Being a photographer sure has it perks…..and this is one of them!  I get to take beautiful images of my children.  We get to do some commercial for work for two amazing lines of clothing Belle Ame and Huggalugs.  This was shot at the end of the session and Hattie was all tuckered out….modeling is such hard work!

It all started about five years ago with John asking me if I wanted to drive over to Boise State University (BSU) and watch a tennis match.  They had a new freshman from Grand Junction, Colorado named Luke Shields and he wanted to go see him play.  I was like, “sure it sounds fun”….and so we went…..and that turned into four years of faithfully watching Bronco Tennis.  It’s funny how things happen and you never know when paths are going to cross.

We moved to Utah last year and we miss lots of things about Idaho, but I have to tell you one of the things way up there on our list is BSU tennis.  We miss everything about it.  They have the most amazing coach….Greg Patton….he leads his team with the biggest heart ever…and he teaches them integrity.  John and I loved taking all of our family over to the matches and every single time we arrived Coach Patton would greet us, shake our hands and thank us for coming over to support his team.  What a day we would have…cheering on the Broncos.  I have to tell you I have always liked tennis but at the Appleton Tennis Center I learned to love tennis.  The enthusiasm of the coach, players and crowd was amazing….I can’t tell you how exciting it was.  And on our way home we would talk…..and every time it would come back to how impressed we were at how those young men conducted themselves on the court.  The examples they were setting for young players there watching them…hoping to one day be doing what they were.  I don’t know how many of you that read my blog follow tennis, but some of the very worst antics I have ever seen happen on the tennis court….it can have a tendency to bring out the worst in people.  And that is why I was always so impressed with the BSU players….you knew you were in for a day of amazing tennis!

So to the fun part of my story….I got another call from John about a week ago and he said, “Hey, BSU is coming down to Provo to play in a tournament at BYU….how would you like to have some players come and stay at our house?”  And of course I said, “I would love it!”

Some of my favorite shots from the weekend!

Meet Scottie…he is from London.  When  John first met him he was like is he a tennis player or a model for GQ….LOL.  As you can see from this picture he is a player!!!

This is Eric (Sheldon) and his doubles partner for this tournament Alex (he’s from Australia).  These two went on to beat BYU for the doubles championship…..it was a great match and once again BSU showed their grace on the court.

I loved this one of Lizzy, Cooper and Hattie.

Hattie….has lots of new friends after her weekend with the boys…meet her new “Uncle Joey”. Don’t you think they even kind of look a a like.

Cooper saying good-bye to Luke….let’s just say Coooper thought he was the greatest!  And you know the sweetest thing…I think Luke thought Cooper was pretty awesome.

These young men were so gracious and appreciative the whole time they were in our home….They just kept thanking us.  But, the truth of the matter is that I need to thank them.  As many of you know who read my blog, our oldest son Johnny is serving a mission for our church and he has now been gone just a few days short of 15 months.  I miss him so much and I worry about him every day.  I can not tell you how many people have helped him and showed him kindness in his time away from home….there have been so many willing to step in and make sure that all of his needs are met and that he is loved and cared for when I have not been able to.  These young men also are part of a family and are away from their mothers….they allowed me to give back just a little and for that I am eternally grateful.  Thank you Broncos from one of your biggest fans!!!

Meet another beautiful senior from Spanish Fork….Kayla!!  I had so much fun spending time with her.  I have been so excited to share her images…I think they came out  perfect….and you get to see a little bit of her crazy, zany side too!!  Enjoy!!

Can you guess what year she is graduating?

Love this image….one of my very favorite from the session.

What a treat for me…I got to take pictures of another photographer and her beautiful family!!!  Meet Angie from Simply Chic Photographs.  These pictures were shot at the beautiful Tahitian Noni Gardens in Provo, Utah.  I was there to help Angie with her extended family photographs, so tht she could actually be in them, and not have to photoshop herself.  What a fun time it was for me…I got to see her work, and enjoy her amazing family.  (I can call them amazing because as it turns out Angie’s family is also my family, and this makes Angie even more special to me.)  We only got a moment together to shoot some pictures of her and her little family before a security guard was shooing us off the property….We tried out best to charm him, but that was not happening.  So I’m sharing some photos from our mini, mini shoot.  I can’t wait to take this family out and spend some time with them with me behind the camera.