18 months and loving it

18 months has got to be the best age. They are just so darn cute! I don't just say that because I have an 18 month old, I say it because out of all my 3 kids they are the best at 18 months. They still have the pudgy legs and arms of a baby, they are still toddling everywhere halfway off kilter looking like they are about to tumble and they can't talk yet. Well, at least this one! We are just now experiencing the beginnings of tantrums. The text book kind, you know...throw yourself down on your belly and pound you arms and feet into the ground! It's really quite funny. We have managed even to capture it on video - ha ha, just wait 18 years! The other day I sent a package to my sister half the country away (boo hoo) but that's another story. I printed some pictures of the girls on my printer and realized to my dismay that I didn't have any of our son. Well, I have a ton but he's got mud in his mouth or peanut butter all over his hair - the typical 18 month lifestyle. So the last couple of days I have kept my studio door open and before you know it curiosity gets the better of him and he ventures in. My lights are all ready to go and my camera is all set. It only lasts for about 4 minutes so I have to be fast. These are some shots I got this morning.

Anyone for a fully caffeinated latte, extra sweet?

Ha ha!!! I FINALLY got my coffee cup! Yippee! We don't have any around here so I had a friend pick one up for me two states over. It has taken me about 6 months to get it from her but now I'm so pleased to add it to my prop collection.

Harry Potter and the Fairy

I have never really like fantasy stuff. Until I had children. It's funny how they change you. You start to look through the eyes of a child and realize that there are so many fun things to imagine to make your world more interesting. I recently did a photo shoot for two 6 year old twins. It was the first time that I had photographed outside of my studio so I wanted to do something really fun. Their mom said that they absolutely loved fairies and Harry Potter. They brought some costumes with them to the session and we had some fun. These are the images that I came up with. I really hope that they like them. My own kids loved them...saying "more stars mommy, more stars!"

The artists canvas

While I was putting away the groceries the girls pulled out their chalk and created this masterpiece! So much fun....they drew gardens, rivers, flowers, hop scotch, their siblings...you name it, it was there. This is not the primary reason we got the driveway but it is one of the fun reasons!

They paved over paradise

....to put up a parking lot! Do you remember that song? Well, we don't actually live in paradise but we did pave it over today. Eeek! We live on top of a hill with a killer gravel drivewayIt has an embankment on one side to a creek and is pretty sketchy in the winter. We decided to have it paved. It all started this weekend when my daughters took to their bikes and were riding in circles in the garage, great fun. They reminded me of circus clowns! I thought how great it would be if they could ride on the driveway. So I made a phone call to get an estimate. It all happened so fast. The guys gave us a deal that we just couldn't refuse.

This first picture is of my girls walking down to the mail box, with our cat Belle of course who joins us everywhere. I was feeling nostalgic, knowing that I would never get a picture like this again.

The second shot is a sillouette of the girls sitting in the garage looking out towards the driveway getting graded. I love getting these shots

The men working....

And finally...our little piece of paradise! Not so bad, eh?

4th of July Vermont style

We pretty much just layed low for the holiday. With the children so young it's hard to go to town to see the fireworks. They are in bed early and I kind of like that! So we did something a little different. We made s'mores for the first time ever. Actually we have never even roasted marshmellows before. We had heard it was going to rain, but it was 4pm and still it hadn't happened so Paul made a small fire and of course, it started to rain. But it didn't ruin our fun, we just threw on raincoats and made yummy snacks anyway.

Baby C

He's no baby anymore. These are a few shots from his one year birthday shoot. How cute is he? I got so many sweet captures I couldn't decide on which to post....and I'm only halfway through editing his session. I love when the little ones cooperate. Thanks for such a great time little guy. Happy birthday.