{our Holiday card session}

FINALLY we were able to do our Holiday session for our Family Cards this season...

It was a rough one for sure.  I shot it in 13 min flat and in 17* weather!  YIKES it was cold!!

I do not think that I have ever seen my beautiful girls work that fast....really.

3:30 strikes and we are running around  like chickens with their heads cut off!

where is the brush

hand me the hairspray

who has my bows mama

did you get the scarf and mittens

lipgloss?

I got the keys mom, you grab your camera...

wait, did you grab your purse?

Can I borrow your boots mom, mine don't match my outfit!?

and we were off, zooming in and out of streets trying desperately to make it downtown with enough light left in the sky to capture a few images for our card this year.  It was literally a race against time...one we wondered if we would win...but we did.

At last we parked our car...

Do we really have to jump out in this cold mama?!  How long will this take?  A few minutes if we hurry, now hurry please...put on your mittens, your scarf, and put your jacket over your shoulders!

Why don't we just leave our jackets in the car?

Really?!  I just do not think that is a great idea girls, now grab them and lets go!

We start off trucking down through alley ways and weaving in between buildings.  At last we arrive at our destination...drop coats on the near by ground and immediately jump into place to capture some cute holiday images for our cards!  Look smile, hug, put coats back on, walk  to next place and repeat.  DONE.

Now we RUN back to our car which we have started while running with the remote starter :)

Upon jumping into the car, the two little ones both ask to see the camera

they can't wait to see what we captured and neither can I!

Can't believe we did it, honestly!  All while I have bronchitis and am coughing and having trouble breathing in the cold cold cold (did I say cold) air!!!

Sent them in to the lab 2 hours after shooting them!  Sad thing is, we will not get them in until MONDAY :(

I have NEVER EVER been this late in getting my holiday cards shot and sent out EVER!

and now for a small, itty bitty taste of our session together

....after all, I can't give up the surprise of our card!...

oh those silly girls!

and before I get flooded with email.....NO this is not on our card!

Our card is beautiful and sweet I promise!

{bye bye bye}

all  final Holiday orders just went "walking" out the door...the holiday portrait season is FINALLY over!  I did love it so, met some wonderful people and beautiful children this year!

So much fun, I was sad to see it end :(

...but we just finished up in time before it got soooo COLD brrrr....

Now on to ENJOYING my children this holiday season :)

We are so behind, just now getting the Christmas Tree up this weekend!

A HUGE THANK YOU

to all my wonderful clients!

Without your faith, love and support.....we couldn't do what we love to do and what

God has called us to share in with you...

It was a honor creating images for you that will last a lifetime and bring you fondly back to wonderful memories of your family!

I can not express our gratitude enough...

God Bless

Have a Fabulous Holiday!

{holiday pick}

{Holiday Picks for Me :) }

the above images are from J. Crew .....fabulous finds this season.  Too many things to list from that fav store!  I have to say, I am smitten with "coats and jackets"    I would LOVE to get any one of these babies for the holidays!

{Holiday Orders}

HAPPY HOLIDAYS.....

I have finished ordering my LAST holiday card order!  I am stoked!  Originally, I had a plan of having all sessions done by October....that plan changed when #1 my oldest daughter fell ill and #2 I began to be swamped with requests for sessions!  In fact, sadly.....I had to turn a few away this year :(  But thankful for the spring bookings I have gotten in the place of the Holiday Session......so Easter it will be!

At any rate, after waking up yesterday and falling ill myself.....I thought I would NEVER finish punching tiny holes in beautiful Christmas gift tags and cutting satin ribbon to add to all the little pieces of art!  But 3 cups of hot cinnamon apple tea later.....and I was finally finished!

I have bags of these little delights sitting by the door waiting to make their venture out into the world and add pizazz to holiday gift giving this season!  I will be out for deliveries on Monday!  Email me if we haven't set up a time for your delivery on Monday!!!

Also, all the holiday cards will make their very last shipment to my doorstep on Friday!

You last 7 families will be receiving your beautiful holiday cards over next weekend!  I am planning for a Sunday delivery date to your homes!!!

A big thank you to all who made this season magical.....for allowing me to capture these precious memories for you and for inviting me into your beautiful lives!

God Bless and have a Very Merry Christmas!

{Love it/ Lose it}

{LOVE IT}

* snowflakes falling gently on my face

*pumpkin bread

*smiles from strangers out holiday shopping

* PEPPERMINT MOCHA....with white chocolate :)

*Christmas Music

*Vintage Holiday decor

*finding Holiday greetings in my mailbox!

*creating new traditions with my children

*the warm inviting scent of fragrant candles

*the soft glowing flicker of a warm fire

{LOSE IT}

*beautiful children stricken with the flu or pneumonia

*COLD......FRIGID nights.....

*road rage during the holidays :(

*being hit in the ankle by another shoppers cart!

*rude holiday shoppers that seem to be in a rush

*my grandparents leaving for Florida after Christmas :(

*looking out at a black night sky @ 4:00 P.M.   CRAZY

*people who whine about what they do not have....

*unthankful people

*disloyal 'friends'

{Oh, little gentlemen......how I LOVE thee}

I have had the pleasure to capture the spirit of these 3 little gentlemen for the past few years!  There is never a dull moment during our session and it probably is the one session a year that I walk away from thinking......'hmmm, what did I get this time?'

They keep me guessing and wondering and giggling...

always having their own ideas and poses

each one is so unique and one of a kind....seriously

I can't believe how different each one is truly is from the others :)

but I relish in the wonderful memories they create right before my very eyes....

not to mention the humor I get to participate in for 30 min to an hour!

Boys will be boys....

More from this session later......fun, tackling was involved!

thanks for such a wonderful, eventful afternoon gentlemen!

hugs :)

{Final Holiday Session/Orders}

Updates on recent Holiday Sessions/Orders

Whittaker

Biederstadt

Grish

Semento 1

Semento 2

Mallis

Caldwell

Delaney

lines through names, means your session has been proofed, posted, and your order was confirmed and sent in.  You shall be receiving your holiday cards and products within the next 5 to 8 days :)

If your order does not have a line through it, you are somewhere in the finishing process!  All final holiday sessions/orders will be complete by end of the first week of December!

Happy Holidays!!!!

{little man}

Oh, it has been a whirlwind around here!  I can not even tell you how hard it is too post etc and keep up with everything with the holidays right around the corner and my little one still under the weather :(

But here goes:

As I am waiting in my car with my with my oldest daughter, I see them pull in....he is sitting in the back seat with a grin on his face!  The suv pulls in and stops, the door opens and out jumps this beautiful little man.  He is full of energy, life, and lots of love.  Spunky in his own little way and ready to do things 'his way'......just the way I like little ones to be!  As we move throughout the park, he shows me his tricks, poses his own special way, and fills my heart with joy......

I love the life that children bring to the table, the way they show you how to 'live' and not be so serious!

This little man was on his game and brought his shining personality with him, for me to capture!  I got so tickled editing down his images and looking back through them.....remembering  all his responses and comments :)  Not to mention, his helping with 'pulling' my camera bag all over the park!  Boy did he love those wheels on my camera bag!  I was smitten at his delight of lending a helpful hand or two lol.   After throwing leaves, running through the grass, jumping on things, and munching on some yummy candy......he and his mommy packed up to leave...but not before he jumped up in the drivers seat to 'pretend to drive' while turning the stations on the radio and jerking the wheel back and forth!

Oh, the delightfulness of childhood!

If only we could all remember to see things through the eyes of a child....

just loving life to the fullest....

I learn so much for children each and every moment I get to capture their tiny faces and big personalities!

Enjoy a few of my favorites from our session together!

A big thanks to LITTLE MAN and his MOM.....I truly loved our time together and running around chasing your little angel for some beautiful shots!

God Bless :)