Poppy is full of sparkle and fun. She is great at giving bear hugs… hence her birthday present!

While 8 seems rather big and grown up and I sometimes feel a tiny bit sad at the passing of babyhood. (No more tubby little bellies or chubby cheeks.) She is so tall and tends to tell me things like they are.

It is an honor to be her mum. I am amazed at the wonderful person who I am getting to know. I am the luckiest! Not baby but girl.

A lovely Bear girl.

You’re most likely going to ask… Where can I get my own sweet teddy bear hat?? WE LOVE these fantastic hats by Spirithoods.

Also Poppy is wearing POLKA our most favorite children’s clothing label!! GET SOME HERE!

I have to keep most of the work I was doing there a little bit under wraps for now but will tell more about that soon!! I can’t wait to show you the beautiful stories and people I met with while in India. But for this post, a few shots from my travels.

When I arrived in Delhi I had a sense that I was about to go on a great adventure.

I was so right! Everything about India was remarkable!

From crazy driving to being lost in the middle of the night… from staying in strange ‘hotels’ with pre-warmed beds to walking down hills so steep it would be easier to slide down… to sitting with inspiring women and watching their eyes light up as they excitedly talk about how they help their communities… from slums to villages to the tailor who made me laugh and offered me loads of Chai. From the girl I scared and made her drop the water that took her 1.5hrs to get… to the dogs that scared me at night and made me grab my friends hand in terror – to the stunning women of India who are elegant and beautiful even while draped precariously on the back of crazy fast scooters.

ADVENTURE was had. In fact of all the countries I’ve been to I have never felt so connected and delighted with a country before.

So thank you India for inspiring me. For a sense of perspective that can only come from having lunch in a house the size of my laundry. For the colour and people who made my stay fantastic. Thank you! “Achchacha”

However today I decided to do a little blogging on whatever I felt like! So I enjoyed looking over some of my own family photos and surprise surprise I found some cute old shots of Earnest (our great dane puppy) He has grown up so quick I couldn’t believe it!!

So hope you enjoy these happy snaps from our life with our big buddie.

If you feel like reading more about this beautiful dog and the adventure it has been owning him…you can here: 365grateful

We feel really grateful to all the people who have hired us and companies that have trusted us to deliver great work to them. We want to wish all our clients, friends and family a wonderful 2011. Thank you for your support! Also many thanks to all of you who stop by our blog from time to time. It is so great to have your company, comments and thoughts!

Wishing you all a most wonderful 2011, full of colour, fun, sunshine and love! This video is for YOU!

We are reading this fantastic book which just happens to have a chapter written by ME!!! (however I am not reading that chapter!!)

You can find out more about it here LOMOKEV.

Just finished editing an engagement session for this adorable couple.  We photographed this session in the beautiful Bangalow. It was a total delight working with these two!

Have you seen this wedding blog site? VERY COOL! I am completely honored to be featured on it sometimes!

Another thing that is keeping us super busy is Earnest. Having a dog is a little harder then I thought it would be!!! (yes mum, you were right!!)

Earnest is not a little guy anymore and we have had a bit of strict strike!! (STRICT STRIKE – a word my dear friend Aaron used while growing up together… My family was VERY strict and his not as much but after hanging out with my family his parents always went on a ‘strict strike’ for 2 weeks after. I am hoping we can last longer then 2 weeks!)

Even though Earnest is rather a handful…  we are getting there and enjoy his funny ears. When we are at the beach they catch the wind and stand straight up!!

You can see a funny shot of what they normally look like HERE.

I went to Chicago to do a job for a fantastic company based there. It was a wonderful time and I hope soon to post more about that job. Not only was it a fun little film to make, but the people I met were amazing! Inspiring and extremely good to me!!

We didn’t think the kids and Andrew would be able to come but last minute (the week before) we managed to juggle it! They stayed in L.A while I went tripping off to Chicago by myself. I am rarely without my gorgeous kids and Andrew, so being alone I thought would be hard – but it was fantastic! I had a ball! Will talk more about that when I can share the video with you.

When the job was finished I headed back to my little family and we had a fantastic time playing around Santa Monica and all the other fun things to do in L.A.

Here are a few pics from Chicago.

Then back in L.A doing what it seems everyone does… ride bikes! And also a little less popular – dig very deep holes and nearly get lost in them…

I had my birthday over there and went to the largest LOMOGRAPHY store in the world! Yippeeee! I also managed to purchase another plastic fantastic for my collection!

Lastly we met up with my totally fantastic brother and his cute family.

They drove ALL the way from Colorado to visit us!! We had the best time hanging out with them and even went to the ‘Happiest place on Earth!’ Disneyland of course. (and despite my skepticism it was so fun! – except for the part where we lost my brother’s 5 year old daughter for half an hour…urg!) Seeing my brother and his family was wonderful… So fun we are going to have to plan another trip!

Had an amazing time and I was delighted that at the VERY last minute Andrew and the girls came along! Will upload some photos shortly.

First up I am so excited to announce a book by my flickr friend LOMOKEV. (Kevin Meridith)

Photo OP – 52 Photographic projects has been brewing for a bit and I am so happy to be a contributor of this fantastic book.

You can see the video of the book below:

Did I mention I was excited? Teeheee!!!

You can here:

Doorpost film project

If you enjoy it please vote for us!! Be great to get some comments and hear your thoughts.

Check out the other films too… we are under the category ‘Identity’ but lots of great subjects to check out.

Somehow the last 10yrs just flew by and here I am looking at a young girl who keeps reminding me of the baby girl she was a moment ago and then giving me glimpses of the woman she will be in just a moment.

I keep thinking what a delight that I get to be with this wise and amazing soul.

I am blessed. I am grateful!

When I am on the beach I feel my soul expanding and all the worries get very small.

Here are a few shots from the last few days of beachy fun we had.