The 2009 Riggio Christmas Card

I would REALLY love to learn how to custom design my own cards in Photoshop… maybe a goal for next year!!  This year I will go with a pre-designed Costco card. There are lots of options from other photo service labs, but really, these are the most economical for me this year and I found a retro-looking design that I liked.  What is great and is when you have a photo shoot with me, you get the images and you can order your Christmas cards this way too, as well as getting enlargements framed for the relatives as gifts.

The 2009 Riggio Christmas Card

Since Amanda has the Nutcracker every weekend it has been hard to get a picture of her, so I went with one from the summertime and then just took a shot of Nick yesterday. He’s a funny one… that kid of mine… you should see some of the shots I got of him making one goofy face after another… until I finally landed this one… heavy sigh… I am keeping the others for the great moment in time when he has a girlfriend and she wants to see old pictures of him and boy do I have some good ones from when he was just a little guy! Can’t wait… :).

For those that didn’t get to see last year’s card, I thought I would share…

The 2008 Riggio Christmas Card

Now to get them all addressed and sent in time for Christmas!

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Welcome to the Riggio’s Parade of Trees

This post is dedicated to my sister, who is in Arizona and can’t see my house at Christmas time. Please join with us in celebrating this beautiful season.

The Parlor Tree – this is the only “real” tree in the house

Every year I look forward to Christmas… I love decorating and adding new ornaments to my trees, I love Jesus and celebrating His birth, I love spending time with family, shopping, the Nutcracker ballet, the cold crisp weather, the music, everything… and even though it was in December, 16 years ago, that my mom passed away I have chosen to still love this season.

December has so lifted my spirits. I am thankful to have a man that loves me in a way I have always dreamed of, kids that are good people and happy (for the most part :)), extended family that are loving and supportive in every way and friends that are genuine.

The Parlor tree is the family tree, the one that we pick out at the tree farm together, the one that has pictures of us through the years and the one that the presents are under Christmas morning. One of my favorite pictures on the tree is of Joe and I when we were only 17 taken during my senior photo session at Yuen Lui. In the 80’s everyone went to Yuen Lui for their photos and always indoor shots… things have changed today and that has helped me with my business since everything I do is on-location!  On-location sessions make you feel like a star.  I love that!

Don’t you love  Joe’s mullet (or in 80’s language – bi-level), not that mine was not embarrassing with the heavily sprayed feather goin’ on.

The Dining Room Tree – this is our special tree

On it you will find glass ornaments representing people, vacations, events and places.

I add new ones every year and this year I added an umbrella representing all the rain we get in Washington!

Cowboy boots since Joe has purchased so many pairs this year!

And… one for me :), perfect don’t you think!

There are also 2 extra special ones from our trip to New York that were also added this year.

The Basement Tree – since the basement is Joe’s high class “man cave” this is the instrument tree

I love this one almost as much as the dining room tree. I added 10 ornaments this year, since I upgraded it from a small one to a full size one.

There is another change in this room too… new carpet. Don’t you love the design! There are also new bamboo floors behind it that you can’t see in this picture. Someday maybe I will blog about all the changes we have made to the house this year. We have changed almost every room with new carpets, throw rugs, furniture, art, plants, wall color, etc. I am done for this year, exhausted for now.

The Master Bedroom Tree

When I was a kid I always wanted a tree in my bedroom and for years now I have had one. One year I even left it up all year long!  I know, a little too extreme even for me… but not really!

The ornament colors are warm and pick up the rich color of the new carpet (LOVE IT!!!) and the colors of the walls…. very comforting…

Nick’s Tree

Both kids got updates to their bedrooms this year. Nick has had the same room since he was a toddler, so we painted it and got him all new furniture and carpet.

The kids both have ornaments that represent the things they love. For Nick it’s penguins, Coke, swimming (water polo) and video games.

Amanda’s Tree

Amanda has informed me that when she has a house she is going to have lots of trees too. I told her I would come help her decorate and she said, “no mom, YOU are going to DO the decorating for me.”  We are already thinking of different themes for each one.

Amanda is a ballerina so there are lots of ornaments that represent dancing, pointe shoes and the Nutcracker.

And she loves reading comics.

She also got new carpet and a new wall color (ceiling too – the Pooh clouds are gone :()

This year she decided she wanted to collect snowflake ornaments, so in the future she can have a snowflake tree… what have I created?

That;s all 6 of them! I would have more if I could find the room.

Hope you enjoyed my trees. Come again :).

I love comments so please leave me one! Remember to visit my holiday special page to get in on the special deal for December.
xoxoxo, Connie

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Todd Family – Family Portrait

Time for family pictures again! Do you have yours yet? This is the second time I have taken the Todd’s family pics, but this time they have a new little one… baby Autumn Joy.. what a little darlin’!

Big brother Benjamin is an active one, but the sweetest thing! I chased him around the yard trying to capture what I could before he ran to the next interest.

We did manage to get him standing still long enough for a few pics with his little sister.

Then off again, playing… kids are so much fun at this age… I definitely get my exercise during these shoots. It was such a cold day that we didn’t venture off too far… jut stayed in the backyard…

Click on this one to enlarge it so you can see the art fun… love making artistic images. I will be doing a post soon featuring some favorite art images. What do you think for something different?

Then Benjamin found out that we had a drum set! Inside we go! Joe says he’s a natural… come on parents… time to get this guy a set of his own (Benjamin told me to tell you that :)).

We exhausted poor little Autumn… nothing sweeter than a baby sleeping…

Thanks for a great morning you guys! Such a cool family!

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The Blackmon’s – Family Portrait

This session was nothin’ but fun for all of us! The day – a kiss of perfection, the family – a joy to be with, the location – dreamy, my assistant – so valuable (and yes, dreamy too, hee hee)!

I have worked with Bob for years, so was honored when he chose us to do his family portraits. I have watched the kids grow up in pictures on his desk and have heard countless stories about his family, so what a pleasure to now be part of an event in their lives.

Both the kids have the most beautiful eyes!

Are these kids not adorable! They are so funny too! I could have taken them both home with me.

I love this image… there is just something about it.

I know that many families stress about getting their pictures taken. It seems there is just so much to do – get clothes ready, make sure kids are happy and clean with hair brushed. Well, that is all important up to a point. It is more important to me that they have fun and that I am able to capture who they really are. I know it’s a relief to parents when they see their kids are enjoying themselves, laughing and playing. It helps when you have an assistant that gets them laughing almost too hard!

The Lakewold Garden’s is such a cool place full of benches, statues, water and trees.

Matthew was such a doll and never stopped talking, except for this shot!

And Hannah full of make believe and laughs.

Adore this shot of Bob and Mandy.

Lots of great shots of the kids, so hard to pick out just a few to share with you.

I love this tender moment between mom and daughter. So sweet…

The kids are both into Martial Arts and came prepared to defend themselves!

That soon tired them out, but Matthew looks like he is still ready to have more fun, don’t you think!

What a wonderful day! Love to you all….

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Someone Special – Sneak Peak

I just wanted to tell you about a special post coming Monday. Rhonda is a gifted pianist and is not only my dear friend but she is also my daughter, Amanda’s piano teacher. In Amanda’s own words she is her “best adult girlfriend.”

Hope you stop by often and enjoy what you see. Just so you know, I adore you and want to get to know you better as you get to know me.

Stay Tuned for Monday…

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