JFP photo blog

Martha vs. Target (the eternal Halloween debate)

The eternal Halloween debate continues.  Proof is in the pictures.  I give you exhibit A...Martha crafting at her finest:

Doesn't hurt the fabulous costume that the young man is sporting the Max-iest mischief on his little face!

Don't hate my sister because she is uber-fabulous.  I wish at this time I could list all her dreadful flaws in an attempt to raise our drooping spirits.  Sadly, none come to mind...

I, on the other hand, went strictly Target this year.  Cute-ish costumes, luckily it's the cute kids that make the costumes.  That concept doesn't hold any water with the last costume though...you'll see.

A witch with attitude.

 
 
 

 (Alright, the boots are about 4 sizes too big, but they're PERFECT otherwise!)

 

Last year Henry stayed on our front porch in full freaky, ghoul costume, making spooky noises and firing off his fog machine.  (Needless to say, we didn't get many small type trick or treaters).  He is gearing up for a similar scenario this year, though he has promised a "toddler detour" to encourage the smallest of candy getters.  I'm not sure that will be enough when that is sitting on the front porch....

Have a happy and safe Halloween and be sure to sneak the best kinds of candy out of their bags after they are asleep!!

 

More Spooky Fun

The continuation of some super cute Halloweeners.....

 

 Sorry for my lack of commentary this morning.  I put my back out yesterday and somehow that manages to turn my brain completely off.  Hopefully all these little munchkins know how much I enjoy them anyway!!   Aren't they just the cutest??? 

Fingers crossed that my back cooperates with my plans for the day...one final Halloween post for Friday??  Will be shamelessly bribing my own children/nephew into their costumes for some snaps.
 

Spooky Boo!

Last week I had the best time photographing a PEPs group worth of costumed kiddos!  Some of you will recognize these munchkins as I snapped their photos last year in costume and again with cupcakes for their 1st birthdays.  Little different this time around....very mobile kiddos and no restraining device (a la the high chair).  I definitely got a workout in that morning!  Anyway, here is the first installment of the sneak peeks in the order in which they were photographed...part deux on Wednesday...

Remember the little naughty voice in your head that tells you it's ok to have another cookie?  I'm pretty sure she looks like that...how could she be as convincing as she is, if she wasn't this cute?

Her nemesis....and sister....

Sweetest angel EVER!!

 

Love that shot! 

(I'm pretty sure that's how my cookie conscience works...devil up front, angel lurking around in the back!)

Love the serious expression!  I am a sucker for a cute lion!

I am pretty sure I have firmly established myself in the "will be a complete idiot for a smile" club.  Turns out I can do a pretty funny chicken...love her little giggle and her cute little hands!

More on Wednesday...
 
 

More Fun, Fun, Fun

We now resume our interrupted programming...more cuties from last weekend's moms' group fun!

You should have seen how sweet and gentle this big guy was with his little girl cousin!  Kisses and snuggles galore!  Love that!

 OK, so this isn't the smiley-est shot of the day of this little guy BUT I love it so much that it had to be the one to make the blog.  He looks so forlorn..did someone just take his truck away?  I will also tell you that he does the BEST fake pouty face I've ever seen!  Can't wait for his mom to see that shot!

Apparently sticking out his tongue is this little man's newest trick.  Don't you love how happy he looks?  And you know how I feel about a good hat...makes my insides all warm and fuzzy! 

It was so worth the wait for this smile!  This little guy was not digging me so much...I mean who would when there are trucks and rocks and footballs around?  But I was victorious in the end!

Another great grin...perhaps a little mischief in those eyes??  Next thing I knew there was pumpkin growing out of the top of his head!

And to round things up...another shot of the biggest guy there.  He was showing me some of his super-hero moves...how could a girl resist?

Thanks again to everyone for making this such a fun morning!  What a great group of kids...and moms too! 

A Little Bit Misty

Today my baby is SIX.  And, I  know you will not be surprised to hear that I got a little teary this morning thinking about the day she was born and bringing her home from the hospital....therefore I will be treating you to a stroll down memory lane this morning.  Ummm...I just went back to last year's birthday post for her and it is virtually identical to what I had picked out for this morning's post, so in the interest of making school lunches GO HERE to see how cute and tiny was when she was born...and her cool mohawk!  I can't even begin to tell you how fabulous and funny I think this girl is.  A few of my favorite Annie-isms:  she knows the lyrics to most songs she has only heard once (note to self:  be very, very careful what she hears!!) and if she doesn't actually know the words, she will make some up...some of you may remember the "I'm Your Venus" fiasco.    She is the most outgoing/friendly/confident of my kids...to the point that her teacher has already had to ask her to "quiet down", "stop chatting" and (my all time favorite) "no yelling at school"....all this as reported to me by the guilty culprit.  Pretty sure that has never happened with the other two until WAY closer to the end of the school year.  Can't wait for her parent/teacher conference in two weeks!!  Anyway, enough rambling on and on...here is what you are here for...isn't she big?  Be sure to check out that hair.  (These photos were taken immediately following her last haircut when she asked for her hair to be smooth.  The fabulous Anna proceeded to blow her hair out and than flat iron it...talk about smooth!!)

and with her buddy who came to help out on the shoot!!  How cute are they!!

Fun, Fun, Fun

This last weekend I had the best time playing with (and photographing) a mom's group worth of kids.  We had big plans about beautiful fall colors and being outside but the weather had other ideas.  Luckily, we were at the best place in the world for that!  The house we met at had a big, covered, wrap around porch....what more could I ask for?  Anyway, there were so many cuties that this will be the first of a two part post....and the kiddos will be appearing in the order in which they were photographed....  If you don't see your cutie today, check back Friday as there will be a brief intermission tomorrow for my wee little baby's birthday post (of course, you should feel free to come and check her out too!).  Enjoy the little sneak peek....

What a sweet guy.  He was the big man of the day and was so friendly and fun to be around!

I love this one...he was just cracking himself up!

Check out those eyes and lashes!  I think I might be a little jealous!

The tiniest of the day....and look at that smile!

A very serious cow.  Seriously doubting my intentions.

And the winner of the "fastest mover of the day" award.  There's just a hint of mischief in those gorgeous eyes!

Lots and lots more photos coming over the next few weeks...I will be posting all the recent sessions as soon as I get caught up...so if you don't see your photos yet...they are coming I promise!!   
 

The King of All Wild Things

Lucky, lucky me!  I got a new nephew!  Woohoo!  And he is super adorable (in case there was any question in your mind).  I got to have a little quality time with him this weekend (especially fabulous as the kids and I hadn't had a chance to meet him yet).  As you can imagine, I snuck him off into the studio where I tried valiantly to get him to sleep.  Turns out he'd rather snuggle than lay down by himself...I'm just taking that as a sign that he likes me too much (try not to ruin my little delusion).  Anyway, here are some of my favorites....

The King

the wild things

 

I think he looks kind of like his brother in that one....

 

and the last one, just because it makes me laugh.

"Are they looking?"

A little mischief anyone??

Perfection

This little girl was simply gorgeous.  And super cooperative.  I couldn't have asked for a better morning....I really am the luckiest girl in the world (well, besides her momma who gets to snuggle her all the time!).  Here are a few of my favorites shots, so far, I just picked out a few to share for now.  This first one jumped off the screen as soon as I started going through the images.  It actually gives gives me goosebumps and makes me grin uncontrollably (and think a little about another baby at our house??).  I'm going to try to make it extra big for you.  Enjoy!

LOVE her little smile!  All is well in her world...warm with a full belly...what more could a girl want?

She has the most perfect lips EVER!

Love all those little parts. She has such graceful, girly fingers and toes.
 

For a little perspective...look how tiny her little head is...

Thanks so much for a wonderful morning!  More photos coming your way soon!

Happy Friday!

Hungry, Hungry Hippo

Any of you out there who have lived through a five year old boy will understand that clothing choice can be a tricky line to walk.  When Henry was 5 there were 2 shirt choices in his clothing lineup....a shirt with a big snake on the front or a kind of grungy old striped one that he thought was just like Calvin's from Calvin and Hobbes. This last weekend I got to hang out with some of my favorite people and one of them decided that it felt like a hippo shirt kind of day...I say who can blame him and lucky for mom it's a pretty cool hippo shirt!  Here are a few of my favorites from our playdate at the park....

See it's super cute....gotta love Mini Boden!

The little miss was not bothered by me and my camera one bit..

I can't believe how grown up she is getting!

 

Swinging was the favorite activity of the day.  I wish I was brave enough to share my favorite shot with you guys...I have laughed out loud every time I have looked at it and might just have to make it my screensaver, it really makes me laugh that hard.  Maybe once they've seen their gallery I'll share it??  Actually there are a few that make me laugh...maybe I'll do an outtakes post for this session....

 
  
 

Run Miss S!  Don't let him get you!

More soon! 

"Monk Loud"

Alright, so there has been a shortage of posting this week.  Sorry...it has been a busy week. I have apparently volunteered for a few more things at school than I realized....hmmm.  Anyway....here's just a little funny story/photo that cracks me up!  This is my funny little nephew.  You all know him but he hasn't been seen around these parts for a while...any guesses why??  Could it be that he has entered that mobile to 3ish year old set that don't terribly enjoy being still for any length of time.  Well, he went to the zoo with Grandma and the most impressive part of the trip for him were the super loud monkeys....back then, he was doing the cutest thing where he would just say the first syllable of the words.  That works when you are talking to Annie and you call her Anne, kind of funny when it is Hen or Mad.  (Sadly, he has since moved on to big boy talking...boohoo.)  I'm pretty sure he told everyone within a 20 mile radius "Monk loud" and covered his ears for the next 2 weeks...funny little monkey!  Here's my attempt at freezing that moment....

Miss you buddy and I can't wait to see you next week!  Hugs and kisses from Cookie!

P.S.  When did your eyes get so brown?