Mother's Day

(First of all, I've not blogged in forever and a day...my apologies)





Mother's day makes my stomach hurt....I'm not gonna lie. It makes my chest tight, my head hurt and my heart race. And not in a good way.



This will be my third Mother's day without my mom. I don't know why this day is so hard for me. This day is harder than the anniversary of the day she passed.


It's on this day, and those leading up to it, that I sift through all the pictures and memories, and my heart aches. I watch our home movies, and all that longing for her returns.
It's on this day that I'm most aware I don't have a mom anymore. That I don't have someone that I can honor on this day.


It's funny how Mother's day is...for me anyway. My kids are great, and I love being their mom, but let's be honest. They don't really get it. I know they love me and appreciate what I do as best they can...but they still don't get it. It's not until you are a mom that you can truly know what your own mother sacrificed and gave. And you understand all the pain and heartbreak that a mama goes through.

I guess for me Mother's day is about her..and not about me. I wish I could hug her one more time. I miss her voice. In fact, it's hard for me to even remember her voice, it's been so long since I heard it. The disease she had took that from her early on. I miss her laugh. I miss they way that she could drive me crazy faster than anyone ever could. I hate that my kids don't have her anymore.


So I guess I just wanted to say....hug your mamas today. Love them even when they make you crazy, and angry.

I love this picture of her.....it makes me laugh.
Happy Mother's day friends. :)

I love how cute these guys are....are they good looking or what?



I also love how he looks at her....who's with me? And the hand holding? I didn't even tell them to do that. They have been married 10 years and they still act like newlyweds to me. ;)

Jana, you lied to me and said you take horrible pictures. You. are. beautiful.



I love when people enjoy each other's company. :)



And I just like this shot...love the chairs.


Thank you Jana and David you guys were great...and thanks for being patient and braving the winds. :)

Adam + Lindsay=married

Adam and Lindsay..what can I say? Beautiful couple, beautiful children, beautiful family. Beautiful wedding.





This blog post is gonna be quite photo heavy....just a warning. I had a TON of pics and so many that I love, plus all the cute kiddos....it was just to hard to choose a few, so sit back and enjoy the show!

Pretty, pretty primping bride!




These shoes are made for walking... down the aisle. ;)



Thank you to my assistant for this fabulous shot.



Breathtaking..............




Lounging bride.....one of my favorites.





Hands down...I think my favorite shot. It's a little kooky, but that's how I roll.



The happy couple....











And lastly, the beautiful kiddos.......









love this one.....






Thank you Adam and Lindsay for inviting me to be a part of your special day. Much love to your darling family!

Scott + Michelle

Neither wind, nor rain, or stormy gale...........prevented these two from tying the knot! See the brides veil blowing....that's from the gale force winds!



I can honestly say I've never been to a more action-packed wedding in my whole life! Junior bridesmaid and flower girls crying in terror, people falling, lightening crashing, thunders rolling, you name it.

These two were trying to console each other while the thunder and lightning was crashing just outside. This was the LOUDEST thunder I have ever heard! Deafening!




Scott and Michelle had their ceremony in an outdoor portico area of a golf course. It was just lovely, nevermind the monsoon that blew in from the west!


Now on to some of my fave's from the day.



Love this.











Happy bride...courtesy of funny friends. ;)



Could this be any sweeter?




Cake!




This makes me laugh every time I look at it. Reach for the sky ! I had so much fun with all of you!



This was a complete accident...but this is my favorite shot. Maybe of all my weddings.



I'm taking the whole thing as a metaphor for Scott and Michelle's relationship.

They are built to endure. :)

Thank you Haywood's for letting me a part of your special day!

baby L(ove)

Three words....





Sweet. Baby. Girl. Look at that smile....sigh, is your heart melting?




This could be my most interesting newborn prop to date....moose antler anyone? I think antlers just scream baby don't you? This little one's papaw and daddy are serious hunters...I love that we did this. Love.



And I have a small obsession with these kind of garden chairs. I own several myself and when I spied this in the the grandparents yard..I insisted they haul it over for the session. So glad I did.




Ahh, to sleep like a babe.





Thank you Ison's for allowing me into your home, and to capture your new little one.

Scott+Michelle+Emma

The third time is the charm evidently. Storms kept us from meeting up twice!!! But finally less than two weeks before the wedding we made the engagement session happen! And what a night it was.....playing in the creek, random dogs, bearded dragons.....quite the time, indeed.




I have known Michelle since she was a little girl...she has always been beautiful. I was just a teenager myself back in the day when Michelle and I used to hang out. We hadn't seen each other for many years, and she contacted me about doing her wedding. I excitedly accepted. :) I always enjoyed her family so much.







I was also lucky enough to get to photograph their gorgeous daughter also. She is so beautiful, I couldn't help but add a couple of shots of her to this post. She looks EXACTLY like her mama used too. So. Darn. Beautiful.


Goodness those eyes.......



I can't wait for the big day Scott and Michelle!!!

The Rissler Family

Meet the Rissler family.....










Good gracious...is this mama gorgeous or what?





And Dad's not so bad either...;)






Beautiful little girls.



I had to work SUPER hard for this one to smile. But oh my, it was so worth it.




Such little dolls...these photos make me feel like we were in a different time.....

Thank you Risslers for a beautiful evening. :D