There's just something about boys, though.

Recently I've noted that my Isaac and I are very, very entwined right now.  I am saddened every day by his growing-up-ness.  I'm losing him to a bigger, stronger, smarter boy. I love that boy too- because I can talk longer and in deeper conversation with him, laugh harder with him, watch him more easily make connections. But he's only 5 and I feel like tomorrow is the day he goes off to college.

I'm trying not to mourn it. You know, because it's about 13 years too early.

Yesterday Isaac told me he was getting married. He's not sure if he's going to marry Lily or Taylor; he says it's a close call.  But, when he escorted Taylor out of school and up to her mom yesterday, then hugged her firmly and planted a kiss right on her forehead, followed up with, "I love you", I about died. Where does he get this stuff?

Poor Taylor. She's probably freaked out. 

On a slightly related note, we saw Where the Wild Things are tonight.  Surprisingly, I didn't love the parts where Max is with the Wild Things. I only loved the parts where he's at home, specifically the parts with his mom.  If you've seen the movie, you'll know that not a lot is verbally said between Max and his mom, but a lot is being said otherwise. I was extremely touched by their relationship. The emotional looks between them. Boys just have something about them. Something a little more soulful in the eyes.

I want to gobble him up, I love him so.

Tyler got  a new lens today, so he took Isaac into the backyard to try it out. 

Who knows what the frown is about.

I should start with a little story. A story about this crazy shopping experience I had last night- at the Scottsdale Fashion Square. It's probably my favorite mall EVAR. Anyway, I spent like 4 gazillion hours in each of my favorite stores and spent a healthy chunk of cash. I tried on about a zillion things (which is highly unusual for me- I usually try on at home).  I plotted and counted and pondered each thing I wanted to purchase. I left a happy customer, since I felt like I finally had a shopping experience in which I didn't need to hurry, and as a result found pieces for my wardrobe that reflected my actual style.

But.

This morning I returned 80% of it. 

Lame!

The thing is, and I realized this while talking to Reachel, who has the.best.style.ever, that I don't even know what my style is. I like a LOT of looks, styles, etc. but in the end, I'm only faithful to one thing:

Comfort. 

I like my sneakers and flats and such. I like my baggy tees and skinny jeans.

I like my hair kind of wild and my nails un-manicured.

Reachel asked me what my style is. I said, "modern hippie."  Perhaps I should have just left the modern part out- I think I'm too slackerish to be modern.

She said she'd make me a lookbook. Now, I have no idea what that means but I'm really looking forward to it. Anything, ANYTHING touched by Reachel is an instant work of art. A piece of beauty. 

Do you need a look book too?

Here's tiny (and I do mean tiny) Coco. Congrats, Reachel and Andrew.

Because, frankly- the men were complaining.  

So- comment to win $75 bucks to anywhere!

BTW- I've moved hotels now.  When checking in to this new place in the middle of nowhere, the clerk said, "Oh, I'm sorry, there are actally no more king sized beds available... we'll have to upgrade you to a deluxe luxury suite."

Oh, darn.

Upon arriving to my room, this time I was overcome with all things SOUTHWEST.  Navajo this, cactus that. Random chilis hanging from random corners. It's pretty nice though, I must say. Again, the tub is so big I swam laps in it tonight. Backstroke, baby!

The desert theme is getting me all geared up for tomorrow's Phoenix shoots at the Desert Botanical Gardens. I went there today to check it out (I'm the queen of scheduling sessions at places I've never been to). 

I was amazed. There really is beauty in the desert!  

The image below was taken yesterday at the Boojum Tree Hidden Gardens in Phoenix.

Totally radical.

I always like showing up to new hotels and checking out the style, decor, feel of it all.  Tonight's arrival at this resort was no disappointment.

Was I hoping for something modern with clean lines, coloful accents and maybe a quirky undertone? Yes.  Is that what I saw?

No. Oh goodness, no.

Let's just say this suite was completely overlooked by the resort's Renovation Committee.  And: I love it.

This place is huge. Much too big for one person.  Instead of human companionship I am entertained by wacky and wild patterns of pastels dominating about the fabrics in a nonsensical fashion.  The bathroom and kitchen counters are a lovely pastel marble and the cherry on top?  The ginormous jacuzzi tub. Hey, do all you readers of this blog want to come over and hot tub with me? BECAUSE YOU COULD ALL FIT IN IT. It is that big.

No, perhaps what takes the cake is this love seat I'm sitting on right now. OH the patterns. OH the colors. OH the large indentation in the middle of the cushions from so many years of... being sat on.

Dear Supersweet 80's suite: I love you.

Anyway, all this pastel was leaving me craving some style.  Soon enough I found myself internet shopping for kids' clothing. I landed on two spots- which is where the giveaway comes in.

You can win $75 to J Crew's children's line, Crewcuts, OR you could get a lot more bang for your buck at rockeroos.com, a newly launched baby/toddler line out of Los Angeles. The owner, Paige, asked me to do a couple of shots of the line being worn by baby models.  (not all of the images on the site are ours.)

All you need to do is write a comment here on the blog, or on facebook or mention us on twitter and tell us what you'd buy from one of these sites. Or, just tell me how your day is going.

  As for me, I'm pretty obsessed with all of the Everday Dresses from Crewcuts; and I have to tell you that Paige sent my daughter Isabelle this shirt from the European boys collection at Rockeroos- and I dressed her in it for church today.  OH MY.  She looked so cute I almost died when I laid eyes on her. We're talking DEATH BY CUTE.

Please write your comment by Monday, Nov. 16th at 9 pm PST.  

So let's recap:

1. enter the contest.

2. cross fingers.

3. win. (unless you don't. that's a bummer.)

4. check out these pix of mailboxes I took on the way out to AZ today. I've passed these mailboxes SO MANY TIMES on my various trips out to Arizona, and I've never been able to stop and click.  Today I took the opportunity and I'm glad I did. I'm thinking, front hallway wall series? Yes.

5.  Did you hear we are going to Australia? Neat! And Hawaii? Duuuuude.

Here's where we're headed- email us or comment below to get on the interest list for your particular area!

Maui, Hawaii (we'll be here at the end of June)

Boston/New England

Chicago

Charlotte, NC

Seattle

Sacramento (around Dec. 29th of this year)

Portland

AUSTRALIA (as soon as we get our 10th family to sign up)

Salt Lake and Provo, of course

Phoenix, of course

Posibilities are:  Boise, Dallas/FW

You probably know by now that we travel anywhere. Anywhere at all. All you need is to get 9 other families on the list with you and we'll come to your area. We have a great referral program.

Here are some more pictures from Alexandria, VA! (See this family's session from last year here.)

I like the above pictures because you can see the rain coming down.

One more thing:  Be sure to check out the BIG HAIR party pictures I posted on my facebook page just now.  I dare you to not laugh.  You won't be able to do it.

From our recent trip to NYC.

*not at all the best pic of the NYC lights, but it'll do.