Is it the innocence? Is it the sound of the pop? Is it the sweet smell? Is it the mixing of flavors? Is is the giggling? Is it the smile that it brings? Is it the kisses? What makes this so important to me? 
How can something as simple as lip gloss mean so much to me? I remember using this kind of gloss when I was a girl. I can remember how it felt on my lips when I rolled it on. I can hear the pop of the lid going on and off. I can remember taking it out of my backpack to show my friends as we would laugh and talk. Now today, I see my girls doing the same thing. It is hilarious to watch the girls put it on. They use quite a heavy coat and they are sure to include a large radius around their lips. Even though it looks a bit ridiculous, I can tell that they feel beautiful and special. That is a wonderful emotion to be able to see on their faces. Now they have even become gloss mixologists!
I know it seems silly, but this lip gloss will always be important to me. It will always remind me of my childhood, and more importantly will always remind me of my girls. I can close my eyes and smell the lip gloss, I can feel their sweet kisses, listen to their giggles, and hear them discuss how strawberry and "banilla" should go together... I never want to forget any of it!I hope to always have a tube of lip gloss around, something so simple and so small that can evoke intense emotion and memories for me. I hope if you have not found the "lip gloss" in your life that you take time to find it. It is there.... even if in your bathroom drawer!
When Zach and I bought our first home we met a great couple two houses down who we had a lot of fun with. Both of our families moved on to new homes, had children, and grew apart. I was thrilled to reconnect with them and have the chance of shooting their girls with their mom. These two girls looked just beautiful in their dresses, and I loved seeing them with their mom, happy, laughing, and secure in her touch.
Look at those eyes!
These are the things that I want to remember about my own girls forever... the dancing, the secrets, the giggles, the goofy and silly bond that make young sisters the best of friends.
Walking holding hands, twirling and dancing barefoot in the grass... what a life. I can just imagine it... the way the breeze lifts your hair off of your neck, the cool grass on your feet, the air filling your dress to princess status... is there anything that little girl loves more?
Thank you girls for a very fun afternoon. I hope your parents keep these photos forever and will look at them when you are all grown up and be able 
I know that I have said this before, but I LOVE doing shoots with kids. They are so much fun, and the images we get are so rewarding. I have had the chance to do lots of shoots in the last few weeks and I can not wait to share some of the photos with you. These photos are from a shoot I did up by Lake 
I am also excited to say that I have been doing some more advanced editing on my photos. I am sure having fun playing with the images. I absolutely love this aged look to the photos.
This shoot started off in the normal fashion, the kids were a little shy and reserved and not so sure that they were ready for this whole photography thing. Then we moved into the willing participant stage... when that wore off we moved into the boiling parent stage... and last, my favorite stage... the comfortable, unreserved and sometimes silly stage where we see the real child and capture true emotion.
This shoot was really fun. Both Niko and Brooks did a fabulous job. If I were to tell you about the bloody noses (yes, "noses" is supposed to be plural!!), the spider adventure, the elbow injury, the grass rolls, you would never believe that we would have ended up with these great shots, but we did! Actually, that is the way it normally goes. During most every shoot the parents try to look, but stare between their fingers, shake their heads, and beg their kiddos to behave better. No matter how much I tried to assure Brooks and Niko's mother that things were going fine, I could tell she did not believe me... that is until she saw the photos of their little cherubs! Ha! Cherubs they are not, but amazing little boys they are! 
Thanks Niko and Brooks for being so willing to hang out with me, share your forts, and play with me by the lake. I have to send out a special thanks to their mom for her patience and willingness to just let me keep taking photos throughout all of the minor disruptions we had! What a fun afternoon it was!
Little Reilly is going to quickly realize that she does not have to stay in one place. She is going to be an explorer. She is rolling and almost sitting, and you can see in her eyes that she is excited about all of the new things that she is discovering in her young life.
I love the peacefulness and the quietness that Reilly exudes. She is a very content baby and she showed me a lot of patience through out the day.
This cutie is such a blessing to her family, and it was a total pleasure to spend time with her and her entire family. I have to thank them for welcoming me into their home again and trusting me with their precious little one. 
Reilly's mom was so laid back and relaxed, she even had time to make cookies with Reilly's sister during the shoot. Can you believe that!! A mom in control.... I was very impressed! When I try to have a shoot with my kids, I am sweating and nervous. So a huge kudos to her!! Here is a shot of big sister Hannah.... thank you for my heart princess artwork! You are such a sweetie and a big helper!
This family selected a photo package that includes three shoots for the first year. I am excited to follow this little girl as she grows and I can not wait to share her one year photos with all of you in another six months..jpg){kind=logo}
