And another preview...

And I couldn't wait to also preview this session for another Mom who booked me ages ago, and I'm sure is anxious to see her gorgeous girls as well! I work with kids so I find myself using the word "cute" waaaay too much, but what in the world else could you use to describe these angels:

Sneak peeks coming out of my ears

Mom and I have been planning this session since, oh, January? It has been a long time coming and I know how excited she is about this sneak peek! Brittin is the owner of Sweet Peaches Interiors, which is an awesome online children's bedding boutique, and I was so excited to work with her extended family and her absolutely adorable kiddos:
With her aunt:
I could have done an entire session just of the sisters, so much fun!
And the entire family:

Updated Fall Availability and random thoughts!

Due to the volume of calls and emails coming in for sessions, we have updated our current availability on our website. Please call us for the most up to date availability.

I am so humbled each fall when we book months out. I wish I could go back in time to the scared mommy of two young children, who was so scared to quit her day job to be a photographer, and tell her that each year from then on she will have waiting lists of people wanting HER to take their pictures. What an amazing thing for me, always!

I am asked for advice constantly, specifically in the field of photography but also from others who have a dream and are scared to pursue it. I always tell them, no matter what---do what you love, life is too short not to be doing exactly what you have dreamt of. Everything else will fall into place and the universe will rearrange itself to accomodate you.

Last minute opening

I have a last minute session opening this Wednesday, September 26th in the morning. This will be the last weekday session I will have open until December, please let me know if you are interested!

972-596-5500
deanna@devine-memories.com

Well, tonight was a half-nighter.

I'm headed to bed, but not before one more sneak peek...that's 3 sneak peeks, 3 online galleries, 3 more finished sessions and ordering appointments setup....too bad I have exactly 3 more sessions this weekend. Ack!

Ever feel like you're just treading water? :)

I'd like you to meet a very special group of grandchildren. Not only are they a great, respectful and sweet group of kids, but I've known most of them since they were teeny weenie babies. They were attendees at the church preschool that I used to teach/direct at, and it's hard now, looking at the boys, to believe that I used to carry them around on my hip!! How time flies, yet I couldn't be more thrilled to be able to watch them grow up and see what awesome children these babies have grown into. We had such a fun session and I honestly could have taken their pictures all day.

The two youngest..so so sweet! This was fun
See?
Big handsome brothers who adore little sister #1:
And big handsome brothers who adore their little sister #2!

Is there anything sweeter than sisters?

I see this one as a huge canvas, don't you??
Secret...if you let me take your pictures at the Arboretum, I buy you ice cream at the end :)

And, yet again....

I have missed countless emails in the last 24-48 hours due to another email hiccup. My server was completely clogged with spam. It's fixed now so if you emailed me recently please re-send as I have most likely not received it.

About to pull an all-nighter

I'm determined to get caught up on proofing so I am just beginning what I think will be an all-nighter, with big plans to be completely caught up within 3 days. The first thing on my list was to get a sneak peek to all the patient moms and dads out there hitting refresh, waiting for a familiar face to pop up.

This one goes out to a Daddy in NY who I've yet to meet, but already love because he is so anxious to see pictures of his wife and daughter that I hear he's been checking my blog quite frequently! I absolutely love Dads who adore their families...and who wouldn't!! And I promise they are just as sweet as they are beautiful.

I have a hard time going b/w with eyes this blue...isn't she a doll??Some with Mommy

Could you just die for her dimples??
And this one is for Mom's sweet friend who let us use her home for the session. Thank you so much again M for letting me turn your home upside down!

(And by the way, yes that is my Maddy below...3 weeks away from her first birthday. This session was for her b-day invites! Thanks for all the sweet emails :) )

Updates to Website

We've updated the Gallery page to include a full screen option, gallery options, and recent work--so if you've had a session with me lately, go check it out!

And because I should never post without a picture-- Can you guess who this soon-to-be birthday girl is from this session outtake??

Tag, I'm it.

I have been tagged by my friend Meggan Jacks, a fellow children's photographer. I am now supposed to tell you 8 things about myself. Oiy.



The Rules.
Post the rules before you give the facts. Post eight random facts about yourself. At the end of your blog post, you need to tag eight people and list their names. Leave the people you tagged a comment on their blog, letting them know that they’ve been tagged



1. When I was 13 years old, my family and I were featured in a series of local cable-only commercials for a restaurant. We were the hungry family who didn't know what to eat for lunch, and my job was to whine to my mother, which I had NEVER done before. I could have won an Oscar...



2. I have been called the perfect wife because I love football and hockey; my Daddy raised me right! Go Cowboys and Stars!!



3. I am turning 29 for the third time at the end of this month.



4. I dread photo shoots before leaving for them but have the time of my life while I'm there. I still haven't figured out where the dreading comes from.



5. I have worked at Dairy Queen (lasted 4 days when I was 16, I quit when they asked me to fish plastic baskets out of the trash), Owen's Restaurant, Grady's American Grill, Champps Americana in Addison (where I once waited on Mike Modano and 6 women ---relax Willa, it was 10 years ago), and finally as a preschool teacher and director.



6. My guilty pleasure is pop music and tabloid blogs, don't get me started on Britney Spears



7. I have naturally curly hair, like my middle daughter. I was in High School when Clinton was in office, and once someone told me I looked like Chelsea Clinton. I cried for weeks and bought a straightener and haven't looked back since. It makes me sad though when people ask me where Gabby got her curls from, because it's the only trait of mine she got!



8. I have a list of life goals/dreams hanging in my office, and one of those dreams is to perform a rock song a la The Donnas. Why is this funny? Because I am terrified of crowds and public speaking!



I think just about everyone I know has been tagged already, so I'm just going to tag Denise, Chelle Haney, Rachel Absher, Trista Blouin, Meridith, and Amy Barry.

The session that made me want a fourth child..

...but that idea was quickly shot down by my husband :)

I LOVE big families, especially now that I have a semi-large group myself. I know it's not easy (as of right now, my oldest child has strep and my baby girl has strep and a stomach bug) but I absolutely love the chaos of a large family. I kept telling Mom that but I don't think she believed me as the kids ran around us; but I loved every minute of it. To me the more chaos, the more love and fun and friendship, and that is what life is all about!

Big brother: Big sister:
Precious younger sister:
And baby:
As I mentioned above my kids are very sick and I am unabable to get much work done, but hopefully we are now on the rebound. The doctor yesterday said they had seen a ton of strep and viruses the last two weeks so if your kids are in school, look out!

Playtime!!

First of all, I have a new way for clients to contact me- the wonderful world of IM! These days with the gaggle of children I have running around my house, I sometimes do not answer the phone because of all the noise and chaos here. IM is a great way to talk to me live and get your questions answered quickly, without all the background noise. Just add devinememories@hotmail.com to your MSN Messenger contact list and if I'm available, you can ask away!


I know I've talked about having the best job in the whole world. If this set of pictures doesn't prove it I don't know what would. I get to go to work and talk to 2 year olds and hear their views of the world--this little firecracker had me CRACKING UP and I got to play all morning. Not to rub it in but as some of my little clients would say, "Nah nah nah booo booo!"
Blowing me kisses... Calling Daddy to tell him about our little photoshoot
Reading to me and Mommy her favorite bedtime stories
Hugging Mr. Frog
And talking to her new baby sister, who will make her Devine Memories debut in December!!

My life summed up by Excel.

I just had an interesting evening of creating a personal weekly schedule for my kids and I to abide by now that we have three children attending three different schools. I had to laugh when Excel prompted me that my schedule took up 3 pages. Fitting it onto one page meant tiny little letters, that's how jam-packed we are this fall. I'm sure that many of you out there can relate. I feel much more in-control of this chaos when I have things written out and posted somewhere, just the act itself is more important to me than the final product; a confirmation that it "can be done". (I'll let you know!!)

It has been a busy couple of weeks to say the least so I have lots and lots of pictures to share, and I will spread it over a few days so that everyone gets their moment in the spotlight!

First of all, today was my middle daughter's first day of dance class at a real dance studio, and I have to show her off: (By the way, if you have a special event coming up in your child's life, such as the first day of school, a birthday party, or even a dance class/recital, be sure and check out the Personal Paparrazzi package that we now offer.)

Now that I have that proud mommy moment out of the way, check out this incredibly gorgeous couple expecting their first baby, a new addition to my baby planner family!

(one of the images below may be a little risque for some viewers)

2 more sneak peeks tomorrow--Christi, I know you're reading; you're next!

Pray for Gibby

I wanted to share one of my latest sessions for the Emily Project. My friend Krista, whose daughter is one of my daughter's school buddies, mentioned awhile back that her mother was undergoing major surgery to remove a mass. I, along with many of Krista's friends and family, offered to pray and added myself to an email list keeping up with her mom's progress and prognosis. Unfortunately, right after the first surgery, we received an email with some not-so good news-liposarcoma cancer, a very rare form. Nancy (or Gibby as all of her family and friends lovingly refer to her) underwent very difficult radiation treatments for some time, and just recently learned that the treatments had not helped and in fact, the cancer had grown. The family was very shaken by this news, as you can imagine, and as Krista's friend I felt so helpless for her and for the family. I was thrilled that they accepted my nomination for the Emily Project and hope that these images can be a bright light in a dark time. Nancy and her husband have made the decision to keep fighting this cancer, and she begins chemotherapy tomorrow (Thursday) morning-please, please pray for her, for her husband, and for her children and grandchildren as they come together to provide her strength.


If you would like to continue to pray for Nancy and follow her story, you can visit her Caring Bridge page here.

As you can see, Nancy is incredibly loved.

Three generations of beautiful women:
Their strength and love has humbled me:

A candid shot after the session was over with Gibby and her granddaughter:

Edited to add: I just received this email from Krista this morning and wanted to ask all of my readers to please help me pray for Nancy:

Dear Friends,

I really need you to stop what you are doing after you read this and say a prayer for Gibby. I just got off the phone with her and they are on their way to check her in to the hospital for chemotherapy. She is very scared and was crying. This totally breaks my heart that I cannot "fix" it for her. Pray that she some how find peace through all of this and pray that she doesn't get too sick. I love you all and please forward this, as I know I have forgotten many. Thank you all for everything. I am so grateful to you!
Love,
Krista