Favorite Indoor Hangout Spot

Where is one the most fun places to play? 

On Mom & Dad's bed of course.  

Playing with dolls and playing with blankets without a care in the world.  

Children teach us so much.

Sisters in the Snow

It was a snowy but not so cold afternoon.

We had about 15 minutes before we had to pick up the boys from school.  

The girls already had on their Elsa and Anna costumes.  

When I suggested they grab their princess wands and we go outside 

and take some pictures in the snow, they were thrilled.

I went into this photoshoot with the mindset of just letting my girls play

and capture photos as their playtime unfolded. 

Here are the results:

Everyday Black & White

I've been having fun just taking pictures at home of my kids playing.

None of these photos are staged.  I didn't even tell them I was taking their pictures.

And that's the way I like it.  I like to capture moments as they happen.  

I'm loving how the black and white photos create both high impact and simplicity.

My Family

I'm so grateful for my family

and the way they motivate me to better myself.

 I strive to be the wife 

and mother my family deserves.

We totally bribed the kids with homemade pumpkin bread for cooperating.

Sugar brings out the crazy in K!

Belle Dress

It was one of those lazy Saturdays where I didn't want it to end without feeling productive.
So I asked my brand new kindergartner if she wanted to go on a date with me.
K was elated and gleefully buckled herself into her booster seat.
With the sunroof open, and kid tunes blasting, we zoomed up to the middle of town.  

We fueled up with Chugz's chicken strips and fries and then
entered one of my favorite stores, TJMaxx, for some back to school shopping.
Still wanting to be my "baby girl," K insisted on sitting in the cart.
I pushed that cart back to the little girl section.  

My eyes caught sight of something I didn't want K to see, so I sped up my push.  

BIG MISTAKE!  

Or so I thought.  

"MOOOOM!  Look!  Let's go look at those costumes!"  

"Ooooh!  I want this dress.  It's a Belle dress."

I, not planning on buying this newfound must-have dress, 

hesitantly let K get a closer look at the coveted dress.

Hearing her gush over every last detail of the dress, the jewels, the sparkles, the glitter, 

I knew what I had to do.  I let her try on this "most beautiful Belle dress."

My baby girl lucked out with the largest dressing room...fit for a princess.

K had me help her zip up the dress and perfectly place the glittery veiled headpiece.

The anticipation had built up for what probably seemed like an eternity for a 5 year old.

It was time for the FIRST LOOK.  

"Wow!  Turn around and look at yourself in the mirror!" I exclaimed.

Both K's eyes and smile grew bigger than ever.

She twirled and said, "Ohlala!  I feel like a princess."

With a smirky smile that never left her face, 

K stared at herself in the mirror and examined every last detail of the dress.

Completely satisfied, K giggled and said, "I want this Belle dress for Halloween."

And I, who originally was not a fan of the color, the lavishness,
nor the price of the dress, completely had a change of heart.   

K had me at the FIRST LOOK. 

I completely melted into a puddle when I saw the way she looked at herself in the mirror.

Every girl deserves to feel like a princess.