better together

because when you are family? that is just how it IS. every little thing you do. every little thing you laugh about. every little thing you *are.* better. together.

and when you are a family as fantastic and fun and wonderful as this? why would you want to be anything but....



with four fantastically awesomely fun and sweet and perfectly wonderful little ones. with adorably sun-kissed faces. and sweet smiles. and laughter that carried for miles.


the "j" brothers....let loose on the beach.















and then there is sarah. oh. my.









and her sweet baby brother. not so sure about this whole getting together thing (because sitting still? SO not fun.)



but he came around.





and then things just got all lovey dovey. together.



between a mom and her daughters...




and a mom and her daughter.






**love** ah-lot.



and nothing is better than taking a break with your grandpa and grandma.


really loving, happy, cool ones.







brothers.




sisters.






fathers.




sons.




family.




wherever you are. wherever I am. wherever *we* are. it's always better together.



and everywhere. in between.

sweet innocence and curiosity.. with a dash of wild, giggling fun

I'll see your innocence and curiosity.....





and raise you with a dash of wild, giggling fun.




and an incredibly adorable pair of blonde haired, blue eyed beauties is what you will get.




though *technically* this shoot was supposed to be all about brookston and his all grown up ways of sitting on his own, exploration of the grainy particles of coolness tickling his toes, and feeling the sloshing waves lap against his chubby, beautiful baby legs, it was pretty difficult *not* to capture a few of the bubbly, keep-you-on-your-toes big sister, shayla, too....and even a few guest appearances by some insanely cute cousins snuck its way in...
yes this shoot? was all about crazy cuteness. on the beach. and everything in between.
but foremost? brookston. on the beach. and not missing a beat of taking in every inch of the wonder it beholds.









the feel of sand as it slides through your fingers and buries your little monkey toes...(because I am pretty sure? all babies have sweet chubby little monkey toes that curl and defy any pair of shoes that dare to cover their sweetness.)




grasping daddy's finger as you attempt the balancing act of sand standing with baby drool intact...




making mushy sand piles with heel pushing and toe crushing (and again...monkey. baby. toes. the cutest thing EVER. especially in the sand.)




just plain innocence. brookston. you couldn't get any more precious if you tried.



oh yeah. and that big sister girl. the one with the lovely sunlit, sweet blonde hair and if-you-are-lucky-enough-to-catch-them passive moments of contemplation....








then back for some bare-bellied block play in the sand with brookston but of course....







oh. and those cousin people. with sweet little name necklaces and melt your heart brown eyes. and cheekers that smile a mile wide.








(dear brookston, stealing the spotlight for a few is just what sisters are always going to do. but I promise? they will also love you more than you will ever know...)



(sometimes maybe a bit too much....but they just cannot help it.)






just watching the wheels go round and round...(or rather the sails whipping in the wind...same difference. it is all amazing when you are the ripe age of seven months.)





gorgeous. amazing. super cool fun and loving windemuller family.

did I mention will soon be a party of five?? mmmhmmm...somebody knows it....

the wonderful wallaces

wonderful in so many ways. starting with the selfless act of giving to a family they didn't even know....
the winners of the benefit for the family of nick schaap, taking the time to spend a night with hundreds of supporters and giving your time and money without a second thought in your heart because you know what you are doing matters...well, I would say that is pretty fantastically wonderful.
and so lovely wallace family, you deserve to have some beautiful images of your own that show your love and goodness, and just plain happiness for others, for life, for each other.



oh how I love a good image.





but it wasn't always just the three lovely wallaces sharing in the love at our late evening beach shoot....there were a few other four-legged family members *attempting* to join in the breezy, warm, perfection of a night fun.....

until it *wasn't* so fun anymore....at least for those two four-legged family members.




sometimes? *everyone* is in need of a little time out.....but the three lovely wallaces? ready to *go*.....with much love and fabulousness to share.






especially this one. miss haley, just doing her thing on the beach.


kind, friendly, adorable, sweet, good-natured, just kind of plain old wonderful.





with a dash of super awesome, too....


(hello best action shot EVER....)




they really ARE this cute. without even trying, really....




maybe the love these two exude may have something to do with it...


*love**





and they are kind of super fabulous themselves....





















did anyone ever have such fun at the beach?? regardless of hair whipping, water kicking, dog barking madness???




I think not.




thank you for letting me share in your wonderful lives.

even if just for one wonderful, sun setting perfection of a night.