goodmorning sunshine

Breakfast can be a bit sunny around here.

And now hurricane season is upon us...

It's always a good idea to be prepared for the weather.
Even at the breakfast table.

these are not vacation photos

OK, just kidding. Yes they are. Gotcha.

Seriously, this is it. That's why there are so many, it's my final hurrah. This is the last of them you'll see...unless you want to skip on over to the Shutterfly gallery where I will have them all neatly organized very soon.
I promise I've been participating in real life while the KC pictures have been rolling. In fact, a lot has been happening around here. My camera has been taking a break, but our garden is thriving and teaming with butterflies, sewing and knitting projects are happening and most importantly, we have quietly begun our first year of home school in the Campbell house. I promise to share the happenings here in North Carolina very soon!

kansas city | are you tired of me yet?

Are you sick of reliving our summer vacation with us yet? I keep thinking I must stop bombarding you with photos from Kansas City (I myself am getting tired of the repetitive post title) but then I come across another great shot or moment or memory and I just can't help myself. So here we are -more. Sorry.

I thought I'd share a bit of what went into our family photo sessions. Mom and Dad have an awesome basement complete with a pool table, foosball, that giant tv, a kids toy corner, bunk beds that became jungle gyms...oh and a nice little open area behind the couch where we spread out my black backdrop and played photo studio. So, one session looked like this...

Hey! Beau is alert and happy listening to the blaring rock of Guitar Hero, I'll snap some pictures...

Score! Nothing to it! After such an easy success with one baby, we thought it would be great to get all the newest cousins together...

Don't you love how Kate is holding onto Beau's tiny leg and then Joey sat next to them all agreeable baby while they kicked and clawed each other?! Priceless, but let's try that again...

Um, nope. Just not happening, but I love that I caught the snapping fingers of Lisa and Nate as they tried to get the kids to "look here!" while all those arms were still in the picture and Jon rocked on with his World Tour just beyond the chaos. So, again...

As you saw yesterday, these ended up great but I love this before moment. Kate's face makes me crack up every time and Tristan has that look -the "seriously mom, do you really need so many pictures?" look.
I'm realizing some of these "bad" photos are my favorites in the bunch. It takes a family that really loves each other to go after good photos with such gusto. We laughed a lot and the resulting smiles are the real thing. Isn't that what a portrait should be all about?

kansas city | faces

I have a thing for warm black and white. Not to be mistaken for washed-out Sepia, it is black and white -warmified. I tried to catch great natural face shots of family members at random times during our trip and I think a few of those "hey you, look here!" moments turned out OK. (p.s. you can get a better look at these if you click on them individually.)
Then there were the only slightly more planned portrait sessions with the babies. You know, rather than me saying "hey you, look here!" it was someone else saying "hey get your camera! The baby is awake let's get some pictures!" We would then traipse down to the basement to begin plopping babies onto a black backdrop while making obnoxious noises and arm movements in order to keep them happy and looking towards the camera. Maybe later I'll show you what was happening around the edges of some of these pictures!

kansas city | a picnic

Perfect weather. Lush green grass. A pretty little fishing pond. Swings on a playground. Family.
What more could you ask of a summer picnic?