I've known Carrie online for quite sometime now (actually, she snuck in a session with me a couple of years ago and managed NOT to tell me that we knew each other online ;-) until after the fact. I had the privilege of getting to know her even more when she attended a workshop last year and we've been planning this family session almost since then. I mean, a LOT of planning. She did an amazing job of pulling together some beautiful clothes for everyone and we had scored a DREAM location that was halfway between her house and mine. The day of, I drove out with my mom (aka - photo assistant). The sunrise was beautiful and the weather wasn't nearly as hot as it had been. Everything was perfect. Except...

Oh, bless her little heart. I swear no matter what we did, nothing seemed to make her happy. Maybe she was tired, maybe she was teething, maybe it was just Murphy's Law. We had all driven all this way to make this session happen and I gotta say, I was truly worried we weren't going to be able to pull it off.

Somehow we managed. I think it mostly had to do with Carrie's wonderful sense of humor and how she embraces motherhood and all that comes with it so gracefully. Those girls of hers are truly beautiful and when we finally discovered the secret to happiness (banging pots and pans in the kitchen), all was right with the world.

Carrie...I totally enjoyed our adventure that day and I'm so glad to know you!

I have completely enjoyed my little break so far, hanging out with my kiddos and doing all of these holiday-like things with them each day (in spite of being sick). It has been so nice to get offline and off the computer and out of packing tape to play board games, watch movies, look at Christmas lights, snuggle, laugh, bake sweets, and soak up every thing I missed while I was caught up in the holiday photography whirlwind.

Pinkle Toes Photography will continue to be closed until January 9th (well, still got some sessions and still have workshops coming up), but please be patient as e-mails, facebook messages, and phone calls will likely not be returned until after the 9th.

Clients...I will be sending you the details of the 2011 Pinkle's Pic of the Year contest. Changing things up this year to make it more exciting and the prize is even bigger! Be on the lookout in your e-mail next week and if you don't get something by the 1st, let me know!!!!

I will try to catch up on the blog sometime next year (ha!) to share all of the incredible holiday family sessions and beautiful cards from this year. I have so enjoyed getting all of your cards in the mail!!! Gosh, there are a lot of beautiful happy families out there and that make my heart happy. Meanwhile, if you didn't get a copy yet, here's a peek at our holiday card this year:

I hope you ALL have a WONDERFUL holiday season and are spending lots and lots of time with the ones you love, enjoying old traditions and creating new memories. 

Much love,

Michele

Our first scheduled date got delayed thanks to a horrible bathtub mishap that led to a severely busted lip and the potential loss of teeth - I was just as scared as Kristin (also a photographer ;-) for her poor baby girl having just been through a bathtub mishap with one of my kids this summer (that one ended up with stitches). But she pulled through with flying colors and we were able to have our session on a glorious Austin fall day in a GLORIOUS Austin home!!! 

Sometimes, I have to work really hard to eek out smiles from people, but I'm going to let you in on a little secret here: not the case with these guys. I truly believe when happiness comes from the inside, you can't help but to grin from ear to ear. I also can't help but to grin from ear to ear when I look through their pics.

While working on their holiday card design today, I realized I had promised a part 2 to this post. There were definitely too many fav images to tell their story in just one post. So here you go!!!

[Note: If you book a 2012 family photo session now, you can still qualify for a holiday mini session. But you should probably hurry because I only have a few openings left. Also, if you had a session with me this year and you wanted to order holiday cards, please contact me THIS week! I won't be able to process holiday card orders any later than that.] 

Soooooo much has happened since Brooke's story was featured on The Creative Mama. Soooooooo much. In fact, I just got word that their story is going to be featured on Austin's KVUE TONIGHT at 5 p.m. if you can catch it!!! ETA: HERE's the news story from tonight on KVUE. What a great piece!!!!

Not only has the word spread all over the world about securing furniture to protect small children, but an entire business has been launched. If you haven't checked out these beautiful necklaces (new styles have been added, like the one pictured above) made by Brooke and her mommy, you should. A Brooke's Angel Wing necklace couldn't be a more perfect, meaningful, or heartfelt holiday gift.

And now, a gift to you, The Pinkle Toes Blogstalkers:

Go browse around Brooke's Angel Wings and make it one of your favorite stores on Etsy. On Monday, November 21st, I will select one of their etsy admirers at random and send this awesome "Pinkle Toes pink" angel wing necklace your way as a thank you. Brooke and her mommy have been working very hard (along with the help of another very special person) to keep up with the inventory and create new designs and I couldn't be more impressed with their incredible efforts!

(Sporting *my* wings the other day ;-)