Colin is 2 - a photoshoot

i did not get these photos done right when Colin turned 2, so the shoot was juggled in during some time i had alone with the 2 babies.  if i was only gonna have one boy, i'm sure glad it was this one.  he is fun, sweet, and so happy.  right now he is totally into Superman, but he wasn't that excited to rip off his dress shirt to reveal his secret identity.  but he loved posing with his doggy, and his favorite "daddy bear".  all in all we had some fun. 

Colin,

it is so much fun being your mom.  you are sweet, rambunctious, curious, rowdy, and just so much fun.  your sisters adore you almost as much as dad and I do.  you are a great big brother, and love giving kisses to your sweet baby Zoe.  Dad is so excited that he has a buddy to play football with, catch, and golf.  and you are my favorite snuggle buddy.  thank you for being such a fun loving and happy son!

love,
Mom

Zoe at home, a photoshoot with all of my children

bringing Zoe home was both wonderful and terrible all wrapped into one. i would love to sugar coat it as much as possible, and gush about our new baby girl, but it was hard.  she was our hardest baby by a landslide.  the crying was constant, the sleeping was nil.  

since i am an experienced newborn photographer, i knew i needed to act fact to capture the images of my new complete family that i was looking for.  so, less than one week from bringing her home, i gathered my children in my bedroom for these shots.  Zoe screamed nearly the entire time.  but i will cherish these images for a lifetime.  (if i were to have another baby, i would for sure hire someone to photograph her for me.  but who am i kidding, i did it 3 times and didn't learn my lesson.)

these two were too cute for words.

 there were some limited times when the Zoe took a moment to catch her breathe, the screaming would subside and i would grab my shot, praying that the other 4 were cooperating.  

 these two.  they are such cute sisters.  the 3 older girls are in such a state of change these days, with Avery growing up and coming into to share their room, the dynamics of their relationships are always changing.  it's beautiful to see their friendships grow and develop. 

 Avery never got a non-screaming moment.  

 thankfully my mom and dad were here to help with logistics.  they keep these guys occupied with trips to the mall, the pool, and Uncle Jack's house!  clearly, the kids love it!

 the money shot!  it was a hard day, i couldn't possibly see how i got anything.  but this shot (and current blog header) is worth it all!  

 oh, and moments like these.  

we love our new sister!  here's to life with 5 kids!  

halloween costume portraits

i love doing Halloween mini-sessions.  i only had a limited window this year with wedding/portrait season, so i took the kids for a quick after-school shoot.  

i a so glad i borrowed this frog costume from Ali.  originally, Colin was supposed to be a fireman, but he refused to wear the costume.  i think this frog was just perfect. 

 Anna's best friend joined us and we got a little pick of these two princesses.  

 we had my cousins along too, Merida and Mickey were a great addition.

 Anna had a hard time deciding what to be this year, but once she spied this "celebrity startlet" costume at Party City, she was in love!  she knows how to work the whole startlet concept.  

 we tried to kiss the frog and see if he turned to a prince, but this just made him grouchy. 

 Avery is our Rapunzel lover in the family.  and for months she knew she wanted to be "Rapunzel in her wedding dress."  (thanks again Grandma and Grandpa.) she was an adorable pretend bride. 

 i love these groves for that storybook woods feeling.  i always do my halloween minis here.  

 Madeline was a mermaid this year, she donned an Ariel wig for Halloween night, but opted to be herself as a mermaid for these portraits.  i always dreamed of being a mermaid when i was her age too!

so fun to capture these sweet imaginations while i can!  Happy Halloween.  

camping portraits

so, since my portraits while camping were so successful last year, i planned some this this time also.  Colin has this completely adorable hat he inherited from Sawyer, and a shirt, jeans, a little sweatshirt/coat, it was the perfect ensemble i used to anchor everyone else's outfits.  

Madeline rocked it out in this brown couroroy dress and velvet blazer.  

 Avery was a perfect picture in her khaki dress and gray jacket.  

 striped tights and pink beret.  

 And Anna dressed up her neutrals with a huge flower and spunky boots.  

 i was loving everything about this photo op.  the light was gorgeous, the girls adorable.  

 there was just one problem.  Colin.  the boy who inspired it all,just wasn't having it.  he would absolutely not wear the ever important hat.  he wouldn't sit for a portrait of his own, he wouldn't join in the fun with the girls.  all he would do is sit and cry.  poor baby boy.  this is the only shot of all four kids.  

next time.