celebrating in the city....

 historic st. mary's to be exact. i was lucky enough to spend an afternoon with one incredible family. what started out as a senior session ended up with a fun mix of a little bit of everything. and let me just tell you, this family was an absolute pleasure to work with. this was one of those sessions that i really didn't want to end. if the sun would have stayed up all night, we would probably still be capturing amazing memories. thanks for the laughter and incredible memories, you all are wonderful!

historic st. mary's to be exact. i was lucky enough to spend an afternoon with one incredible family. what started out as a senior session ended up with a fun mix of a little bit of everything. and let me just tell you, this family was an absolute pleasure to work with. this was one of those sessions that i really didn't want to end. if the sun would have stayed up all night, we would probably still be capturing amazing memories. thanks for the laughter and incredible memories, you all are wonderful!

beach baby...

and her beautiful momma! miss lilly was just an absolute doll, really! and any three month old that has already had MULTIPLE trips to the beach, quite frankly i think that is pretty sweet. we tried to beat the summer heat with an early morning beach session. and then we enjoyed the sweet relief found inside their home. their home is a little piece of heaven (did i mention within walking distance to the beach, although we opted not to walk because we would have melted on the way!) and momma was EVERY photographer's dream! she had several outfits selected (all of which were too cute!) and then allowed me to pick.  lilly was the first baby that i have ever seen who is able to put herself to sleep, no crying at all. she has the most laid-back personality, just a go with the flow kinda doll. i think it comes from both her parents. although daddy wasn't able to make this session, he was there. Boy, O' Boy was he. she is her daddy all over again. Both are two of the nicest, most humble people that i have ever met, and lilly is nothing less!

...somehow i have a feeling THIS one may end up on daddy's desk!

mowhawks & eskimo kisses?!?

yep! and in this case, go together like the sun & sand. zachary & savanna are always a ton o' fun! i'm lucky enough to have these kiddos as neighbors. savanna is the definition of sweet. she will come find me when i'm outside, and surprise me with a gorgeous flower from her momma's garden, or some delicious fresh picked veggies. (also too from their garden, yep BIG green thumb, and i'm taking pointers) zachary is a non-stop ball of energy (if he could bottle it, i'd be the first in line). they came over for a bit, and we played...and captured some memories in between.

imagine...

hubby, THREE kiddos, 16 hour shifts AND full-time school. seriously. i don't know how this amazing momma does it, really i don't. well i kinda do, because this pappa is pretty supportive. but nonetheless, it's amazing how well she balances it all! shannon has not changed one bit from when i first met her and nathan (who is now the most well rounded 10 year old i've ever met, who ADORES his siblings, like no other) as a tot at the studio at target, well almost 10 years and 2 kiddos later, this momma still maintains her easy going, laid back personality. ...oh and when i was complimenting momma on how well she handles it all, and nathan, without missing a beat, looked and me and then at his momma and said, "Yep, that's why we call her super-mom"<---------and that melted my heart. we had a blast playing at St. Mary's College. kaelyn is a spunky lil' gal, who has her own ideas and won't settle for anything less. did i mention that she's two?!? and jackson, the sweetest, most easy going baby that was full of smiles from the first shot to the last. this was one awesome session, and one amazing family!

...i did say that lil' miss was spunky...and here's the proof!

exactly

WHERE does time go?!? i almost fell over when i opened the door and saw two big kiddos at our front door for their session. and for some reason i have a way of thinking that even though i am getting older, kiddos don't. hmmm i think i need to work on that! but i had an such an amazing time catching up with alexis and cameron, and capturing smiles along the way. these two were so well behaved, i was impressed beyond belief! alexis is wise beyond her years and just has the most delightful personality. her sense of maturity is almost unbelieveable. cameron is the sweetest, most handsome guy that had so many stories to tell of his latest sports adventures. he truly is your all american boy. i had a blast and can't wait for a family session in the fall!

...handful(s)

times THREE. yep, this super momma is pretty remarkable! three kiddos, under 4 years old. can you say WOW?!? i certainly did! she has got to be one of the most patient, loving mommas ever! i spent the better half of a saturday with her and the family. and if odds were in my favor, once daddy left, that left only one set of hands for three kiddos. (which i know is a process that mom has mastered) but guess who got some sweet baby snuggling time in...yep, this gal! if i said it once, i've said it a million times, babies are amazing.

i think the part of our session that melted my heart was when i asked if momma had anything special that she wanted to include in the portraits, she looked around, said "no not really." and then said, "oh yes wait." she reached around her neck and took her necklace off. ok, so if that wasn't sweet enough, the necklace was engraved with words that i know momma holds very close to her heart. ...and it took all i had not to let my tears flow like the river.

...i'm back!

after what felt like a r0LLer CoaSTer, i'm so glad to be feeling almost 100%! without boring you with the details, basically i'm a "medical mystery" and continue with follow ups with the doctor. i have an amazing support system, and there is no doubt in my mind that they got me through!