For full disclosure I should mention that Amanda is a friend of mine so my affinity for her family is not purely professional... But, if you knew them you'd love them too!!! They're a wild and crazy bunch and just because I love to torture myself I suggested they bring their "slightly" overweight (he didn't used to be, some adorable baby *cough Caleb cough* has been feeding him food from his high chair the past four months) and somewhat not really trained dog to the shoot, just to add a little more spice to the day.... lol! Listen, I love chaos. I love kids. I love babies. I love dogs. Yes, it was pandemonium and yet I was still in my happy place. Besides, how often do you get to hear a dog who sounds like a sea lion everytime he sees another dog walk by him? Incredibly entertaining! Amanda is the kind of mom I try to be. That perfect balance of caring *deeply* for her children and wanting to raise them to be amazing human beings coupled with just enough chill factor that she's never wound up over the little things and yet is totally able to be firm and fair with her kids. She doesn't sweat the small stuff but she's totally on top of the important things. She's got this mothering thing down. I probably won't have any of this figured out until I'm a grandmother so I'm just kinda banking on the fact that I will be the worlds best grandma and my traumatized and ruined children will forgive me for screwing them up only because I am making up for it with my mad grandparenting skills.... that's kinda my game plan at this point... :)
I just really enjoy this family. They know how to have fun and live life. They've got a GREAT sense of humor. They are playful and carefree and you just sense that they appreciate life, and that's an incredible gift you give your kids, you know? Plus, HELLO PHOTOGENIC MUCH?! Gah. Dimples, freckes, baby squishableness.... I was in heaven. Amanda & Andy, here's your sneak peek, so glad we got a BEAUTIFUL day for this! Love you guys!!!
