishes, swept, picked up dog poop, delivered dinner... the ideas are limitless!  And, at each house, we were greeted with smiles, love and laughter!

After doing the service, we leave the elf with the family, along with this note:

We ask that they take the elf to a new home the next day and give a new act of service to someone new!

We've calculated that if each family contributes 1 act of service and keeps the elf going, our 24 acts of service will turn to 300 acts of service through December!

While that sounds totally awesome, we thought we could do better!!

If you're touched at all by our #projecthelpfulelf, we ask YOU to start one in YOUR community!  Be sure and post pics with that hashtag, so we can see how far our idea has reached!  Find our project on Facebook and Instagram as we hashtag our way through December with small, loving acts of kindness!  

Spread the word and spread the love!

And, because this is a photography blog, I'll leave you with our family pictures this year!

Merry Christmas!

**If you're wondering why our precious girls have their faces blurred, we are currently at the end of a long adoption process, which has not quite finalized, so we must maintain their privacy!  ;)  But, I couldn't resist giving you a glimpse of what our WHOLE family looks like!

Thank you for taking the time to step into the world of Christmas with our family!

From our home to yours,

Have a Very Merry Christmas!

xoxo,

LooWho

**Here's the poem in double version, in case you want to use it to print!  :)

It's Great to be 8!

What is there not to love about turning 8?

Free rent, unlimited popsicles and summer vacations.  I wish I was turning 8!  Your whole life ahead of you without a single regret behind you.  The world is yours for the taking!

In the Mormon faith, we believe this is the age of accountability.  

The time in a child's life when they must draw a line in the sand.

One side right, the other, wrong.

It seems so juvenile to think the world can be so simplistic, so easily divided into two categories.  And yet, as I sit and ponder, it is.  It is that simple.

So easy it is to ride the fence, to walk the line, teetering between the two choices.  When really, deep, deep down, we know.  We've always known, at least since we were mere children.

Some are born with a pursuit for righteousness, they never falter.  Others find the course of mischief more appealing.  

On this day, I took pictures of a sweet young man.  A young man bearing a green crest of honor.  One that promised he would not board the ever-appealing side of no-good, but try earnestly to do what he knows in his heart he should: CTR.

It seems acronyms have gained a lot of popularity in the last few years, but this one, CTR, it's been around ever since I was a child.  I remember putting on that same ring, making that same promise to Choose The Right.

What better motto could one strive to live by at the tender age of 8?

I love the willingness in his eyes, his passion for life!

What truths do you hold to?  What badge do you wear?

Thank you for stopping by!! 

Here's looking at YOU!

xoxo,

LooWho

Viva Las Vegas!

As some of you may have noticed, my family went MIA for about a week.

Where on Earth did we go, you ask?

Las Vegas.

Yep, me, my husband and five kids hit up sin city.  Why in the world did we take our young family to Vegas, you may be asking yourself.  No, it wasn't to show them what not to do.  No, no.  We find Vegas oddly relaxing.  We stay at a resort and relax in the sun while our babes roam the water.  

There are actually a lot of fun things to do with kids in Vegas that have nothing to do with alcohol, gambling, or strippers... gasp.

First, there's Circus Circus.  There, you can either go to the adventuresome to get in some fun amusement rides, or go over to the circus land and see a free circus show.  

There are also FABULOUS parks in Vegas.  Our favorite happens to be located near some pretty fun shopping, double score!  The Town Square Las Vegas boasts a fabulous splash pad complete with a play house, a unicorn, a stage for those dramatic rug rats AND a hedge maze.  Leave your husband behind to play and scoot on over to an array of shopping!  LOVE!

Of course, our visit wouldn't be complete without a stop by the M&M factory- check out their cute 3D movie and grab some M&Ms in your favorite color!

Of course, there's plenty of sight-seeing.  My oldest declared he didn't need to go to Paris now that he's seen the mini eiffel tower- "this one's tall enough!"  The fountains set to music at the Belagio are always a fun sight and the Volcano at the Mirage never disappoints, though, I will caution that it is loud and hot, so it may send a shiver or two down some spines.  

Other fun things to do that aren't on the inexpensive list are: Serendipity3 at Caesars (we were lucky enough to get spoiled by the table next to us who got our family the full dessert platter that included a huge chocolate chest filled with ALL of their desserts, we can attest- they are the BEST!), the dolphins and lions at the Mirage are amazing- I've never seen lions so large and majestic- we were even spoiled by a private tour by Siegfried himself.. he just happened to walk out and ended up getting the lions and tigers to get up and do a couple of tricks while we were there!  

But, my favorite part of this particular trip to the busy city was actually just outside of Vegas in a small town called Nelson, NV.  A small, preserved Ghost Town in Nevada that has been amazingly maintained.  It has old cars, busses, and even an old plane perfectly placed in the side of hill.  Add to that an array of old buildings and barns, and this old mine town is an EXCELLENT stop.  My kids LOVED just exploring all there was to see.

Of course, being a photographer, I have to say, words cannot do this town justice!  Let me show you what I mean about the amazingness:

You can see how I was in photographer's heaven, right?!  I NEED to own a town like this someday!  Until then, I will get my fix each year when I visit good old Nelson!

I had intended to spend a week away from work and responsibility, but as soon as I saw this place, I knew I had to capture it!  

I hope you enjoyed my recap of Vegas!  Would you ever take your family there?  Do you enjoy a jaunt to sin city every now and then?  What's your favorite thing to do?

Thank you for stopping by!!  Be sure to comment below and show some love!  ;)

Here's Looking at YOU!

xoxo,

LooWho

I Hope They Call Me on a Mission...

Every few months, I get the opportunity to do a shoot that I feel is really special.

This shoot, was one of those.

Young men and women, around the ages of 18-25, spend years preparing themselves to serve a full-time mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.

Once prepared and ready, they submit their papers to church headquarters, where the leaders of the church assign them a specific mission.  Some are overseas, some are stateside, some are service missions in their own county.  But all require a sacrifice of a significant amount of time and dedication- 18 months to 2 years, to be exact.

This young man is no exception.  He submitted his papers and was called to serve in the Bahia Blanca Argentina mission.  He reported to the MTC (mission training center) to begin learning the language and prepare himself for a life of service for 2 full years.

He is also number 2 in the line-up of my lovely Mother of 40 Somethin' from yesterday.  His older brother is also out serving a mission.

Without further ado, here is Elder Kleinman:

Best of luck, Elder Kleinman!!  

So, what did you think?!  Could you give up 2 years of your life to help others?  Especially at 18??  I am always so amazed by these young people!!  

Thank you for stopping by!!

xoxo,

LooWho

Motherhood and Maternity, at 40 somethin'

Motherhood and Maternity

at

40 somethin'

So far, you've seen me post about pregnancy in her 20's, expecting the first child and pregnancy in her 30's, expecting her 5th child.

Now, is time for pregnancy in her 40's.

Expecting lucky number 9, her last child.

The mother at 40 somethin' is graceful and sure.

She has not only been here before, but has seen every stage of childhood.

From bringing home 8 boys before, to sending 2 on their way in the world,

She knows every pain, struggle and triumph motherhood holds.

The panic of motherhood has been replaced by a calm awareness,

Not because she has conquered the task, but because she has faith that her best is enough.

She knows being a mom is hard and demanding, she's tired and frustrated at times,

But she finds no other place in the world she would rather be.

With age comes experience,

With age comes peace.

Here's to a wonderful mother, expecting her first girl after 8 wonderful boys!!

Isn't she beautiful!???

What are your thoughts?  How did you feel at different ages of pregnancy?  Were you one who LOVED being pregnant, or did you find yourself yearning for the 9 months to come to an end?

Thank you for stopping by!  Stay tuned tomorrow for a follow-up on this mom as I reveal a session I did with one of her oldest sons as he prepared to leave on a two-year mission!

Have a wonderful evening!!

xoxo,

LooWho

Motherhood and Maternity, at 30 somethin'

Welcome to my second installment of Motherhood and Maternity...

30 Somethin'

Pregnant and 30, not on her first, but not on her last,

This mother has been here before!

She spends her days chasing small children, 

Wishing for the youth of her twenties, but grateful for the experience time has brought her.

While she has a long road to go, and many lessons to learn,

She is happy right where she's at- cherishing the opportunity to bare another child.

The things she took for granted in her twenties seem far more important to her now.

Her life is calming and she can see that these precious days will be but fleeting moments.

Well, I won't ask you to applaud this mother- because, well, it's me! :)

But, here are the pictures from my maternity session- a mother of 30 somethin' expecting her 5th child:

Well, what do you think?  What was pregnancy like for you in your 20's, or 30's?  

Thank you for stopping by and be sure to catch my final installment of Motherhood and Maternity: at 40 somethin'!  :)

Until then, have a lovely week!!!

xoxo,

LooWho