Baby Silvera {still in the making}

Where do I begin with this little family... lets see, I have known Rachel for the bulk of my life. My cousin Rochell and her are best friends, and they both have had a huge part in raising me... ya know the "fun stuff:" first trips to Vegas, initiation into the Buffalo Club, extremely helpful information and talks about relationships and life and honestly they are ones who keep me laughing!! Then Mr. Leo comes into our lives a few years back and was the breath of fresh air Rachel needed. He's grown to love our crazy habits between all of our relationships, ahhh Leo :) Once we got the news not only that they were pregnant but that there was a mini Rachel in there our first thought was that this little girl has some big shoes to fill :) and of course that a photoshoot must be done, she had no choice, and neither did Leo. After some convincing, on Leo's part, we beat the rain and had some "belly fun". Thank you Rachel and Leo for being such great sports in everything!!! Enjoy

this has a great story behind it: you know your hot when your posing for prego pictures and you get honked at 3 times in a row.. lol

::MY FAVORITE::

A proud older brother

21 Days...

Lets see... what can be accomplished in 21 day?

Maybe reading a book or two (depending if you read as slow as me or not), putting a few quality Wedding Sample Albums together , a handful of amazing crafts, but specifically, most important... days, hours and minuets that can be spend in quality time with God.

Today in church, Pastor Bret gave us a challenge, not only as individuals but as a church whole... Fasting, 21 days to be exact. During his teachings we learned that fasting is not only specified to Food or consumption but that it is something that you set aside that you enjoy, and have a right to, for a period of time for the expressed purpose of spending time with God. Yes of course the tradition for of fasting is going without food and only liquids for however many days God places on your heart, but there are so many other things that you can cut out of your life for a period of time and use that time to focus on him.

This will be my first time fasting, Ive always wanted to experience the joys of fasting and go at it full force, but for 21 Days, im not sure I can survive without food. So it took me a while to figure out what to cut out of my daily routine. If I was going to do this I was going to do this right. I thought to myself, maybe I will cut a certain food item out, but honestly... I dont eat a routine diet or have an addition to coffee for that to mean something to me...because another point Pastor focused on was that if it isnt important to you, its not important to God. If you already don't eat breakfast and choose to fast the breakfast meal... that's pretty much cheating, lol.

So I have come to a conclusion.. and I am going to write it down on here, so YOU can be my accountability partner in making sure I take part in these vows...

Starting tomorrow, as cheesy as it sounds, I will be starting my Media Fast. I will not partake in Facebook for 21 days as well as setting aside an hour of each day, turning off all media (Computer, Tv & Phone) and focus in God's word, worshiping him and listening to him. I have no doubt that this isnt going to be the easiest.. Its going to be hard to switch the casualness of checking my FB on my phone to deleting it for 21 days... but I know that during this time and the final reward is going to be so much more.

So, if I may request... keep me in your prayers. Not only for will power to not "cheat" but that in the end God will have moved through me and will bring our relationship closer than before. Pray for the others taking part in this, for they all have something that may be important to them but are giving up for God.

One last thing... I now challenge you.. Can you give one, two, three things up for 21 Days? If so, join me!!!

A New Year

5-4-3-2-1... Its those little number that bring in a New Year. Some were ready to start a new year while others wanted to keep living in 2009, me... I was ready. It wasnt so much that I had a "bad" year, but that I am honestly just looking forward to the future.. to this year, to see what may come of it. Im not one to set resolutions and keep them.. Ive tried, and failed.. numerous times. lol. So this year, my resolutions #1 KEEP the resolutions all year.. #2 No Soda... #3 Read More.. I think I may be able to reach these goals this year!!

To bring in the New Year, I celebrated by being in the Happiest Place on Earth, Disneyland!! In a 14 Hour day we walked probably 10 miles... and rode almost 20 Rides.. A record for me! We then counted down the New Year by Cinderellas Castle and danced in 2010. After a whopping 3 hours of sleep we ventured off to the Rose Bowl Parade to only fight more crowds but had a blast.

I hope everyone had an amazing Holiday Season.. and a HAPPY NEW YEAR!!

Tis the season to be ...Thankful

Turkey, Cranberry Sauce, Mashed Potatoes, Gravy.. the list goes on of all the fine foods we are blessed with this time of year, but for me I'm thankful for much more. This is a little morbid to say im thankful and then tell you what Im about to say.. but don't just loose me yet.. read on. Saturday Novemeber 21st, 2009 our family suffered a great loss, Salvador "Uncle Sam" Cuilla. He passed while in his sleep and this passed weekend we said our final goodbyes. In this tragedy I learned how much more I need to treasure my family. It so sad that it takes a death for me to realize how blessed I truly am. God gave me a family that supports me and most of all loves every inch of me, inside and out. Since the loss, our family has obviously been super emotional, and all we have wanted to do is spend more time together... get as much in of eachother as we possibly can. Cause you honestly do never know what might happen, when your last hug will be, the last smile you see or most important in our family.. the last time you will share supper all together at the table. Since Wednesday evening of last week.. we have spend every waking second with eachother and have loved every minuet. We have also started new traditions.. decorating each others trees after we cut them down (one a day of course).. but this also gives us time to eat the millions of pounds of left overs we had from the "BIG" day!!! So here are a few pictures of the weekend thus far... and still the festivities arent over.. lol

with every death there is life... 4 days after Uncle Sam passed away his 4th Great-Grandchild was born. God is truly amazing.

In loving memory of Uncle Sam
you will truly be missed and always loved!!

"Life is a Highway...."

Last night I was yet again able to cross something off my "Life's List"...Attend a Rascal Flatts Concert!!! Tiffany got our tickets about a month ago, and we had no idea they would be such great seats!! We had a blast singing our hearts out, acting like we had boyfriends to sing the love songs too, watching the little too tipsy people sing along, and of course just enjoy time together! Here are a few pictures of the night...

Teens and Pooter <3 Rascal Flatts

Art vs. Hobby

I keep things in... to myself. I let it boil up and then BAM! [Explosion]. I'm very bad at confrontation or even letting people see the angry side of me, cause that's not me. But lately there has been one thing festering in my mind.. Photography and the fact that people are calling themselves "Photographers" because they bought a camera!! I'm not one to boast or brag about anything [except my absolutely adorable nieces and nephews] but there is just something that jerks me the wrong way about how so many people are taking the art and creativity of photography so loosely. I spent thousands of dollars getting a top dollar education in this field, and im not saying that's the only way to be successful because I know plenty of amazing photographers, who I strive to be like, who didn't get the education I got, and that's perfectly fine, because these professionals are truly professional. Yes, anyone can click a shutter, move around the exposure and work photoshop, with a few months of screwing around with the camera my 9yr old cousin could do it! But photography is art.. where you don't have to rely on post production to enhance your images, to where when people see your work they are at a loss for words because they have seen nothing like it, an art to where you are so personal with your clients it shows in your detail and attention to their wants and needs.

Not click "I'm a Photographer"

I admire people who love the art and love the creativity, but either choose to make it your passion and truly consume yourself with it.. or make it a hobby! Dont make websites with price lists and contact info if your showing nothing that can influence photography, or challenge your competitors.

One thing I have learned is that this business is very competitive and you have to be so unique, so creative but stay true to yourself the entire time. Be who you are and your true calling will come.. Photography or not!

..now this is the side people always see...
Im sorry if this offends anyone, but its just something I needed to get off my chest.. this is a blogg and this is what its for right? lol

Foto Friday and Birthday Bliss

This weeks picture is in honor of our beautiful birthday girl... Nicole Taylor Sullivan.. Happy 1st Birthday!!! One year ago we got the call.. Amber was in Labor. Being the most impatient person EVER... I sped over to the hospital only to sleep on in the lobby for hours waiting to hear more news, but I wouldn't change that for anything :) After many hours and family arriving, later that day we welcomed baby Nicole Taylor Sullivan into the world!! The picture above is the first time I held the precious one.. I was such a proud auntie!! Honestly.. Love at first sight!

Its unbelievable that a year has already gone by, the first crawl has already happened, the first words have been spoke (Hi, Mom, Dad... etc)and the first steps have begun.. I cant wait to experience your next first Nicole.. know your auntie will always here for you.. usually with a camera in hand. lol. Here are a few favorite pictures I was able to capture for Nicole's 1st!!