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kailen + lukas :: engagement

February 19^th, 2013

I love when I meet a future bride and groom in a fun unique way. I met one of my 2012 couples [Jammie + Pat] while sitting with them at a reception of their friends wedding whom I was shooting and then a year later, I shot theirs. Of course there is the fair share of high school acuatences, friends of friends, but something just makes me soooo happy when I get a bridesmaid from a wedding I shot in the past. Kailen was the maid of honor at another 2012 couple’s June wedding I shot, Tori + Kyle. A very hot, but lovely day and I actually had the honor of getting to know Kailen through the whole process with Tori. You see … she’s one of those amazing friends who comes along to all those meetings and helps you plan your day. I met Kailen the first time I met Tori and the three of us kicked off a new friendship that I am soooo pumped about.

Lukas and Kailen met in college. The whole … he liked her but was way too shy so she eventually asked him out kind of a thing. Sorry Luke … but its true. Don’t worry, I feel as though most girls now-a-days are the ones asking guys out. What can we say … a girl knows what she wants. And Kailen knew she needed to ask him out on a date. So here they are super in love, and living in California! I was soooo excited when Kailen emailed me and said she was engaged and wanted me to be a part of their special day and this time go through the process with her wedding. The couple lives in California where they both work as radiation therapists in the same office, but they do work in different departments so they don’t see eachother all day long. Even though I’m pretty sure they are one of those couples that could work together everyday all day.

Let me just say, I’m pretty sure I had snot frozen to my face like Harry and Loyd on dumb and dumber but it was totally worth it. Being a lover of snow … I was of course craving to get a couple outside that was willing to freeze with me and just be in love and cuddle up. So funny, the wind would pick up and snow would seriously take your breath away. Love those shots.

Oh and the WHITE BIRCH TREE … where do I start. This is my favoritest-est-est tree ever. I found it while driving back to my friend Rhiannon’s house and we ended up taking some photos there of a bouquet she designed and I knew I had to come back to use some more of the tree’s goodness so this was the perfect time. Rhi laughs at me of how I found it but I swear I turned the corner and it was like singing to me and I’m pretty sure there was a sun beam shining directly down, maybe some angles singing … harp playing … that kind of thing. This couple is the ‘outdoorsy’ type too so it was right up their alley!

All snowflakes are authentic and non were removed.

Happy Tuesday!

I’m out of the office for the rest of the week, so enjoy starring at these two love birds and until next week!

Happy Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, HAPPY WEEKEND!

xoxo

Leah

Breanna 2/19/13 10:58 AM

This is adorable! My hubby proposed on a day when the ground was covered with snow, so I might be a little biased but I think it is soooo romantic. Beautiful Leah!
Amanda Marie 2/19/13 12:10 PM

Love all of these!! The pure white has so much beauty! Beautiful job Leah!! Xo
Rhiannon 3/6/13 8:36 PM

You’re lucky I love you :)

What I was saying before is that I think this is your best work yet. These images are all so incredible and just when I didn’t think they could get better BOOM I see the ones with the birch tree in them. GOOD choice to go back to that spot! You’re amazing and I am proud of you xoxo

isla gene :: newborn

February 12^th, 2013

My new niece Isla Gene was born on February 16, 2013 at 7:00pm and I may have introduced her a few times already here on the blog but why not ‘meet’ her again. Its so crazy how my sister’s family seems so complete now with this third little baby. As anyone would be, we were nervous how the other two kids were going to handle a little baby being brought home and stealing their mother’s attention from them … but surprisingly … the kids are doing amazing with having a little sister in the house. So thankful for that. We knew Morgan would be such a helper, he always has been. Seriously … I asked if I could take him home the other day just so he can help me with things around the house. I have him to thank that all the kids were alive when Tara and Lucas came home from the hospital [I was babysitting 3 small children! Scary!] He tells me where everything is and how everything is done and trust me, if I do something different than the way Tara does it … he lets me know.

Our whole family was positive Tara was having a boy, so when we walked in and saw a little ‘I’m a girl’ sign in her bassinet at the hospital … we were so surprised. Morgan was determined that he was getting a little brother. So I was nervous how he was going to react when he found out God gave him another little sister. Throughout the pregnancy we would warn him and try to prep him just in case, telling him that no matter what God gives us … we’ll love it, boy or girl. But then he would assure you that yes, he knows … but God was giving him a boy. So once he met Isla, he was totally fine with having another sister because she looks exactly like him and he thinks that’s pretty cool. We keep saying that she is going to look JUST LIKE YOU MORGAN but with long blonde hair. He thinks that’s pretty cool.

Irelyn is doing amazing with baby Isla too. She currently is breastfeeding all her baby dolls and changing lots of diapers. Tara said going from 0 to 1 kid was an adjustment but fine. 1 to 2 was really hard for her and so far 2 to 3 is a breeze. Knock on wood. So she has a 4 year old, 2, and newborn at home. Sounds nuts to me.

Tara and I had so much fun taking some lifestyle portraits of these three, especially big brother Morgan and big sister Irelyn with baby Isla and they really are just so in love with her its so cute! I love watching Morgan talk to her in his high pitch little voice coo-ing and ca-ing at her like mommy does. I’m so thankful that they are so welcoming to their little sister. She is so loved already.

Isla is a great baby too, other than she needs to be held 24-7 [so Tara isn't getting much sleep but I'm doing great]. She had some difficulties with jaundice and getting her temperature up in the hospital when she was first born but everything is perfect now and so thankful for that. Praise the Lord for this little gift. Babies are truly a miracle and I think people often times forget that because its the ‘norm’ to have them … all you need to do to remember this is stare at their little faces and pay attention to the details. The little finger nails, 10 fingers and 10 toes, their little lips!!! Every little detail. OH! NOW I WANT TO DRIVE OVER THERE AND KISS HER ALL UP.

I absolutely love the simplicity of these photos. Next thing you know she’ll be one and so we’re cherishing how little she is right now. So fun to have a teeny tiny baby in the family again.

xoxo

Leah

FAVE.

Emily Vermaat 2/15/13 6:00 AM

Great job, love the posing and background for these shots! You had amazing lighting there!

t.g.i.m. :: thank GOD its monday

February 11^th, 2013

It is a known thing that most despise Mondays. I’ve seen several posts on social media today about hating Mondays. Hence the photo above of crying Isla. That is how we all feel on Mondays right?! But I’m starting to learn to think more positively about these ‘dreaded first day of the week.’ I mean, why spend one-seventh of your life dreading something and planning on having a bad day. We need to look at it more as a gift, a GIFT from GOD. I’m thankful I’m alive this Monday how about you?! Over the next five years, you will be blessed with the gift of 260 different Mondays. Each one can be fresh and full of promises. So together lets start welcoming Mondays with the same excitement and anticipation as we do Fridays! I believe a lot of this has to do with our careers and how we spend our days. I noticed after quitting my past job and starting my own business, Mondays were so exciting because I WANTED to get things done and was excited to work! What an amazing feeling to be excited about working! Makes your life so much happier. Of course that isn’t always the case, so this will be our little reminder to savor those Mondays. If you are dreading Mondays to the extreme, ask yourself why and how you can fix this?? Is it time to take the leap of faith and quit that job that you absolutely hate? I mean we only have one life, only one. So stop wasting time and do what you love. I’m always challenging myself to grow and become the best version of myself. So lets do it together.

I’m challenging you today and this week to think of Monday’s possibilities. As the day is coming to an end, lets brainstorm how we can change next Monday. How can we put every Monday on a pedestal? Here is how I plan to make my Mondays a bit more exciting …

TGIM

-Call me crazy, but I love cleaning. I love the feeling of accomplishment after a room is spick and span so after a crazy busy weekend with the hubby … I look forward to getting my house back in order and ready to tackle the week. I also think this breaks up my week and lets me SLOWLY jump in. I realize that I do not like to be pushed or rushed so this helps me take a step back and say, HERE WE GO week.

-I love making a schedule/to do list/meal plan on Sunday night. Also helps me ease into Monday and look forward to getting things done!

-So Mondays will be my cleaning, laundry, organizing, catch up on phone calls, emails, scheduling, preparing meals if I didn’t have time Sunday, clean out my car and purse, all those little things that will help prepare and set me up for an amazing productive, easy going week!

-I have been posting my monthly goals on here for a few years now. Depending on where the 1st falls, I sometimes will post the first Monday of the month. Because lets face it … if the 1st falls on a Friday, not much is going to get crossed off my to do list over the weekend anyway. So I decided why not add to this day as the day that I organize and FILE all my paperwork/receipts. Super excited to do this and plan more ‘set’ days/schedules to MAINTAIN my organization of my home. If you’ve ever been to my house, you know I’m a freak about organizing. [I past co-worker I knew used to have Friday's an hour before closing be his cleaning/organizing time in his office so when he came in Monday morning he already had a to do list and everything was in its place ready to start again. Such a great idea if you don't work for yourself and have a weekend off and maybe after killing a few brain cells over the weekend ... with I dunno, lets say a beer or two ... this will make it a breeze to jump in again and start your Monday off happy and productive!]

Just typing those things gets me PUMPED. So I know its a good list. Everyone’s list is going to be different so please, I would love for you to share a few things you could do on Mondays that would make your day amazing! Maybe you’re diving in too fast and that’s no fun. Maybe you need more time on Sunday to prepare? If you do not work for yourself and have to work on Mondays … maybe you do need more prep time Sunday night so you wake up refreshed and READY to tackle the week. If you hate your job … quit. Trust me, from someone who up and quit her job to pursue her dream … you’ll figure it out. It may be hard, but work hard and it will definitely work out.

Hope this little pep-talk helped someone. I love doing posts like this and challenging myself and others! I might have to do this every week. My day was amazing and I have to thank this positive outlook for that. CHEERS to Mondays and THANK THE LORD we had a Monday to cheers to!

xoxo

Leah

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