It came yesterday.

When you are writing a blog post its hard not to use words like "favorite" and "awesome" all the time. "This was my favorite wedding!" or "They were such an awesome couple" or "One of my favorite songs/families/friends/etc"
But, really really. When I say favorite today, I mean favorite. Summer is my FaVoRiTe.Also, "Sweet Southern Comfort" is my favorite country song. I like, and even love, many of them. But this one is my favorite. Ok, glad we got that cleared up :D


I don't know why it is that I love summer so much. I like it when its crazy hot. I like the relaxed, carefree-ness of summer. I like how everything seems more colorful, and bright (and in my photographer mind life is "over-exposed").
I like swimming pools, barefeet, sno-cones, fairs, sunshine, tans, shorts, beaches, the smell of sunscreen, watermelon's, fireflies, long nights, vacationing, and dreading the return of school.
Country music is at least three times better in the summer.Vanilla ice-cream makers step up their game.Ferris wheels are made for the summer. Can you imagine riding one in the winter? Not fun!
I decided that my summer started yesterday - spring finished in my mind, and yesterday marked "summer" for me. It was such a summer day.



This one reminds me of old film and makes me happppy!



I spent most of the early evening at Kelley Park for Dude's baseball game and a senior picture shoot. I am not sure what reminds me of summer more than kids finishing school!






We were interrupted during the shoot :) Oh, children riding their bikes to the park - so summer.



Riley, my awesome (and I really do mean awesome) friend, hung out with me at the park. He brought his brand new 20D and telephoto and we took pictures of Lauren and flowers :)



This picture totally sums up Lauren: dirty fingers from making more mud cupcakes, dirty nails from playing in the dirt, yet they are partly painted pink and she is in a blue dress picking flowers :D









Then we went to go watch Dude play. Watching The Littles play sports never gets old. Actually, I think its cuter every time.

I am sure most kids would be so embarrased if their big sister came to their games, with a huuuge camera, and waved to them, and said "AaaaWaaawW" every time they went up to bat. Not Dude, though. He made this cute little face when I walked up:

I loved watching this kid. He was the stereotypical child placed in right field.
It's hard to focus for long time, I totally understand

Even though he looks kind of awkward, this was actually a really nice hit.

His run to first was even better - he pumped his arms, got his little knees up and left the catcher in a cloud of dust. Look at his precious "game face."

So, I know that there is nothing terribly special about this picture, except that it is straight out of camera. The light was SO pretty last night! I wish that I could have done an engagement shoot!

After the game, the Littles and I met up with some friends to surprise Katie for her 20th birthday!!! I love you Katie!

And they were pretty much worn-out after their first summer day :)