” We went to a graduation party for our babysitter whom we’ve known forever.  I sat looking at all of the photos of when she was the age of the girls and thought to myself…that’s going to be them.  They are going to grow….so fast…and before I know it it’ll be us sending them off into the world. I just want photos to remember this time…to remember the girls as they are now….you know…sort of like love letters to my daughters. “

This is what Sarah told me when I arrived to their house.  Tears welled up in my eyes as I looked at the girls and they had even grown so much since last year when we did their photos. Isabel cut her hair and seemed to have aged five years.  Still wise beyond her years and more reserved than her younger sister, Olivia…bubbly and curious.  Olivia looked taller and more big girl than little girl.

The thing I loved most about this shoot is that we did it right in their own yard.  I have a few more photos I’ll post separately, but I love the fact that when the girls grow up, they’ll always remember their childhood home and they’ll have images with their mother that they’ll treasure forever. I wish I had more images of me and my own parents when I was their age.  I’m so happy Sarah scheduled this shoot.  It was so relaxed…bare feet, scattered breaks for bike riding and smoothie drinking, and grape popsicles to wrap it up.

…and how sweet that she calls these images Love Letters to My Daughters.  Ahhh…emotional me is getting all sappy again.

Sarah, I always enjoy our time together and wish there was more of it.  More images coming to you soon, but these are my favorites.  You are your little girls. :)

Much Love,

Krysta xo

I bought her a pretty new vintage dress and she let me put pretties in her hair.  We bounced in an out of the green and yellow grass. ..and the pink rocking horse I fell madly in love with and had to have joined us too.   We went barefoot and the wind blew a warm breeze across our faces.  We went out for ice cream afterwards and I knew for a brief moment that summer was finally on its way…

Much Love, 
Krysta xo

She picked me up and we drove along and I ooh’d and ahh’d over the rows of perfectly manicured pastel beach houses…

The kids picked me flowers and rocks and leaves and stuck them in my camera bag as we strolled along the brick pathways. I still haven’t taken them out.

My heart skipped when I saw the airstream cafes all in a pretty line with twinkle lights a twinkling.

The girls ran and twirled carefully in pretty vintage dresses so they wouldn’t get wet.  They were soaked by the end and we all laughed.

The sun set and the waves crashed and I was so happy to be at Seaside.

Little Caleb clung to me as I left and asked me if I could stay.

We strolled a bit longer through little boutiques and I wished we had more time.

…and then we ended the night with a girls only dinner and I left knowing I had made another lifelong friend.

I can’t really sum up Seaside. It’s one of those magical places you see in the movies. The ones you think can’t possibly exist. But they do.  Brady and I are already planning our next trip down.

I can’t really sum up this family either. It’s another one of those meetings where everything clicks and it’s easy and you walk away really feeling like you’ve known them forever.  I missed them when I left and am counting the days until I can see them again.

Much Love to you and yours Nichole,

Krysta xo

More here and here.

I don’t know what Heaven looks like…but I do believe God gives us glimpses every now and again in hopes that we are paying close enough attention in this life to notice…

Much Love, 
Krysta xo

It is undoubtedly my favorite time of the year…the light is changing…and so is he.  Brady and  I are in denial, but the truth is staring us down in the face. He is growing up.  He’ll soon be a kindergartener no more. His “big people” teeth have come in.  He no longer needs help tying his shoes.  He’s obsessed with Michael Jordan and all things basketball.  He’s an inquisitive little being and is constantly asking us to tell him about President Obama, creatures in Australia, and airplanes of all sorts.   He likes grown up shows like Extreme Couponing (I do not lie) and Swamp People.  Forget the cartoons – he’s not interested.  He got mad at Daddy for eating all of the Nutella so now requests that I put it in a special hiding place that Daddy doesn’t know about.  I have to ration out Nutella to Daddy on a daily basis.  :)

… and as much as I wish I could keep him at this age for much much longer, he amazes me and I am so excited to see all of the wonderful things he’s going to accomplish in this big ole world that awaits him….

Much Love to you Sweet Boy. xo

** I will be leaving for Minnesota for a week, but will be responding to all e-mails.  I won’t have access to my office phone messages, so please e-mail me at: krysta@krystamanthe.com. I also have a sweet family to post about soon! **