Class of 2013: Andrea {Graham Senior Photography}

Meet Andrea....full of laughter and sweet country spirit.

...oh yeah, and softball!

Best of luck to you in the future Andrea!  It was a privilege to photograph you!

Sweet Expectations {Federal Way Maternity Photography}

This sweet lady has been my husband's Spanish tutor for the couple of years.  They met on the bus going to work and since she only speaks Spanish, it was an opportunity to practice his language skills!  

Now, she and her husband are expecting a little girl!!  We are so excited for them!!

Congratulations M and C!!  We are excited for you!

MidCentury Family {Tacoma Family Photography}

I LOVE this family!!  Not only were they so much fun to photograph, J was my son's second grade teacher. She made him feel so welcome when we moved to the area and he learned so much from her!  She is an amazing educator....and an amazing mom!

We went down to Midcenturyville for the session and these folks rocked the photo shoot like it was...well...midcentury!!

I don't usually get into people's pictures, but...they love me!!

Headed for a little frozen yogurt in the middle of the session...

This is what I got when I asked the question, "who gets in the most trouble at your house?"

C Family, it has always been a privilege to photograph you!!  Please come to Denver to visit us!!

Living Light {Breathe}

I don't know about you, but when I am headed to the doctor, and I know they are going to weigh me (when do they NOT??), I like to give myself the best chance possible at the smallest number possible.  I wear my lightest workout pants, lightest shirt and, of course, I take off my shoes, jacket and purse before stepping onto that scale.  (You do know that those items probably add 10 plus pounds, right??)

Getting rid of the things that weigh me down is satisfying when that number reads closer to what I want it to be (says the girl who is having her mid-morning snack right now!).  But in all honesty, letting go of the weight makes it easier to live more freely and move more lightly.

I guess I am in one of those phases in my life right now.  Yesterday I watched a truck drive away with 99% of my worldly possessions in it.  My family and I are moving to the Denver area soon, but need to wait until school gets out.  In the meantime, we sold our house and needed to get all of our STUFF out and put somewhere.  We opted to load up the moving van and have it shipped (and stored) for a month until we get there.  What that made us do is really pare down and think about what we REALLY need to live for the next five or six weeks.

Here is what my closet looks like:

Crazy!  That is the only clothing I have right now.  And you know what?  It is enough.  In fact, I am finding it might be even more than I need!  It leaves me with less options, which leaves me more decisive, which leaves me so much more content with life.  Living lighter in a very pragmatic sense does wonders for my soul!!  Not even having the choice for clutter has left me with space to move freely (and the ability to say "no" to STUFF).

So why don't I always live this way?  Why do I let the want of more things crowd out this sense of well being of living lighter?  Why do I still have an inner compulsive hoarder somewhere in me?  

Not sure the answer to all those questions, but as we move, I am going to attempt to acquire less and enjoy what I have more.  (Hey!  There is the MORE and LESS theme again!!)  I have given away and sold lots of our stuff already and I hope this hiatus away from all my loot instills in me the fact that I can get along without having more and more stuff.

What abut you?  How can you lighten up and make it last?  (At the very least, remember to take off your shoes when the doctor weighs you!)

Breathe, smile and go slowly.

Class of 2013: Lauren {Graham Senior Photography}

Meet Lauren {again!}...because she came to see me in the fall, and is now back gracing my camera!!

I wish you ALL the best in the future, Lauren!!  I have loved photographing you {and your family!!}