A big splash and an explosion of laughter as a rock hits the water. The sweet infectious giggle of a precious little boy. All the simple joy and wonder of a morning running happily through the yard, around and around the pond. His delightful face beaming with love, from a life filled with all the love a child should have and so much more.
This special Summer morning was spent with one of my very best friends and her sweet family. I have been blessed to call her my friend for many many years, and through that friendship I have been able to watch her fall in love with her dear husband, and grow that love into one of the most beautiful little families I know. I can hardly believe how quickly her sweet little man is growing up before my very eyes! Every time I see him it seems he has shot up several inches taller and he looks more and more mature.
I was so excited when she asked me about taking some family pictures for them at their pond. It's so special to be able to photograph people on the land that they lovingly tend and care for! We had an extra special bit of seclusion the morning we took their photos thanks to some dense fog that had rolled in, it added to the beautiful and serene landscape that we had before us. When you take care of things with love, it shows on every level, and that is how it is with this kind family.
Watching them interact and play, it is so easy to see how much love and happiness they share together. This is not because it's always easy, because no life is truly easy all the time. A life of love and happiness like this comes from hard work and commitment. Little boys can especially be a handful, and this handsome little guy is no exception to that! At this age, getting that Christmas card looking and smiling at the camera shot is not an easy feat, but having parents who love and support the way this momma and daddy do help make it happen!
We got to spend lots of time adventuring around the pond, looking for birds, throwing rocks, picking catty nine tails. All the things a happy outdoorsy little guy would enjoy, and he sure did love it! I have so much fun being able to be in environments where we can just interact and play, especially with kiddos at this age. This ability to be at home and comfortable makes for the absolute best photos in my opinion. I am such a sucker for those sweet candid moments where I just get to peek in at all the love and joy that a momma and daddy share with their sweet little angel. These are the moments looking back that have all the raw emotions and feelings, right there, plain as day in front of you, and I love being able to capture every second of it.
In a world that's filled with so much negativity and hate, it was wonderfully refreshing to escape and be reminded that there is still a great deal of love to be seen and felt out there. Families filled with love, like this one, are the reason why I love what I do so very much. Families that can embrace the chaos, the busyness, the crazy, the good and the bad, and somehow make it look so effortless and are thankful for every second they get to spend with one another. This amazing and wonderful family, are some of the people that inspire me to do better and to be better.
My beautiful friend is truly one of those people who is beautiful inside and out!!! Motherhood has somehow made her even more lovely, her face just glows with pure joy and love when she watches her sweet little man. Whether he is rough and tumbling being a mischievous little boy, or handing her flowers and rocks with the pure innocence of a child, she embraces being a boy mom with her whole heart. And his daddy is right there beside her, teaching him all the things every dad likes to teach their little boys, hunting and cars, building things and demolishing them. Together they have built a home to raise him with all the support, caring, nurturing, kindness, and delight that every child deserves.
I am so very thankful to have all three of you in my life my sweet friends, and that I get to spend time capturing these precious moments for you. I always love any excuse to come and see your loving family, and enjoy the company of those who count themselves as blessed in all things and truly live their lives in love and joy.
