Family & Fun

Welcome to our blog!

Thanks for checking in on us! Brian and I have been married since 2003 and have been shooting weddings together since 2002. We live in Orange County and have two sons. This blog is a mix of our professional and personal lives. You will see posts that are from recent photos sessions - to fun pix of our friends and family. It's basically a fun way to write a journal - but it helps you get to know us better. :)

If you are looking for our website - it is www.JenniferGilmore.com

Thanks for taking a look and feel free to check back often for new stuff! Hopefully we will see you around!

Tue - April 8, 2008

OUR BLOG HAS MOVED

After having this blog a little over a year - we have decided to switch to a new one (for many reasons). The new blog is:

http://www.jennifergilmore.blogspot.com/

We will be able to update more frequently (because we can be at any computer - instead of just at the studio). A lot of things are changing for us this year (we are really excited) - so stay tuned at the new blog!

Take care and thanks for reading!

Jennifer & Brian

Posted at 05:09 PM

Tue - March 11, 2008

Where did we go?

So - I know it's been awhile - no excuses. Just busy with life. So - I have a TON to blog - so check back soon for more updates. Well, Brian just turned 3! I can't believe it. Three years ago I was meeting with Dan and Diana in my hospital room after giving birth - to have a consultation for their wedding! Crazy. I know.
Brian has grown into such an awesome kid. I love him to death. He and I have conversations daily about all sorts of things from Pirates, to friends/cousins, Tyler, etc. He is such a sweet boy (for the most part) and I am so lucky to be his mom. We renewed our passes to Disneyland so we could go more often as a family. Brian thought it was the best thing ever and hasn't stopped talking about it. We will have to go again soon!

Still working on a smile - but at least he tries now. :)

Brian was playing this piano and another kid came up and started playing next to him. He SO did not like it. Came straight over to me and put his head on my legs and got very sad. He'll learn. :)

Brian has all of the sudden gotten very into Pirates. He loved the ride and picked out the hat, sword and parrot as his b-day gift from us.

Okay - call me Betty Crocker if you must - I am not a cook by any means...but it was fun making this cake late at night for B's b-day party. I also made my famous sugar cookies decorated pretty much the same way for his class.

Posted at 07:51 PM

Fri - January 25, 2008

Go Ducks - even though we lost

This was one of the greatest gifts ever! For Christmas - Brian got us tickets behind the ducks bench at the away game in Arizona. (We went with Scott and Christine) I was in HEAVEN! I could barely take any photos because I was screaming out of my seat like a crazy sports fanatic during the game! It was a sight. Anyway - here are some shots we did get....

Posted at 09:00 AM

My BSF's Bridal Shower!

My really good friend is getting married in March - and her bridal shower was the end of December. Here are some shots I took. :) I am looking forward to their wedding at the hotel valley ho! :)

Posted at 08:53 AM

Tue - January 22, 2008

Christmas Day

My boys on Christmas Morning.

Tyler thought the track was fun to break and carry around

Brian thought the track was fun to talk on.

Now they get the whole process and like to make the trains move on the track - instead of playing with JUST the track. :)

Posted at 05:31 PM

Christmas Time - a little late

So - I am a little late on the Christmas stuff - oh well - here it is.
We went to see the Marionettes (tradition). I did it every year when I was little - kids seem mesmorized. Now that I am older - it's kind of creepy in a way - but I can see why the kids dig it.

Another Try with Santa - and Tyler is still not having any of it!

Tyler - happy that he is off Santa's lap.

Christmas Eve -
Our family is weird - I know - again - tradition. Act out the nativity scene. It's a pretty scary sight - but hey - can't upset my mom, right? We make gingerbread houses beforehand - and then do the nativity.

Lots of kings tonight.

My dad always video tapes it - so we have these videos dating back to when some of us weren't even born yet.

3 kings - what can I say?

Baby Gavin getting kisses from the sheep and shepherd.

My husband - a beautiful dove... hahahha (he's going to kill me)

I told you - we are weird! :) Our rendition of the 3 kings.

What was left of the group

Most of the cousins.

Cousin Nathan really having a hard time with Santa.

Brian and I gave my sister and bro-in-law a Stanley Cup Duck Puck Shrine. We got 18 pucks signed by a lot of the players, the panoramic print, their own photo and their ticket stubs. It was an awesome piece of work. I wish we had made two! Would have been well worth it. If anyone wants to get Brian and I something - Ducks is the way to go! :)

Making gingerbread houses - B is getting better with the smile...

Posted at 05:29 PM

Sun - January 13, 2008

Tyler at home

I have a lot more to post - but I am running out of time today - here are some of Tyler on the grass - during December. I will post more later.

Posted at 01:33 PM

B in Uncle Rich's Suit

This was my brother's suit when he was 3 years old - Brian looked so vintage in it. :) He loved our pumpkin so much - that he tried to give him his sucker on the way to church.

Giving the pumpkin kisses

Still working on that smile...

Posted at 11:27 AM

Tue - December 25, 2007

Merry Christmas!

I hope everyone has a Merry Christmas today! I have so much to blog - but not a lot of time. Here is a priceless photo of my boys with Santa. Brian (even though you can't tell in the photo) likes Santa this year. We still need to work on him "smiling" for the camera. Tyler on the other hand - not loving Santa so much! We'll see how next year goes. Thank you so much for reading my blog. I love getting comments (crazy huh) and hearing what you guys have to say.

Merry Christmas

- HO HO HO!

Posted at 11:33 AM Read More

Tue - December 18, 2007

Christmas update for 2007

Thought I would give an update on the year for our family - I usually attach it to my Christmas Card - but didn't want to clutter it.

Brian is still working for his construction company as the head of the electrical department. He loves working on his old wagon when he has free time (which is almost never). He isn't playing in any bands right now, but I know he misses it.
I am obviously still doing the photography thing, and love it! I love learning new things, going to seminars, WPPI, etc and catching up on all the newest techniques and styles. Photoshop (as it has been for the past few years) is still my best friend! ;)

Little Brian is almost three!!! I can't believe it. I remember like it was yesterday having him at the hospital, and actually doing a consultation with a bride and groom (Dan and Diana) in my hospital room! Crazy huh? Talk about never taking a rest. Anyway - Brian is the cutest thing ever. I am loving this stage in his life. He says the funniest things and are out of the blue. His new thing is telling me that I look beautiful. How could a mom not melt? He also likes to tell Tyler "no, no, no Tyler" (wonder where he hears that from, whoops!). He is a really good brother. Great with sharing and watching out for the little T. He also started pre-school and loves it. He loves hanging out with Grandpa, Grandma & Granddaddy and all his cousins. He still does his "happy dance" (flaps his hands in the air when he gets excited). He loves to color, read letters (especially stop signs) and sing. He is a BIG singer! I know this next year is going to be great with him!

Tyler turned 1 in September and I am loving him more and more each day. The last year was probably the hardest year of my life. Tyler has really been a struggle. He had acid reflex and colic the first 5 months of his life (without any medication). He would scream, without stopping, for 3 hours straight (I am not exaggerating). When Brian would come home from work - I would hand Tyler to him and go upstairs and cry. To say it was a hard first year - it's definitely an understatement. Once he hit 13 months things seemed to just click for him. He is so happy now and walking/running around with his big brother. I LOVE playing with him and getting him to smile and say little words. It's like he is a different baby. He likes to hide in the curtains and basically copies whatever Brian is doing. He is doing great with going down the stairs backwards and will eat any carb we put infront of him. He is my tank. Weighing 27 pounds at his last check up (in September) I think my arm is officially going to fall off!

Brian and I have become huge Hockey Fans. My sister Christine and her husband Scott have season passes to the Honda Center and have taken us with them quite a few times. We got to see them win the Stanley cup - and many of the games leading up to it. Brian has never been a sports fan, but now I can't get him to turn off the hockey games on TV! :)

Brian and I were able to go to the Bahamas in March through a distributor for his electrical company. It was fun! We hung out with a couple out there - that happen to be our neighbors. Great coincidence huh? It was beautiful, and most likely, a once in a lifetime thing (for us). For the summer trip with my family - we ended up going to the beach a lot, museums, etc. No actual destination - which ended up not being as good as we thought - so next year - we will have to go somewhere.

Brian and I got to take photos as so many gorgeous weddings this year - and become friends with a lot of our couples. That is one of my favorite things about my job - is the personal relationship I build with my clients. I love being able to capture their wedding, when they are pregnant, and then photos with their newborns, to toddlers, etc. It is one of the greatest joys!

My Christmas card was a tri-fold this year. It was 5x5 and then opened up to 5x15 on pearl paper (my new favorite paper for cards). (Thanks Steve for taking the photos!) Here was my card this year:

When it comes out of the envelope:

Then you open it up (partially) and see this:

This is the inside:

And here is the back:

Since it's the season - I thought I would just write one more thing. I normally don't post this kind of stuff - but again - tis the season. I am so grateful for my family's faith. It has helped us through tough times and been such a blessing in our lives. I know not everyone believes in God, which is fine, but for me - it is such a rock in my life. I am grateful for the sacrifices and continue to feel blessed everyday. I am also grateful for my friends and family (you know who you are!) Without them, I don't know where I would be.

I hope everyone has a Merry Christmas and try not to get sucked into all the shopping and gift giving/receiving (I know it's hard - trust me - I know!). Enjoy time with your families and can't wait for the new year!

Posted at 08:44 PM

Sun - December 2, 2007

Happy Birthday Jules!

My older sister's b-day was yesterday - busy day. Photo shoots in the morning, sang at a funeral, then an engagement session at the beach. We all went to dinner late at night (once the kids were asleep - easier for a babysitter) to the Cheesecake Factory. I was almost falling asleep at the table - but it was fun. Happy Birthday Jules - I love you!

Posted at 12:43 PM

Thu - November 22, 2007

Happy Thanksgiving!

Happy Thanksgiving everyone! I am so excited for today. I think it is a holiday that is skipped over so quickly (after Halloween - it seems to go straight to Christmas all around town). I have so much to be grateful for. I have a loving husband who will stick by my side through thick and thin - no doubt about it. Some of my family members are going through some hard times in their life right now - and it is giving me more reflection on how lucky I am to have Brian as my husband and the father of my two beautiful sons. I hope you all have a great holiday, yummy turkey, take some naps after the turkey settles in, fun with your family, and reflect on your own blessings!

Posted at 12:34 AM

Tue - November 20, 2007

Finally - Halloween

So I have been Horrible - I know - all my friends have been getting after me. Things get really hectic with the deb ball, xmas photos, weddings, etc. all going on at the end of the year (not to mention life too!). So - I am finally blogging my little stinkers for halloween -

My sister and her husband have been throwing a Halloween party for the last few years at their home a week or two before Halloween. It's a good trial run for the costumes. :)
Tyler was a turtle...

The cousins...

I absolutely LOVE this video - fits Tyler to a "T" for his costume...(Click on the link - and ignore my voice - horrible!)

Tyler Crawling - CLICK HERE

The church Halloween Party and Trunk or Treating

My little giraffe and turtle.

Brian LOVED the blow up slide and bounce house

Trunk or Treating to Grandma's car.

HALLOWEEN NIGHT (THE REAL ONE) - we really do a lot for Halloween - can we say "overboard?" ;)
More cousins - we went down to Aliso Viejo - thought it would be fun to trick or treat with our family down there.

Nathan and Brian AKA Pirate and Giraffe

Jessie LOVES T-licious. She is such a great cousin to him!

This is a cute video of Brian during Trick or Treating. My wonderful hubby forgot that video doesn't turn - so you will have to tilt your head to the side -

BRIAN'S VIDEO - CLICK HERE!

Posted at 10:58 PM

Fri - November 2, 2007

Ready for Church

Brian ready for church. I just like the photo because we are making big steps forward with him looking at the camera - and giving us some type of smile. For the longest time he wouldn't - so I am LOVING this photo!