Friday, April 30, 2010

ETERNAL

I don't even know where to begin with this post, but I want to write this all down while the feelings are alive and fresh. Today was a day I honestly never really wished for because I thought it would never come. However, about a year ago my grandpa announced to me that he wanted to make my grandma's life-long dream come true by taking her to the temple to be sealed together. After she passed away in June, I wasn't sure that he would keep up the religious momentum, but I was certainly hopeful. When my dad ordained him an elder this last fall, I felt like I was dreaming. It couldn't possibly be MY grandpa who is all happy and in love with the church. Well, thanks to a very loving Bishop and a supportive ward, tonight he was able to take out his endowments, and then after that be sealed to my grandma, my late aunt Nonalee, and my dad. Wow, what a day!

I felt tremendously happy during the session. I kept peeking at my little gramps and would smile knowing how happy my grandma was now that he was making these important covenants. When I was finally able to give him a big hug in the celestial room, he said: "Your grandma is here and she is SO happy." Isn't it so nice that love is eternal?

No one can argue that going through the temple for the first time can be a bit overwhelming. So as we were waiting for the sealing I asked my grandpa how he was feeling. "It is a lot to take in Grandpa. How are you feeling?" He replied, "It is a lot Michelle, but I am SO thrilled. I am on cloud nine."

Soon I was able to take my front row seat in the spacious sealing room. My mom sat in proxy for my grandma, and I just kept picturing my sweet little grandma, knowing that this is something she had wanted her whole life. May I remind you that I could NOT believe it was really happening. After they were sealed and they added in my dad and Ashley who was filling in for Nonalee, I lost it. I almost couldn't breathe. How do I explain this...I felt suffocated, but in a really warm way. It was brilliant to me to see this link in my family pieced together, and I don't think I can really describe properly how it felt for me to be in that room.

I kept thinking of a 12-year old girl whose mom found her in her room in tears because she wanted to be sealed to her family. I never imagined it would ever include my sweet Grandpa. Well, not in this lifetime anyway. Tonight I got my wish times ten.

Now on to the pictures. It was a stunning day at the temple, and Ashley and I drove together. We were both so excited! We both got our love of shoes from our grandma, so we had to get a picture of our sassy shoes. Now, the pictures after the sealing are totally blurry. I took a chance and put my cheaper camera on a setting that slows the shutter so it doesn't wash out the background. Unfortunately we look a mess, but I don't really care. I"ll remember this day forever even without perfect pictures.

Friday, April 23, 2010

APRIL SHOWERS

Last spring, Old Navy had some adorable umbrellas with matching rain boots for sale. Of course, I bought some when they went on sale and have been imagining a spring photo shoot with them for almost a year. Well, Stella loves the boots, and she loves to play with the umbrella...in the house that is. As soon as I got her outside she was totally grumpy and DID NOT want to try and hold the cumbersome umbrella at all. I tried to stay patient with her and just take pictures of whatever she did, and I was surprised at how many of these I just love. They aren't the "tip-toe through the tulips" pictures I had envisioned, but they will do. For this year, anyway. ;)

Tuesday, April 20, 2010

FAVORITE SONG: POPCORN POPPING

I looked out the window and what did I see?
Popcorn popping on the apricot tree
Spring has brought me such a nice surprise
Popcorn popping right before my eyes

I can take an armful and make a treat
A popcorn ball that would smell so sweet
It wasn't really so
But it seemed to be
Popcorn popping on the apricot tree

Photographer's note: The only thing I couldn't catch here is that when Stella "looks out the window," she usually covers her eyes so she can't see.

Saturday, April 17, 2010

TAKE PICTURE

This morning as I came downstairs holding my camera for my engagement shoot later in the day, Stella said: "take picture." I took one of her and showed it to her before I left. When I was sitting with her in the bath tonight I wanted to capture her adorable curls, which didn't happen. Instead Stella started posing for me and then would want to see each picture after I took it.

Not one of these pictures is just a moment captured by mom. EACH AND EVERY ONE is Stella posing for the camera and holding it. I loved these as black and whites. I hesitated having them all be B&W, but we all know already how blue Stella's eyes are, right?

Thursday, April 15, 2010

THE PURSE

Stella hasn't gone anywhere without her purse for a long time now. Aunt Ashley bought it for her for Christmas, and lately having her purse with her is as important as having shoes on before she leaves the house. She likes to keep it up on her shoulder, but it usually drops down to her elbow as she walks around. What does a 22-month old girl keep in her purse? You might be surprised to find out that it is about the same as it is for an adult: keys, money, cell phone, credit card, and the occasional bracelet. When we get to the car like we did here at the park she opens up her purse and gets out her keys. Stella really is a girl on the go.


Another cute thing that Stella does that I want to record is her obsession with loved ones. From the moment she wakes up she is talking about the people she loves. "Ty-Ty, and Papa, and Nama, and Ava, and Ty-Ty, and Dada, and Papa, and Ava, and Mama, and Ava, and Ty-Ty, and Papa, and Ashee, and Ava." It goes on and on like this ALL day. Add it to the list of "Adorable Things I Do" by Stella Sallay.

Saturday, April 10, 2010

ASIAN BIRTHDAY PARTY

Yesterday was my mommy's birthday. We decided to head to Asian Star for a delicious Chinese dinner. I have to say that the Evans kids were lookin' good. Ashley had on her Chanel necklace, Tyler was wearing the cardigan I helped him find, and I was wearing one of my five new J. Crew headbands. I almost didn't bring my camera since, you know, sometimes I just want to enjoy myself and not have to "capture" life all of the time. But I am so glad I did because the lighting was dreamy, and we happened to run into Krisi, who is the only other person I know that can use my camera. She took a lovely group shot of all of us together. Mom was spoiled with trinkets, one being a teeny-tiny purse from Brighton that I had to buy for Dad on the sly. She was excited to get it, even though she had a hunch it was coming since I had left a Brighton water bottle in her car. Oops!