we are family.

and quite the free-spirited, incredibly easy on the eyes kind. like, *super* easy. from the moment they stepped into the warm sunlight and we began our descent to my *favorite* spot to shoot in grand haven (thank you dogs.), I knew my lens was going to adore them. and neither of us were disappointed. don't you agree??


so lovely. and so reminding me of how necessary mr. peeps and a ridicuously sweaty me making faces with blocks on my head really are. but with faces like these, it is *so* worth it.

sweet lola. the most sought after curls that the wind adored just as much, with just a hint of sass and independence and a serious love for her little gerber daisy. and running in the water. with a diaper on. because when you are young, that is what you do. and you love it. and I so love that sweet smile and those bright, happy eyes.


her super fun brother, owen. wild, witty, funny, way too handsome with a smile that never ends and those blue eyes that will get you *every* time. even the naughty times. I am sure his parents know a thing or two about that....but the boy? pretty much impossible not to adore him and his carefree spirit upon meeting.




and then there is josephine. sweet jo-jo. cousin of owen and lola. and one of THEE original eight. eight babies that is. I never forgot those absolutely precious brown eyes and mischevious smile (peeking from behind a sweet chubby arm as she laid on her belly completely content not so long ago...) but now? not so immobile. the girl likes to explore. she likes to be a part of the action. (and I think she kind of liked her gerber daisy, too.) but still that sweet, shy little jo-jo I first met...not so long ago.


insanely. beautiful. children. I felt as though I was on a baby GQ shoot. BQ if you will.













oh. yeah. there are some parents, too. some *insanely* gorgeous parents. beautiful. lovely. wonderful. parents.




who made this.




and then some more. (with some of the best laughs EVER. and one of my most favorite images EVER.) *love*


hubba hubba. (yes. I just said that outloud.)
because then there were these two sweet little things.








family. it's the little moments in between that we make that I really love. I mean *love.* ah-lot.






















oh how I love these two images so.







SO many reasons to love the beach. thank you for reminding me of that.

and so many reasons to love.