Valentine's Pictures - {Reunited}

I met my bestie, Steph, when we were both pregnant with our first children back in 1999. We were in the same Lamaze class, and our class had so much fun that we ended up having several reunions over the first few years of our babies lives. Steph, being the super organized, fabulous coordinator that she is, got the whole thing rolling with our first reunion about 6 weeks after the first baby was born. We discovered that we both had been doing scrapbooks for our babies, and started getting together fairly regularly in the evenings to work on them together.

And as our children grew, so did our friendship.

When our babies were just over a year old, we decided to do a Valentine's photo shoot together to make gifts for the dads. And of course we had to get some pictures of Ryan (mine) and Samantha (hers) together too! Because they loved playing together. And so a tradition began.

Each year we would get together just before, or on Valentine's Day and take pictures. The next year, Cameron (hers) joined our group. And I was VERY pregnant with Olivia and Katy the following year. And now we are five.

But then we moved. And timing just didn't work out for the next three years to be together at Valentine's. We were so excited when we realized that she and the kids would be traveling to visit us over Valentine's weekend this year!

We planned to get the kids all dressed up in red and white, and hoped that the weather would cooperate! I had just gotten my new 50mm lens and couldn't wait to give it a try.

There has been an old canoe abandoned by the lake in our neighborhood's park for about a year, and it made a perfect seating spot.

Steph and I are great complements to each other when it comes to taking pictures of our kids. She has a knack for photo styling and posing and getting them to smile (or act goofy...) while I stand back and fire away.

My focus fell a little soft on Cam--I used a bit too shallow setting for my depth of field. So glad that I tried this lens out for the first time on framily instead of a client! But I should mention how much I am loving this new lens overall. Look at that beautiful creamy bokeh (blurriness for you non-photog types) in the background! It is just so lovely and ethereal

I can't believe how old my boy has gotten. How have ten years gone by so quickly? And it just doesn't seem possible that he's gotten so much older when I haven't aged a bit! Okay, maybe a little bit.

See how Ry is smiling so nicely? This is so rare! But we always seem to get amazing pictures when he is totally relaxed and hanging with Sam. Their friendship has grown over the years too, and Steph and I may or may not have big plans. Or at least hopes. But we mostly just want them to both be happy. Honest! Livie is getting ready to totally crack up here, and Katy has that particular look because Steph is behind me with a HUGE branch and lifting up my hair. And possibly threatening to whack me upside the back of my head with it...

Ooops. We asked Katy to lean in a little closer. She's a very literal child, that one. And that beautiful bokeh! I think I'm in love with this lens.

Had to sneak in another one of my handsome little man. Loving those natural, relaxed, genuine smiles!

Sometime over the past 6 months or so, Cam suddenly grew up. Maybe it's the braces? I know his orthodontia has changed the shape of his face, but there's something in his eyes that looks so mature too. Or maybe it's because I got him in focus this time?

And when you put Sam and Cam together for a picture? Pure magic, I tell you! They are such pros thanks to a certain shutterbug mommy (I'm so jealous, Steph!).

By the way, have I mentioned how much I'm loving this new lens? Because it sure is loving these beautiful kids.