I am a scrapbooker. It is my escape and creative outlet. I love how it allows me to freeze time. I love flipping thru our family books and visiting my babies in another time. 

I love the creative process, the products (Pretty paper! Stickers! Yippee!!)and the introspection that it allows me. It helps me appreciate the gifts and blessings that I have in my life. 

Many people in our scrapbook community participate in a project called "Week in the Life". It is a documentary project started by Ali Edwards where you "capture the simple everyday details of life with photos and words". So for 7 days, you carry your camera with you everywhere and make notes on your regular, everyday life. And at the end you compile your photos and stories into an album. 

It is not about great, mind-blowing photography. It is about documenting your life and telling the story of where you are RIGHT NOW. I am going to share our Thursday with you.

Traffic is a nightmare around these parts. I only live 13 minutes away from my work, but this morning it took 38. UGH! And the rain and gloom didn't help. 

I arrive to this familiar hallway that I walk up and down several times a day. I love being able to work where I also worship. It is a privelidge to work here. I love the people and the work I do. 

I unpack, read a Bible verse, say a quick prayer for a good day, take my vitamins and make my To-Do list for the day. It is a long list.......

Since our 3 oldest girls don't live at home, I rely on texting, FB and Instagram to keep up with their lives. We try and plan "Mommy/Daughters Dates" regularly. It is so hard with their busy schedules though. 

Home long enough to look at a stack of bills and say hi to Sawyer. Why yes, that IS a Build-A-Bear shirt that he is wearing. Hahaha...poor doggy.

Tonight is CRAZY because we have "Meet the Teacher" at the boys intermediate school, a band exhibition at the high school and football practice. 

Justin worked hard to earn this spot in marching band. I can't walk and chew gum at the same time. How in the world he carries this, keeps time to the music and learns the choreography is beyond me! They get their rhythm from their daddy. hahah!

Today was a busy, insane, pizza kinda day. Quick bite, then showers.

This little cutie doesn't feel too great. He took his shower, then went into the living room and immediately fell asleep on the couch. This was the 2nd day of football practice to actually tackle. He may just be tired. I will have to keep an eye on him for the next couple days. 

I enjoyed helping him make decisions for his letterman's jacket that he was awarded this year. I vetoed an inappropriate nickname he wanted. We compromised on a slightly less inappropriate one. hehehe! 

We laughed and talked about my high school years. I am glad he is mine. I like him and love him. The fact that he will only be with us for one more year hits hard and often. The days were long, but the years so very short.

Chrissy wakes up long enough to drag himself upstairs to the man cave and watch a game with Sammy and dad. He falls asleep again 5 minutes later.

Around 10pm, Brendon and I put the little boys to bed. This is the last week of late nights because school starts on Monday. (Can I get an AMEN!! Woo-hoo!) 

I love when the house begins to shut down, and everyone is off to their own rooms. I am blessed to have a husband who can't go to sleep with a messy kitchen. He makes sure that everything is clean and ready for the next day. The hum of the refrigerator is the only sound that floats thru the house. Feels so peaceful.

Of course I take these everyday moments for granted now, but in 20 years I will treasure these mundane details.

Y'all! It is no wonder the Oak Ridge War Eagles went so far this year. There is SO much talent on this team. It was such a pleasure meeting so many of these outstanding young men.

This dude right here tho.....he not only plays baseball, but football too!! Oh and did I fail to mention that he lettered in academics as well??!

I convinced his cutie pie girlfriend to jump in a few of the pictures. Ugh! How cute are they anyway?

Love my "baseball boys" to pieces. I am praying God's blessings over each of their lives!

Here is another cutie pie athlete from our PHENOMENAL local high school team. 

The 2015 senior class that I have had the priviledge to shoot have been some of the smartest, and most talented kids ever.

His mom was a sweetheart, and his uniforms, baseball equipment and outfit changes all ready to go. We started at the high school, then hit a couple of my go-to locations for seniors. 

And Drew was a doll. So sweet and respectful. I have 2  boys that play Little League. Drew was patient and put up with all my questions of playing baseball at the high school and college level. 

He has already signed to play baseball at college in the fall. I know his parents could not be more proud of this young man. 

It has been exciting around my neck of the woods lately. Our local high school baseball team, the Oak Ridge War Eagles, were finalists in Regional Championships for the first time in Oak Ridge history. I had the privilege of shooting a bunch of the seniors on the team. First up is this handsome dude. 

For their photoshoots, I remind my senior guys to bring their letterman jackets, high school rings, props, uniforms, anything special to them that showcases their personalities and at least 1 nice outfit to make their moms happy! : )

This cutie won the "Outfielder" award for this season. He has signed to play baseball for college next year. I wish him nothing but happiness and success. I know his future is super bright!

I am so happy summer is here. I am taking a break for a few months and look forward to taking some classes, practicing, and working on personal photography projects. 

I also look forward to BLOGGING! I have so many sessions that I have not showcased yet. I hope that between my daytime job, 4 boys at home (yep, I am counting my hubby! hehehe) camps, vacations, etc...that I will have time to blog at least once a day.....ok, once a week.....Haha...who am I kidding....even once a MONTH would be ok with me right now!

First up is a beautiful girl who is graduating high school and walking across the stage next week. 

A few months ago, while the sun was slowing setting and so pretty, we went walking in a field, talked, laughed and took pictures for a while.

Congratulations sweetheart. Your future awaits! Go set the world on fire!

There will come a day when children start to leave home and all of its familiarity. They may end up in different states or even countries. There may be new wives, husbands or babies. But there will always be that sibling alliance. They will always have a shared history, a shared connection.  

 "To the outside world, we all grow old. But not brothers and sisters. We know each other as we always were. We share private family jokes, feuds and secrets, family grief and joy. We know each other's hearts. We live outside the touch of time" - Clara Ortega 

"Other things may change us, but we start and end with family".

     Oh, it feels good to be back at my desk. I took the month of December off and chaos abounded! My kids were all home and we had NO schedule! My house was a disaster, and we ate out more than I care to admit. 

I like the security of a routine and the freshness of a New Year.  I have neglected my little spot on the inter webs, so first up on my schedule is BLOGGING! I have a bunch of sessions I haven't posted yet. But the first one will be of my own little family. 

Every year I drag everyone kicking and screaming (no, literally KICKING and SCREAMING! lol)to take our annual Christmas pictures. My husband starts twitching around October because he knows it is coming. 

My cute friend and fellow photographer found a spot downtown with cool grafitti and a great view of the Houston skyline. (We may or may not have stepped over broken beer bottles, empty spray paint cans and disturbed a family of rats.) But I am in love with this spot! Urban and edgy!

I know the holidays are crazy busy. But take time to capture your kids. Of course, I want you to hire me, but if you don't, get out there anyway! The old adage is so true. Kids grow up in a blink. 

I was shooting one of the boys, but turned around because the big girls said that Riley was sitting so nicely. I looked and got my four baby girls all together. It is not a technically great photo, but I love it so much.

And one of the last shots of the day. My husband looks like a kingpin! Haha! I will call this one, "The Godfather from the Suburbs"......lol!

There ya go folks, nepotism at its finest. Happy 2015!

If you spend any time with me at all, you will learn that I have a slight obsession with babies.....hence my own 7 children. Ha! So when I get asked to photograph a little cutie pie, I JUMP at the chance. It feeds my baby fever a bit. My husband wants me to focus on photographing babies exclusively so maybe then I will stop asking him to have another. LOL!

But seriously, how beautiful is she anyway? Those eyes.....swoon! Such a little doll.

Her mom did a fantastic job choosing her outfits and props. You can tell this little sweetheart is so loved and adored. 

And the cake was FABULOUS!

The baby fever struggle is Real!!  All I want to do is steal the baby after the session! 

Ummm.....Don't let that scare you away. You can call me to schedule your session, I promise NOT to steal your child....well....Maybe! Haha!

It is no small thing to be trusted to capture a family's memories. It's a privilege that I do not take for granted. 

Little cutie pies like this, is one of the reasons why I love my job so much.

"There are only two lasting bequests we can hope to give our children. One is roots; the other, wings." 
-Hodding Carter

Photography is my outlet for self-expression, but it also opens the doors for new friendships to form.

I have known this sweet family from our church for awhile. But during our session, I got to know them on a deeper level. Between shots, we talked about the weather (it was HOT!) how tough and rewarding parenting is, our jobs, our lives. I want to remain friends long after the photos are taken. 

It was a blessing to see such a young family committed to the Lord and each other. Their children are stunning.....obviously.

But to see how loving and patient they are with their babies, just made my heart sing. We are all so worried about the "next generation"...but with young people like this, I think we will be just fine. 

Mother Teresa said, "Want to promote world peace? Go home and love your own family". 

That being said, there is a point in the session, where things naturally start to come to a close. Usually, I start to lose the kids and they give me this face...."Miss Nikki, we are DONE!" LOL! 

But he had nothing on his baby sister, who straight up told me, "Yep,..... I'm out!" Haha!  

It was such a fun day. And I am humbled they allowed me to capture this time in their lives.