[ Thankful ]

Thankful to all my clients, blog followers and supporters.
I truly love photography and getting to meet so many wonderful people.

I hope everyone has a great holiday.
I'm taking a break from my computer now. I'll be back soon!
MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!

[ "Forget not that the earth delights to feel your bare feet and the winds long to play with your hair." ]

More from our play time outside during this amazing weather!!!



Madeline:



Kenzie-Lynn:



Cortland:
(Yes, this was the day he woke up with the CRAZY HAIR... and yes he has his boots on backward... and YES... I know that basically he looks like an orphan!)











His hair CRACKS me up!





And more of the house...





Our Christmas card tree:




I found these at Hallmark the other day! Little notes to put in my kids lunch bags or back packs! Can't wait!





I love the way kids wrap gifts! Tape... tape... and more tape!





Counting down the days...



Every morning C asks, "Mama... what's the date?" So he can move the candy cane!





Also I found a recipe for the most YUMMY Chicken Noodle Soup.
We always eat it up... I realize that it's a good recipe... and then have nothing to take a photo of!
Thought I'd share:

SAVORY CHICKEN NOODLE SOUP

2 carrots, chopped
2 stalks celery, chopped
2 onions, chopped
3 boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cubed
14-1/2 oz. can chicken broth
2 c. water
1 can Cream of Chicken soup
1/4 t. salt
1/4 t. pepper
1/2 t. dried parsley
1/2 t. dried basil
1 c. egg noodles, cook according to package directions

Place all veggies in crock pot. Add chicken.
Pour in broth, water and soup. Sprinkle seasonings on top.
Cover. Cook on low 8 hours or on high for 4 hours.
Add cooked noodles at the end and serve!

[ This picture makes me smile! ]

[ Morning Mama! ]

This is how Cortland woke up from his nap today!
I busted out laughing when he came down the hall!
His hair has never been quite like this!

Love his sweet little voice saying in such a sleepy way everyday, "Morning Mama."

[ ... so PUMPED! ]

Amanda is my oldest and dearest friend. IN. THE. WORLD!

We met back in 5th grade in Mr. Waters class at Mt. Taylor Elementary school in Grants, New Mexico. I moved to Mountain Home two years later. We maintained being "bestest friends" through letters and 20-minute alternating Sunday evening phone calls for years! Even though we have mostly carried a friendship with many miles between us we have a bond that can't really be explained. It doesn't matter how much time goes by or what life throws our way- we KNOW that we will always have one another.

Yes, we don't share our "everyday" happenings, but it doesn't matter.

We have something bigger than that and I cherish it.




Photo taken in Albuquerque, NM. September 2008.


ANYWAY... this girl is going to be here visiting me for an entire weekend in less than a month! We have tried to get this to happen for about three years but with our schedules and her being a super-busy attorney it's been tough! But we just decided last week we HAVE TO DO IT! We can't put it off any longer!

The plane tickets are purchased and schedules are CLEARED! Woohoo!

So I'm PUMPED!

Completely stoked that I will get to have my "bestest" in my home and around my family for three whole days! It's gonna be like old times! Sitting around a table talking, giggling, laughing our faces off and making memories!

Just being together...

Oh- and A... I won't make you wash all the dishes like the summer you visited back in Junior High! ;)

[ YES!!! ]

So excited!!!
I have my shopping ALL DONE... gifts all wrapped... now I just have to pass them out!
I am now COMPLETELY in the Christmas Spirit! Completely!
It's so cute to hear Cortland ask oh... about 15 times a day... is "Ch-wristmas here yet Mama?" LOVE IT! The girls are SO much more patient!



It makes all the difference with gifts under the tree!

[ Chamberlain Twins ]

Baby Calder & Christian Chamberlain + Big Sister Abby!

I have to say this was one of my favorite sessions.
Meredith was so easy with her kids! So calm!
On shoots, kids feed off the energy of the mother- I promise!
It was so relaxing and easy-breezy and made for some adorable shots!

Sweet, sweet babies!
Kinda gave me a slight case of Baby Fever... not gonna lie!

I absolutely LOVE shooting babies! LOVE IT!
So thank you Meredith, Abby & boys for letting me capture this time in your life!

Starting out with my fav:

[ My little man... ]

I love my days with my little man!

Love them!!!

It's all the little things... bear claw slippers, playing with Lucy, Uno playing, laughing at each other, our silly little nicknames for one another...

I love our days together!

I have one more full year with Cortland home with me...
it's going to BREAK me when he has to go to school. :(

Anyway- here are some pics of us enjoying our days at home.








I LOVE this shot! His little lips, the way he is sitting, he little hands holding the cards... he is so precious to me!






Sticking his tongue out. Mad concentration! He got that trait from his Daddy!




He M-E-L-T-S me!





There's the tongue again...