Ahhh... yes. There's something special in the air. I believe it's called love.

Hmmmmm... I love love.

And I love the day the love joins to become one. Close friends and family gather among the special details chosen to celebrate the moment we call the wedding day.


And I love it when the couple make decisions based on the guests. Like these adorable cupcakes for the little ones (and the adults loved them too!)...


This is also the day that the beautiful young lady actually feels beautiful and glows with the joy and love that awaits at the end of the aisle...


*sigh*

Natalie, you are a breathtaking bride!


I love it when the kisses continue even when the ceremony is over...

And the joy is just beginning even though they are leaving the reception...

But my favorite parts are the inbetween times when the couple gets alone to soak in each other on this most special occasion...


And they'll love happily ever after...



Natalie & Michael,
What a perfect day for a wedding! The sun was shining, the sky was clear and blue... but nothing compared to the beauty I saw that day in you two. A stunning bride. A handsome groom. Unselfish love from The Father and for each other. Perfection. Blessings to you as your begin this new chapter in your lives - the best really is to come, isn't it?

xoxo

Ashley & Tim... Can't wait for this fall!!!

xoxo

Joshua isn't even two but it seems he's been a toddler forever! He seemed to do everything (physically) early and I can hardly remember him as an infant. As I watched him one afternoon climbing and sliding on his playset over and over again, I thought about how he's been doing this since last year and I wasn't sure if I documented it. He's my big boy...




This little guy has no fear, which leaves Mommy with a lot of fear! One day I'll have a heart attack and it'll be because of him. If he lives that long...


I can't even remember how long he's been going headfirst, the little daredevil. It's funny to me to watch other moms hover over their children (usually older than Joshua even!). I know I did it with Jeremiah but there is something about Joshua that gives me confidence that he's got it under control. That, and I understand that he's probably not going to die if he fell into the grass face first from the slide...

He's growing up so fast it's starting to blur. My baby is ready to go take on the world...


But for today he's still my little stinker-roo and I'll smooch this little face as often as I can!

I just love love love engagment sessions! I love what it represents and the joy and love that just oozes out of the couple as they celebrate the start of a new life.

I Love LOVE!

Ashley & Tim, I just have to say you are FABULOUS!!! So much fun and such a great looking couple... you make my job easy! I canNOT wait for your wedding this fall! I just know it will be as amazing as you two!

We started out at an intimate little garden at the church where their ceremony will take place this fall...


It was a bit windy and cold but she could still work it!


Ashley, you are going to be a STUNNING bride!


And you are one lucky girl because Tim is full of all kinds of awesomeness too!


Rawr...


More rawr...


Happiness is finding the one who completes your heart... and this one makes my heart melt...


These two are so fun! They are ready for the reception already...

Um, WOW...


We finished up at a gorgeous little lake that was a perfect ending to our session...


*sigh*

I love love.

xoxo

It was one of those Mondays where I spent the whole morning clearing up the clutter and debris from the weekend blur of life and thought I was finally done when I stepped back into the hall and saw this...



To be honest, my first choice of reactions was to get frustrated and find out which little monkey left the train where it didn't belong. I sighed, exasperated, and pondered what life might feel like when I can clean up and it will stay clean. When there is no one around to make a mess for me to clean up or put away.

But as I ventured further down the hall, closer to the train, closer to the sound of monkeys giggling in the living room, I though about how that life would be so empty. Yes, there might not be any toys to trip on or Legos to accidentally vacuum up. No fingerprints smeared on the glass door. No pile of cracker crumbs on the couch when companty comes over. No high pitched whining attached to my leg as I hope to go to the bathroom in peace and solitude... That may be nice. Maybe.

Maybe not.

Because that means there will also not be any warm hugs from little bodies fresh from a nap. No sound of joy as two brothers giggle at a shared silly joke. No little feet to fill the tiny shoes left in the doorway. No sticky countertops reminding me of the little hands that helped me bake morning muffins. And no one climbing up my back as I blog this, smiling through a mouth full of food saying, "Mommy, I just want to be close to you."

So for now if you come by and there is a train in the hall, or I have to brush off some crumbs so you can sit down... just know that such clutter is a reminder of how joyful my life is. I may not have taken a moment to clean up but that means I took a moment to get in some extra snuggles and made a few more memories instead. My life is filled to overflowing with God's goodness wrapped up in tiny wiggly gifts I call my children.

xoxo

These little cuties were so sweet and cooperative I couldn't help but take waaaay too many pictures! Seriously, just look at them!



We'll start with Miss K and her big, bright eyes...



Almost made me want a little girl... almost...

She loved the tub...

So many smiles in there, her mom thought about getting one just to keep her happy! lol


My boys liked her so much that they asked Daddy for a baby sister! (Daddy said no. Boo!)

Such a lady, crossing her little ankles...

And a couple with big brother, Mr. L (who wasn't into the session at this point! lol)...



But he perked up and we found the giggles we were looking for!


Such a handsome little man...


Those eyes... *sigh*

And just because I couldn't decide which of these to blog, I'll put them all here together...

Joy, it was SO FUN spending time with you capturing these little cuties! You are truly blessed! Thanks so much for allowing me to play with those chubby little hands and gaze on those sweet sweet smiles!



xoxo

When my dear friend contacted me about capturing her maternity pictures, I was thrilled to no end! She lives far, far away now and I couldn't decide whether I was more excited to see her in person again or have the priviledge to share a part of this precious time in her life. I was just glad I could do both!

Although she still had several months before her sweet daughter was due, we took advantage of her time in town to create memories of her growing belly...





I couldn't decide if I liked this one better in color...



or black and white...



Played with some textures...

and other girly things...





Elizabeth, you are a most beautiful mommy in waiting!!! What a joy it was to spend the afternoon hanging out and catching up. I cannot wait until little Aubry to arrive! One of us will be traveling so I can get her cuteness in front of my camera! (And to hold her, that is the real reason!)



xoxo

And I am so thrilled with all the sunshine and warm weather!!!



xoxo

Joshua was really sick and whiney Easter morning so I was doing good to get Jeremiah dressed and out the door for church. Daddy was waiting and pushing him towards the door but I had to take a moment to snap a few shots of my little guy. My mom sent the boys each tuxedos and I had no idea when they'd get to wear them (other than a photo shoot, of course!). But Jeremiah insisted on wearing it that Sunday because his hat was in. So here he is all decked out in his snazzy tux complete with stylin' fedora. He wanted a cane as well to finish off his "dancing clothes" but I couldn't find the right one for him. He posed in all kinds of silly ways for me so I decided to just make a slideshow of them all so you can see how crazy my buddy is!



I hope to get both boys dressed up and take some pics, hopefully soon!

Also, a wonderful friend came over to play with the boys while I finished up some work before leaving for vacation. They had so much fun with her! It was the first time Joshua was not clingy and he didn't fuss once about me not being right by his side. I think she needs to move in! lol Here is one of the many projects she had planned for them that day...

Have a great day!!!

xoxo

It's going to be a super busy week!



We had so much fun last week in the mountains that I think I got online for a whopping 5 minutes and couldn't bring myself back with the gorgeous view just a few steps away. I appologize for the lack of posting and hope to get back to it as I have a ton of things to blog! However, after our much needed time away we will hit the ground running this morning and who knows when we'll get another break. Lots of stuff going on and I'm happy that most of it is going to be fun fun FUN! The weather is wonderful here and that makes me even more excited about all the shoots lined up. So be on the lookout this month for a variety of sessions: Seniors, Engagement, Families, Babies and a wedding! April is busy busy busy! I'm cramming a lot in around the usual home life (aka Monkey exhibit) and Jey's school time. Then there is the gorgeousness outside that is keeping it really hard to stay inside!

Happy Spring!

xoxo

Joshua is so wonderfully calm when he's asleep. So different from the usual tornado he is the rest of the day! I just wanted to capture a moment of his day that makes me smile. When he's ready for his nap, he snags one last snuggled as I lay him in the crib then he asks for a ball and when I turn to get it, he gets the biggest goofy grin on his face and goos some joyful babble. It's so cute to me how he can be all boy and still a sweet little baby all in one...





So adorable how he likes to have his balls as well as his animals in his bed to go to sleep!


We thought he might be in a big boy bed by this age but we are still leary of his escaping and monkey climbing antics! We are afraid to wake up one morning and find him atop the closet shelves after rearranging the furniture in his room! YIKES! And especially since he's so good at opening doors and getting out of the house on his own, we are thankful for all the velcro and the zipper on his crib tent!