I’m so excited to say that my dad came home from the hospital last night!  Yes!  He really did!  After 45 days, he’s back home.  We still have a very long road ahead, but I couldn’t help but cry when I saw him finally resting in his own home.  So thankful.

Needless to say, there has been more unexpected events this summer than I can count.  Some of them I’ve shared, some of the news is still to come.    But can I just say I LOVE Wii!  In those first few weeks of my dad being in the hospital, life was turned upside down, and one day I came home and found Gina playing Wii with the kids.  It was to hilarious not to shoot!

Look at those faces!  HILARIOUS!  For those of you who love Wii and love Photo-Recipes, try this out over the weekend!  Send me what you get!  (You are waiting for those intense facial expressions!  )

Photo-Recipe:

There is a coffee table right in front of these guys, so I sat down on it and shot them straight on.  I wanted to be eye level with them, so that it when you looked at the image it felt like they were right in front of you.  I set my aperture to f/2.8.  My shutter speed was 1/60th of a second (or it may say 60 on your camera).  That is a slow shutter speed in some ways which can cause motion blur or camera shake, but since they were sitting in the same spot and not really moving anything but their arms—it works.  There is a lot of natural light in this room, so I was able to have my ISO down to 200.  I took a bunch of shots in a row so I could get as much diversity as possible in their facial expressions.  At first they were all a little self conscious of me shooting, but after a few minutes they forgot about me.  So hang in there for the shot.  It’s so worth it!

And a big thanks to Wii for helping my kids stay entertained on several afternoons when mom was at the hospital.  Plus, I have to thank my beautiful sister-in-law, Carmen, for convincing me to buy a Wii in the first place.  Love you Carm! 

Have a great weekend friends!

xoxo,

Me Ra

She got bangs this week, inherited my old Blackberry and acts like she is 18 instead of 9.  Pascaline is also a texting maniac with her Grammie and great grandma (Gigi Ma).   This is a self portrait that she did of her new bangs. She texted it to the whole family. 

My favorite part was when she told me how she tried a couple different shots, but they were all to dark.  So she decided to face the window light to light up her face better.  Ooh!  I love that girl!  So smart!

And yes, that is a shop-vac in the background.  Don’t ask. 

xoxo,

m

Today is our thirteen year wedding anniversary!  And I love this man more than ever!

xoxo,

Me Ra

p.s.  Tomorrow we start a search for one special mom!  Are you that mom?  Details tomorrow! 

Warning:  This is a long one with lots of photos! 

When we came home from Thailand, we were almost five weeks behind in homeschool.  The Denuge Fever had changed our whole trip, and it was looking like Pascaline would be doing homeschool through the whole summer to finish 3rd grade.  But there was another option.  Since we do a 4 day homeschool week, she could choose to do homeschool on Fridays and the weekend.  If she was committed to this much work, she may just make up the time and finish when schools do.  Well, not only did this little girl make up the time, she finished before the private and public schools!  And seriously, I have to honor her today on the blog!  When she puts her mind to something, Pascaline doesn’t let any thing stop her!

Monday was her last day, and I thought to myself “this is the perfect Defining Details Photo Exercise!”  What better way to remember this year than capture all the details that made up 3rd grade and Kindergarten.

All the books we’ve gone through this year!

Blaze had his own cubby hole for all his Kindergarten work, from multi-colored squares, to marbles, to crayons and pens, to play dough, flashcards and bean bags filled with lavender (don’t you love Kindergarten work!).

We spent time celebrating the growth in their handwriting.

Pascaline learned cursive this year, and we were both shocked at how much her cursive writing transformed her printing.  The left side is her printing from the beginning of the year.  The right side was her last Spelling test this week.

Blaze started the year with the top line, but look where his handwriting is now!

I also LOVE to see what and how children express through themselves through their art.  So I took out all their art pieces and started going through them chronologically.  As I looked through drawing after drawing, I couldn’t help but be inspired.

The kids took risks with their drawings.  They got out of the box of working in coloring books and played with color and experimented with shapes.  They also didn’t quit.  Blaze really, really wanted to learn how to draw superheroes.  So he started.  Those three words are huge.  So he started.

His beginning Batmans looked something like this.

And then it progressed to this.

And this is my favorite!

Blaze also went through a phase where he did boxes with circles inside.  He was fixated with the whole concept of shapes and combined colors.  He did them again

and again

and again…is it just me, or do you find these fascinating too?  What is he thinking?  What has him so interested?  What is he working out in his head?  The colors changes but there are also all these constants.

Pascaline LOVES drawing and is AMAZING.  She loves to draw Fashion Models and then try to design and sew their dresses with bits of fabric.

She’s better at drawing people than I’ve ever been!  I personally thought this Family Drawing was progress because she’s nine years old, and it’s the first time she’s included Blaze in the “family” picture. 

My favorite!  Mama and Pasc

My knowledge of how to draw is so limited.  So we enrolled Pascaline in a special drawing class this year, and her work is blowing my mind these days!  She takes on these awesome challenges and works at  one drawing for weeks.

I’ve watched the kids face their own insecurities all year.  Blaze draws a superhero that in his mind isn’t as good as sissy’s.  He starts to shut down and doesn’t want to draw anymore.  But then, after a few minutes, he starts again.

Pascaline loves animals, and she is turning a new chapter in her understanding of lines, shadows and shapes.  Her mind is so open to trying new things, taking on a new challenge.  Does she cry sometimes half way through?  Yes.  Don’t we all.  But when she’s done, the finished piece is worth every tear.

How can I not be inspired by their art.  How can I not be inspired to try again.

Now it’s time to go celebrate the end of the year with roller skates!  Pray for me.  I haven’t been on roller skates since 4th grade! 

xoxo,

m

I have the most amazing husband in the world.  Brian worked all last week on a big surprise for Mother’s Day.  He kept telling me how it was going to be all about me because he’s messed up enough in the past, and he is much wiser and older now.    For instance, he assured me that we weren’t going to go have brunch.  (Honestly, I can’t stand brunch—or should I say, I can’t stand how I feel AFTER brunch.)  He said it was going to be a Me Ra day; outside, in the fresh air, with foods that I love, oooohhhh…Oh man, I felt so cherished.

Without me knowing, he asked around and found a super cool park along the waterfront that we’ve never been too!  The weather decided to be perfect not only for Blaze’s GI Joe birthday, but for Mother’s Day too!

They even had a dog park area.  So Rosie got to come along! 

And there was a moment when I thought it was “Rosie Day”.  I mean really, what the heck is wrong with this picture.  And will someone wipe that big smile off Rosie’s face!  Just jokin.  I love that smile!  (Click on any of the photos to see them larger.  I know you all want to see Rosie’s smile at it’s largest size!)

It was the BEST picnic ever.  Brian brought a handful of my favorite foods like; Pot sticker spicy salad!  He even made homemade tuna fish with capers and fresh dill!  I know!  Amazing!

We spent the afternoon in the sun playing together.  This is one of my favorite images from the day.  The kids were playing Frisbee with Brian.

I looked at the photo above and this next one and started crying.  To see Pascaline running so strong, be flipped around by Brian, hear her laugh—after all that we went through with the Dengue Fever.  To be back, safe and sound, healthier and stronger by the day…it was a very special Mother’s Day.

Brian practiced serious Photo Coaching with me and the kids.  We weren’t allowed to show any teeth when we smiled.  Yep, the kids are still wearing their GI Joe Pilot glasses!

I love this guy!  And I want the whole world to know it!

Pascaline took this!  Not bad use of the Third’s Principle, don’t you think!

Brian, to try and say what you mean to me is impossible.  There is simply no me without you.   I love you honey.  I love my life with you—all the tough stuff has been worth the endless good stuff.  Thank you for all the secret planning you did to make Mother’s Day Amazing.  Thank you for making me laugh.  Thank you for always giving me a safe place to cry. Thank you for seeing in me, so much more than I see in myself. Thank you for appreciating and cherishing the mom that I am to the kids.  I love you, love you, love you.

Love Always,

your Me Ra

Meet the rough and tough GI Joe birthday party team!

Meet their Commander Chief!

Cobra likes to spoil birthdays, especially GI Joe birthdays! Shoot—that nasty Cobra!  It’s Blaze’s birthday, and he’s after a tank that is stuffed with riches!  The GI Joe team must work together and work fast to find the clues and solve the riddles before the tank is stolen!!

GO JOES!!!

Riddle:  Climb in the back, Cobra knows where the water guns are stashed! Grab em before your hopes are SPLASHED!!!

Answer:  The back of Commander Chief’s CAR!

Riddle: Bring your water gun, this is just STARTING TO GET FUN!  Sing a Carroll, run to the soda cooler to find the next clue! But watch out for the Cobra’s men who are REALLY GOOD SHOOTERS!  (Before you say it, I know.  I can’t rhyme or bake.  But I’m okay with it. )

Answer:  Mr. Carroll, the neighbor dad who lives on the other side of the hedge (behind our swing set) was COBRA—armed and ready on the deck to fight off any Joes that try to find the next riddle!  But they surrounded him on all sides.  He had no fighting chance. 

“Hit the Deck Joes!!”

Run to the street, hear the Commander Chief’s whistle BLOW!!! Hit the deck and give him five pushups each to get ahead!

I love the kid who has the broken arm (on the other side of Blaze with the shades on—staring Brian down!).  He jumped right into doing one armed push ups!    So awesome!

Don’t be fooled, Cobra hasn’t quit! Swing three times and make that HOME RUN HIT!

Birthday boy was up to bat!

And seriously, Blaze’s birthday party this weekend was the best time ever.  Yes, it is a total toss up between who had more fun: the GI JOE team or the Commander Chief.  It may even be a tie.  (Let’s just say Commander Chief was in HEAVEN!  )

What more could you ask for with the great, warm weather!  But most of all, these two sweet kids, with their pilot, GI Joe, sunglasses!  Ooooh—I just love that little birthday Joe—hold on.  I’ve got to go find him right now and SQUEEZE HIM!

Happy Birthday sweet baby boy!  Mama, Daddy and your sissy love you to pieces!

xoxo,

Me Ra

(click on any of the images to see them bigger)

p.s.  Tomorrow is the last day for the 20% Mother’s Day Special on all our DVDs and 101 Kits!  Promo code: mamalove

Me Ra spoke too soon yesterday.

This is her Husband, Brian. Last night after posting her blog and after dinner, she went to bed with her whole body hurting. No, not throwing up, but she’s got the same thing as the kids.

This morning, she felt well enough to let me know I was in trouble after the Apes came. I don’t remember what I did, just that Me Ra didn’t feel good any more and she wasn’t up for going to the beach today. So today I thought I’d let her and the kids take a nap, I went to the club house (deck) by the beach to do some work and have internet access. I ran into these two guys.

If you’ve been to our place, then you might think this guy has the eyes of a guy (J.K.) who moved here from last year from L.A.

I named this guy Tony.

As the internet went out again, they inspired me to take a couple pictures of Me Ra not feeling well. That’s what I did tonight after dinner.

Can you see her saying, “Don’t take my picture!”

Oh I think that’s enough now to get me started on wrong foot in the morning. 

Me Ra did ask me to announce that she won’t be releasing the May Seattle Confidence Workshop until Friday. Considering she can’t get herself out of bed, that’s probably not very surprising?

Last, the smallest, but definitely not the least, the kids are feeling a little better today. Yeah!

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Well, the internet went out last night before I could post this blog, so I took some more photos of Me Ra laid out sick on the bed. Poor thing…

What angle makes her look the sickest?

Now am I a bad Husband? 

Little brothers are pretty special.  I consider myself super lucky because I’ve got two.  Aside from Brian, they are both my closest friends. 

One of them is in a constant race with me to be a guest on Oprah’s show.  He lives in Beverly Hills, and let’s just say that when my dad gave us the “You’ve Got To Make a Living Speech”, he was taking notes at the age of three.  He is a constant support to all my business endeavors, no matter how grand they seem. 

My youngest brother shares my passion for writing, literature and a desire to change the world.  His name is Shaun Hong (or I call him Shauni—emphasizing the eeee sound ).  Sometimes we called him Scrawny Shauni.     

OH but WAIT, for all the women who were in the Seattle CONFIDENCE Workshop a couple weeks ago…YES!  This is the brother who tortured Ms. Johnson!  (Natalie Johnson was one of the attendees.)   Shaun said that Ms. Johnson used to have a big fan on her desk, and they would rip up dozens of pieces of paper and let them go when they walked by her desk so it looked like it had snowed—just on her desk.    What a pill!

But Natalie, get this.  When I told him you were in the workshop he smiled and said “Oh man, all the boys had the BIGGEST CRUSH on Ms. Johnson!”  So even though they tried to run you out of your job, it sounds like they were crushing on you!  Isn’t that funny!  Did you ever know that?

Okay, so back to Shaun in “real time”.  I’m relieved to say that he has taken a turn for the better (since 6th grade ).  He is one of the funniest guys you will ever meet, and he is one of the most giving. 

Shauni and his best friend, Nate, have been burning the candles late into the night, hammering out an idea that could help thousands of people.  It’s called Pocket Philanthropist.  Don’t you love the name?  I think it’s awesome! 

They’ve entered Pocket Philanthropist in the Pepsi Refresh Everything Project.  Their goal is to win a grant for $250K so they can quit their day jobs and focus all their attention on helping people in need.  I’m shamelessly asking you to vote for these guys. Watch the video, and you’ll see how great their idea is.  

Every day, you can vote AGAIN.  I thought this would be a great way to get your “voter” muscle working because tomorrow…drum roll…I am posting the Finalists for the Comfort Photo Themed Contest!!  I know what your saying, you won’t believe until you see it!  And I respond by saying, I don’t blame you!    But it’s coming friends. So get your voting muscle working on my little brother’s dream while I finish prepping the Finalist Contest post for tomorrow!

Oh, and if you have any questions about Pocket Philanthropist feel free to post them as comments on today’s blog.  Shauni will be popping on here to answer whatever he can. 

CLICK HERE to VOTE! 

Thanks in advance! 

xoxo, Me Ra

p.s. Jennifer’s Business Coaching Exercise is live this morning on the SOAR! Blog.  Enjoy SOAR! Sisters!  Their posts this week are pretty powerful. 

Aside from all the freaking, amazing, beautiful photo opportunities

here are my Top 10 Reasons to Take the Kids (and a Dog) Camping!!

#10 Dogs love to play with your kids in the river too-and unlike you, they NEVER get tired of playing! (I never, ever, ever thought we’d be the family to bring a dog camping. I’m not sure why, but I was wrong. Wow, Rosie made this trip AWESOME! Prior to leaving, I thought for sure today’s post would be Top 10 Reasons NOT to take your dog camping! Little did I know!)

#9 Your SON can throw sand all over him without getting in trouble. (But still, I’m so confused. Blaze said he did this b/c Rosie kept shaking off next to him and getting him wet. I don’t think Pascaline, Rosie or I understand. Does this make sense to anyone? Is it just me?)

#8 Cooking Blueberry Pancakes at sunrise in the Great Outdoors w/little helpers!

#7 She gets some independent “alone” time.

Until he floats by.

Since we’re shooting with a 24.6 megapixel camera, let’s zoom in on her expression for a minute.

#6 When you bring a dog camping, we discovered that you can leave food out all night because the squirrels and birds don’t want to mess with the dog. Amazing!

#5 Silly campfire games! All day and

all night

#4 Kitchen Tent Acrobatics are allowed!

and let’s be honest, setting up the tent and tearing it down are so much better when the kids help!

#3 Brian has a reason to rent a UHaul trailer and feel even more MANLY! (something about “hauling” stuff)

#2 Our Gas BBQ never worked so well! (Yep, we brought it! Can you see it in the trailer image? I mean shoot, we had ALL this room with the trailer, why not! And now we’re sold! We’ll never camp without the trailer, BBQ and Rosie again!)

#1 THE TOP REASON to bring your kids camping! The Great Outdoors seems to bring out the Barbaric Yelps in all of us!

This post was inspired by my September 2007 blog post; 10 Reasons to Take the Kids Camping! Check it out!

Was that fun or what? What are your top reasons to take kids, dog or yourself camping?!

xoxoxo, Me Ra

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THIS FRIDAY is the deadline to get the Early Bird Registration price for our upcoming Minneapolis Workshop! I don’t think we’ll be able to make it to the East until next Fall, so if you are near Minneapolis or on the East Coast , come join us! To find out more details and get yourself a spot, CLICK HERE!

Want to learn more about Framing, Composition, Blurry Backgrounds and Lighting? Check out our Award Winning DVDs, Refuse to Say Cheese and Beyond the Green Box (They are BACK IN STOCK!! Yeah!!), or discover our popular 101 Kits for starting or expanding a business in photography, click on the titles of your choice!

We had a blast reading through all the titles you submitted. The kids couldn’t stop giggling. We narrowed the submissions down to our TOP FIVE. Here they are!

TOP FIVE TITLES for our Family Portrait:

1. May the Koh’s Be With You! by Monica

2. “That’s No Moon! It’s Brian’s Head!” (for the top image) by Carey

3. Refuse to Say Cheese. Fight the Dark Side Instead! by Susie

4. Attack of the Kohs! (for the top image) by Jeramy

5. Shutter Wars…The Demise of the Green Box (Starring Queen Ami-Koh and the Knights of the ISO) by Kimberly Totten

Aren’t those AWESOME! So funny!

Vote for your favorite title in today’s comments! We’ll pick ONE Random Voter to win along with the title that gets the most votes!

Your prize? Your choice! A Starbuck’s card or iTunes! Start your weekend with a latte or new tunes!

Voting ends TONIGHT at 7pm PST!

p.s. A bunch of you had questions about the portrait shoot I shared in an earlier blog this week: Finding the BEST Light in Your Setting. I just wanted you to know that I finished reading through all the comments and did my best to answer your great questions. Check it out HERE in the comments section! Hope it helps!

And wow, wasn’t it hard to throw out 5 pieces of old clothing?! Way harder than I expected! Still working on it!

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TODAY is the last day for the Early Bird! We only have TWO spots left for the CONFIDENCE DC Photography Workshop for Women! CLICK HERE to read ALL the details, see the schedule and get your spot! FYI, the Early Bird Registration fee is $799. After tomorrow the registration will go back up to $999! Can’t WAIT to see you there! I can already tell you that from reading the emails of those signed up, we have an AMAZING group of women coming together!