Category Archives: Photography

Oh she rocks my world!

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We’ve definitely been soaking up the summer days lately. Water parks, swimming almost every day, and lots of trips to California. But it’s the little moments that have really made their impressions on me.  You can’t beat little chunky babies picking weed daisies in the park.  Have I ever mentioned that daisies are my favorite flower? I probably could have saved a heck of a lot of money at my wedding had I just gone out and got some daisies for my bouquet.

Ella joined dance class. She’s gone twice now, and as I watch her I’m absolutely floored at the talent this girl holds within her. She picks up on the moves so easily – she feels the rhythm in ways I haven’t seen many 4 year old girls feel, at least not within their first class. I have to tell you that this absolutely excites me to no end, because she’s just so beautiful and I’ve always had these major dreams of her being a dancer…. at this point it’s looking up. Now I just have to pray that it’s something she always wants for herself as well.

And can you say admirer? Aliyah definitely loves and looks up to her big sissy! These kids never have a dull, lonely moment…. because they have each other.

She’s doing this new thing lately – where she does this tone in her voice that I wish I could pin point with words and explain. In a small little sea shell – it’s her KNOWING what she’s talking about, but having an unsure tone – almost ending her statement in a question. It just screams GROWING UP! Oh my gosh but I can’t tell you all enough how much I adore, love, cherish, and treasure the little girl that she’s turning into. She’s strong. She’s independent. She’s everything I ever imagined my daughter being…. and I am blessed to be able to be a part of her world. I don’t think God could have given me a more challenging and rewarding soul.

Ella, you rock my world, girl – this picture above is you agreeing to wear the princess dress to the princess tea party for your dear friend Chloe, but demanding the skinny jeans also. You are definitely your mother’s daughter…. and thank goodness you have my personality since your looks scream “clone of your father.” I love you, little diva.

Villalobos Family

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On June 12th we headed to Stockton, California to go to my family reunion – since I was in the area I decided to take on a couple photoshoots. I got to meet this family for the first time ever and loved working with them. I asked the oldest girl, Honey, if she had a funny joke for me and she said, “Cow.” Believe it or not it actually made me laugh. Jazzy, the little one, had my heart captured with her pecious cheeks and her big eyes! Here’s a few pictures from our session – to see more please view the slideshow.

Life is busy–but I am lovin it!

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I’m finally on a break from school and have been even busier than ever! We had my brother & sister in law come up to stay with us for a few days – best decision I’ve ever made. I think we both got to know each other in ways we didn’t really know before. I’d say our relationship prior to this may have been a little generic – we didn’t really KNOW each other…… and now we do.

I did a photoshoot of them for my father in law for father’s day.  Can’t wait to see the look on his face when he sees the pictures.IMG_2663_WebIMG_2666_Web IMG_2686_Web

Speaking of photoshoots, I have been BUSY with them lately!!!  Definitely a great and exciting thing, and every time I do one I realize that this is definitely what I want for my life.  I may be getting that degree in accounting right now, but photography is what makes me happy – photography is what I can see myself doing forever.

Aliyah’s 6 months now – actually 6 1/2 – she says “Hi” and a couple of times we’ve heard her try to say “Mama.” I think our entire family is head over heels for her.  Actually I think even my camera is head over heels for her, because THIS is what it gets to capture.  Pretty much no words needed….IMG_2774_Web

Nothing but everything to say

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She’s not growing up as quickly as the other two did.  I feel as if she’s soaking up her babiness – and I love it.

She’s 5 months already. She started sitting up a few days ago, and eating foods through her meshed little holder {coolest thing I’ve ever seen!}  She’s teething, but I’ve noticed a HUGE difference ever since she started wearing her new amber necklace.

She’s such an amazing little soul that I just can’t get enough of.  Ella and Jayden adore her and have been nothing short of an amazing help with their new little sister.  I feel like I’m discovering more about myself as a mother this time around.  I’m realizing things that are important, things that aren’t.  I’m remembering that the days are long, but the years are short – so I try to treasure every moment with Aliyah being so small, cuddly, loving, BABY.  The idea that she’s approaching her half year mark makes me cringe a little inside.  I’m not rushing the milestones.  I’m just enjoying the small things.

I probably have around 7 unpublished blog posts.  Posts I’ve started and not finished, posts I chose not to share – I feel like lately I have so much to say yet nothing to say, if that makes any sense to you.  I might release those blog posts soon – I don’t know.

I feel unorganized a bit in my life. I don’t feel like reading blogs and writing on my blog is going to help me in that department, so I’ve sortof strayed a little to get myself and my home life a little more organized – and I’m so not even close! There’s so much CRAP that I just need to get rid of. I’m trying to simplify things in my home, with my friends {I’ve had to dejunk a few of those as well} and really try to reach within ME to figure out things that I need in my life.

While I feel a tad unorganized lately, one thing still remains a constant, and that’s this beautiful family of mine. I was sitting here tonight thinking about how lucky I am to be in love with my best friend, to have these amazing kids who drive me CRAZY during the day, but hold all this love for me and I for them. We’re not a perfect family, but we are a family – and a family who has fought hard to be where we are today. A girl I know – her family is falling apart right before her eyes. Her husband decided he was done. I can’t be more thankful than I am at this moment to have a husband that is in it for the long haul – that isn’t willing to throw the towel in when perfection doesn’t exist. This man right here…. he’s my happily ever after. Thank God for him.

A Nice Dose of Beautiful

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I pulled one of those unannounced nice long vacations from my little world here online. I haven’t been by any of my favorite blogs – feel really out of the loop there – and have been knee deep in homeschooling, photography and soaking in the little moments with my children.

Not to mention, school…. oh my word school. This taking a full load at the college is somewhat exhausting this term. It’s almost over though… I’m about to have a breather which is much needed.

I got a new lens.

It’s the best thing ever.

50mm 1.4 – pure beauty I tell you.

It’s helping me produce images like this:



and like this….



and how can you not love this….


It’s taken my love for photography to a whole new level.

Couple of weeks late on this, but a little cute butt girl is 3 months…. she’s actually almost 3 1/2 months, but I have pictures for you to oooo and ahhhh over. This little girl’s beauty is so breathtaking to me I just at times don’t know how to contain myself from kissing her face all day everyday!



And if that all wasn’t enough in the beauty department – look at this!


And that little ball of beauty is a whopping 9lbs 14oz. at 3 months!

Simple, Refreshing Beauty

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My days have been blending together and I wake up and accomplish not even a portion of my to do list and then it’s time. Time that I should be turning into bed and getting the recommended amount of sleep I need in order to wake up and do it all again.

I’ve been finding myself staying up later and later though. The quietness at night while everybody is asleep has become intoxicating. It’s during these late night hours that I find myself drawing out my dreams and goals. It’s when I organize my family’s memories.

It’s when I work on editing beautiful pictures like this ~

Such simple, refreshing beauty this little baby girl has.

Just a Motivating Monday ~ Forgiveness

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I LOVE inspiring things to motivate me and I thought what better of a day to read inspiration than on dreadful Mondays. If you would like to write something you think will inspire or motivate others PLEASE grab the button and link up!! I’d love to read your words and I’m sure that others would as well!

This week I’m stealing from myself. This post has a portion of an old post that was originally posted for Just a Motivating Monday back on November 16, 2009. I stole the main jist of it and am going to add a different, updated final thought at the end. With that said……..

Everybody has been hurt by someone they love. Or maybe you hurt someone you love. The point is… we have to be able to forgive in our heart.

President Hinckley of the LDS Church once said in an article:

“Somehow forgiveness, with love and tolerance, accomplishes miracles that can happen in no other way.”

I know it is so hard at times to forgive people, but are you perfect? Have you gone through your whole life not doing a thing wrong to someone? Have you been forgiven? Forgiving somebody, especially yourself can be one of the hardest things in this world to do. But if you are virtuous and want to be forgiven, you yourself MUST do this.


Tips to Forgive~


  • Pray to Heavenly Father and ask Him for His help. He can soften your heart and help you to forgive.
  • Get rid of the bitterness. If you’re still plotting out ways to get even the forgiving process is no where near.
  • Once you have forgiven, let it go. Don’t hold on to it, because that’s holding a grudge… which does not mean you have forgiven.
  • Don’t focus so much on the negative things that have happened to you. If you are focusing on the positive things in your life, and the positive things people have done for you, you will be able to forgive the negative things easier. There’s no point in holding on to negativity when there’s so much positivity to welcome into your heart.
  • You need to remember that when you are forgiving, it’s for you. It’s not for the person that did you wrong, but it is for you and your exaltation. It’s a process you must go through, and you will be forgiving others for you.

A very good friend of mine… you can find her on twitter @jenhoehne contributed to this post by saying:

“I think that forgiveness is one of those words like “love” that people use loosley. To truly forgive someone means you have let go of any ill will and no longer harbor feelings of anger or angst toward another person.


Forgiving ourselves goes hand in hand with forgiving others. We are often times harder on ourselves than the person or people we have wronged. Forgiving others means letting go of hurt they have caused you and forgiving yourself is learning to love yourself after you have caused another person pain. Both are crutial in the eternal realm of this life and critical to our salvation and prosperity hereafter.”

My Final Thoughts ~

I have people, very close people, do me wrong.  They’ve said things to me that stabbed me in the heart and at one point I thought I’d never want them back in my life again.  Reading my final thoughts from this post back in 2009 made me smile at who I’ve become and grown into.  I have a lot of forgiveness in my heart, because I know that I’m not perfect.  I know that horrible things can be said and done ~ but today can also be the first day of the rest of your life.  Today can be a fresh start with a clear heart.  None of us are perfect.  You are not perfect.  I am not perfect.  We can grow from our mistakes, and we can start fresh today.

That is the beauty of forgiveness.

I’m traveling down a road of forgiveness and it feels so good.  I’m even letting go of hurt feelings that I’ve clung onto for many years towards my dad.  I’m forgiving and growing my relationship with him with a fresh slate.  It feels amazingly wonderful.

I hope that this post in some way will inspire you to start on the road of forgiveness ~ most importantly for yourself.




2 Months

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Today my precious grouchy pants is 2 months old.

It’s so amazing to see differences in your children’s personalities even at a VERY early age.

Aliyah is definitely my grouchiest baby yet.

Don’t get me wrong, she’s an absolute joy to be around…. but she’s grouchy! She’d rather put on her angry face than smile.

We even call her Rumple Grumpy Pants at times…….

OH but let me tell you…. her smile will warm you to the very core!

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