archer {eleven days new}

This sweet pea is now a month old! He had the cutest facial expressions the whole time I was photographing him.

I love that he sleeps with his legs straight up! Too funny!

ashley & david {paramount ranch engagement session}

I met Ashley and David on a rainy day in December at Starbucks, learned their sweet story and was excited to be chosen to photograph their wedding in August! We did their engagement session at Paramount Ranch, which is now my favorite location. It is an adorable western “town” that was used in movies quite frequently!

It was so hard for me to choose my favorites from the afternoon, but here they are! Ashley and David, I can’t wait to photograph your wedding this summer!!

kalina & elise {children}

While I was in MO, I got to photograph these sweet girls, who belong to some dear friends of ours! We used to spend Easters together while we all lived in NC. It was SO cold for some of these, but you can’t tell by the two happy girls!

laura & todd {maternity}

Living far away from our families for so long, we made many friends who are now our family too. Laura and Todd are two of those people. We have lived on the opposite coast for nearly 5 years, and that is about the same amount of time they had been trying to get pregnant. After lots of prayers, doctor visits, shots, surgeries, tears, and four rounds of IVF, they are expecting their daughter in June. And I got to visit and take a ton of maternity shots all over KC, MO!

ari {newborn}

I have been behind on the blogging!! This sweet baby was born at the end of January, and I got to meet him when he was 10 days old! His mama is one of my oldest dear friends, and I could not be happier for her.

benjamin is seven {birthday party}

I’m finally blogging my own child’s party! This little boy loves (LOVES) Star Wars, which makes his dad very happy. I found some great ideas on Pinterest, and I have a mom and mother in law who are helpful with my crazy ideas!

First, a couple handsome kid portraits! (Thanks to my mom for making the “B” shirt!!)

I had a lot of fun with the food!

The menu: Palpatine Pizzas (English muffin pizzas), Vader Veggies with Droid Dip, Boba Fruit, Wookie Cookies (I made star shaped sugar cookies), Light Sabers (pretzel sticks dipped in the colored candy melts from Michael’s), Tie Fighters (100 Calorie Pack Oreo cookies stuck to a mini marshmallow with melted white chocolate chips), Thermal Detonators (Whopper candy) with Bantha Blue Milk and Yoda Soda (1 pint lime sherbet and a 2 liter of Sprite) to drink. And we had to have Hoth Chocolate Cakes (just cupcakes with silver sugar on top). I found some free fonts online for the invitation, banner, cupcake toppers, etc (here and here).

Party favors: A bag with a Star Wars eraser, Space flash cards and 2 glow sticks (I found all of these in the dollar section at Target). We also gave each child an inflatable light saber (from party city) and a Jedi robe (made by my amazing mother in law).

My mother in law also painted this Yoda, who was a photo booth background and the “Pin the lightsaber on Yoda” game. We also played Star Wars Bingo (free printable here), did a Stormtrooper craft (free printable here), and played with Star Wars masks and toys.

The guests had a blast, as did the birthday boy!

jake, sam and carter are four {pirate birthday party}

These little boys got to celebrate their fourth birthday with a pirate party this past weekend, and it was super fun!

I love this cake!!

Jack Sparrow even came for some swordfighting!

Then it was time for singing and cake!

the wecks family

Many of you know Scarlett and her story (one that’s way too big for any two year old!). Read about her journey here, if you’re unfamiliar! I got to do this shoot after Scarlett’s latest surgery and before starting chemo. I was blessed with lots of smiles!

leah

By now, the baby boy that’s in my dear friend’s belly in these photos should be out! I can’t wait to meet him…

alyssa & payton

These sweet peas belong to my oldest friend! She came by to see me while I was in town and I got to hold her baby and take pictures.