"I thought I might die. On beach day."

Don't tell me the Jacobson men don't know how to compete!



Very Wee Man never stood a chance.

Who's with me?

I'm starting a petition to extend summer for at least four more months.

Vacation.

Highlights included:

Staying at the best hotel ever. Huge rooms, huge beds, huuuuuge tubs. Water slides, pirate ships, lazy rivers. If you are ever in Maui, stay here.


He was thrilled.


During our boating trip, I had decided if one Dramamine was good, four was better. Twenty minutes later found me wandering a mall a little more buzzed than a good Mormon girl should be high. I then decided while buzzed high that I need a insanely large rimmed hat. Think Kentucky Derby size. The saleslady said I looked like a tall Aubrey Hepburn. I think it was a good look for me.



Once we got on the boat it all worked out. Colin was afraid of actually snorkeling (i.e. the whole reason for the boat ride and drugged state) so I ended up dragging him through the ocean on a floatie with a window to see the fish. Also, I didn't vomit. Score!





My left boob made a sudden and unexpected appearance at a public beach. If you're my Facebook friend, you already know that. Also, Blake doesn't know so let's just keep it between us. Hi, honey!

(Really, I blame Costco for the boob thing. Them and their swimsuit they stick on life-size clear plastic bodies. You can only think "This looks just like me! But maybe my nipples aren't always so perky". Then you get home and realize you're 6'1" and maybe it doesn't fit you the same way. But is a non-fitting swimsuit a good excuse to go ALL THE WAY BACK to Costco? No mama, it is not.)

Colin's only request was to visit the Maui Aquarium, which is super sucky. Just a heads up--Hawaii's attitude towards aquariums seems to be, "Hey, what the hell are you doing inside? Go to the beach. Aloha."



I had a one hour massage. ONE HOUR! I pretty sure I drooled all over her table, but it was totally worth it.

Blake is very, very cute in Maui (taken right after the massage--can't you just feel how relaxed I am?)



We played on the beaches and got very, very sandy. And you know what? I DIDN'T EVEN CARE!



In conclusion, Maui is awesome. Boobs should stay in your swimsuit. Don't do drugs.

The end.

Yeah, she's cute...

..but she doesn't nap anymore. And that's my excuse for never blogging.



Don't blame me. Blame Kate.

Home again.

We're back from Maui! I'm slowly adjusting to making my own bed, not wearing a swimsuit 24/7 and dealing with a cat who might have did pee under my bed.

Vacation pictures coming soon!

Photo Tips: Photographing Babies

I'm planning on answering all of your great photography questions, but wanted to do the photographing babies section done first.

Since so much of photography is seeing, I found a great little video to show you with Carrie Sandoval who is amazing with brand new babies.



She briefly discusses lighting, but I think sometimes that's the hardest to get right (well, that and trying to keep the baby from pooping all over you) Since I'm assuming you're photographing your baby indoors, you want to position your baby beside a window in your house that doesn't get direct light. Think of direct light as the kind a cat would want to nap in--super, super bright light. We don't want that kind. The most ideal window is a north-facing window, but any window that's getting nice, soft non-direct sunlight will work. Walk around your house and try noticing which windows get that yummy light throughout the day.



*shot by a non-direct light window in front of black fabric.

If the window is dirty, that's even better! The dirt will help diffuse the light and make it even softer. If all your windows have direct, harsh light you can always try hanging sheer curtain that are almost see-through. You can position your baby however you'd like (check out the video for some tips!) but make sure your subject is getting side light from the window and not direct light. The shadows on the other side of face gives it depth and makes it more interesting.







Check out Carrie's blog (as well as her Baby As Art blog) and video for great positioning ideas. I love to see some of your pictures after trying this out!

HodgePodge

When I think of this blog, I think of a conversation. Sure we're miles apart but I want to hear from you and pretend you're dying to hear from me. When you get out of the habit of blogging, your first post back is like making that awkward phone to an old roommate or friend. So be those friends that just hop back into it, okay?

Okay.

So our little puppy Max has moved onto another home. There were many issues, one of the main being that Kate turned out to be allergic to him. Let's just say dogs are not in the Jacobson's near future. My kids have done fantastically with it, which might suggest a teeny bit of their non-attachment to the dog. It's a whole thing. Just don't talk to Blake about it.

So, being insane, we tried again with a cat. Ding! Ding! Ding! Cat works great. Cat is terrorized by kids and forced to watch Star Wars: The Clone Wars every morning.



"Seriously, Star Wars again?"

If you have or are getting a furry pet, get one of these. They have them for dogs as well and they are aaaaamazing.



"Word."

So I'm supposed to be writing this photography tips article. Why? Because I'm a sucker for free things. Here's what I'm thinking every time I go to sit down and write this article.

(static)

(crickets)

(dead silence)

Sooooo....do you guys have any ideas? Any questions about photography? Also, what would you do if you got free stuff out of it?



We have logged some serious pool time. My kids are still always naked, but at least there's a good reason behind it.





There have been many, many epic army men battles. Maybe it's being a girl, but it brings new meaning to the word mind-numbing for me. I try to be a good sport, but how many battle formations is a girl supposed to be able to take?



My guys are the tan ones. They didn't fare so well.

Happy Fathers Day

To the man that makes all the girls swoon.

Sucka.

As if there wasn't enough pooping and screaming in my life, meet Max. Hey, I can sleep when I'm dead, right?

I can see how he'd be confused.

Here's the infamous fish Colin was commenting on.



What do you think? Nose? Or penis?