I have had several pictures that I wanted of my girl and this spring realized that if I wanted dress up and tea party pictures, I better get on it because the window for these shoots is not particularly large.  At five, dress up and tea parties happen to be at the top of her favorite playtime activities list (along with all things crafty of course).  I am going to split this session into 3 blog posts because this will be an epic overshare.

Her table and chairs were made by her Grandpa Peter (same Grandpa that made me the Cinderella Coach).  She loves this table and gets a lot of use out of it.

Translation of her above expression “This is the best shoot idea you have had yet!”

This is her prim little tea time expression hee hee.  So very Tori.

Tori is so dainty.  I love watching her little hands and fingers when she is at work and play.  She has always had awesome coordination and dexterity (she was using a fork at 1 year – none of my boys came close to that).  Beyond that though, she has a natural grace about her.  That is a gift I envy because I most certainly do not have that particular talent.  Ever see me dance?  That is rhetorical because I really don’t want those that have to speak up hee hee.

Baby brother loves to play with Sissy so I figured he would want in on the action.

He is a pretty good little pretender.

I don’t know what she was laughing about but she thought something he was doing was funny.  Looks like he might have been building with her tea set as the saucer appears to be on top of the cup.  Give a boy a tea set…

This one is my favorite.  He wanted her to smell the flowers.

There were no real cookies at this party so the baby decided it was time to bail.  He is taking his drink with him though.

I find 2 year old portraits to be such a celebrations of childhood.  They are just so authentic and playful at this age.   So much energy!   Little Maddy is such a sweetie pie and I really enjoyed watching her just delight in life.

Bubbles, and wagons, and bears, rocking horses, books, and yes…even a train – all of Maddy’s “loves”.

I am always a sucker for those big eyed serious expressions.

It was so good to see you Maddy!  (And mom and dad too!)

When Miss Reagan came in the door she was wide awake and alert.  In fact, I would swear she was tracking me with amazing focus for an 8 day old baby.   I registered two facts right away.  First, she was likely to be a toughie.  Second, she was likely to give me a good wide eyed FOCUSED shot.  I was correct on both accounts.  I love it when I get those awake newborn shots but I rarely attempt them because most of the time, baby isn’t focusing well enough at this age.  Once in awhile though…

I always hope for at least 90 minutes of good sleep in a 4 hour session with a newborn.  It took getting her good and milk drunk but she finally decided to take a longer snooze.

Doesn’t she have beautiful lips?  Such a pretty baby.

Reagan was born the week before Easter so I thought my spring wreath appropriate.  My mother in law will love to see her creations being used in such a way.

Looking forward to seeing you again in a few months sweet Reagan!

Sometimes a plan just comes together.  I LOVED this session.  All the elements lined up on that fine Saturday.  The kids did WONDERFULLY (especially for an almost 3 year old and a 7 month old).  The location was beautiful.  We were at the right place at the right time.  (You get a short window of green like this in Phoenix).  It was an overcast day which evenly lit the wash.  I am used to shooting in back lit conditions but sometimes an overcast day has its benefits as well.  The outfits mom chose for kiddos and the accessories just took the shoot over the top.  PURE CUTENESS!!!  I have been doing portraits for this family since Easton was six months old and these two munchkins have stolen my heart.  You just wait and see, they are going to steal yours too!

Easton is an exceptionally good model for a toddler.  He and I have fun together.

Her expressions…too darling for words.

I was going to magically remove mom from that shot (she was keeping a close eye on baby) but I ended up loving the “Mama watchin’ over” look so I couldn’t bring myself to remove her.

When Easton was Kierstin’s age, we did a shot similar to the above.

Love her dainty little crossed ankles.

Wonder what E wants to be when he grows up?

Is this little summer outfit to-die-for or what?

And again…the cute dainty feet.  Love it.  Love them.  Can’t wait to do this again in 5 months for K’s one year shoot!   XXOOO

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Look who is hiding from me?  At 21 months, Troy believes that if he covers his eyes, I can’t see him.  I have found him in all kinds of mischief lately covering his eyes.  One day he was on the couch with my wallet and credit cards spread all over and his hands over his eyes when I approached.   Yesterday, he had been quiet for awhile so I started hunting for him.  I have noticed that he will often answer me when I call…UNLESS…he is up to no good.  Then he gets suspiciously and intentionally quiet as a mouse.  I didn’t notice him perched on my homeschool shelf hiding behind the abacus at first.  See that chair that was left up?  Someone got in trouble.  How many times a day do I say “Put the chairs down and close the bathroom door!”  Over and over and over.  What is WILD is that he is playing with the abacus INSTEAD of eating the Easter candy.  I must have caught him pretty early or surely he would be covered in chocolate.  I did catch him walking around the house with a melting chocolate Easter bunny once already this week.  I was not thrilled.  I can hear him getting into the dishwasher at this very moment – sending a kid in to get him out of there.

One thing I need to point out in that very first picture is that his Eye Dr. would be delighted to see him crossing his RIGHT eye!  That is awesome actually.  It is his left eye that crosses.  He needs surgery but we have kept putting it off because until he starts to use that left eye more, surgery won’t help him.  The brain has to recognize the eye first if we want a successful outcome.  We were told that if he starts crossing his RIGHT eye, that will mean he is switching over and using his left more often.  I told the Dr. just last week that I am noticing him crossing the right eye and have been encouraged and now I have picture proof of it.   Maybe we’ll be able to schedule surgery in another few months.

Speaking of hidden objects…

Glasses are lost again.   Grrrrrrr.

Also, Tanner and I have discovered that we love Hidden Object games.  I have downloaded a few onto my Kindle and we have had hours of fun.  Any favorites?  That is as close to video games as I am going to get.

This post is going to be complete randomness.  :)

So Easter….

I went to church with the older three kids and then Jim went to Pat and Dawn’s with them for Easter Fun.  Troy wasn’t feeling well so I got grounded.  Someone has been sick in this house pretty much every week since Dec 1st.  Four months later I am really OVER the virus season.  WHAT IS UP this year?  I have had it!  For REAL.

I did have Jim snap a couple of shots of me and my girl on Easter because I am trying to get in a better habit of that and she makes the request for pictures with mom (and I find that pretty precious).

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I borrowed my girlfriend Janelle’s macro lens (thank you Janelle!) to see if I want one.  Here are some quick plays.  If you are borrowing a macro, you need lots of random close ups.  :)

My green/brown hazel eye; Jenna’s blue/gold (isn’t that cool?) eye/Tori’s dark chocolate eye (her’s are almost black).  Ignore messy makeup residue – Jenna and I were testing.

Ty, Troy, and Tori lashes.  Ty’s kill me and Troy’s are pretty remarkable as well.

My little blondie boy.

In case I ever lose my wedding ring (God forbid!)…   Haven’t lost in 18 years so hoping I never will.

Today Troy decided it was nap time.  He went and found his “Dassy’s” and chose the recliner for his afternoon snooze.  Nice choice.

He usually doesn’t nap with the patch on but I went through FIVE patches today so I made him wear that fifth one past nap time.  Oh patching a baby gets tiring.

A few more Troy tidbits…

Troy is saying “What’s that?” constantly.   That is his favorite phrase by a landslide.  EVERYTHING is “what’s that?”   He also is saying a lot of “Sit” or “See It”.  Not sure which it is.  I suspect the latter.

He doesn’t like anyone getting him out of his crib except for mommy.  If I send anyone in to get him, he will say “NO!  Mommy!!” and then swat their hands away and back into the corner of the crib making it harder for anyone to reach him.  You just can’t willy nilly alter routines.  After sleep cuddles are important you know.  All my children agree.  Mommy is the cuddliest.

He also yells most everything he says.  I suggested to mom today that I wonder if I should have his ears checked.  She countered that in our noisy household, it is the only way he is heard.  I had to concede that point.

I love that he calls his pacifiers “Dassys”.  Tanner called it his “piece” and Tori called them her “babies”.  Ty didn’t reference it much because he was only a moderate passy user.

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Jim (to me):   Do you want to go out to dinner?  Let’s go eat Thai.

Ty:  You are going to eat ME for dinner?  You are kidding right?  Ha ha!  You ARE.  You are kidding.

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Tori:  I made up a friend.  Her name is Lisa.

Me:  You mean she is pretend?

Tori:  No.  She is real.  I made her up.

Me:  Do you mean you “made a friend”.

Tori:  Ya.

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Ty:  Hey little lovely sister that is sick.   What did I say?

That is such a Tyism.  When he says things he thinks are funny, he loves to draw attention and repeat.

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Me:  Ty please take this fly paddle and kill those flies.

Tori:  TY!  JUST DO IT LIKE THIS!  Hold it in this hand and just do this!  It’s just like playing softball.

Me:  Uh Ty.  Why don’t you go ahead and let your sister handle this.

LOL.   He gladly relented.

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The other night I sent Ty in to take a bath and Tori took off with him.

Jim:  Why is Tori headed into the bathroom with Ty?

Me:  She always does. She runs the bathwater for him for his bath then leaves.

Jim:  Why?

Me:  Because Ty can’t get the temperature right so she always helps him.

Ty has an older little sister.  :)

Jim and Tanner just got back from soccer practice so I must be off now.  Tanner is LOVING LOVING LOVING soccer.  I am so glad we let him play.  It’s a big fat pain and I do NOT see myself as a soccer mom but I am so enjoying how much Tanner loves this.  It makes it so worth it.