We spend our summers outside. The past two summers have been spent creek exploring. WE LOVE IT!!

In September – I asked Megan if she would take photos of us in our FAVORITE creek!!

BUT – we grabbed a few shots with the neighbors first!!

The boys brought some LEGOS with them. Because this shale is the PERFECT place for LEGOS!!

I ADORE THAT SHOT!!

That might be my FAVORITE picture of us!!

LOVE IT!!

Those shots – they mean the WORLD to me!!

I LOVE THAT ONE TOO!!

THANK YOU SO MUCH MEGAN!!!! These are my FAVORITE family photos yet!!!

I met Molly & her family a few years ago when I took Arica’s extended family photos – on her husband’s side!!

This year we met at their house – hoping for some snow since the leaves were ALL gone!!

 

We found some AMAZING vines in their woods!!

Those mossy rocks!!

Kids – especially little boys – NEED to be silly!!!

This kid – see those blue eyes!? His parents BOTH have brown eyes – that’s NOT supposed to happen!!!

That littlest guy – he bonked his head on the car door getting the puppy out!! It was QUITE the bump!!

LOVE THOSE!!!

She FINALLY stood still!!

Those shots are my ABSOLUTE favorite!!

Those ones are fun too!!

Molly – thank you SO MUCH for asking me to photograph your family again!!

Maybe next year we can get everyone together again!!

THIS GUY!!!

Big brother jut couldn’t resist!!

He REALLY wanted to eat that cake!!

OR WAS IT THE TRACTOR!?

ANOTHER bite of the tractor!!

STILL MORE!!

HILARIOUS!!

LOOK OUT!!

LOOK AT ALL THOSE BOYS!!!

*G* – you are SO VERY LOVED!!

Stephanie – THANK YOU so much for asking me to photograph these beautiful moments in your lives!!!

Did you know that I’m available for birthday parties!?

I LOVE joining Stephanie & her family for their parties!!

He REALLY wanted to eat that cake!!

LOOK AT THAT FACE!!

The newest little guy to add to the group!! ADORABLE!!

SO SQUISHY!!!

Holding another sweet great grandson!!

THAT SMILE!!

I took a BUNCH of photos – so tune in tomorrow for the rest of the party!!!

I met Courtney last year when she asked me to take their 5 year anniversary photos!

Her whole family asked me to take their photos last November & again THIS November!!

This little sweetie has gotten SO big since I saw her last year!

His little face!!

I LOVE THAT SHOT!!

MY FAVORITE moments!

I LOVE THAT ONE!!

THE SWEETEST!!

THANK YOU SO MUCH for asking me to hang out with you for the morning!

I can’t WAIT to see you next year!!!

Lynze & I tried to find an October date for their family photos – but we had to squeeze in an afternoon in November!

The time change puts a damper on evening sessions now!!

GORGEOUS!!

She LOVED our GIANT leaves!!

I LOVE THOSE SHOTS!!

SO BEAUTIFUL!! I LOVE THOSE!!

I mean – they are HUGE leaves!!

Lynze – thank you SO MUCH for coming to Mansfield!!

I LOVED spending time with you guys – hopefully I’ll see you again soon!

I met Shalane on FACEBOOK & discovered that she was also a quirky Jesus-loving weirdo!

I soon found out that she had miscarried. Her name went on my list. I started a list nearly 9 years ago.

I prayed for women that longed to have a baby.

Shalane longed to be a mother. I was SO excited with her when she found out she was expecting.

I cried with her when she found out they were losing another baby.

I prayed. We prayed. We cried.

When she found out she was pregnant this time – she messaged me.

And we prayed.

LOOK AT THAT FACE!!

He might be one of the most beautiful babies I’ve ever seen!

Shalane stopped by one morning while she was in town & I just HAD to take a few photos of him!!

THOSE CHEEKS!!

OH MY HEART!!! THAT LITTLE ROUND PERFECT FACE!!

Shalane – I loved visiting with you on my kitchen floor. Marveling over that miracle boy of yours!!!

 

I met Savannah at MOPS a couple of years ago!!

It always amazes me how small the world is sometimes.

Do you remember that time 2 summers ago when I was watching a friend’s kid and he broke his arm!? Savannah & his mom are related!!

We met on a chilly November evening – thankfully I have BEAUTIFUL red leaves in my backyard!!

BRRRR!!

GORGEOUS!!

She’s so very serious!

But – I always tell people – your kid JUST met me & I have a giant camera in their face – of course they’re going to be serious!

But – I LOVE serious photos!!

I love silly photos too!!

ABSOLUTELY GORGEOUS!!

She still wasn’t TOO sure about photos. It was chilly & the day after that dreaded daylight savings fall-back!

There’s a smile!!

A BIG SMILE!!

Her flamingo was sitting on my camera helping me take her picture – that made for a GREAT SMILE!!

SWOON!!

Flamingo needed her OWN photo!!

I almost ALWAYS win them over in the end!!

My backyard AND my front yard have GORGEOUS leaves in them!! She brought out the smiles RIGHT at the end!

Savannah & Tyler – THANK YOU SO MUCH for asking me to photograph your sweet little family!! I hope to see you guys again soon!!

If you follow me on FACEBOOK – you should know that we have a pretty awesome inner circle of people in our lives.

Sometimes I forget that Sierra & Jose are quite a bit younger than us!

In early November – Jose turned 30!! Sierra will turn 30 a couple of months after I turn 40!

ANYWAY – we gathered at their house with their people to celebrate!!

The night before the party – we got together for what was supposed to be friend-family photos around the fire pit – BUT – it was COLD & windy – so we just hung out in the kitchen eating dinner instead!

Fitzy is three weeks older than that guy in the red and about 2 years younger than the guy in the black! He considers Aaron his best friend!

Enoch & Aiden on the trampoline Friday night!!

I LOVE that our guys have each other to grow up with!!

OH MY HEART!!! THAT SWEET GIRL!!

It’s not a birthday party without some guns – right!?

That was a test shot – but LOOK AT MY BEAUTIFUL FRIEND!!

I’m told it’s a rare thing to find people like this. It might be. I do know this – at the risk of sounding ridiculous – we are blessed!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU!!

Jose’s little sister came to celebrate with everyone!!

GORGEOUS!!

THIS!! These people – this moment. We’ve all got stories & some of them are unbelievable. I have one word to explain why all these people are here in this picture – together.

GRACE. Meeting Jesus completely transformed Cody’s life. It’s not my story to tell – but I do think he’ll be sharing it sooner rather than later – because it’s amazing.

Watching him live his life & living this life with them – it makes me cry!

THANKS!!

Before we called it a night – we are those early bedtime friends – I had to grab a few silhouette shots from their back porch – BECAUSE – look at that!!!

PERFECTION!!!

Jose – HAPPY BIRTHDAY – here’s hoping this is the BEST YEAR YET!! WE LOVE YOU!!!

Last year – Jan gave her mom a gift certificate for Christmas! LAST YEAR!!

We had been trying to schedule but couldn’t find a date that worked for everyone.

I took Jan & Nick’s wedding photos 5 years ago & their maternity photos in late August – I was secretly hoping they would wait till after their little girl arrived to schedule their extended family session!!

LOOK AT THAT LITTLE FACE!!

Just the girls!! This sweet little baby & I share a name – how cool is that!?

OH MY HEART!! I just LOVE that picture!

You’ll see more of these lovely faces next fall – when I shoot their wedding!!

I had no intention of creating such a moody silhouette – but that’s what happened!! I LOVE IT!!

Another moody silhouette!!

I LOVE extended family sessions!!

THAT HAIR!! OH – she is just so sweet!!

THIS IS US!!

She is SO happy about being an aunt!!

When I grabbed this crib – grandma said – OH!! I have an old quilt – can we use that!? ALWAYS!!

THE SWEETEST!!

I ADORE those last few shots! Jan – Caitlyn – THANK YOU SO MUCH for asking me to photograph your WHOLE family!

I can’t wait to see you all next fall!!