When Melissa contacted me to schedule this session, I couldn’t have been more honored. And for a girl who grew up with three sisters and a family full of loud and strong-willed women, I knew exactly how much this session meant to  each and everyone of these precious women and can only imagine the emotion it will bring for generations to come.

I cannot thank you ladies enough for asking me to create such an important set of images for you and for making the entire experience fun and memorable <3

I bet it was over a year ago when I first opted in to emails from The Happy Family Movement of course with every intention on following through with all their great ideas to have the happiest family ever. But it just never seemed like the perfect time to get started….until now. See, the truth is there is never a “perfect” time to join this movement….unless you count the second you are reading this! It doesn’t matter how busy your life is, how crazy schedules are, what it all boils down to is you probably have some adorable family members who would love nothing more than to help you remember how to live your life and they certainly aren’t going to stop growing up just ’cause you have a million things going on.

I thought a long time about this. Probably too long. But long. And hard.

And last week at dinner, the kiddoes and I began brainstorming what we were going to put on our Summer Bucket List for 2012. We came up with 56 things for our list and I have to tell you that the excitement that was created over something that seems so simple was amazing!

While it saddens me that a bunch of the things on our list might have to be done while Daddy is in PA working, I am thrilled that when he is home we will certainly be having some amazing adventures!

Yesterday was our first official day of summer as Makayla and Colby had their last day of school. The weather was absolutely gorgeous and perfect for crossing off our first bucket list item of the summer. The kids chose ‘gathering and painting rocks’ and we got to getting creative and messy. And most of all, we got to making a new memory<3

I am so thankful that we have gotten off to a great start and I cannot wait to see if we can complete everything on our list. But no matter whether or not we complete the entire list, we will have a ton of fun trying! I love that this challenge has given us permission to slow down a bit. To appreciate the little quirks and personalities of this amazing little family of mine. And to just breathe and live in every moment.

I met Crystal a little less than a year ago when her adorable Genevieve joined my cheering squad, and there is a good chance at some point int he next seventeen years that my own little guy will actually go on a date or two with this beautiful flower girl <3 But this post isn’t about a wedding that may or may not happen someday way way waaaaaay down the road. Nope. This is about a girl who loves with all her heart and the boy who gives with all his soul.

Here is the story of their day….

I am at a loss for words. I mean it does not seem possibly that just three short months ago we shot Adrien’s three month session. He can’t possibly be six months old already. And yet, just as his adorable red hair is quickly fading to blond, he certainly has grown a ton more and is even more adorable than just three short months ago!

See for yourself:)

I have come to know Kearsten rather well over the past year, and it is bittersweet that I am now shooting her senior session since that means after next spring my kiddos will certainly be missing the best babysitter EVER! Now we had planned on shooting this session at least a month before now, but Kearsten’s boyfriend Trevor is such a HUGE part of her life and she really wanted him to be at least a small part of her session. Just a few months ago Trevor enlisted in the US Navy and we had to wait for his return for boot camp for our session. But even more special….he PROPOSED the day before our shoot <3 Regardless of how young this couple is, there is no doubt in my mind that they will continue to be head-over-heels in love with each other for the rest of their lives. It is rare to find a couple who exudes as much patience, loyalty, love and friendship as these two and I am proud and honored to be even a small part of their lives.