Everything about that image sums up what I love about life, summer, family, beach, water and the North Shore.  I love the light.  I love the rocks and lumps of seaweed — this ocean and that landscape is what I know.  I love the reflection of their feet in the sand.  I love that her feet do not touch the ground.  I love that they are holding hands.  I love that he is looking at her and she is screaming with joy.  I love that the youngest is trying to keep up.  I love that the parents are so happy and engaged behind them.  This will be an image that I look at when I am sad, just to make me happy.  This will be the first image on my new web site.  I love it.

OK, back to reality, land the plane.  I first shot these kiddos way back when, two years ago.  I was thrilled when I got a call for another session.  Nothing makes me happier than seeing clients I love, and seeing how their children have grown.  When they said they were at the beach, one of my favorite beaches that I grew up at, I was really excited.  And of course you know what happens when I arrive at a session… I play the name game and sure enough, I know the neighbors… and the other neighbors… and the others…. so no, there really are no strangers in my life.

The weather called for 70% chance of showers and thunderstorms.  Seriously.  What a great job.  You can be wrong ALL THE TIME and not get fired.  Sign me up.  There was not one cloud in the sky.  The temperature was perfect August.  The was a record low tide which made for a glorious sand bar.  Kids amazing.  Parents were awesome.  Never mind the weatherman, I have a great job.

Thanks Shannon & Geoff and kids.  It was awesome.

I had a very funny morning with this family.  Funny because Luca ran like crazy, Paco laughed a lot, Sophie chased and Seb just sat and took it all in.  And what made it so awesome, is that all I had to do was shoot!

So here are a few, especially family ones with all four of them looking at the camera!  Believe in the impossible and it will happen!

Safe travels home to Spain.  It was wonderful to see you and I look forward to your next visit!

And you should all know that I stood in the middle of the street on the double yellow line and stopped traffic while I took this.  Complete with jumping up and down to get everyone to look at me.  Whatever it takes, baby.

And this is Sophie & Paco when they are all spiffed up!  Not bad, right??

[proofed on my laptop, apologize if the colors are wonky!]

I am even more lucky because I have known Josh since before he was born.  Really.  No joke.  Our families are BFFs.  Really BFFs.  It doesn’t matter if we don’t see each other for months on end, we are still BFFs.  I can’t actually even put it into words the connection we have with this family.  When I was like 6 or 7 I was looking out the window at the neighbors getting ready to go to Prom and I apparently said “Josh Chaffin can take me to the prom.”  When I was reminded about that in later years (as I am actually reminded whenever I see Josh or my mother wants to embarrass me), it’s really really funny!!

I found a prom date other than Josh… and a few years later, Josh found Maisie who is a dream.  She is so kind, open, and brings an amazing spark to not only Josh’s life, but also to Peggy & Nate’s (after 39 years, I apparently have the green light to call Mrs Chaffin “Peggy”).  She is beautiful and has a lovely spirit.  Josh grew into a handsome, articulate and caring guy.  Together, they have Issac.  And he is beyond yummy.  I spent about 30 minutes with just Issac and I was IN.  LOVE.  Everything about this boy is the bomb.  It was so fun to see this family together, and to watch how careful and loving they are with their boy, and to see how much they love each other.

Thank you for an amazing morning.  You guys really are like my second family.  Can’t wait until you are living state-side again!

Kit-kat came home from school, literally RAN past me to the shower so she could look all awesome for our session… and she was a ROCK STAR… no, maybe more like a Gap model.  Sort of like Christofer, she’s a little excited because someone else is around, but WHAM she can turn it on for the camera in a split second.  She is ever gorgeous, ever a teenager at age 5.  Love her.

And Erica is beautiful.  Really.  What else is there to say?  I stinkin’ love her too.  She and I have these off the wall conversations that I think about after I leave her house and I kill myself laughing.

I want to post more, but I have to go pay a few moving violation fines so I don’t end up in the clink… and as much as there are about 30 more I’d love to show you, we really want to keep them a surprise!  We’ll share another time!

So here is our sneak peak from April with a gallery and uploaded Facebook albums (and a canvas display wall diagram) all coming at you!  It might be fun for you to see my logic in suggesting canvas displays, and I have a few others I need to complete (Terri Lee)…. so maybe I’ll share that thought process as well!

Back to the boys.  Love these two.  They are doing SO well at sitting.  I would be they are even better two weeks later, so when I am there at end of this month, we’ll have way more to show you as these guys develop, the grass is greener, the temps are warmer and we move outside!  I already have grand plans for those rose bushes and just wait ’til I can get into that barn!

We might need to revisit the baseball theme next month so I can do it up right!

I am seriously loving these babes though. They have totally distinct personalities, but are so cute in that they still grab for each other, knowing they are connected. And I think they weigh more than Janey… and Will for sure has more hair than she does! Hopefully she’ll like younger men…

I am

I’d say my only regret about the entire morning is that I didn’t get to chill with Tracey enough. She is so cute (and in such great shape, triathlon girl) and there were a ton of things I could have caught up talking to her about. But I guess we’ll get to that if we figure out holiday cards + a bottle of wine!

Tracey and co, awesome morning (I know, I overuse the word awesome). Can’t wait to get you the full gallery! Thank you!