portraits

Sam's Birthday Feast

in

On Sam's birthday I actually baked him a cake from (drumroll please) scratch. I know. It was truly a miracle. As a result Sam spent all day walking around the house saying "happy" and "cake". When I put the cake next to the window to take a photo of it, Sam started screaming "cake" and ran towards the utensil drawer and grabbed a fork and then ran over to the cake (photo 3). Amelia and her family came over for dinner and the last photo is of her beautiful baby. Bonnie Berry is an Austin, Texas child, family and wedding photographer.

Waterslides and Mojitos

in

We went to Katherine's the other night for a last minute cocktail and waterslide party. We had a great time. Ben and Sam were the last two holdouts on the slide. They never wanted to leave. There are a ton of images, but if you are a glutton for punishment there are more here. Bonnie Berry is an Austin, Texas child, family and wedding photographer.

Potty Training

in

My name is Bonnie and I have a four and a half year old who is not potty trained. Sometimes I feel like I should have a t-shirt made up that confesses that fact or I should wear the equivalent of a scarlet letter. I have read countless advice about the subject and we decided not to force the issue. But Ben has NO interest. And I mean NONE. We have tried everything, including bribery to no avail. Tears have been shed, mean things have been said. Quel nightmare. But there is light at the end of this tunnel. Josh found a solution that seems to be working and we have made great progress this week. He bought Ben a watch that beeps every hour to tell Ben to go use the potty. That way we are not the ones telling him, but the watch is. And he seems to like the watch much better than us. So here are some pics of the boys doing their duty (Sam thinks this is a cool pastime and should be potty trained any time now). And for those of you who feel compelled to offer advice, please restrain yourselves : ) Bonnie Berry is an Austin, Texas child, family and wedding photographer.

The Reader

in

Every night before Ben goes to bed Josh read him three books. I read to him often as well, but Josh is so much better at it than I am. He does all the voices and adds in the dramatic pauses. Even I like to sit and listen to the performance. Bonnie Berry is an Austin, Texas child, family and wedding photographer.

Mollie's Girls

in

Two Fridays ago I had both boys at home and NOTHING to do. It is so damn hot here that going outside seems like a perilous endeavor. And then Mollie and her girls came to my rescue. Thank goodness. I was saved and we had fun to boot. I was especially surprised to see how Ben and Sam reacted to baby Eve. They were kissing and tickling her and Ben was making funny faces to entertain her (see second to last pics). Who would have thought? Bonnie Berry is an Austin, Texas child, family and wedding photographer.

Summer Days

in

A couple of weeks ago we went to Katherine's to hang out and play in the sun while Josh and Ben were in New York visiting Josh's mom. Finn and Sam had their first popsicles. To say they enjoyed them is an understatement. Check out Katherine's beautiful photos here. And also check out her Bastrop camping photos (especially love Sam's leaf bath) here. Bonnie Berry is an Austin, Texas child, family and wedding photographer.

Downtown Bastrop

in

On our way out of town from camping last weekend we stopped for some grub in downtown Bastrop at the amazing Maxine's. After we stuffed ourselves I took a couple of photos. I was trying for the umpteenth time to get a good photo of Josh and the boys and once again it was a bit of a disaster (see last two photos). Bonnie Berry is an Austin, Texas child, family and wedding photographer.

Camille

in

I met Camille for the first time in a mother's group in Berkeley. I never thought we would be friends. She was outrageously beautiful even though she had given birth a short two moths before, and she is French. I must admit that French women and I have never been close. I have lived in their country a few times and although I feel completely at home on their terra firma, my awkwardness and disregard for anything approaching femininity has always made us oil and water. I realize I am hugely exaggerating, but there it is. But Camille and I did indeed become fast friends. I tease her that she is more Californian than I ever was, even though I was born and raised there. And I am so grateful for her friendship, it is one of the most important in my life. She, her husband Jason, and their two children, have become like family.I took some photos of her, Jason and their friend and colleague Nicole for their production company website (that I am supposed to be designing right now, rather than writing this blog entry) when I was in California last month. They are documentary filmmakers, which I think is one of the coolest professions around. Camille is still one of the most beautiful women I have ever seen. And her beauty is even outshone by her warmth, her humor, her creativity, her generosity and her intelligence. Bonnie Berry is an Austin, Texas child, family and wedding photographer.