New Experiences, New Freedom, New Friends... COLLEGE!

My youngest daughter (4 and 1/2 years old) and I had a conversation the other day,about how she will be making a huge move to a new "big kid" room at her preschool.  I gave her my most pathetic sad face and asked her to stop growing up.  Seriously... I am not kidding.... I really REALLY want her to stop growing.  She responded to me in her most mature 4 year old voice saying, "Mom, I just wish you would not say that to me anymore. It is just too hard not to grow. I tried, but I keep growing. I will live with you forever though.  Well, only if I can have a big Poodle and a Chihuahua." I want to freeze her just as she is.  I could keep her as a 4 year old chatty, silly, inquisitive little girl forever!  But... reality is that she is growing up.  Before I know it, she will be graduating from high school and growing up just like Becca.

I met Becca's mom about 12 years ago.  When we met, she showed me a photo of her son and daughter.  Her daughter was probably about the same age as my little one is now, and cute as can be.  I had not seen any images or Becca since that day 12 years ago.  When she showed up for her senior session, I was in shock!

Where was that little girl that I saw in that photo?  Wasn't it just yesterday that I saw that photo?  Becca changed from that adorable little girl into a beautiful senior in high school in the blink of an eye. (Make sure you click on any of the photos for a larger view!)

She is just weeks away from graduating and starting this new great adventure in life... COLLEGE!

When we were talking about college and living on campus, I started getting excited for her. I can clearly remember getting ready to go to college... new friends, new experiences, new freedom.... and so much fun!



It was great to spend the afternoon with Becca.  I had fun learning about her, who she is and what sorts of things are special to her in her life.


By the way, did you notice her eyes yet????  Aren't they amazing?!   Even in black and white, they are just stunning!


 
Becca, good luck to you and congratulations on your graduation!  I was honored to spend the afternoon with you and I wish you the best of luck next year at college!  Enjoy it and have fun!

Ten Little Piggies Sleeping In A Row

Can you believe it?  Mason is already 6 months old! 

 

Do you remember Mason?  I took images of him when he was just a tiny little thing, just three weeks old!  Click **HERE** to see some of those images.  I have had the opportunity to see him twice already in his first year, and now.... now I can not wait to see him around his first birthday!

What a sweet little boy he is. Those eyes... those eyes, they just make ya melt don't they!? And, how about those gums?? Just look at that gummy smile!  It won't be gummy for long, so I was thrilled we were able to capture them!

Mason had many different looks and expressions, he had huge smiles,quiet smiles, and adorable lip biting inquisitive grins.  I wish I could read his mind. 

Mason's parents are just as enamored by him today as they were when he was three weeks old. This next image has a fun seventies look to  it. I really like this image because it feels like his parents do not even know I am there capturing these memories.  I feel like Mason is looking up at me saying, "Man, I have it good, isn't life great?"

I sure miss this age.  I miss 6 months.... I miss when my babies would just sit with me, unable to get away, but they wouldn't want to even if they could. I love how happy and how light hearted a child is at this age... to these pure souls, life is perfect!  I can just feel the love these parent's have for their perfect little boy.


Can you feel their love?
 
I am two for two at completely wearing Mr. Mason out by the end of our session, but lucky for us, we got some AMAZING images of him sleeping.  He still has his sweet swirl of soft brown hair.

Look at his 10 little piggies sleeping all in a row!

I love this next image, I think it is one of my favorites from the whole day.

It was a complete honor to share in this day with Mason and his family!  Thank you for allowing me to have a part in Mason's first year!

A Sweet Flower And A Quiet Smile

Wait a minute... I think I may be in heaven.  Isn't this little one one of the most gorgeous little babes you have ever seen? Just look at those beautiful eyes (click any of the images to get a larger view)!  I love Sydeny with her sweet flower and her quiet smile!  She is just an angelic baby... I can not tell you how much fun it was to spend the afternoon with her and her parents.

It seems like I always end up in the parent's bedroom to take photos of kids at this age.  I loved their bed and the bright yellow color was a lot of fun!

 

Look at those new little toofers!

I love to set a little one on a bed in front of their parents.... the parents can't tell what the little one is doing and we always end up with something great.  I love the laughter and emotion in this image.

 After we spent some time at the house, we headed to down town Seattle to the Olympic Scultpture Park.  It was great.  I had never been there before, it had a little of everything... Huge wonderful sculptures...

the beach....

and a park!

The best part about this whole day was being allowed to be a part of a couple of Sydney's "FIRSTS."  I was there for her first experience sitting all by her big girl self in the grass.  She was completely mesmerized.

I love these amazing series of images of Sydney with both her mom and her dad. 

Each shot seems to tell a different part of the story of the relationship and love between the parents and their daughter.  I love it!

 After we explored the grass... we headed over to the beach... another first!  We put Sydney down in this rocky part of the shore and let her explore all of the new things around her.  She would have sat there all day if they had let her (and I could have taken photos all day too)! 

I love this image of her reaching out as far as she can for the perfect smooth rock!  You know she tasted it too, right?!  Someday her parents will have a jar of these perfect rocks that she will have collected on numerous trips to the beach!  What a fun life they have ahead of them with their happy little explorer!

Happy Easter!

 

Happy Easter to you and your family!  I hope you have a wonderful holiday. We had a wonderful night here in preparation for Easter.  Coloring Easter eggs is one of my favorite things to do.  I especially like it when the weather is good and we can do it outside.  Outside the kids do not have any restraints on their egg design, they can make as big of a mess as they want!!  BUT, the weather this year just did not allow for it.  I decided to just give in and let the girls decorate their hearts out again, and it was worth it.  They had a great time and the eggs turned out great!

My memory of the girls decorating eggs two years ago is imprinted in my mind forever, and I do not think any Easter will be quite like that one, but this year is a close second.  If you want to see the images of my little peanuts decorating a couple of years ago...click here.   This year, we started out with our flimsy metal egg holders... then we moved on to spoons...

and we finished by using fingers! Click on the photo if you want to see the spoon a little closer! (The idea for the reflection in the spoon  came from a photographer friend of mine... check out Connie's spoon image here!)

This photo really made me laugh because her egg has finger prints on it and there is dye dripping from her hands.  By this point, I had totally given up on being clean! I think Olivia felt each egg was destined to be decorated a certain way.  She took her time and was at the table long after the rest of us had finished.  

Finally we were done!  What a great time we had.... 48 eggs were colored and the house was a mess, but again... I have memories that will last a life time.

And, we were left with 48 masterpieces!

Have a wonderful holiday.  Enjoy your family, enjoy your friends, and remember the resurrection.... He is Risen!