Young, Andreen, Cole Family Preview

We have gotten to know Jessie and Charlie through some of our neighbors.  They are great people.  Chris did the Wild West Relay with them and I was able to take some pictures of them and their extended family last weekend.  I loved it!

I love getting to take pictures of a big extended families.  I particularly loved this family as they reminded me so much of my family.  A great mom and dad, sisters, only one girl grandchild.....etc.  It was so much fun to hang out with these guys and chase them around for a few hours!  That is one of the benefits of booking a big extended family shoot with LiLo!  You get unlimited time with me (as long as the kids last, right?) for a cheaper price than booking separate 45 minute shoots.  I know a lot of photographers shy away from big shoots, but I LOVE seeing the inner workings of big families and giving them pictures of their families that will last forever (at a reasonable price- most quotes I have gotten for a big extended family shoot are for over $300 just for the sitting fee and then you have to buy pictures/cd rights on top of that).  Everyone deserves great family pictures at a reasonable price, right?  Check out my website here for pricing for your next family pictures! 

I really want one of my big family, but who will take it for me?

Back to the task at hand.  Don't you just love this family?  They did an amazing job of coordinating outfits (upcoming blog soon on how to dress for a photoshoot, and they will be at the top of the "nice job" list!).

It took me awhile to sort through the 600+ images (narrowed down to 500 after deleting the ones with eyes closed or someone out of focus) that I took during our 2 hours together, but I am finally done.  Feast your eyes on this lovely family!

Big family picture!

Brian, Alexis and family

Charlie, Jessie and Family

I love a good brother picture

We represent the Lolly Pop Guild!

Mom and Dad, still looking good!

OH MY!  He is SO darling!

This is what happened when I told them to act natural.  Can you find all 5 grandkids?

Love this candid one of Bella, the only girl!

I'm not picking my nose!

For more of these pictures, check out (and "like") my facebook page here.

Let me know if you need a BIG family picture.  It would make a great gift for Christmas, and the Colorado weather is perfect this time of year!  Gift certificates available.

Sneak Peek: The Holt Family!

I love this time of year.  It is so beautiful outside with the leaves changing and I love the crispness in the air!

I loved meeting this adorable family last Saturday!  We have been communicating via email for a few weeks now and we finally got to meet.  When Courtney first walked up, I thought "Jackpot!".  She is so beautiful and had on the cutest outfit!  I couldn't wait to start taking pictures, and then came Harlowe.  She is even cuter than her mom (and again had an amazing outfit on- and Dad, Jade, was no slouch either).  We had a great time in Highlands Ranch taking pictures at the park.  It was getting near nap time so Harlowe had a little bit of trouble (and it was a bit chilly at 8 in the morning), but I still got some amazing pictures of this little family!

I hope you enjoy your sneak peek!

Don't we all feel like this sometimes?

She loves her "Nellie".  Such a sweet old dog.

Don't you love the yellow boots?

For more pictures, check out my facebook page here or my website here.

Hope you are enjoying this cool fall day!

Gloria!

This little lady is just about the cutest thing ever.  Her big blue eyes are amazing and she has the sweetest disposition!  I guess that comes from having 3 older brothers and sisters who dote on her!

I got to hang out with her and her mom while our guys were doing the Imogene pass run last weekend.  She barely made a fuss all weekend long and we loved doting on her (seeing as she was the only kid on the trip).

She turned 6 months while we were there, so naturally we had to do a little impromptu photo shoot.  I have heard rumors that we are going to do a full family shoot in a few weeks, so be sure to keep a look out for the rest of this precious family!

Gerber Baby?

Getting a little Mama love!

The only time you can have rolls and it be cute!

For more pictures, check out my facebook page here or my website here.

Mattesons Sneak Peek

Sorry this one is so late Mattesons1

This family is very dear to my heart.  You know those people in your life that you can always count on, laugh with,  connect with no matter how long it has been since you have seen each other and who will do ANYTHING to help you?  Well for us, that is the Mattesons.  They are the most genuine, loving and giving people I know.  They are so much fun to hang out with and we are so thankful to call them friends!

Their little guy, Grant, wasn't super keen on having his picture taken, but I still managed to sneak in a few of him smiling.

Thanks Cora for finding these amazing spots to take pictures!

Love, love, love the eyelashes

See the dirt flying off of his hands?

Lollipops make all things better!

Driving my jeep

For more pictures, check out my facebook page here, or my website here.

Bursting with Pride

I love my husband and am proud to call him mine, but there are certain times when I am bursting with pride.  This last weekend, was one of those times.  He and our brother-in-law Paul, and friend, Nick, accomplished something amazing!

We drove to Telluride (via the cabin Thursday night) on Friday.  It is SO beautiful there.  If you have never been there, you really need to add it to your bucket list!  We wandered around the town and the guys checked in for their race.  Then we checked into our place.  One word....AMAZING!  We found a three bedroom/three bathroom "condo" right at the base of the gondola in the mountain village.  It was so nice and the price was pretty good (once you split it between three couples).

That night we went Brown Dog Pizza.  Another MUST do while in Telluride.  The Detroit Style square pizza can't be beat!  They start with a hot square pan and add cheese and bake it (to carmelize the cheese) then they put in the dough (and bake it again for a bit), then add toppings and bake.  YUMMMMMMMM!  It was so good that we had it again the next afternoon after the race.

We hit the hot tub and then the guys hit the sack early.  They were all a bit anxious about the next day.  We all were!

The next morning we got up at 5 (Lisa no likey) and we made the hour long ride to Ouray where the starting line would be.  I LOVE Ouray.  We first visited it when I was in high school on a family road trip.  It is such a charming, old fashioned, mining town.  I actually like it a bit more than Telluride.  Telluride is a little more "Aspen-like".  It is a bit snobby and the stores are all really expensive.  Ouray is more of a family place.

It was REALLY crowded for 7 am on a Saturday morning.  There were 1200 runners (and their cheerleaders) there getting ready for the start.

At 7:30 (on the button), the race began.  They started running up the highway, and then quickly joined the jeep trail that is known as Imogene Pass.  They ran 10 miles (or quickly hiked most of the way up) to the top of the pass at over 13,000 feet.  There were several check points along the way (if you didn't make it by a certain time, they turned you around so that you didn't encounter inclement weather at the top of the pass).  Once you got to the top, you had to run down the other side (7.1 miles) into Telluride.  This is a jeep trail and therefore, dirt and rocks.  While waiting at the finish line, we saw lots of bloody kneeds, faces and hands from people falling on the steep downhill.  The guys said they had to be really vigilant and concentrate very hard so as not to fall on the way down.

People that have done this say it is harder than an marathon!  The guys did amazing.  They really wanted to finish it together, so they waited for each other along the way and helped each other git r dun!  They finished in just under 4 hours and 45 minutes.  It was awesome!

Checking out the trail from the Gondola.  See it?

They ran right past this spot up towards the mountains.

Ready to start

See all the people ready to go?

It was hard to find them as they were running by.  Luckily Chris' bright orange shoes help!

Almost there boys!

Just about to finish (note the time)

All done!

After they finished, Nick said "I feel like I could conquer the world right now"!

It was really inspiring to watch all of the people finish, especially our guys!

The guys are already planning for next year!  Who wants to join them?

The Final Birthday!

I love birthday season at my house.  But, I am just as happy when it winds down.  I love being creative and making special memories for my kids, but it is exhausting!  Three birthdays in three months!  Tanner is the last boy to have his birthday and this year was having a hard time picking his "theme".  I do realize that the theme thing will only last a little while (before long they are going to want friends, pizza, movies and for me to leave them alone), so trust me that I cherish the time when I can spoil them, be creative and just have some fun!

We decided on a Messy Party.  If you have ever met my T-Bone, you know that this is the PERFECT theme for him!  I am not sure that I have any pictures of him with a clean face.  He is just always dirty!  This party was so much fun.  I kept it pretty low key because he wanted all of his cousins there (so sweet) and that is 5 kids automatically, so we just kept it to his 3 best friends.  They had a ball tie-dying shirts, painting themselves, making their own pizzas, spraying a sheet with colored water and decorating their own cupcakes.  This made for a totally chaotic time (for the adults trying to keep everyone going) but the kids had a blast!  I would highly recommend this theme.  It was easy and fun and the kids LOVED it.  What kid doesn't love to get dirty!

Here are the highlights!

Making the invitations (free with supplies on hand)

Tie-dying (couldn't have done it without sister, mom and mother in law)

Applesauce slurping contest

Tanner won!

mmmmmmm....pizza

Happy Birthday Tanner!  You are such a fun and lively addition to our family.  I love your sensitive spirit and your love for others.  Don't let the world beat that out of you!