Whimsical ME

Where Have I been?`

I've been doing some awesome stuff!!!!!!!!!

I have been having a blast with my photography.

If you feel so inclined come check out my photoblog

Julyssa Schenk Photography

That's where the party is right now.

AND

when you come 

let me know and leave a comment.

I wanna know your thoughts on my new adventure.

Hauntingly-Lovely

I posted this image today on my Facebook fanpage and I thought it deserved to be on my blog too.  I had someone say that it was a Hauntingly-Lovely image and that's EXACTLY what I wanted to portray.

I listened to the song, "Somebody That I used to Know" Walk off the Earth (Gotye Cover) over and over and over again, which inspired this image in a way.  The song is so wonderful in a gloomy-hauntingly-lovely way.  

Take a quick listen if you have 4 minutes.

Click here for the song 

i am enough

Yesterday, I went to Yoga (I really didn't want to go, but I knew I would feel better if I did) and it was a very fabulous and emotional experience.

I've been feeling like I'm not good enough lately:

not a good enough runner

not a good enough business person

not a good enough mother

not a good enough wife

not a good enough photographer

SO

when my yoga instructor said that the session's mantra was

"i am enough"

boy, did I feel a burst of emotion on the verge of exploding

(and I know I wasn't the only one that needed to hear that message)

and I know this sounds cheesey and crazy that I had this experience in Yoga class but it was real and something that I needed that moment.

Anyway

i am enough

and 

so are you.

Self Portraits

My friend and I are doing some self portraits this week.

Here's mine from yesterday.

If you are interested to see more come to my Facebook Fan Page, Julyssa Schenk Photography and become a fan and SAY HELLO!! ;-)

Day 7 Week in My spectacular Life (lol)

It looks like Christmas threw-up in my home, eh?

Good times and awesome memories ... and ... lots of picking up.  The kids were still at their sleep-over so I had some time to pick up the mess before they came.  Nadya and I enjoyed some time together too before the kiddos came home.

Nadya saying, "ooooooooooh" ... yea, BIGmongous (as Dylan used to say) MESS!

Along with picking up the mess, I also had to get ready for a newborn shoot.  This was my set-up.

Thankfully the session was all through when Nadya woke up.  The older kids were bribed with $5 and a cookie if they stayed up stairs and didn't fight ..... they were awesome!!!  Not a beep was heard for 3 hours.

Nadya didn't know what to think of the little babe when she came downstairs.

We went outside to enjoy the afternoon chill.

Here's Naday saying, "Yo, B push me already, will ya?!".

Adam spent some time figuring out the helicopter.  He got it to work after some internet help and some help from MOI, cause I'm awesome.

LOVE

this sweet note from my beautifully-tender-kind-hearted Nyomi.

Evidence:

Adam on Facebook.

Until NEXT year, baby!

Day 6 Week in My life

On with the show, right?! 

Get it together Julyssa!

haha.

 

Christmas morning, rise and shine.

Thankfully, the kids gave us a slight break and woke up at 7:30am.

On Christmas Eve, Nyomi wrote Santa a note.  She really wanted to hug the Elf and since the Elf can't be touched (for fear of losing it's magical  powers) ... Nyomi thought it wise to ask the big boss for permission.

adorable

Santa signed his name and circled YES!

They found reindeer noses in their stockings and it took me a while to get a picture of both noses lit up at the same time.

He asked for 2 things this Christmas; A Captain America Shield and a Thor Hammer.

Nyomi asked for 2 things this Christmas;  A razor graffiti scooter (she got a light up wheel scooter) and a BBQ play set (she got a tree house because I didn't know what she was talking about, she was pleased).

After going through stockings and playing with Santa's gifts we had a delicious breakfast that Adam made.

Nadya received 2 things from us this Christmas ... this car from Santa and a dog from us.  She LOVED both of them.

She didn't understand the unwrapping of presents and began to throw a tantrum ...

... until she saw what was under the wrapping and her face lit up like a star.

This year I loved taking photos of the kids reaction.

Nyomi's first DOLL and it looks just like her.

This is the face Dylan made when he saw that I had given him JEANS for Christmas.  so NOT fair.

Abuelita gave Dylan a helicopter for Christmas and it was such an awesome gift.

Until

daddy couldn't figure out how he made it work in the first place.

so

the kids waited and waited for their turn to finally fly the copter, but their turn didn't come until a day later.

The scooter quickly became and indoor scooter for the time being and the kids enjoyed themselves, but also fought like crazy because Dylan wanted to ride too.

Adam and the kids got to talk to Uncle Casey (adam's bro).  We got to see their little baby who was just born in December.  

After visiting with Uncle Casey and baby N., we went over to partake of a lovely evening with some friends.  We had some yummy food and then we went outside to enjoy the very cool evening.  Nyomi's friend got a gymnastics bar and they enjoyed themselves.

The kids had themselves their first SLEEPOVER that night.

They had an absolute blast!

Day 5 (Christmas Eve) Week in My Life 2011

Most of the time

my kids

sleep in different areas of the home.

Sweet Nadya is mostly always very pleasant in the morning when we change her diaper and get her ready for the day.

uh-oh

what did you do Adam?

I love how Nyomi has set up her doll house.

And they are stilllllll sleeping.

My tree has been secretly decorated by the little people in my home.  So sweet.  But don't do it again, ya hear?!

The Elf did remember to move this morning and left the kids a darling little note.

A bath for all three at the same time saves me time and makes them reallllly happy.

Nadya was the splashing queen.

Nyomi devouring her spinach quesadilla.

Sparkles FINALLY received his funeral.  Kind words were spoken and toast on her behalf (sparkles is a girl name).

Nyomi flushed.

and she cried for the little fishy.

But

tracking Santa on the internet proved to be a great distraction from the sadness.

Making Santa's cookies while Nyomi danced to some jingles.

AND

the tracking continued the whollllllllllllle night.

While I made dinner ----- Chicken enchiladas, spanish rice and strawberry salad the kids made the icing for the cookies.

Our fancy dinner.

Somehow I always manage to leave some wrapping to do on Christmas Eve, 'tis the Season for procrastination.  Adam and I finished up the wrapping and got the tree all ready for the morning.

good night.

Day 4 Week In my Life 2011

I was trying on my winter hat (we all went to Colorado to spend some time with family).  I love this hat so soft and warm ... and cute.

I went shopping with Jen and this is what I wore :)  Don't mind the serious "look", I was concentrating on getting myself in focus ... and please don't mind the smeared of lovely little hands-mirror.

Clearly, we have zero imagination or consistency with mr. elf ... he's in the same spot, which we got grief for from Nyomi ........ oops.

My little drama queen.

I don't know why I don't have many more pictures of Dylan in the fridge he practically lives there.

He made Adam breakfast.

This is when Adam takes over "camera duty" (or cameraface).  He took care of the kids while I had some girl time.

Didn't I say Adam took care of the kids?  Yes, well now you know for sure cause check them out.  They look like they roollllllllllllllled out of bed and got in the car.  Hair--crazy, outfits -- crazier ...... me laughing when I saw the pictures.

They went over to help a friend make some garden boxes.  Adam really went to LEARN how to make them so he can make one for my home :)  Thanks FRIEND!

She adored Adam.  Adam likes the attention of the older ladies :)

Clearly, I was not taking care of them ..... see what happens!!!  Nadya had her first sip of High-Fructose-Corn-Syrup (sprite) without my knowldege. 

She went for another sip ... but doesn't really like it.  Thankfreakinggoodness.

The kids LOVE, Love, LOVE eating at Praradise Bread CO.

As soon as I got home Adam went out with some of the guys.  I had some time with the kiddos.  It was fun.

The kids were doing their karate moooooooooves.  These are some of my faves.

Nyomi is more of a spinning karate girl.

Dylan takes it seriously.  He has some great moves and high kicks.

Good night moon.

Day 3 Week in My Life 2011

Happy NEW Year!!!

I'm back from a lovely vacation with family.  I will blog about that when I'm through with my awesome week in my life.

Here's Day numero 3.

 

Nyomi has always slept in this position.  I always laugh when I find her like this ... and so glad I had my camera this time.  And not really sure what happened to her jammies.

Getting ready for her Christmas party at school.  She wanted to wear Red and Green and I improvised.  She wore a red shirt from Valentines Day and a green flower pin that we have had for years.  She didn't care.  AND she wanted the bumpy hair ... gorgeous long hair.

I haven't been the best a keeping up with my sink, gotta get back into that nice habit of keeping it clear of dirty dishes.

My breakfast.

The other kids slept in so I had a quiet breakfast.

Nadya is my little shadow and this is how I usually see her ... at my legs begging me to pick her up.

Having some snack on the kitchen floor.

I've been reading again.

Nadya cleaning up the mess from snack time.

The ELF.

We are not very creative with the elf.

When there is goofing around

there is laughter

and

sometimes

there are tears too.

Dylan's hand art.

Nyomi was super excited about her last day of school.  She came home and played with her favorite toy (paper dolls) ... and I love that I was able to capture her other past-time of whistling.

Dress up time.

Dylan playing with puppets.

She loves to smell her blanket.

We had a death in our family.

I accidentally killed (by changing him into his new water too quick) Sparkles our beta-fish of over 4 years.  I was really NOT looking forward to telling the kids.

Adam started telling Nyomi what happened to Sparkles ... and she wasn't too sure she really believed him.  At one point she started smiling and laughing thinking that we were kidding.  

AND

then she took a look for herself.

AND

the tears and sadness commenced.

She's such a little tender-hearted girl.

I know it's just a fish, but it's really our first LONG-TERM pet and the kids did really love Sparkles.  

Dylan was a little clueless about what was going on.

Our neighborhood carollers were a nice break in the sadness.

need a little giggle?

Almost moments after I posted yesterday, my downstairs ceiling started leaking!

I ran upstairs to find Nyomi simultaneously taking a shower and a bath and the water had spilled everywhere and through the tile and downstairs.

Holy freaky-deek.

(Is that how you spell that? ahh, whatev)

So

to lighten the mood, I took a picture of my little guy.

His hair is sticking up because of some paint.  He took a bath and somehow it didn't come off, so it was a 2-bath-kinda-day, the ones that BOYS JUST LOVE TO PIECES (haha!).

Hope you laughed, giggled or smirked -- either way, hope you had fun!