Selah turned 5!

Selah, your sharp little mind, silly wit, caring heart, and spunky spirit light up our lives! We couldn't love you more!! Thanks for being the precious little girl that you are. You are adored by your mommy, daddy and brothers. Happy Birthday! xoxo

The sun has come out!

...and what timing! Benjamin put these sunglasses in our shopping cart himself when we were at Target just last Friday. :) 

(I asked the kids if I could grab a quick shot of them all together in their glasses today and had them stand next to the sliding glass door to let in the most light. And I laid a white blanket at my feet to reflect a little light back up at their faces. Selah suggested that they all make silly faces.)

Instagrams

Josh and I had a great evening with our kids. We went out to eat together, and Josh and I found ourselves looking at one another across the table with that look in our eyes. You know, that look when you feel so overly blessed by what you have in each other, and your precious little ones, that you just give each other that look? It's thankfulness beyond words. Aaannnddd maybe it had something to do with the fact that our kids were behaving really well in the restaurant and we had one of those parenting moments when you feel like for one brief second you're really in your groove. ;) I'm just so thankful for these precious years with our kids, that God has given to us. Some days are looney-crazy, and some dinners are simple bliss... and I love it all in between too.

xo,
Bethany

Diane & Patrick: Engagement

I had a wonderful time photographing Diane & Patrick last week. The rain held off for us and the Portland Rose Gardens looked beautiful. Patrick has a great ability to make Diane laugh, and he had us both laughing as we were shooting. Diane has a softness and grace to her that you can see come through in these images. (And doesn't she have fabulous hair too?!) These two balance one another well. I'm looking forward to capturing their wedding day this June!

Brooke & Andrew: Engagement

It doesn't hardly seem possible, but the darling neighbor girl that I use to babysit when I was a teenager is all grown up, engaged and getting married this summer! And I couldn't be happier for her! On the way to Brooke's engagement shoot I thought about the fact that she and her brothers were the ages my kids are now, back when I babysat them... and I can't believe how fast they all grew up... which means it will go even faster with my own kids!

Brooke & Andrew will be getting married at Brooke's family's home, which is such a beautiful place! It's a cape cod house on eight acres, surrounded by tall evergreen trees, with fruit trees, set in the country. Ah, lovely. (I just love the place where I grew up, and it sure was fun being out there, in that area to take these photos!)

We drove down the road to an old barn and used that setting for most of our time, and finished our photos at the bottom of my old driveway. 

Just in the short time we took these pictures, Brooke shined so many sides of herself: adventurous, fearless, sweet, genuine, joyful, fun, and adoring (of Andrew). And even though I only just met Andrew I can see that he is strong, capable, thoughtful/observant, a gentle leader, and kind.

Congrats Brooke & Andrew! I'm so happy for you two and I'm looking forward to capturing your wedding day! xo