We finally got some real snow!  =)  Thought I’d post a picture of my cute hubby out blowing snow yesterday morning – and while he’s out flying, I guess you can just picture me on this monster!  lol.  Anyway, I hope you all had a fabulous Christmas!  We did.  Our kiddos were not only thrilled with the gifts they received, but Sophia really seemed to grasp the true meaning of Christmas this year, which was so much fun.  Tonight Kenny and I were talking about the let down that inevitably happens after Christmas and Sophia replied, “It’s not really about the presents you get, it’s about celebrating Jesus’ birthday!”  My sweet, sweet child. 

Our clan loaded up along with my sister’s family, and headed up to Billings yesterday for the night.  We all stayed at the hotel and had a blast with 5 kids at the new indoor water park up there – it was our second time there, but equally as awesome!  Sophia was even brave enough to go down the BIG slide with Kenny this time…I think she was on the brink of tears, but was met with such an ecstatic reception, she decided it would be best to smile and act BIG.  haha.  Funny girl.

We’re exhausted and trying to get back to reality.  I hope your holidays were equally as rewarding, and I’m looking forward to New Years, which unfortunately, always includes some form of weight loss goals for me.  LOL.  I lost 15 this year, but have gained a few back over the holidays and would like to lose about 10 more.  These are the only moments I wish I were a man.  It just seems so. much. easier in the weight-loss department!!!  =)

Have a great week, and I will be back with some pictures from the holidays (I hope, but no guarantees!).  We’re also hoping to get up sledding this week with some friends of ours, so I should have lots of pictures to share then!!!  =)  Happy New Year!

And Happy Birthday Miss Wood!  =)

This beautiful creature is my best friend.  It’s hard to even know where to begin on someone such as this – a woman who is not only stunning on the outside, but one with character that never falls short.  I can say without hesitation that although she may be fallible, her intentions are ALWAYS pure – and that is hard to find in another human being, especially in women I have found over the years.  There are those friends who you care about…and then there are those you would call your own – those you honestly couldn’t envision your life without.  And she is exactly that.  I realize this sounds silly, but this particular woman is nothing short of my soul mate…in female form.  =)  Oh, and isn’t she just the cutest thing you’ve ever seen?!?  =) Enjoy your buildup to Christmas!  It appears as though Mrs. Claus will be going it alone this year on our home front.  Sigh.  Ah, well.  I am blessed Santa has such a solid job at the moment.  =)

So, I’ve always loved all things textured, colorful, unique and different.  I am like a 2-year-old when I walk into a baby store for one thing only: all the delicious blankets with all the stitches, the yarn and the feel of it at your fingertips.  Sounds ridiculous, I know.  Please don’t find me in the yarn department at your local store, or you may have me hauled off!  =)  My best friend has helped me learn how to knit, and so I’m giving my best effort at creating fabric and making some things for my kiddos.  (But, please don’t tell anyone I’m still less than half-way through Jackson’s baby blanket…and we won’t mention how old he is.)  =)  But I think my real love is fabric: I adore it.  For all the same reasons I love yarn, but I love that sewing is so much quicker – I am the kind of gal that needs quick fixes, quick projects and a quick end result because. I’m. impatient.  =)  I love seeing something created from nothing – quickly – and so my goal while I have next month to myself is to make something…anything…maybe even just one thing, as often my ADD kicks into high gear and I end up with 42 projects going all at the same time.

I have an entire binder of patterns of everything from bibs to dresses.  And I’m getting excited to put something together.  What are you creating?

I was also wondering what your favorite fabric lines are??  (You can email if you’d rather not leave a comment.)  I have found the Amy Butler line locally, and also love Sandi Henderson fabrics.  Would love some suggestions!!  =()

This little face seems to be changing before my eyes; every single day she just looks like such a kid, and so much less like a baby.  Sigh.

Last night I attended the Legacy Christmas concert, and was inspired to say the least.  Inspired to serve in our community.  Inspired to give more this season to those who are lacking.  Inspired to hold my babies tighter and have a bigger, more full and grateful heart.  Inspired by the God himself who has made and fashioned every single little person to be of significance – and this little one pictured here has carved out a BIG place in this mama’s heart.  I hope you are inspired by that little babe, who came on a not-so-silent night over 2,000 years ago, and all that has transpired from that event!!

Merry Christmas to all of you!  And thanks again for stopping by my little blog – every comment and email sent means so much!  =)  I’ll be back soon with more pictures of my own kiddos!

So, this is my baby.  My sweet, adorable, huggable, adoring boy.  And truly, he lives up to all of those adjectives – I am loved on from morning until night with this kid, and I feel so blessed.  And so I will be indulgent and brag on my own little babe for a moment, and for fear of boring you, please feel free to just glance at the photos!    I have to admit, this kiddo has rocked our world.  Aside from a vocabulary that rivals his big sis, he has a rather interesting obsession with letters and numbers, counting everything in sight and already mastering every sound of every letter.  I will admit, I was actually a bit taken aback by this little trait, but his loving and beautiful little personality has put my concerns aside.  It’s been so much fun watching him learn and grow into such a remarkable little person.  He adores his big sis, trying to keep up with her in every way and kissing on her incessantly.  I can see them growing up to be the best of friends – or at least a mom can dream, right??  lol.  Of course they have their sibling moments where they fight and want what the other has at the same moment, but at the end of the day, there bond is so adorable.

The other day Jackson wanted to use her lip gloss, and unwilling to hand it over and have it squished to oblivion, she offered to put it on him.  And I wish I had a picture of him puckered up, doing exactly as she told him, “stick your lips out like this…turn your head like that…” as she applied the gloss and he could barely keep his monster grin at bay.  He was shiny, she was proud, and they happily went off both feeling equally thrilled with the result.  And although they never knew I witnessed this, my heart felt like it might just pop.

He keeps me in stitches to say the least.  The other night as I carried him downstairs for bed, he told me he wanted to be a dog catcher…all the while sporting a hot pink headband.  It’s moments like these I realize I have the best live entertainment on planet earth!  =)

Again, this overwhelming feeling of gratitude has taken over me lately.  And this little face adds to that feeling every moment of every day:

And of course, there are moments of unbridled bribery as a photog mom…I guess now I have a photo to prove it.  =)

And when the last fruit snack has disappeared, I get the silent pout:but a moment later, he’d forgiven me…{{Loves to my boy.}}

And as I clean out my Lightroom catalogs this month and next, you’ll see more posts like this of everyday adventures with my babes that have been forgotten over the past few months.    I hope you’re enjoying the buildup to Christmas!!!

Oh, isn’t she just. so. beautiful?  I’m just polishing up some images for this family’s CD, and fell in love with this one…even though I hadn’t noticed it much the first time around.    I just adore her lips and those big brown eyes, and it’s funny, I of course wanted that coat off more than anything, but she INSISTED she wear it for most of her close-ups.  =)  And so it was fine by me.   KIDS, you better just plan to play by their rules!

So perhaps it’s the holidays or the fact that God just seems to have His hand in everything, but I’m so very inspired right now: by my precious kids who amaze me every day with their ability to love and respect others, watching them learn things I never knew were possible at their ages, my family in general, music, my incredible friends, and even other photographers out there who are not only gifted, but incredibly kind people who enjoy sharing ideas and inspiration in this little obsession of ours:  =)

(check out some talented ladies here…the list could be a mile long, so maybe I’ll do this once in a while to include more…)

Sheye

Clary

Kamee

Allison

Gena

Yvonne

Mindy

Julie

Jen

Paula

Skye

Again, this is such a small sampling of the beautiful images and people I love to surround my computer with.  =)

So, what inspires YOU?

I finally accomplished something I’ve been wanting to do for a LONG time and that’s packaging for all my prints and products!  And I’m so excited about it after I got my big shipment this afternoon!  I know, really, it shouldn’t be that difficult of a decision, but I’ll admit I’m entirely indecisive and can go back and forth about such things for months.  Therapy might be in order.  =)  Regardless, I’ve been busy finding the perfect papers, boxes, bags, ribbons, etc. to make everything match my branding.  This year has been such an incredible year for my business, and when people spend $1,000 with me, I want them to walk away feeling like they have a $1,000 package in their hands.  The whole feel of everything is modern yet natural, to go along with my more natural and candid style of photography.  I can’t wait for next year!!

Until then, enjoy this beautiful little face and I will be back with some of my little man very soon.  Happy weekend!

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Over Thanksgiving, we were lucky enough to have my SIL and her family come stay with us over the weekend and bring their 4 little girls.  Yup, ALL girls.  And so you can only imagine the squeals and thrills to be had between 5 little girlies…and not to be excluded, our little man.  It was so fun to watch them all together and to see Jackson off on his own most of the time, playing quietly.  heehee.  He didn’t seem to mind all the estrogen, but was much more observant as they pretended “Christmas Morning” and all kinds of other confidential kid stuff.  =)

The cute factor, well, goes without saying.  LOL.  And yes, I know I’m biased.