With cinnamon scents filling the walkways, kids screams trailing off into the skies, costumed characters with their endless smiles, roller coasters swooshing by, and the magic goodness that just oozes out of every corner… Disneyland truly is the Happiest Place on Earth.

Even though I am slowly creeping closer and closer to 30 years in age (yikes!), I still wholeheartedly LOVE going to Disneyland. Where else can one go and feel like a kid all over again? Nowhere. Adam and I celebrated our 7 year dating anniversary during our Spring Break at Disneyland and California Adventure and we loved every minute of it.

Growing up as Southern California girl, I’ve spent many a day at Disneyland. I think I was there almost a dozen times the year they celebrated their 50th anniversary. Not only was I a frequent visitor, I am and always have been (and always will be) a huge fan of Disney. I grew up singing their songs and even on long road trips, the Disney playlist is always on repeat if I’m driving. Who doesn’t like singing songs that you know all the lyrics too? So now are you interested in driving to Seattle with me this summer?

Adam and I have been to Disneyland together several times and each time, we make a big deal out of getting a Disneyland churro, because Disneyland churros taste better than normal everyday churros. Everyone knows that.

Under the wise tutelage of Chris a couple of years ago, who was often a frequent high-scoring space ranger on the Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters ride himself, we spent quite a bit of time space ranger-ing ourselves. Still not quite in the millions like Chris, but getting closer and closer.

Loved how they revamped Small World and thought it was super cute to see Disney characters dispersed throughout the whole ride. And whoever hates on Small World needs to remember that it’s a long air-conditioned ride where one can escape the SoCal heat.

Adam had heard much hype about the humungous turkey legs that they sell at Disneyland. (Mostly from me, but who’s pointing fingers?) We kept walking past carts with them, but when we finally decided to split one… we couldn’t find any because they were sold out. Luckily, we lingered long enough at that sold-out cart so we were first in line when they replenished their turkey leg stash. Did I also mention that one does not need to hold back any carnivorous tendencies while at Disneyland either? Aw yeah… eating like a caveman. Fun indeed.

Oh and Space Mountain? Hands down, the BEST. RIDE. EVER.

We spent the next day at California Adventure. We love when it’s 2fer time each year. Before we went, my mom (who holds an annual passport each year) told us that we had to go on the Toy Story ride and that it was better than Buzz Lightyear. Better?! Heresy! Oh boy, we were hooked the first time we got on it. We must have gone back like 5 times that day. We would stretch our arms right before getting on the ride so that we would be ready for high-scoring fun. Of course the stretching would happen amidst intense strategizing. Man, I love my husband.

And just when I thought life couldn’t be any sweeter, we ventured off to the Animation area. I always wanted to be animator. In college, I worked towards being an animator for Disney or Pixar when I was a Computer Arts major. I ended up choosing teaching instead, but being at the drawing class reached down into my soul and touched a hidden part deeply buried beneath layers upon layers of dust.

I loved the layout of the darwing room. The cluttered artsy-ness was so similar to how I operate on my own desk. I think it’s called, “organized chaos.” We made sure we came back when they were teaching Winnie the Pooh and I couldn’t be any more happier than I was in that very moment - drawing Pooh Bear. I left that room with my smile from ear to ear and just gushing with excitement that I couldn’t contain. I’m having so much fun! Oh, I could spend all day here. Can we go back there again? Did you see how they had books and movies on the shelves? Can we go to the gift shop and look at the animation books? *SMILE* Being the great husband that he is, in that moment, Adam just smiled and let me be.

I also wanted to note that the materials that they used in that class is from the same person that trained me in animation and also the maker of the same materials I use when I teach my animation class. (Check out Lightfoot Ltd.)

At the end of that day, I stood with my eyes wide open (and mouth probably too) in the middle of the animation auditorium surrounded by numerous screens blinking with scenes from the Disney movies I grew up loving while playing the songs that I grew up singing along with. For two whole days, I was overflowing from the inside out with joy. Thanks, Disney.

Polaroids made with Poladroid.

One of the best days of the year is Easter. Who doesn’t love little kids dressed up in their new dresses and suits? Besides cute kids, I love Easter because it reminds me of the price that Christ paid for our sins. I often get caught up in the “busy-ness” of my everyday life that I forget how blessed I am to be forgiven of my sins (past, present, and future) because He died on the cross for me. Completely undeserving of that forgiveness, I am humbled by the love that pours out of Jesus and into my heart.

I love my church. No, I REALLY love my church. Back in college, I was introduced to The Rock Church and have been going ever since. I’ve followed The Rock from SDSU to Ruffin Rd to Point Loma. It is the first church that I proudly call “my church.” As a Rock Photographer, I had the opportunity to help out on Easter by shooting the Easter family portraits.

Like I said earlier, getting to take photos of little kids in cute Easter garb? I’m SO there.

My favorite picture of the day.

Helen and her family. We serve on the count team with Helen.

Our friend Mikey.

In between services, the photographers had a little bit of fun. Here are a couple of shots that the Youngrens shot of us.

Aw yeah…

We’re a Canon commercial! (Well, except Trevor’s Nikon in the middle…) Can you find me?

Awhile back, a note went around facebook asking people to list 25 random things about themselves. It was so widespread that it even made news! After getting several invites, I felt compelled to see what I’d come up with so I did it.

I thought I’d share it on my blog too:

1) I absolutely, wholeheartedly love my husband. God has given me a great love story and I love watching it unfold before me. He has seen the in’s and out’s of me and still loves me in spite of all of that.

2) I fight the fact that I’m turning into my Mom, but the more I fight it, the more I realize I subconsciously want to be like her. I’m still hoping for the day we can be closer again. We’re stuck in an awkward, no-longer-a-kid phase and not-quite-a-real-adult phase with each other.

3) I am known for always having a camera in my hand and I LOVE it. When I was a kid, I was always in front of my Mom’s camera, and ever since I got a camera when I was 11, one can often find me behind one. I think it’s the deep desire to capture memories that pass so quickly they’re easy to forget.

4) I abhor cleaning bathrooms - even if it’s my own.

5) I think one of my callings in life is to be a Mom. I keep putting it off and don’t feel ready for it now, but am excited that it’ll be coming up in a couple of years. (God willing)

6) I have always had a small number of people I’ve considered my closest friends, but I’m fiercely devoted and loyal to them.

7) I love my Mac. I love it way too much and probably spend too much time on it. It’s often a point of contention with my hubby.

I almost always remember my dreams and my deepest fears and insecurities always manifest themselves into my nightmares.

9) I get sinus infections way too easily.

10) I am a Southern California girl at heart. I love the beach and sun even though I don’t go very often. I can’t stand anything below 50 degrees and will happily wear flip flops everyday if I could.

11) I have always been a bookworm. When I was a kid, I was either behind a book or coloring/drawing. Once I start a book, I have absolutely no self-control and will stay up until the wee hours to finish the whole thing in one day.

12) I am incredibly LIST-y! I make lists and lists and lists. Currently I’m using a mini-notebook to gather up all my lists and what not and surprisingly, it’s working well for me so far.

13) I want to travel to Santorini one day. Adam always asks me why and I respond with, “I want to take pretty pictures!” hehe.

14) I have traveled once alone with Seminar at Sea from San Diego, Mexico, Guatemala, Costa Rica, Panama Canal, Jamaica, and Cayman Islands. I learned more about myself and made some of the best friends ever on that trip than I ever did on any other trip in my life.

15) I love waterfalls. I’ve hiked up to the top of Vernal & Nevada Falls in Yosemite and Dunn’s River Falls (Ocho Rios) in Jamaica, but hope to hike to top of Yosemite Falls in the future.

16) I am truly a hopeless romantic. I’ve always been.

17) Chinese food is comfort food to me. Nothing beats a meal at home.

18) I can be real bossy, but that’s just the big sister in me. Guess that’s why I became a teacher, huh?

19) I love driving and do my best thinking in the car. And singing too.

20) My hubby and I watch Friends DVDs when there’s nothing on TV. We love being at home way too much. Esp when it involves cuddling on the couch and watching TV. Homebodies to the core!

21) I am naturally an introvert. Adam is too, but he can fake being an extrovert much better than I do.

22) I always crave salty things. French fries… yummm.

23) I am really good at remembering lyrics, but horrible at remembering numbers/dates.

24) I cry super easily. My theory is that when God was designing me, He must have put too much “emotion” in on accident, but it’s not healthy for ONE person to have so much of it. Often when I feel something (happy or sad) in huge quantities, crying is the only way I can get all those emotions out. Once it is out though, I feel much better.

25) I love kids. I love teaching (most days) and watching students grow in their learning.

Over Spring Break, I developed a nasty new addiction. And that addiction is called - Bejeweled Blitz.

I used to play Bejeweled years ago when Yahoo had some free online games. Nowadays, you need to pay for your addictions.

On facebook, Bejeweled Blitz is just like the original Bejeweled, except you play it for one minute and try to get the highest score possible by getting strings of matching jewels lined up. What makes it so addicting is that you don’t really have to give it your full attention - it can be just mindless clicking and lining up of jewels.

The fun thing about playing it on facebook is that it keeps track of your scores against the scores of your other facebook friends, so there’s the element of competition. Now, I’m not really competitive (except with Adam, but that’s another story) but for the longest time I couldn’t crack a score above 75k and was highly somewhat envious of those who had 100k points. So, when I finally cracked a 100k score with some mad skillz luck, I couldn’t help but want to remember it so I took a screenshot.

So, you wanna play?

Zandi is an amazingly talented singer and performer and I have always admired her from afar ever since the first time she blew our minds at UCSD APSA’s Talent Show. I also regularly follow her YouTube video series and continue to be in awe at the voice that God has given her. (Check them out: zsos music). Some musical artists out there can sing and then there are those that can SANG! And Zandi is one that can SANG. Really. I’ve always loved listening to her and watching just how God works in her life.

Not surprisingly, she comes from a family of songbirds - five sisters actually, and their Mom is also a songbird herself! Zandi and Rich were blessed with a special performance from so many loved ones and I was floored by all the talent overflowing at their wedding reception.

After shooting her wedding with the Galangs (Daniel and Vaness), I was also not surprised to learn just beautiful Zandi really is, inside and out.

Weddings are SO much fun when the couple loves to ham it up for your camera. I love it when people act silly and goofy for me and it just makes the whole day incredibly fun to shoot. And then before you know it, you’ve shot 2000+ photos and can’t pick your favorites!

Zandi wore her mom’s wedding dress.

So beautiful. Gosh, I love brides on wedding days… they just glow!

Their impromptu “first look”

Don’t they just look so bad ass?! I love it when clients let go of all inhibitions!

I LOVED these cranes decorated all throughout the backyard.

Rich’s vows were so touching and straight from the heart. I couldn’t hold back my tears!

And then Zandi’s were so pure and genuine. These two were meant for each other!

I loved the cherry blossoms in this tree - so delicate, yet romantic.

They’ll be welcoming a baby boy in August! Can you believe how cute Zandi is? God willing, when I get to be preggers, I KNOW I won’t be small and cute… at all.

They’re going to have such beautiful babies.

The couple during the maid of honor speech. And to honor Rich’s heritage, they dressed up in traditional Korean wear. Such bold colors and perfect for pictures!

Cupcakes!

More paper cranes…

Thank you Zandi and Rich for allowing me to share in a little morsel of the love story God is writing for you and your family. It was such a blessing to be a part of your special day! Can’t wait to meet your little boy soon!

And a special thanks to the Galangs for having me come along! It was fun shooting with you BOTH!

Check out the slideshow!

Today marks an important milestone for Adam and I. As of today, April 11th, we will have been together for 7 years. It has been a long, wonderful journey so far and I can only imagine what God has in store for us in the years to come. When I think back to when we were first dating, back in our early twenties and just how stupid and young I was back then… it makes me wonder what I’ll think in another 7 years.

God has blessed me with 7 wonderful years with my now husband. I am so thankful for him everyday. He is a much kinder, more generous person than I am and he continues to make me strive to be a better person.

I Love You More Than Blank is a website where people anonymously share things that they love their significant others more than. There are different categories like: The Benjamins, Coffee vs. Fizz, Wired, etc.

So in honor of our 7-year anniversary, I decided to make my own list! I thought that his would fit too for this week’s “I Heart…”

I decided to make one up for each of the categories to help keep me focused because thinking of things that I love Adam more than could potentially get very, very, very long.

My dearest husband…

• I love you more than spending time in bookstores.
• I love you more than diet Coke, homecooked Chinese food, and Snickers bars.
• I love you more than all beautiful waterfalls in the world.
• I love you more than reading blogs.
• I love you more than cuddling and snuggling with the blankets.
• I love you more than I love San Diego and Southern California.
• I love you more than I love my MacBook Pro. Really, I do.
• I love you more and more each and every single day.

I love you Adam. I love you more than anything and everything I’ll ever come up with for my “I Heart…” series. I’m so thankful that God gave me you as a husband. Thanks for these 7 years. I wouldn’t trade them for anything.

Adam and I are off to Disneyland to celebrate our 7 year (dating) anniversary and I will be away from my email until Monday.

I will respond to you next week. Have a great weekend!

Who doesn’t like singing waiters and waitresses every 30 minutes? And being able to put trash into a bucket on your table? That’s not something you get at just any restaurant. Plus, if it’s your birthday, they don’t sing to you… they embarrass you in front of the everyone else which means MORE free entertainment!

After the Rock Baptism on Friday, we headed out to celebrate Jack and Daniel’s birthday and Vaness and Daniel’s baptism. Since we’re all family, the Rock Photographers joined us too. Of course, the loudest and most rowdiest people in the restaurant were us Christians in the back. And who ever said Christians can’t have fun?

Jack and Daniel about to race each other.

Jack is supposed to be a bird (?)

And Daniel a cowboy.

Happy birthday Jack and Daniel!

Being baptized is a public declaration of one giving their life to Christ after accepting Him as your Lord and Savior. Adam and I were baptized together a couple of years ago and being able to witness many others giving their public declaration was an amazing experience - especially when it’s your closest brother and sister in Christ, the Galangs. I have long wanted to help photograph a baptism event, but for whatever reason or excuse, I haven’t been able to get to one. I find it mildly amusing that the ONE time I actually went was the same date that Vaness and Daniel chose too.

It was an honor to be able to capture this moment for the many people that made their declaration along with the other Rock Photographers. Not being able to swim makes me nervous whenever I have to be in the water. Luckily, it was the shallow end of the pool and 3 feet is not as high up on me as I thought it was. Being closer to the ground at 5 feet 2 means that shallow ends of the pool might actually go up to one’s armpits and being super clumsy like me, being in water WITH my camera is not a good combination. That’s why I had my loving husband help me out to make sure that 1) I did NOT fall into the pool and 2) that I did not drop my expensive camera into it either. He really needs his own “Spouse of photographer” support group. I am almost positive that “preventing wife and camera from falling into a pool” is not written into the duties.

There were many more pastors than attendees so the baptisms actually went quite fast and it was difficult to try to capture everyone that was in the pool. Here are some of the shots that I did manage to capture:

Mike Clark provided worship before the baptisms.

The pastors praying beforehand.

Worship.

Pastor Ricky’s son was baptized this day as well. He’s such an amazing kid. I so look forward to seeing what God does in his life as he grows up.

Vaness

Daniel

Vaness while Daniel was being baptized.

A Rock Photographer (Jim) in action.

I’m starting a new series on my blog where I post about things that I am currently loving and/or are obsessed with at the moment called the “I Heart…” series. One of the things I don’t use my blog enough for is to document the everyday happenings of my life in between the weddings. So I’m hoping that this is yet another way for me to journal about things that I am interested in so that you, my blog readers, can get to know me a little bit better.

Lawn Fawn Cards are made by my really good friend, Kelly. She is married to Mike who has been friends with Adam ever since they were in diapers. They have also been mistaken for each other ever since then, even sometimes by their own parents! They are both really good friends of ours and we enjoy that they are homebodies just like us who don’t mind watching lots of TV and spending days in our jammies. The cards above were made for Adam and I last year.

Kelly and I share many things in common, one of them being blog-reading. We love our Google Readers! About a year ago, we were both revamping our blogs and when I first started, she was my one and only commenter - my first blog follower. She has always been a source of encouragement in my photography, but also in my everyday life.

So I find it fitting to start my “I Heart…” series with Lawn Fawn Cards.

Kelly posts her cards on Etsy.com, which is a site where lots of amazingly crafty and creative people post and sell their handmade goods. When I was young, on any given day, you would find me either coloring/drawing or reading. Those were my two main loves as a kid. As an adult, I find that I naturally gravitate towards creative-minded people so it doesn’t surprise me that Kelly and I make such great friends.

What makes Lawnfawn cards unique, are all the special touches that Kelly puts into making them. Her photos really don’t do justice to just how amazing they look. They have great texture and I just love how they pop out. Please check out her blog at http://lawnfawn.blogspot.com/. She has been posting HD videos lately too of how she makes her cards to see how intricately they are made. Her shop is at http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=6423484

Here are some of her recent cards:

Check them out soon! They sell out quickly.

(All photos taken by lawn fawn cards)