how 'bout some PHOTOS on my photoblog??

{{{ Make sure you check out my triathlon fundraiser post - its the next one down!!!}}}

Okay- I admit it. I've been remiss with the photo-posting. I've just been chatty chatty chatty.
Here are some recent shots:






This is Ryan. Isn't she the cutest little curly-headed girl you've ever seen?
I think so.

Wanna see a not-so-curly-headed girl?Well - I'm happy to oblige...



Yep. That's Ali. She *finally* has enough hair to squoosh up into that dorky-looking bow. I think she looks adorable. Victor is embarrassed.

Did I mention that she's a banana fiend???



Wouldn't want Jake to feel left out...


Okay- my final thoughts for the day....if you live within 4 hours driving time from me - you'd BETTER be at my fundraiser this Sunday! {{pretty please??}} Scroll down for more info - feel free to make a BIG FAT donation!
:) jen

my BIG FAT triathlon fundraiser!!!!

HELP ME FIND A CURE FOR LEUKEMIA!

Hey folks!
Well, if you are reading this you have probably either received my mass email - or you've seen a flyer about my event at The Paseo Club. Here's my story:

I am currently training to compete in a triathlon! Team in Training (aka TNT) is a fundraising branch of the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. Basically - you raise monay to beat these cancers - they train you to compete in an athletic event. This is my third time to compete and fundraise for TNT. I wish I were more eloquent so I could find the words to tell you just what this means to me. I consider myself so blessed not to have been touched personally by any of these diseases - every time I look at my children I know just how lucky I am. I am doing this triathlon in honor of two very special people. The first is Haley Curtis. Haley's mom Holly is a fellow photographer - I have **known** Holly for several years - we both participate in a photography forum together. I have watched Haley come off chemo - grow her hair back and blossom into the beautiful young girl she is today. Haley is my hero - and Holly is SO amazing to me - she has been so strong for her daughter - and she is an awesome photographer so I've had the pleasure of watching Haley grow up. You can read more about Haley's struggles at thehaleybug.com I look forward to continue to watch Haley grow into a strong, healthy and beautiful young woman!!
I am also training in honor of Laura deHart. Laura is local to me - she is a single mom with three children. I can't even begin to imagine how she felt when she first got her diagnosis - but I'm happy to say that she is in remission now and she is a part of Team in Training! She will be competing this weekend in her very first triathlon! Go Laura!!

Please come if you can attend my fundraising event at the Paseo Club On April 2nd.
I'll be set up to take photos of your kids all day. No appointment required - so sitting fee - no obligation! You make a donation - then get a (hopefully) fabulously beautiful 8 x 10 of your child. I am requesting a $40 donation - but I'll take what I can get! (All photos will be posted online the week following the event - I'll be emailing you a link to view your photos)The folks at The Paseo Club there have been so good to me - you can use all the facilities all day for free! If you haven't been there yet - now is the time to check it out!

So- how can you help, you ask?? (I'm so glad you asked!) You can write a BIG FAT check! You can make a BIG FAT donation online -MAKE ONLINE DONATION HERE! You can donate an item or service to my silent auction! You can email me with a donation! You can make a little skinny donation if you are not in the position of being able to make a BIG FAT one! Or - you can just send me your well-wishes - I'll take all the checks, pennies, good karma and positive thoughts you can send! I know everyone has their own charities that you support - so I won't be offended if you don't donate - if you promise not to be offended that I asked! I know there are many many many of you whom I haven't chatted with in a while (i'm basically hitting all the addresses in my email address books!) Please drop me a line and lets get back in touch! I 've been a terrible correspondent in the past...but I'm turning over a new leaf...

Please email me at jennifer@jenniferwilsonphoto.com - I really would love to hear from you!

So - to re-cap:
What's in it for me? knowing that I'm at least TRYING to make a difference, taking on a challenge and COMPLETING it, weight loss (I'm down 12.5 pounds already - and NO - I'm not going to share how much more I've got to go - stay tuned....), new friends, community involvemnet - and just feeling good about myself.....

What's in it for you? Getting that *glow* when you know you've done something GOOD, putting some fabulous karma in the karma bank ...AND....if you're the BIGGEST FATTEST donor - I'll even write your name on my (then flat) tummy and do a hula dance for you while drinking a pina colada after the big race. I'll even send you the pic. Yep - Sounds like a pretty good deal all around, doesn't it?


Thanks for reading the longest post in the history of blogging....check back to hear update son how its all going!

From the bottom of my heart - thank you very much!

jen

big night last night!!!

Last night was a really big night for me! The Professional Photographers of California are having their annual convention and trade show and last night was the awards ceremony. This is my first year to enter and I was SO excited to have won SIX awards!! At the STATE level!! WOOHOO!!!! I wasn't even going to enter - I still feel like the *new girl* - but special thanks to my mom - she was out here visiting and encouraged me to enter, Moral of the story - Mom *sometimes* does know best!!
Awards I received are:
2006 Children's Photographer of the Year
2006 Environmental Portrait Photographer of the Year
2006 Top Ten Photographers in the state
Fuji Masterpiece Award
and 2 Judge's Choice Awards
heehee - I'm still just floating!

Here are the prints that were selected to hang in the exhibition:

"Beach Boy" - this was my big winner - he won the environmental portrait, the fuji masterpiece, and the 2 judges' choice awards - and he is my big lovable puppy - so it just makes it extra special!


Next is my baby girl - she is the photo that won me the children's category!



These next three were selected as "merit" prints - but no awards :(
I had high hopes for my lifeguards shot - but it had some tough competiton!





Okay - for some reason I can't add the last shot - I'll post it tomorrow!



Happy St. Patrick's Day to all!! DOn't drink too much green beer!

jen

Jake twins....

heehee - I have my hands full with Jake and Ali - I can't imagine how moms of multiples do it!
We had a great time at the Santa Barbara Zoo - then I had a little fun with Photoshop later!!

such a cute puppy...

Hey folks - meet Tova. Tova is a four month old Rottweiler - she is training to be an assisstance dog for my neighbor Laura. Laura and Tova were out for a stroll yesterday - and the light was just perfect so I grabbed my camera - who can resist a puppy????

Jake had lots of fun because he was riding his quad around the culdesac and Laura and Tova would chase him in her mechanical wheelchair - she's a good sport!