Siblings in Oklahoma

So, while out in Oklahoma visiting with my good friend to photograph her newborn and family, (you can see a few of their pictures here, ) I also had the privilege of capturing the essence of these adorable siblings!!!!! The parents couldn't have a done a better job with these little darlings!

Such a cutie! Almost 8 months old here.

Dad is pretty funny....I was glad for his assistance. 

Photographing these kids reminded me how much I love capturing
the spontaneity of children.

My favorite was when these two broke out in a kissy war!
Couldn't have even planned that, it was so cute! 

It's no secret this little guy is showered with much love.

Baby Boy

What could possibly be better than making pictures??? Traveling AND making pictures!!!!

My very dear friend and her husband had their first baby boy the end of July and asked if I could come to Oklahoma and capture some moments. Ummmm, YEAH!!!! Of course!!

I had so much fun documenting life here in the Redmond household over the span of a few days. Here are some of the highlights of this adorable baby and family.

Community Strong~Remembering Oso

Hard to believe but we are coming upon the one year anniversary of the Oso mudslide. So it seems an appropriate time to share a few images. Most are ones you've probably seen before but this was my experience. When I came home in January it was top of my list to visit the site. I grew up in the neighboring town. Many of my friends lived in Oso and went to Arlington schools, the same schools I attended. Being from a small community, everyone was somehow connected to someone involved. 

Upon arriving at the mudslide site there was a women paying her respects and wiping tears from her eyes as she walked away. I imagine this is a daily routine for her. As I got out of the car and she was walking past me to go back home (one of the few still standing right across the street), she said firmly out of concern, "Be respectful, this is a grave site". I humbly responded "Of course". I just wanted to give her a hug. I understood the sensitivity of the area where so many lost their lives and so many spent endless hours searching and helping where they could. Some of them were my friends too. So even though I wasn't around when this happened, even from a distance, I still felt connected. 

As I stood there surrounded by the beauty of the green, hilly country scene that I grew up in, I tried to imagine everything I had only seen in pictures that flooded the internet. The emotion I felt was overwhelming as I thought of every story & every life that is now a part of this land. This land that is currently a memorial full of debris and dirt hills with a large gap missing from the side of a mountain, also leaves a large gap missing from so many hearts.

43 trees represent the 43 lives lost in the slide.

On the opposite side of the slide where mud and debris continued across SR530.