ourboys!

this is a VERY typical photo session with the boys (3&5yrs.)...
I always promise myself when the session is over...
I will never attempt it again!
and then I forget how bad it was,
get busy,
need to "get it done,"
and I go and do it all over again...
it's like group family punishment or something...
truly, it is worse than the getting-ready-for-church-scramble...
Panda noodles barely soothe the nerves when it is over...
AND YET,
I wouldn't trade it for the world...
let's hear it for the boys!!
nik

our tye...

threw a baseball into his 24"x32" picture frame tonight...
broken glass everywhere...

the good news...it wasn't a window...
the bad news...he was aiming for his brother...
he is so tenderhearted...and was devastated he "broke your picture frame mama"...
big crocodile tears.
however, he was also mad, he missed his brother...
big sigh.
nik

elite strike force

from the Penguins of Madagascar...
meet "the skipper"....or should I say skippers?
because they both are the skipper...
apparently, no one wants to be kowalski, private or rico....
but they do have "unmatched commando skills"...

just ask them...they're deadly!
thank you aunt jj's for the dvd (;
nik

yellow

iheartfaces!

most especially our tad and tye. my poor kids...
they are never going to have a "normal" picture of themselves...

xo
nik

happy day.

Tad is officially 5 years old.
April 7th.

holy moly

he starts kindergarten this fall....

holy mackerel...

holy cow...

holy smokes!

I am already starting to hyperventilate!!!

nik

shadow bandit

he made an ordinary fight look like a prayer meetin'...

what can I say?
I gave him all my money...
nik

my tye.

sometimes the boys are willing to "help" me in "studio"...

yogi master.

I am still in shock my "baby" is now three...

I know this is such a violation...but it brings tye so much joy to "gross" me out...

all boy.
nik

anything but a face

I don't think of myself as sentimental...but someday, I know...
I will miss my boys
feet and hands...
you know when they are still little boys??
with sticky fingers...
a little chubby...
a little awkward...
zooming cars around the house...
and even their "stinky" feet don't really stink...
ugh...kill me. I love my little men...
nik

red.

3 years ago, yesterday, February 13th. this little cowboy bandit stole my heart.

I tell you...I think he is the most adorable thing, ever.
all daddy...this one.

xoxo Tye-gur!
mom

modus operandi

Smile! this is Tad. I joke not, anyone who has met him knows...
he smiles 90% of the time.

truly. it's his method of operating.
what a blessing.
nik

the not-so-christmas christmas card.

So sometimes when Bruce comes home and asks me about my day...I just want to show him a picture...yep, and that explains it...not that I am trying to box anyone in...I promise you...some kids just arrive that way...straight up, day one...just like that

I am telling you the sociologist in me may deny it...but this one is NATURE not nurture...seriously.

it's all Bruce's fault. seriously.

nik

we wish you...

Sample: 5x7 custom flat card*
front/back design

a merry christmas...

Paper Options:
Art Watercolor
Art Linen
Art Recycled
Satin UV
Pearl UV

i know...i know...where have all the pumpkins and turkeys gone...look on the bright side...at least it is not July...

nik.

*custom cards only available with a nikolaidesigns photo session.

Got to Wear Shades.

Many of us think of sunglasses as simply eye candy.

The truth: Sunglasses are a safety apparatus. They protect our eyes from the sun, dust, and sometimes...flying objects. When picking out a safety apparatus...one must think of design and functionality.

this stuffs important.

nik.

sneak peak....sort-of.

yep, you guessed it. this is what I shot on Sunday. Probably, not the "sneak peak" the boys were looking for...but I promise, much more to come.
this is the hubby....all 6'5", 220lbs. of him! What's not to love? my Tibbs. have i mentioned how much I LOVE being married to Bruce? We fit. I mean really fit. We celebrated our 12th year together Saturday....I am already saying we are working on our 13th...by next year I will be completely confused on whether or not we are having our 13th or our 14th year anniversary....I am just a nut like that. I love Bruce more today than when we walked down the aisle....

but that doesn't mean I won't run out of the house in my underwear mad at him....not that anything like that has EVER happened before....noooooo not me.

nik.

Tye. simply dangerous

the Tye-gur is running a low-grade fever. again. argh!



btw...I mean that in the exasperated tired-mom way...not in the pirate way....argh...aRGh...aRGH...

I promise I don't have a fever any more...at least, I don't think I do...

argh.

nik.

Yellow!

Really, sometimes all you need is just a touch of yellow to complete an outfit. like father. like son.

nik

Somebody 'stop' me...

I don't have a photo to post. Just a big, Thank You!, to Syl
for an intense and super informative Speedliter's Intensive yesterday in LA.
www.speedliting.com
Poor poor Syl...I am afraid he is going to need a LOT of wine in October... (:

My brain is now complete mush!

I am thinking of light, light, more light, light and shadow, turning day into night, and stops.

I think I dreamt of stops last night....iso 100-400....how many stops Nikki? How many stops of real estate are my children?

hmmmmm....it's an illness really.....

more photos soon.
nik

Happy Birthday!

Meet Tad Pole. This cracks me up...typically, Tad is just two big walking dimples. He is always smiling and is just "happy-to-be-a-part-of-it" whatever "it" is going on at the moment. However, occasionally he gives me this look and says, "Mom, don't laugh...I am serious." Oh boy, what did your brother do? (:

Tad pole, 4 years later and I still can't believe it! You are such a miracle...
love you 54-5, sure-do-love-you, my heart gives love to you, you're the best!, I love you more than the stars...and the moon...

mom

Whew!

2 words... "Family Reunion"

1 Grandmother.
4 daughters.
23 grandchildren.
69 great grandchildren...and a few halves.

No kiddin' I need a holiday from my holiday. (:
Ok, back to work...or should I say rest?

nik

Feeding the Ducks

I know it's labeled feeding the ducks....back when I used to feed the ducks at Mooney...there were actually ducks....now there are just big, mean, ugly geese. It all started out fine, Tad was throwing popcorn like a wild man. The geese were happy, Tad was happy......then things started to turn ugly, a big ole'goose started hissing at Tad. Tad being Tad, turned and ran...this is the moment when the goose decided to initiate flight and dive bomb him. That's when I stepped in, Avatar-style, flapping my arms like a goose and hissing back (I know, I didn't think fast enough to pick up a stick. Story of my life...)I hope Jessica still wants to be friends with me.

Anyway, the goose did back down, and that's when I told Tad that Daddy will have to come back and shoot the goose! I think it somewhat eased his trauma because he has now told Mimi, A. Nana, A. JJ's and Daddy that, "Mom said a funny joke." The lesson learned, don't judge anyone who flinches when they pass a goose....you just never know where they've been.

So obviously, I have to much time on my hands...
nik