Are You Pho Real?

“Only the pure in heart can make a good soup.”

Ludwig van Beethoven

Beethoven, you are a crazy person. That's why I love you. Let's talk about the other things that I LOVE for a second. One of them would be Pho. The most delicious food in the world, kind of. Some people have strong opinions about pho and how it isn't delicious. They must need their mouth to wake up, because it is a PARTY! 

My Christmas Eve was one to remember. Traveling around with Mom and Dad dropping off some presents like Santa's elves. It was a blast. In the midst of our elvish activity, we became hungry. Story of my life. Since I also work with my dad along with living under the same roof, he hears how hungry I get all the time. He laughs every time. Every.Single.Time. I however, do not. I just insist that I might die if we don't have a snack or delicious food. How does this man have patience for me? The world may never know. 

Anyways, back from the rabbit trail...We went to have Pho to warm us up. But the best thing was being with my mom and dad laughing about our baby sized family and knowing that it wasn't just the soup making me feel full. It was them and their unending amounts of love and patience and generosity. I adore those two people. I am phoreal. 

Life is warmest with family and with soup.

Spontaneity + Sisters

The best thing about having a sister was that I always had a friend. 

~Cali Rae Turner

Spontaneous photo shoots are almost as exciting to me as big presents wrapped in bows. This morning at church, I got a text from Ashley...The weather was good, no rain, and they had on cute outfits. Why not take pictures?! Ashley and Emma-Mae bought some beautiful frames for their parents for Christmas and wanted to fill them with pictures. Today was our day. 

First. Let me just tell you. Ashley is one of my best friends. She is honest and hilarious and beautiful and loves Dr. Pepper more than most people love puppies. She is an auntie to some of the cutest nephews (seen here and here). Emma-Mae is her younger sister who I have been getting to know better. She is an amazing ice-skater and dislikes soup with a passion. Oh how I love these girls. They are sisters who love being together. 

Today, I felt like I was their sister too. We had a blast and almost turned into ice cubes. No worry, we headed to Chipotle afterward to warm up with some chips and guac. Delish. 

Life is spontaneous. 

Goodness, they are BEAUTIFUL! 

When I Grow Up...

"First we'll make snow angels for a two hours, then we'll go ice skating, then we'll eat a whole roll of Tollhouse Cookiedough as fast as we can, and then we'll snuggle."

-Buddy the Elf, Elf

Christmas Eve is here. Oh my goodness, I am going to pass out. I cannot believe it's here already. Three minutes ago, it was summer and I was on the beach at Lake Roosevelt, and I was discovering how I wanted to start a photography business. Two minutes ago, I was celebrating my 21st birthday with cupcakes and practicing shooting in manual mode. One minute ago, I was in Cabo soaking up the sun and eating as much guacamole as possible and discovering that my dream is becoming my reality. 2010, you have been a great year. You have had some high points and low points. Thank you for helping me realize what I want to be when I grow up. 

You may recognize Kristen and Dave in the pictures below. They were featured a few weeks ago with some pictures on their beautiful property. I have know them for years, I watched them fall in love and eventually get married. Well, they are the best friends ever, I mean seriously. Dave and Kristen told their family about me an we set up a big family photoshoot. Full of babies, moms and dads, granparents and laughing. I love this family. 

Loranger family, thank you for inviting me to take pictures of your family. I hope you realize how beautiful your family is, these pictures make my heart smile. Also, Kristen and Dave, thank you helping me be what I want to be when I grow up. 

Life is best when dreams become reality.

Merry Christmas!

You Lifesaver, You.

"This is the message of Christmas:  We are never alone. " 

~Taylor Caldwell

My Grandma asked me last night what my favorite thing to take pictures of is. I immediately knew the answer. I love children. I love love love kids. Plus, they are almost always doing cute things, so that makes my job a breeze. But I definitely never could wear heels on a photo shoot. Mostly because broken noses are not cute and kids like to run faster than I could do safely 4 inches off the ground. 

Today was one of those days. Family pictures with a gorgeous family. They are friends of some other clients of mine, Aaron and Theresa. I am so glad I have met them. Trisha and Brett have adorable children. Ethan, Jude, and Sophie. Jude became my best friend in about 2 seconds. He was showing me his toys, and he even wanted to get me a battery for my camera. I'm not sure why, but I think he thought I might need it. Thank you Jude. You lifesaver, you. Ethan is so nice too, he wanted to help me set up and take down. What a man.

And Sophie. Oh lovely. Your whole face lights up when you smile. I love your baby teeth too. 

Trisha and Brett, your family is beautiful. I am so glad to have met you. Your kids are the cutest. 

Life is even good without all your teeth. =]

**One addition to the Kelsey Lynne Photography blog is "Reactions"!!! If you don't have time to comment, you can just check what your first reaction to the post is. Unforgettable, Love it!, or Take it or Leave it.**

Whiskers on Kittens.

"Raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens, bright copper kettles and warm woolen mittens. Brown paper packages tied up with strings, these are a few of my favorite things." 

-Julie Andrews, Sound of Music

Sometimes I wake up in a ridiculous mood. Like the only thing I want is for someone to come and tell me that it is okay to go back to sleep. FOR A YEAR. I don't know, maybe it is because I had a super stressful dream last night, or the fact that I have issues...But this morning was one of those mornings. Attitude check, please. 

So when my mom asked me to find some pictures of the family to give to my grandparents, I couldn't help but falling back in love with life. When you see the beautiful people and the smallest puppy in the world, you will fall in love with my life too.

Jerry and Sheryl are my parents. They have been married for 27 years, which makes them heroes. They are honest, love to laugh, love to talk about politics and Jesus. They are the most generous people you will ever meet. They are protective, which I love. They make me feel safe and cared for. They love everyone they meet. They are beautiful people. 

Liz and Jessica are my sisters. They will live here for a year. But they will be family forever. When you live with your friend, it forces you to see strength and weakness, magnified sometimes. They see my issues, all 3 million of them. And I see theirs. But I can assure you, I love these girls more now than I ever did before they lived here. Liz is bubbly and her laugh is from the pit of her tummy. She is honest and tells things like they are. She loves people and isn't afraid to show it. Jessica is gentle and caring. She asks questions and wants to know the real you. The "you" that you have to search for. She wants honest and deep relationships, the kind that require vulnerability. But the more I know her, the more I know that vulnerability is the most valuable ingredient of a relationship. 

Tara Mae is one of the best friends I have ever had in my life. She is my weekend sister. She nannies on Mercer Island, but comes down on the weekends when she is off. She is my lifesaver. She is the best secret keeper. We laugh at ridiculous things. She loves Starbucks more than most humans and we love the same music. She is kind. She thinks life is pretty and I think she makes life pretty. I love Tara.

I treasure these girls. I treasure my family. I treasure my puppy. These are a few of my favorite things. 

Oscar.

Dad and Mama

Liz

Jessica

Tara Mae and Kelsey

Life is full of favorite things.

New Memories, Old Friends.

“Truly great friends are hard to find, difficult to leave, and impossible to forget.”

-Unknown

Kristen has been one of my best friends since High School. Kristen and I used to go on dates every week to Shari's and split breakfast. It was over eggs and pancakes that we talked about Dave and how she liked him, then loved him, and then how she became his wifey. I was there, balling my eyes out, when Kristen and Dave got married. I LOVED their wedding and I really loved being a bridesmaid. Seriously, I realized how much I really do love Dave and Kristen again today. Okay, but really...they are such a pretty couple!

There is something about old friends that make my heart feel like its going to explode. Over the years, I can still say that I really LOVE Kristen. She has always been a faithful friend and a great listener. She is honest and kind and understands my emotional highs and lows. She is one in a million. Dave, you're such a great husband to her too. Really, she is SO happy and from today, I was in awe about how much you really are still as in love as you were the day of your wedding. Probably more.

Today we laughed a lot. They have an adorable house and BEAUTIFUL property. I told them that they might wake one morning to a photoshoot happening in their yard. They weren't opposed.

Yes, you wish you were friends with them, huh? They are great.

Life is full of new memories with old friends.

A Christmas Miracle!!!

Are you sitting down? If not, please do. And fasten your seatbelt. I have the best present idea ever! A Photo session from Kelsey Lynne Photography! A great gift for everyone...Let me prove it to ya...

Lovebirds = An Engagement session! 

Friends with Kids = A Family session! 

Pregnant Mamas = Maternity or Newborn session! 

The High School Seniors in your life = Senior Portraits! 

Parents = A Big family session!

I think the best thing about this, is that this is a gift that will last for years. Not just a scented candle to be burned for 4 hours, or a bottle of lotion that may or may not make the person wonder if they smell. Give the gift of a photo session and let the people in your life know how beautiful you think they are! So beautiful that they need to be photographed!

Below is what the gift certificate will look like. I would have drawn one by hand, but I didn't want to frighten you. I can either e-mail it so you can fill it out, or send it to you in the mail. 

You could give give a 1 or 2 hour session. With or without prints or digital negatives included. If you have any questions at all, please give me a call (253) 569-7600, or go to MY WEBSITE CONTACT FORM, and I will be able to answer your questions through e-mail. 

Life is full of good things.

Who Likes Pie, Anyways?

"A mother is one to whom you hurry when you are troubled."  

~Emily Dickinson

"A mother is a person who seeing there are only four pieces of pie for five people, promptly announces she never did care for pie."  

~Tenneva Jordan

Whoa, Mama. Over the past few days, I have taken many family pictures. Oh how I adore family pictures. REALLY, I do. They have to be some of my favorites to take. Yes, because of the adorable children...But what I really love are the Mamas. I love moms. Period. They are fan-stinking-tastic. And I am convinced they have super powers. 

Today, I had the absolute privilege of working with Sarah and Kate. They are sisters who have the cutest kids. Okay, I LOVE Sarah and Kate. They are the most wonderful mamas. I want to go to coffee with them and sit and talk and laugh for hours. I am sure we would be great friends.

Moms, you are amazing. Sarah and Kate, I had a blast with you and your children. You are super heroes. 

Life is an adventure, look around.

A Merry Little Christmas...

"Christmas waves a magic wand over this world, and behold, everything is softer and more beautiful." 

~Norman Vincent Peale

There is something a little bit magical about Christmas. When people put lights on the house, bring out sparkly things, and make cocoa almost every night. That's what Christmas is like at my house. Full of happy memories and family dinners. Tonight, we decorated the tree with friends who are as close as family. Tara, Gabrella, Jessica, Liz, and Dustin. We made dinner together and all huddled around the kitchen table and ate it within 5 inches of each other. These are the moments I love. 

Another thing about Christmas that I love, is the amount of family pictures I have been taking! I LOVE family pictures! So so so much! They have to be some of my favorite pictures to take. It doesn't bother me when babies get distracted or kids have attitude. I get distracted and have attitude sometimes too...I understand their frustration. Don't worry. 

Here are some pictures from the two family photo shoots I had today with the Owens family and the Davis family. Yes, it is true, they are very beautiful people. 

If you are interested in giving the gift of a photo session, please let me know! Give someone something that they will use and something that will last...MEMORIES! Yes please! I will either mail or e-mail you a gift certificate that you can put in an envelope or in a stocking as a perfect present! 

Life is jolly, just like Santa.