Once again, allow me to introduce you to another dear family! Meet the Gillespies! It was a cold and rainy day outside, but inside was a whole nother story. I was met with a buffet of mouth watering aromas, beautiful Christmas music, sleeping babies and the sound of cheery memories being made! What a delight from beginning to end… Here are just a few of my favorites!
What a blessed time of year! Merry Christmas Gillespie family!
Just as this football season was starting and we were trying to explain to our little Hurdle why he wasn’t old enough yet to play, we made a wonderful discovery: Northeast Recreational Center!!! We were so excited to find out that our little guy was qualified to play TACKLE football and his big sister could use all her bounce to cheer him on! It was a season full of learning for both of the kids, as well as mom and dad (well, mom anyway!). For instance, I learned that even though these kids were only 5 and 6 years old, they could and would play football by ALL the rules, even if it meant they would go back and forth on penalties by not keeping the ball still before hiking it, lol! I’m sure there’s a techy term for that, but in the end I’m still just a photographer and a mother! For sure, the whole season was a hoot! I enjoyed watching Sparkle cheer with all her exhuberance and totally loved watching Hurdle get pummelled by other ruffians! Finally our big homecoming came in all its blustery force. Thankfully it didn’t rain, but it was quite cold! I thought it would be fun to share some of my favorite photos from that day, and highlights from the whole season…I’m already missing all the action and excitement!
I was so proud of our little Sparkle! She made runner up for homecoming queen 5-6yr. old team! I was afraid she would be terribly disappointed that she didn’t get to wear the sparkly crown, but she was content to be her sparkly self!
Of course you can’t cheer without some rough and tumble boys willing to put it all out there on the field, so here’s a few shots of Hurdle’s team! I had so many awesome pictures, it was hard to narrow it down. Here’s a few that really stuck out to me…
Boys will be boys…but, I happened to capture a few moments that expressed something a little deeper than that. These next few really pulled me into their hearts…
This next and last picture is my absolute favorite from the whole season. What really caught my eye was the way he was wearing his shirt…I hope you enjoy the story it tells as much as I do!
It was a great season, but I garauntee we will be back again next year! I would recommend this football league to any mother with a son, and to any little girl wanting to cheer! They were all so friendly and professional the entire season; I was genuinely impressed. Here is a link to their site; check it out and see if it’s a fit for your family! www.northeastreccenter.com
This photo shoot was amazing! Not only did I have a great new location picked out specifically for this family, but I had (once again) awesome personalities to work with…and did I mention the eyes?! Wow! If eyes are the window to the soul, then sit down and have a front row seat for a peak into the Armao family! Enjoy!!
I really do hope you haven’t had enough, because I’m really holding back and I still have more to share! What do you do when 6 people do exactly what you want them to do, and then add that sparkle all on their own? You’re stuck with WAY too many good pictures! These next few are some of my favorites for this particular SPOT. Don’t ask me what my overall favorite is, because I simply couldn’t choose!
They may never see this, but MANY thanks to the owners of this barn for their graciousness when I knocked on their door at dark 30 asking if I could pretty please use their barn for a photo shoot! They were so wonderful to let a perfect stranger bring even more strangers onto their property; I wonder if I would have been so kind….
Here are the last few shots we got off before it got too dark. Although the barn was great, we certainly did want at least a few pictures with the beautiful fall leaves. I discovered this cozy location out in our yonder woods! I absolutely LOVE the lines!
Thank you Armao family! It was unforgettable! 🙂
Laura,
Great job! Your work is wonderful, but not a surprize to me, you were talented in everything you did.(even waitressing) Have a wonderful holiday season.
Terry
The first time I looked at these pictures and read the sweet things you wrote, I cried. (Does that sound like what your mother would do?!) I have felt a special connection with you since the day we met, and I thank God for you and your family! Thank you for doing such a beautiful job in photographing mine! God has definitely given you a special talent for creating superb backgrounds and poses. Thanking you with much love,
Cindy
It is wonderful to see family that you haven’t met or seen in a long long time. The babies are beautiful as well as the rest of the family. Love you all, Nancy
So glad to see these pictures…beautiful faces. Thanks for sharing…. ain’t we blessed? Love always, Aunt Soup
Dear Gillespie Family,
What a beutiful family!! The babies are adorable. It seems like just yesterday we were at Family Reunions or Holiday Gatherings and the 4 J’s were little. What beautiful young adults they have become. God has truly blessed your family.
Happy Hollidays!
Lora
What a beautiful family! Such wonderful pictures too! Such love you can feel through each one!!! My favorite picutre is the first one! I can see how happy and how much in love you both are still! That makes my heart swell!
Merry Christmas,
Beth
Laura~ I just saw the proofs and they are fantastic! Can’t wait to show the rest of the family, and to see the shots of our dear Annie. Thank you again for helping us hold on to these moments we had together! You have helped make them unforgettable!