Naming Conundrum

ugh....UGH....UGH!
After reading all the great names that you have posted I have to say that I have at least created a list of names that I am leaning towards. Your names are great, and if you think of any more, PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE, let me know. I do like the following list of names, but I have to admit that I am really torn between all of them.
There were more I liked but they didn't seem to work very well with the middle names that I have picked out. Now, I know that not every child has two middle names, but mine all do, so please don't laugh.

Her name will be (insert first name) Jo KaleilaniOnomoku Summerill.

I have picked these names because they are the names of two very important women in my life and women that I love dearly, my mother and my Grandma.

Here is my list of Favorites for her FIRST name:

Sally
Lucy
Maggie
Elsie
Penelope (thanks Amy for this one)
Eliza
Betsy
Betty
Willa (like Willa Cather the great American author)
Adalaide (thanks Ashley for this one...so beautiful)
Sydney (Mark served his mission here)
Ada (great name Mariko!)
Louisa
Dorothy
Annie

and of course MARGO (but I don't think Margo Jo sounds good)

Photo Studio Fun

Earlier this summer I added a mini-studio to my basement; the perfect size for shooting kids or newborns. Unfortunately, I have been so busy with weddings, I haven't had much time to use the studio. Before I completely purge the studio room of all its equipment, I did take a few shots. (The room will be emptied, redecorated, and a walk-in-closet added for our new baby girl!!!...all this done upon my insistence of 'Yes we are finally having a girl after three boogery boys' CELEBRATION!)
Here are a few I took of a great couple and their newborn baby...I once fell in love with black background newborn shots after viewing many shot by Mark Lee of Holladay Photo...he is great!

CONTEST: Name my Baby

You would think after all these years of wanting and then desperately wanting a little girl, that I would have the perfect girl name picked out. NO! I do not! I am dead in the water, hole in the head, brainless, befuddled, cheese headed, beyond hope, completely out of my mind, no idea what I am going to name my baby.

Here is how the contest will work:
Disclaimer: (take in mind I have complete befuddled pregnancy brain right now and I cant be held responsible to be completely serious, so although this idea presents itself as a clever idea right now, it most likely will blow over to nothing. So, don't take me so seriously that you freak out)
I am taking suggestions for baby names, and those suggestions could be seriously considered with a sizable donation in monetary form. i.e. You pay me a good size sum of money and I will name my baby what you want.

ok, so maybe this idea is a little offensive, but I could really use some baby name help, so don't pay money, just share some names. What 'classic' names do you know of? Please leave the name and the meaning in the comment section.

Erynn and Nathan

Obviously by now you know that I love to shoot engagments. Here are a few of my favorites from Erynn and Nathan's shoot this week.

Just a Question?

Before I post my own book review, how many of you out there read Stephanie Meyer's latest, Breaking Dawn? I would like to know what you truly thought of the novel. Sometimes I wonder if I happen to be harder on some authors because of my background in English lit studies. Let me know what you think...and then I will let you know what I think. Lets just say, a friend's husband referred to the novel as "Breaking Wind" and I had no objections. hahahahahaha

Congratulations Robyn!!!

Robyn, a friend of mine since high school, just had her fourth baby! I took some time to run over to the hospital to shoot a few 'newby' shots. I loved these:

Good things come to those who YARDSALE!!!

Of course by now you know what an avid yardsaler I am. Even though I have a hard time pulling my butt out of bed before 8am on a normal day, when Saturday comes, I am often up by 6:45 or 7:00am. I live for the thrill of a great yard sale. Nothing beats the feeling of knowing you just paid 2.00 for a Belgium waffle iron that would have cost you 40.00 at Target, or paying .25 for gently used name brand clothing for your kids.
Since our recent (see previous posts) financial earthquake, we have been dedicated to building our savings and paying off all debts; which translates to NO MORE MALL! And for that matter, no more new anything unless it is a necessity. This new family policy has definitely put a damper on my newly acquired quilting love. So, imagine my thrill when I found a yard sale that had a basket full of quilting fabrics. I nearly kissed the poor lady as I paid her my 3 dollars for an entire quilt kit, a kit that would have cost me 30.00-40.00 at the local quilt store. For my 3 dollars I walked away with and entire pre-cut quilt kit for a baby quilt, plus the fabric for the back and the binding...plus extra! Do you see now why I LOVE YARDSALING?!?

The Cannon Family

If you have not stopped by and read this girl's blog, then you are missing out. Kathleen and her dear little family had a photo shoot with me recently and it was great. I love how candid and vibrant these shots turned out. Oh, and by the way, I am sending a special shout out to Sanae who is the Goddess of Photoshop!

I AM BACK...

Not that I really went anywhere, but I have taken a week long siesta from my blog because I have been obviously thinking about other things (see fat cat post below). Anyway, I have caught up on a week of blogging in one day. You will find below a smorgasbord of blog thoughts, pictures and even AWARDS! Check out my posts below and I will vow to stay out of my slump and be a better blogger.

Reasons I de-slumped myself:

1. I am an avid blog stalker: I read and digest your blogs like it is Entertainment Tonight. When I chance upon your blog 3-4 times a day and see that you have not yet updated it from the day before...sometimes I feel a little bit in limbo. (Yes, perhaps I should keep my addictions to myself, but it just occurred to me perhaps there are others out there with the same OCD blog clicking habits)

2. I am a WINNER (see post below): You know I love to win things...anything. If you wrapped up a Twinkie and taped it to my front door I would beam with joy for the next week. (Yes, that was a hint to a dear friend who once twinkied my door).

3. My Sister had a Kid: What kind of ultra-cool older sister would I be if I didn't acknowledge the new life roaming this planet because of my sister's generous womb and her seed planting hubby...what a great couple!

4. Laziness Never Was Happiness: (isn't that a scripture or something?!?) hahahaha...ok, obviously we have had the financial struggle while Mark was out of work for 5 months...and during that time we cut Internet connection for money saving reasons. So, when I am not lazy, and I can walk the block to my parent's home, then I can update my blog...I finally went on a walk tonight. (on second thought, why have I gained so much weight again?)

I hope you enjoy the posts below. I look forward to blogging again perhaps tomorrow!

CONGRATULATIONS RACHEL

My youngest sister just had her 4th baby! Can you believe that?!? That is ok if she beat me, I am soon to catch up. I am so excited to welcome my newest nephew to the world: Wyatt Ray Bennett

If you have a chance to read her blog, check out her birth story....(insert Psycho music here) If I could put a catch phrase on her story I would be:

Rachel's birthing comment: Oop's I guess I let one slip out!

Check out her blog at: Rachel's Blog

I Cant Resist:

I love my boys as much as the next mom, I am sure...well maybe...but I honestly cant resist chubby naked toddler! We took a little jaunt up to Salt Lake to a great water fountian. The water shoots up from the ground like magic (as my boy's would exclaim). Without any warning at all, water could come from the hole beneath you and squirt your nether region that happens to be unwisely straddling that mysterious water spout. And to think, this could happen without any warning at all. Isn't it amazing the wonderful things Salt Lake has created with our taxes? Here are a few shots that I captured of the boys...

I AM THE WINNER!

OK, there is no need to deny the fact that I LOVE LOVE LOVE being the winner...I don't care what the contest is, I just love to win! I have to say, despite my recent down in the dumps (refer to fat cat post, I was so thrilled to find out that not just one, but TWO friends found me as their blog award winner...I like to think this reflects my blog as a whole from its entire existence and not just because I decided to throw an all out 'fat butt' pity party). Needless to say, I WON THE BLOG SMILE AWARD! oh, and Wendy and Peggy, you two rock. Wendy when we actually meet one day, I just know we will be BFFS!



This award came with rules:

1. The recipient must link back the the awards creator (http://viewfromthegrove.blogspot.com/)

2. You must post these rules if you receive the award.

3. You must chose 5 people to receive the award after receiving it yourself

4. You must fit the characteristics of the recipient of the award, as posted by Mere.

5. You must post the characteristics of a recipient.

6. You must create a post sharing your win with others.

7. You must thank your giver.



Characteristics for the Smile Award:

1. Must display a cheerful attitude. (not necessarily at all times--we are all human)

2. Must love one another

3. Must make mistakes (ok, so I don't really like to admit that I have displayed this aspect...hahaha)

4. Must learn from others

5. Must be a positive contributor to blog world

6. Must love life

7. Must love kids

MY LIST OF WINNERS
1. Nikki (and not just because she is my sister) at http://nikkianddanny.blogspot.com/
2. Bobbi (because she rocks the work out world!) at http://justinandbobbi.blogspot.com/
3. Natalie (duh, could I one day be like you?) at http://www.natalienortonphoto.com/
4. Kathleen (hahahahaha...breath...hahahahaha) at http://shimmygurrshimmy.blogspot.com/
5. Mark (ohhhh I love a good surf shot) at http://www.holladayphoto.blogspot.com/

Those are my fab five...check them out!

Ace and Lacey: The Wedding!

I loved shooting the engagements for this couple, so shooting the wedding was like magic! This couple was so into each other that I didn't need to prompt them for anything. I love how natural and candid these photos are. My favorite shot of the day...well that is hard to say...my favorite two shots are the first two. I have to say, when a couple feels so comfortable around each other and so happy to be married that it just seeps out of them, their shots turn out FANTASTIC! What do you think?