I’ve known for a while that I wanted to have some pictures done this year, but I had no idea when or how that would really work out. When I saw my friend Kara post about mini-sessions, I jumped at it. I had never actually met Kara in person (prior to booking a session), but I clearly remember opening one of the very first Amazon boxes that arrived at our house days after Brynna’s diagnosis, and reading the note from Kara and her husband. Their names sounded familiar, but I didn’t know them…only knew that they went to our church. Their kindness has always stuck with me, and so I knew Kara would be the perfect fit for our family photos this fall. And the date could not have been more perfect. These were taken on October 14th. One day after returning from our beach trip, 2 days before Brynna started her next cycle of chemo…and we couldn’t have timed them any better. Cole may have been woken up from his nap and wasn’t quite his jolly, smiley self, but these capture our family perfectly, and I’m thrilled to share some of my favorites.

A HUGE thank you to Kara Powers for her graciousness, kindness, and just one of the best gifts we could receive, photos of our family.

A few months ago, Kendra Scott hosted a benefit night for Brynna, and they let us choose something out for her. We wanted a necklace to give her when she was a little older, and I received a matching one. As I planned out our outfits for the pictures, I kept thinking about the necklace, and thought that it might be cool to incorporate it into our family pictures every year (and then safely store it until she is old enough to keep it herself). So, that’s what we did, and I am so glad we did! The picture below on the left is of me putting it on her, and the one on the right is her admiring our necklaces, and realizing we have the same one. My heart melts.

This guy. He is wise and mature and gracious and caring so beyond his 4 years! He is my buddy, and I just love him to pieces.

And then our little bug-a-roo. I have so much to say about this joyful fellow, that I’ll save for his one year post (howww is he almost 1?!), but he just truly lights up our lives with his smile and demeanor! I don’t even know what we did before he was here!

Oh MY HEART. Cole may have been squeezed just a tad bit too hard, but then we got a few pictures of just the older 2, and I just can’t…I mean, the way they look at each other and love each other is just incredible to witness day in and day out, and these pictures capture it perfectly.

Thank you SO very much, Kara, for capturing these images that I will cherish for the rest of my life. <3