Spring Break Part 2!

Sorry, I have meant to get this on the blog for a lifetime, but..the summer has me like WHAT?  In a good way of course!  I'll show pictures of our newest addition to the family....of the canine category, but first things first....HAWAII!  We ventured to Maui after our Seattle adventures.  Super long flight, the kids did surprisingly awesome and we landed in humid, frizz your hair kind of weather.  I LOVED it!!  Check it out:

Spring Break 2018! Part 1. Seattle is the city for adventure!

Before we went on spring break, we had a seriously LONG layover in Seattle.  Fortunately, we have friends there and we love exploring new cities...so we got a car at 8 a.m. and met up with some great fiends just outside the city.  It was awesome to see these friends as we haven't seen them in 10 years.  We shared many years together in  ministry overseas and to reconnect with them and another couple we were there with, was truly awesome.   Check out the first installment of Spring Break 2018

January is off with a BANG!

Ok, can we just talk about how cool it is that I got to not just meet but photograph a Boston Red Sox pitcher and his GORGEOUS wife!  I mean....what an awesome family and a real treat to use smoke bombs in a photo.  You'll see those again for sure.  But look!  They are having a baby girl...the boys were insanely excited about it and their friends video'ed the whole thing.  Such a blessing to meet cool, influential people.    Blaine Boyer is not just a pitcher for the Boston Red Sox....but most people I have shared this with say.."Oh, he's the guy that went with Adam LaRoche to 'Southeast Asian brothels, wearing hidden cameras doing undercover work to help rescue underage sex slaves.'"....People know him for his heart and not just that he can pitch a ball at whatever mph.  That is a legacy worth building on.  Check them out!   http://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/15159499/adam-laroche-goes-deep-decision-walk

Closing down the year in style

Closing down the year with some stunning shoots.  Great families.  I'll do a recap next week of 2017 but woah....busy year and grateful beyond words.  Be looking for that recap because you might recognize everyone ;) hahahaha.   For now...the MacGrays.

The many shoots of the summer!!

I'm so behind on blogging....like.....be-HIND!  I can't believe it.  Well, to catch you up on the summer, here are just a few of the many families that I got to meet.  I love people!!!!

 

Family of 8 please?

An Awesome shoot with an amazing family is up!  The CA sun is far different from CO sun...it's lower...right?  I think that's right.  Anyway, this family is super fun and I just loved photographing them.  Take a look!

When friends come to visit...you hit their car! YEAH!!!

Yes, you read that correctly....I backed up right into their car!  Ugh.....thus is my life of limited brain cells after kids....LBCAK..it's a thing.  Anyway, we had a great time staying up late, skiing and assessing my ever lame wardrobe these days.....that part was sad.   

Anyway, here they are and I couldn't be happier to have had a night with this sweet family.

While in CA....beach sesh...&more!

Though in CA for my cousins funeral, it was great to spend time with family...especially because it was just me and main squeeze!  The kids were left at home and we got to remember Heidi and play a bit too without the beautiful disruptions of my gorgeous children tugging on my shirt asking for the same thing over and over and over......gosh I love them. Anywho...a short sesh before breakfast was the thang to do.

Loss and love

Going to CA this time was different.  We got the word that our beautiful cousin Heidi had gone home to be with the Lord.  This was devastating on many levels.  One, I've known Heidi for 17 years.  She and I had a hilarious relationship.  We bonded over gmail chats when she was pregnant with her first daughter.  Day after day she would be at work "working" and I would be at home "parenting" my 3 SUPER young kiddos.  Almost any time anything happened, I would write her a post and the conversation would be started.  Months we would chat until she had Josie.  She was my confidant during probably the most challenging time of my life.  A comfort it was to talk with her almost every hour of her work day.  The comedy that ensued...saved my sanity.  Throughout the years, many kids later for her....our conversations were then through emails about the struggles, the parenting successes found in the most mundane of situations.  It was a special friendship to me.  As I sat at her memorial service, her photo that I took when her family came to visit in 2015 was adorning the stage...front and center.  It was so surreal for me because I didn't take that photo to be used at her funeral.  Like that was not the intention for that image in the slightest.  Don't get me wrong, I loved seeing that image because it was a strong image.  Heidi, physically was in pain, but in that photo...all I saw was strength.  She was a beautiful person.  As Josh and I showed up to the family dinner the night before her service, it was weird.  I always describe the family as "loud"....and not in a bad way at ALL.  Loud to me is fun, exciting, laughter...those are the words that describe loud to me.  And Heidi was loud.  When the ladies were talking, she was usually in the center of it.  I missed her being there.  She should have been there.  What gets me through thinking about Heidi being gone is that she is having lunch with Daniel today....or walking the streets of gold with Peter asking him what it was like to walk on water.  I mean....endless conversations she must be having.   But also that she is healed.  Totally new body.  Amen.  

I got to see some of my favorite people on this trip, so .....it wasn't all sad and there is even a pic of ME!  hahahahaha, rarely do you see me, but I'm in here :)  

Baby on the way!!

Un-real shoot  with my partner in crime in 5 degree weather!!!!  Yes, you heard me right, 5 degree weather.  Our feet were numb and red by the very end, but well worth it.  I just adore this shoot that started with her gorg family and ended with her and I up Buffalo Pass trekking through some serious powder.  Well worth it I would say!

DC!!

So, in the fall The Elwoods gathered for an incredible wedding that you can check out HERE.  It was a gorgeous wedding but while there, we got to hit up our old stomping grounds.  We saw the college where Josh and I first met, we took the kids to DC where we had many a dates and we saw such amazing friends of ours...what a blessing it was!  Check it out!

The Murrays!

I had a great time photographing the Murray's!  They came from Kissimee FL and were DYING for snow, but alas...we had only a dusting.  It still made for beautiful photos.  I love when folks come from out of town to see Steamboat, it's so great, especially for the kids.  These kids, seeing ANY snow was a big deal.  Great fun was had :)

Oh, Hi there blog........

I canNOT believe I haven't written on my blog since APRIL!!! Woah!!!  Insane!  It has been a SUPER busy summer that I simply haven't had time :(  Well self.....time to catch up.   I think to make this easy for me and you I'll highlight some of my favorites for the month of June here...then so on and so on.  So first up....GIRLS TRIP GETAWAY/BABY SHOWER!!!  I was asked by a good friend to come over and photograph her beautiful friends eating, opening baby gifts, and fire pitting it up.  Um...yes...yes I can do that for you. WHAATT??  So much FUN!  Check it out!

Happy Birthday Sweet Audrey!

For over a year, my bible study, me, Josh, friends, family have all prayed for a buddy for Kayla (my oldest).  Kayla is super sweet and kind and artistic and not into cliques.  She never really found her person until recently.  Not to put the pressure on Audrey, but she is perfect for Kayla.  She is kind, artistic, sweet and just instantly Kayla's bff.  She just moved here 2 months ago and we could not be more thrilled for a new friend for Kayla.  Thankful for her.  Audrey celebrated her 9th birthday last week and I got to sneak over and do a mini-shoot for her.  Kind of my dream client :) hahahaha.

Mitch!

This was a fun shoot for me.  I have been wanting to photograph Mitch for about a year.  I had a specific location in mind and with all the snow...I was thinking I would have to wait even longer for it to melt and dry up.  Instead, I found this space that allowed for beautiful light...kind of a darker shoot for me, but I LOVE playing with light.  Mitch was perfect for this shoot.

Senior Photos!!! Jackie

I had the privilege to photograph the lovely Jackie a few weeks ago.  It was cold, but we had the best sunset and awesome willingness to sit in a chair in the freeeeezing cold....in a sleeveless dress :)  Oh, it was fun!  Jackie is a 2016 high school senior and I couldn't be more excited for her graduating and pursuing a college degree.  She's smart...I mean really smart and we just had the best time :) Thanks Jackie for having me photograph your senior pics!!

This last photo was totally for fun.  She is a singer and brought along some sheet music.....Just for fun :)