After 12 years (or so)...

this family FINALLY has a family picture! This is my cousin, Lisa, and her wonderful family. Lisa has been talking about getting family pictures for forever it seems, but when it comes to the day to take pictures she always backs out. I mean her youngest son is 11 (??) for crying out loud and they haven't had pictures since before he was born, which is absolutely ridiculous if you ask me. So I wouldn't listen to any of her excuses this time and even went to her up in Prescott so she wouldn't change her mind. I think that she is going to LOVE the results.

I have to say that I fell in love with this barn that is next to the house they are building when I first saw it about a year ago. I knew that was where I wanted to take pictures. All the neighbors laughed that we were taking pictures by the neighborhood "eyesore", but man if I could haul this away I would make it my studio! I guess one person's trash truly is another person's treasure. I am hoping that their minds might be changed about this barn once they see the pictures. Then again, maybe not, not everyone can have good taste like me :).




Tyler tried to make me promise that I wouldn't put a picture of him on my blog so that just made me want to post pictures of him even more! He has bugged me enough in life so I have to take any chance I can get to get a little payback.




I couldn't have a post without a picture of Katie. She is the reason that Lisa finally decided it was time for a picture. Katie is heading to India (I believe she is on a plane as I am writing this) for a YEAR to teach science to 9-10 year old girls at an orphanage. I am still in a little bit of shock that she is headed there, but I know that she will make such a difference to everyone she meets while she is there. Good luck, Katie! We all love you very much!



I am still amazed as I look at these pictures how big all of their kids have gotten. I spent many of my childhood summers up in UT with Lisa, Bob and the kids. We had a lot of fun and they were always so good to me. I still think of these guys being about 1-6 year olds, not teenagers and adults. It is crazy how fast time goes by. Well, I hope you like your pictures, Lisa. I had a great time!

My Little Track Star

Brigham watches Troy just like all little boys love watching their dads. And since daddy loves to be on the track it is no wonder why Brigham loves it too. It was killing Brigham to just sit in the stands watching everyone else have all the fun during Desert Challenge so once the races were over we let him have a turn and he loved every second of it! Isn't he just the cutest?! I know I have my mommy goggles on, but I sure love these pictures of my little guy. As soon as he is old enough he and Brooklyn will be training with daddy on the track every Saturday morning!






These pictures just put a smile on my face! This is why I take pictures.

Desert Challenge...swimming and weightlifting

Here are a few more pictures from last weekend at Desert Challenge. This time it is swimming and weightlifting. Short on words so I will let the pictures do the talking for me.

You can see all the pictures by using the passwords: field, track, swimming, and weightlifting in the client section of my website. Enjoy!

determination

I was editing a few pictures from the weekend when I found this series of "K" during field. I couldn't resist making a storyboard. Isn't he just the cutest kid?! I was amazed by him all weekend as he participated in swimming, track, field and archery. This is his first competition and he did great! He is only 7 and is on Troy's track team so I will have the opportunity in the years to come to watch him get better and better at sports, which is always so much fun. He was so focused and determined before each event and I think the first picture really captures that.

(make sure you click on the picture to see a larger version)



Quote reads: determination--every accomplishment starts with the decision to try.

I told you he was cute!

Desert Challenge--Track

I wanted to get these pictures up earlier, but I have been trying to recoop after a LONG and HOT weekend. Desert Challenge turned out great! Everything ran very smoothly and the athletes were amazing even though they had to deal with 95 degree heat in April. Ridiculous I tell you. Of course, on Monday is was overcast and a lot cooler. Isn't that how it always works?!

I just wanted to say THANK YOU to everyone that came out and supported the athletes. I wish more people would have come because it is really an amazing experience. There will be another competition at ASU June 12-15 so put it on your calendars early so that you can be there.

First up is track. Here are few of my favorites from the night.

Troy so badly wanted this picture and after disappointing him last year I am happy to say that I captured it this year. This is the 100m invitational.






Be sure to check back in the next few days as I show my favorites from field, swimming and weightlifting!

Desert Challenge

(click on picture to make larger)

I want to invite all of my blog readers out there that are local to come join us this Friday and Saturday, April 21-22 for a swim and track meet at ASU. Troy will be competing Saturday night from 5 to 9 in the 100m, 200m, 400m and the 4x100m relay. Bring your picnic dinner and enjoy some great races. There will be many elite athletes competing from around the country and internationally. There will be athletes with various types of disabilities, including amputees, wheelchairs, dwarfs, cerebral palsy and other physical disabilities. These athletes train hard (Troy trains 5 days a week, usually 2x per day) and are sure to impress you! If you know anyone with a disability let them know about this event so that they can come watch and then maybe get involved in athletics in the future. It will change their lives!

This is a regional competition that will help athletes get their needed times to compete in the Paralympic Trials that will also be held at ASU in June. Those winning at that event will then move on to the Paralympics in Beijing, China in September.

I will be there taking pictures so be sure to stop by and say hello. For those of you that can't make it, I will be posting pictures next week. If you live close and can make it I promise that you will enjoy yourself! Bring the kids--they will think that it is the coolest thing ever!

Also, Arizona Disabled Sports is always looking for great sponsors so if you are interested give them a call at 480.644.5702 or email me at jdavisphoto@gmail.com. Hope to see you this weekend!

My Kiddos

Just wanted to share a few fun pics of my kids that I took while we were in UT visiting family.

So Brigham now has a "cheese face" that he does whenever I pull out the camera. He looks stinkin' cute, but I really do despise the whole "cheese" look because it is so unnatural. Oh well, what do you do?!



Brigham could seriously swing for hours. He LOVES it to say the least. Luckily he has the greatest big sister that is so willing to push him. I love that they are such good friends.



For those of you that know my daughter, you know that she is TERRIFIED of animals and even that is an understatement. So this picture of her holding a bunny is somewhat shocking to me. After spending several days around her cousins bunnies she finally decided that she was going to be brave and play with them and even pick one up! I can hardly believe my eyes even now looking at her holding this bunny. I had to run and grab the camera to capture this amazing moment. Maybe there is a little hope for her!