stellar children!

met a new family at spring creek park yesterday! it's one thing meeting a family you've shot before. you know what you're getting into. you know personalities. you know tricks to get them to smile. you know likes and interests. but then there's that exciting world of the unknown awaiting a completely new family. are the kids going to be shy? are they going to be out of control? i make mental notes of things to try and routes around the photo site. and you just don't know until they get out of the car and you see them searching for someone, as i am searching for them. sometimes there's a warm up period. try to figure things out. these kids? they were a go right from the start! friendly, polite, fun, and eager to participate! let the fun begin. we darted here and we darted there and shot a huge variety of shots it was hard to pick a few favorites for the sneak peek.
here are some of my favs:

all the kiddos:



doesn't joy just exude from her beautiful eyes!:



this was my shy guy, but i think he proved he can pull out a sweet, kind smile when he wants:



this guy? he was FUN! a mile a minute and definitely keeps this family on their toes!:

getting some sillies out:

i *heart* this:

extended family . . .

i love when you include the grandparents! they're not always local, they're not always willing ;-)! but when you do it's amazing! i love to see the generations. i love to see the family dynamic. i love to capture them at this point in time so they can remember it forever!

the whole clan:



nana and poppa with the kiddos:



relaxing and getting our sillies on:



little miss pretty pants:



big cool guy:

capturing the siblings:

one good looking bunch!:

beautiful day to play with ducks!

what a day to be outside playing with these two cuties! glorious day, and great kiddos who put up with me chasing them! big sis started out on fire and then was ready to play and little brother who needed some warm up time. sweet kiddos, check em out:


big sis has an ornery grin eh?:



snuck a little grin out of this shy guy. check out his right eye! that's a big sister for you! now it will be documented forever. you can get her back when your older ;-):



what a sweetie:



my favorite pose for a girl on the move and who has no need to conform to society's need for a family portrait ;-). i think it captures her personality and her phase at the moment!:

sweet moment:

daddy can get the grins out of this guy!:

summer fun

break out the kiddie pools
apply the sun block
we're ready for summer fun around here

gracie's grin when she gets caught doing something she's not supposed to be doing:


which was this, but at her brother. she was more then pleased to demonstrate for the camera:



snackin' in the pool:



jackson taking a turn getting her for a change:

backyard peonies. how uplifting:

one of our new favorite activities. going out for a nature walk after bath time in our jammies. we bring colored pencils and journals and sketch and talk about what we see. this is a neighbor with very elaborate plantings that is a favorite stop:

the neighbors garden's close up:

jackson hard at work sketching an iris:

gracie's chose a beautiful single rose for her first sketch:

tyler chose to drink a bottle instead ;-):

we even saw a hot air balloon! that was a fun addition to our journals (mom drew the balloon, j wrote the sentences):

another mom and j collaboration:

tyler getting a little antsy with all this stopping on a walk!:

nothing pretties up a pair of pjs than fancy sandals!:

grace trying her hand at pushing tyler. think that will remain a mommy job!:

one of jackson's favorite spots, the tree tunnel!:

j hard at work again. he really took to this task:

brotherly love! t adores his brother and j is never short on games to play with him, 'eat your feet', 'tickle my belly', 'where's tyler?' and all result in big grins!:

monkey boy on our dogwood in our front yard:

tonight maybe we'll draw the trees . . .