Liz & Family

My freshmen year in college I lived in the dorms.  And, as much as I enjoyed living in a 12x12 cinderblock room with (thankfully!) a wonderful roommate, by the time spring rolled around we were quick to find a new place to call home.  My dorm roommate and I had found a cute place northwest of town for $188 per person.  We were ecstatic!  But we needed to find three more roommates to keep costs down.  Megan, the girl across the hall (and also the owner of the lovely Little Yellow Leaf, I might add) had a friend from her design classes who was also looking for a place to rent.

I will never forget the day I met Liz.  As we walked from our dorms to the parking lot together, I remember being in complete awe of her heels.  I think there was still snow and ice on the ground, but it didn't phase her.  All 4'11" of her strode across the asphalt on three inch heels with ease.  Obviously, I was quite impressed.

Little did I know how much of an impact Liz would have on my life.  We remained roommates throughout college.  She taught me the difference between stilettos and kitten heels (yes, I am from small-town Kansas... it's not my fault).  She established my enjoyment of coffee by making caffeine concoctions of brewed coffee, hot cocoa, and milk.  After work we would go for a run around the trails by our house, followed by sneaking into the neighborhood apartment pool, floating on cheap rafts and pondering life as we tanned into oblivion.  She also helped me through one of the worst summers of my entire life. 

Yep, she's pretty awesome.  And I was  thrilled when she asked me to photograph her family at their home during the week of Thanksgiving.  Their family is hilarious, and her mom is such a sweetheart.  Plus, check out that backyard. How wonderful to have a little oasis within the city!

It was a gift to meet you back in the good ol' days, Liz.  You and your heels have been such a beautiful blessing!

Megan, Ben, Carson & Brynlee - Family Session

I had been looking forward to Thanksgiving weekend for weeks!  Not because of the turkey (yikes... sweet potatoes instead please) but because I'd get to see my family, cook a lot, and take photos of Megan and her family during the visit to my hometown.

Megan was a high school classmate and great friend.  One of the few I've kept in touch with since graduating.  And it's most likely due to a major common interest that's continued to be a binding force to this day.  We were Yearbook buddies, all four years.  Megan and I were in charge of the darkroom, which, lucky for us, meant we spent one class period per day developing film, rolling film, and developing photographs.  It. Was. Awesome.  Favorite class of the day, easily. Not only did we get work with all things photography related, we also had time to talk.  And talk some more.  And tell stories.  And process all our thoughts like girls need to do.  And we laughed a lot.  Oh wow, I'm dorky.  And I miss yearbook.  And giggling with Megan for an hour each day.

So, when Megan wanted family photos before the year-end, I was honored to have a session with her family.  Her and Ben's kids are so freaking cute.  I about died when Carson got out of the vehicle at our first location and immediately went down on one knee and smiled super big for his photo!  And anytime we shuffled around a bit, he would go right back to his knee and smile big, ready for his picture to be taken (first photo below, for example).  It was cracking me up.  So cute.  That's what happens when mom's a photographer too - he knew exactly what to do and wasn't shy one bit in front of the lens!

Megan - it was so fun to see you and your growing family.  It is fun and humbling to photograph for another photographer.  Thanks for the opportunity, and I hope to see you again over Christmas!

Sorry for typing so much on a photo blog.  I just couldn't post these without providing the background story - she has been a very important part of my photography growth!