……..there was confusion the day Madie’s team was supposed to do team pictures (I don’t do them so please don’t call) – having said that – I had my camera in the car and all of the girls were there.

So I told Coach, “ok – I’ll do it, under one condition”…………

….yep.

Don’t worry grandmas – I got the standing up straight picture too (yawn)
But I like pix of 8-9 year old girls when they look like 8-9 year old girls.
The “peace” thing is very big for the girls right now…… what a great group of girls.

Smiles and sweetness to each and every one of you!
~M

Connor is such a good little boy! He smiles, talks and flirts his way through the entire shoot!

I don’t think I’ll ever be able to do a photoshoot with a child under the age of 5 and NOT take at least one photo of their toes. I’ll never tire of it.

Thanks for making my job easy little man.
Keep those blue eyes, ok?!?!
~M

Remind me…..why do we photographers have and use studios when God gives us this light?

This is what I love about Deb . portraits….you can sneak in the “Yep, despite the dree, the heels, the pearls and the up-do…..I’m a 16 year old girl”

Thanks again for a great shoot Lucia!
You are a natural beauty!
~M

We used to play with dolls, then it was Barbies, now it’s Wii.

We used to watch her throw tantrums, then it was negotiation, now it’s eye-rolls.

We used to sing and dance to the radio at Target, then we just sang, now she’s MORTIFIED if I hum.

We used to laugh at her facial expressions, then it was the things she says, now its…both.

We used to watch her doing summersaults, then it was cartwheels, now it’s flips off of the divingboard at the pool.

She used to have an opinion, she still does.

She used to drive me nuts, she still does.

She used to be my radiant little light….now she’s just plain radiant in her own light.

She used to be my baby girl. Now she’s 9.

The thing is – I don’t typically mind birthdays. My mom once told me that the minute you think “this is my favorite phase” of childhood then something else new and spectacular would come up at the next stage that was even better. I kinda feel like that as my kids age. I don’t mind them growing up because I like the people they are becoming……..99% of the time at least.

Along with 9 comes the ability to just “hang out” the responsibilities of chores, allowances and the heart of a one-day-babysitter. Along with 9 is the ability to put away your own clothes, make your own grill-cheese sandwitch and help weed the flower bed. 9 means you are old enough to pick out your own clothes, create your own style and decide if your hair is gonna be warn long or short.

But 9 also means you still hold moms hand every now and then, you still want to be tucked in at night and you still value the opinion of mom. You still crave one-on-one time with your daddy, you still cry into moms waist after a hard day at school and you still sing at the top of your lungs in the car.

9 is ok….
9 is good…
9 isn’t too old yet….

……if I keep saying it I’ll convince myself.

9.

I’d forgotten how good wind in the hair feels on the lake.

I hope you all had a great Memorial weekend!
~M

I do love you Blog. You are always there for me, you don’t mock my spelling errors and you always laugh at my jokes. But Blog….as much as I love you…it’s Memorial Day Weekend and that means I’m gonna have to close my laptop, stay off of my iPhone and give some attention to my other loves.

You see dear Blog, you are reliable, consistent and kind.
But my other loves are fun, cheerful and a little bit obnoxious

You are indeed necessary for my business to be successful
But my other loves are necessary for brain to be functional.

You are the T in my iced tea blog…
But my other loves are the red in my red-draw with just a hint of lime and salt in a frosted glass.

I’ll be back on Tuesday Blog – but for the next 3 days I’m trading you in for my other loves.

Please understand.
~Micki

My other loves…….

When this is the first photo of the session…….

……ya know it’s gonna be a good morning.

Presley is never one to disappoint when it comes to facial expressions.
QT!

Thanks again guys!
You have a beautiful family!
~M

That’s what I’m gonna call them….Ya know those comments that seem to be compliments, but they make you stop and say…hummmm…Thank you?

Thank you for that Compliment….Kinda.

For example….

Last week I was talking to someone I know the conversation got around to the fact that I’m 36 years old, and his response was “No Way! No way YOU are 36?” …hummmm…Thank you?

Sunday my daughter told me “Mommy, that dress looks so nice on you! Lots better than the one you wore last week!” …hummmm…Thank you?

I did pictures for an old client last month, she called and left the sweetest message saying “Micki – I love the photos! They are amazing, so much better than the last set we did!!” …hummm…Thank you?

Guess it’s just one of those weeks!

~M

One of the best parts of my job is I get to meet some amazing people.
I get to meet great moms
I get to shoot creative and inspirational brides

….and I get to meet people like Tessa M. What a beauty, and by that I mean on the inside too.

Tessa plays so we thought this would be a fun little shot for her to have.
God Bless Tessa!
It was an absolute joy to meet and get to know you and your family!

~M