[j + k] my girls.

so if having a four year old has made me feel old......knowing my two "other" girls have grown by leaps and bounds makes me feel ANCIENT!! my josie and kylie. two sisters. they were my "kids" when all was resolved in my life to remain single and childless and i was a-okay with that....i got to give them back at the end of the day - i didn't have to clothe them, worry about them or save for their colleges. nope none of that. just the fun. [of course annie has thrown a wrench in that equation! believe me i wouldn't have it any other way!]
i was able to spend some time with my girls on christmas eve and i hadn't seen them since the summer. i mean they live so far away it makes visits really impossible. [3 miles down the road can be an eternity to travel!] oh life does get in the way sometimes. annie adores kylie and josie. it's thrilling for me to have a little girl of my own that gets to experience them. i remember waiting for kylie to come home from the hospital and the biggest thrill of my life was when chris and tracey asked if i would be present for the birth of josie. i think i cried every single day after at just the mention of her birth. [it's a good story - i'll have to remember to share that one!] friends are so important. i promise to be a better friend in 2k10.
chris.tracey.kylie.josie. happy new year my friends. xo

[a lime slice] - annie.friends.manicures.pizza.smiles.laughs. xo

annie had a blast at her birthday. a special thank you to alice and ava and ellie for being such good friends!! xo

(spa paradiso was wonderful to the girls - hot chocolates and cookies and wine and cheese!![for the moms] - thank you so much!) + (oregano's was great - delicious pizza and lots of patience! - thank you.)

shout out: to my dear friend jennifer pinkerton for making annie her skirt. you are so talented!!

annie has worn this crown every birthday of her life. i will have to do a collage of years.


ava......let's see what color......


alice enjoying her massage - the best part of the manicure!


ava patiently waiting her turn!





alice look! i chose silver....ooooooo!


a moment.








showing off the red!


the final product. ta...da!!




it was a very dark restaurant! miss ellie.


happy birthday sweetie!


i really loved the intimacy of this party and this moment is a fav. 4 year old girls are the best!!

[a + e] two beauties from connecticut.

i have known michael since he was as young as these little ones and known his mom since we were little ones. he asked if i was up for a session during the week - um...yes!! and he drove 3 hours one way for it!! that alone made me feel so wonderful that he thought enough about my photography that he would put his little ones in the car early in the morn in connecticut and take a road trip so i could capture their adorableness. is that a word? adorableness?!! it is now. this is a surprise for their mom. (i hope she doesn't stumble on my blog!)
abigayle is turning 5 and ellen just turned 3. cute sisters. abi was ready right out of the car to model for me - ellen took a little bit of time to warm up - the first few shots were of her crying - but thanks to their goofy dad - smiles and laughter were soon everywhere. michael i think i need you on my shoots all the time!!
your girls are precious. i loved spending time with them and i loved that annie got to meet them too. i hope you love what you see and that they will bring a smile to your face and that jen will be thrilled when she sees the final product. it was such a fun day and i am honored you chose me to capture your beauties.

[my baby friend]

.....that's what annie fondly refers to winston as. her baby friend. because she first met winston when they were both infants. every wednesday morning us "new" moms would meet, spread out blankets and let our little ones do what little ones do. and we'd talk and talk about motherhood - our lack of sleep,marriage, friendship, when will we fit in those jeans again? (i'm still waiting for that one), how to do this, how to do that. such a special group of ladies and my fondest memories of being a new mom.

one such special lady from this group moved away from newburyport with her husband, corey and darling little boy winston. on their way to camping in maine last week they stopped by for a visit. we had a great time catching up, went out to lunch and brought annie and win to the playground for a quick romp. aren't they the cutest?!! renee and corey - we miss you here and we look forward to the day you return. soon please.