back to school blubbering | mesa children’s photographer | jen roberts

September 2, 2010 | Filed Under just because, kids, me | Leave a Comment

there comes a moment at the end of summertime when we are ready. and I mean READY to get back. back to school, back to a more scheduled existence, back to “reality”. we had a lovely summer….much of it spent in the san diego area (which i have yet to blog…i’m so bad), but honestly the kids (and i!) were over summer. bickering had begun in full force and by the end of most days i was ready to give myself a time out. and here in the summer it is just HOT. HOT HOT HOT. sending kids outside to play is pretty much not an option unless swimming is involved…but blessed school began and we have entered yet a new season. 3 of my 4 are in at least some type of school at least some of the day and i find it wonderful and terrible all at once.

i was peeking in zoe’s classroom after i dropped her off when i took the above shot.

lingering…

she was SO excited and hardly glanced back as i stood and lingered and watched. she is in 2nd grade now and has been at the same school since kindergarten. she has many friends in her class. she is a great student. life is GOOD for zoe these days. she loves school and it loves her. she always thrives under this environment and i am happy for her. but i miss her and i suddenly wonder what happened to my little girl. my first. growing up so fast.

luke is in kindergarten and doing amazingly well… i was nervous. lets just say the end of his preschool days were a little “ahem” challenging. mostly because i think he was done with it. bored. and so he got himself into a fair amount of mischief. the kid’s got a few brains in his head and i think they are starting to get a workout and it is a great thing. when he showed me around his classroom tonight for “curriculum night” he was beaming. proud. and so was i. luke and i have been going through growing pains, clashing, butting heads, etc. it is so good for me to see him shine and take pride in his new environment.

cutie miss brynn. i have yet to have a child who was as excited as this one was to start preschool. oh MY LANTA this girl could hardly wait. each night before a school day (and truth be told she really does this every day..) she carefully lays out her clothes, shoes and backpack. she is dressed & up with the sun and toting her backpack around asking when school starts. some days it drives me bananas that i put her in afternoon preschool because all.morning.long i hear “mommy is it time for school yet?” she is loving it and so eager to learn.

so there you have it. our lives are more scheduled, infinitely more busy and full of comings & goings. and we love it.

brynn was all about the photo op. and ok…to be fair…we simply had a bit more time to indulge. and let me tell you it is all about dora these days. this backpack was a hand-me-down from her cousins, but did she want a bright shiny new one? absolutely not.

these 2 literally gave me about 35 seconds. so not interested in photos…so ready for the next thing…. and it looks as if zoe has already developed the obligatory fake “hurry and take the picture mom” smile. sigh…. and hello luke?! totally over pictures. ahh well….

learn to love learning my sweet ones…

xo,

mom

thank heaven | arizona children’s photographer | jen roberts

August 20, 2010 | Filed Under kids | 6 Comments

for little girls! whew! what with school starting & shooting & editing & just plain being “mom”…i haven’t had much left over time for blogging of late. but i needed to pop in to share a bit of this session i had a couple of weeks ago. what cutie pie girls. i adore photographing small children. they have no pretenses…no fake smiles and usually almost no sense of my camera. it makes it so easy & fun to play & capture real, fun, silly, shy moments. thank you evie & victoria for playing along with me!

guess who just had a birthday??

no session of mine is ever complete without a little treat. reward for a job well done.

my thanks to my dear friend the pied piper for turning me on to this fun location & for endless inspiration. love you linz!

xo,

little logan | peoria newborn photographer | jen roberts

August 3, 2010 | Filed Under newborns | 10 Comments

when i got the text from vanessa while on vacation i could not believe my eyes….little logan had arrived! and almost a FULL MONTH EARLY! i still had 10 days left of vacation, but was eager to get home to photograph him in all his fresh goodness. photographing newborns is a delicate thing. it is by far the best option to do newborn sessions in the first 10 days and i was nervous because i didn’t get to meet little logan until he was just over two weeks old. i shouldn’t have have worried. he was a gem as were his wonderful, overjoyed parents whom i had met while photographing them just a couple of weeks before his birth. congratulations rich & vanessa. i am thrilled to have been a part of this magical time of your life.

little logan arrived safely and naturally at home. i think this is AWESOME. read vanessa’s beautiful birth story here.

until next time…love your babies.

xo,

ryan & reese | mesa children’s photographer | jen roberts

July 28, 2010 | Filed Under kids | 14 Comments

it has been 18 months since i photographed these two. i LOVE seeing families again, watching the growth and change that happens over time….seeing the evolution of relationships. these two are just ONE year apart (bless their mama’s soul) and although those first few months must have been rough, being so close in age has created a bond in these two that is unmistakable…it is so, so sweet. i adored our time together…more like a playdate than a “serious” photoshoot…just what i love for images at these ages.

don’t you love the way he shows his age? my brynn does the same thing…sooo cute!

hooray for being two!

sunkissed….

a little walk…

a little time in the lake…see if you can tell who was most eager to get IN the water.

see…sweetest bond…they kept saying, “i love you” to each other. melt.

happy birthday ryan & reesie! i enjoyed every moment i spent with you!

xo,

home again | san diego photographer | jen roberts

July 24, 2010 | Filed Under family, holidays, just because, me | 1 Comment

we are back & adjusting. gosh it was a blissful three weeks. some of my favorite things from our trip were:

-the weather. we were even cold the first week. being COLD in july was sheer heaven.

-the food. most of which i didn’t have to cook.

-roller coasters.

-the moisture in the air. my dry desert parched skin SOAKED.IT.UP.

-the beach: the sand, the sound, the smell. i miss it.

-the fireworks over the bay. and my baby’s face as he watched.

-boney’s bayside market on coronado…leisurely shopping there for breakfast, snacks & sandwiches & then sitting OUTSIDE & eating.

-coming back each evening to a clean room with made beds & fresh towels without having to lift a finger.

-the company….my in-laws, immediate family and bff. so good to just catch up without the demands of daily life.

-just BEING with my husband & kids…no distractions.

i can’t wait to go back. in the meantime i have loads of pictures to post…sessions and plenty of images from our trip. for now i’ll just share this one from our last night on coronado island.

until next time,

xo,

feels like home | peoria maternity photographer | jen roberts

June 30, 2010 | Filed Under bellies | 8 Comments

one of my favorite things about my job is the people…meeting them, hearing their stories. i was delighted when the gorgeous & talented vanessa of the crafty nest contacted me a few months ago for maternity & newborn sessions. you see they had been trying for this sweet babe for quite some time and were overjoyed to finally be expecting. rich & vanessa began their relationship apart…long distance….and as i heard their story i was charmed to discover that no matter where they were, where the other one was…was home. they went so far as to start calling eachother by that endearment..home. and at their wedding..”feels like home” played for their first dance…

and now they will be welcoming their first child into the warm of their beautiful home….

and what a BEAUTIFUL home it is. and the nursery. oh my the nursery. i’m not sure i’ve ever seen one quite so darling. vanessa decorated little l’s room in a woodland animals theme with finishing touches from etsy. we both share quite an obsession love of etsy…

and then we headed out to the desert…braving the heat for some outdoor shots. we were thankful for the breeze. capturing two outdoor beauties. vanessa…you are positively glowing!

rich is going to be THE CUTEST daddy…and they plan on having little l call him pop. i adore that.

congratulations you two. can’t wait to meet #3 in a few short weeks!!

and now we are literally out the door to beautiful san diego. will still be available via email. happy summer my friends!

xo,

raw | chandler newborn photographer | jen roberts

June 28, 2010 | Filed Under newborns | 1 Comment

taking a moment in my evening to enjoy the raw, natural beauty of the newborn babe….

loving how the light picks up the peeling skin, the wrinkles, the dimpled chin.

sheer perfection. my little muses. my favorite subjects.

xo,

lately | arizona lifestyle photographer | jen roberts

June 19, 2010 | Filed Under just because, me | 11 Comments

just a snapshot or two into the inner working of our life of late. end of the school year party, graduations, t-ball & softball madness & more…

brynn is just sorta along for the ride these days. she handles it well, sweet thing and is TRULY a delight. she has her 3-year-old moments of course, but my goodness she is fun and makes me laugh every day. just the other day at old navy i was browsing & turned to find her “frozen” next to the mannequins trying desperately to keep a straight face. hiiiilllarious. she is becoming a little fish in the water…i must bring my camera to her next lesson. she is the only kid i’ve ever seen who practices her floats with her eyes squeezed shut tight and a GIANT smile on her face. sigh….how i love this girl.

my baby boy is growing up. he is sitting & crawling (FAST!) and it is all happening with such blazing speed that I want to scream STOP to the universe and keep that “little critter” (as Luke affectionately calls him) tiny and sweet forever. he loves to lay his head on my shoulder, suck on his two fingers & snuggle his face into my neck. i am drunk on his sweet baby smell and my heart aches with the thought that he is going to grow up and away….my last baby. it makes me sadder than i thought it would.

and luke. my handsome boy. he is testing me of late. much disobedience & moodiness. i think he may be a bit over-scheduled this summer. when the school year came to a close i was rejoicing at the thought of easy, slow days….so NOT the case. we are busier than ever & i’m seriously reconsidering the amount of activities we participate in next summer. i see him growing up before my eyes…his first tooth is loose. we are astounded at this. seriously astounded.

my zoe. she played her first year of softball. asked her daddy to coach her which he did. warmed my heart to see the two of them out on the field together. i love how rob is passing his love of sports (and hopefully some of his coordination) on to the kids. heaven forbid they get MY coordination. all arms and legs over here. sometimes when i look at her i see flashes of the adult she will become. it thrills and terrifies me. she is genuinely helpful. independent, but still enjoys a cuddle. shy and smart. we celebrated the last day of school with a totally last minute, fly by the seat of our pants pool party with her friends. it was such fun.

and by the pool is where we can be found a lot these days as we brave the 110+ degrees. in a few short weeks we will escape to the blissful califorinia coast where we will relax, play, recharge and reconnect. i can’t wait.

until next time, hug your babies, enjoy your summer & for heaven sake STAY COOL!!

xo,

wedding tidbits | mesa wedding photographer | jen roberts

June 8, 2010 | Filed Under love, me, weddings | 10 Comments

i was not the official photographer for my brother’s wedding. i wanted to enjoy the day without the pressure of being “on” with my camera. and enjoy i did. i SO relished the time relaxing and soaking in the love, laughing with my family, reminiscing with my hubby, eating, chatting, catching up…of course with camera in hand. ;) these are just a few “behind the scenes” little bits i photographed along the way….congrats again steve & kierstie. it could not have been a more perfect day.

freshly wedded…

a wedding, a luncheon, some photos & we are off to the reception. and have i mentioned the flowers? oh how i adored the flowers!!

the wedding colors…courtesy of the pedicurist….because wedding or no wedding a pedicure is always a good idea.

and the cutest girlies eva! mine would be the ham in the middle. oh yes indeed. and sweet pea vicks on the right took her first steps at the reception…

my brother looking dapper & his awesome wife…along with their baby girl…all working the camera…

they had a candy bar. my children were in heaven.

see? heaven. and don’t forget about the 37 italian sodas that they had and the pizookies. oooohhhh the pizookies.

i think all that sugar may have started to go to our heads. c&j i was going to crop little cb’s head out, but the look on his face is TOO classic. and yes, there is my little ham again.

and we wrap it up with one handsome little devil…

sigh. it was a good day. a very good day. i love love.

xo,

worth the wait | mesa family photographer | jen roberts

May 25, 2010 | Filed Under family, kids, sneak peeks | 14 Comments

the story of this sweet family began as most do…the longing, the wish, the hope. but as it is in life, things did not happen as planned. after a roller coaster of excitement, heartache, anticipation and disappointment they have arrived at this moment…complete and perfect. a family. while editing these photos i couldn’t help but tear up a bit…knowing their struggle, witnessing their joy.

a few years ago i came across this poem…i love it.

Not flesh of my flesh
Nor bone of my bone,
But still miraculously
My own.
Never forget
For a single minute:
You didn’t grow under my heart
But in it.

congratulations “a” family. thank you for inviting me to capture this moment. i couldn’t be happier for you.

xo,