The Wagenbrenners

Dan and Amie are in the throws of parenting the sweetest, most laid back little girls.  They are in a crazy stage of life-with two little ones under 3 years old.  They do a lot of laughing, a lot of tickling, piggyback riding, chasing, a lot of holding, helping, and hugging.  

I love how playful you are as a family.  Amie, I know a lot your day is spent sitting on the floor with imaginary tea parties, scavenging for missing Barbie shoes, and cutting meals into tiny chewable pieces. You are doing an amazing job!  Dan you are surrounded by pink, purple, and My Little Ponies instead of G.I.JOE.   You too are doing an amazing job!  Dan and Amie, together you know how to make life for Mya and Winter full of love, teamwork, and comfort.  They are secure, happy, and deeply loved little girls-it shows right through their smiles.  Together you create a climate of ease and one that is full of love.  Thank you for inviting me to capture your family.  I loved every minute of the afternoon I spent with you 4!  May God's goodness and protection continue to rest over you :)

The Baiseri Family

I have been more than slow on my blog posting.  This family has been waiting in the wings of my computer.  Meet the Baiseri family.  Andrea has a smile that is larger than life and exudes fun.  She loves teal and orange and will decorate just about anything in one of those two colors :)  James is cool as a cat.  He knows just what to say and how to make his bride laugh.  They have been a couple since high school days-when prom dresses had big poofy bows and ratted bangs were en vogue.  Their love and comfort with one another is palpable.  Together they have had 4 children-ranging in age from 18 years to almost 2.  I have gotten to photograph a lot of families and each family teaches me something new, they show me something special in life, and they broaden my hearts definition of what it is to be a family.  What I loved about the Baiseri kids, it that each one is at a very unique stage in life. Austin is wrapping up high school and the world as he knows it is about to get so much bigger, challenging, and exciting.  Greyson is 10 and he is a that tween stage....growing up, but not too sure how that goes yet.  He is sweet and goofy, young-yet not so young, all at the same time.  Charlotte is 6 (very soon) and she is going on 30.  She is in kindergarten, but that seems way too elementary for her.  Her facial expressions match her zest for saying the funniest things.  I feel like we could go to coffee and be great friends.  Then there is Hazel, who is almost 2.  That girl can give some good looks.  She is particular and is very close to her family.  She has a very tight bond with her siblings-and she soaked in each one in a very different way while we were together.  She could give Arnold a run for his money with a "What you talking about Willis?" She knows what she likes and what she wants to do.

   

Some of my favorite photos from every session I have are the imperfect ones...those images where some of the family is looking and some are not, where funny faces abound, where people don't know where to put their arms (and its awkward and funny all at the same time) and where the smiles are so big they are almost audible-eyes closed mouth open smiles.  This is what family looks like.  Not perfect.  Not always pristine.  Not just so.  Not all on the same page, even.  These photos are my favorite.  I think it's these photos that represent what your life and love as a family truly looks like-it is how all of us who live outside your front door see you. 

Baiseri family you are a crack up.  You fit together perfectly and do "family" beautifully.  I know life has ups, downs, and all arounds.  You know that full well.  I know that you can proudly say, God has seen you through every twist and turn.  Be proud, because the smiles you wear, bare His glory and His faithfulness.  

The Anderson Family

Meet the Anderson Family.  When God brought our families together, my oldest was 3 months old and Nancy was pregnant with her first baby.  Little did we know that 6 years later, there would be 10 kids between us.  God knew what he was doing when he meshed our two families together in friendship.  Not only do the Andersons have 5 children, like my husband and I, but they have multiples too and that brings a whole new level of chaos into the mix.  We are thankful to have a family we can be trying to keep our heads above water with, raise our kids to know and love Jesus with, and to soon vacation with :) This Christmas I was also able to get Nana Patti and Grandpa Norm into the mix.  I love taking photos of grandchildren with their grandparents.  My heart always swells with joy at the blessings of family generations. By California standards it was almost freezing and soooo windy.  I was blown away (alomst literally) by how well these little kiddos handled the weather.  They proved there is almost nothing a gummy bear won't fix! Who knew gummy bears can not only make your warmer but make kids laugh hysterically too?

 

Thank you Anderson Family for being so special and for always making my camera so happy with your smiles.  I love spending time with you with or without my own kids :)