{These photos make my heart smile. I was reminded today of why I love being a photographer!}

Most extended family groups that I photograph tend to be buzzing with little kids. This session had a different pace, as the family has one grandchild and many well-behaved grown-ups. It was a fun challenge to get the baby’s attention with her favorite green monster toy. This is a great family and I sure enjoyed getting acquainted with them! You may recognize little S. from my website- she’s the fairy princess with tutu, wings & crown!

Some favorites that I’d love to share:

{S. nearing her first birthday and ready to run!}

{ . . . or she’s ready to crawl. Whichever way gets her to her destination. I love it when parents feel free to play with their kids, down on the floor, right where the action is!}

{ Should I stay or should I go?}

{One for the money . . .}

{What a great pair these two make!}

{A little sweet bribery on a stick-lollipop anyone?}

{Dad + Mom + 2 leg huggers = beautiful family}

This shoot was so fun . . . it is actually part of a large family group session. I will be posting more of those just as soon as I have a chance!

Here are some photos of just us. We’re enjoying the summer and trying to keep cool in this record heat (mostly by staying inside and running the A/C!). M. is 8 months now and just sprouted his first tooth and started crawling (really it is more of a breast-stroke) two weeks ago. He keeps on amazing us with his expert baby skills.

{He loves sucking that lower lip in- it is his trademark look}

{A. gets in little bed bouncing exercise on mom & dad’s bed, because her own bed is a bottom bunk.}

{Our little exploradora- S. keeps cool at an outdoor family concert we went to on Saturday. The girls were well stocked with capri suns & nerd candies. We’ve decided now that one box per child constitutes an overdosage on sugar.}

{A fun candid from a neighborhood block party on the fourth of july, hence the patriotic colors.}

Any of you out there who may be following this blog may have noticed my lack of blogging over the past month. I noticed too . . . but life has been beyond full so the blog has been neglected. But, I’d rather neglect the blog than my kids.

I have plenty of photo stuff to share, and mural stuff, and life stuff. Here are a handful of smiles from a session last week:

{C. in his patriotic colors, and as alert as ever. He’s the star of one of my most recent newborn sessions in an earlier post}

{big sis has a huge grin and her giggles are contagious!}

{I love this carefree capture of a young family. This is my kind of family photo- real. life in motion. happy.}

{I will admit. This one actually gave me goosebumps when I was going through the photos following the shoot. To me the connection between dad & daughter is so genuine- I just love this one!}

Here are a few favorites from Saturday. The shoot was for the younger sister’s baptism invites, and there are so many beautiful ones to enjoy. BTW, invites will be ready in the next day or two!

{I couldn’t help but snap this one of big sis. decked out in her St. Patrick’s Day green. I love the urban acid action on this photo!}

{simply beautiful}