Instant attraction

I felt a little nervous and shy when I finally met mom and dad. We'd had such wonderful phone conversations...chatty, funny, irreverent. Like talking with a friend. They sounded fun, I'd even say cool (yeah, I still use that word, what's it to ya...). Would it be so great in person or would it be all business. Were they just buttering the photographers buns (in which case I'll tell you, it works, but so do cookies).

They were wonderful. The kids were alternately sassy and sweet. The parents clearly in love with not only the kids as family but each one as special little individual spirits. "But aren't all parents like that Libby?" Probably. But not always on picture day!







Show of hands...how many of you wish that you had a photo of your mom young and happy and fit and playing with you. me me me



And then, to make it that much better, I got this email from dad, "Libby, Thanks so much. We love the photos. You've preserved forever this season in our lives--the feeling I get when I walk in the door after a long day and see my shining, hilarious girls. I'm so grateful for that."

Enough said.

You can not resist

Mom told me that they spent the morning complaining, resisting, protesting..."we don't want to have our pictures taken today. we don't want to see Libby Lewis". Like I haven't heard that one before. Let me tell you though that two rambunctious boys with a penchant for silly talk and getting dirty...it's like we were made for each other....they were putty in the hand 20 seconds in.

A little father's day wrap up here...the plan was to tickle dad but...i think someone was on to them...

Happy Fathers Day

We're not a super sappy family but we do all really enjoy each other...and my dad is the lynch pin of it all...the Big Al that we all revolve around.

He's got nice hobbies that make it fun to hang around him...he likes a good meal, a good glass of wine and an enjoyable game of cards.

My friends used to be shocked when they found out my dad was an Episcopal priest (see the aforementioned drink and cards) but it's part of the wonderful humanity that makes up my dad...and my family. Happy Fathers Day!


Ahhh....I'm still relishing those mustache photos...

Baby Dinosaurs

Let's just pretend I haven't been awol for awhile...honestly it feels like just yesterday...and then it got hot and then everyone graduated and then I tackled a long list of overdue house projects and an overdue baby quilt and then and then....

Consequently it was just a few weeks ago I was playing at the park with these baby dinosaurs (I know, can you believe it wasn't on the news...real baby dinosaurs!) but it feels like ages.

Usually when I first meet a family there is some preliminary chit chat, ages, names, breakfast cereals, etc...this time dad just melted right away and we were immediately caught up in a world of silly talk, funny faces and rushing about...

Someone really wanted their baby dinosaur booty in the photo...

In a fit of brilliance I had suggested they bring their suits for some fun at the beach. But you know what the beach is when it's really hot and sunny out...really hot and sunny. We all sort of wilted...we took a few snaps, were baby dinosaurs again and then headed back discussing which flavor ice cream they were going to get...now that's what you do on a hot and sunny day!

I love this last shot...the way the little brother is checking out his big bro...seeing what he's doing, laughing and happy to be togehter...(no, really, it was like that!).

Sassy sacks of sugar

Grace and I go way back and I have often suspected that she was a sassy sack of sugar...this time completely confirmed it...I love kids that are off and running, that take your toot joke or lion roar or funny face and make it better, bigger, more them...of course, it didn't hurt to have her dad along to remind her that there's a fine line between being funny and being a goober. I should keep him in my back pocket to remind me of the same thing.

She really wanted to go in the tree but then, as often happens, it was a bit, well, big. She said under her breath, "be brave". Okay, I'm definitely keeping that in my back pocket...

Lest you worry, Henry's got a little spice of his own.

The last shot was the literally the last shot and it just totally summed up all the love and sweetness that families have...that aura of specialness and togetherness and unity that makes sacks of sugar feel safe, protected and cherished...it's really a special thing I get to be around!

You gorgeous you

You've been so patiently waiting for me to finish you...you gorgeous things! So scrappy, full of pajama pants and little boys shirts, grammas pillowcases and crib sheets...We just like to lay around and stare adoringly at you...

It looks like quadruplets but really they are just twins...fronts and back both pieced and quilted.

I know it's not right to have favorites but, well, this one is mine...

All of my quilts have been photographed the same way (all 2 of them) but then I saw Penny Lever Green's website and I love love loved the way she photographed her things in situ (her fancy word, not mine) and it inspired me to do so many things (like finish these quilts even though my quilting was bound to be kookie)...it was hard to show all my favorite little bits in one photo...race cars, fish, scooter boys, chubby kings and queens, cherubs, kitties...