Today is the last day of Summer vacation.  Last night, as we were preparing for bed, my son Dexter decided to write a list of all the things we should do on our last day of vacation.  He entitled the list "The Last Day of a Golden Summer", and it reads as follows:

1. Build legos
2. Snuggle- lots and lots of snuggles
3. Ride bikes
4. Read stories
5. Put on an "Angry Birds" puppet show
6. Watch a movie with the entire family
7. Have a fancy dinner (with candles)

I have to admit... I'm going to miss them when they're in school.  It really has been a lovely summer!

What a beautiful morning out at Carkeek Park!  And could these two be any cuter?

 I love my job!

This little guy sure loves his chicken.  Sadly, I don't think the chicken feels the same way.

Last night was spectacular!  And I'm happy to say that I was out in it, photographing one of my favorite families!

I had such a great vacation last week.  It was relaxing and fun and everything a family vacation should be.  I'll be sharing some of the photos from our trip soon! I came home to a busy weekend!  These images are from a shoot I had yesterday out a Golden Garden's park.  It was a gorgeous evening!  The mountains were out, the light was perfect... it was a Seattle summer evening at it's best!

Woohoo!  The family and I are going on a much needed summer vacation!  I'll be gone for about a week and sadly will not be posting to my blog while on the road.  But if you really need your photo fix, you can follow my adventures on Instagram (@sandracoan). have a great week!

~ Sandra

I shot these photos of my boys camping in the back yard a couple of days ago.  And I know I say it all the time, but here it goes again.   Film is pretty.  And  when I'm working with it, it makes me feel like a photographer!  (which I know sounds silly)  But I love the process of it.  I like loading the film. I like metering. I like dropping it off at the lab.  And when I pick it back up... it's done!  I don't have to sit in front of the computer and mess with it.  I just pick it up, and it looks pretty.  Really pretty. So, if any of you out there would love for me to shoot your family in film, please let me know!!!  I'd love to do it!  Really!

all images were shot on a Mamiya 645 using Kodak Portra 400 and processed at Moonphoto

Well, my kids did it for the first time last night and thought it was the best thing ever!!!

(my husband, who joined them at around midnight, did not)

oh, and I let them photograph their little adventure on our ipod... I'll be sure to share those gems soon!

There really is nothing better than Seattle in the summertime! When it's nice here, it's the best place on earth!  Really. Here is a little peek into the canoe trip I took last week with my boys and my dad.  We paddled around the arboretum for a couple of hours.  It was lovely.

What always amazes me about the arobretum is that it's smack-dab in the middle of the city!  And,if not for the fact that we were paddling under the 520 (one of our busiest highways), you'd never know it.  It's quiet and peaceful and full of wildlife... and it's a 15 minute drive from my house!  How awesome is that!

Seattle really is a great place to live.

I know I always say it, but here I go again.  Is there anything better than a newborn baby?  I don't think so.