{keira turns 1!} (surprise mommy!) :)

Yesterday, while my best friend was at work all day, I stole her youngest for a few minutes to do a birthday photo shoot as a surprise.  I'm not sure if it was an actual surprise since her other son and daughter knew what I was up to...  :}  The UT Gardens where we went, sadly had construction going on and had torn down several of my favorite spots so we had an abbreviated photo session, but it still turned out pretty cute I think...

{{6.12.15}}

{little miss sunshine, little miss giggles, and mr. happy}

It's been a while since I did a photo shoot with my kids!  It was kind of freezing cold outside the day we did it...but we still had a blast!  

 Oh my heart, how have they gotten this big??!

All in to Skylanders and Legos and a Shark game on the ipad, he will always be my baby. 

 Growing way to fast, she knows what she likes...Hello Kitty, the Beatles, gummy candy, and animals to name a few.  

Definitely the oldest and a sweetheart as always, I cannot believe she is already in middle school!!

I don't usually like being in the picture...but I also recognize that I wish I had more pictures of me and them when they were little...so I try to be brave and let them do pics of me and each kiddo...

...and in the end, I'm glad i have them. 

Ok, as with any photo shoot, there are always "outtake" pictures and these photo bombs and goofy faces crack me up so much I had to include a few....ha!

This bottom one of Little Miss Giggles is SO HER!  LOL!!

And on to a different topic...

This dude has always loved giving eskimo kisses...I've told the story before but he would charge through the house in a panic bursting into tears if he thought I had left without giving them to me...  sometimes I very much miss that wiggly snuggly little boy...until I remember that I love the boy he is growing into!  :)  And I still get my eskimo kisses so you know...it's all good.  :)

{{12.30.14}}

{baby bear: cutest snowman ever!}

Merry Christmas! 

{12.18.14}

{molly & campbell}

So good to see this sweet family again!  Molly and Campbell have grown so much and are so sweet!  Campbell asked me to pick him up by raising his hands to me and burst into tears when I handed him back to his mom when I left. :}  Sweet boy!

{12.7.14}

{tracey family}

{11.22.14}

{beck family}

Here on my photography blog I don't usually comment too much on the pictures...you're not here to listen to me, you're here to see the photos. :) However, this one was just too fun and I'm going to add my thoughts on some of it.  :)

This family is one of my "other" families.  The family I get to choose.  I have officially known them for over a decade. Sheesh.  They are crazy and fun and love God and love the orphan and love each other passionately.  I knew this was going to be a fun shoot - we all know each other pretty well so everyone was pretty well relaxed.

I know Josh doesn't like doing photos...neither do I. Thus the reason I stay behind the camera. ;) But I love that he goes along with it anyways, mostly for his mom's sake.  :) 

Steve is one of the coolest dads I know.  My favorite memory of him is how Lauren used to tell me when I had her in 3rd grade, how he would take her on "daddy dates".  She has high standards in how guys treat her now...and a lot of that I'm sure is due to Steve setting that example even when she was little.

Catrina, you are beautiful just as you are.   

I love that you can say you are married to your best friend. 

This is her Jack.  Except she gets to see him every day.  Sniff.  

This is when things got fun!  lol 

The little boys thought this was most fabulous and cracked up. :)   

Then of course, it was time for a little revenge... 

Ha! I love this one. 

It's hard to get everyone in the air in a jumping picture - especially when the littlest guy hasn't figured out how to really jump yet!  :)  And daddy drew the line at jumping. lol

Thanks for a fun shoot y'all!  Hope you enjoy these sneak peaks!

{11.15.14}