project 52 l week 49 l christmas

what a special week this is as we get ready to celebrate the birth of our Savior.   we are quickly wrapping up this project and i will miss my group of girls as the new year begins. some of us will continue on together and some of us will start new groups.  but it has been such a special time getting to know one another in this unique way.   as you may guess this week's theme is Christmas.   the Christmas season always comes fourth with so many traditions.  some we have started and some we have continued on from our own childhood.  it is such a special time of the year i treasure and enjoy so much.  

for me one of the favorite things i love to do is make Christmas cookies. there isn't a year that goes by that we don't do this once or twice or even more times.  my husband and i were blessed to grow up together as friends and i can even remember him being part of this tradition of mine as a child.   he'd show up at our house and join right in the fun.  this week we got the cousins together that live right here on our street.  mimi was even able to help us decorate our yummy treats.  it was such fun to hear the kids squeal with pleasure and delight as they made their creations!!  i tried to capture all of the wonderful expressions!!   i hope yall have a very merry Christmas and a blessed new year!!! 

now head over to the blog of Lynn, of Bugsmom Photogrphy, NJ and see what she has captured this week...

cousin cuteness

as i look at these images i can only imagine the fun these cousins will all have as they grow up together all so close in age.   the love and true adoration for one another really shines through.  BUT i have to admit i was a bit nervous when their nanny called to schedule this session;    a 4 month old, a 21 month old (who just happens to be my niece), and a 2 year old.   i believe we certainly captured each of these girls at this fun time in their life...

10 on 10: the december edition

"the days are so long, but the years are so short"  -excerpt from the happiness project

as a mother to three young children i realize  that our days are often times much too busy.  and within our days there is always some sort of  "to do" list..even if it is just laundry, dishes, pick up the mess, repeat.  but i never want our days together to be just a to do list. and i certainly don't want to remember them as that.  i want to remember the little moments of my children's childhood.  i want to remember us together and enjoying our days.  these moments aren't always beautiful pictures but they are the memories i know i will cherish the most.  and yes, i love capturing those frame worthy moments but i don't want to forget all those times in between.  one day i know i will long to look back and see what "every day life" looked like...with all its imperfections that equal together to make it just perfect.  

so without further ado, i am very excited to introduce you to a new project i am starting.   once again i am partnering up with some fabulous ladies from the bloom forum. this project started on the forum as an idea of shannon harrison of jack and ruby studios.   after she started this project with her initial group of 10 photographers, other groups of 10 have followed.  you can read more about what inspired her to do this here.  when i saw this idea, i was immediately drawn to it and could not wait to get started.

the plan is to pick one day from the month and shoot an image every hour (or close to it) with no theme or structure.  on the 10th of every month, we’ll post our 10 images that tell the story of our day.  some months we may showcase more than ten images, from more than 1 day, from more or less than ten hours, but these images will be a reflection of our day to day life each month.  please join me for this fun journey. 

what was CUTE RED ELF up to last night?

the first to wake up...always.

gorgeous morning.

a beautiful mess.

my refreshing moment.

orange trees in our yard.

the orange paint brings memories of a fun night and a missed friend.

daddy is home from bahrain..three hours and he's off to virginia.

being two can be very hard.

off to pick a tree.

a daily occurence.

ready for the Christmas pageant with mimi and popi.

letter to santa.

2 asleep 1 awake.

goodnight.

   i encourage you to head over to ElizabethJanephoto and see what 10 she has captured...

to have it so easy...

i cannot believe how busy i have been the past two months.  i am so grateful for all the wonderful families i have captured. this was my first holiday season sharing this passion of mine with other families and it was such fun!   i was so happy when my friend Jen contacted me to photograph her family of four.   and i have to admit..they all made it so easy.  the girls were a breeze to work with.    jen and her husband matt have been special friends of ours for sometime, but since moving home i have been especially grateful for their friendship.   they have such a loving family and their girls have been wonderful friends to my children as well. you will see they are all naturals behind the camera...

 

a much awaited meeting...

i was so excited for this session friday night.   i was introduced to maria a few years ago when she ordered big sister shirts from me for her two girls before her son was born.   through the years we have emailed and have gotten to know each other even more through facebook.  she is also passionate about photography and quite talented herself! when she contacted me early in the fall to say they would be driving through our town and would like to schedule a shoot i was beyond thrilled. i would finally get to meet my internet pal face to face.   it was wonderful...the entire family is beautiful and such a breeze to be around.   i cannot wait to get together again and let our kids all run wild. thank you for this special afternoon. i hope you enjoy these sweet memories of your beyond gorgeous family...

project 52 l week 46 l comfort

this week our theme for project 52 is: comfort-when you think of this word what first comes to mind? a favorite sweat shirt? your bed? the warmth of a hug? i have to admit, this week's photos aren't what i had in mind at first..but another week flew right on by and i want to stay true to not  missing a week on this project yet.  comfort, what do i think of??   i think of my cozy bed, or a fire, or movie night under a fuzzy blanket, yummy foods...all of these things bring me comfort.  hugs from loved ones, i love yous from my sweet three babies.   there's so much comfort all over my house;  there really is.  but this week i captured my three lovies making banana bread.  there's something comfy about all baking together and what better comfort food than some homemade bread?

now head on over to the blog of Lynn,  Bugsmom Photography, NJ and see where she finds comfort? 

a cute family of four

i had the pleasure of spending the morning with these cute boys and their super sweet parents.   it was such fun to watch these kiddos in action as i've seen many pictures of them via the internet the past few years on facebook.    their daddy was another family friend of ours growing up...and it is really cool to see him as a dad.   i believe he and his wife liz are both super funny, neat parents to hang out with!   hopefully now that we are back in town we will see more of this sweet family.  enjoy this peak into our walk around the gardens at Bok...

 

wow...

i am excited to share this session with you.   i had such fun photographing these three amazing children for my friend heather.   i love being back home and getting to photograph children of friends i have known most of my life.  heather and i grew up together in church and i was really excited when she contacted me about doing these. i've always heard wonderful things about her family but had not had the chance to really get to know her children.  they were as sweet as they are beautiful!!  they made my job so easy and were just amazing to capture behind my lens!  heather, i hope you enjoy these pictures of your sweet babies; you should be one proud mama..

project 52 l week 44 l soft

it's so exciting to think we have almost spent an entire year together doing this project!  i will definitely be participating in another one of these next year, as it has been such fun and a great creative boost many weeks.  i am so grateful to the bloom forum and all i have learned since joining this amazing group of ladies. its not often that you find people so willing to share and offer advice.   now for this week's theme.  this week's theme was soft: something soft. i imagine the ladies in our group will come up with some wonderful images...(maybe even a baby or two).   this week my images are with a new blanket i got for my birthday.  my sister n law was so sweet to find it for me....she thought it would be good for photo shoots, but so far we have been using it for snuggling. it is wonderfully soft. 

Now head over to the blog of Amy Ames of Holly Springs NC, and see what soft image she has captured.  I know you will love it!! 

gorgeous sisters at sunset

this weekend i was once again reminded of the joys of being back in my hometown.  i was able to capture this family whom has been like family to me forever.  rob and i grew up together and our parents were the best of friends as long as i can remember. (actually they were the best of friends long before i was even born).   they have always been at birthday parties, Christening, holidays and other family events.  i had such fun capturing these memories for them.  i was able to have a little time with the girls while mama finished getting ready and i had a wonderful time chatting and shooting.  i hope you all enjoy these and treasure them for years to come...

a delightful day...

last week i was excited to get to visit with an old friend after almost 10 years.   suzanne and i met back in the day when our dogs were our babies and life was certainly not as full as it is now. it was so wonderful to catch up with her during this photo session with her girls..and afterwards at our house while the children spent the afternoon playing at the lake.   i hope you had a wonderful trip to florida...please call us next trip down. it was great fun!   i hope you enjoy the pictures i got of your beautiful daughters. they were truly a delight to capture...

project 52 l week 43 l veteran's day

another week of 2011 has flown past by.  i simply cannot believe the Christmas season is upon us.    it seems like just yesterday i was celebrating the time change and the "longer" summer days....this week's theme for project 52 is very special as we observe veteran's day.  veterans: is there a veteran in your family? what do these veterans mean to you? how do you say thank you?  as most of you know my husband has served in the USMC for almost eighteen years.  we have been married for twelve of these years.   he returned home in May from an almost ten month deployment which feels so fresh still in many ways.  we are savoring the time with him home.   our children adore their daddy and i must say i am so proud of him.   he serves our country so selflessly.  he has had to miss so many milestones in our childrens' lives, special occassions, holidays..the list goes on.  but when he is home he always puts us first....and it shows in all he does.   this week's pictures are of our five year old.    it has been such a blessing seeing their relationship grow and strengthen during the time my husband has been home.    he adores his daddy and looks up to him in many ways.  in his five short years of life he has experienced three deployments plus many other times of separation due to training and work ups.  i am grateful to all the families who endure so much for our country...and thankful that we can be a part of such a wonderful group of people.

now don't forget to head on over to the blog of Lynn, Bugsmom Photography, NJ, and see what image she has chosen this week. 

dear mason

i cannot believe you are turning five.  where have the years gone? i know i say this every year but they fly by way too fast.   you are our dear middle child; our only son.  you have such a special place in our heart and  i hope you will always feel our love for you.  i cannot imagine our family being complete without you.   you are so full of love and life.    so full of emotion and energy.  you make us all laugh and giggle and remember to not take life too seriously.  you put your all into everything you do.  this year we started pre-k with you and  i am your teacher.  it has enabled me to see a new side of you as well.  i am proud of your eagerness to learn and unwillingness to ever give up.   cars and lightening mcqueen are still your passion but you have entered into the world of legos this year (cars legos of course).   you have such fun playing with your daddy and i am so thankful for the bond i have seen grow between you.   you have had to tell your daddy goodbye numerous times during your short life (3 of which were seven or more months)....but your love for him has only grown more and more.  i love that you still want me to cuddle you to sleep and come find me in the middle of the night most nights.   i know one day i will miss these moments.   you adore your big sister and are always eager to play with her but also very competitive with her. you do not like to lose.  you are so tender with baby sissy and my heart always smiles when you come running to tell her good morning or good night.  you are so thoughtful and loving.   thank you for being the most amazing son.  for filling this spot in our life that only you could.  bubby, we love you to the moon and back!

an angel gets her wings...

last weekend my sister and brother n law were in town for the Christening of their first daughter.   it was such a lovely weekend filled with family gatherings and lots of catching up.    we are excited beyond belief to hear the news that my sister and her  family will be joining us all here in florida at the beginning of the new year.   while, i know it is hard for them to leave their family and precious friends in georgia we welcome them with open arms.  it has been over 18 years since my sister and i have lived in the same town and words would not do justice to explain how happy i am to have her close by. it has been amazing to see God bring us all back to our hometown this past year and now living on the same street.  a true blessing.   i had the honor of capturing this special day for my niece and all those that  love her.   i pray that God will bless her with a wonderful and healthy life filled with much happiness and love...

 and i'll leave you with one of the whole family....thank you to our family friend Mrs. H for being so kind to snap this for us....

project 52 l week 42 l halloween

this week's theme for project 52 with my friends at the bloom forum is halloween.   this week my son turned five and since we spent the day at disney world.  we were lucky to have my mom, mimi, join us.   it was a great way to spend the day and we had a wonderful time seeing disney decorated for halloween.  enjoy a sneak peak into our fun day...

continue on our blog circle and see what halloween images Lynn, Bugsmom Photography, NJ has in store for us....

a kiss and a hug...

i had such a fun time with the hoglund family this weekend.  missie and i met in college where we were sorority sisters and i had not seen her for years.  we had been in touch over the years via email and facebook and it was so wonderful to meet her husband jason and her two children.  what fun i had with all of them.    i loved how their almost two year old would ask me for a kiss and follow up with " and a hug too!"  they are such a sweet family indeed and you will see their love and personalities shine through their pictures.    thanks for a wonderful afternoon! 

 

project 52 l week 39 l paper

this week's theme for our project 52 is:  paper.   i couldn't help but think of the many pieces of paper my children turn into paper planes.    this is a pastime  they never grow tired of...  

don't forget to continue our blog circle and see what Amy Ames, Holly Springs, NC photographer captured!!  I am sure it will be great!!

radiant...

radiant: an adjective defined as sending out light, shining or glowing brightly.   a word that would describe this family of three perfectly.   it was such a joy to photograph emily, jimmy and their sweet baby girl.    the love between the three of them overflowed.      i  am grateful  for another wonderful opportunity to meet such a special family.  i always feel blessed to get to know the families i work with.   i have a larger than normal preview and  you will see why...  thanks guys for a fun afternoon!

 

project 52 l week 38 l definition

thanks for coming back to another week of project 52 with the bloom forum.    this week's theme is definition: what one word best describes you? what in your home shows that definition? this was a hard theme.   i had trouble thinking of one word to describe me.   i thought of many words that might describe me and my personality.  but i kept coming back to the roles in my life as a mother, wife, and teacher. and i thought of the quote: "live, love, laugh.".   i try to live each day with my family to the fullest, to enjoy it and not take a day for granted.  and in doing so other things take a back seat some days.  this isn't to say that every day i can let things "go" because i admit, i have trouble letting things go, but sometimes you have to just LIVE and by doing so you will have lots of LOVE and LAUGHTER...

so some days there is laundry that gets unfolded before it ever gets put  away, even more laundry that is overflowing  and unattended to, there is writing on the walls instead of paper, shoes not quite to the right destination, beds not made, school work left on the table and toys not put away....

...but at the end of the day we've shared some fun memories and the LIVING is what matters most!

now head on over to the blog of Kimberlee Edwards, Cary NC photographer and see what defines her.

a mama and her girls...

i had such a fun time meeting Mandee and her beautiful little girls.   i had heard a lot about her from my sister and it is always great to put a name and a face together.   her girls are less than two years in age and are both precious as they can be.    i could tell  how much this mama loved her babies during the time we were together and i could envision these sisters as the best of friends in a few years.   i hope you enjoy this preview of these gorgeous girls...