My, oh my.

October. This is the month I last made a blog post. Yep. Right before Halloween. Yep. That pretty much sums up my life. Once Halloween hits, the holidays suck me in like a tornado. They pick me up, swirl me around, toss me through the sky a few times, and then place me back down on my own 2 feet. Solid ground. Ahhhh. Solid ground, how happy I am to see you again.

I had all great intentions of doing a whole Year in Review thing. You know, like all of the best images of 2011? Yep. It's 2012 now. I missed my deadline by about 24 hours. To be quite honest with you all though, it would be impossible for me to pick these images. There are SO MANY. Way too many for any average Joe (or Meg) to just click through and throw into a single blog post. Truth be told, you guys are just too beautiful. You, my clients, have spoiled me ROTTEN this year. Spoiled, spoiled, spoiled. NEVER have I had to admit this before! Your gorgeous kids, your sweet expressions, your amazing comments and posts, all of the love and support of this not-so-new-anymore, local business. Wow. Just. Wow. I have no idea what I have done to deserve such giving people in my life, but I am truly thankful for each and EVERY one of you.

So, instead of creating the "Best Of" post, I am sitting here creating the "Thank You" post. And thanking you simply doesn't feel like enough. In the year 2012,  I vow to pay it forward. In what ways? Well, I haven't gotten this far yet. But let me tell you, it will happen. Bound and determined (and a determined me is quite a force...red-haired-middle-child thing), I WILL be paying forward the gratitude, love, and unconditional support you have all shown me in 2011. And when it happens, you will be the 1st to know.

So for now? For now I leave you with these words borrowed from a friend:

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You are enough.
You are okay as you are right now.
You are not behind. You are exactly where you're supposed to be.
There is nothing else you should be doing except what you're doing right now.
Be where you are. Inhabit the space you're in. Know that you are safe.
Those shoulds don't have to run you. They're all just stories -- and are therefore negotiable.
Take a breath and remember this.
You can choose.
You can choose what you say yes to and what you release.
You are powerful.
And your time on the earth is precious. So, you can choose to use your time to love yourself. And others. You can choose to do only what you love.
You are worth it. You are worth the effort.
May you resolve to be completely, wonderfully, and unapologetically yourself this season. May you unwrap and discover the gift that is you.

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Happy 2012

 Once again, I present a member of my Baby Break family. Only this time, she comes with her own family, including the dog, Steve. Why did they name him Steve? Because their last name is Martin! This says a lot about the type of people they are! 

Ms. Shelley has taught both of my Little's, as well as 2 of my nieces. She has worked for Baby Break for 20 years, and is an OUTSTANDING teacher. She connects with the kiddos on a different level than anyone else. Her classroom is a fun, exciting, educational environment where she makes all of her 3 year old's feel safe. She is the teacher who takes that large step into beginning the preschool process with children. Ms. Shelley has taught my kid's how to write their names, how to say the Pledge of Allegiance, how to speak Spanish, and how to be confident little ladies. She treats each child as an individual and takes the time to help them when they need it. I cannot say enough good things about her!!!

So, let me tell you about the family dynamic! Between Shelley and her husband, I thought my face might literally break in half from laughing so hard. Holding the camera steady was definitely a task! They play off of each other so well, and simply go with the flow when it comes to their kids. I really appreciate a set of parents who can simply sit back and let their kids be kids during a photo shoot. And due to the relaxed, fun, hilarious couple of hours, this session will go down in the Top 10 all time favorites EVER! 

I leave you with a few of my favorites from the day. There were SEVERAL awesome outtakes (some worthy of a Christmas card!), but those will be kept private for Steve's sake!!

 Thank you Shelley and Tim for being AMAZING.

Blast From My Past

I spent weeks and weeks speaking with this awesome lady who wanted her family portraits done. We had several discussions on locations, she followed my Facebook page (you should too!), and we exchanged MANY e-mails. All the while, I am seeing her name typed, semi-stalking her on Facebook (you do it too, so don't judge!), and it simply never clicked.

It was seriously like the day before her family's session when I realized that she is married to someone I used to go to High School with. Not only was I in school with her husband and his younger brother, but she went to the SAME SCHOOL. Seriously?! Have I completely lost my mind??? Is this what happens with age? Could it be because of stress? Or possibly because I am usually working-pausing-working-pausing while children are screaming, interrupting, arguing, crying, needing cuddles, or wanting snacks? My guess is that all of the above played a role in the lack of connection.

Upon arriving for their session (with a rested, and slightly embarrassed, brain) it was as if I were hit with a brick. OF COURSE we went to school together!! They even look EXACTLY the same as they did 15 years ago! And let me tell you something...these 2 make GORGEOUS babies. Beautiful eyes, great hair, sweet little faces, and amazing attitudes. I was in photog heaven with this family!! Take a look:

 See what I mean?!?!

A Part of My Life

As I begin this blog post, I must give a little background info. My family (beginning about 9 years ago) stumbled upon some amazing people. My niece began going to a Parents Day Out-Preschool Program at Bethel St. Paul. Eventually, my other nieces began attending, my sister-in-law began working there, then I enrolled my Little's, and I loved it so much that I jumped on board and began working there, as well. Although this little family has gained, as well as lost, a few members, they are just that: Family. They take care of my kiddos, and about 60 others, just as they would their own.

Now, with the back story, I present to you Ms. Lauren and her fabulous family. Max and Molly are SERIOUSLY, no doubt, NO joking, SERIOUSLY a couple of the CUTEST KIDS EVER. I mean EVER. And you can't even tell that Max went to the hospital 2 days before the shoot for a few stitches in the head!

 So sorry Lauren...I just had to! More back story: She was being attacked by a GIANT spider. No one else seemed to care though!!!

It's a small, small world...

Just in case you were not aware already, I have been volunteering my photographic services to Ronald McDonald House Charities of Kentuckiana. Months ago, the Manager of Special Events booked a session for the fall. This session was an EXTRA special session. It was to include her ENTIRE family; Mom, Dad, sister, brothers, in-laws, and nephews. Not only would it include all of the family, it was to take place on the farm where they all grew up.

Once I arrived on location, I realized this was right around the corner from the farm where I grew up. As I began talking to all of the family, I felt as though I recognized a couple of them. After about 30 minutes into the shoot, we discovered that the father actually knew the property where I grew up quite well, and 2 of the women had even worked at my dad's company! This world NEVER ceases to amaze me. I feel as if we all circle around the same people, and eventually we come right back to them, in one form or another.

Now, no more chatter. This GIANT family was a blast! LOTS of joking, laughter, silliness, a few tears, and cow poop. Cow poop??? Oh, yes. LOTS of that too!

Long time, no post...

Okay, okay, okay...It's been a REALLY long time since a blog post. When beginning my business a little over a year ago, I had no clue how busy I would be this fall! Blessed, thankful, happy, amazed, giddy, and excited? YES! All of the above! Thank you to ALL of my clients, fans, and family for keeping me on my toes!

Sooooo...Let's begin again, shall we? And what better place to start than with more little girls :) Seriously, could they be any cuter? These two little ladies stole my heart!