Favorite Family Photos of 2012

It is SO hard to pick my favorites, but here are a few from my Family Sessions in 2012.

Leave the number of your favorite in the comments and that family gets a $50 credit toward their next session!!! Voting ends at midnight on January 5th, 2013 (oh and you can only vote 1x).

Remember.....leave the number of your favorite photo in the comments below and make sure it is the number that is ABOVE your favorite photo.

p.s. Stay tuned for Favorite Maternity, Newborn, Kids, Couple and High School Senior pictures of 2012!!!!

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Happy Holidays!!!!!

    (Photo by Harmony Pyper Studio. Print available here: Fresh Words Market)

What do you remember from your childhood Holiday season?
I was recently reading my favorite publication, Kinfolk, and there was an article by Rebecca Parker Payne talking about remembering family traditions from the past as well as creating new ones in the present.  As she sifted through her memories of her childhood holiday traditions I was struck by the lack of "things" and the abundance of moments.  Moments that trigger the senses....the smell of cookies baking, the sound of music and laughter, the warmth of a crackling fire.  I began to recall my family traditions and sure enough, what I remember the most is how I felt when we were all together.  I remember the lights turned down low, the French Onion soup being ladled into heavy bowls and John Denver serenading us with his soothing Christmas songs.
Sure there are a few "things" I remember receiving.  I remember Michael Jackson's Thriller album playing on the turn table as I came down the stairs Christmas morning.  I remember the cherished jacket that I saw on Christmas Eve, while shopping with my dad, that somehow appeared on Christmas morning to my teenage delight. I think about these "things" that I remember and I realize that it's really the emotion of the moment that secured that memory in my brain.  It's the look on my dad's face when that album was playing.  It's knowing the effort my parents made to drive back into town to get that jacket that I just had to have. 
Mostly though, I remember the boardgames Christmas Eve and all the Christmas movies we would line up to watch.  I remember my mom's rosy cheeks in the kitchen as she pulled out all our traditional dishes and I remember the dancing we would do in the kitchen as those dishes cooked.  Oh, and I even love the memory of my aunt and uncle falling asleep on the couch and snoring loudly as we tried to finish watching Scrooged for the millionth time!!

So this Holiday Season as you hustle around trying to find that very last gift just remember to save a little time and energy to create and enjoy what truly matters.....The Moments!!!


Happy Holidays!!!

 

Come Undone

I wanted to start back blogging by telling you all the fun family holiday activities we've been doing. But I can't.  I wanted to talk about how my oldest got Student of the Week and my Kindergartner is learning to spell some words and my 2 year old is potty trained.  But I can't.  I can't celebrate my children's accomplishments and joy right now because there are families across the country waking up to the unfathomable realization that their child is still gone.  Shot.  Killed.

 

I have come undone with this news.  I feel like the world has a bit.

 

When I picked my boys up from school yesterday I looked around at all the parents holding their kids a little bit tighter.  Older kids looking at their parents with confusion, wondering where this desperate display of affection was coming from.  I held it together when I got my 3rd grader, but when I walked to the Kindergarten gates and saw all those sweet babies with backpacks on bigger than their bodies and smiles on their faces bigger than life I just couldn't hold it in and the tears started to flow.  As my Kindergartner came bounding toward me I thought of all the mothers and fathers waiting and wishing for this moment and then finding out that theirs was one of the fallen and I just couldn't take it.....I just can't take it.

So tell me.....How do we drop our kids off at school on Monday and tell them to "have a good day"?  How do we take them to the mall and enjoy our Holiday shopping?  How do we take them to a movie and enjoy the show?

 

So Tell me.....How do we get rid of these guns???

 

 

 

 

Bakery Maternity Session-Southern CA Photographer

Knowing that this beautiful Mama to be is such a great baker we decided to do a very "Sweet" maternity session in their beautiful home in San Diego.

Nena and Steve did not know the gender of their baby so they frosted blue and pink cupcakes to represent both boy and girl.....hmmm.....which color frosting do you think won out?

Stay tuned for the answer to the Blue vs. Pink frosting debate ;)

 

Looks like their doggie Rusty was ready for a taste!!!!!

 

Steve gets the first taste......

 



 

....and a little smooshed in his face for fun.....

 

 

 

Looks like they both had a little "fun" with the frosting!!!

 



 

Steve headed out to play fetch with Rusty.....

 

 

....and Nena got ready to put the final touches on the dreamy yellow Coconut Cream cake...

 

 

You can just see the artistry in her expression as she carefully placed the toasted coconut around the sides and top of the cake.

 

 

 

The masterpiece is completed!!

 

 

Time to serve it up....I swear I didn't drool on the cake ;)

 

 

 

The layers of ginger butter cream frosting were so thick and creamy throughout the cake.

 

 

 

One piece for hubby.....

 

 

...and one piece for ME!!!!  I'm pretty sure all my sessions will be bakery inspired from here on out ;)

 

And now the answer to the Blue vs. Pink frosting debate:BLUE!!!!!

Pictures of sweet baby Rhett coming soon.......

Kindergarten Blues

This may be one of those posts that goes all over the place so hang tight....It hasn't been an easy couple weeks for my sweet, spirited boy or for his mama.  He's the one that pulls me in and breaks me apart and I just well, worry.  I worry that he'll be the one that is always to blame, that they won't see his big heart because they are too busy hearing his big voice and rough movements and that he will shrink away.  I worry he will start to feel less than and that he will be so hard on himself because I already see it happening.  And here I was thinking sending the second one off to Kindergarten would be easier as he seems to just roll with the punches....unfortunately he throws them too (that made me laugh a little, it's good to laugh, kind of sick of the tears).
Today I read a great e-mail, one of those forwards that I usually just delete, but this one came at the right time and it was one of those lists of things to remember about life.  The one that really hit me was, "Your children only get one childhood."  They only get one and I want them to have a blast and have fond memories.  I had a great childhood.  Sure I struggled some, we all did, but I can honestly look back and say I have such fond memories.  That statement just kind of hit me like a ton of bricks and I realized that it isn't all about me anymore.  I had my time.  It is all about them now and I need to do my darndest to make it the best childhood they can have.  I'm not saying it's time to put all my hobbies and passions aside completely, but it is time to not stress so much about what I want to do and instead focus more on what my children need. 
Like I said, this post is all over the place, but I just needed to get it out.  So here's to childhood, their childhood, may it be campfires and ghost stories, beach days and starry nights, sports and pizza parties and so much more.  Here's to my boy keeping his chin up and loving who he is cause he's amazing and I'm going to make darn sure that he knows it and that everyone sees it too!!!!!!

 

School Days, School Days

My baby boy started Kindergarten today!!!!  I have to say that I thought I would be fine but there were some moments when I teared up thinking about how time flies.  Today I stayed with him....tomorrow I kick him out the door wave good bye from the fence.
After school we went out for burgers and a Rootbeer Float and talked about how his day went...then he asked me how babies get in mommy's bellies....I told him I'm sure his Kindergarten teacher will talk about that later, hee, hee.

 

Summer

Oh my goodness.....you must watch this!!

It made me miss Wisconsin...

It made me sad that summer is ending....

It made me want a jean shirt....

Enjoy!!

Big Art Sale!!!!!!

I can't bring myself to call it an "End of Summer" art sale because I am not ready to let go of summer, BUT my boys start school on Wed. so it does kinda feel like we're moving into fall (even though it is still 100 degrees here....so confusing).
Let's get to the art.....these beauties need new homes....they are all originals!!!!  Shipping will be additional to the below prices.  If you are interested in any of the below pieces please E-mail me at: Harmonypyper@gmail.com.

 Monster Love: $200 (mixed media on canvas)

Flower Girl: $75 (mixed media on wood)

Magical Moon: $30 (mixed media on canvas)

Out of the Blue: $30 (mixed media on canvas)

Born in my heart: $45 (mixed media on canvas)

Fierce Beauty: $125 (mixed media on canvas)

Dreams of Ethiopia: $75 (mixed media on wood)

White Owl: $75 (mixed media on canvas....canvas stained with tea....so cool)

Create: $85 (mixed media on canvas)

Grey Skies: $75 (mixed media on canvas)

Walk Away Beautiful: $250 (mixed media on canvas)

Road Home: $35 (mixed media on wood)

Fairytale: $45 (mixed media on canvas)

Worry Free: $185 (mixed media on canvas)

Bloom: $30(Mixed Media on canvas)

Beautiful You: $30 (Mixed Media on Canvas)

Moon Lady: $25(Mixed Media on Chipboard)