hey girl,

          I totally get it.  I really do.  I see the beautiful world you live in - the one you don’t always feel is perfectly functioning.  I get that.  I know that those kids you love dearly also make you want to pull your hair out.  I’ve had the late nights and the tummy aches.  The bad dreams and “can I just lay with you for a minute mom?”.  I totally feel you.

          I get it. Getting your family pictures taken is stressful.  Getting everyone dressed and clean and happy for any length of time usually causes mom frizzy hair and minor anxiety, but oh — you have to be clean and happy and smiling for pictures too!  Oh girl, I totally get it.  But deep down you know you want to capture this beautiful life.  I want to capture it.  I’m getting pretty good at reading people from behind the camera.  I see the stress in your forced smile.  But I also see the overflowing love and pride spilling off you as you look at your children.  I see the way your husband looks at you when I take your picture by yourself.  I see the way your daughter is starting to look like you.  I totally get that, and I want to capture all of it.

         Confession…. I make my family take pictures at least three times a year.  I know — overboard!  haha! I totally get that!  But I have this unexplainable fear of forgetting.  Forgetting the way my son clings to me, keeping me from accomplishing anything unless it can be done one handed.  I’m afraid I’ll forget what my eight year olds smile looks like with her crazy crooked and missing teeth.  And that’s why I do it.  Capturing those memories makes me feel like I won’t forget.  Don't let me fool you and think that my family pictures go flawless.  It's not family pictures unless at least one child has a breakdown.  I remember once being so upset at my 4 year old daughter because she refused to wear the shoes I told her to and insisted on wearing this hideous pink watch.  At the time I was frustrated, but now - years later, I love them.  It brings me back to that moment in time.  That moment when pink watches and cowboy boots were our worries.  And I can surround my home with those beautiful, happy, hectic, messy memories.  You can too.  Let me help you.  Let me capture that beautiful happy life.