I love this family.

I was lucky enough to first photograph them a few years ago right before they were moving to California. The son was about 2, and the weather was awful, and so we shot in my studio.

They were back in town visiting this month, and I was SO excited to photograph them again, and to meet their newest kiddo as well.

We blew bubbles, ate donuts, fed squirrels, climbed trees and raced through the grass. It was so much fun. This squirrel we fed? FEARLESS.

It has been a really big week over here. Please excuse me while I brag on my kid for just a moment.

First, on Friday we learned that Ezra won his school read-a-thon (which happened back in February). He read 5026 minutes, the most of any kindergartner, and he won A BRAND NEW BIKE! Which was incredibly exciting!

So we went to pick out said bike (purple!) and then Jamie and I had an ACTUAL DATE NIGHT. With a real, life (vaccinated) babysitter! And while we were on our date, Ezra lost his first tooth!

I just cannot believe he is losing teeth and riding bikes that only have hand brakes and he’s almost a first grader. Life is good. I’m trying hard to really enjoy these days because from what I hear, it will likely head south in about five more years. We’ll see!

Things are finally starting to pick back up with my family shoots, which brings me SO much joy. And I’ve been so lucky that the bugs aren’t even out again yet! (Don’t worry, it’s raining for the next few days so I’m sure the mosquitos will be thick in about 2 weeks).

But for now, we’re enjoying the cool breezes, the spring flowers and the joy that comes with rolling around in green grass.

For the session featured here, we just met at the family’s favorite playground, where they spent a ton of time during the quarantine months. We had fun with bubbles and slides and running and climbing and all that jazz. What a lovely family and a lovely evening.

I had a newborn session this week that was super fun — mostly because not only was there a sweet baby there to take photos of, but the toddler big brother was a complete delight as well. As you can imagine, this is not always the case (which is completely understandable — I’m pretty sure I was a right nightmare for the first 15 years after my own brother was born!).

But that top image is my favorite. The crying baby and the big brother who looks like he’s thinking “How much longer will this whining last?” Dig deep kid, you have a lot ahead of you!

This morning I had a killer headache (thanks spring allergies) and Ezra was begging me to make him a lasso. Thank god for You Tube.

We finally got it sorted, and I thought he would entertain himself with the rope for at least an hour. Well, the good news is that it entertained him all day. The bad news is that he just wanted to lasso everyone in the family and didn’t want to play alone.

Thank God my husband is such a good sport. Don’t worry, I laid down the law early that the dogs were to be left alone (much to the child’s dismay).