A huge THANK YOU to all of you who voted to name us 2009 Best Roseville/Granite Bay Photographer by the Press-Tribune! We are so humbled and grateful, as we know this honor was given to us because of YOU! Thanks for being a part of Enchanted Images and our life….

Thought I’d post a few from our San Diego trip last month. My sister Liz and her kiddos were out from Kansas at the same time and suggested we head over to Coronado. it was cloudy, a bit cool, and at times a little drizzly. Transalation for all the kids – no problem! Give Teagan a bucket & shovel and not even snow would stop her from beach-combing. I got the wonderful pleasure of sitting back, guarding the stuff, and fending off some seriously aggressive seagulls.

I did however manage to get some nice photos of the girls at play. Here are a few of Reilly, Miss T and cousin Ashlyn.

It’s taken me the better part of 7 years to convince Stef the yumminess of sushi. Never high on her list, on the rare occasion she would suggest it for dinner, it meant it was either my birthday or a preparation for a household project.

Enter Mikuni and the now ubiquitous soy wrap. Someone suggested that to her in place of the standard seaweed wrap. The chef brought the first roll out and just like the old Life cereal commercials…SHE LIKES IT!!!

Now it’s tough for me to keep her out of the place.

I am not disappointed…

Just got back into town (San Diego) from our cruise to Cabo. Stef and I got to enjoy 5 nights out on the rolling (and rolling) ocean and a couple of relaxing days on the beach. It was a great time and we made some new friends. One of the days I decided to lug out the camera gear and lights to see what trouble I could get into. One of the dancers on the boat cabaret show was gracious enough to model and I got a few great shots before the rain and surf knocked us out. Here are a few of them. Thanks Rachael!

We will be out for a while while our site gets some maintenance. Back in a jiffy!

Teagan started her first all day pre-school this year (sniff…) and not a moment too soon. Let’s just say, she has become a bit “restless” around the Hays household lately. Once again, Stef and I became invisible once we dropped her off and she rolled in like she had been there all year. Our days are a little less exciting with her gone, but also a bit more quiet..

When Stef asked me to set the alarm for 7am last night, I didn’t expect Reilly would have already been up for a half-hour.

Reilly started second grade today and so did a new morning routine. The lollygagging and late breakfasts have been replaced with “Dad! Hurry up, we’re going to be late!!!” Hopefully the permanent smile she had this morning will continue.

We arrived in plenty of time and within minutes Reilly was re-connecting with friends and checking out new haircuts. Have a great day!

Reilly’s 7th birthday finally concluded on Monday with a party at the Roseville Aquatics Center with a bunch of her friends. We chose this venue for various reasons, but mostly because we assumed it would be hot and steamy as most Sacramento August days are known to be. Well, of course it was only in the mid-80’s that day, but it meant an almost empty huge venue for our party girls! The girls had a blast swimming, enjoying pizza & cake, and just hanging out. Crowd or not, our girls were always easy to spot thanks to their neon goggles (Reilly in the green and Teagan in pink). Thanks to everyone who came to help our sweet 7-year old celebrate the passing of another year and usher in the next!

When Stef asked me to put together some older photos of Reilly for her birthday blog post, I wasn’t quite prepared for the effect this would have on me.

Going through the photos from the last several years, I had a difficult time holding it together. I looked at the photos I took at dinner last night, then poured through a collection of familiar yet distant images of her from just a few years past.

When did this happen? Where did this time go? How can in seven short years am I able to not completely remember everything about her even with these wonderful photographs? I am constantly astonished at the cliche “It goes by so quickly” and how unavoidably true it is. I’ve heard this a million times and have probably repeated it as much, but still am not prepared for it.

Where did it go…

I hope her memories are as fond as mine of these times, and that they seem a lot longer for her than for me. And I hope, that with any luck, some of these photographs will help her keep those memories close.

Seven years…Miss T is really not that far behind and I’m not quite sure I’m ready for another toothless smile, or for “breafkast” to be pronounced right, for princesses to fall out of favor, for bubbles not to be fascinating, or for serious doubt whether or not Santa Claus is a viable source for presents.

And I will certainly never be ready for the last time I carry either one of them up the stairs to bed.

Until then, all aboard! Here is a blast from the (not so distant) past.

Happy birthday Reilly, I love you.