about a year ago, we had the chance to meet one another in person in Texas for a workshop we were helping with for The Bloom Forum where we were both moderators. to say we clicked instantly is an understatement. she is probably the sweetest, most down to earth person i’ve met in my whole life. since meeting in person, our friendship has turned into a kind where we could flood one another at midnight with a phone call if needed. both having three small children, husbands who are at work more than not and having an art that we share in, we’ve grown to understand each other far beyond the online world.

a few weeks ago, i boarded a plane for Portland to visit my dear friend and snuggle up to her new beautiful boy, August. i was so excited, it felt more like i floated from Los Angeles to Portland. Gretchen and i spent the weekend surrounded in a sparkly montage of girl talk, recipe swapping, nursing, crepes, and wee boy humor. like teenagers, we text each other back and forth from our rooms at bedtime. looking at this photo, i miss her. a lot. our days looked a lot like this and it was utterly perfect…

followed by a fancy blimp skimming the skyline and equipped with toy cars, super fancy DJ glasses, and wooden moustaches which brought on “awesomely creepy villain-esque somewhat Frenchish laughs”- we took over.

L.A. has got nothin’ on The Diskins. love this family to pieces.

happy 5 year wedding anniversary to my sweet friends! may the next 5 be just as delightful…xo

this gorgeous couple hails from Hawaii and has been all over the US this summer and somehow i got to be the lucky one to photograph them. from the bottom of my heart, thank you for choosing me. i loved seeing San Diego through your eyes.

A hui hou kakou friends.

Madeline and her family were so much fun to document and spend a few hours with amongst the falling leaves in Capitol Park.  over the years, i’ve heard much about this little girl from her mama and what a hoot she has come to be at the ripe old ago of three. let me tell you, she lived up to the expectation.

on the big grey steps of the grand old Capitol building sat the cutest little thing in a red pea coat and cap. be still my heart. we spent the remainder of the afternoon following her lead and chasing her around the grounds. she even got to snap a few photos of her mom and dad with me. i’m so lucky this little one is not mine because i would have the hardest time ever telling that sweet little face “no”. i was putty in her hands and every beckon call, i came a running.

oh Miss Madeline, “you had me at hello…”

XO

to say the following photos do not break my heart and equally give it immense joy is an understatement. Grandma Jan asked me to photo them before we even all knew that they’d be moving to the other side of the country. after hearing the news, this session turned into something very different for me. i held it until the last few minutes of this session and then the flood gates burst. all i remember saying is, “i cant imagine you guys not being here.” i really really cant.

when they get to Charlottesville, please take care of them or else. they can tell you what Chris can do with a weed whacker…

10 reasons to love them:

1. their youngest, Parker, and Jack have literally grown up together. she is his girl-next-door no matter where they are.

2. on the brink of motherhood, Jessica saved the day by teaching me to swaddle. saved my life as a new mama. that was not the last time.

3. Matt is heart and soul honest and makes the best apple pie ive ever tasted.

4. we’ve spent every 4th of July with them since we moved in. its become a very sentimental tradition. this year, i will sit  in our court and tell our new baby about “Pudgy Bunny”.

5. Madi has the best collection of headbands and has often let me into the very private world of preteen dome. its a very sacred place to be and i am honored she shares with me. thank you for making me feel like an “honorary cool aunt”.

6. Chase has taught Jack so much about being a boy. Jack thinks he is the ULTIMATE and Chase never ever makes him feel like he’s a bother.

7. on any given night, i could call Jess and ask her to come over for a glass of wine and we would talk for hours- kids willing. she has really given me some of the most unobtrusive insight ive ever been blessed with.

8. sometimes Jess would text me or call me from Trader Joe’s and ask me what i needed. she’s saved me a handful of times from having to run to the store with 2 kids to grab a gallon of milk.

9. our court sometimes felt like a commune on the weekends: doors unlocked, everyone running from house to house the way i imagine it used to be years ago. their house was Grand Central Station.

10. they are who they are and you cant help but love them. proud to call them friends- i wish them love and luck in their new city.

as the tee shirt says, “somebunny in southern california loves you”…

Autumn and i met when we were both getting in shape after having our little ones. well i should say, i was getting in shape. she was plenty there. sometimes we’d be be in the grass doing planks and i’d catch a glimpse of her smiling (not a stitch of makeup) and brilliantly beautiful. you know if you meet someone who can be positive during a set of painful planks, they’re positive under all circumstances. i love that about her and so does her Miguel. he and “his girls” are about the cutest things you’ve ever seen- he has no issues holding a magic fairy wand or carrying his baby girls wherever they may need to go. when he talks about Autumn, his chest puffs out a bit because he’s so terribly filled with pride. they adore each other and you’d be blind to not catch on.

Rylee & Jadyn weren’t too sure about me for the first hour. Rylee brought along her magic princess wand which left her tiny little hand very few times. Jadyn knew i liked her shoes and knew i thought her bunny was an alright guy but she hadn’t quite made up her mind if i was going to make it into their inner circle. i loved that about her. we got to talking about Peter Rabbit and i got to moving up a few notches. in the end, we were old friends with big toothy grins and giggles. there’s something so gratifying about being rewarded with a child’s affection and trust in the end. it means i’ve done okay.

this family was an all out treat to hang with and photo. pretty much up for anything, we cruised around looking at cool leaves and talking about lots of girl stuff and Dad didn’t seem to mind one bit- his days are filled with “girl stuff” after all. i’d shoot them again and again, especially since me and the girls are old friends now. and Rylee & Jadyn…thankyou for the vote of confidence and letting me in your circle for  a little while- it was good fun my friends.

xo

i walked away from this mini session with a full memory card and a happy heart. we were just two gals gabbing away and photographing two little boys doing what they do best: finding awesome sticks and kicking dirt. simply the best part of what i do is watching families and couples interact and finding the images that are “them” and only them. all the while these two played, little J followed big J everywhere he went and matched every move he made. i can tell you now however much he may follow or how old he may get, his big brother will guard him for all time.

ive been lucky enough to document these two and thier growing family the past 3 years. hanging with this crew, youre bound to come up with a few surprises: like the impromptu break dance special from their boys i was graced with. it was hard to keep shots in focus i was laughing so flipping hard. but then again, thats just another day with these four…until next time my very dear friends.

xo

xo

xo