Storyboard Examples {Clear Lake, TX Photographer}

I love storyboards.  I always have.  I think my love of storyboards goes back to my love of collages.  Back in junior high and high school, I created lots of collages using magazine words and pictures.  While I no longer tear up magazines, that desire to create is definitely still there.  I spent some time yesterday putting together a few storyboard examples.  They are such a great way to showcase pictures.  I think they would look awesome on a gallery wrapped canvas, too!

Lots and lots of family {Clear Lake, TX Family Photographer}

My friend Ashley called me last night to see if we could squeeze in a last minute photo shoot before her parents and grandparents left town.  Luckily, I had no plans last night so we met up at a local park for a quick little photo session.

This little guy is one sweetly spoiled, lucky little boy.  He’s the only grandchild and great-grandchild in the family.  He was so cute and soaked up all the love and attention thrown his way.

I’m glad it worked out to take these pictures!  I always think it’s fun to see several generations of family spending time together.

The Best Age {Clear Lake, TX Children’s Photographer}

I don’t know that I really have a favorite age.  So far, I have truly enjoyed every age of child from newborn to post high school, although some are definitely more challenging than others (like my own 7 and 5 year old sons!)  That being said, I think that five year old girls were made to be in front of the camera.  I had a photo shoot this morning with this sweet little girl who I’ve watched grow from a baby into this beautiful, spunky, fun little lady.

She was such a fun little friend to hang with for a bit this morning.  We talked and talked and talked about school, reading, movies, her brother and sister, gymnastics and so on and so on.  Miss A definitely is not shy, which I already knew since her mom is a good friend of mine.  But I don’t know that I’ve ever spent much one on one time with A, and she is a delight!

She stuck with me as we traipsed all over one of my favorite locations and didn’t even freak out when we saw not one but two of the most enormous spiders I have ever laid eyes on!  I was ready to run for the hills, but she wanted to keep looking at them.  I’m not even exaggerating when I say the body was the size of a half dollar and the leg span was at least as big as my palm!

But it didn’t really phase A.  She just kept on being her beautiful self.

It was a great morning, even a little bit cooler than it has been!   Thanks, Leslie, for trusting me to take her pictures!

Stop, it’s ninja time

The boys are in a big ninja phase right now.  It’s just such a classic little boy thing that, quite frankly, I don’t get.  Dressing up in all black in the middle of a heatwave in Houston in August and fighting/practicing ninja moves just isn’t fun in Megan Land.  But, alas, I am not a 7 or 5 year old boy, and apparently playing ninja is super fun and super cool.  I’m not even sure exactly what started it, but the boys love to dress up in ninja costumes, Connor’s latest favorite Wii game is Mini Ninjas, and he has decided that he will definitely be a ninja for Halloween this year. Over the past few weeks, this has been a common scene in our backyard.

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Boys are fun.  I don’t get it, but I love to see them using their imaginations and playing a game that gets their energy out in the backyard rather than on my couches.

First Day-My Favorite Part

Oh, how I love this part.

There was a lot of build up to this part today.  We waited a long time…like 40 minutes long.  I wasn’t exactly sure what time the bus would arrive and I didn’t want to miss it, so I got to the bus stop early.  Add to that the typical delay of the first day, and we had a long, hot wait.

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When I heard the rumble of the bus, I started to feel giddy with excitement.

I searched the windows, hoping to see where they’ve chosen to sit this year.  I was able to find them today, and they were waving excitedly.  The windows are heavily tinted, but I could sense their smiles beaming at me.

The kids started to file off.  Our bus driver said good-bye to each by name (oh, how I love our bus driver!  I am convinced that we have the best bus driver and mailman in the world.)

Finally, they spilled out of the bus, bursting with joy.

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There is no doubt about it.  This was the best part of my day today.

First Day

I love the morning of the first day of school.  All the anticipation, the excitement, the feeling of a fresh start.  Connor woke up with his alarm clock at 6:30 and bounded into our room at 6:45, ready to go.  Logan took a little prodding.  I had to wake him up, but it didn’t take long for him to catch a case of the sillies because of the excitement.

We’ve started some traditions in the 3 years we’ve been doing this.  We always have a special breakfast.  This morning it was cinnamon butter braid and eggs made to order.  Derek always goes in to work a little late so we can walk the boys to their classrooms together.  There is a note for each boy in his lunchbox.  And, or course, there are the first day of school pictures.  I am totally that mom, the one with the camera, capturing every moment of the first day of school.  In fact, I am so committed to these pictures that we were almost late to school!  It is so dang humid here that my camera lens always fogs up when I first go outside.  It took forever for it to de-fog this morning!

The boys were oh-so-patient with me.  And they were thrilled about pictures, school, the whole thing.  Can’t you tell?

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The eventually had some fun giving each other “brother hugs”.  I think they are going to love being at school together but not being with each other 24/7.  They have been so cute talking and planning where to sit on the bus together.  They really do love each other…sometimes that’s my mantra, a constant reminder.  Because, make no mistake, it’s not all happy love fairy tale with these two!

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My kindergartner.  It’s gone by in the blink of an eye!  I love that he made all his classic Logan silly faces for me.  That is just so him!

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My 2nd grader, who for the first time wanted to buy a first day of school outfit, insisted on a one-strap backpack,  and wanted to comb his own hair (when I probably wouldn’t have combed it at all since it’s so short).  He is really growing up and was super excited about school starting.  I love that.

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Once we got to school, the first stop was the kindergarten hallway.  The play-doh on the tables is genius!  I could tell Logan was nervous, but once we found his seat, he sat right down and started playing.   He gave me a quick hug, I kissed his forehead, and that was that.

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There were no tears from anyone.  I’m really not a first day of school crying kind of mom.  The only time I ever cried was the first time I dropped C off at preschool when he was 3.5.  Not that there’s anything wrong with crying…it is a pretty big deal.  But that just isn’t me.  I’m more of a skip out the door singing “it’s the most wonderful time of the year” kind of mom. 🙂

Next stop, 2nd grade hallway.  Connor really didn’t even want us to walk him to his room.  But when he realized he would have to carry two bags of school supplies on his own, he agreed to the parental escort.  Which made me happy so I could get a picture of him getting situated at his desk.

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I think it’s going to be a great year!  Only 30 more minutes until they come bounding off the bus.  I love that part, and I can’t wait to hear all about their first day!

Watermelon Nights

Soon it will cool off.
Not soon enough, in my opinion. Could it be any hotter? (I just typoed hooter instead of hotter and it made me laugh. And it reminded me of National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation…”it wouldn’t be the Christmas shopping season if the stores were any hooter than they-hotter than they are.”)
Ah, Christmas time.
Winter, I am so ready for you.
And fall, too, if we can pretend for a moment that Houston actually has a fall and we won’t all be still sweating profusely on Halloween.
Right now it’s still summer, still time for watermelon and treats in the backyard after dinner.  Lucky for me, I’m not really a big fan of watermelon so I was able to take some fun pictures of my two watermelon eating kids (Logan, like me, does not like watermelon.)  Warning: Picture overload, especially of Miss Cami.

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This was definitely a case of monkey see, monkey do.

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I really like how in this next one, the watermelon is totally going in her ear and she could really care less.  That, my friends, is dedication to the craft of watermelon eating.

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She was seriously so happy outside tonight. I know I am biased, but she just has the cutest watermelon drippy chin, the best carefree toddler smile, and the most beautiful blue eyes!

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Even when she pouts that it’s time to go in, she is still just stinkin’ adorable!

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It’s officially the last weekend of summer.  Monday morning will start bright and early for all of us as Connor heads off to 2nd grade and Logan to Kindergarten.  We’ve met the teachers, readied he supplies, and I can honestly say that we played hard and had a lot of fun this summer but we are all ready for the school year.  I feel like there are so many things I didn’t get a chance to blog about this summer, and I’m hoping to finally have some time to go through the pictures I’ve taken and do one final (probably boring to most) summer post.    Then, bring on the fall!

A very special family {Flower Mound Family Photographer}

While I was in the Metroplex last weekend, I finally got the chance to take pictures of some of my favorite people.  Shauna and I go way back.  We met at church camp when we were about 13, and we’ve been friends ever since.  We even spent a fabulous year as college roommates, and to this day I probably call her “roomate” more than I call her Shauna.  She is one of my best friends, and I love that even if we haven’t talked for awhile, we always pick up right where we left off.  Friends like that are such a blessing.

We’ve been trying to coordinate schedules all summer long, and I was so excited that it finally worked out.  Shauna seriously has the most beautiful children, a fabulous husband, and I just plain love these guys!

I love this next family one.  Chase is such a little ham, and I love how they are all looking at him and he’s cracking up.  He’s one crazy and fun kiddo!

Let me prove to you how beautiful Shauna and Kip’s kids are.

Mackenzie, the oldest of the bunch.  You wouldn’t know it, but she had been under the weather for a few days when we took pictures.  But she is such a little trooper and didn’t complain at all (well, minus when some bugs tried to crawl on her.  That’s life at the lake!)

Check out her sweet dimple!

Handsome Chase, the middle kiddo.  And he fills the role perfectly!  He is the class clown, if families have class clowns.  Which I think they do.

And Macy, the baby of the family.  She is so full of smiles and stories involving unicorns and Tinkerbell.  Check out her unique eye…part brown, part blue.  I think it is so beautiful!

One more sweet one of Macy.

Shuana, I hope this holds you over until I get the rest of your gallery finished!  I had such a great time hanging out with your family.  Love you guys!

(ps…Shauna runs a great blog/website design company.  She helped me put together my site, and she is fabulous at what she does.  If you need a blog designer, be sure and check out See My Designs!  Also, I make pretty regular trips to the Dallas/Ft. Worth area, so don’t hesitate to contact me if you’re interested in scheduling a session the next time I’m in town.)

Funny Things

Logan and Camryn both said something notable yesterday, and I’ve got to write them down so I don’t forget them.

We were on our way home from Arlington, and Cami couldn’t stop talking about her daddy.  He didn’t get to go with us because of a business trip, and we hadn’t seen him since Wednesday morning.

“Da da daddy daddy daddy da da” she sang from the backseat.  “Nunnle daddy shoes off.” (translation: snuggle daddy, shoes off.  She requires him to take his shoes off immediately so that way she knows for sure he isn’t going anywhere.)
“Yes, sweet girl, I’m sure you can snuggle daddy as soon as we get home.” I told her.
“Nunnle daddy cose off!” She exclaimed.
Translation: Snuggle daddy clothes off.

I started cracking up as I told my 2 year old that it is not appropriate for her to snuggle daddy with his clothes off. I laughed even harder when she sweetly said “Meese?” (Translation: please)

Where did she come up with that? Actually, like a lot of 2 year old’s, she is going through a naked=fun phase. Made me laugh. And she’s said it several times again today.

After we got home, I was puttering around, unpacking. Derek, Connor, and Logan were watching soccer, and Cami was content snuggling daddy sans shoes but fully clothed. Logan looked up from the tv and sweetly said to me, “Mommy? Will you take a picture of the whole family on the couch?” That was a surprising question from my most photo-resistant child.
“Sure, buddy” I replied.
“I want to take a picture so I can remember what you look like when you are dead.”

I didn’t know whether to laugh or be creeped out by that! I chose to laugh. But I seriously have no idea where that thought came from.

Speaking of funny things, here are a few searches that have resulted in finding my blog:
–capris matronly. (Do I really wear mom pants? Well, there was that one time I purchased matronly jeans, but I don’t, to my knowledge, own any matronly capris.

–30, flirty, and fabulous. I’m going to take this as a compliment.

–Are crunchy peanut butter and creamy peanut butter the same thing. If you are still searching for the answer, um, first of all that’s a little odd, and second of all, the answer is no.

–baby elf ear. Yes, it’s true, as an infant Logan had a bit of an elf ear.

–chubby arms. I sincerely hope this pulled up a picture of cutie pie camryn and not me!

–chubby in tank top. Again, I hope this referenced Cam and not me. Age 2 chubbiness=cute. Age 30 chubbiness=not so cute.

–decaying kittens. Really? First, who googles that? And second, why the heck did my blog show up with that search. I can’t, to my knowledge, ever remember blogging about decaying kittens. And I apologize if I ever did. Gross.

And one last funny thing to round out this post…

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um, hello miss sassy pants.  I can’t help but chuckle when she gives me this look.  And also be a little bit scared of the hormonal teenage years.   Remind me that I thought this look was funny in 15 years when she is giving me a similar look.

Mimi+Grandkids {Friendswood, TX Family Photographer}

You’ve seen these beautiful kids on my blog a few times already.  Their mom, Angela, is a great friend of mine.  And I am honored each and every time she asks me to take her photos!  Angela’s mom was in town for a visit, so we got together one HOT and HUMID morning for some pictures.  They were all such troopers…I don’t know about them, but I felt like I was melting!  It was one of those instant sweat mornings, thanks to some early thunderstorms that cleared up and left 98% humidity in its wake.  Despite it all, we came away with some cute shots of Mimi and her grandkids!

I also took some of Angela and her mom.  They are both such beautiful women and I love this shot of them!

I can’t wait to show y’all the rest of your gallery.  And thanks, Angela, for always trusting me with your family photos!