A Day in the Life of ... Us.

"Mommy? Why do you take so many pictures of us?"

"I want to remember this." So simple, and yet - so much behind it. As I visit your homes, I can see the look in your eyes ... it's the same as mine. The yearning to immortalize some of these moments .... you know the ones I am talking about. The contagious laughter and gleaming smiles,  the hint of mischief in sparkly little eyes,  the tiny fingers reaching for yours, the just-woke-up sleepy voices. I want to remember this just as much as you do. 

This year, I decided to get personal. Usually I keep to myself and am happy doing so. But this year ... I want to join hands in motherhood and share those special moments with you that we all want to remember. In 2016 I committed myself to my own "Project 12" ... one or two days a month dedicated to documenting my family "as is"... including my cluttered, unorganized home and my less than perfect (but still pretty amazing!) children (and a stinky dog in there on occasion....) . 

I could ramble on... and on... and on .... but I'll spare ya, and invite you to take a glimpse into my humble little life in January 2016 (minus a naked potty training toddler ... pretty comical, but ... ya know)  ....

A Day in the Life of the F Family ... Las Vegas, Nevada

If you know me, I'm an ultra cautious person... always playing it safe, never getting TOO crazy! And I have a few healthy fears ... one of which is flying. Terrified, not scared. But... something about photography makes me brave. And that fear dissipates and molds into excitement. The F family brought me out to Las Vegas to document their family ... they have a few four legged friends, one of which is on a downhill slope from breed related illnesses. The end goal helped me to step on the airplane ... coloring books got me through ... and before I knew it, I was there, spending the weekend with this beautiful family. 

As you can imagine, over a weekend there were quite a few images in their story! Here are my top favorites as this family lived and played together, before I ventured home to the arms of my own little family !

A Day in the Life of the S Family ... Parker, Colorado

This beautiful, beautiful family. Years ago, Mom and I met in a photography class. Why is that important? Because if you're a mom ... a photographer mom ... you rarely get in front of the camera. Kids - they need pictures with Mom in them. They need those memories to look back on, and to show THEIR kids. They need them. And this wonderful momma knows it. 

Our day was filled with Christmas preparations galore, and simple time together as their older kids came and went as they were able. 4 kids. 1 dog. And 2 parents who adore the heck out of their babies, old and young. Take a look. 

A Day in the Life of the S Family, Castle Rock, Colorado

 Sometimes ... sometimes ... kids are shy. Sometimes. If they are, they tend to warm up within 30 minutes or so. But OFTEN times ... often times, they are eager to hear the camera snapping away, capturing their hilarious antics and unique personalities. A day with me around does not immediately require a crazy day filled with activity ... these little people are more than happy to share their quirks with me and fill my camera with beautiful one of a kind images. One of these little fellas was not feeling so great on our day together, thus we had a pretty mellow day, but one that was filled with family traditions and togetherness! Here are a few of my favorites from our day! 
 

A Day in the Life of the H Family, Colorado Springs

I was so tickled at the opportunity to photograph this beautiful family as they celebrated their ridiculously sweet one year old little girl! The day was filled with preparations, family members from all over Colorado, and a little bit of mischief. It was an absolute blast watching this family interact ... the love and joy shared between each family member was tangible .... memories were made on this day! Christmas decor filled their home, snow blanketed the streets outside, and yet in their home was nothing but warmth and celebration for this sweet little love! Take a peak at a few of my favorites from their day! 

 

An afternoon with the S Family

When I began down this road of documentary work, I immediately thought of the S family and was so excited to spend a few hours with them! On the day we had together, they enjoyed a quiet afternoon with friends followed by a delicious dinner and fellowship. The boys played with their toys (aka four wheelers) outside, while the women prepared a delicious dinner for their families. They ended the evening and the end of summer with a beautiful sunset and s'mores!