Mara got her turn with Grace too!

GAH!!! THAT HANDSOME HUBBY & THAT GORGEOUS BABY GIRL!!

We went looking for caterpillars but didn’t find any – Aiden wanted a picture in the field!

THIS MADE ME LAUGH SO HARD!!!

Aiden & Enoch wanted to take pictures of ME!!

THAT SWEET FACE!!!

I ran inside to grab that sweet girl – because I NEEDED some photos of her in the flowers!!

MY FAVORITE SHOTS!!!

ABSOLUTE PERFECTION!!!

Enoch needed a turn with Grace too!!

Did you know that I wanted to be a photographer for National Geographic and NEVER photograph people – unless they were in those remote places that Nat Geo sent me to!?

NOW – ALL I do is photograph people. Babies. Toddlers. Kiddos. Families. Seniors. Engagements. Weddings. And then it starts all over again!!

AND I WOULDN’T CHANGE ONE THING!!!!

On Friday we had a fire and fireworks with our friends and then on Saturday we celebrated Jared’s birthday with our family and friends – and THEN on Sunday we had lunch AND dinner with said friends!

It was a GLORIOUS weekend!!

EVERYBODY wants a turn with that sweet baby!!

Grace LOVES Fitzy’s face – I mean – who wouldn’t!?

She also LOVES grabbing handfuls of his hair!!

And I LOVE taking pictures of the scene instead of interfering!

She KNOWS that she’s got everyone wrapped around her finger!

I had a session Sunday night – and I wasn’t sure if I would make it back home in time to grab my camera – so again – I brought it with me!

And am SO GLAD THAT I DID!!! Because we ALL need pictures of us just hanging out – doing our every day things – because we will forget.

That beautiful friend of mine and her beautiful baby girl – they NEEDED these moments captured!!

Last week we met up with my friend Megan at our FAVORITE place in Mansfield to have our family photos taken!!

When I get them ALL back – I’ll show you!

But here are a couple – just because!!

This might be my FAVORITE picture of us – EVER!!! This is my favorite spot on the creek – and that’s my favorite guy!!

When we started – I told Megan I wanted mostly all lifestyle shots of us just exploring the creek – like we’ve done SO MANY days this summer!

But I did want one of all of us looking at the camera – THIS IS PERFECT!!

And THIS ONE!!! This is EXACTLY what I had envisioned in my head!

It’s SO VERY hard to NOT take your own family photos – and while I ALWAYS love our photos with Megan – this year – they were AMAZING – exactly what I envisioned!!

And I’ve only seen a handful of shots!

After our photos we went to dinner – ICE CREAM!!

Those boys – those amazing miracles!

Did you know that I never buy clothes for family photos!?

Typically I pick my outfit and then Jared picks his around that. And then I go through the clothes for the boys and pick out something that will compliment the colors we have!!

The boys are OBSESSED with basketball right now and I found these REAL basketball jerseys on clearance at WAL*MART and they LOVE them.

So when they asked if they could wear them for family photos – ABSOLUTELY!! Because that’s how I want our family captured – REAL.

After ice cream we went to Mara’s for a little fire and some fireworks to celebrate Becca’s birthday a little late and Jared’s birthday a little early!

This is the first time my kids have ever really SEEN fireworks! When Fitzy was little – we took him but they were too loud and he never wanted to see them after that!

MOM – LOOK!!! I’M DOCTOR STRANGE!!

That Mara – WE LOVE HER!!!

Get together with your people. As often as you can. I promise you – it will make ALL the difference!!

Becca and her baby Grace – you MUST make sure to grab that little girl before Becca does – because you will NEVER get her after she grabs her!!

Did you know that I LOVE grainy photos!? They’re my favorite!!

I am SO glad that I thought to grab my camera before we left!!

We showed up a little early for Missy’s session – so I took advantage of having my camera with me!

I LOVE coming to the playground and chasing your kids around – getting them in action – the BEST way to shoot – in my opinion!

We met up with Sierra and her kiddos for ice cream – and I took advantage of having ALL our kids together!!

8 – 3 – 8 – 10 – 6 months – 5 – 7 – 5!!

This mom thing – it’s not easy – and having a tribe – it helps SO MUCH!!!

Missy and I were close and we knew Sierra – but one day about two years ago – Sierra told me she wanted to make an effort to get to know Missy & I better – she needed a few 3 AM friends and she was hoping Missy and I might be those friends. And sometimes it’s hard to bring someone else into a close relationship – and people ask how we manage it.

We try. We make an effort. We are CRAZY busy – we all work – we all have family and other friends we spend time with – we sat down to try and figure out a time we could all have a sleepover for a weekend – and it was OCTOBER 26th before 2 of us said YES – we are FREE!! But the third wasn’t – so we said – let’s come back to this later. But sometimes it’s – hey – wanna do dinner NOW!? What are you doing in an hour!? We help each other. We encourage each other. We love each other and every kid in that picture – I love them. Missy loves them. Sierra loves them.

I love that our kids love each other. That this big group of kids – do they argue!? Yep. But do they love each other!? ABSOLUTELY!!!

I love you guys – SO MUCH!!!

If you’ve followed my blog for any amount of time – you know who Missy is.

And you know she had a baby girl 6 months ago – CAN YOU BELIEVE it’s been SIX months!?

But – she also has this guy – who will be EIGHT this December!

And she has that guy – who is 19! And I’m gonna get that shot of those brothers for as long as I can!

GAH!!! CAN YOU STAND IT!?

Sweet baby girl – words escape me. This baby girl has been prayed for. Waited for. SO MUCH!!

That middle guy – the littlest big brother – he could NOT stop looking at that baby girl!

He said – Danielle. Do you know what!? Grace is BEAUTIFUL. Isn’t she just BEAUTIFUL!?

THOSE FACES!! Missy – I know you know – but LOOK at your CHILDREN!!

SERIOUSLY!!!

HIS BABY SISTER!!!!

HEY BABY GIRL!!

I CAN’T EVEN WITH THAT FACE!! MY FAVORITE!!

GORGEOUS GIRLS!!

Stay tuned for the rest of their session!!

My sister came to visit in July – so we all stayed at the farm together!!

I posted a blog recently where Enoch helped my mom make food for Ebony and feed her. Jack hadn’t been able to help yet – so Enoch had to step aside – which was HARD for him.

You know what else is hard!? Navigating boundaries and relationships with your siblings when you all have kids and parent differently!

My sister lives 3 hours away and my brother about 6 – we live about 45 minutes from my parents. We see them quite often.

And when we are all visiting together – I have a hard time. Because I want to see my family and I want my kids to experience their cousins. BUT I also want my niece and nephews to experience G & Pa without my kids there monopolizing ALL the time and attention!!

SO – Enoch had a little bit of a hard time handing it over to Jack – because we are a selfish race!

AND – he ended up doing really well with the sharing! After his initial whining of course.

Jack is 13 months younger than Enoch – but they’re about the same size – the Trout genes are strong!!

THOSE GUYS – Jack only calls him Enochguy and Enoch usually calls him Jackieboy!

I LOVE THAT SHOT!! Makes me laugh every single time!!

That’s Red and her gorgeous little guy – Brownie!!

I hope we have a few more years with Red!!

Jack with his little arm around G – I know that everyone loves their mom – but our mom is AMAZING!!!

THAT FACE!!! Like I said – EVERY CHILD should grow up on a farm!!

That guy – look at how GROWN UP he is looking!!

THAT SHOT – I see teenage Enoch in that face!!

ALSO – if you need a cat – if you want a cat – DO YOU WANT A CAT!? My parents might have a few you could take!!

Do you drop off your pregnant cats at farms – PLEASE don’t.

We are NOT bringing a kitten home – but if we did – it would be that one!!

I’ve photographed these kiddos off & on for quite a few years!!

This little guy was NOT so sure about me – or about the creek!!

I ADORE THAT SHOT!!

CUTIE!!

She did NOT like having her little feet wet!

THIS SHOT – in black & white – SO MOODY!!

He warmed up to the idea – eventually!

He REALLY started to love the creek!

CUTEST!!

Thank you SO much for making the drive and joining me in the creek! I can’t wait to see you next time!

I’ve known Carla for a LONG time – we grew up in church together! This fall will mark their 8th wedding anniversary!!

I haven’t seen them since that day – so I was SO excited to hear that they wanted to bring their pups for a mini session in the creek!

I LOVE THOSE SHOTS!!

SWOON!!

LOOK AT THAT BEAUTIFUL GIRL!!

She really did NOT want to get in that water!

Kevin & Carla – THANK YOU SO MUCH for asking me to photograph you and your sweet pups – AND for traveling so far!!

I typically only hold mini sessions in the fall BUT I had an idea for creek sessions in June!

Creek exploring is our FAVORITE thing to do in the summer!

This little guy was SUPER excited to get in the water!!

He was SOAKED within the first five minutes – but it didn’t stop him!!

ADORABLE!! I LOVE THAT SHOT!!

NO!!! Don’t DRINK the water!!

THANK YOU so much for bringing your family to the creek! This might have been my favorite session with you guys yet!!

POST & BEAM!! Absolutely GORGEOUS!!

A STONE WALL IN YOUR HOUSE!? YES PLEASE!!

Did I mention that ALL the cabinets were hand-made – EXACTLY for this home!?

This is their FRIDGE!! Isn’t it AMAZING!?

AND A BRICK FLOOR!!! AMAZING!!

THAT BED FRAME!! SWOON!!

Joyce & Ron – THANK YOU SO MUCH for asking me into your home!! It’s SO AMAZING!!