back to work!

i'm back to work. i surprised brandon on monday morning with packed bags and a trip to chicago. he had no idea and we had a really great time. i didn't take a single photograph while i was gone which felt totally unnatural. i'm hoping the memories will last in my mind longer than most things do......

saturday was deacon's 2nd birthday so we jam packed our house with family, and friends that might as well be family and celebrated our little man. here are a couple photos from the day. the kiddos LOVED painting on their very own canvases. there was paint everywhere, it's a good thing these are our very good friends.....
our sweet friend tyler dropped by after spending two months in Africa- deacon was excited to see him.

a couple days off

i know i know, it's been forever since i posted any fun photos- they're coming i promise! i've been a bit slammed making cards for Christmas and holidays!

i'm taking a couple days off to hang out with my husband, but i'll check emails and return phone calls thursday. have a great week and in the meantime- if you're stressed about what to give friends and family for your holiday, a gift certificate is a great way to go! They can come in any amount starting at $50

the type

he's the type of man that thinks of little things, like turning on your seat warmer on the way to pick you up because it's cold outside. he's not afraid to change a diaper or wrestle on the carpet with a snot nosed kid. he's the kind of man that does things just because he knows it will make it better for you, with no other motive in mind.

she's the type of lady that could quite possibly move a 1 ton truck if you told her she couldn't. her southern roots run deep and she'll invite you for dinner or tell you to pull up a chair when you invite yourself. she's the type of person that feels there is a lesson in everything and will do everything to make you aware of what exactly that lesson is.

they are the type of people that didn't know if they would ever fall in love again. they are two people that love others so well that thinking of themselves never entered the picture. the most deserving of happiness and love finally found it.

congratulations mom and tom. i couldn't be more excited for you.

ty and trace

trace and ty have the most complimentary personalities ever. it was so fun to watch them interact- ty was so laid back but laughed constantly while trace was the one making ty laugh with his inside jokes or eyebrow lifting. they are 3 and a half years apart and seemed more like best friends than brothers. i LOVE that.

what makes it good

so many times it's the moms that are excited about having a family picture taken. they are the ones that coordinate outfits, agonize over haircuts and mood swings and try to make everything go exactly as planned. there are times when the dads just show up, not always excited about a family photo. i can't say that i blame them, it can be stressful event. but i notice a lot that when the dad/husband isn't excited it has a trickle down effect leaving the mom/wife that was so excited to have a family picture deflated.

this is what i love about bill- he is ALWAYS excited. sometimes i sit in my edit seat and say things like "dang it billy" but deep down in my heart i love that he makes goofy faces and gives me a run for my money, every single time. what makes it good isn't that fact that each photograph is perfect, it's that behind the photograph this family is doing something real. their dad/husband is making it okay to have a good time, to relax and enjoy the process.

little one on the way

soon, and very soon a little boy will join them. he will turn their lives sideways and upside down in wonder. they will laugh when he smiles, cry when he is hurt, and they will be the only ones that can truly understand just how precious he is.

winner winner chicken dinner: BRANDI

Congratulations Brandi W! It was too hard to decided with all the great responses, so i used a random integer generator to choose from everyone that submitted. Thank to all that sent in amazing responses!