-

Newborn Portraits: Wilsonville, OR

2010-11-10T20:24:00.000-08:00

This baby boy sure loves his mama! It took a lot of convincing to get him to sleep anywhere (even briefly!) in someplace other than her arms. But oh is he a sweetie...he has the most gorgeous hair and makes the cutest little sounds! :)

Newborn Portraits: Wilsonville Oregon

2010-10-26T19:36:00.000-07:00

Itty Bitty, Teeny Tiny!!! At three and a half weeks old this little girl still weighed just six pounds. And she is just so cute! I am in love with her dark hair and great big eyes :)

Senior Portraits: Wilsonville Oregon

2010-10-04T19:50:00.000-07:00

This was technically a senior session, but all of the siblings were involved in one way or another...right up to the end when the creativity really started flowing!

And, ummm...don't even ask how this came about :)

Family Portraits: Wilsonville Oregon

2010-09-30T18:35:00.000-07:00

How lucky am I to be photographing this family for the fourth fall in a row? As I edit pictures from this session I realized just how blessed I am to watch families change and grow. I remember the first time I met them like it was yesterday...the littlest sister was about the age her new baby brother is now.

Family Portraits: Tualatin Oregon

2010-09-21T09:23:00.000-07:00

Session scheduled. Session canceled. Session scheduled. Session canceled. Session scheduled...oh Oregon, I love you. We had the most random periods of pouring rain and bright beautiful sun last weekend.

Senior Portraits: Wilsonville Oregon

2010-09-15T11:31:00.000-07:00

What a bright and sunny day this turned out to be! After a few days of jeans and sweaters it was nice to have a t-shirt and shorts kind of afternoon.

Newborn Portraits: Wilsonville, OR

2010-09-09T14:45:00.000-07:00

Sweet baby Kennedy is perfect. I can't even think of anything else to write, except that she was just...perfect! During a time when we are busily getting our (big) kids adjusted to the new back to school schedule, it was nice to spend a little time with a baby who is just starting out.

Senior Portraits: Wilsonville Oregon

2010-08-12T21:24:00.000-07:00

Summer has just flown by! Lazy days with my girls have gone by way too fast and we are now in "get ready for school" mode. Just a few more weeks and school will be back in session!

1 Year Portraits: Wilsonville, Oregon

2010-07-04T09:14:00.000-07:00

Oh Gavin, it really can't have been a whole year since I took your newborn pictures! Gavin is still as cute as ever...and he still has three doting sisters who love him to death.

Family Portraits: Lake Oswego Oregon

2010-05-25T15:34:00.001-07:00

These two little girls are adorable, and so much fun to photograph. I love little children with BIG personalities! :)

Senior Portraits: Wilsonville Oregon

2010-04-24T20:27:00.000-07:00

My last 2010 high school senior. With only a few raindrops between locations, we got some great shots at Murase Plaza and the water treatment plant.

Family Portraits: Lake Oswego Oregon

2010-04-19T11:29:00.001-07:00

I photographed little Stella and her mom last year, and was so excited to meet Dad for pictures this spring! The weather was gorgeous and George Rogers Park was full of blooming flowers and foliage!

Newborn Portraits, Eugene Oregon

2010-04-05T15:55:00.000-07:00

Oh Baby Cassidy, you are the cutest! This is the kind of baby that makes every mom want to have "just one more." She slept so peacefully through most of the session, and everything about her was just...perfect and sweet in every way.

Spring Has Sprung!

2010-03-22T19:01:00.000-07:00

Merry Christmas!

2009-12-25T08:13:00.000-08:00

Merry Christmas and happy holidays from Jamie and the Stenstrom family! Thank you, truly, for a wonderful year!

MORE Baby Pictures!!

2009-12-23T07:30:00.000-08:00

There is nothing better, especially during this hectic holiday season, to spend an afternoon with a brand new baby. It took two sessions to finish Noah's baby portraits, as the first time we met he did not want to sleep. This time, with the help of a full tummy, considerable time in the rocking chair, an eighty degree room, and a nest of blankets and wraps, we persevered.

Welcome Baby Noah

2009-12-18T13:33:00.001-08:00

Seeing baby Noah only drove home the fact that my little baby girl is not quite so little any more!! She was so happy to sit in her little red chair, right by the Christmas tree, and play with a low branch while we took pictures of a (wide awake) Noah.

My Sweet Baby Girl

2009-11-17T13:31:00.000-08:00

Time has been passing so quickly and I can't believe it has been three months since Josie was born.

Family Portraits: Wilsonville Oregon: Villebois

2009-11-12T12:24:00.000-08:00

We couldn't have been any luckier with the weather. Literally the second I put my camera away big drops of rain started falling. This was a session that was rained out a couple of weeks ago, so I was excited that we were able to meet up and get some great pictures in between rain showers.

Family Portraits: Wilsonville Oregon

2009-11-02T12:58:00.000-08:00

I photographed little Ellie two years ago and I couldn't get over her bright blue eyes. I was so excited when her mom emailed me to schedule a fall session for the whole family. What a fun group! The entire family is incredibly photogenic and the kids all know how to have a good time!!

Family Portraits: Tualatin Oregon

2009-10-18T18:33:00.001-07:00

What a crazy weekend! Sun, warmth, thunder, lightning...

It just so happened that the two sessions I had scheduled for this weekend took place during the nice times. And I shouldn't actually describe them as "nice," because they were perfect for pictures! I met with the nicest family this afternoon. They were a group of naturals and it was fun to hang out with them at Browns Ferry Park.

Lightning Girls Soccer!

2009-10-03T11:53:00.000-07:00

My daughter, Ava, is on the "Lightning Girls" first grade soccer team. Really, it is just the cutest group of girls and it was so fun to meet before practice the other day to take their team pictures. Goooooooo Lightning Girls!!!!!!

Family Portraits: Wilsonville Oregon

2009-09-13T20:40:00.001-07:00

Memorial Park is always a nice location for photos, especially on HOT summer days! All of the trees and little hills make nice, shady spots to tuck into for photos.

Senior Portraits: Wilsonville High School

2009-09-03T12:00:00.001-07:00

The school year is fast approaching and I have been having a lot of fun photographing local high school students. Senior year is such an exciting time and it is always interesting to meet new seniors and capture their different personalities!

My Three Girls

2009-08-23T12:45:00.001-07:00

I feel truly lucky to have been blessed with these three girls!

Josie was given the most adorable hand made dress that I have ever seen. After buying Brook and Ava coordinating sweaters we headed out to the field behind our house (one of my favorite locations!) for a mini photo session. I am so excited to finally have some pictures of all three of my girls together!

2009-08-15T18:05:00.000-07:00

What is going on with the weather?? The forecast called for a nice weekend, in the mid to upper 70's, and it has been cloudy with intermittent sprinkles. Tomorrow we are hosting a pool party with a bunch of Ava's friends to celebrate her 6th birthday, and my anxiety level continues to rise as I watch the wind and clouds outside my window.

Today's weather was perfect for portraits. The slightly overcast sky and even lighting was a nice change from the blazing hot and bright sun that was happening prior to my maternity leave. I met two adorable kids at Murase and we walked around and only got sprinkled on a few times :)

Josie Eleanor

2009-08-01T15:04:00.000-07:00

On Tuesday July 28th at 12:35 pm, Josie Eleanor was born. She weighs 7 pounds, 4 ounces and is 19 inches long. We are so excited to have our sweet baby girl home with us!

Senior Portraits: Portland Oregon

2009-07-22T19:28:00.000-07:00

I met this St. Mary's senior at Hoyt Arboretum in Portland, Oregon. We had fun walking along the trails, looking at flowers and plants, and finding pretty places to stop for pictures. I always love exploring new locations! I am so excited to be gearing up for another season of seniors. I can't believe it is already time for the class of 2010!

2009-07-19T09:14:00.000-07:00

Our family is excitedly counting down the days until our new baby girl arrives. We are down to single digits... 9 more days! I have been busily taking pictures and getting as many photo shoots in as I can before the baby gets here.

I met Jude and Jack a few days ago at Murase Plaza. It has been so hot all week (horror for my pregnant body!) but we got through the shoot, and then I think the kids were off to ice cream and swimming while I came home to edit (in front of the air conditioner!).

Wedding Photographer: Jamie Bree Portrait Design

2009-06-29T11:29:00.001-07:00

Congratulations Kim and Taylor!! Your wedding was wonderful and you both looked gorgeous!

Congratulations 5th Graders

2009-06-22T09:16:00.000-07:00

Congratulations to the BFPS 5th graders who are finished with elementary school and will be starting middle school in the fall.

Engagement Pictures: Jamie Bree Portrait Design

2009-06-17T11:41:00.001-07:00

Beautiful sky, bright flowers, and a happy couple. Hopefully today is just a glimpse of all the wonderful days to come. Congratulations on your engagement and upcoming wedding!

Beautiful Newborn

2009-05-19T19:35:00.000-07:00

I have been waiting months to meet this sweet little baby! He was worth the wait...he could not have been cuter!

Family Portraits: Murase Plaza

2009-05-17T19:30:00.000-07:00

This weekend was BEAUTIFUL! The girls and I had so much fun hanging out at the pool, walking through the Villebois Sunday Market, visiting with friends, and enjoying lazy mornings at home. On the news I heard that this weekend was going to be the nicest we have had thus far this year...and it seemed to be true!

Today was another perfect day for Murase Plaza! We can't wait until the fountains come on!! I met this family this morning and we walked around the park finding shady places for pictures. Aren't these little girls and their dog just the cutest???

Senior Portraits: Jamie Bree Portrait Design

2009-05-06T09:58:00.001-07:00

We shot these pictures at several locations in Wilsonville, OR. How lucky were we that on Sunday, the day of the shoot, we had one of the only breaks from downpours that we saw for several days!?!

Engagement Pictures: Jamie Bree Portrait Design

2009-05-04T09:43:00.001-07:00

We really lucked out with the weather when we were doing these engagement photos. About ten minutes after we finished there was a downpour! We had a lot of fun at Muraze Plaza, and the dogs thought it was a great afternoon outing!

SPRING!

2009-04-13T08:42:00.001-07:00

I am loving the days of sun that are, of course, mixed in with the days of rain. Many people have called me about setting up spring portrait sessions. Please call or email to get the latest info and find out about spring specials

Flowers!

2009-01-28T16:55:00.000-08:00

If you have an event coming up and are looking for a great florist I know JUST the person. For those of you who live here in Wilsonville and attended the auction, she is the one who created all the beautiful arrangements that everyone is raving about! She is working on a website right now, so I will post the link so you can see all of her creations when it is live.

I'm Back!!

2009-01-21T11:55:00.000-08:00

After a whirl wind holiday season, never ending illness, snow and ice, and way too many days of cancelled school...I AM BACK!
During Christmas I got to spend some time with my cousin who lives in California. She has two dogs that she loves and asked me to take some black and white pictures of them. Logan, the boxer, is the brother of our boxer, so they had a fun holiday reunion too! :)

Fine Chicken Portraiture: Jamie Bree Portrait Design

2008-12-12T08:09:00.000-08:00

Most people don't give a lot of thought to chickens, but really they are fun and affectionate animals with hilarious personalities! Am I really going to become a professional chicken photographer? No. Seriously, I think chickens might be harder to photograph than two year olds!

Doodle the rooster is a Bantam chicken. Bantam's are "miniature" chickens. Usually roosters are bigger than hens (and dare I say meaner?), but this one is so, so small. About half the size of the other chickens!

This chicken was a little shy, but also curious. It probably was strange that I was laying in the driveway with a camera (you have to get down on the chicken's level to really capture their beauty, right??), so this chicken (name unknown) hid behind a brick pillar and then would peek out the side to get a look at what I was doing.

Sunrise is one of our favorite chickens. This chicken, along with her sister "Pipi," is one that we got from Boones Ferry Elementary School. When we got them they were tiny, fluffy little babies that grew to be part of our family.

I don't know the official name for this breed of chicken, but I call them "Puff Heads." I can't tell you how much time I spent getting really close trying to find out where, exactly their eyes are! How do they even see?? The Poof Heads were especially hard to photograph because they "swarmed" me, pecking at my fingers and camera.

Family Portraits: Murase Plaza

2008-11-26T13:20:00.000-08:00

I have spent the morning getting ready to drive down to Eugene to spend a few days with my family for Thanksgiving. At some point during my cleaning, packing, mediating fights between my children, etc. I decided I better post some pictures of recent sessions as I will be out of contact for the rest of the week.

Family Portraits: Jamie Bree Portrait Design

2008-11-18T16:23:00.000-08:00

She couldn't have been any cuter as she sat herself down on a bridge at Browns Ferry Park and waited patiently while I took her picture. As soon as she heard the camera click she got up and continued prancing across the bridge.

One. Two. Three...JUMP!!!

2008-11-15T15:32:00.001-08:00

How lucky was I?? Out in my favorite field with a little gymnastics super star. Not only does she do amazing jumps, but she put up with my confusing instructions and repeated requests to "do it one more time."

Something New...

2008-11-05T19:16:00.000-08:00

I am thinking these little albums will be the perfect gift for family and friends!! Each album has a slot for a picture in the cover and then up to 12 pictures in the "accordion" section of the album.

Family Portraits: Friday Afternoon

2008-10-31T21:01:00.000-07:00

Happy Halloween!!! And what a gorgeous halloween it turned out to be! I was worried this morning when I woke up to rain, but WOW, this afternoon was beautiful!!

So Sweet

2008-10-29T14:47:00.000-07:00

I am getting ready to send a big print order off, which requires me to go through the many photos that I have taken over the last couple of weeks, placing them in folders and getting them ready to fly through cyberspace. This photo is another that melts my heart. I took it a few weeks ago and is just too sweet not to share!

Herbivore Clothing

2008-10-29T12:39:00.000-07:00

Dear Vegetarian and Vegan Friends,

If you are looking for great clothing that is friendly to animals and to the environment look no further! Brook and Ava are proud models for Herbivore Clothing, located in Portland, OR. These shirts are so cute!

All The Best To The Vegans I Love,

Jamie

http://www.herbivoreclothing.com/

Double Session

2008-10-28T19:37:00.000-07:00

Last weekend I had my first "double" session. Two good friends decided to have their pictures done at the same time. Well, same place, and then we did one after another. The best part was that the family who was not being photographed helped me with the reflector. Oh, and also helped hold the ladder so I didn't fall off and break my neck :)

Monday at Stein Barn

2008-10-28T11:49:00.000-07:00

As I drove away from Monday's session I called my friend Kari to tell her that I had just taking pictures of the cutest little boy in the world. Seriously, cute is an understatement. His gorgeous eyes, sweet little voice, and fun personality made the session at Muraze Plaze quite enjoyable! AND...he was wearing a sweater vest!!!!! If I had had a boy, sweater vests would have been a wardrobe staple! :)

Sisters

2008-10-26T19:11:00.000-07:00

I had the privilege of taking pictures of the cutest family bright and early this morning. The whole family is nice, and the two girls are just so sweet. The first picture just melts my heart. While sitting on a little fallen tree they had their arms around each other and the older sister was absent-mindedly rubbing her little sister's hand. I noticed it when I was taking the picture, and then again when I uploaded the pictures onto my computer. When I look at the picture it just makes me smile.

Exciting Weekend

2008-10-20T14:29:00.000-07:00

The most shocking, amazing, surprising in the whole world (well, at least in MY little world) happened over the weekend. For the last couple of months we have spent Saturdays watching the girls play in soccer games. My youngest seems to be a natural at soccer. She runs fast, steals the ball, passes (well, sometimes she passes), and she scores...over and over again. My older daughter has never truly liked soccer. Don't even ask me why we have signed her up for the last 4 years; my husband and I still can't figure that one out. Well, in the last 4 years she has scored a total of one goal (and that one goal took place at the last game of her kindergarten season), and then, completely out of the blue...SHE SCORED 4 GOALS IN ONE GAME!!!!!!!!! We relived the excitement with her all weekend.

Isn't this just the most beautiful family?? We met at Browns Ferry Park in Tualatin for a family portrait session. The weather was cold, but at least it was dry!!

Tigard High School Senior

2008-10-15T15:41:00.000-07:00

I took senior pictures for one of the nicest girls over the weekend at one of my favorite fall locations. Although it was cold, we had a great time and her pictures turned out beautiful. She is one busy girl...right after finishing with her pictures she had to rush home to get ready for homecoming!

Return of the Blue Eyes

2008-10-13T18:40:00.000-07:00

I photographed this family for the first time almost exactly one year ago. The whole family is gorgeous and the girls have bright blue eyes that I just melt over. After I had the brilliant idea of walking through the long, dried grass and both girls got stuck in blackberry vines things went down hill for a little bit. Fortunately a quick break to play on the swing set allowed me another ten or so minutes to get a few more shots!

2008-10-10T19:02:00.000-07:00

I had my first session at the new park in Villebois this morning. I have been wanting to shoot here for a while because the park is designed so beautifully. I love all of the "fallen" logs and big rocks.

Fun Project

2008-10-09T17:06:00.000-07:00

My girls have not had school the last couple of days because it is parent/teacher conferences at their school. With our free time we started a little project that turned out to be a lot of fun for us all. Ava, who just started kindergarten, is absolutely obsessed with letters and letter sounds. While we were sitting in the hot tub she noticed that the life preserver was the shape of an "O," as was the round window above the pool room. We started looking for other letters that we could see in every day objects. With the help of both my daughters, several neighborhood children, and a few random adults, we found almost every letter in the alphabet.

I have been having fun turing all of our "finds" into name plaques. I am thinking that these will be wonderful, personalized, Christmas gifts!! If you are interested in purchasing a custom name plaque please email me for more information.

This is the first one I made. One of Brook's friends (Taya) is having a birthday party this weekend, and this will be the cover of a photo album we purchased as her gift:

Brook wants a large, poster-size print for her bedroom. This will be printed as a 16x20, framed, and hung on her wall:

The last one is for MY family. I am not sure exactly where I will put it, but I am thinking about having it printed and matted so it will be free standing. I can then either hang it on the wall as is, or lean it on a mantel or shelf.

A Beautiful Family

2008-10-06T15:19:00.000-07:00

It has been exactly one year since I met this family, and the kids have grown up so much in the last year! While driving to the session I remembered the youngest girl, and how she wanted to nothing to do with me or my camera. Well, in the last year she has definitely warmed up to the idea of family photos!! :)

We met at Murase Park here in Wilsonville. There is a newly renovated barn with a lot of rustic charm, some gorgeous trees, and lots of tall, tall grass which I think is so beautiful.

A Bit of Catch Up...Seniors

2008-10-01T10:58:00.000-07:00

The last few weeks have flown by and I have been desperately trying to stay caught up. With the beginning of school and the holiday season just a couple of months way I have been busy with senior and family portraits.

I traveled down to Eugene for a few senior portrait sessions with some gorgeous high school girls

Car Entertainment

2008-09-18T20:05:00.000-07:00

I had so much fun in Eugene last weekend and am excited to go back again the day after tomorrow. In one of my previous posts I briefly mentioned the, ahem, fun, car trip my girls and I had. Aside from fighting over the ipod nano, they also entertained themselves by doing THIS in the back seat:

Not understanding the fun that could be had with a water bottle, I only thought to bring ONE. Darn it!!!!!!! If I had only thought to grab TWO half empty bottles of water... I would not have had to set the timer and coerce my kids to hand the bottle over to the other each time the timer went off. I especially loved it when Ava had her turn and kept looking through the bottle at me and saying, "Mommy, you are HUGE!! How long has it been since you went to the gym??"

Weekend Senior

2008-09-15T09:26:00.000-07:00

This senior made my job really easy. Aside from being gorgeous, she takes photography classes and already had perfect locations picked out!!

Evening At Alton Baker Park

2008-09-13T22:14:00.000-07:00

I traveled to Eugene for a weekend of photo sessions and a visit with my family. After a delightful car ride with my girls (okay, so it does NOT work to have 2 children and only 1 ipod nano!), I arrived in Eugene with only partial hearing loss. After getting my girls situated I headed into town to meet my friend Julie, who has the sweetest little 2 year old girl. Although she was slow to warm up to me, by the end of the session she was feeling quite comfortable and said that I could sit by her in the car :) We had a great time feeding ducks and geese and walking around looking at the scenery.

Oh The Wonderful Sun!!

2008-09-12T10:15:00.000-07:00

I love sunny afternoons, but I become increasingly grumpy as the day goes on when I can't walk outside without squinting my eyes and breaking into a sweat. While out walking near the field behind where I live we noticed that there was AT LEAST a 15-20 degree difference between the sun and a shady spot under a giant tree. After feeling miserable out in the sun we stopped for a few minutes in the shade and it felt WONDERFUL. If only everyday could feel as good as the shade under the giant oak tree!

The Start of Soccer

2008-09-06T18:32:00.000-07:00

I am now the proud parent of TWO soccer players! Today's games were the first of the 2008 soccer season, and I can already tell that for the next couple of months Saturdays are going to be filled with lots of soccer, which in my family translates to lost equipment, leaking water bottles, and driving from field to field in an attempt to make it to all of the games on time.

Ava's team played first:

Followed immediately after by Brook's:

Saturday's Senior

2008-08-31T12:03:00.001-07:00

While I was out having fun at a senior portrait session my husband was home with the kids. When I left he was asleep, laptop teetering off his lap. I whispered to the kids to be good and play quietly because Daddy worked all night and was really, really tired. They promised me they would be little angels. Apparently they thought it was in their dad's best interest to "tattoo" his legs with permanent markers! Needless to say he was quite shocked when he awoke to find two giggling little girls hovering over him and his legs covered with roses, hearts, and various squiggles. I hope the weather stays cool because shorts won't be an option for him for the next couple of days :)

Here are just a few shots from the senior session. Click pictures to enlarge.

A Break In The Rain

2008-08-24T20:21:00.000-07:00

My daughter wanted to go with me to this photo session so badly, despite the dark clouds that loomed over head and the continual threats of rain. I was was so excited to take a family photo for Mrs. B, my daughter's 2nd grade teacher. Brook would have had a blast had I let her come. The whole family was hilarious, and I am going to have to beg Mrs. B to let her little daughter Ellie model for me some time because she is a natural in front of the camera and self proclaimed lover of fashion!

Happy Birthday to Ava!

2008-08-19T08:24:00.000-07:00

My sweet little girl has turned 5 and is getting ready to start kindergarten. After 12 months of waiting (seriously) her birthday finally arrived and she enjoyed a wonderful weekend of partying with family and friends.

The Field I Love

2008-08-09T09:30:00.000-07:00

The weather has been so strange lately; cold and sometimes sprinkling in the morning and then HOT in the late afternoon. We have had to adjust our schedules a bit to accommodate the severe differences in temperature. This family met me early in the morning so we could finish the session before the harsh sun light started to come out. Although it was a little chilly, the lighting was wonderful.

I walk my dogs past this little field every day and have been wanting so badly to take someone there for pictures. Finally, I found a family who was up for it! :)

The Memorial Park Trio

2008-08-06T17:06:00.000-07:00

This has been such a nice week! I love the sun, the cool breeze, and the warmth. My kids have been swimming, playing outside, and drinking lots of ice water.

I met this family at Memorial Park this morning and we took advantage of all that the park had to offer; the cutest little bridge, the woods, all the grassy hills, and we even walked down the dock to be near the water. Considering we only had one shoe actually fall IN the water, I'd say we did pretty good! :)

Fun In The Park Take 2

2008-08-03T09:55:00.001-07:00

Fun in the Park was so...FUN!! :)

Thanks to everyone who stopped by my booth to say "hi" and enter my drawing! A name has been drawn to win the free session and deluxe print package, so I will be contacting the lucky winner soon!

We have gone to Fun in the Park for the last three years, and I have to say that this year we had the best weather. It was warm with a nice cool breeze. For the first time my kids were able to stay all day and not teeter on the brink of heat stroke :)

Fun In The Park

2008-08-02T07:05:00.000-07:00

Just a reminder that today is Fun In The Park from 10-5:00. Don't forgot to stop by my booth to say, "hi," and enter an awesome drawing! I will be in booth #73.

Shhhhh...it is a birthday surprise!!

2008-07-29T16:23:00.001-07:00

I love the idea of surprising family members with photos! I just think it a sweet idea, and a gift that really will last a lifetime. The following photos are part of a birthday present for dad.

Relay for Life

2008-07-28T09:11:00.000-07:00

What a great organization. And so inspirational.

Running With A Unicorn

2008-07-18T20:41:00.000-07:00

Written and performed by Ava, age 4:

"Running with a unicorn
Everyone wants to be like me
I know you want to be my friend
and it kind of makes me sick"

I have no idea where the inspiration for this (ahem) "beautiful" song came from, but you can only imagine my surprise when she sang it for me. She is also working on a dance to go along with it...lots of jumping and stomping is involved.

Memorial Park

2008-07-11T16:56:00.000-07:00

My kids have been in camp all week and I have been living it up! I met a friend at Memorial Park this morning to get some portraits of her two girls and their new dog.

New Little Baby

2008-07-09T15:12:00.000-07:00

I couldn't believe this little baby's dark hair! She is just the sweetest, most adorable baby, and so much fun to photograph. Her brothers and sisters were just as cute and cooperative and I had such a nice morning with them!

A New 4th of July Tradition

2008-07-04T19:43:00.000-07:00

This year for the 4th of July we participated in the first annual Villebois 4th of July parade. It was the cutest, most fun, best organized parade we have ever been in. All of the kids (and many parents...gosh some of you parents are so wonderfully festive) dressed up and decorated their bikes, scooters, and wagons. Dogs (including Holly) dressed up and came out to enjoy the walk. We followed a decked out, bubble-blowing mini van for the loop and ended at a park for an amazing potluck picnic. You all know my passion for cake, and OH MAN was there some good cake there!!!!

So, yes, I took a lot of pictures during the parade. I am in the process of trying to figure out how to best to get those pictures your for y'all to see. Stay tuned!

For now, here are a few pictures of my girls, and also a couple of "chicken," who was the "hood" ornament on Ava's bike.

[hand-me-downs]

2008-07-03T08:25:00.000-07:00

My daughter, Ava, use to wear this sweater. It was hand knit for her when she was two years old. I am so happy that my niece Zoe is able to wear it now...hand me downs really are a wonderful thing!!

Mother and Daughter

2008-06-29T20:17:00.000-07:00

One of my favorite things about Wilsonville is all of the beautiful parks. And they aren't just the normal parks. We have hills, grass, trees, play structures, water fountains, rock climbing, and more! When my husband and I were looking at houses here, 4 long years ago, we found a house that he loved. I thought it was alright, but I really fell in love with the neighborhood when I walked down a little path and ended up at a GORGEOUS park. Right then I knew that I had found the neighborhood where I wanted to raise my children.

I was recently able to photograph the sweetest, most fun family! We met at one of our wonderful parks and just walked around finding different places for pictures. I love the way they turned out; so much variety. By looking at all the pictures you wouldn't even know that they were all taken in the same place!

The Dirt Road

2008-06-24T13:44:00.000-07:00

This was a very fun session. We went to my favorite new spot-a dirt road surround by tall grass (not for those who have grass allergies!) and lots of beautiful trees. Each time I visit this area I find a new spot that I want to return to for pictures. I love the simplicity of it. The background of the portraits often just ends up being a blur of several shades of green and brown with spots of shimmery light.

Short Hair

2008-06-24T13:27:00.000-07:00

Both of my girls have been begging to get their hair cut short. I told them they had to wait until after their dance recital, and then if they still wanted short hair they could have it. The day after the recital the nagging started up again. Ava went first and LOVES her new super short hair cut! Being partial to long hair this was a bit hard for me, but seeing Ava's big brown eyes light up when she looked in the mirror was priceless!

Wilsonville's Macho Men

2008-06-22T11:58:00.001-07:00

Last night was the much anticipated Innovative Dance recital. Of course all of the kids did great, and the dads were a big hit too!

Happy Birthday to Me

2008-06-14T19:48:00.000-07:00

And what a wonderful day it was, in all the little ways that truly matter. Brook and Ava woke up at their usual time (as soon as the sun started rising) and I stayed in bed. They watched TV in the family room, as quiet as little mice while I "slept." Brook made breakfast for herself and Ava (originally they were going to make toast with peanut butter, but when they couldn't find the bread they aborted that mission and settled for cold cereal). I lay in bed enjoying their whispering voices and quiet giggles.

In the afternoon Ava gave me a special birthday hairdo. She brushed my hair for a considerable amount of time and then gave me two "hurricanes," (similar to braids but very messy and tangly and a lot of pulling is involved when putting them in).

At the end of the day they planned a surprise party for me, all by themselves. They put my favorite music on, made a banner and blew party blowers while singing happy birthday, complete with "cha cha cha's."

I really do feel very lucky.

The Beauty of Nature

2008-06-08T19:23:00.001-07:00

I am always on the look out for pretty places to take pictures. I had planned to go over to a park this afternoon, but after walking my dogs on a construction road (don't worry, construction comes to a halt on Sundays) I saw an old picnic table sitting under an oak tree, surrounded by tall grass. Everything was quiet and peaceful. And so beautiful.

It Is Official...Dr. 97070

2008-06-06T19:17:00.000-07:00

Dave is officially a doctor. He graduated on Tuesday and will start working at Legacy in downtown Portland in a couple of weeks. Getting the the ceremony was no easy feet. Seriously, what should have been a 30 minute drive took almost an hour and a half because traffic was so bad. Once we made to downtown Portland there were several roads closed because of construction. Finally, when we were in the vicinity of the Schnitzer auditoriam Dave got out of the car, grabbed his cap and gown and started RUNNING. He made it...just as the graduates were being announced :)

I hate to admit this, again, but while taking pictures in the lobby MY CAMERA BATTERY DIED!!!! Grrrrrrrr!!! I wanted to get Dave's picture with everyone who came to his graduation, but oh well. Live and learn...oh yes, lesson learned...my battery was fully charged for Ava's preschool graduation the next day :)

Busy-Ness

2008-06-05T18:06:00.000-07:00

I have been struggling to get my new blog up and running for several days now. After days of frustration it is still not ready :(
In the process of creating a new blog I just realized that I have not been updating this one. Here are a few random pictures from the last couple of weeks...

This week is "Dress Rehearsal" at Innovative Dance.

Calm After The Storm

2008-05-20T20:15:00.001-07:00

Well, my husband is home safely after being lost on Mt. Defiance. Thanks to the sherif's department, Tracy the 911 dispatcher, and the wonderful pilots who circled the Gorge until they spotted Dave and his canine hiking companions, eventually leading them to safety.

Thanks to everyone who sent good thoughts his way. And thanks to Leslie for holding a Mike's Lime Aid vigil with me :)

Prior getting to Dave getting lost on the mountain we went to Del Ray beach with our family from Portland.

After disappearing for a while (hmmm...do I sense a pattern??) Dave returned with a giant piece of kelp. What do you do with giant kelp you may ask...you jump rope with it, of course! :)

After chasing a ball on the beach for HOURS, and then getting lost on the mountain the next day, Holly is one tired little doggie!

What a Hot Day!!!

2008-05-17T12:25:00.000-07:00

After months of cold and rain we finally have sun. HOT BLAZING SUN!!! My family and I don't quite know what to do with ourselves. It is too hot for the dogs to go running. After about 8:00 in the morning it is too hot for humans to go running. We have lost all desire to leave our air conditioned house.

We pushed back this session from afternoon to evening, hoping that it would be cooler. Nope! It was still well into the 90's!
These three little girls could not have been any better. They put up with an awful lot and stayed in pretty good spirits!

Mothers

2008-05-11T18:22:00.000-07:00

Happy Mother's Day to all you fellow moms. I hope your day was as wonderful as mine! I was so excited to receive a dog from Build-A-Bear workshop, complete with a hair bow and a High School Musical 2 t-shirt. How did my kids know JUST what I wanted?? :)

When the excitement of my Mother's Day surprise wore off, I was able to relax and work on my new referral cards.

Drum Roll, please........

Perfect Little Pearl

2008-05-05T08:41:00.000-07:00

Did I not tell you that this is the cutest puppy ever??

2008-05-02T15:07:00.000-07:00

I am pleased to announce that Dave's "Candy Experiment" failed. I fell asleep early last night (I couldn't even stay awake to watch Grey's Anatomy), and did not partake in any sleep eating. Yay me!

We are off, once again, to visit friends and family in Eugene and do a bit of horsing around. I will be back on Sunday in time to do a session with a little girl and her (absolutely positively adorable) puppy. After I return I will also share some pictures from the Boone's Ferry Fun Run, organized by my bestest friend Leslie :)

Sleep Eating?

2008-05-01T13:37:00.000-07:00

After years of sleepless nights, my doctor prescribed me a sleeping medication, Ambien. One of the side affects is sleep walking, but I didn't take a single step. When I woke up this morning there was an empty (large) bag of jalapeno chips on my night stand. WHAT???? Well, I did have a DREAM that I ate chips in bed. Turns out, and hubby confirms, that I did in fact eat the chips, however (and I swear it is true) I don't remember actually eating a single one! I don't even LIKE jalapeno-flavored things!

And I didn't even sleep well!!! Either the medication doesn't work for me or the over dose of jalapenos counteracted the affects. Dave is threatening to buy a whole bunch of candy and scatter it around the bed to see what will happen tonight!

My post-ambien day has been tough. After running, picking up Zoe, making a quick trip to OHSU so Dave could turn in his pager, going to story time, making lunch, and getting out for a walk/flower picking session I am ready for a nap! :)

Sun, Fun, and Horses!

2008-04-27T20:11:00.000-07:00

We had the most gorgeous weekend! I loved every minute of it...running in the sun, taking my kids to the park, and going to Sauvie Island to play on the beach and buy produce at the farmer's market.

Brook was in heaven today because she got to go to a birthday party which took place at a local horse barn. All of the girls were so excited and had the best time! The barn is called Once Upon A Horse. Really, if you have a horse-lover this is a great place for a party. The kids got to brush and ride horses, ate pizza, tried lassoing a "bull," played tag, ate pizza and cake, and fed carrots to "Miss Pretty."

Each girl got a cowgirl hat and a bandanna as a party favor. You haven't seen cute until you have seen a group of little horse lovers all decked out in hats and bandannas!

2008-04-12T09:22:00.000-07:00

Aren't these little girls just the cutest??

I am off for a weekend of sun, horse back riding, and birthday parties. Enjoy your weekend!!

A Big Bunch of Kids

2008-04-06T17:04:00.000-07:00

Our original plan was to have this session indoors. Fortunately the sun came out and the rain stopped and we were able to change plans last minute. We decided to meet at a beautiful location here in Wilsonville.

The Future of Fashion

2008-04-02T08:15:00.000-07:00

These pictures are just a preview of of a fun photo shoot that I have had in my mind for months! I made a last minute decision to grab Brook and her friend Taylor and head outside since it was actually a sunny day. Not warm mind you, just dry with a bit of sun! Stay tuned for the full-blown version of this session!!

If you want the password to see the all of the images from the session go to:

www.jamiebree.com
click on the "proofing" tab
enter "girls" in the password area (bottom right of screen) and hit enter

Think Spring!!

2008-03-26T08:42:00.000-07:00

Well, Easter is over and Spring Break has started. Time just really flies! I am enjoying a bit of downtime with my family and catching up on a lot of things. We celebrated Brook's 8th birthday with family and friends and are looking forward to SPRING! Now, if only the rain would stop!! :)

Perfect. Little. Precious.

2008-03-13T13:05:00.000-07:00

I have been waiting for this baby to be born for MONTHS! After 9 months of waiting I got to meet her and she lived up to all of my expectations. She is a perfect little baby.

In Honor of Mom

2008-03-12T09:46:00.000-07:00

My mother is a cancer survivor. She was diagnosed with breast cancer about a year and a half ago and has undergone extensive treatments. She has been brave and strong and is now offering support to other women who have been diagnosed with cancer. In honor of my mother (who my kids call "Mom") I will be volunteering at the Relay For Life here in Wilsonville as a photographer. I am so excited to be a part of such an amazing organization!

Mom and Brooklyn

A Perfect Model

2008-02-27T08:56:00.000-08:00

What a fun afternoon...an absolutely adorable model (in an equally adorable J.Crew outfit!), sun, and lots of open space and water!

Sneak Peek

2008-02-23T20:14:00.001-08:00

Oh, what a cute little baby! It isn't too often that you have the opportunity to meet such a friendly baby with gorgeous eyes and flowing blond hair :) This family was definitely a lot of fun!

Sneak Preview

2008-02-18T19:21:00.000-08:00

Two of my favorite little girls!