Happy 30th Matt...

It's Matthew's birthday today. Matthew is my little brother . He would of celebrated his 30th today, and I miss him dearly. He passed away when he was just 18 years old. :)

There were 5 kids in all who passed that same morning. Imagine going to 5 funerals in one week and one being your youngest sibling? Strike that, don't imagine that.. Because that's not a fun thought. But that was our scenario, and one I'll never forget..

I don't write much about this sadness. Who likes to? I enjoy talking about the good feel stuff and especially love photographing the good feel stuff.. Like the celebrations of birthdays, events and the celebration of life. You know. Happy moments of our life.. So here I am writing..

But recently I have been photographing some of Matt's friends from school. They are starting families of their own and or about to. At this time in life, I wonder what Matt would be doing at this time in his life.

Would he have married his high school sweetheart? Would he have started a family with a few lil' Matt's running around? And maybe a dog named PLUR. What would his career choice have been? So many wonders.

I know he would have been awesome at whatever he would of done.. That, I am sure of... ;) and know he would of made the best uncle ever to my kiddos.

As much time goes by, there are never any certain ways to grieve. You just do the best you can.

Your grieve the hardest at the beginning and it changes over time certainly, but the heart still feels the same.. Loss.

I miss him just the same as I did 12 years ago and love him just the same. I know he is watching over us. I do believe his spirit is within me and my family, and I know I will meet up with him one day... And that is how I will celebrate his life and his birthday. Remembering the happy moments.

Enjoy your big 30 brother.

Happy Birthday Matt.

PLUR

Sometimes you just gotta play...

Meet my friend Miss Lauren Farmer....

Lauren is also a photographer living in New York city and she came into town just to see me... Okay! Okay!...... not just for me, but that sure sounded good as I was writing it... :) wink,wink!

Lauren and I met through a mutual friend you may know ;) and she was in town for a few days, so we set up a "Let's just go out and play kinda session" Sometimes you just gotta get out of the norm and just go out and play.. and that is exactly what we did...

Here is a glimpse of our day... ;) Thanks Lauren.. can't wait to do it again.. ;)

Look who sprung into spring........

three years ago today...March 20th 2006

my little guy.. Ryder Alan Lee, and it was the best way to start off the season...

I love this little guy with all my heart and I am so glad he is part of my Spring...
Happy Birthday monkey..I Love You...
Mom.

i interrupt this blog (again)...

to bring you a rare moment caught... I just had to post...:)
usually it's one or the other... but, I'll take it....;)
Don't you just love fall?.. all the warm, rich colors.. yummy yellow light... I think the light is is just so different around this time... the sun peeks through the brown and orange colored trees.. Lov'n it...

Madeleine wanted her own photo shoot.. ;)


can't decide which one I like better.. Hmmmmmmmm...
reg.

BW

A TRA action (pool party)

Do you want to be my FACE friend?

okay.. I feel a little silly asking, but this is so much fun... the book of many faces...I did sign up about year ago, never did anything with it, but back when we had our "get tha' funk out" weekend, Jo introduced it to me all over again.. ever since.. addicted!!!..... another way to get up to date on what I am doing without a long post here...

I though my space would be cool, but facebook is so much better... clean, simple,and not all those ads and busy overdone wallpapers thrown in your face... my kind of network!... anyhoo!... so, c'mon over, look me up and be my friend... :)
click here



now, off to go hopscotch with my kids with fun 3-D chalk.. Happy Monday....
G.

Do I really need a header... Ha...

My crazy family... obviously we need some work on getting a foot off the ground... Ha.. We had a family shoot out the other day, and I had some crazy idea that they all bring one thing. they did... the jump was not one of them... but each of them brought one special item..... It was so much fun.. I can not post any of the pictures quite yet, because it is a surprise for Christmas, but I can leave you with this image for the weekend... :)

Lorraine gets the highest jumper award... obviously...
Thanks Ro for coming out to our family shoot out and taking this image.. you rock my friend...

Have a great weekend!

let the tree trimming begin.....

I know, we are a little crazy.... now really! Who sets out all their Christmas decor before Thanksgiving? only the Lee family would.. anybody else? Ha...

When my husband started to get all the lights out for our light show spectacualr... he brought all my inside decor out as well.. first I said "Oh, no" then I said "Oh, what the heck"...Yes, my Christmas umbrella un-tree is up already... I just figure, while everybody is out on the weekends in December getting their tree, we will sipping egg nog, singing carols and dancing around the fire... ...
Oooooooooh!.. who am I kidding... we will be throwing back beers and watching some "who's playing?" football game and I will still be stuck here behind the computer editing away... Ha... (hee, hee)
Happy Thursday!

It's Friday... and I am still in shooting and editing mode... I am off to shoot another family in Rancho today, and I am very excited to meet another new family, so I don't have time to do another family post till the weekend is over.. so here you go...

these are my shoes.. Yes!.. my yellow shoes... and I just love them... I am feeling a bit under the weather today, but I'm still standing..yeah, yeah, yeah! (Okay.. I'm a nerd)... so I knew exactly what would brighten my day.. To wear my bright colored yellow shoes today...
Okay!... post blogged... Happy Friday...Ha... :)
Have a great weekend everyone.. check back soon.. more fun, crazy antics on the way...:)

Lights on.. Baby....

Yes, It's official.. The Lee family is lighting up this year...
Christmas lights that is...

It really is a must see in person, but here is last year's theme. This year, a whole new theme... :) one week only... leading up to the 24th..


I must say, I give so much credit to my wonderful husband for doing this.. He gives up so much his time, his talent to give the city of Redlands, and all of us the joy of Christmas in a phenomenal light display. He is a trooper for braving the weather and traffic every single night.... and he does it with a smile and with his heart.. I sure do love this guy...

If you are in the area, please stop by and say "Hi".. We would love to meet you...

P.S. and if you are a true HSM fan, like we are.... He did this last year for a one night only performance... CLICK HERE
~g

Rock the vote....

Oh, yes I did... The lines were not too bad.. 15 minutes, in and out.. maybe because I went early, I think they will be much, much longer after four... So, hurry on up...
and then I headed on over to our nearest Starbucks to get my free coffee, just for voting.. How cool is that?.. Thanks Patrice on the heads up on that one.....

I voted, got some caffeine, all warmed up and feel so good... ;)....
G.

P.S. More sneak peeks on the way.. Promise...

DO not VOTE......huh! :)

I received this 8 times in my e-mail box this morning, so I though I'd spread the word... we are 1 day away.... WOW....