San Diego Photographer / Pasheoni Photography & Design / Sheryl Paulino

Deployments suck. They really do.  Last weekend we headed up to visit my sister and her family to a ceremony no one typically likes attending.  It was the day where we bid a temporary farewell to our awesome soldiers who fight for our freedom. I’ll have to admit, I had a heavy heart, yet that the same time I was proud! Proud of the men and women who risk their lives to protect our freedom.

While editing these photos, I teared. I took deep breaths just to get through them all.  I can feel the emotions people were going through, you can see it in their eyes.  Though I’m such a sap, an emotional wreck (Come on, I get emotional watching the Allstate Insurance commercial; you know, the one that has the song, “I’ll be there”?!), I am still happy and grateful!

The event was well. There were activities for the kids, care packets for the kids as well, snacks, drinks and most of all, support. You were introduced to family of the other soldiers who will be going through the same, as well as families that have gone through the same.  It will be a tough 390+ days, but I know they’ll get through it. I’m here for my sister and my nephews 110%.

Tom, do what you gotta do out there.  We’re proud of you for your sacrifice, your courage and most of all your bravery. Don’t worry, your family is safe with us and I’ll never leave Ate lonely. The Paulino Inn is always open! Godspeed.

This year I was inspired to do a family book. I make so many for my clients, but never seem to do anything with my own photos! Shame on me! So for the past couple days I decided I MUST do it. I’m quite proud of myself, I must say. I can’t wait to order my book(s). Right now it’s only photos, but I think I want to add a little more. Maybe a page here or there about the memories the photos bring.  How much Keoni has grown, or how Kayla has changed our lives?!  I’m in no rush to print this, though I should be.  I’d hate for it to be 2011 before I get it! haha.

I can’t believe how much has happened in the past 12 months. I can honestly I’m blessed to have such great family, friends and all the mooshy stuff in between!  Here’s a peek of what’s to get printed!

With the weather being down and out, I was sad that MAYBE I wasn’t going to be able to photograph my first newborn of 2010.  Mother Earth could just NOT let this happen and gave me light through the rainy clouds to shoot Baby Aiden. He is one of my older newborns, at a whopping 3 weeks, and was just perfect in every way! I love how he fell asleep as soon as I got there and let me do as I please.   Such an awesome boy!

In March, I get to see this young man and his mommy and daddy again as Daddy is going on his second deployment to Iraq. Thank you Daddy so much for fighting for our freedom.  My family thanks you! I can’t wait to see how much Aiden has grown by then!

For now, let’s relish in the moments of newness and embrace the tiny fingers and toes before he grows way too fast.  It happens, unfortunately . Here are your teasers!

I’ve been going back and forth on deciding HOW I want to present my digital negatives.  The ‘cool’ new way is via flashdrive.  With the flashdrive, it has the opportunity to last LONGER (no wearing out like a cd can), all you need is a USB port,  as well as be reused.  The CD, on the other hand, can NOT be overwritten (that’s a good thing, right?), and I love the fact that I can have it presented very nicely with an image from your session printed directly onto the cd.

SooOo, I want to ask the general public this:

When I had Sharon and Kyle’s session at the beach, I could not help finding an excuse for Paul and the kiddos to come along.  So what we did was pack up lunch (or actually buy KFC) and head to La Jolla for lunch.  San Diego has so much to offer, us being locals, we tend to forget all of that.  I can’t even remember the last time I’ve been to that part of La Jolla OR even La Jolla for that matter.  It was nice to just sit down as a family and be together.  This was going to be Kayla’s first time touching the Pacific, and no doubt it WON’T be her last.  She did very well considering the water was still a tad cold. LOL. Keoni, on the other hand, already had his pail and ready to make sand castles!

I can’t wait until the day the kids look back and remember all the things we did, even if it was as simple as going to the beach.  Gosh, I just love being a mom (and wife!)!

GASP….Who is that on the other side of the camera? Yes, Paul braved touching my camera AT THE BEACH..and not too shabby (but you should see the pic he took prior to this! LOL)

If you notice, the handle to Keoni’s pail broke, hence the tears.  I promised we’d get him a new one before we make another trip out to the beach.
…my family…

What better way to start off the new year, than with a bump? Sharon and Kyle are expecting their baby girl, Abby, at the end of this month.  I had so much fun with them at their session as they brought along their first baby, Hoshky! Sorry guys if I butchered the spelling of his name!   We had so many ideas, so many places (walking distance of course), I was ecstatic to try them all.  It helps when both Sharon and I (in my alter ego hehe) are in the hospitality industry and know a thing or two about locations in San Diego. ha!

I love how whenever I do an on location session, something ALWAYS has to happen.  THIS time, it wasn’t too bad…just a lovely gush of COLD water got us as we shot closer to the water.  Good news, camera stayed dry, bad news, I didn’t get a darn shot of their reaction of when the wave hit! LOL.  Sharon and Kyle (and Hoshky), THANK YOU for spending the evening with me (and my family – they came along for the fun!).  I can’t wait to meet Baby Abigail!

Yesterday my mom called me asking for a favor. She thought it would be neat if “I” took my aunt and her two kids to the San Diego Zoo and to take my two kids too!  At first I was hesitant, but I know I can’t say no to my mom. Don’t get me wrong, I love the zoo. I mean, we’ve had annual passes for 3 consecutive years.  Keoni just LOVES going to see the elephants and giraffes.  The only difference between this visit and all the others, Paul wasn’t with us.   Someone had to be at work today, right?! LOL

At first I was deciding that I didn’t need my camera. Come on, I can always go back again, right? The photographer in me (and maybe the mom in me too) said to just bring it.  I’m not one to take pictures of the animals.  In the end, I always just look at the photos ONCE and file it away.  It doesn’t have any special meaning to me (sorry) and the same animals (not to be mean) look the same every other time I go.

As I dragged me feet, to get everyone up and running….in the end…yes, I was wrong. I had fun, I did need my camera, and I still took pictures of animals!

I’m starting to get angry about how time is taking my little girl away.  She’s becoming more and more independent, it’s hard to believe that she was a newborn just a few months ago.  I think Kayla has mastered the art of crawling with a snack in hand.  She doesn’t quite crawl on both hands and knees.  What she does is one hand, two knees, and well, and elbow.  It’s enough for her to get her from point a to point b; and just in case something happens along the way, she’s set with food. LOL  She also can pull herself up. I can tell she prefers to grab me by the hands and take off ‘running’ than her modified crawling.  She’s slowly getting her balance and can briefly stand on her own! YES, I’m not ready for this!

ChubChub, slow down on the growing, will ya?!

I just love how Keoni is never too far and is ALWAYS watching over her. It melts my heart.

Wow, just looking at the date just makes me think binary. LOL, yes, totally random.

New Year, New Things. That’s what everyone seems to follow, why not?  It’s a great reason to start something fresh.  With business going full speed ahead, I can’t wait to meet all the new faces in hopes that they are more than just a captured moment.  I enjoy making friends, who doesn’t? I get really excited when a client and I just click and BAM, a friendship is born. LOL, no pun intended..well maybe just a little.

I was always told that how you spend New Years Day is how the year, in essence, will play out. With today being a good day, I’m hoping this means it’s going to be a good year. There was no better way than to spend it with the ones who mean the most to me – my family.

With my family, there is no such thing as a gathering WITHOUT food.  So out came the carne asada, pollo asada, and adobada.  YUM. I think the best part of the day, besides eating, was just sitting out in the backyard, hearing the kids play, seeing my dad mastering the art of grilling, and just feeling the nice cool, crisp air.  Here’s to hoping this year is filled with, laughter, appreciation and a full stomach!

Oh and look who we found in the backyard, Insectosaurus! (haha, yes we watched Monsters vs. Aliens on our countdown to 2010)