a collection of both personal and professional...Tonya & Co. meets tonya joy photography...my love for my children and the journey to capture their lives in photos and words has inspired this blog...and my business...blogging the little pouts, big smiles, love found in the most {and not so} obvious places...delicately balancing & savoring the moments of their youth while following the creative passions I adore...relishing in the blessing of their little lives, sharing mine with you, and yours with me...life is beautiful..capturing that beauty...finding the joy (yours and mine)...in a word, in a song, in an expression, in the memory of your mind, and with a photograph.
my life. my love. my kids. my joy...this blog, with love, inspired by Ella, Ava, and Mia, thanks for stopping in...
{Our version of your Mom’s Day Card…}
I love YOU Mom! Any goodness I have developed and any virtues of goodness I have developed as a Mother is because of you…thank you so much for being such a good example and friend to me.
(we love our Great-GrandMOTHERS too!)
xoxo
Jason, Tonya, Ella, Ava, & Mia
need I say more…
(I would love being pregnant if for one day I could look half , a little, a smidge, ok, ok…remotely as amazing as Jess)..
you two were so much fun today…I will post more in a few days…
Happy Mother’s Day ( I LOVE YOU MOM!!!!)…
xoxo
Tonya
…for the past few days the girls have loved playing in the backyard…running through the grass together…dancing like rockstars…riding their new bikes…doing cartwheels and somersaults…and flying on Momma’s feet (yes…I need a pedicure…bad)!
There is so much magic in the simple things. The days I am just present…the days I get down on the floor with them…I run through the grass…I read…I chat…I giggle…those days that I give them “wings” so they can fly…those are the days I really feel like I have acheived. It is funny how…the less I do for me…and really do for them…that is what fullfills ME the most. I am thankful for these days…
(Ava’s sweet little princess bandaid…she & Ella had a little big “fight” today over which Barney movie to watch…and she got hit in her cheek with something flying through the air. She was so broken hearted…so we put a bandaid on her little “boo-boo”…I think it healed her heart too)
…on this wall…{my heart that is}…
I am thankful for this passion I pursue…but no acheivement should be worn more proudly than that of being a Mother…Here is to all my friends, sisters, and loved-ones…who quietly and dilligently achieve the greatest of all…you are all wonderful mothers…I admire and respect you!
Have a beautiful weekend!
xoxo
Tonya
Today I dusted off my little sewing machine and decided to change things up a bit. I have been feeling a little stale lately, so I thought I would put some creative energy towards some gifts for a baby shower I am going to tonight. Three beautiful Moms to be…we tried to go to Children’s Place yesterday to find the perfect baby gifts…but with my 3 as shopping partners…it didn’t turn out so well and we ended up leaving the store empty handed!
so, we decided to sew something…Ella was my cutting assistant…
I miss this thing…but I really do not have time for all the hobbies I love…I really don’t have time for any of them…but I love to create…so today I got lucky…
we turned on the blogger playlist…
this one napped to her favorite purple dinosaur singing in the background…
this one proved she is still a baby and assumed the fetal position…
and had fun playing with (and in…and on) the pink kitchen…
ella threaded D rings…
and had a mini photo shoot and the nursing cover for Jessica…
thanks Alana…for sharing your pattern with me over the phone…they are no where as perfect as yours…but I had fun trying it out…
here’s to nursing in style…thanks girls for letting mommy indulge in a little sewing…I think late nights editing photos while you are all sleeping is much more compatible with 3 little girls…but it was fun to play with these fun fabrics today…
xoxo
Mommy
a few weeks ago, I was looking at this photographer/designer’s blog photos and I came across an image she had taken of a beautiful tree branch with some gorgeous blossoms on it. I immediately thought it woud be just gorgeous as a texture…so, I was bold and emailed her and told her she should add it to her online Pink Ink Studios photographer resource store and offer it up as a texture. The moment I saw it, I knew exactly what photo I would use it on. Holly emailed me back and the next morning whipped up the texture and sent it to me to use on my photo…I slapped it on and sent it back to her…and here it is…
It is just different and fresh and I love it. Wouldn’t it look great printed on a great canvas with loads of texture? My point here is…use your imagination. Look for beauty in unexpected places. Seek to see what is truly good around you. I guess I am always looking…for the next inspiration…the next hidden treasure to reveal. You would be amazed how ugly most places I go to take pictures really are…but when you really dig in…and look deeper…there is so much beauty everywhere. Anyways, I love this new texture…you can link here to pick it up…or just to shop for other great actions and design tools…
Have a great night!
xoxo
Tonya
We are getting ready for a very special 3 year old birthday party…here is a sneak at some pics taken in honor of the “Barney Girl.”
Have a great weekend!
Tonya
ok…I am warning you now…if you are having baby cravings of any kind…you better not look at this post…we are talking the fever…
this sweet little girl is so adorable…
she is so strong…so alert…and all the world to those who love her…
and she loves her mommy…(she had her eyes glued to her the entire time…I love that bond…it is unlike anything else)
She seriously looks like a little doll on top of this little pony…
I love this sweet little hand knitted beanie…so cute for a photograph…
Kate…you are such a little beauty. You are loved so much, esp. by your Mommy. She is working hard at home with you to give you all the things that are most important…she loves you so much!
Tammy…I enjoyed our visit today and the chance to spend a little time with your beautiful little girl. I look forward to seeing her soon…It is always an honor to capture her growth… (to see her previous sessions click here…watch her grow!)
Wishing you the best…
p.s. tell Brett hi for me…
xoxo
Tonya
I was hired by a very special family to photograph their son and his beautiful bride after their ceremony at the LDS Los Angeles Temple. The Temple grounds are beautiful. I am always in awe of how peaceful it is to be on these grounds given that they are situated right in the middle of busy Santa Monica. There is a special feeling here…and I felt priveledged to record the first moments of this newly wed couple after their wedding.
I love the expression when couples take their first steps into the world as one…bride and groom. She is so happy; he is so proud to have her…they are in love.
Jesse…
he and Lois met at BYU Hawaii…I quote this confession he shared on his blog about when he first saw Lois…
” I heard the unforgettable utterance “the Philippines.” My out-of-focus, tranced eyes quickly snapped to attention and zeroed in on the girl, whose image left an indelible impression upon my mind for the rest of the day. My first encounter with Lois De Ette ended there, with her not even realizing anything had happened.”
Love at first sight…it does exist…
I can see why…
she…
is…
beautiful!
and he swept her off her feet…
and they married April 26th…2008.
Congratulations Jesse and Lois!
Enjoy your honeymoon together and this fresh new start at life. You are a beautiful couple! I was honored to share in your wedding day!
Thanks Gena for shooting with me….click here to see some of her awesome shots!
