Coco-Mo

A little Coco update:
Our new baby is adjusting fine to her new home. Puppy school is going great, she's making me very proud, can still improve her house training though ... But overall, she's a bundle of joy for the whole family. As you can see, I had to have a "baby session" with Coco, it will be as close as I'll have get to having a picture of one of my babies in my hands (the others, the real babies are way too grown up now...)



I had lots of pictures of Coco, and I did worry a bit that I might bore you with 13 or so, so I made this quick collage. It would also be nice with people pictures.. or cute children, and babies with baby parts...
There's an other big dog: Indies, our very first baby, she's now an old lady, 13 years this summer! She's tolerating the new arrival, but isn't too thrilled with her, I think all the energy is just exhausting her.

Coco

We have a new baby!!!
I've been talking about this for a while, and last week, without much notice, I surprised my family with Coco (as Chanel....). It took us a few days to come up with her name, 5 of us to contend... finally we choose the same name as my cousin's dog, but it fits her so well. When I walked in the house with my tiny surprise the kids were ecstatic, they love her. And she's such a good dog, she's fulfilling her role of "baby-substitute" perfectly. She very cuddly, very affectionate, will stay this perfect baby size for ever...( she's a lap-dog, a king's Charles Spaniel), so soft, playful, keeps her teething to her chewing toys (and occasionally my fingers..), we're smitten with her. The children are being very responsible, house training is going well, we're starting puppy school next week ( proper education is a must!).
Isn't she sooooo cute?



She's so good to the children, who just can't resist picking her up,



I bet you're all saying "awww", just so that you know, she still has a twin sister waiting to be adopted....  Let me know, and I'll put you in touch with their breeder.

You can leave me a comment (click on the comment link, right below this post), you know how proud mamas love to boost about their babies, and how we love to hear compliments...  I would love to hear what you have to say about my "cocotte"

THE Boston Matathon

We're back!!!  I had some work waiting for me and wasn't able to post right away.  The trip was wonderful.  In the days preceding the race, the town was invaded by runners (you could spot them easily in the crowds, wearing their fancy running shoes, and running clothes), there was a frenzy kinda of atmosphere...

We were with a running group from Pensacola (including Paul and Cherie Epstein from running wild, Brian and Crystal Spencer).  There were several very nice meals, all organized by Crystal (thank you so much) and listening to the athletes I couldn't help but feel like a sorry couch potato!!!  You should hear the kind of training they go through, it's a wild regimen of intense exercise.  Of course, many of them have also accomplished the iron man race (something like 2 1/2 miles of swimming, than 100 miles of biking, and to finish it off a marathon!! as if the first part wasn't enough?)  Like I said they're athletes, not just "in shape".  I was defenetly intimidated by their endurance, but listening to them I was also motivated to get back in shape, so this past week I've put my running shoes back on, my ipod, and I'm hitting the road... We'll see how long that last.
On to the pictures, here is Henry, so close to the finishing line.

I must thank Dan, the manager of the Lenox hotel, he kindly gave me his office with prime window view of the last stretch of the marathon.  Thanks to him I was able to get some great shots of our group without fighting the crowds.
But mostly, I would have never been able to record any of this fantastic event without the help of Brian's cousins: Martin and Linda.  They're from the area and drove us (I was with Crystal), from our hotel, to the starting line, through traffic to the crossing line at the end.  I had the best time in their company and am so grateful they took me along, because on my own, I'm not sure I would have seen a thing.

With a best personal record time of 2 hours and 57 minutes, Brian Spencer on the left, with Paul Epstein and Mike Tapia.


Yes, this is Lance.  7 times winner of the Tour de France... I really wish that maybe soon a fellow frenchman could get the title..

And here, for my friend Patsy Brown, the very inspiring team: Dick Hoyt and his son.

At last, right after the finish line, most of our group from Pensacola: (left to right) Erika Smith, Mike Mc Comb, Meri Asmar, Cherie and Paul Epstein, Henry, Mike Tapia, and Brian Spencer.

From my view point, up in the beautiful Lenox hotel, the finishing line.  The cheering crowds never thinned through out the whole 26.3 miles!!!

For those who wish to see more of my coverage of the event, here is a direct link to my website with a slideshow:
http://www.markerwin.com/arielle/proofs/boston_08/
Or go to my website: www.ariellelanghorne.com, choose "client login", the password is: boston_08

Silhouettes

Hi everyone,
I have something exciting to share, something new and different. Well, I say new, but it's been done for centuries. It's a modern and fresh look on silhouettes with good use of today's technology. I have lots of original ideas and ways to incorporate this very elegant and timeless art form. Today are 2 examples of expecting mothers portrait of recent pregnancy sessions I shot. I'm very happy with the outcome and think these would look lovely in the new baby's room. And wait until I show you what I have in mind for children, graduation, couples... can you tell I'm giddy with enthusiasm?
I'm out of town at the moment, in Boston, to cheer my husband who will be running in THE marathon on Monday. The weather is just splendid, and I'm hoping it will stay the same for the race. I hope to find a great spot towards the finishing line to get some good pictures of my man and his running buddies. If I'm successful I will share some here, and possibly the Pensacola News Journal!

Surfing...

I hardly ever blog about us, but yesterday was so much fun, I couldn't resist sharing a few pictures. I say a few, but I might have gotten carried away as these are my favorite people in the world, I have a very hard time with making a small selection.
My son, Will is now 10 years old, and I swear that only yesterday I was in the hospital holding him a newborn in my arms. It's true, there is no time to blink, they grow so fast. He's now probably 5,2, comes up to my nose and wears a size 7.5 man shoes!!! He's on his way to be taller than his dad..
We've been enjoying my family, who's been visiting from France, and have been spending time with them at the beach, as it's spring break.

For a couple of days there was a purple flag raised, warning beach goers from dangerous critter, following are pictures of a Portuguese Man-of-War. Many had washed on the shore and my children stayed real busy popping them and burying them deep in the sand.

They are highly venomous creatures.  Somehow they're a colony of species, not just one.  It was interesting to read about them, kind of creepy, mostly scary to know they were all over and so dangerous.

Burial process,

Mission accomplished, we spend a good part of the day digging holes for them.  They looked like water bottles scattered on the shore.

And yesterday, Will was one lucky boy: he had his first taste of surf, with an hour lesson taught by surfer legend Yancy Spencer the third.  It was so much fun watching him having the time of his life.  He managed to stand on the board on his first try, and many more times afterwards, and had the largest grin stuck on his face.  It was Will's idea to get a lesson, before I signed him up for a week summer camp.  Very wisely, he suggested to try and see if he liked it first.

Well, it was such a success, we headed straight to Innerlight (the big local surf store), to buy his first board.  There, we realized who Yancy is and the magnitude of his authority on the sport, and feel very privilege that he introduced Will to surfing.







The board went flying in the air, I'm not sure what happen to Will then..



I bet he will be sore today.



Magalie was dying to try it, and Yancy took her out too, just far enough.





Here's the happy bunch,

Christmas cards

3 more examples of Christmas cards,
I've been photographing Walton since he's 8 days old, he is just precious and I love his parents.





Here is Walton's whole family, on his mother's side. I was afraid that 5 dogs would be a bit of a challenge, but not so, they are quite experienced in the art of posing as they perform every year for the family picture. It was a breeze, and a lot of fun to be around the whole clan.





It would be hard not to take a good picture of these beautiful children, I know them well as their mother is one of my very best friends. Aside from their good looks they are also smart, kind and very cool. Harrison is in charge of setting my phone's ring tone to the latest song, helping me to stay somewhat "hip", and hanging around the girls I get a sense of fashion, they are very much up to date on the trends.