I had so much fun shooting the Drozd family’s portraits a few weeks ago! Three boys, THREE, kept this photographer on her toes. But honestly, anyone who believes girls are sweeter than boys are crazy. These guys did such a great job smiling for my camera and I really enjoyed my time with the family.

Happy birthday, Sweet Girl! Your mom and dad love you a million times over.

We had a good, good day, didn’t we?

I’ve known Ashley since she was a peanut of a kid, so it was extra special to help host a bridal shower for her last week. I like these images of the party and wanted to share them here.

The square candies picture above are Raspberry Truffle Fudge. It’s the simplest candy recipe I’ve ever made (seriously) and it tastes amazing. I’ve posted the recipe on Needs More Butter, but wanted to list it here as well:

3 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips
1 (14 ounce) can sweetened condensed milk
1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
salt to taste
1/4 cup heavy cream
1/4 cup raspberry flavored liqueur
2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips

Spray a 9×9 inch pan with non-stick cooking spray, and line with wax paper.
In a microwave-safe bowl, combine 3 cups chocolate chips and sweetened condensed milk. Heat in microwave until chocolate melts, stirring occasionally. Be careful not to let it scorch. Stir in the vanilla and salt. Spread into pan, and cool to room temperature.

In a microwave-safe bowl, combine cream, liqueur, and 2 cups chocolate chips. Heat in microwave until the chocolate melts; stir until smooth. Cool to lukewarm, then pour over the fudge layer. Refrigerate until both layers are completely set, about 1 hour. Cut into 1 inch pieces.

**Based on others’ reviews, I exchanged seedless raspberry jam for the raspberry-flavored liqueur. I simply melted the jam in the microwave and made the easy substitution. Also, I drizzled more melted jam on top of the fudge. Mmm, mmm good!!

Pansies, without fail, make me think of my grandma Iola. She loved the little faces on each flower.

When I worry about my potted plants, I am reminded of Grandma, too. When it would storm, Grandma would pull every last potted plant off her patio and into her living room. She wasn’t taking any chances with foul weather. As you can imagine, during a Nebraska spring those plants were often taking respite in her apartment. She had a lot of pots. It was quite a chore and you weren’t necessarily pleased when you drove up to see an empty walkout porch. That meant you had to help haul all the precious plants back out! Ha.

God bless my artsy, intensely creative grandmother! You bet she’s oohing and aahing over the colors in glory right now. She loved Jesus.

There are new things at the zoo this year…

And old things too.

We had fun playing with the fastest two year old on the planet…

And her baby brother, a bonafide member of the Two Finger Suckers Club. Just like Liv.

Happy Earth Day, and happy spring!

I want a day off.

No pouring drinks or cereal. No officiating between dog and child. No finding clothes for other people.

Yes to sleep—lots of sleep—and a good book and the internet and maybe a little shopping. A definite yes to the carton of Ben & Jerry’s in the freezer.

Yep, I am feeling selfish today. And I’m not quite sure how to get over myself. Such is life. You do what you’ve got to do.

For now, I need to love on my kiddo a bit. A good hug is helpful for everyone.

The magnificent purple trees you see around town right now are redbuds. Some are quite large, but most are smallish trees. And they are absolutely gorgeous this time of year.

A few years back, our friend Karma gave us a teeny tiny redbud. It looked like a weed of a tree and was so small we had to mark it in the garden so that we wouldn’t accidentally step on it or pull it up. But Karma told us that this tree would grow successfully—and she was right.

Finally our tree, now as tall as the garage, has actual red buds on it. It’s taken three years (or it is four?), but we’re seeing the trademark blossoms. And we’re enjoying them like the proud parents we are.

I love this season. Have I said that before? ; )

This is my friend Shiloh. Say hello, everyone!

Shiloh likes food that falls to the floor, randomly licking his owners’ legs, and running like a crazed animal around the yard. He understands the words “kennel,” “treat,” “food,” and “outside.” And even though he still sticks his head in the bathroom trashcan for the express pleasure of shredding tissues, I think he’s great.

You know who else is great? My husband, the dog trainer. Without him, Shiloh would run the household. (I’m slowly/lamely/poorly working on my Alpha skills.)

I walked into Livia’s room yesterday to liberate her from quiet time, and there she was, on her bed, fully clothed and now also in her robe and slippers. She was intently involved in placing important items into a little denim purse. First, the plastic Wubbzy characters, then a tiny pad of paper and two pennies. Evidence of play was scattered around her room. She had obviously done some shopping as her little red shopping cart had been pulled from the closet and it looked like the stroller had been employed as well.

This, this type of scene, I adore. While I oftentimes have no idea what Livia is thinking, I can see the effects of her active imagination. Why the robe? Why the slippers? And where did she unearth that denim purse? I don’t know, but I love witnessing it.

Sometimes it takes awhile to get going, to get those creative juices up and running instead of cowering in fear. Sometimes it just takes a sunset, the rays deliciously sliding across the earth towards my front windows. I pick up my camera and play with the light. Even plastic white mini-blinds turn radiant in the warmth and I use everything at my disposal to create my own art. My own joy. My own moments of awareness and delight. I look through my lens and create something new, something old, something real and something imaginary.

I do it because I have to. And because I want to. And because, in doing so, I find life.