an EXCUSE to SHOOT

have you ever gotten ready to go somewhere and then when you're about to leave out the door you look at your spouse or children and notice that you match, but you didn't mean to match?  well that's the reason for this little impromtu photo shoot.  a few weeks ago we were on our way to a friend's house and right before we were leaving we realized that buddy, jose and grace were all matching in brown. being that we were actually running ahead of schedule, i rallied the troops into the backyard because they all looked so cute, i just couldn't resist. 

i love the one above of buddy and grace--he's delighting in his little girl and she knows it.  and how incredibly important it is, that she knows it.

i like this one because it's not the typical posed shot where everyone looks all perfect--it's  more like one of the in-between shots that you take in order to get the shot you're really after. this pic makes me laugh because it looks like buddy's saying something to me as he's laughing...notice his hand coming at me...i don't know what he was saying but this picture is simply HAPPY and it makes me smile.

i like this one of their hands. i like how grace is gently holding onto her daddy's arm as he's got a pretty firm, but loving, hold on her, and i love how jose's arm is resting peacefully in buddy's loose grip. i like how pictures have the potential and power to convey words unspoken.

i think this is my favorite. it is so beautiful to me.  they look so comfortable and content with each other, and i like how it shows off both of their sweet little noses and eyes as they look down, and how it accents their glasses. i don't know how common it is that both a brother and sister so young both wear glasses. i think together, they are as cute as can be.

 i like this because they were horsing around, making funny faces at the camera and to each other.  i love it when they goof around and laugh and laugh. their combined laughter is one of my favorite sounds.

here is grace planting a big kiss on her brother's cheek. so sweet.  sweeter still is jose's hand so prominently wrapped around his sister's neck. these two love each other, i tell you. the other day buddy came home and told me that as he walking behind them on the sidewalk, grace all of the sudden wrapped her arm around jose, and said out of the blue, "jose, you are my beste freunde". and he is.

how fun is this? i don't know what they were doing, but the look on jose's face makes me grin ear to ear. he was enjoying it and grace was trying to get a groove on but wasn't quite there yet.  it makes you want to join in and do the silly dance or whatever it was they were doing.

and here is mr. loverboy, trying to steal a kiss right back at his sister.  precious.

i so enjoy taking pictures and capturing moments...silly and fun or deep and meaningful. i am thankful for photography and the blessing that it is, but more importantly i am grateful for the gift of my family, my favorite subject matter (and for whatever excuse i can find to take their pics!)