Family Pictures November 2014

Saying that I've been excited to have professional photos taken is a huge understatement. 
I looked forward to this for so dang long!!! 
There are so many obstacles for me when it comes to getting pictures taken. 

1. I'm a photographer. Or I like to call myself one. HA! And paying to have someone do something I can do is just hard.
2. Timing. Timing. Timing. With a growing family timing is everything. It's hard work getting this baby weight off and I want to look my best. So shot me?! There's a window of opportunity around here until my cheeks and ankles blow up again. Just saying.
3. Finding the perfect photographer. This is tricky. As a photography enthusiast myself I've got to find someone whose style I love. There are lots of photography flavors out there.
4. Outfits. Oh the coordination and planning it takes. I spend a lot of time with this.
5. Money. It all adds up.

Because of several or all of these reasons at the same time, we have NEVER gotten pictures taken. Not since our wedding day anyway. And I can't tell you how pleased I am with them. 
It was worth jumping all those hurdles. :)

I'm going to be honest with you. When I got these pictures back--- I cried. 
hahaha! 
"I look awful!!!" I exclaimed to Tyler. His reply- "You're insane. These are the best pictures ever."
Then I took a closer look! By golly they are! 
Perfection right here folks. The light, the colors, the lack of tantrums! WOW!
My eyes go straight to Luke's before anything else when I look at this picture. 

My two beautiful girls!

Oh how blessed they are to have eachother... 

IN LOVE WITH THIS ONE!

Miss Rachel Lynn

Those chocolatey brown eyes... 

This one has got to be my favorite of her! Such a beauty!

Miss Maggie Ila

I love her from the tip top of her head down to her toes...

This one is stunning. That is all.

I love how this one turned out!!!

Luke was a stinker. 
The whole time!!! 
I couldn't believe she managed to capture a few good ones with this boy! haha!
He's lucky he's so darn cute!

I spent the majority of my time trying to get Luke in the game... 

Good thing I stashed a few pop-tarts. haha!

BABY! My baby! Baby baby baby! 
Babies make me happy. 

Look at our little family! 
I can't believe this is us! Time sure flies.

I get to spend eternity with these beautiful people!!! 

This is my favorite family picture. 
It's going on the wall. 
The end.

Momma and her girls!!! 
I think I look goofy in this one. I think I was in the middle of a sentence or something.
But my sweeties are so beautiful!

There's a untaming pride that comes when I look at these pictures... 
Me and my girls. Having girls has brought me so much joy. I'm certain we were and will always be best friends. The playing, the cooking, the shopping, the sewing, the dancing, the chick-flick watching, the wedding planning, the baby rocking, the late night talks... Pride. Just pride. 
I'm sticking with these girls through thick and thin!

Me and my Man... 

My rock and eternal companion, 
We've built this family together. Thanks you for all you're love, devotion, and hard work.
The best is yet to come.
Love,
Your woman

My BOY IS ONE!

I'm going to begin with a little disclaimer. I've become the worst blogger on the face of the planet. It makes me so sad, and I HAVE to fix this! As start of a new year I'm ready to get back to it! So, any of you reading this... feel free to remind me of this resolution at any given time I'm being a blog slacker! Thanks! xoxo ~Jess

I'm so behind! But it's finally happening! 

LUKE IS ONE! 

Although this was a few months ago it STILL makes me feel like crying. 

I know. I'm pathetic. But I'm so happy in my patheticness. I love this boy so much!

We had cupcakes at the park with some friends! It was a good time and Luke loved the cupcakes!

So yummy! 
And I'm not talking about the cupcake. ;)

Swing faces are the BEST!

I. LOVE. THIS. PICTURE.

Here's my attempt at his one year old pictures.
It seemed like it took FOREVER to get out there and take these. And 
afterwards I decided they weren't good enough and that I'd have to try again. 
And then it seemed to rain on all the good days to do it. And then someone got sick... 
And then I didn't do it. Sad. But at least I have these!
A STICK! 
The fascinating world on a one year old...

"Mom, what are all these pumpkins doing here?! Did you really think it'd be cute to pose with the pumpkins?"
Sheesh. Tough crowd.

Back to the railroad tracks... Love those little balancing arms...

If he knew I got a good one of him next to the pumpkins he'd probably start 
crying right now! Hahaha! Sucker!!! 

Daddy knows how to get the best smiles...

Hey! Where do you think you're going?
Come back here so I can kiss you!!!

Little toes, little hands
Little Boy.

Theres that Luke smile!

He was just learning to clap around this time. 
And I love the light in his eyes...

{swoon}

hahahaha!
That look! I think he's gonna be sneeky one of these days... 

The photographer caught several pictures of me trying to make Luke happy during our 
family pictures. He was such a stinker that night. 
I thought I'd include of few of the ones of just me and Luke...

Those eyes!!! SO BIG AND BLUE!

Luke found an airplane!!!

Happy Birthday my son! You'll never know how much I love you!!!

Backyard Shenanigans!

Our backyard is my saving grace. The key to peace in our home. 
A frequent phrase of mine- "GO PLAY OUTSIDE!"
Outside is the best.

Fall in Texas is pretty much perfect. 
Luke loves to be outside. All babies do. 
I won't let him go outside by himself like I will the girls. He is constantly crying at the back door waiting for me to let him out. It's the cutest thing!
His favorite spot- the slide!

Climb up, slide down... repeat a zillion times!
I love everything about this picture! The chubs, the expression, the determined face... everything!

There's no hope for me. He hits every soft spot of mine. Wrapped around his finger.

heehee...

This picture makes me realize just how blessed I am. Look at that healthy baby boy smack dab in the middle of our very own backyard. Life is good. 

HI LUKE!!! 

Okay, don't get too scared now at the following pictures.
We've actually had neighbors call us... "Just wanted to let you know that you're kid is on the roof!"...
"Yes yes, this is quite normal. Thanks for your concern."
BahahahahaHA!

I would say that this is all Tyler's doing, but my kids have been dare devils since the beginning. 
The bigger they get, the higher and crazier it gets. I just pray for no broken bones. 
Seriously though.

Maggie hasn't graduated to the roof yet... she sticks to the railing... haha!

This Daddy of ours... it almost gets me teary eyed thinking about it- 
Every day without fail he comes home from a long day of work and plays for hours with our children.  They play and play and play. I don't think he know's how much it means to me... not just to get dinner finished but how much he loves being a Daddy. And boy, is he an amazing one.

One of the many games they play... the kids call it "BRAINS!!!!" 
It's where Tyler and Luke are zombies and they run around screaming BRAINS eating and tackling the girls and Dixie. haha! It's Luke's favorite game! 
And if the expression doesn't give it away, Tyler gets into it too! hahaha!

GET THEM!!!! 
BRAINSSSS!!!!!!!!!

Love this one! Luke is beside himself! hahaha! 
I love this crazy little thing called LIFE!!!! 

Halloween 2014

It's 7am the morning after Halloween. Clearly, my kids don't sleep in. EVER. 
So why not do a little blogging? 
Yes ma'am! I said blogging!!!

The mermaid and the witch... 

I think the make-up I let Rachel wear took her sassiness to another level! haha! 
I didn't even know it was possible! 

Luke the baby dragon! 
So, I took Luke out for one year old shots a week ago and it was the hardest thing ever! 
My baby is growing up! No more looking and smiling at the camera- he's got more important things to do!

My little witch!
"Maggie, are you a good witch or a bad witch?"
"I'm a GOOD witch Mom!" 
hehe...

Drop dead gorgeous Rachel "mermaid" eyes!

The dragon on a mission... such curious eyes... 

First stop- the Bonners! Our neighbors are members of the church too! 
The are kind of like our Grandma and Grandpa neighbors. The girls adore them!

This was the slowest the girls went all night. 
They were seriously running so fast it was hard to catch them!

Oh, and this house slowed them down too... That's as far as they would go... hahaha! 
I don't blame them one bit! Looks pretty creepy to me!

Happy HALLOWEEN!!!!