We bought a Minivan this morning. The Momma in me loves it, and the girl in me? Well, she’s not exactly doing cartwheels

It’s funny how different people feel about the whole minivan thing. Some refuse to drive them, while others love them. Then you have the in-betweeners. I guess that is where I fit in. I don’t think they are cool, but try getting 3 kids under age 4 in a car out in a parking lot and suddenly, I’m loving that minivan!

My sister-in-law and I had a conversation awhile back about the ‘seasons’ in which we are in with our kids. She is in the rush-to-school, rush-to-after-school-activity, get-the-homework-done, crazy busy season. I am currently in the change-the-diaper, feed-the-baby, get the two-year-old to the potty, nap-time-now season…. we are both in minivans. And they fit. They fit the season, they fit this stage.

Of course our different ‘seasons’ include so much more than what I just listed, moments like these…oh how I love these moments….

So on this gorgeous Monday, I am thankful for minivans and all those precious moments, whatever season we may be in… Happy Monday!

Amy (on the left side in the purple shirt) won the Giveaway this year, and put it to good use getting the whole family out in front of my camera   When I got to her parents house, it had started to rain on me, but luckily after only a few drops it held off and we were able to continue on with the shoot.

Thank you all for trusting me to capture your family, even when I did insist that you stand in tall grass on strange bones

Where do I even start?

Busy.

We.are.busy.

October seems to be my busiest month for photo shoots. And for each and every shoot, I am thankful. So thankful.

But with 3 little girls, it can get kinda crazy! I find myself feeling guilty for being at my computer too much, for saying “not now, Mommy’s busy” and basically for just not being present as much as I’d like to be.

Hence the reason I haven’t blogged lately. I just haven’t found the time to fit it in. It’s all about balance and everyone deals with it in their own way. And I think we probably all feel that we come up short in some way or another.

And on the blogging front, I’ve definitely come up short! (and on the housework, and the laundry, and the playdates with friends)

But we are doing our best to fit in some fun and family time. And looking forward to a slower pace that normally comes after the rush, where I picture myself curled up with hot chocolate in a spotless house with candles burning and my favorite magazines and books. And the girls playing sweetly together.

Hey, a girl can dream, right?!  Reality will probably look more like this; house clean enough, me sitting down with that stack of magazines feeling like I should be doing something else, and going to break up a fight over the same toy 3 times in five minutes. Yep, that sounds about right!

We went to the beach a few weeks ago, and while I’d love to say I have a whole bunch of pictures all ready to share, I don’t, not yet.  But this picture, it speaks to me. I love it so much. Bristol was a little bit afraid of the waves, and here they are, big sister protecting little sis as a wave came crashing in…

Thanks for looking and I’ll be back (soon?) with more to share

I am new to Instagram. I love Instagram. I love it I love it I love it. Get the picture? (pun intended!)

Really, I do love it though I love the way I can easily snap a picture, add some effect(s) and share it quickly. And I love seeing other people’s pictures.

Not only am I new to Instagram, I am also new to a smartphone. I know, I know, how did I hold out so long?! Well, now that I have an iPhone, I really am hooked. However, I don’t want to turn into one of those people who are always on their phone. I don’t want to be constantly checking it and using it. (Personally, I find it rude and I just wanna live in the moment, not in my phone!) But on the flip side, wow! Having it is such a good thing. I have so much right at my fingertips. Love! Checking and replying to email…quick and easy. No waiting till I get back home to my computer. Need a coupon? Just google it. Facebook message…got it. I could go on and on, but let’s get back to my new favorite thing, Instagram.

I am bobbie__brown (two underscores) if you want to follow me.

Here are a few of my Instagram shots…

Another thing I love, I find that I get more pictures of myself.. I am not often in pictures because I am always the one behind the camera. But with my phone, I can easily get shots of myself … even if it is slightly awkward shots of me holding the camera high up over my head

Why yes, we did just get back from the beach.. how did you know?! I promise to post more later, for now, I am crashing!

Loved having this family in front of my camera! Meet Cameron and Brooke, and their adorable little boy Brayden…

Seriously? I am in love with his curls!

Brooke and Cameron had recently gotten married and were planning a big wedding reception, so we got a few ‘save-the-date’ shots…love these!

Thank you all for asking me to do these for you! XoXo

Random pictures…Happy Monday!

Below, all were taken with my point and shoot camera

On Friday, I posted pictures of my ‘Early Bird’ Bristol… well, this girl? She is our Night Owl Kennedy loves to stay up late, and this is how she looked Saturday night (books to read on her right, the books she was finished with are on her left):

She’d had a big day with Mimi and just couldn’t hold her eyes open any longer!

She sits in a patch of sunlight and drinks her chocolate milk while her Sisters sleep. This morning, I grabbed my camera to capture it. The light, the night gown, the little feet, the pink sippy cup, the blond hair – still messy from sleep… I love the feel of these images…

(she moved to the couch after I snapped the first few…)

Thanks for looking

The main focus for this shoot was to capture Ivory at 3 months old…

Isn’t she precious?!

She had been happy all morning, then I showed up and she let us know that she just wasn’t feeling it. So while she was getting bounced, fed, changed and all the other things that make babies happy, I snapped a few of Easton, her big brother. (You can see him HERE in one of my all-time favorite shoots).

Ivory really didn’t want her picture taken at the time, even though Easton offered her a flower he picked (his idea – he really is a good brother!)

Kissy lips…love!

a favorite from that day…

also love these two, and couldn’t decide if I liked it better in black and white, or sepia…

Ivory was born on the same day as my baby, Tenley. We are friends, so that was kinda a big deal – and a surprise since Ivory was about 3 weeks early! I see some shared birthday parties in our future

There is something special about the pictures I capture of my girls on our bed… the light in there is good in the afternoon, so that is where I do Tenley’s weekly pictures lately. And sometimes Kennedy and Bristol decide they want to get in front of my camera too (seeing how they are not always willing, I jump at this chance!) They climb up and just act silly and we talk - that is how I capture these expressions and moments that are simple and real. I love it.

This is a new favorite of mine

I adore this. This is Bristol thinking…

Often she will be sitting there talking to me, then the next thing I know I have a view of her feet! (she flops down on her back and thinks it is hysterical)

My big girl and my baby girl…

Happy Monday!

My brothers girlfriend (Kristen) and her friend (Sarah) had a Tea Party in honor of their long-time friend Kristen getting married (follow all that?!) It was absolutely gorgeous. The setting was my parents patio, and the weather, details, food and just general gorgeousness had me clicking away

Pictured on right; the bride with her Mom and Sister…

Kristen and Sarah, you two did an amazing job, thanks for giving me the opportunity to capture it