doug and delanie + 8 wonderful, crazies

it was august 22nd 2013 and i was on vacation and driving out to mission.  the day had come at long last to shoot douganddelanieandfamily.  it was a gorgeous day and i remember a heart full of gratitude as i drove.  the truth was that i was excited and nervous and happy and grateful and full of faith all at the same time.  i didn't know how it was going to all unfold but i had faith it was going to work out.

it was sweltering in mission.  it was a full sun, hot, valley, late summer evening.  delanie told me she had a special place in mind for our shoot.  we left a little late, which made me more nervous, but i shoved the jitters aside and decided to focus on things in my control.  besides, how awesome is it to have strapping young men who can tote a retro green flowered love seat, to any location you desire.  it's mega awesome, let me tell you.  delanie's special place turned out to be westminster abbey (not to be confused with the one in ENGLAND), and it was the most perfect location at the most perfect time of day. it was gorgeous! the sun was low, it was golden and perfect and i saw possibilities everywhere i looked.  douglas was running late, so i started with some shots of doug and his babe.  you may choose to be snobby about stripes and florals, but in the end it doesn't bug me.  should it?  i love this pic.

how does delanie not know how stunning she is?  to me she gets more beautiful as time goes on, and that is an enviable way to be.  ya, and doug is handsome too...but let's be honest, he's a lucky guy.  we're all lucky that delanie is in our family.

classic doug and del stuff, man.

i have named this one 'lovah-lovah's'

i took this one on the sly while they dealt with some offspring. i like the looks on their faces.

hi. can i offer you a drink of salt water?  perhaps a kefir shake?  what about a t-tap work-out?  well at least let me rock the heck out of your baby then.

douglas still wasn't around, so i took some clicks of the kids and the couch.

i love this shot.  i love everything about it.  i love the light, the dangling shoes, the sisters--i love it all!  what beautiful, unique, funny, smart, talented, amazing nieces i have.

oh mary...

she's wearing my owl earings and necklace and she's rocking them.

madelaine...

 wham!

 bam!  babe.

and my nephews are no less awesome.  i mean just look at caleb...

i liked this sun washed one too and that's ok.

 he. would. not. stop. talking.

but it worked...

josh sat down like this and i love it.  i love it a lot.  can't you just tell how sweet he is?

the three youngest rascals:

 thanks to madelaine for making baby laugh.  what a cutie!

and just as the sun was sinking and with an irate monk at my back, i got this one shot when douglas finally arrived. love them.

i wish we had more time because there was so much we could have done, but in the end, everything did work out and really, it was a little bit perfect.