Big sister Faith is in Gentry’s dance class. She is such a sweet little thing and it was so fun to see a different side of her! She is so focused and quiet at dance but was happy and carefree at the session! She was a dream to work with – listening well and having fun with what we were doing!

Her baby sis Ariah is Huntler’s absolute FAVORITE thing about having to go to dance every week. He takes along his stuffed reindeer and shoves it in her face constantly! He ADORES her!! She is normally so happy and full of smiles but she wasn’t quite sure about what was going on at the session! Her smiles were few and far between but we did manage to capture a couple of them!

I love this next shot!! Faith is very much into dress up and pretending and was so cute in her twirly skirt and beads!! I love the motion I caught as she was spinning around! What a true moment in childhood!

And little Ariah, still not super sure what in the world was going on!!

And one last shot of them together…sweet, sweet sisters!

Charise,

Thanks for loading up the girls and making the trek to meet me!! I know Ariah wasn’t her typically happy self but hopefully I managed to capture a little bit of who she is!

The truth of the matter is that life doesn’t always play out like that fairytale we envision when we say our vows. And while we may not always be where we pictured ourselves years ago when daydreaming about the future, that’s okay. That’s life. That’s real. Do I love it here? Of course not. Would I pack up and move tomorrow if Chris said we could? In a heartbeat. Am I sad for my kids because I know what they are missing out on not being close to cousins and grandparents? You bet. But will my heart break and tears fall freely when the time comes to say goodbye to our life here? Without a doubt.

When we moved here I made a promise to myself that I was going to get us involved. I was going to join a playgroup and we were going to make friends and meet people. That was three and a half years ago. That playgroup and the people we met? They are more than just people – they are friends. Forever friends that have given comfort. Friends that have provided encouragement and laughter. Friends that have shared advice on everything from the best doctor to directions to the new Carter’s store. Friends that have had babies. Friends that have closed the chapter of their life in Arizona and have moved on yet still stay in touch. Friends that see your faults, listen to you whine and yet still love and encourage you anyway. They are the constants in my life here {other than Chris and the kids of course!}. They are the bright spots on dark days. They came into my life at a time when I really needed them and I will forever cherish the place they hold in my heart because of that.

Meet Lindsey {and her man}! She is one of those friends. A forever friend. I remember the day I met her like it was yesterday. It was a Valentine’s playdate at my house – 2007. She showed up looking all cute and trendy with her bowl full of strawberries, a toddler holding her hand  and a baby on her hip. I can’t believe that was over three years ago. I can’t believe that day I made a friend whom I love and my kids adore. Lindsey gets it. She gets that our family is what seems like a million miles away and I can’t get back there fast enough. She knows how hard it is to be pregnant and miss your mom. She understands…wholeheartedly. I love that about her.

And Lindsey, if you do not have this image printed big and hang it in your home, I am going to do it for you!! I LOVE THIS MOMENT!! This is exactly why I love this gig – freezing real life snippets like this for people to look at and remember long after they have passed!

Lindsey and Bobby aren’t from Arizona either. They moved here from California –  she left behind her family too. Her mom. Her sister. Her dearest friends. Her life. Sometimes you don’t have a choice…I get that. But she too made the decision that they were going to meet people, to make friends. They were going to make the most of their life here because that is all you can do. Shortly after we joined the playgroup, she joined the same one. One decision. One simple decision that has created a friendship that will last a lifetime.

I had fun shooting Lindsey and Bobby! I RARELY photograph adults so it was something new and different. And easy! Oh my gosh! It is so easy to take photos of people who listen and cooperate without having to bribe with candy or a trip to Toys R Us after the shoot!

These two  have three beautiful kids…Jakob, Aiden and sweet Lucy.

Jakob and Huntler were in the same preschool class last year and while they knew each other beforehand, they grew to be good friends over the course of the year. But when Huntler returned for another  year of preschool, Jakob moved on to kindergarten. He is sweet and shy…much like Huntler. He rolls with the punches and is low maintenance. He enjoys school and is soaking up all of the new knowledge like a sponge!

And then they had Aiden! Their Aiden is the equivalent to our Gentry. Cute as a button but ornery as all get out! This little guy gives his parents a run for their money numerous times a day! Personality just exudes from his little body! He is so candid and real…

And eight months ago tiny little Lucy joined the world and won the hearts of her parents and adoring big brothers! Happy, adorable, petite little Lucy girl!

It’s been so fun watching these kids grow up! Jakob wasn’t in school and in a few short months he’ll be starting first grade. Aiden wasn’t even one yet when we first met him and now he is four. Lucy was just a dream and now she is here. It is amazing how much has changed and how much we have all grown in the last three years.

When my mom gave me this vintage white bowl at Christmas, I had a vision. A vision that involved a baby girl and strawberries! I had no idea how it would all play out and it was admittedly a bit more challenging than I had pictured {I’ll blame that on my large stomach and inability to get up and down in a timely fashion!}, but it was fun to bring an idea to life!

Little Miss Lucy was VERY interested in the strawberries…she couldn’t shovel bites in fast enough! And her outfit? Well, about two minutes into this set of photos it was gone! But the thing is, it was okay. I know Lindsey well enough to know that she would be able to just roll with it…that a few strawberry stains weren’t going to be a big deal! And they weren’t! Lucy girl was so focused on the strawberries I had a terrible time getting her attention for a few photos! In most of them she is far more interested in the strawberries and hanging out of the bowl to get them than in having her picture taken! But I did manage to get this one!

And this next one? It just makes me giggle. Laugh out loud really. Because it is Aiden. It is 150% orneriness and personality. LOVE it!

And of course a few of the fam! I will be perfectly up front and honest here in saying that this is the first time I have ever shot more than four people at a time! For some reason I have just never had any more than that involved in a session. It was challenging for sure…but I love a good challenge from time to time!

I kid you not when I say this is the first frame I fired off at our session {other than the one I took to check my exposure and get my settings right}. FIRST SHOT = FAVORITE SHOT.

And then we changed it up a bit! I promise Bobby’s eyes are opened in this one!! His allergies were really bothering him and I felt so bad! {Note Aiden and his ornery grin!!}

Lindsey {and fam!},

Thanks for meeting up with me for a fun family session! Thanks for humoring my ideas and letting me experiment with your family. But most of all, thanks for being such a good friend. I meant every word I said – while I can’t wait to move back to Kansas, my heart will break when it comes time to say our goodbyes. You have been such a great source of strength and encouragement in our journey out here and I am forever grateful our paths crossed. Big hugs!

Enjoy your photos!

I have known the mama of this little guy for awhile now, but only last fall did we find ourselves reconnecting again…through our mutual love of photography. Mary is an amazing photographer {I think she was a tiny bit hesitant for me to share the link because she is in the process of getting her blog set up now…but you’ll get it how you want it soon Mary!!}. She has a great eye and she can totally nail exposure! Believe me…I have seen her straight out of the camera shots and they are fab! Anyway, you may be wondering why I would be taking pictures of her little guy when she undoubtedly has thousands of her own?

Well, you see, we have a little trade going on. The plan is for her to come up to the hospital and take pictures for us when we have the baby {depending on the timing and everything she may even be there for the birth!} and I am in turn taking photos of her kids! My style is very different than hers so we thought it might be fun to switch things up a bit! I truly enjoyed editing every single one of these. No stress. No pressure. Just embracing my style for what it is and going for it! Thank you for giving me this opportunity!

Mary, I truly enjoy you and your friendship. I am so thankful that our passion for freezing those priceless moments in time has strengthened our friendship. It is so much fun to have someone to chat with, bounce ideas off of and learn from! And once we get our new computer, you can rest assured I am going to start shooting in RAW! Thanks for the mini lesson – it looks amazing!

I hope as you look at these images you’ll remember our afternoon at City Hall and how sweet and cute James was!

I won’t lie, this next one was a total happy accident! I was bent down {very awkwardly and uncomfortably I might add} to attempt this and it happened in a flash! It is a miracle my exposure was correct and that he was in focus! You don’t realize how much harder it is to squat and get in picture taking position when you are seven months pregnant!

There is something about this next one I just love. His look is so real, so innocent. And he has those same big brown eyes my own little guy does!!

I couldn’t decide whether or not I liked this last one in color or black and white so I decided to try it both ways!

I hope you all have a wonderful weekend! I am taking it off from blogging in an attempt to get MANY things done! I am already working on party stuff for Gentry’s party in July {I want it all done before baby comes}, cutting out sets of ruffly pants, editing, crafting, Quicken…the list goes on! Hoping that somewhere in there we also do something FUN for my birthday…come Monday I’ll be the big 3-0!!

Sunday evening I met up with little doll face Peytra and her gorgeous mama for some photos! Peytra is ten months old and was a total ham for the camera!! She was full of smiles and sweet grins, as well as baby babble and drool! Gentry tagged along with me for this shoot and I think she would have went home with Peytra if I would have let her! She adored her!!

A little retro fun to kick things off with!

Her mama has a background in interior design and loves black and whites so I edited several that way!

Check out those vintage baby blocks! They were MINE when I was a baby!!

And a splash of soft color!

And I saved my personal favorite for last! LOVE LOVE LOVE this one!

Thanks so much for scheduling a shoot while you were in town Lisa!! It was so great to meet you and Peytra! As much as she likes to work it for the camera, you better watch out! I wish you the best of luck as you welcome your new little guy into the world this summer!

Since things are obviously a bit on the chaotic side for many of us now, I am only posting a few images in their sneak peek!

LOVED her next outfit!!

Thanks for letting me capture your family once again! I had a great time meeting up in your neck of the woods! Have a WONDERFUL holiday season!

On a side note, I PROMISE I have not forgotten my blog! It has just taken a back burner for the time being! I have lots of snapshots of my own two littles to share! My parents and Chris teamed up and pulled off a HUGE surprise and they flew out the day after Thanksgiving so things have been busy! Tis the season, right?!

But you want to know who really stole the show with all her charm and character? That would be adorable little Gracie here. She’d had a rough morning and no nap, but I can honestly tell you that I never would have known! The moment I walked up she was all smiles and pure baby happiness and it lasted through the entire session!

This was little Gracie girl’s first time to ever have professional pictures taken. I feel so honored and blessed to have been entrusted with the opportunity to give her parents priceless images of their beautiful baby. Quite obviously I love photography. That is why I do what I do after all! But you see, my real love comes in giving others something they can not give themselves. Fleeting expressions, family snuggles, gappy toothed grins and squeezable baby chub captured and forever frozen in time. I take the same approach when photographing my own kids…capturing real life and preserving the moments. I can’t even fathom it at this point, but I know that one day when my sweet babes are grown and gone and the memories have long since faded with time, I will always have countless images to sift through and remind me of days gone by. But let’s not go there…I am making myself tear up thinking about my loves getting any bigger than they already are!

We started off our time together by getting some of the more traditional family shots. Here are just a couple from beginning of our session…

And a little vintage flare…an obvious love of mine! I wish that this building wasn’t empty…these huge store front windows would be amazing with neat little goodies tucked away behind the glass and peeping through the background!

And those pigtails? OH MY GOSH! Don’t even get me started! Aren’t they darling?!

I have an obsession with brick for some reason! I just love it! However, the area where we live is all new construction. There is no brick. What we do have a lot of is stucco in a large variety of earthy tones, but that just doesn’t fit my personality too well! Needless to say, I took full advantage of the brick!

And you have probably noticed I do this pose a lot with littles! It is one I think is just too sweet! Brick background and a fab pose equal one adorable image if you ask me!

And now for the belle of the ball and an outfit change. I spent a lot of time editing this image and gave it a feel that I love! Vintage, timeless, retro… I would love to have an image of Gentry just like this one on canvas! And those pink boots? I need some in a toddler girl size 10 or 11 if anyone has some in good condition they are wanting to part with!

Don’t you LOVE LOVE LOVE the chub? Oh my gosh! I wish people thought that my chubby thighs were even half this cute!

Something about this next one really gets me!

And one last family shot…obviously not posed yet my personal fave! Just one of those real life moments, you know?

David, Karina and Gracie…I am so glad that ladybug party post I blogged led you to me! You have a beautiful family and a future full of so much promise! Gracie is a doll and such a happy, sweet baby! I wish you all a lifetime of wonderful memories that will dance through your minds for years to come!

Karina, I hope this will hold you over until I can get more up for you! Thanks so much for meeting me this afternoon! I had a wonderful time!