Summer went by
soooo fast! We had lots of fun and were busy, as usual...with lots of family and friend activities! Here is a brief update of just a
few things from summer!
*Dirt Bike Racing*Both boys raced their bikes in the summer motocross series, at Sacramento Raceway . They had a great time and are both really getting into this "dirt bike" thing...which just "
tickles us pink"! Anthony and Gabriel were both on 50's and raced in the same class, but couldn't be more different. I just
LOVE how they are such individuals! Anthony, our
competitive...
go-getter...
one thing on his mind-
WIN! Then our Gabriel who is just out there to
enjoy the ride and could care less about
winning, he is just is out there to have
fun and
CRUZ ! Here are a few pic's from the season. Anthony ended up getting
2nd overall for the season in his class, which had 15+ kids in every race!
Just look at how big that grin is...the trophy is big too! ;)
*Family Reunion at Coloma Resort*First I must apologize. I took hardly any pic's of this trip...a
first...hard to believe, but true! I did get a few pic's of some highlights though! We had our family reunion (my mom's side) at Coloma Resort again this summer! It was a smaller group this year, because we all just had been together a few months prior, for my cousins wedding. But, those of us that made it, had a great time! I am just totally amazed that my grandparents at 86 and 91 are still RVing/Camping! Can you believe that...my grandparents
ROCK ! Tod and I hope to be just as active as they are, when we're there wonderful age! Grandma Barbie & Grandpa Bud...we
LOVE you two so much!
The big excitement of the trip...Gabriel going to the ER after a bike crash! This was him in the ER. Poor thing! He ended up being ok...thank goodness. He just had a big
goose egg and a split lip!
"YES" he was wearing his helmet...he just met up with the wrong rock when he landed on his face! :/
*Soccer*Gabriel played soccer this summer and came totally out of his shell! I thought it might never happen, but Tod had faith! ;)' Gabe was
amazing! So
fast and
aggressive, which in turn allowed his team to make many goals working well together...good teamwork! Gabriel says he wants to keep playing soccer and that works out well since Tod has really enjoyed coaching his team these past few years, with a friend of ours! :)
*CSP- My First Wedding*Just about 3 weeks ago I did my first wedding!
GREAT experience...with a
TOTALLY AWESOME bride & groom - the daughter to a
great friend of mine, that just retired from my fire department, but with that being said...it confirmed what I already knew...I don't want to go that direction! I already knew this, but wanted to give it a try! :) Besides they started asking over a year ago and I kept saying no...then decided "
what the heck"...I'll give it a go! It could not have gone better! No glitches, issues or anything....
amazing...I kept pinching myself. It was a
FUN, but very
LONG day...starting at the salon in the morning and then going on into the evening with dinner and the reception. The whole family was amazing to work with...so no complaints at all! I just really enjoy the bellies, babies, kiddos and family stuff. So since we are so blessed with wonderful careers (that pay the bills) I can be picky and enjoy this amazing journey into photography, that I
LOVE, by shooting what I
LOVE without the pressure to go to where the money is...weddings! It was so totally cool...Tod wanted to come with me to be our assistant. Tod was awesome and in just a few hours he knew what camera and lens I wanted when and for what things and bouncing light and/or shading! ;)' We always joke that when we retire, he is going to be my right-hand man! He was a
HUGE help and kept us rolling. Us being myself and Brady, who is another guy I work with, who is getting into the videographer thing. This was a first for the both of us, so it was nice to be there together. He is
GOOD with that side of it and was one of the guys that pushed me to go MAC 3 years ago. He has always done our annual department rewards "
funny" spoof video/movie for work...for the big annual dinner party. We have teamed up and he is doing my slide shows for clients...to music and more the "
movie" type feel, rather then the just plain flip-flip-flip slide show! This is his knack...and it is a win-win, cause I don't enjoy the slide show/movie making part as much as the taking of the pictures part! To see the wedding post and pictures on the
Carmen Stiern Photography Blog "click"
HERE or visit
www.carmenstiernphotography.blogspot.com All but two pictures below were taken by a friend of the brides family. We had no idea she was snapping pic's of us til the end of the reception. I thought I was suppose to be the only one taking pic's...she caught us! ;)'
Loaded down, he carried our stuff all day...all over the place!
Thanks again babe...we could not have done this without you!!
We pinned their names, over our names, on our turnout coats and carried them on our backs to the top!
Kevin Smith had been a firefighter for over 20 years, when he passed. He was a husband and Dad to 8 children, one which is named Anthony!
Me and a good friend of mine, Lisa, with a now retired firefighter from FDNY who came as a guest of honor!
Here we all are at the top, before we hung each of our names in the towers! 
Our little "cowgirl" in her boots. She just loves them! 
She was very interested in a little spider, that was running for dear life, trying to get away from her! 
Then she thought it was cute to squish her cheeks! Oh my, my, my! 
Finally! She began to cooperate and I was able to get some pic's of her in her totally FUN retro dress! A friend of the family passed it down to us...love it! 
I told her I wanted to get a picture of her toes and she then started to point them, like a young lady! hehehe ;)
If you are wondering where the totally FABULOUS flowers, in Mati's hair, came from...email me and I can give you all the information. A mom of one of Anthony's friends, at school, makes custom hair bows and flowers (Butterfly Kisses)! You will be seeing more of them...I am having several made for many of Mati's outfits and also to use in future shoots with Carmen Stiern Photography!
Anthony sits with classmates, listening to his new teacher, as she welcomes her new students to the 3rd grade!
Gabriel was so excited to start school. He had his backpack all ready, first thing in the morning, even though he is a p.m. Kindergartner.
Here is Gabriel's class...look at all those little munchkins!
Gabriel and his teacher...he really likes her! :)
Mati was too funny! She took her shoes off and sat right down with the kids, ready to start Kinder with Gabriel and his new friends! ;)'
By day two of school, Gabriel wanted to be dropped off and just have me watch him walk to class! I guess he is too cool now, to have Mom walk him to the door! :)
Mati and I have fun working in the boy's classrooms...she really likes being with all the older kids. I just LOVE helping out in Kindergarten...lots of playing, with fun things! Play-doo is very messy...but FUN ! Mati was able to play with it too, along with all the other kids! 
More pic's of school later as the year goes on!
Just look at how big that grin is...the trophy is big too! ;)
The big excitement of the trip...Gabriel going to the ER after a bike crash! This was him in the ER. Poor thing! He ended up being ok...thank goodness. He just had a big goose egg and a split lip! "YES" he was wearing his helmet...he just met up with the wrong rock when he landed on his face! :/ 
Loaded down, he carried our stuff all day...all over the place!
Thanks again babe...we could not have done this without you!!
