Bend

This was us in Bend this weekend for Jake's basketball tournament. Although, we didn't come home with the trophy, we did come home with a renewed sense of family. We have had a rocky couple of months and this was just what the doctor ordered. There was no refereeing play with other people's kids, there was no real schedule to keep, and the hotel was like a castle to the kids! It was all about us and exploring and making memories together. My favorite part of the weekend was teaching the kids in a new environment and exploring with them. It was also nice to have a drive with Jake and I able to talk as much as we wanted because the kids had their movies. Ironically, we chose to be silent through a lot of the drive, probably because our minds were still winding down from the week. It was just great to see him relaxed and having fun. I loved our mini-vacation and I took a few shots to remember it by.

TLJ

My mentor, my friend, and everything inbetween! I just wanted to share a picture of my friend that means the world to me. I have been thinking about her a lot and missing her beyond belief. Love ya, Terri.

Strength

Let me just introduce you all to a little ray on sunshine in my life. This is Patrice, my cousin, and her beautiful family. Her smile and laugh are the most contagious you've ever heard and she laughs a lot. She didn't have a whole lot to laugh about over the last four years because she has been through so much loss. We lost my Aunt Sandy (4 years ago), her mom, to a brain aneurysm and my Uncle Bob, her dad, to a heart attack (about 8 months ago). We used to always say that our biggest fear was loosing our parents suddenly because we had never experienced death before and we were so close to our parents. Well, she has lived through our worst fears and she has come out on the other side with the same smile to hide the pain. Her family was just here visiting and it was the most amazing week. After a week with her during a tough time in our life, she left me with strength, hope, happiness, and she replaced the pain in my heart with love! I miss you "Vera"

Growing up too fast!

I hope more then anything...my kids are able to look back at pictures that I took of them together, to see how much they loved each other growing up. The day we brought Jalena home from the hospital, it was love at first site for Tré, and the same for both Tré and Jalena when we brought Jamie home. For all those people out there that question having another baby because they aren't sure they have enough love for another. I show you these pictures to tell you that there is more love then you could dream up coming from their siblings to make up for any of that nonsense-talk. These images are so precious to me and I know that they are growing up at a inconceivable rate.....I am going to miss this "unconditional love" stage. K

Charlotte

I hooked back up with a childhood friend yesterday and she has the cutest little girl. I decided to take some quick shots of her on a backdrop (curtain panel) that I bought the other day. She has the most beautiful smile and she was a very happy baby. Also, Jalena posed happy as could be with her cousin that is visiting from Alaska this week. I have been on cloud nine with family in town!

There's a kid in the bucket, Dear Liza!

I know, I know, stop stuffing my neice into to everything just for a shot. I can't resist, and it was only fair that I stuff one of my own in it as well. This is another gorgeous piece from Cargo.

Burgerville

Sometimes you go to a place 20 times, just out of routine. Then out of no where you are there with a friend and she has her camera so she takes some shots. All of the sudden I realize that it's a fun place to shoot. Thanks Shannon for bringing your camera out that day and inspiring this quick shoot with the kids.

Cargo Day

When Tracie was here with the kids we went down to the my favorite furniture and had an adventure with them. The girls down at Cargo are awesome to work with and their store is amazing. There is always a peice in there that inspires a shoot for me. These were all taken in the store just to test out light and play with some of the furniture that we couldn't take out of the store. Thnks for a fun weekend guys. K

New backdrop

I got a new backdrop this week and went over to Shannon's
to try it out with the girls. After no cooperation with
them, I decided that Shannon had on the perfect outfit and
that she would be my test dummie! Secretly we both wanted
to be models so that is why we picked up photography....to take
pictures of each other.

The ONE

When Jake and I moved to Texas years ago, it was the first time that I even had to make an effort to find friends. Growing up in a fairly small town with a HUGE family, I always had people around and the friends I did make went to school with me for 12 years. Sometimes I would meet a new friend through sports from another school, but it wasn't because I was on the search for one. So Jake and I moved to Texas with no friends in sight and I had a 6 month old little boy to boot, my first experience with lonliness settled in. By the end of the day in our one room apartment, watching Elmo in Grouchland multiple times, I was ready to meet SOMEONE to talk to. Well, my first friend was a stripper that worked down the street from the complex, that wasn't a fulfilling realationship. I started craving a real friendship so I would go to parks in search of someone who wanted to join my circle of friendship. Everytime I would come home from the search outings Jake would ask, "did you find The One?" The One being someone that I clicked with right off the bat, someone that you go over to their house and you can lay on their couch, get your own drink and feel like you are at home.
I tell this story because I am writing about one of the people in my life that I consider "The One". This "one" is Shannon Sewell and she is a huge part of my life. Our sarcastic sense of humors keeps each other on our toes. We talk multiple times a day about everything under the sun. She inspires me to be a better photographer. We share family values, I can put my feet up on her couch, our kids love each other....we have even hung out so much that we have morphed our names into "Shathy"! Hears to Shannon and all the things she adds to my life, to finding "The One", and to many years together as partners (in crime, life, whatever else people will think)! Thanks for being you, Shamone! K
I'll have to go bring her coffee this morning because she is never going to be able to get out of her door with the enlarged head that this entry will cause. Ha!

Happy Halloween.....

Happy Easter, I mean. Sasha just thinks it is Halloween all year round. You are going to see a lot of this little girl this month if I ever get to working on her pictures. She was my little model for the week and you won't be disappointed. Here she is below getting ready for her big modelling day. We miss you guys! Love, K
My computer will be in the shop next week for...I don't know how long! It's making threats to me that it is just going to blow up on me. It's making a horrible sound and I need to take it in to the doctor. I will be off of e-mail as well for a few days. I'll catch up next week I hope.

Lady Killer

I know he doesn' t know it yet and up until yesterday I wasn't worried about all the warnings that friends gave me but now......I GET IT! The chicks dig him and there is nothing I can do for him except tell his sister "to get all her friends off him"! Poor Tré. K


Even the 2 year olds know what is going on!

Snapshots

Jake
Fearless
Calm
Amazing Aura
Unique in every way
Genuine
My Hero

Jalena
Sassy
Spirited
Imaginative
Kind
Silent Observer
Amazing
Tré
Passionate
Kind Hearted
Full of Jokes
Genuine
Amazing
Took some snapshots of these three the other day while Jamison was sleeping. I'll have to do a post just on him. These are just a few of the hundreds of incredible traits that my heroes own. I love them so much. K

More Hike

I found a couple more that stood out at me. These are a couple that Shannon took of the kids and I. Thanks Shamone! K

Procrastination

Everything tells me that I should be working on a job right now, but....instead I just had to look through the pics that I took the other day of the kids. Shannon and I took the kids for a hike the other day and they all felt it was neccessary to finish it with a little meditation on the rocks. I don't know who started it, but it seemed to end the day peacefully! Thanks for the hike Sewells. K

Singin' in the rain

"Anyone who says that says sunshine brings happiness has never danced in the rain."




Jalena and Tré went out in the rain the other day and I had just finished a big shoot and wasn't motivated to bring out my camera when they went out with the neighbors in their boots and holding umbrellas. Then a few minutes later I heard all sorts of laughter outside and peeked out to see all of them with their boots off and dancing around in the rain. It was pouring so I had Jake hold the umbrella over me and clicked a few. It was almost like it was all in slow motion for me watching them. Sometimes my life feels like I am in a movie for split seconds. I wish I had video taped this one instead, but I'll take them memory anyway that I can.

Tea Party

It would only seem natural that my sister's little girl would be this crazy about tea. We have always called my sister "Teta (Aunt) Tea Party". She is totally addicted to tea and now her daughter is carrying on the tradition. No she's not surprised in these shots....her eyes are just that big. She is such a little baby bird, just like her brother. I just love her petite, little hands in these shots. K