Jersey Girls

I must tell you. I had a BLAST with these two gals!!! We hit lots of local spots on Clearwater Beach for this session... including splashing under the pier! I know Nancy has been waiting ever-so-patiently on this preview, so just for her I'm showcasing a bunch of images here. (Your gallery will be up before you know it!) :)

Take a look at these beauties.... like mother, like daughter!

I loooved this graffitti under the pier. :)

Loved all the signage too!

And perhaps my favorite....

Ohh I have so many more super-fun shots! I wish I could blog the whole darn session! And can you really believe I had this much fun with COLOR?! You just never know about me, do ya? ;)

Blessed beyond measure.

I have had the privilege of having Laura as a best friend for, oh, about 25 years! I really can't remember when we met, of course it was when we were little kids... but it just seems like I've known her since birth! I can't remember NOT knowing her. We have had SO much fun through the years. Our birthdays are on the same day, one year apart. So we had lots of birthday parties together. We've kept in touch no matter where life has taken us... my moving all over the country, our weddings, the birth of four (soon-to-be five!) babies, and everything that comes afterwards. We're really "kindred spirits", as Anne of Green Gables would say. :) I can remember hanging out in her bedroom drinking Coke from a glass bottle, calling up the local radio station to request our favorite New Kids On The Block hits (LOL!), dancing, teasing our bangs, and modeling for the camera like we were ready for the cover of Teen magazine. (Yep, I have a few early photos that I found at my Mom's house... my "budding photography career" at age 14! Remind me NEVER to share those embarrassing shots with you, by the way.) ;) Whew, the flashbacks! And the big hair!!

We still joke about all those summers we spent together... especially the bean patch. ;) Since she had a pool and we didn't, we'd get calls during late summer like this one... "Hi Stacey, do you and your sisters wanna come over and swim tomorrow? Good! Well, we gotta pick beans first....." :/ That stinker. She just wanted six extra hands to help her in the string bean patch!!! And I'm afraid we weren't very much help either.... bean-pickin' just wasn't my thing. Good thing there was a hammock about 10 feet from the edge of the garden.

Anyway, when I was in KY a few weeks ago, I got the chance to hang out with her family and photograph them again. All five of them this time, not just her three beautiful daughters! Take a look..... sort of a "day in the life." Without the bean patch. :)

Playin' on the bed.... what better way to spend the day?!

I loooove this one.......

Couldn't resist this one in her crib. She was a HOOT!

Then we headed out in the SNOW!

*sigh* They're growing up so fast on me. I remember when they were born, when they were babies, and when they were toddling around. Now it's swim meets (gold and silver medals for these girls, by the way!) and preteen stuff. I don't wanna even know about the boys. Don't even tell me!!

Yep, COLOR from me. I couldn't resist, what with all their gorgeous "bundled-up-ness" and all...

And what better way to warm up... than with a nice warm BUBBLE BATH?!

"Mommyyyyyy!!!" ;) The littlest one needed a towel every time bubbles got on her chin.... which was every 5 seconds, LOL!

This last one just tugs on my heart.... what sweet bliss.

I'm so proud of and happy for you, Laura, my sweet friend. Your life has been blessed so richly. I love you to pieces, and I hope you enjoy my little peek into your life... your fun, crazy-happy, laughter-filled morning with your family. XOXOXOX

Love, Stace

Shhh, I have a Crush...

I have a confession: I have a serious crush on this man. I can't get him off my mind. I think about him all throughout the day, and find myself daydreaming (yes, instead of proofing sessions, shhh!) about when I'll see him next. My Crush gives me butterflies in my stomach whenever he looks at me, and everytime he calls me "Sugah" or "Stacey Jo". I swoon over his deep Southern drawl, and the way his lip curls up when he's about to crack a joke that he knows will get to me. My Crush is the smartest man I've ever met; he just amazes me sometimes. He works so hard at his job, even with times as tough as they are in his industry. He's unbelievable. My Crush is extremely generous, compassionate, and a loyal, true friend. He lives every day to the fullest, and never, ever gives up on something he wants. He's an amazing father, the absolute best I've ever seen.... and his son adores him with every breath. He's my tall, dark and handsome Prince Charming. He's energetic, sweet, and completely hilarious. My Crush makes me laugh out loud even when I'm in a rotten mood, and he's so patient with me and our life, even when it gets hectic and all out of sorts, my Crush is there to put things in perspective and get things back on the right track again. Some days I need to pinch myself to see if this is really real... our wonderful, crazy, sweet life together.

I'm just so glad I snatched this man up almost 10 years ago!! ;) Happy Birthday to my Husband, my Crush, my Sweetheart. Chris honey, you just keep getting better and better. And I LOVE YOU to pieces.

XOXO,
Your Not-So-Secret Admirer

(Just a snapshot, since he's quite camera shy.) Imagine that, being camera shy in this house?! ;)

And I'm coming back to add a photo of our little birthday celebration..... Sweet Parker made this cake all by himself (well, with just a *tiny* bit of my help, but not much) and helped me frost it, and put ALL of the sprinkles on by himself, AND stuck in every single candle he could find! I think we offended Chris by having so many!!! LOL! ;) But just look at Parker's proud face as his Daddy gets ready to blow out the candles on his extra-special cake. It was worth every single crumb and eggshell I had to clean up, to see my two boys together like this. :)

Tub Time.

I have to post this shot from the other day.... just 'cause I love it so much. :) And I love the light that comes in from that bathroom window. Ahhh.

Happy Tuesday, everyone!