My Oh My have these 16 years have gone by fast. Sixteen years ago our sweet Chase was born.

  Perfect pregnancy, perfect delivery, then all a sudden our world came spinning around us. The day after he was born Joseph and I were informed in the most unsympathetic way that our sweet and precious brand new baby boy not only had Downs Syndrome, but a heart defect as well. It's amazing how fast complete joy can change to complete fear.

  We have been through it all it seems. Open heart surgery at age 4 months, weekly OT, PT and speech therapy, lots of tears, but alot more laughs and smiles. God gave us what we could handle.

  Chase is really just a normal 16 year old boy. He loves to rock out to country music, wear the fashionable teen clothing, look at cool cars, and talk about "hot girls" with his friends.  I can remember there was a time when I'd lay in bed at night scared of what the future held for him when he got to this age. How would other kids treat him, would he ever be able to stay at home alone, etc.... It's funny how it all just happens and you completely forget about that fear at that moment.

  It seems like a lifetime ago when he entered our lives, but it has been a lifetime of joy and love.  

  

It's a Grand Life! 

Hope this makes a Grandmama happy!

They weren't happy about a photo session, but they sure can fake it well.

The little one front and center lives in her own little sweet world and doesn't take to direction too well,

but with yummy goodies to offer, she did pretty well...sort of.

 

 Tried so hard to get this little monkey to stand as still as possible, but the moment I put the camera up...she moved. Once she discovered the leaves at her feet, it was over. I still love this photo because it shows her true personality...doing her own thing!

Sweet Thirteen....

my little girl is no longer so little! She is now a teenager.

For a couple of months we have been planning to get her yearly pictures,

but this time, they had to be photos of a teen! 

Jackson Brothers Farms

I have known this beautiful family for a while now. Infact, some feel like family. So when they asked me to photograph them infront of their cornfields on their farm, I couldn't resist. 

                        as usual, I can always count on the kids to give us all good laughs!!!

                                          The pretty ladies of Jackson Brothers Farms

Spring Break week...we are getting my little R's 8 yr pictures done! I made that my goal, and it got accomplished.  As usual, photographing my own children is not always the easiest. They like to goof off a little TOOO much. R was my main subject this time, even though I did try to capture a few of the others...only one other was willing. My oldest and youngest just weren't in the mood. I'll catch'm another day

 Ahhh, the blue door again! She loved this blue door when I photographed my niece here last year.

                                          

                                        

And here's the other willing child! She'll have more coming soon from her upcoming Happy 13th photoshoot.

Cupcake Cuties

Wow! What a fast year! She is ONE already!

We didn't have a big party, just family & also added in some wishes for

our sweet Reese too who will be 8 in the next week.

I had been looking at some SUPER CUTE party blogs from people that are freakishly crafty, so I tried my hand at a few things...cupcakes, cookies, those popular Bakerella cupcake pops. The invitations are something I always do for my kids & the photography, of course...me.

The cupcake cookie cutters are too cute. I used my moms sugar cookie & icing recipe that I grew up eating and have been making myself for many years...LOVE IT!  It really all was quite easy, just time consuming!

I tried to be Martha Stewart with the tissue paper pom poms, these are the best Icould get. Guess practice makes perfect...FYI TIP...use 10 sheets of paper for better results.

Our Cupcake Cutie Pies!

This cutie Tu-Tu outfit was made by my sisnlaw...too cute!!!