This week just flew by…I was wrapping up my Valentine mini-sessions and working a new promotion called Play Dates.  I’ll post tomorrow with all the details!  I also tried a few new recipes.  If you follow me on facebook, you saw that the highlight was black bean brownies.  I was secretly blending black beans for a brownie recipe that included no sugar or flour!  I served them to the kids first and they loved them and asked for them every night after dinner!  Brent says they taste like a ‘healthy’ brownie and when he found out they were mostly black beans he was skeptically examining everything that came out of the kitchen.  🙂  I also made a batch of blueberry muffins with no sugar.  The recipes for both are on my Facebook page.  Anyway, the busy-ness of the week had me neglecting my blog, so I thought I’d update with a sweet little family that welcomed a new baby brother a few months ago.

Jack and Matt had a By the Bay session this summer and they had me cracking up with them.  They are TOO cute!

Then at the end of 2010, they welcomed a new little brother and they are already introducing him to the world.  I love his expressions in these photos!

Welcome to life with big brothers!

I don’t have 3 boys, but I do have 2 boys and a little girl.  When Jillian was a newborn, I had her laying on a blanket and the boys (toddlers at the time) were playing around her while I made dinner.  I heard a little cry and looked up to Cooper dragging Jillian (by the head) or at least attempting to, saying ‘MOMMY…YOUR BABY’S CRYING.’  That third child has to be TOUGH!!

-Kristin

Okay…on a totally random tangent…I’m obsessed with making banana ice cream.  Trust me, you’ve never made ice cream like this before!  You just slice a very ripe banana and lay it out on a tray.  Freeze for 1 1/2 hours and put the slices into a food processor.  Pulse for about a minute until it literally turns into ice cream.  It’s super healthy, except when you put in a scoop of nutella, but we won’t tell anyone about that. 🙂

Speaking of random!  Here’s a mish-mash of cute kids I photographed over the last few months!!

When I photograph my three children, they inevitably end up on the ground.  A simple hug gets a little drawn out and the next thing I know everyone ends up in a huge giggling pile.  I’ve come to find out my kids are not unique.  🙂  When siblings get close the lines of affection are blurred…and I say this from my own experience!

Let me show you what I mean…

I love how the younger siblings are usually just along for the ride.  They look up to their big brother or sister and ‘okay if this what a hug feels like, I’ll take it.’

And here we go again…

I jokingly say a hug from a toddler is also known as choking.  🙂  But, I was the older sibling, so I’m sure I did my fair share of ‘hugging.’

-Kristin

Book a session on one of the promotion dates and receive a complimentary digital image with your 20 minute session.

Details: $100 includes a 20 minute session at a Long Beach location, complimentary digital image

Dates:
Long Beach
January 17 | 2:30-4:30pm

Huntington Beach
January 22 | 9:00-11:00am

Long Beach
January 27 | 2:30-4:30

Long Beach
January 29 | 2:30-4:30

Like the idea of props? I will help you style your shoot. Like to keep it simple? Great…this location is gorgeous on its own.

Email me (info@kristineldridge.com) to book your session!

Another adorable family that I’ve been photographing since the twins could barely sit up on their own.  I love watching them grow and their big sister is just as sweet as can be.

This was the first time the whole family participated in the shoot and I love the way the photos turned out.  We got a bit of everything…my personal favorites were of the girls laughing.  Once one started giggling, they all couldn’t help but join in!!

Here are the twins together…it’s amazing how they can look so different, yet be so similar.  (Although as they’ve gotten older I feel like they look more alike. 🙂  Twins intrigue me…it’s so neat to see the bond they have.

Younger siblings are my secret weapon.  If a child is being shy, all I have to ask is…what does your younger sister/brother do to make you laugh?  It’s so cute because the younger sibling will usually volunteer to stick their tongue out, be goofy, do ‘that’ dance…whatever it takes to make everyone laugh.  I love the younger sibling!

love, love, love these girls…I’ve been photographing them since Ella was a baby. 🙂

It’s hard to believe that this fast moving toddler was the same little baby that snuggled up on my chair a year and a half ago.

Last Christmas she was not quite sitting up, but kept a big festive flower in her hair…

And this year…her blonde wisps flew about as I chased her in the park. 🙂  I remember my own little blondie ripping out all the cute hair accessories…then transitioning back into loving them!

I love Ann and her family…and I’m so lucky to be able to photograph them every so often!

Jude is the best big brother…

I think Finn’s going to have the gorgeous long eyelashes…just like his big brother!

Finn let me try out a few of the newborn cocoons…and what a sweet little model he was!  If you’re a photographer interested in purchasing a newborn cocoon, please email me (info@kristineldridge.com).