Family

It has been many seasons since I called a friend and asked if they could just come out and play. I have determined that this is a habit we should never end. Last year, I started calling my dear friend Nancy for last-minute photography adventures. Or maybe she called...

Last fall, I headed north with my three youngest. My dear friend Kristi, (@iamkristi on Instagram), takes her boys and just goes. She adventures with them. It's absolutely inspiring. I have no idea how she does it and her trips involve crossing state lines with four...

As I walked the beach in Surfside, Texas, I thought of those we had lost in 2019. In October, I sat with a dear friend the night her husband died. I held her hand in the bedroom as police officers and others worked in another room nearby. In November, I carried a...

Earlier this year, Brian's dad emailed us with an idea for Christmas. How about Christmas at the beach? Surfside, Texas to be exact. One house for his siblings and their families, his parents, and us. The house was amazing! It was spacious and comfortable for all 17...

Do you choose a word of the year? Since 2008, I’ve chosen a word to reflect on throughout the year. *The idea of a word of the year was first introduced to me by my dear friend Heather. Once upon a time, she had a lovely blog full of beautiful inspiration. I’m very...

My youngest dears, We are anticipating Christmas every moment. You look at me directly in the eyes and ask me 'how much times' until we see Julia. This season, you are excited and hopeful about the arrival of your big sister home from college. The similarities between...

Over Riley's fall break, I took the youngest north to Cottonwood, Arizona. We had been invited to stay at the Ocotillo Nature Home. It was the cutest AirBnB, directly across the street from a path that leads to the Verde River. Cottonwood is only about a 90 minute...

I'm a photographer- but, more importantly, I'm a mother. Boy do I take photos. I have hundreds of thousands of them. Terabytes of photos stored in various locations and on various media. Just this morning, I took several pics celebrating my 8 year old's season finale...

A few miles away from our home is the Odysea Aquarium. It is the perfect way to spend a day. If there is one thing I've learned in this parenting journey, it is to try and get one on one time with each kiddo. Give them a chance to really feel seen and heard. Let them...