Bledstein Family: In Between Raindrops

bledstein family: in between raindrops

this weather has been crazy but i love it.  the cool fall weather and rain actually make southern california feel like we are experiencing some seasons. yay!!  

my friend and her family took a chance with me and we danced in between raindrops one afternoon.  i am so glad we did.  we had a blast and captured some great shots.  

the morning we were supposed to meet, it was pouring rain.  we kept in contact all afternoon and had our fingers crossed that the clouds would part - even if just for a little while.   about an hour before we were scheduled to meet i called my friend: "do you want to meet?  i asked her.  "i'll leave it up to you." 

by then it was lightly sprinkling.  she lived close to where we were going to shoot pictures. 

"it is clear here. let's go for it!"  she said.

she was right.  the sprinkling stopped just as i pulled up and parked to meet her.  i could not believe it.  the clouds gave us some great cover and we set off for a walk with her family.

everything about our surroundings screamed: FALL!  the colors, the crisp smell of rain and wet leaves on the trees.  

it was perfect.   

the whole family

i love this shot of the girls playing in the tunnel

emily and family: thank you. i loved everything about our time together that afternoon.  i loved your girls' spirits. 

i loved your willingness to dance between raindrops with me.  i loved the opportunity to capture some fun memories for your family and i look forward to our time together again.

xoxo amanda jane

Pick Your Own Pumpkin Patch

pick your own pumpkin patch.  i was hoping to find one this year and a friend turned me onto a great local farm.  i have vivid memories of picking my own pumpkin as a kid.  wandering through a huge, open patch and finding just the right pumpkin to carve for halloween.  i wanted to give my kiddos that same experience and make some memories with them.  

i loaded up my kiddos and some of their buddies joined us.  we headed over to corona pumpkin farm and had an adventure.  if you take a drive over the hill off cajalco parkway to gavilan road, the farm is up on the hill.  it is family-owned and i was thrilled to find it. this is exactly what i had envisioned.  along the way we discovered another small farm off of el sobrante road with not only pumpkins, but all kinds of fresh vegetables.  the kids loved it.   my friend and i enjoyed vine ripened tomatoes, cucumbers, avocados and squash.  i can't wait to go back.  the farm is open year round.   if the farmer is not at the location, he works on an "honor system."  this made me love the farm even more.  you can take whatever yummy goodies you'd like and leave your money in the mailbox.  

we took this opportunity to dress up for the occasion - ok, well the girls loved that we wanted to dress them up and use this outing as an opportunity for more thematic photos.  who doesn't need sparkle shoes and a tutu for the pumpkin patch???  i wish i had one to wear.  my friend from tutulew's tutu's made gianna's halloween themed tutu and she wore that thing everywhere.  gianna also had black fairy wings that her bff, emma wore.  too cute!  love these girls.  (note: you will see my girl in many different tutus, she loves to wear them every day of the week.  it's a good thing i've got a friend in the business.)

it was a warm - no, let me be honest - it was a HOT october afternoon with temperatures so high that it felt like we were picking pumpkins in the middle of summer.  the kids didn't mind.  they were content to run around the farm and explore.  the farmer was so helpful.  he talked with them about when the pumpkins are planted, how they grow and the different varieties of pumpkins.  he also told us green pumpkins make the best tasting pies!

the corona pumpkin farm offers a variety of small animals for the kids to pet.  this was a great educational experience for them.  my little girl couldn't get enough of the baby chicks.  she kept picking them up - usually by their head.  i must have said: "be gentle. don't squeeze the chicks"  500 times.  it's all part of the adventure, right? (no baby chicks were harmed during our adventure.)  and this how my little people are going to learn. 

don't you love her glasses?

my littles at corona pumpkin patch

i was really excited about our pumpkin adventure.  we had fun with our friends.  we picked our own  pumpkins right out of the patch.  and we supported a local business right here in the community where we live.  yep, that's pretty awesome.  we look forward to our return to the farm.  i hear they'll be growing blackberries soon... YUM!  

Sisters: Sydney and Alex

  

"hey,... i've got a favor to ask of you." my friend, kim says while i am over visiting her one afternoon.
"what's up?" i ask.
"will you take sydney's senior pictures?"
i looked up at her in disbelief.  you want ME to take your daughter's senior high school portraits??? really??
"YES!" i jumped at the opportunity.
"of course i'd love to get pictures with both of my girls." she smiled at me.
"not a problem. i can't wait!! let's pick a date." and so we did.


a couple weeks later kim, sydney, alex and i met up to do some pictures of them.  we planned out where the pictures would be taken and what they would wear.  it was really fun to do this with them.  on the day of the shoot i had my trusty "wing man" sandra with me.  i love having her around.  she has a calming spirit and i love to hear her view and  opinions on what we are shooting.


now let me back up a little bit.  my friend kim is one of the first people i met when my husband and i moved to corona.  the stars were aligned just right because she and i were meant to be friends.  the moment i met kim, there was an instant connection. she has a warm heart and very giving spirit.  through kim, i have gotten to know her two amazing daughters: sydney and alex.  these girls are good.  they babysit my little people and i genuinely enjoy being around them both.  when they were younger, they looked so much alike that i would have sworn they were twins.  honestly, sometimes i had a hard time telling who was who. but in these last few years somethings have changed.  each girl is coming into her own and becoming their own woman; very much so.


alex is the younger sister; a junior in high school and she is an artist.

alex has a spirit much like her mother's.  she loves color and i've seen her with a paintbrush in her hands more times than i can count.  one night some of the ladies were visiting at kim's house and alex joined us.  she set up her easel and canvas and began to paint.  it was awesome to watch her talent create something extraordinary.

alex's decorating style is eclectic.  she has drawings covering almost every wall in her bedroom. and many of her favorite quotes are strewn on those walls as well.  i love that she knows exactly who she is and what her passion is at such a young age.  i envy that a little bit because at her age, i was still searching.

alex, keep that passion alive.  nurture it.  you are a budding young artist.  i hope you find a college that  encourages you to blossom into the artiste i know you will become.  i'm excited to watch where your talent takes you.

sydney just started her senior year of high school.  YIKES!  time has flown by watching her grow into such an intelligent and beautiful young lady.

sydney

sydney is quiet, intellectual, spiritual and loyal to her friends and family.  she is also very simple.  this girl does not get excited about the idea of putting on a pretty dress and getting all gussied up.  but she was a good sport and did it for us anyway.

give this girl her jeans and a pair of converse and she is happy.  isn't she a pretty scholar?  look at those books.  i know her brain is bubbling over with all that knowledge.

sydney, i love that you play a weekly game of monopoly with 4 of your closest friends.

i love that  you are a vintage soul who collects antiques and old vinyl records.  all teasing aside, i know your sister and your mom adore you.  how could they not? you are easy to adore.  this last year of high school is going to go by so quickly.  i know it doesn't feel like it right now, but it will.  my wish for you is that you soak up every minute.  have as much fun as possible and of course, get good grades. :)  this is the beginning of the end to a chapter for you and the next chapter - college life - is a whole new adventure. 

sisters playing "dress up"
growing up, i had always wished for a sister. i got 2 crazy brothers and used to dress the youngest one up like a girl - remember that, brian? - but if i had a sister, i would've wanted our relationship to be as solid as sydney and alex's is.

sydney, kim , and alex

the fact that these girls have their heads on straight is due largely in part to their awesome, kim and their mellow dad, tim.  you both have a done an amazing job of raising these two girls into amazing young women.  they give me hope for our future and my little people's future.  they are a bright light.  

good luck girls!!