So it's taken me a few days to recover from the most active and stinkin cutest little birthday boy...no joke.  He moves faster than lightning, and I'm still stunned I got any images of him sitting still!  HAHA!  But I pulled out all of my tricks just for him...toys, treats and my best assortment of childish and disgusting noises...and it worked...if only long enough for me to snap the shutter!  But the best time; the time that got me the most smiles, the most stillness, and the most squeals...the cake!  His little face says it all!  Sugar bliss!  :)

And again, super kudos to Trendy Ties for the adorable bow tie ~ it fit Mr Dylan to a T! :)

I've seen Colt 3 times now, and I swear he gets cuter, and sweeter and more fun every session!  That little toothy grin and twinklie eyed smile hits me right there...(*heart*).  And at only a year and a half, he could take that wimpy little Justin Beiber craze and put it to shame I tell ya...  and I don't joke and the Beib. ;)

So I'm back (like Vanilla Ice, but minus the cheese...haha), and I started off my return sessions with total awesomeness! These kids are SO ca-UUUUUTE!  And photogenic.  And fun.  And ca-UUUTE.   And I still am in total disbelief that little Cohen is 6mos.  I'm in denial.  I'm also in denial about this heat, and Lakeside Park helps with that denial.  We may be in a drought, but not in Highland Park, baby! ;)  What a beautiful setting for 3 georgous kids!

*And a huge shout out to the complete beautiful creativity of Trendy Ties for the adorable neck bling on my little man, Cohen!  For serious cuteness...Check it out!*  http://shoptrendyties.com/

This family was the perfect fairytale ending to my Summer Minis...total perfection.  The temperatures dropped a bit...the 'cool' 95 degree breeze blew...the setting sun was perfect...and this family was just simply wonderful!

I couldn't have asked for a better finish....and can't wait till next summer... (minus the heatwave) :)

SUCH a fun family. SUCH a beautiful baby. SUCH a great session!  I just can't think of one thing I didn't like...nope.  Not a thing.  I'm even in love with the Aunt Angela (who came to help, cheer and...antagonize) picture with Lyla and that pouty face.  Yep. I love it too!

Thank you, thank you, thank you...for a wonderful Saturday morning spent with your precious family!

OK, I'll say it again...since these are uber mini sessions...I'm only previewing 3 images.  And after each preview I about have a heartattack because...just 3 images is...WAY. TOO. HARD!  :)

And this beautiful, sweet, model ready 7 year old is definitely no different!  She was just so perfect in every way...helpful, gracious, sweet, demure, and oh so photogenic...so I was happy to overlook the little yawn she gave me at the end...haha!  :) 

Taylor, please come back and see me...I could always use another dose of you anytime!

Holy sha-ZAM, Batman...but I am diggin that first image!  They are my magazine couple...if I ever got published. ;)   Even if I don't, I would count it gold to have been able to work with the Price family again, and am blessed that this session happened when it did because this family of 3 is about to become the fab four in just a couple of weeks!

Along with mama and daddy...big brother Cooper will never be the same when little Miss Claire hits the house...and I get to be there to document the whole shebang!  woo. hoo. :)

First off...these are itty bitty summer mini sessions, so I will try and limit each preview to 3...yes, 3 images.

Second off...IT'S KILLIN' ME!  CAUSE THEY'RE SO PRETTY AND SO MUCH FUN!  *There...I got it out...* :)

You know those people that you don't see for like a whole year, and you run into them and in 2 seconds, it's like you never missed a day.  That's the Sewell family.  And don't ask them for serious face pictures, cause they've got too much joy to contain...and it's contagious...and I love it.  I love this family!  EEK!  :)))

Six months of age.  The golden age.  Seriously.  At six months kids magically change into these little balls of personality, baby rolls, smiles and absolute joy.  It is my favorite age to work with, and Zayd was icing on the cake.

One of the happiest little babies ever, and he obliged me with snuggling before saying goodbye...total buttercream chocolate fudge icing.  He is awesome! :)

OK - disclaimer...I will try to talk about this wonderful family without oozing and gushing over how A-DOR-A-BLE this little girl is...every other scentence. 

I've seen Cameron and her parents since she was barely crawling, and I can't believe she's 3!  UGH!  (She's A-DOR-A-BLE.)  I'm often reminded how fast time ticks by, but it's never quite as real until you see your little clients grow.  (She's A-DOR-A-BLE.)  She held meaningful 3yo conversations with me, loved on me, AND even serenaded me...I almost considered paying HER!  (She's A-DOR-A-BLE.)

Can I tell you how blessed I am to count your families as my own...to watch you grow and learn and mature (some of you 'grown ups' too...haha)!  What a joy to have such an extended network of family.  (She's A-DOR-A-BLE.)  *I said I'd TRY...I didn't say I'd PROMISE. ;)*

I couldn't wait for Miss Abigal to get here...THEN...I couldn't wait for her to turn 1....NOW I can't wait for the next time I get to see her!

It might take this little beauty a few minutes to warm up, but I think cake seems to do the trick juuuuuust fine.  I got to wittness her very first taste of sugary heaven...and it was total bliss.  *For me too!*  I love all the different little cake faces; SO ca-UUUte!   And the last one is just for grandmom....sheesh, you think she likes HER better than ME. ;)

I met the Smythe family kiddos on one of THE hottest days in recent history...but you wouldn't be able to tell.  So much fun...and who wouldn't like 4 kids who chose to show up in 107 degree heat....ALL for their parent 25th wedding anniversary.  AND...it's a surprise!  Shhhhhh....  *I know...shut the front door!  Right?  My kids better do this for me one day too!*

Their parents aren't going to know what to do when this gift arrives...except, treasure it...forever.  :)

So this little idea was born strictly from mom-guilt. Oh, you all know what I'm talking about...that ugly little self-inflicted terrible feeling you get when you discover things like.... you can't breastfeed, or your kid is the 10th OR 100th percentile, or you forget $2 for ice cream at day camp on Wednesday and you KNOW she'll be the only one NOT eating ice cream, so you drive 1/2 way across town to the ATM for $20 which leaves her with $18 to spare but it doesn't matter. She has her ice cream. :)

I was laying with Emma, my 5 year old, one evening.  Snuggling, singing, reading, talking, when she pops up with the photographer/mom's least anticipated question... "Mom, when are you gonna have time to take OUR pictures?"  Me:  "What!?"  Emma:  "You take pictures of everyone ELSE; I just want you to take MY picture sometimes."  *Insert broken heart here.*

Now, you might think that my kids get their picture taken all. the. time.  It ain't true.  Oh probably during my slower seasons I might take a few more, but on average, if they're lucky, I might aim my camera their way MAYbe once a month.  MAYbe.  Sure, on special occasions like their birthday or Christmas, but that was about it.  Really.  I found it so important to document the lives of others that I lost track of my own, and it took my 5 year old to make me wake up.  And it broke my heart. 

So I decided a few months ago, that I would start.  Baby steps.  Make a conscious effort to step back and observe my own life.  And to document it.  This was a beginning.

Then I stumbled upon a site that I fell in love with called Lila Was Here...and Sassafrass & Mischief was instantly born.  *In my head anyway.*  Even if it was 1 photo of each girl or of them together, surely I could make the commitment to snap 1 a day.  I started practicing a couple of weeks early.  Photographing 1 a day.  And it's hard.  Much harder than it seemed like in my head.  Because I'm extremely self-critical.  But after a couple of weeks, it's almost become a routine blessing.  It's become part of my and their life.  It's less forced, and more comfortable; it's not about me and my photography skills or lack of them; it's about THEM.  And in addition to teaching me to be committed to something, it's helping me improve my perspective in my photography and in my life.  What I used to think was important, a clean house, 'put-together' kids and a full photography schedule doesn't seem so important anymore.  It's about the legacy you leave and not the state or status of your house or bank account.   When my mind forgets how Emma's little nose turns up right at the end, or that little untamable curl at the nape of Audrey's neck, I'll have the images to remind me, and them.  To remind me that Emma would wear a skirt everyday if she could and that Audrey could make the cutest, most terrible mad-face.  Things that I might forget.  Things that I long NOT to forget.

It's the beginning...of a new day, a new week, a new month and a new commitment.  These stories will only be in images, never any lengthy words or flowery phrases.  Just real life and a new found daily blessing for me, and one day, prayerfully, for these two little treasures to my heart.  Beginning.  Join us on the journey...  http://www.sassafrassandmischief.com/  :)