want to take better pictures of your kids? here's how!!

 It's no secret that I take at least 10 pictures a day.

and I will always love my big DSLR camera and will never give it up for those very important pictures

but

sometimes with the diaper bag, keys, stroller, wallet, my must have can of coke and multiple kids under the age of 5 that sometimes will not move unless carried

my BIG DSLR camera is...well BIG!

so whats a mama to do?

resort to her camera phone.

but I wasn't happy with the results 

until I descovered a few different apps and simple tricks

now

I am in love! 

it's fast, easy and so much fun!

I am now offering a class in my home to teach about all the tips and trick I use to get exactly the pictures I will treasure forever!

and the best part is 

I get them with just my phone!

 

I am so excited to pass along what I have learned and watch other mom's feel confident and capture their children's unique personalities in the mundane everyday moments. those times when our kids are truly themselves. I will talk about posing, lighting, angles, editing, printing and much more! we will have free babysitting for the first hour. after you have learned everything we will move to the back yard and actually put it to the test with a fun kids activity and lots of photo opportunities!!!

I am limiting the number of moms to best give everyone the time and help they need. Please message on facebook or Chachimarie86@yahoo.com with your RSVP and full payment of only $25!! 

we are going to have a blast! I can not wait!!!!!!

Fairies

I have been itchy  to do a theme shoot for a while now. I have a ton of ideas but a little nervous to actually ask anyone if they would like to try them out.

so  I just use my  kids ;)

We  went to one of  my favorite locations

Spring Grove cemetery

and put on their fairy wings we made out of scrap stuff at home.

I asked for a few posed shots then asked them to pick out locations and poses for individual pictures. 

 I always try to make it a point to get the pictures I want first then I set my camera down and just be their mom and be in the moment with them. 

 This one is a little creepy but I love it .They had a blast exploring.

Letter to Stella

Dear Stella,

It is hard to pin point just how to describe you.

almost everyday someone comments on how much you look like your sister, Belle.

But I quickly inform them you have a totally different personality than her.

other than looks you both are nothing alike.

You love cuddling, piggy back rides, sleep, food, going bye-bye and chasing bugs.

your favorite phrase is "That's funny"

and then you crack up in the biggest fake laugh I have ever herd. 

you want to squeeze every baby you see.

 

  You are not a fan of being messy, flip flops, water on your head, 

you have a temper on you and you are not afraid to show it.

no one is aloud to hold your baby dolls or color on your paper.

your sisters are not to make you play with them but they better not leave you out of their play time either.

If daddy is around any other little kids he is not allowed to hold them unless he is holding you too.

 your the perfect combination of sweet and spice

you have stolen our hearts from the second you came into this world two years ago.

I hope this next year you continue to grow and learn

you keep that Independence and confidence in yourself

you inspire me.

We call you Lil' Stella 

but the only thing little about you is your size

you have a huge heart, mind, and great big world you WILL tackle one day at a time.

I love my bug.

Happy 2nd birthday

Love mommy.

Washington park

warning  TONS of pictures!!

If you have been a frequent reader of Chachi's memories  then you know I like to take my kids on little adventures all the time.

I am not a home body 

I can spend hours just walking around somewhere and having the time of  my life doing nothing really.

we try to find new fun places to go 

obviously the cheaper and more fun the better for us.

 My mom had  been talking about taking the girls to the new Washington park

in Cincinnati.

(I guess I get my non-homebody from her)

So we packed our swimsuits and a lunch boxes and headed down.

now this part of the city has a VERY bad reputation BUT it's getting better and I felt 100% safe letting my kids run around. The parking garage is actually under the park and you take an elevator up  right  inside the park. so no wandering down side streets or shady areas. There were plenty of workers and security guards keeping watch but not to the point where you wondered why they needed to be there. Lots of kids day care camps and other families were enjoying the fun. 

and there was  SO much to do!!

ok enough talking here's the pictures:

 O those tip toe hugs are the best!

 this series of pictures crack me up and shows how great of a big sister The Julia really is.....

Belle was a little nervous about the water shooting up

Julia hugged her....

 then put her face into the water to prove it's safe

 Belle died laughing!

 After we splashed at the water park for a bit we ate our lunch and then went to the playground/castle

 music making 

and sand pit

 i love how my mom is not the kind of  grandma to sit on the bench and watch she wants to get in there with them and play!

 My kids are every  used to seeing mom with a camera  following them around but that doesn't  mean they pose for me willingly. so  I have to kind of coax them.

I will usually find the spots I want and secretly talk them into playing over in that area. then I find something that might interest them, in these pictures there was a fake lizard sitting in the window. so I said  "look at that lizard!" and then once they are close enough to the spot I yell their name really loud!! they look at me funny and then I laugh and they most of the time smile back lol this doesn't always work but it did for this day...

 Then they wanted to play in the water again.....go figure right......

 but all good fun has to end sometime. and my littlest was beyond tired. 

she has little curls that shine through when her hair is a little wet. I am hoping as her hair grows so do the curls. Curls actually runs in my family but just for a very few people (my sister) the rest of us have bone straight hair.

I highly recommend Washington park! it was so much fun!! we will defiantly be back! and I would love to do real pictures here sometime too if anyone would be interested it a great location!!! maybe even do some fun trash the dress pictures!! hint hint anyone :)