Stein Kids 2013 with Renee Miller

Aunt Renee does a great job with her camera.  She usually takes her own pictures of her kiddos and was more than willing to take some family shots for us when I asked her.  I was thinking we'd do these after Baby Cinco's arrival, but my sister-in-law said "why not both!?" and I'm never one to turn down pictures!

Now, you've heard the phase "capturing memories" from multiple photographers I'm sure, but let me tell you, when it's your aunt/sister-in-law taking the photos, they really are memories!!!  Everything about this day will probably stick in my head forever. 

It started with Jason working.  I told him we should call off the photos and just try it another time but he told me they were planning to be done and back in town by 2 or 3 p.m. {which would still give us an hour/hour and a half of good light I figured}.  "Everything will be fine", he says.  Ha!  When I texted him at 13:30 he informed me they'd be a "few hours yet".  Hoping for the best, I finished getting the kiddos ready.

Aunt Renee and her family arrived {the kids were thrilled to see their cousins!} and we headed out to start getting some shots of the kids while we waited for Jason to get back to town.  That's when I couldn't find my car keys, grabbed J's instead and locked myself out of the house {again - because for some reason we don't have a house key on that set}.  No jackets for the kids or anything {it was about 60 degrees}, but at least I'd grabbed a diaper bag complete with diapers, wipes, wallet, phone and last but not least, a Dr. Pepper.  :)  Discouraged, but sadly not overly surprised with myself, we started downtown next to fun/colorful building I took Izzy to for her 1 year photos.  Then Renee got started. 

Here she'd asked the girls to kiss Eli.  Izzy wanted nothing to do with that, instead watching the scene, and she's the one who adores her big brother!

 I feel overwhelmed looking at these photos!  Jason and I are so incredibly blessed.  That God entrusts me with the raising of these amazing children just makes me shake my head in wonder!  They are His works of art and yet He trusts me to be the mother they need me to be.  Wow.  I definitely feel like I {as a stay-at-home-mom} have the most important job in the world.  The future is being shaped, every day.

A silly pose for some restless kiddos!  They could see the playground!

Big Creek isn't very full at the moment and the waterfall is a wee bit dry.  I'm pretty sure my kids think this is an alternate path to the playground and have no idea that water is actually suppose to be going over it!

They all got in some good play time with their cousins on the playground, about which they were very happy.  By this time the sun was setting on another beautiful fall day and I was fast admitting to myself that "family" pictures were not going to go as I had hoped.  Jason was still miles out of town, though on his way home at this point.  No lie, I was a little bummed about that, but looking at these great pictures of my kids sure makes me smile!

Not complete without Jason but here I am with the fruits of our love!

A huge thank you to my wonderful sister-in-law and her family for coming up to visit {and being chilly with me while we waited for Jason to come home with a house key}.  Getting to see our children through a fresh lens is refreshing and I appreciate it so much!  Truly an afternoon of capturing memories!