Sarah K Chen Photography Blog

I’m leaving tonight for the Bay Area where I’ll be shooting a wedding tomorrow, but wanted to leave you all with some images from my last visit home. It had been a while since my family had seen Ellie so we flew up and spent a few days at home. I only brought my Contax 645 w/80mm 2.0 with me as I wanted to travel light with a toddler and I wasn’t sure how’d she be on the plane. I didn’t even bring her stroller as the thought of lugging that thing along with Ellie and my camera equipment seemed too overwhelming. But Ellie was a dream on the flights there and back! And besides,  I figured with my parents around she’d barely have to walk with them fighting over who got to hold her.

Here’s Ellie taste testing a rock. She’s avoiding eye contact because she knows she’s being naughty.

Ellie has a thing for flowers.

To try and slow down toddlers enough to photograph them I often place something in their hands. It works in the sense that they’ll stop. It doesn’t work in the sense that sometimes the fascinating object goes straight into their mouths.

She that rock in her hand and that look on her face? “Doot doot doo,,,,I’m not doing anything, Mommy!”

I took her into the backyard where she found this fruit tree and asked for, “zanas” which is short for manzana which is Spanish for apple. I think these were actually plums, but she liked them anyways.

I love this next one of Ellie. The expression on her face is probably one I’ll see often when she enters her teenage years.

I love these next ones of Ellie and my Dad. They spent everyday exploring the backyard together. Whenever she was indoors she’d toddle over to the back screen door and say, “outside? outside? outside?” Over and over again until someone took her outside.

My Dad repainted the exterior of the house by himself recently. It looks awesome! And he also built that bi-level deck all by himself a few years ago as well. He’s quite the handy man!

He also started a garden in the back. Lots of fresh veggies, herbs and fruit trees back there!

My Mom, Grandmother, Ellie and I spent an afternoon walking around the mall. I bought my Grandmother these pretzel sticks and she loved them. Almost as much as Ellie loves them.

When Ellie walks in the parking lot and hears someone arm their car, she’ll say “beep beep!” or “doot-doot!” depending on what the car alarm sounds like. It’s really cute!

My maternal Grandmother is Ellie’s only surviving Great Grandparent in both our families. She’s not doing well so I really wanted to take some portraits of them together on this trip. But man, is my Grandmother stubborn. She didn’t want to be in any of the pictures, but I got a few anyways. I love these that we took at her place.

My Mom and Ellie. Aren’t they so pretty?

While driving home from dinner one day I spotted this patch of grass and took Ellie there the following day for some portraits. We missed the light as we got there later than I had wanted, but I still love how soft the colors are in these.

Ellie was more interested in the buttons on her dress than with taking pictures.

My Mom insisted I don’t take Ellie any further into the grass stating there would be snakes in there. Here’s my Mom saving Ellie from the snakes. LOL!

I didn’t have a lot of time up north, but I did get to have lunch with my friend Dave one day. Afterwards he treated us to some froyo! Thanks Dave!

All the images here were developed and scanned by my favorite Richard Photo Lab! Love them and the work they put out so so so much! Thank you!

For Trystan’s 2nd birthday, his parents rented a huge van and shuttled 4 families along with all 5 of our babies to the San Diego Zoo to spend the day. It was a huge undertaking, but a fun one. The kids did great in the van. The weather in SD was perfect and the kids (and parents!) all enjoyed the zoo. On the way home we stopped by Torrey Pines Glider Port where Trystan’s Mom, Connie parasails. It was breathtaking to view and I still can’t believe my girlfriend goes flying like this. She is so amazing.

Ellie, Asher and Alison. Natalie and Trystan were sleeping in the van at this time. The zoo wore them out.

How cute are Connie and Sean in this pic? It totally makes me happy. And this is what Trystan looked like the entire drive home. Tuckered out!

My friends Sue, Dean and their eldest daughter Alison. Their little one Natalie was being watched in the van by Asher’s Daddy Dylan.

A very happy Asher and his Momma Linda. Aren’t they so cute?

Ashie (what Ellie calls him) is a big boy. He’s 2 months younger than Ellie, but already bigger than her.

The picture on the right is one of my favorites of Ellie. Jeff bought Ellie those pink Adidas kicks and I got the hoodie at the Ella Moss/Splendid sample sale recently. The shorts are a favorite of mine and they’re from the Gap. I should mention that this wasn’t the outfit she started off in, but much of her lunch ended up on her previous outfit since she insists on feeding herself these days.