"Caught In The Moment With Bubbles"

I met Kristine a few months back when I saw a hat she had made at a birthday party and fell in love. I immediately contacted her and asked her to make an order of hats for my next shoot. She made me the most adorable hats in such a short period of time. I was amazed by her. I quit using Etsy, other than for ideas, and decided she was my new go to girl. She has been wonderful. You can check her hats out at http://www.facebook.com/#!/KristinesLilLoves. Although, now I'm not so sure I am willing to share her!

I have fallen in love with her entire family throughout these last few months since I practically talk to her everyday with new ideas we both have!
Mike and I immediately realized we both have a love for photography, obviously, and thorougly enjoy giving each other a hard time. In fact just today I got him pretty good I must say, but we will keep that a secret from those who haven't seen it yet!
Kristine is amazing. One of the most kind people I have ever met. We hit it off and I talk to her probably more than I talk to my long time friends right now.
At our appointment was really the first time I have been around her girls, and lets just say the whole time I was thinking of ways I could secretely steal them from her and bring them home with me. I think they could pass for my girls as long as my husband isn't with me (totally joking Kristine).
We had a blast during our time together, although I think I might have broke out the bubbles a little prematurely because that quickly became what the entire appointment became based around. I personally loved it because they are my favorite "in the moment" style pictures that my eye is always drawn to, let's just hope they are everything they wanted though! I seriously had the worst time chosing some of my favorites for this post so I decided to double up some pictures just to squeeze in a few extra! Thanks guys for a session full of laughs, I thoroughly enjoyed myself! Oh and also, Mike & Kristine you are living proof that even after years of marriage you can still be completely head over heels for each other and bring it out in every picture!

These eyes are too die for!

Don't you just wish you had eyes like these!

The last part of the appointment I got the pleasure of meeting Mike's parents, Willie & Pat, and they were able to jump in a couple of pictures before the girls got totally burnt out!

My kiddos!

My kiddos are growing up so quickly, it makes me sad! I finally made myself take a short break to update my kids pictures for this year. I kept meaning to do Evan's 5 year old pictures right around his birthday but have been so busy I just forced myself to do them in time for Kate's 8th birthday. Like always Kate is still full of her sass and Evan is still the Ladies Man he always tries to be. This time around I got smart and brought bribes with me. Kate's bribe was a photo session with her bff Brooke and Evan's was another Transformer. I think he might have all of them now, haha! I was pretty happy with their pictures for this year. In fact I finally get to update an entire wall in my house with these photos. Definitely some of my favorites I have ever shot!

"The Next Miss America"

Shortly after my last session with Alex she entered her first big pageant. I knew she would be able to do well in it because of how much personality she has. She did fantastic, and won! Her mother quickly contacted me to do some more pictures of her in her pageant outfit to document her success. I was ecstatic, knowing how much fun I would have with her.

When Alex arrived, it took her only a few very short minutes to warm up to me, and then she was rearing to go. She was a blast, full of personality, and loved coming up with all her own poses. I will tell you what, that little girl can work the camera. We all were in tears laughing at all the different ideas she was doing. She showed me each dance she did for her latest recital and modeled all of her costumes from each dance. Alex definitely lights up any room she walks into, with her big blue eyes, beautiful smile, and love for entertaining. I'm sure one day I will be watching her on tv competing for Miss America!

"A Mother's Love"

A Mother's love is something that no one can explain,
It is made of deep devotion and of sacrifice and pain,
It is endless and unselfish and enduring come what may
For nothing can destroy it or take that love away . . .

It is patient and forgiving when all others are forsaking,
And it never fails or falters even though the heart is breaking . . .
It believes beyond believing when the world around condemns,
And it glows with all the beauty of the rarest, brightest gems . . .

It is far beyond defining, it defies all explanation,
And it still remains a secret like the mysteries of creation . . .
A many splendoured miracle man cannot understand
And another wondrous evidence of God's tender guiding hand.

Mary has always been the rock of her sons' lives. She alone raised all 3 of them to be amazing men, who have all in return blessed her with 8 delightful grandchildren. I don't think there is a better blessing for a mother than having so many grandchildren.

The kids all came together and decided to put together a family photo session of everyone before Pat, Mary's middle son, and his family move to Idaho. I am sure Mary feels so fortunate to have such a wonderful family just like all of them feel so lucky to have her as their mother and grandmother. Who wouldn't want kids like these that are so thoughtful in giving her something she can cherish forever.

It is really great to see how the grandkids all seem to have a loving close relationship with each other. The older kids definitely will do anything for all their younger cousins!

Good luck Pat and Ashley. I wish you guys the best!