After a wonderful vacation in sunny Florida with my family, I’m gearing up for some spring time blooms and wonderful family sessions.

Looking forward to a beautiful weekend!

Winter is wearing on us.  We’re getting some cabin fever over here.  So, to spruce up our late afternoons, we twirl our streamers, pump up the music, and DANCE!

Who else is ready for Spring?  I’m ready to get outside and see some beauty!

Just like many of you, we sent our little girl off to school on Monday morning.  She is a new kindergartener.  *Tear!

It was a tremendously proud day for my husband and me.  Our little girl has come a long way.  We’re proud of her courage, excitement, and responsiblity.

She was so excited for school.  She couldn’t sleep Sunday night and was up bouncing around at 6am Monday morning.  She hurried through the morning, jumped for glee as we walked to the bus stop, and busily talked with her friends as we waited for the bus.  And then it happened so quickly.  The bus pulled up, the kids lined up (oldest first, youngest last), and to the bus they marched.  I leaned in for a final hug, she pushed me away, and never looked back.  And that was it.  Off she went on a gigantic yellow bus.

And home she returned with matching excitement.  She loved her day at school, but she says the best part is riding the bus because they don’t have to wear seat belts.  :-)

We love her and are so proud.  Before we know it, we’ll be snapping pictures of her on her graduation day.  *Tear!

There’s an incredible church in Pittsburgh called Shepherd’s Heart, where people come to experience God’s love and restorative grace in some of the most tangible ways I’ve seen.  My husband and I were blessed to worship there while in seminary.  And while its a church that primarily reaches out to the homeless and addicted in Pittsburgh, its a transformative place for all who walk through their doors.

We knew the pastor’s daughter while she was in high school, and even in her youth, she was one of the most self-assured, compassionate, and talented people we knew.  And now that she’s older, she’s even more spectacular.  And so, it was with great joy, we got to see our friend Christen marry her love a few weeks ago.

The entire day was filled with love and friends and family pitching in to help. Her aunts were bustling about in the kitchen, her friend’s mom made the shaws for the girls, friends played the music while others filmed and photographed the event. Christen’s grandmother who couldn’t travel to the ceremony, sewed so many beautiful blankets for the children to use as picnic blankets during the reception. We have 2 here at home, and when my daughters cuddle with them, I think of the love and devotion they represent.

It was a perfect day of love and worship and celebration. We were thrilled to be there and witness it all.  And, I loved slipping behind the scenes to capture Christen and her bridal party prepare for the big moment.  Thanks for letting me help capture a part of your day, Christen.  You are such a stunning bride!

Our vacation to Colorado was fabulous.  The mountains and big skies make my heart soar.  We loved every special moment we had with our family, and now we’re home again, resting, recovering, and remembering all our fun adventures.

Every year, I make a book with the images from vacation.  It’s a yearbook of sorts.  We love looking through them all year and talking about all our family members.  This is especially wonderful for our kiddos as we live far from our family.  It helps us feel connected.

What do you do with your vacation photos?  I’m sure you’ve got some beautiful ones from this summer!  I encourage you– Get them off those memory cards and enjoy them!

In parenthood, we have high highs and some low lows. We can go from giggling to crying in no time, from singing joyfully in car to pulling a sister’s hair, from twirling to a song to stopping abruptly and picking our noses. It’s such a ride!

On the the 4th of July, I snapped a sweet picture of a daddy and his daughter about to join the parade on her tricycle. Minutes later, she was crying and he scooped her up under his arm and walked the route. It was cute, although maybe not at the time, and afterwards her mom says to me, “I’m so glad you got that picture. We’ll just remember the happy parts of the day!”

My husband and I are amazed by our daughter’s expressiveness. She was in a theatrical mood this afternoon after the storm and humored me for just a bit.

It’s fun being her mom. I never know what I’m going to get… but whatever it is, it’s always amazing!

Oh, I love my sweet little baby Phoebe!  She’s usually so sleepy, so I was pleased to catch her with her eyes open today.

Yesterday, Phoebe turned 4 weeks old.

She’s eating, growing, sleeping, and delighting us everyday.

I hold and snuggle her as much as I can.  And I don’t want to forget her early, tiny days.

I’m enjoying my time off with my sweet little baby–cuddling her, watching her, and loving on her.  It’s nice to be able to focus solely on my family, rest, and reorganize my life as a mom of 3.  But one of the best parts is that I get to take a ton of pictures of her and my girls.

I’m experimenting, trying new poses and angles, and editing with different techniques. It’s a creative challenge everyday, and it’s reminding me how much I love to create.

Here’s Phoebe at 3 weeks.  She’s already filling out and changing so much!

I’m home and enjoying this sweet little girl.  She is such a joy!

I’m in love.