Hey...I'm back :)  Isn't she a doll?!

I am hoping to get a few posts up in the next couple days.

Who Says....

...you can't....

....have your cake.

...And eat it too =)

then wash it down with some lemonade.

Hello world.

Look at how cute I am.

What a dream little Luke was. He let us do whatever we wanted in between his chow downs and diaper changes. Just a few faves of mine.

Here is cutie-patootie brother kissing all over him!

Larger than life snuggles....

(yeah, that's what we'll say...since I sized this one GINORMOUS for some reason ;)

Isn't momma beautiful!?

A "J.Crew" wedding...preview of course

My dear friend Brooke is married

They both looked stunning....the tree a perfect touch.

Slacker Bum...

...YEP!

When it comes to posting that's me....a slacker bum.

I'm having way too much fun this summer!

and this family was a part of that fun! I just had to share one of my favorites from their session.

Doing a test set up for an upcoming shoot I used Jameson as my model

This is his sexy pose....

Some of us just get all the looks.

Who says Lincoln isn't pretty?

I got this shot just after Kammy's preschool graduation.

The weather was weird that day, rain...sun...sprinkle....sun.

I of course made the photo a little more intense, but I love how it seems to perfectly portray two differences...

I think of good vs. evil...

What do you think??

I love this family! I have known them since high school and have taken their pictures since they were expecting this cutie pie.

This family is one of the reasons I love what I do...working...er playing with them is too fun!

Smile Like You Mean It

For the last few months I have been running. My friend and I recently up'd our run to 4 miles...one mile warm up followed by a non-stop 4 mile run. I have to say I'm pretty dang proud of us. This is quite an accomplishment for both of us, and it feels sooo good!

Today we started at 5:30 am...well, 5:35 actually because I have to be five minutes late every morning ;)

It started like all the other days, I was feeling good and listening to some good music on Pandora.

It didn't take long before I was talking myself out of it (as always)

I was thinking of what I could say to Megan so I could walk a bit.

Does my leg hurt? Maybe I swallowed a fly....man seriously? four miles? UGHHHHH how am I going to do this??

I basically have to talk myself into continuing on for quite some time, then I sort of go numb after awhile. Today was a little different though, after I went numb I was actually able to think! and I mean process something other than "stop body, stop!!!!! just walk!!"

I can see how running turns therapeutic for people. I certainly didn't understand that before!

We were on our last mile and the song playing right now (should be anyways) came on....Smile like you mean it by The Killers.

I instantly thought of my job as a photographer, mommy, and wife. I was pushing myself, sun in my eyes, my legs wanting to stop, sweat beading up on my lower back, my chest....

I got goosebumps.

I tapped Megan and showed her my arms, unable to tell her why, I just wanted proof that I had the chills while sweating!

I can't explain exactly what I felt, I find it hard sometimes to get it out and onto this blog.

I had a moment.

We pile on task after task forgetting to take in what we have, or even what we once had.

I feel that my days consist of cleaning...dishes, laundry, bathrooms, cooking, planning, preparing, mothering, pleasing, sacrificing, editing. I focus too often on just doing those things....going through the motions.

I need to take it in, I need to re-center myself from time to time, I need to listen to the stories my kids tell, I need to tell my clients to just play...you have one hour to focus on your kids only(or each other)THOSE are the memories you want on your walls, I need to clean my house and know that I have a roof over my head, I need to cook and be happy that I am able to feed my babies, I need to look at my husband when I kiss him, I need to

smile.

This is what life is.

what it's all about.....

... so smile like you mean it :)

Busy, Busy, Busy

Hang in there with me... =)

GIVE A WAY =)

I have been feeling truly blessed these days :)

I have reached my goal of 200 fans on my facebook photography page. May seem like a small accomplishment to some, but to me it is a big deal. I am so honored to have the support and love that I do in my life and with photography. Just knowing that I have at least 208 people that like to follow my work from time to time makes me happy!

So...

because of that, I want to pay it forward, I want someone to have a moment of joy like I did when I reached 200 fans.

Give a way time!

I have seen so many of these going on and who doesn't want something free in this economy?! So here is the deal:

Become a fan (or "like") my facebook photography page....(link on the right side of my blog) this scores you your first point. If you are already a fan you get a point also, post something in your fb status or on your blog about this give a way including a link to my blog or fb page gain one more point, refer your friends to "like" my page for TWO more points.

Then either comment on here or go to my facebook page and comment....or send me an email including your name and how many points you have (a max of 4) Points are how many "entries" you will have. I will be selecting a winner (via random number generator) two weeks from today on May 6th. I will then let the winner choose between a $50 gift card to Anthropologie or J Crew =) two of my faves!

I know I say it a lot, but THANKS for checking in from time to time and for all the wonderful comments and emails I receive =)

xo katie

I can't wait to post more pics from these two sessions. I have posted sneak peek's on my facebook page. So now I am doing the same here =)

I have a lot of family on the east coast so this is mainly for them :) Love you Grammie!!

Noah and Khloie (remember her from here)...my brother's beautiful kids

Lola and Bodhi.....my sister's adorable twins.