My Little Slice of Heaven..

My camera (Canon 5d, Mark ii) FINALLY shipped!!! After over a month of waiting, it's on it's way and should be here next week!! I am soo excited to get my hands on it, play with it and shoot with it. I also ordered a a new lens, Canon L series 24-70mm 2.8, which should be here on Thursday. Yay!! This thing is sweet. Seriously. I've shot with it before and the sharp images and amazing color is to die for. My poor kids always dread the new camera/lens days because they know what's in store. A little bribery never hurt anything though, right?

The 5d also takes video clips too so all those brides who have booked, I hope you don't mind a little bit of video throw in as well. :) I also recently got The Flip (Check it out: http://www.theflip.com/). I seriously don't know where I've been that I had no idea what these were until last week, but it was a MUST HAVE. It's so small, convenient and takes up to 2 hours of video. I ABSOLUTELY LOVE it and will be sure to bring it to the weddings as well!!

It's been a long day with the kids, so I'm thinking maybe a trip to the pool is in store for us. Happy Tuesday!!

A Sweeeeet Weekend

I LOVE my family and I LOVE nothing better than spending a whole weekend with them. I really do think I have the best family is whole world. ;) Saturday was spent with my hubby and our 5 kids just shopping, hanging out and spending time together. I know it sounds weird, but I feel we rarely get these moments anymore. So often, it is much easier for me to just take one kid and run to the store, and since the two little boys came along I feel our family outings have definitely changed. We had a great time though, with plenty of laughs and tons of love. I love my kids and seriously, the make each day brighter, happier and fuller.

Sunday we totally took the morning off, besides a bit of cleaning here and there. After lunch, my sister and I met with a potential client who is awesome and has such a beautiful wedding planned. Then, my sister and I made a trip down to Ave Maria University, where my dad recently signed on to be the new golf coach. We are so excited for him. Okay, and the school/town is AMAZING. Seriously, any takers for a wedding in that church? I'd pretty much die to shoot there. ;) Tonight, my wonderful mother took the three older kids for a sleepover tonight while my dad stayed at my house and watched the younger boys while my hubby, sister and I went to Moe's (YUM) and to see My Sister's Keeper. Movie was a tearjerker. Seriously. However, it was such a great dose of reality of people's lives around the world and the daily dealings of cancer (HATE that word.). Anyway, a great movie that will make you appreciate all life has to offer.

Now it's midnight and I have two little boys up for a midnight snack...oh, the life of a mom!!!

Little Aubrey

There truly is nothing more precious and sweet than a brand new baby. I know it's so cliche and people say it all the time, but really, truly it is so magical. I could hold, stare and love on them all day long without ever getting bored. They are just so perfect, in all ways. It's amazing something so small, something that can't even talk and something so helpless is capable of changing the way you live, the way you love and the person you are.
Yesterday, I had the privilege of doing a little photo shoot with Aubrey. She was born to my wonderful neighbors a mere 4 days ago and is seriously cute as a button!! She loved being in her momma's arms, but we were still able to get a few good shots. Congrats Jeff and Danielle and big brother Nathan!

Dave and Alicia

May 9, 2009
The Colony Golf and Country Club
Bonita Springs, Florida

Alicia (my wonderful second shooter and even better sister) and I had so much fun shooting Dave and Alicia's wedding, we almost forgot we weren't guests! Seriously, this couple was just so down to earth and absolutely hilarious we felt like we fit right in. Their ceremony was small, simple, yet so romantic and charming. You'll notice an after ceremony picture below, when Dave is showing Alicia his forgotten dress socks..you know, the same socks she reminded him NOT to forget a hundred times. Way to welcome a girl to wifehood!! :) The reception was so fun, food was delicious and we were so thankful we got to spend the day with them!! Thanks guys, we wish you nothing but a lifetime of happiness, laughter and joy.

Well, I Officially Nominate Myself for...

WORST blogger EVER! I have many excuses, none of which you want to hear, I'm sure. Life's been busy and fun (minus the two week period every single person in my household..yes, count them, that is SEVEN..was sick. ugh.). We also had an amazing roadtrip, all 7 of us, up to Virginia. We had a fun stay in Orlando and Georgia along the way as well. It was our first family vacation without our wonderful, lovely nanny and best sister in the world, Alicia. :) We definitley missed her but had such a great time just being a family. More about the reason behind our drive up to Virginia later and I promise you'll want to read it. :) Give you three hints..she's gorgeous, he's handsome, and they are insanely perfect for each other. :) Anyway, totally fun time had by all and I guess I should make a post, with pictures of course, with a detailed log of our vacation. Hopefully this week my blogging will catch up to life in the present.
In other exciting news:
1. Met with a super genuine and nice couple, Derek and Theresa and am really exciting about their wedding. Especially their after wedding shoot at the Ritz. That place is crazy gorgeous and I have no doubt we will walk away that day with some fantastic shots!!

2. I just ordered an amazing new Canon L series lens. It is sweeeet and will likely become my next baby.
http://http://www.adorama.com/CA2470AFU.html
I am very excited to use it!!! I got to play with one during our vaca to Virginia and just had to have it. :)

3. I have been so busy orgnanizing and it feels soooo good!! My house has always been picked up because I'm so picky about that, but rarely is it organized and super clean. However, I must say things have changed and I am becoming a clean freak. I LOVE it!

4. Check out our new twitter and facebook page. While your at it, follow us and become our fan. You know you want to!!
http://twitter.com/mariaglassford
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Maria-Glassford-Photography/88829519893?ref=ts

Alright, off to bake (and eat!) some chocolate chip cookies. I will be posting about Dave and Alicia's wedding sometime today or tomorrow. Hopefully writing it down will keep me accountable! :)

It's Steaming in Here!

Happy Mother's Day to me! :) The only thing I really asked for, besides the white on white Publix cake (a MUST have for every occassion in my book) was the Shark Hand Steamer. I LOVE LOVE LOVE my Shark floor steamer and have been eyeing this hand held one for a few months now. My lovely husband surprised me with it yesterday and I was pretty much addicted to steaming my house all day long today. Poor little Carter was actually terrified our house was going to start on fire this morning. :) That boy cracks me up. I steamed my dining room table, counters, walls, garbage can and the list goes on. I think I may actually love this one even more than my floor steamer.

In other news, stay tuned to a post later this week of Alicia and David's wedding from this past weekend! Get ready because she looked gorgeous and the wedding was absolutely lovely! Congrats, guys!

My Little, Middle Lovlies

I LOVE photography. Absolutely LOVE. I play and shoot with my camera practically everyday. It's pretty much always attached to my hip..or eye for that matter. However, rarely do I do "photoshoots" with my kids and quite honestly it's because I don't like to. :) I LOVE, and I mean absolutely adore each ounce of their being but when it comes to taking their pictures, let's just say all cooperation flies out the door. My kids just don't listen to me or cooperate the same way everyone else's do once the camera whips out. I'm pretty sure when my beloved camera appears they shudder at the sight. Mind you, I'm not even one of those mom's who is constantly saying "smile" or "look at the camera", etc.
The other day my wonderful husband called me and asked me to come out to an awesome park where he goes to for work a few times a year. I figured it would be a great opportunity to take some new "photos" of the kids, rather than the daily "pictures" of our little field trips. This shoot only included our middle three, as our oldest was in school still and our youngest was kept in the stroller, for my sake. :)
For the most part, I'm happy with the results. Here's my three middles, oh so lovely, fun, and each absolutely unique in their own way.