Friday, April 24, 2015

If it Wasn't For Texas

I'd like to add a verse to one of my very favorite George Strait songs- "If it Wasn't For Texas"

I'd never ever get take...
Pictures of the great state
Of springtime in my ole' hometown
And bluebonnets bloomin all around.

If it wasn't for Texas.
If it wasn't for...... TEXAS.

So, I'm no songwriter. But I just had to sing it out loud.
Because I love Texas.
Non Texans just don't understand this love. And there's no explaining it.
It's a love that's planted deep in your heart and grows as big as the century tree.

And when the Bluebonnets and Indian Paintbrushes bloom my heart swells. 

This year was particularly outstanding for wildflowers out here in Austin. Seriously so gorgeous. Problem was- it keeps raining! It makes it hard to find a good time to get out there and take pictures. But we DID it! Took two tries, some tears, some yelling, some itching... but we DID it! bahahaha! Oh pictures with little kids. It's the ultimate challenge.
And I have to say that these pictures are my favorite I've ever taken.
And I take a lot of pictures.
I've to give credit to my amazing husband. He helped me so much. And I wouldn't have gotten these smiles without him. Thanks babe!

Prettier than a magnolia in May. 
This picture makes me proud.
 photo DSC_96275_zps9awwodcs.jpg
Oh these girls! How I love them!
 photo DSC_96943_zpsgt9jr0gt.jpg
I am constantly amazed by each of their beauty! 
So different.
And both so beautiful.
The shotgun is ready.
 photo DSC_9717_zps7avbgcsp.jpg
My favorite of these two...
 photo DSC_96634_zps8kxbfx6h.jpg
So on the second try of bluebonnets pictures I thought it'd be a good idea to bring a ball.
Maybe then he'd stop crying and running to the street to find more rocks.
It worked.
Mommy- 1 Luke-0
booyah!
 photo DSC_9853 copy_zpsolsifch7.jpg
Such a boy and I love every ounce of it.
 photo DSC_9856 copy_zpsp2qkdbce.jpg
So proud of himself...
 photo DSC_9859 copy_zps1g0thqio.jpg
Rachel Rachel Rachel...
RACHEL!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Everything about this picture is perfect.
The light, the pose, the girl... all perfect.
I love this mini-me!
 photo DSC_0014 copy_zpsiurynb1i.jpg
So I want to print this picture and hang it in every room. 
Every single room.
The slanted bowtie- the different lengthened sleeves- the fuzzy head- the soft cheeks- the chubby hands- and of course the bluebonnets! 
Luke- you're so handsome! 
 photo DSC_9882 copy_zps6yvtqqpz.jpg
Let's play ball!
 photo DSC_9887 copy_zpsazacatod.jpg
This is the best smile I could get out of Maggie... and it is SO her right now.
That sneeky little grin.
SO her.
To a tee.
 photo DSC_9910 copy_zpswnak9538.jpg
Maggie Sass...
 photo DSC_9920 copy_zpsespryzag.jpg
My boys...
 photo DSC_9943 copy_zpsrihprbi9.jpg
How do you say no to this face??
I tell you what... it's hard.
 photo DSC_9947 copy_zpsrollcjbu.jpg
Hey Luke!!! Whatcha doin up there?
 photo DSC_9969 copy_zpsc8zaahmw.jpg
Yummy light. Yummy babies.
 photo DSC_9991 copy_zpsdw0rd0kq.jpg
He's mine.
You can't have him.
 photo DSC_9993 copy_zpsdr7fkrfc.jpg
I love these two of the girls...
priceless.
 photo DSC_9997 copy_zpscimqhu7n.jpg
 photo DSC_9998 copy_zps6linhf89.jpg
"Rachel- why is Luke crying?"
"I have no idea Mom!"
hahaha!
My internal discussion- {please let me get one of all three of them!}
 photo DSC_0006 copy_zpsuegwjxbm.jpg
Maybe I'll cut Luke outta this one and hang it in the girls room.
Or maybe I'll just leave it.
It's pretty hilarious.
 photo DSC_00072_zpswas61plm.jpg
There's that smile!!!!
 photo DSC_0019 copy_zpslkj3faim.jpg
*****Warning*****
If you're considering getting pregnant or are not currently on birth control I'd advise you not looking at these next ones.
You will be putting yourself in dangerous territory in the baby-making department.
If viewing them anyway-
have a pregnancy test near by.
Don't say I didn't warn you.
 photo DSC_0035 copy_zpsc0ru6eyt.jpg
{swoon}
 photo DSC_0037 copy_zpstzvqthxc.jpg
Love him.
Love him.
Love him.
 photo DSC_0046 copy_zpst3erxpng.jpg
If you start saying- "These all look the same" and start getting bored
 then I'm sorry but we can no longer be friends.
kidding.
sort of.
 photo DSC_0056 copy_zpstml11ovo.jpg
Luke please stop growing so fast. 
Momma seriously can't keep up.
 photo DSC_0061 copy_zps4d31onjy.jpg
 photo DSC_0062 copy_zpsy3mi4c9a.jpg
 photo DSC_0063 copy_zpshpqp8omd.jpg
Little boys are seriously so much fun.
 photo DSC_0064 copy_zpspzltzwfc.jpg
 photo DSC_0065 copy_zpsxoevxzkk.jpg
Luke- you're the cutest!!!!!!!
No woman will ever be good enough.
Monster In Law in the making.
Lord help me.
 photo DSC_0066_zps0s9lflcp.jpg
Okay- these are safe for all viewers! We made it through the danger zone.
Oh Maggie Moo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Thank you Thank you Thank you for smiling at me!!!!
 photo DSC_0070 copy_zpsv7kvnesj.jpg
Here it is- the moment of truth.
Sun is about to go down and I still haven't gotten a good one of all three of them.
Wish me luck.
Maggie- you're killing me with that skirt hold! hahaha!
 photo DSC_0162 copy_zpsatzwejiy.jpg
Two outta Three... not bad!
 photo DSC_0235 copy_zpsm0m2lzi1.jpg
Ah-HA! There's all three! 
YEAHHHHH!!!!! 
I love this one!!!
 photo DSC_0234 copy_zpsja5wdekr.jpg
Hey! Look at Mom!!!
If you do I'll get you ice cream!
{desperation has set in}
 photo DSC_0240 copy_zps0q3ojnzl.jpg
This is it! 
The winner!
ALL smiling!
We did it!!!!
 photo DSC_0244Headswopped_zpsoobfatkx.jpg
Little cuties!
 photo DSC_0247 copy_zpspavz0lz2.jpg
This is after I've bribed them.
You can tell by Maggie's smile. 
hahaha!
 photo DSC_0259 copy_zps2chx3wec.jpg
If it wasn't for Texas I'd never get to take pictures of my babies in the bluebonnets.
And that'd be a tragedy.
Texas Forever.
 photo DSC_0238 copy_zpsfw2wijwx.jpg


Thursday, April 16, 2015

Two years later... M&M's Wedding!!!

So I'm going to make this brief... 
Sometimes families are HARD. 
Today marks my brother and his beautiful wife's 2nd wedding anniversary!
I remember the day very vividly. I was a ball of nerves. The whole drive up to Salt Lake City from Austin, TX I was a ball of nerves. You see, I was the wedding photographer.
Nothing gets me more excited or more nervous than wedding photography.
You get one chance. 
ONE chance.
And then the big day is over.

I was excited. So so so very excited. 
I researched good poses for the Salt Lake Temple. And I prayed like hell for good weather. 
And it was perfect. Even SNOWED. Seriously magical. At least for this Texas girl.

Back to my original statement. 
Families are hard.
Its true. Due to a MAJOR miscommunication, for almost two years Mariela and I thought the worst of each other.

Did I mention that I HATE drama???
I avoid it at all costs. 
And apparently so does Mariela because we both didn't speak of all this until about a month ago!
hahahahahahaHAHAHA!
Goodness Gracious. 

Families are Forever.
and
Families are hard.
But I wouldn't change it for the world.

Happy Anniversary Mike and Mariela!

TO INFINITY AND BEYOND!
(cheesy I know- but I watched Toy Story with that boy so many times its ingrained in my heart! Lol!) 

Here they are!!! The newlyweds!!!
WHOOP!!!!!
 photo DSC_2284_zps67ate45n.jpg
Mariela- One with the TEMPLE!!! yay!
 photo DSC_2664 copy_zps5nrupthm.jpg
Smmmoooooochhhh!
 photo DSC_2317-Recovered_zpsjyhiiq9g.jpg
Mariela's beautiful family minus two sisters setting up for the reception...
 photo DSC_2426 copy_zps4vhmubzn.jpg
The Texas crew! With Mr. Luke in my tummy... 
 photo DSC_2407 copy_zpsdjxjocrt.jpg
What a good lookin couple!
 photo DSC_2741-Recovered-Recovered_zps5su6z261.jpg
I adore this one.
Snow flurries and tulips!
 photo DSC_2619 copy_zpskz3rjjkm.jpg
The lighting in this one turned out just dreamy...
 photo DSC_2803 copy_zpswm2cl7wl.jpg
My favorite... don't know why, just is...
 photo DSC_2678sun_zpst22wt2wy.jpg
SHA-BAM- married!
 photo DSC_2687-Recovered_zps627lldvx.jpg
These three make my heart happy...
 photo DSC_2812 copy_zpstsd9cmi7.jpg
As you can see- it was a little harder for Mariela to reach Mike...
 photo DSC_2814 copy_zpscpgsqsst.jpg
He's had that face since like... forever!
 photo DSC_2822 copy_zps2lsje8ps.jpg
Happy Anniversary you two!
Families are Forever.
 photo DSC_2923-Recovered_zpsazsb1brz.jpg