You’ve met Mr. O – he’s that adorable baby yawning in rotation on the blog header.  But my oh my has he grown.  When I was in Ohio I got to photograph/try to keep up with him again, thanks Mel & Jason!  Those eyes!! He gets me every time.

I’ve been waiting to use that title until the right people came along, and boys, you are the right people.  They are stinkin’ cute, sly, and are putting their parents and big brother through an exercise in not-ever-wanting-to-do-the-same-thing-at-the-same-time.  First L was all happiness and flirty looks.  Seriously, Mandi, you need to watch that one.  M is the worrier, the concerned brother.  He’ll probably be the one who says, “Hey L, how about we don’t try and jump off the roof into the swimming pool”.   Of course once his brother was grumpy and down for the count, M got all smiles and cuteness.   I guess they’re just getting good at taking turns.

He’s already quoting Austin Powers!

There’s nothing like sibling running commentary.

I’m so excited to be offering this album now!!!  I loves it.

E + L are super sisters.  There is no question about it.  They can dance and ninja kick bubbles and they both learned to hula hoop on the spot. Seriously!  We were blessed with a lovely location and one of the best sunsets I’ve seen in a long time for their family session.  As promised, Kevin – there are no pictures of you…jumping… on the blog.  Yet.

These are a few of my favorites from the session but there are so many more.  Thank you girls for being so brave with all those silly bugs flying around, and no one even got stung by anything!

My Mom & Dad are awesome.  They let me talk them into doing a photo session of their very own, way too early in the morning.  This is pretty much my favorite shot, but I’ll post more soon.  I just couldn’t resist and I had to share.  Aren’t they so adorable together?!  They are celebrating 40 years of marriage this year.  I love you Mom & Dad!

Did I mention the weather was wonderful in Ohio? =)  Although I did mostly hang around my hometown for most of the trip, I did get to venture into parts of Ohio where I’ve never been, thanks to Chris & Hope!!  They live in northwestern Ohio and it is sooo beautiful up there right now.   I had a great time photographing their family.  We played in the woods, (you can never have too much OFF) and the wonderful lazy river and had ice cream, and climbed trees and played with kittens, and, and, and…and no one played with a pink lawn mower at all. 

Thanks for letting me hang out with you all and capture all the fun – and of course the one eyed-cat. =)

I spent the last week in a magical place where the daily high was about 83 degrees.  Yes, I’m talking about Ohio in summer time.  Now to hear my family and friends, it was hot, or humid or something.  To me, after this summer of always too many 100 and something degree days, every moment was the best weather ever.  I know our time will come when Texas will be the comfortable place to be, but this week was a wonderful reprieve from the heat.  While I was in Ohio I saw so many friends and family and had soooooo much fun doing photo sessions with a whole lotta people.  =)  So look forward to many posts stuffed with photos of sneak peeks and of those people and places I hold near and dear.

To start off the week, I went up north and got to spend time with my college roommate and tons of friends for her 30th BIRTHDAY (photos not included, hehe) !!!  Woohoo! Of course, while I was there, we took some family pics out on the beach!  These guys will NOT stop growing. They are just too cute for words.  But I will say they are reeeeaaally good at throwing sand.

The windup…

Yipee! More photos and sneak peeks are coming soon so stay tuned!!!

I’m not Karyn. I’m not Karyn for a million reasons for which I’m insanely envious (the fact that I don’t love to run pisses me off on a daily basis), but the one that is most pertinent to this post is that I no longer live in Texas. Boooo. Hisssss. Karyn recently asked me if I wanted to write a guest post on her funny, adorable, witty blog. Part of me was thinking, “Oh, she’s desperate. She’s asked all her cool and clever friends and I was the only one who wasn’t on vacation.” But nonetheless, I was flattered enough to say yes. So here we are.

I no longer live in Texas, but did for two HOT (seriously, I think God is trying to melt us HOT) and quick years when I met Karyn. I now live in a city that if you would have asked me 10 years ago to find it on a map, I’m sad to say I would have pointed to New York or Philadelphia (please tell me I’m not the only one who has made that mistake). I’m talking about Boston – most notably known for Paul Revere, Harvard (pronounced Hahvahd by locals), Cheers, and Fenway Park. I have stories about all these attractions, but I want to focus on one in particular now: Fenway.

I love Fenway. Not because of the Red Sox, but they are pretty cool too, and if you ever get the chance to go to a game – DO IT. I have dreams about the hot dogs (“Fenway Franks”) and ice cream served inside the stadium. Why is it that ballpark food always seems to taste better than any other food? Enough to make you want to hold off on eating dinner before the game, “I’m starving, but I want to wait until we get to our seats to eat.” File that under strange, but awesome.

Anywho…The neighborhood that surrounds Fenway Park, brilliantly called “Fenway,” is diverse, delicious, historical, and breathtaking all at the same time. There are retail stores, restaurants, ice cream shops, and a movie theater all squished into a 10 block radius. There’s also community gardenon the edge of Fenway where Bostonians have been renting small square plots of land – I’m talking the size of a master bedroom – for more than a hundred years, and can plant whatever they want. Flowers, trees, grass, tomatoes, anything. This place feels magical to me. Every color and type of flower I ever imagined being in a secret garden is here.

I take anyone who comes to visit me to this garden. If you ever come to visit me, I’ll take you there too.

{Thank you Liz!!! And for the record – you were the FIRST person I asked to write for the blog. So there.}

(why? because you know you missed him. And, how can I not show you his super kitty cuteness powers. they’re real.)

I just got back from Austin, again.  Whew.  No more trips there for awhile thank goodness.  It’s not that I don’t love Austin, but these down and back trips where I get into town in the evening, and leave the next afternoon are no way to enjoy Austin.  However, even if you are not trying to see the sights or make an experience out of it – Austin still finds a way to keep you entertained.  This trip for instance, involved a lovely hotel FULL of humming, singing, slightly neurotic  American Idol hopefuls.  Who knows, maybe the kid who wandered into the snack shop barefoot with his girlfriend, singing little parts of songs not-so-much-to-himself will be the next – person who ends up freaking out because he doesn’t make it. No, that’s mean.  Seriously kid, good luck.

However, the line of people winding around for hundreds of yards on campus today was not in fact the line for tryouts.  It was apparently the line to get in to see Mr. President speak today.  Yup, President Obama just happened to have a speech/press thing schedule 2 buildings down from us today.  At least the parking garage (that was very far away) was free.  I wonder if any of the Idol kids ended up in the Obama line by mistake – or vice-versa.  How awkward.

The part that just gets me the most is the back to back long drive to and from Austin.  Thankfully again this time I was still listening to Eat, Pray, Love.   Although, on the way down, the calmness and serenity conveyed by the book was not helping me overcome the urge to argue aloud with some of the other drivers on the road.  Goooo.  I will say that I am happy to announce that I am about 5 lbs lighter than the last time I went to Austin. =) yippee!

The trip back was less stressful and had far fewer Drifters, Weavers and SlowDownForNoReasoners.  So that was nice.  Anyhow, I’m back home now.  I ended my day with a lovely client meeting that got me over my driving blahs and all excited for what will certainly be an epically wonderful wedding this fall!  I can’t wait!

The rest of this week is going to be nuts.  Lots of shoots and meetings and seeing awesome people.

Oh! And this Thursday is the 6th Annual Back to School Roundup here in Tarrant County!!! So if you haven’t donated this year, please go read all about it and chip in a little something to help these kids go to school ready to learn!  I’ll be there taking pictures of all the wonderful activities and adorable families!!

See ya later alligators!

Seriously woman? Again?