as of late

Wow, I feel like I have been so busy lately! I think we have been on the go for the last month straight.  I have had a lot of fun taking lots of pics, traveling, and watching my crazy boy. Here are a few highlights from the weekend.

Saturday:

Max got to play with Asher! My cousin Scott, his wife Cassie and adorable little boy Asher came up from Orem. We haven't seen these guys in a while and we had so much fun hanging out with them! We are so excited to have our boys grow up so near each other and close in age. As you can see they love each other already!

It was also a very productive day: I took some pictures of their little family

And I got a little of THIS action!

Cassie, hairdresser extraordinaire, cut and colored my hair. Yaaaay! I was looking pretty sad there for a while. So maybe I am not quite as glamerous as Miss Holmes-Cruise, but it's the look we were going for bangs and all! Cassie seriously did a fantastic job, for once I really really love how my hair looks (seems like that never happens! I either like my cut, OR my color, this time I totally love both!). I will post a pic soon, but before I can do that, I would have to be on the other side of the camera. huh. If anyone needs a new stylist, try Cassie down in Orem, she is fantastic (and I'm picky)! Check her out here:

Family blog

Enizio blog

Sunday was so sunny, we decided to take Max on a walk with our neighbors! He and Heather had a swell time in the little red wagon. How cute are they? I think its love. Particularly on Max's part.  

Max the trouble maker. 

Lately, Max is into E V E R Y T H I N G. And I mean everything. If it can be opened, is wet or messy, has removable items (thing drawers of clothing), or could pinch his fingers or fall on him, Max is all about it. 

Perfect example would be...

I have heard boys will eat you out of house and home, but come on, he's only 13 months!

Particularly troubling is the fact that Max discovered the toilet this week. He always plays in the bathroom while I shower and get ready. On Monday he was up to the usual; opening all the drawers and cabinets and dumping out my basket of nail polish. All the sudden, I heard a SPLASHING sound. I turned around, and there was my baby, having an amazing time making waves in the bowl. 

Luckily, the toilets were scrubbed that morning, and I had lots of soap and hand sanitizer on hand. Shudder.

I made these yummy cupcakes on Sunday night and after the first bite, I swear it was like I was back in California! Brittany gave me the SPRINKLES cupcake mix from Williams-Sonoma, and it was almost as good as driving to Newport and getting one from the actual shop. THey were so yummy and came with the best cream cheese frosting recipe ever! Thanks Britt!

On Monday night, we had dinner with Nick and Kesha to celebrate St. Patty's AND Easter! We wore green (see our little leprechauns?) while dying eggs. Ha! We had a great time. The food was great and the company was unbeatable! I love watching Boss and Max together, they're going to be trouble in just another year or so, just wait! I was pretty impressed with some of the creative egg coloring too! Nick can make one mean easter egg. =)

So thats us lately. By the way, I do apologize for neglecting the photoblog lately! I have so many sessions to post its overwhelming! I have weddings, families, babies, sisters... the list goes on. Hopefully tomorrow I can get caught up! Ahhh!

oh and p.s. this was my favorite egg. =)

this EASTER skip kiddie kandids

And come see me on Friday! 

A few people have asked about wanting pictures of their kids in their Easter garb, so after a little thought, I decided to try something new. I will be holding an  Easter Mini Session here in Farmington (utah, duh). You will have the chance to get your little one's picture in front of a black or white backdrop, or outdoors in the grass or in front of the most DARLING LITTLE PINK and WHITE brick house I found (don't worry boys, you can stand in front of the white or the old gray rock. Or you can sit on the steps in a very manly fashion).   

The session Fee is $35 dollars and includes your favorite image in an 8x10. For $50, pick your top 3 and receive an 8x10 and two 5x7's. Additional prints of the images you choose are of course available! 

8x10's- $5.50, 

5x7's- $3.00, 

4x6's $1.50  

8 Wallets $4.50

e-mail me for times (morning or later in the afternoon available), group discounts, or if you have any questions. Hope to see you there!   jesslkettle@yahoo.com

this face

this beautiful face

sees me first thing every morning, and last before bed each night.

brings me joy

gives me purpose

is the center of our world

makes me laugh.

in it I see 

Danny,

 myself.

our family.

 

eyes that melt me

framed by the sweetest little lashes

my everything.

but this face, 

this

face

puts me right

                         over

                                       the edge.

This is Max's new "funny face!" He makes his eyes as squinty as he can and usually keeps them just barely open, wrinkles his nose, tilts his head back, and gives you a big fat faker smile. He does it all the time. We couldn't figure out the timing for the longest time! He does it when he's happy, sad, tired, you name it. He even does it on cue sometimes- if we say "Funny Face!" and mimic the expression, he will usually do it back!

I have noticed lately that he does it when he is trying to show you (or himself) that he's ok. For example, yesterday he was crawling over a big pillow on the floor. He got a little ahead of himself and bumped his head on the floor.  I immediately picked him up, he cried and snuggled into my shoulder. After a second, he pushed away, looked right at me, and did "funny face." I about died! He has done it in a few other similar situations too! Like after he finishes whining about something, like if he's thirsty and I give him a drink, boom. He also does it with lots of other people around, and he gets a big reaction. He put on a great show at the baby shower and for my family, pulling the face over and over again. Same thing yesterday at the neighbor's house, he probably did it eight times in one minute. We love our silly little boy and we especially love this new crazy face of his. Maybe I'm just a leeeetle biased, but I am pretty sure I have the most adorable baby on the planet. 

what a goober. 

Seattle: Whilst Downtown

the two of us at Pike Place

She SPOILS him: Nana feeding Max ICECREAM in the RAIN. 

everyone but me!

Max loooooves his aunt Mackenzie! She can always get him to laugh! Is she a beautiful girl or what???

they love eachother.

random ally, cool lighting in the evening.

this is probably my favorie pic from the trip. Max snuggling up to Mackenzie on our way back to the car in the evening. The two of them are precious and the city is a perfect setting for anything!

Seattle: A shower for Whitney and Tagg

The main excuse for our getaway to Seattle was to throw this shower for Whitney and Baby Tagg with my mom. We had so much fun! Thanks to our friends who helped and congrats Whitney on your beautiful baby! We love you both!

the theme: Baby bird/eggs in a nest


We originally talked about making these with those little colored chocolate cadbury eggs that are so conveniently in stores for Easter. However, my mom found these delicious belgian chocolate eggs with the bird charms at a chocolaterie in Telluride. Good find mom! They were perfect.

finished favor

the yummy desserts! cupcakes, cookies, chocolate cake, and "egg" treats- cadbury colored eggs (we picked out the blue, white and yellow ones) and almonds dipped in chocolate and rolled in cocoa. mmmmm. 

eggs in a nest mini cupcakes, baked by a friend, decorated by Mackenzie (my little sis). They are vanilla with cream cheese frosting and toasted coconut shavings for the "nest" and little chocolate crunchy candies for the "eggs." 

Karen Chambers made this insanely delicious chocolate cake with chocolate ganache (sp?) frosting and nuts. We added a nest made out of spun sugar and the eggs were extra chocolates from the favors.  I will be sure to share the cake recipe as soon as I get it~ it was seriously decadent. 

the food- salads, cheeses, stuffed mushrooms (amazing by Nan!), and shrimp skewers  

My mom is amazing at Brie. I looooove it! This is an easy one, it's scraped, covered in honey, nuts, sliced pears, baked, and then covered with raspberries. I'm telling you, mom can do no wrong in the kitchen!

beverages- sparkling blueberry juice (Britt introduced this stuff to me in CA and I am in love with it!) and Jones Soda (berry lemonaide). 

So here's the part where I lost my mind. I took like two random pics of guests,  put the camera down, got the shower going, and didn't take another picture until it was all over! No pics of Whitney, Tagg, the party planners, nada. So presents, nothing. Duh! I did however take a pic of this so far beyond amazing quilt Mari (W's mom) made for Tagg. She also made the most gorgeous couch sized one for my mom  week before! I was totally coveting my moms- it was the most amazing colors, fabrics everything. I literally slept with it every night. 

Then, after the shower was over, Mari pulled out THIS!!!!!!!!

The most fabulous beautiful quilt I have ever seen! Her quilts are art. She pics out fabric that is so amazing, but surprizing. Combinations I would never think of, but that are GORGEOUS! On the back, she made a little Tag with a picture of my mom and Max as a little chub, and below it she wrote, "For Max: a traveling quilt to visit his Nana." I was so excited I could have cried. My mom did cry. THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU Mari!!!!! We love it and we take it everywhere. Max sleeps with it every night too!

Since I am crazy and didn't take any good pics at the shower, here is a little sneak peak at some of the pics from my session with Whitney and Tagg. Have you ever seen more a more beautiful pair?

Seattle: stair steppin'

While we were in Seattle, Max took full advantage of having free reign over Nana and Grandpa's two flights of stairs going up to the second floor. Unfortunately, their staircases are too wide to accommodate a baby gate, so we always had someone on stair duty.  He was in HEAVEN! Max is a slippery little guy though, he snuck up there a couple times before we caught him! One day he almost started to crawl down another set of stairs into the basement after the door was left open. I saw him about to take the plunge and YELLED his name from across the room and sprinted toward him. He literally was about to put his first hand down the stairs but when he heard me, he sat back up, looked at me and started cracking up. I'm glad he thought it was funny. Little stinker. Here he is on a supervised excursion upstairs with Pops. 

the big climb, supervised by Pops (aka grandpa).

Relishing in his accomplishment. It feels so good to succeed, doesn't it?

Peek-a-boo, Pops!

He's so funny. 

Seattle: we love it here!

Max and I are having so much fun in Seattle! We are a little torn today- so sad that we are leaving tomorrow but so excited to see Danny! Max is having a blast playing with the family and is particularly enjoying Nana's stairs (SCARY). We have had a blast running around downtown and seeing all our friends too! I have also been lucky enough to have two photo sessions while I'm here. Much more to come on our fun trip and Whitney's baby shower!

Today, it was sunny. 

She was wearing this outfit. 

It almost felt like spring. 

Meet little Reese, 

and her brand spankin' new 

baby sister. 

look through my lens.

because sometimes you need a pick me up.

I rented a wide angle lens for the wedding this weekend, and had some fun playing with it the day after. Max happened to be exceptionally comical that day, so enjoy these. 

After a nice afternoon slumber, many babies wake up, stretch and yawn, then proceed to babble and play in their cribs for a few minutes, until they get bored and squeal to let you know they are awake. Not my Max. He wakes up like this. Always. 

COME GET ME IMMEDIATELY- I AM AWAKE!

(by the way, I must strongly suggest clicking on the first two images to see them up close. Way way way funnier. I mean sadder. Because clearly the two hours of rest was traumatic for him.)

and yes, I did torture my child for this picture. but don't worry, I only let him cry for a second. 

You should know that Maxwell has definitely become a curious little fellow. He is interested in everything, he will eat anything off the floor (even if he just ate a full meal in his high chair) he is climbing all over everything, and he is particularly interested in the contents of cabinets and drawers. I was getting him dressed this morning and I was digging through his drawers to find a certain pair of pants. I turned around to see this:

Apparently, he got stuck trying to climb in. After running for the camera, I helped him all the way in. He had a fabulous time finishing the job of throwing all his clothes out of the basket. 



My computer is in the kitchen. I do all my editing in there, because it's where everything goes on in our house. When I am working, I don't like to be left out of what the rest of the family is doing! I almost always feel a little hand poking me (usually on the bum) and turn to see him- holding onto the top of my stool, demanding to be picked up!




I love this silly baby boy, who is 13 MONTHS OLD today! He is a crawling machine, babbles all the time, and is the sweetest, happiest little boy in the world (except after a nap. =). While in CA three weeks ago, he weighed in at 18 lbs 14 oz, but we think he has cunked out since then, as he is doing MUCH better at drinking whole milk. We are done with soy, but he is still nursing. ANYONE OUT THERE HAVE ANY TIPS AS TO HOW I CAN WEAN A LITTLE BOY WHO IS MOST DEFINITELY GOING TO BE A BOOB MAN??? He is obsessed with them. He has now taken to putting his hand down my shirt when he is tired of a little sad. Appauling or hillarious? Sometimes I think both. =) I am having so much fun watching all the funny things he does. Although I am so sad at how quickly he is growing up, I have to admit:

I LOVE having a one year old!

Friday was so insanely gorgeous, and we have so missed the sun. Max and I decided to stroll down to gardener village and soak up some vitamin D. My very favorite baby store, ELSA BELLE, closed! So sad. So we took advantage of an empty front porch. Max had a blast! In fact, he screamed when we had to leave. He crawled all over the place and babbled loudly at anyone who wanted to hear. I can't wait for summer so we can play outside every day!

hey mom. check me out! 

I love this boy and his crazy mess of strawberry blonde hair. Can't bring myself to cut it, don't know if ever I will. 

talkin, talkin, talkin. 

exploring it all.