Travels with Auntie M: January 2010

Family Portraits – 18 JAN 2010

Monday we worked on trying to get a family portrait. It was difficult to get Riley to join us.

But I was able to get a couple of good shots.

This was my first road trip with Rudy…he was a trooper. Their dogs, Buster and Annie, welcomed him without reservation. Rudy had a great time playing with everyone. This was the only shot I could get all the dogs.

After breakfast I heard the sound of little feet running up & down the hall and bursts of laughter. Seems Riley and Rudy had worked out their own game…chasing each other down the hall and into her bedroom. Sometimes Riley chased Rudy and sometimes Rudy chased Riley. Then Riley would hide in her bedroom while Rudy would run down the hall and back, which caused Riley to burst out in a fit of laughter; and this, the dog would do over and over. Of course when I grabbed my camera all action stopped.

Two Twos in a Tub – 17 JAN 2010

Two year olds can make bath time so much fun:

In the afternoon we went to the park to take family pics:

One of the rare times the camera caught me:

The Birthday Party – 16 JAN 2010

I went up to Fresno for Riley’s “year two” birthday party. The first baby birthday party I photographed was for Riley’s mother, Casey, when she was one. It was held in an ice cream parlor. Casey’s mother (Debra) knew I liked ice cream and promised if I attended, she would return the favor by never inviting me to a Chucky Cheese party. I never dreamed then, someday I would be photographing a second generation, toddler party.

Riley’s party was held at ‘The Little Gym’ a children’s gymnastic center with special activities for preschoolers.

Shoeless adults and toddlers were released in a padded room with child size equipment.

They had some party games but most of the time Riley was too excited to participate and ran from wall to wall while all her friends did the ‘group’ thing. The expression, “like herding cats” kept coming to mind.

Casey said she thought Riley was so hyper because it was the first time all of her friends from different play groups were in the same room. To me that thought process seems a little too complex for a 2 yr old…I think it was just joy because it was play time…and like Riley, I’d rather run around screaming for joy then sit with a group following instructions!

The party followed the Auntie M motto on how to be a God Mother: “Play and have fun, feed them sugar, and send them home.”

After the padded room play, it was cake and ice cream, followed by gift opening and then bye, bye babies.

Hairdo Dog - 31 DEC 2009

Rudy’s hair can be formed to model different hairstyles…of course it always returns to normal if he shakes his head. But if I’m fast, I can capture many different looks. I closed out 2009 with a Rudy photo session. With the help of some friends, we identified several Celebrity Dos…I give you the many faces of Rudy: