This year feels so different than any other.  I suppose I could list the reasons why, mostly to serve as a reminder to myself when I need to get back to how I feel right now.  You know those times, moments, and feelings you want to bottle up and keep forever?  Yes, I’m talking about one of those special feelings.  It’s like a delicate recipe of happiness, contentment, gratitude, joy, with a dash of resolve and resilience and grace.  In a nutshell, that’s how I feel as I type these words.  Don’t get me wrong, I don’t have it all figured out.  By “it” I mean life, and the balance of work and family, of being a mom and a wife, of feeling creative and needing to stay grounded.  I don’t have these things figured out in the least.  But in this moment, I am ok with that.  And the sum of these things is what I want to bottle up and store up on a shelf for the times when I need it most.

I’m a mother of two darling boys.  Today they have both made me laugh those deep, fulfilling laughs, be it with something Remington said or at the tantrum Emerson threw because he wanted his big brother’s sippy cup of water.  Oh, and when Emerson had a Cheerio stuck to his forehead for quite a while at breakfast this morning and had no idea it was there!  As Reggie said, that photo will be great first date material!  Sometimes they can bring me to tears.  In those sweet moments when they are quiet, snuggly, or when we lock eyes with each other while reading or playing.   Especially if I hear certain songs that remind me of bittersweet times as they grow.  Don’t get me started on the A Thousand Years song!

Sometimes I have to really let it soak in that I am lucky enough to a Mom to my two sweet babes.  And there’s no way I could do it without my husband, Reggie.  We make quite a team!  And I owe a million thanks to my parents for all of their help and support over the years!  Which leads me to the whole point of this post… Mom, thank you for sharing your unconditional love with me and my family, in all that you do for us, I could never begin to describe how blessed I am!  Love you bunches!  Thank you also for sharing these amazing peonies with us – passed down over generations from our family!  What a special reminder these lovely blooms are!  And blooming in perfect time for Mother’s Day! xoxo

To all Moms, Grandmas, and all who share their motherly love, from here and afar, in heaven and in our hearts…Happy Mother’s Day to you!

Wishing you and your family the happiest of holidays!  Thank you to my wonderful clients for making 2016 such an amazing and fun year!  It has been an honor to serve you, and I’m looking forward to the New Year!  I’m excited to take a much needed short break to spend time with family and friends over the holidays!  Our little guys are ready for Christmas – Remington has been patiently counting down the days!  They’ll be visiting Santa this evening!  Who knew you could make an online appointment with Mr. Claus?!  He’s a very busy guy, so it makes sense!  Here’s hoping it goes smoothly!  On Remington’s wish list this year is a guitar, ice skates, a polar bear on ice skates, skiis, and a skateboard and/or snowboard!  Emerson hasn’t really said what he’d like from Santa…however, Remington said that he wanted Legos! Ha!  Here’s a peek at our our family photos.  We had a gorgeous fall evening at the always beautiful Mustard Seed Gardens! 

It’s almost impossible to believe that 4 years ago today, you made us parents!  Little did we know what a crazy, fun-filled adventure we had embarked upon!  You are caring and sweet, full of energy and imagination, passionate (especially about dinosaurs!), intelligent and independent, fun-loving, and so much more!  We are so proud to call you our son, and we love seeing how wonderful of a big brother you have become to Emerson!  Happy 4th Birthday, Remington!  We love you to the moon and back!  xoxoxo

One of my favorite details to photograph at weddings and in general anywhere I travel has to be flowers!  Their color and texture and shape beg me to photograph them.  Peonies are so beautiful, and they top my list of favorite blooms.  They were the focal flowers in my wedding bouquet. And my parents planted some heirloom peonies in our yard for us last fall!  They have been blooming over the past two weeks, and I am smitten with them!  When I saw that a friend of mine had signed up for a floral arranging class featuring peonies, I crossed my fingers that it would work out for me, and it did!  It was so much fun, and just the bit of creative inspiration I’d been searching for!  Thank you to Kindred – the boheme collective for hosting such a fun event!  If you’re looking for one of a kind clothing and accessories in a magazine-worthy environment, check them out and tell them I sent you!  I can’t wait to go back – I have my eye on some gorgeous items! And many thanks to sweet and talented Jacki of Ladybird for teaching all of us some floral arranging wisdom!  With such swoon-worthy flowers, I couldn’t help but have a mini photo shoot!  Lola loves peonies too, so she happily modeled for a few!  Here are some favorites!