The summer of 2016 was AMAZING! We swam and played. And swam. And ate ice cream. And swam.

Ashley & Max came over one day in August for some swimming and ice cream. And she said – we should go to Disney! I said. Yes. Sure. Disney.

Disney is CRAZY expensive. I’ve never been.

Flying. HA. Flying. NOPE!

So we looked – just to look. And found out that we could actually share a room if we went before Enoch’s birthday – November 19th.

AND Enoch wouldn’t need a ticket for the parks. And if we drove – all 7 of us in our van – we could maybe swing it. Maybe.

But we wanted it to be a surprise if we did it. From the boys AND our husbands! WHAT!

We called work and got the time off. WE BOOKED THE TRIP! WHAT!

I don’t do things like this. I mean – NEVER!

NEVER. And yet – I did! WHAT!

Ashley informed me that we would get receipts in the mail – I said – don’t worry! I’ll make sure to get the mail before he comes home!

And then I got a text from Jared – while I was at my parents – we got mail from Disney? I said – yes – it’s just junk mail! He said – it has all our names on it and confirmation of a payment received? SHOOT!!

So – it wasn’t a surprise anymore. And Ashley spilled the beans to Matt once Jared knew.

AND we decided driving would be CRAZY! And we might not stay friends after DRIVING to Disney with three children and packed like sardines!

I found some good deals on tickets and we figured out transportation and hotels for the days that we couldn’t get lodging at Disney!

BUT – we kept it a surprise from the kiddos! And almost everyone else!

I packed the bags while Fitzy was at school – loaded the car – picked him up and we headed to the AIRPORT!

We stopped and picked up Ashley and her boys – Fitzy asked what was in the luggage – just clothes that Ashley was giving me. And we were just headed to the movies! Even when we got to the airport – NOTHING! I got our little sign that we made out – and read it to the boys – and they were excited – but didn’t FREAK OUT like we thought they would!

We spent the few days before Disney at a WATERPARK HOTEL!

I don’t have all the photos from our trip to put in this blog – but if you follow me on INSTAGRAM – I’m sure you saw them!

And then! DISNEY! All the photos here are from the DISNEY photographers – which is TOTALLY WORTH IT by the way!

Max – he was NOT feeling good – and spent the rest of Animal Kingdom day at the hotel. Poor guy!

Tuesday – HOLLYWOOD STUDIOS!

Enoch did NOT like Chewbacca without me being RIGHT THERE!

Kylo Ren was TERRIFYING!

Thankfully Max felt better for STAR WARS!

And our last day at the parks! MAGIC KINGDOM!

We were FIRST in line for Tinkerbell AND Mickey! SCORE!

So – this was my first trip to Disney – Enoch & Fitzgerald had never been either!

Jared & Ashley said – we MUST do Haunted Mansion! It’s great! SO FUN!

TERRIFYING! NOT FUN AT ALL!

You might notice that I am not in these pictures – it’s not because I don’t like Merida – it’s because I was waiting in line FOR 90 MINUTES to see Winnie the Pooh!

OH MY WORD! ADORABLE!

Matt & Ashley stayed at Magic Kingdom quite late! But we called it a night a night a little earlier!

While I LOVED Hollywood Studios – my FAVORITE part of Disney was breakfast at Beast’s Castle!

We had tried and tried and TRIED to get a reservation – but alas. No luck.

Tuesday night – we were lying in bed and Ashley said – THERE’S AN OPENING FOR BREAKFAST TOMORROW!

LET’S DO IT! So we got up early – and made it in to the park! Even got FIRST IN LINE for Mickey & Tinkerbell!

We made it to the Castle JUST IN TIME! And Ashley FOUND THE BEST TABLE IN THE WHOLE CASTLE! RIGHT IN FRONT OF THE WILTING ROSE! IN THE WEST WING! Fitzy did not enjoy the West Wing – it was dark and thundering and flashing with lightning!

We spent our last day at Disney Springs! Eating and a little shopping and EATING and building legos and EATING!

We had a GREAT time on our friendcation! And the BEST part – we STILL LOVE EACH OTHER after spending a week together!

You’ve seen Missy & Cody on the blog before – she’s one of my BEST friends – and I love taking their pictures!

Missy brought her mom and dad along for their early morning session this year!

That’s her first-born. By the time I blog this – he will be SEVENTEEN! WHAT!!!

So – let me tell you – I know this little guy. I know him well. But he did NOT want that sweater on. And it threw him. HARD. You’ll see his smile at the end of the session – but I assure you – we worked for it!

And those little hugs – made for GREAT pictures! He turned five a few weeks after our session – and the times of holding him like this are almost gone!

A WORM!

Scroll back up – look at that GORGEOUS best friend of mine!

The men in Missy’s life!

Her boys!

Isn’t he such a handsome little guy!

THAT is the little guy I know and love!

OH MY WORD! This next series of pictures! MY FAVORITE!

LOVE LOVE LOVE!!

MISSY – I know it doesn’t NEED to be said – but I LOVE YOU SO MUCH!!!

 

 

 

Several years ago – my friend Ariel told me about her friend Sierra – they were young mothers together and Sierra was expecting her 3rd baby – a 3rd boy! That little boy was born in August and my little E was born in November. And now Sierra isn’t just the friend of a friend – she’s become one of my dearest friends!

And she has a 4th baby – their first girl!

There’s that 3rd little baby – he’s not so little anymore!

OH MY WORD! Isn’t she PRECIOUS!

You might recognize Sierra from previous sessions! I took a few maternity shots for her and then had the absolute honor of being at this little darling’s birth! And her sweet newborn session!

THAT LOVELY LIGHT!

Oldest and youngest. A special bond!

Sierra – I am so thankful that you are in my life! I often forget that you are so much younger than me! You are certainly wise beyond your years!

I met Dan last year when he did my first color tattoo!

I’ve gotten to know his wife too – hanging out and talking pictures and babies and life!!

They are awesome people and FANTASTIC parents!

Their little guy *C* celebrated his FIRST birthday earlier this year!

ADORABLE!

SERIOUSLY!

My FAVORITE shots!

And those ones! Such a sweet moment!

He wasn’t too interested in the cake!

Dan & Kaitlyn – thank you SO much for asking me to capture this time in your life!

I was SO excited when Liz’s mom asked me to come to her SIXTEENTH birthday party!

Thanks SO much for asking me to come snap some shots for you! Have a GREAT YEAR!!

My friend Ashley had a FANTASTIC idea – have a Galentine’s Day get-together!

For those of you that don’t know – Galentines’s Day is from Parks & Recreation – and it’s a FANTASTIC notion!

The day before Valentine’s Day – getting together and celebrating your girlfriends – with breakfast and bacon – and little gifties!

On the show – Leslie says crazy wonderful things to her best friend Ann – so I made a personalized card for each gal!

Leslie makes mosaic portraits out of soda bottles for each of her friends – BUT I’m not THAT talented! But – I just might try next year!

I made portraits for each of my friends – and a ridiculously huge keychain!

Leslie writes a 5,000 word essay about each gal – I made a little booklet documenting what I admire about each woman!

Ashley wasn’t able to make it – friend duties came up and good friends listen to their heart!

I almost kept that tardis!

The cup of coffee turned out AWESOME!

My Aunt L – she loves to write – so hers was a blank piece of paper!

Mara – she loves music!

Becca – that is supposed to be a paint brush keychain!

Sarah wasn’t able to make it to our Galentine’s breakfast – which just meant MORE BREAKFAST DATES!

Shalane wasn’t able to make it either – but no worries – we made YET ANOTHER breakfast date – which I LOVE!

And she gave me a BEAUTIFUL bracelet – inscribed with – ovaries b4 brovaries!

I felt like the fans of Parks & Rec would REALLY appreciate the awesomeness of a Galentine’s Day!

It should really be a national holiday! It certainly WILL be an ANNUAL event!

And I also I sent some Galentine’s out to some of my gals!

LADIES CELEBRATING LADIES!

I’m planning on having a GALENTINE’S DAY breakfast every other month!

And NEXT year – GALENTINE’S day will be EPIC!

In early October – my friend Missy and I took our boys apple picking!

Isn’t he a sweetie!

And this guy – he’s a darling.

And that guy – he’s a doll! Thanks for coming along Missy – we had a GREAT day!

I love Ericka – she is such a dear friend!

When I asked her if it was okay to gift her daughter a session for her birthday – she said – OF COURSE! ALWAYS!

It was a CRAZY windy morning – and being by the water didn’t help – but I HAD to use this spot! At least for one!

My backyard was the PERFECT spot in all the wind – it’s completely protected!

*J* is another little friend of Fitzy – he loves her!

I LOVE LOVE LOVE those shots!

Jeff is kind of in love with his beard – so I had to focus on that – at least for one!

Ericka – thanks for being a great friend! We love you guys!

 

Why we waited till the last Saturday in October – is beyond me – but we did get some beautiful shots!

Johna is my BFF and I just adore her sweet family! Little *M* is one of Fitzy’s best friends and Matt is our fantastic contractor!

We had to postpone our session due to rain and then ended up with one of the windiest mornings yet!

I LOVE LOVE LOVE those shots!

We love you guys SO much! Thank you for all that you do for us!

I’ve been taking pictures of Taylor and McKenzie for years now! They contacted me for a SISTER session – but didn’t think it would happen before my maternity leave. Thankfully – I had an opening that week!

SERIOUSLY – gorgeous!

They might be my favorite people to photograph!

I couldn’t decide – so you get to see both!

If only you could see behind the scenes! Taylor could NOT keep it together at this point. The corn just made her laugh! it’s one of those things that once you see the end result – it’s awesome – but sometimes the concept is so silly!

Thank you SO much for asking me to photograph you! You guys are AWESOME!