Little Elly, she’s a girl after my own heart!  When I arrived at her home for our session she came running down the stairs, gave me a huge hug, looked me up and down and said “Miss Jamie, I LOVE your up shoes!”  I looked to her mom for clarification and her mom whispered “Your high heels…she loves your high heels.”  Elly then ran off to get her own brand new “up shoes” (a.k.a. tap shoes).  She wanted to wear them through the entire session, but we decided we would save them for a special recital when we were done taking pictures.  I have to say that Elly and her sister Reese always make my job so easy.  They are both such happy and imaginative little girls who love to perform for the camera…it doesn’t get much better than that!

What a difference a year makes.  I first met this beautiful family a year ago when they welcomed home Owen, their newest addition. Emerson was so excited to show off her baby brother and was equally excited to show me her new room and some toys.  She and I hit it off at that session and spent a good portion of time playing together and became fast friends!

Several weeks after our session my husband delivered their wall gallery out to their home and was greeted at the door by Emerson’s mom.  She expressed her gratitude and in the process got a little shaky and seemed on the verge of crying.  My husband, not knowing if this was the “norm” when people received their framed prints, said he would pass her message onto me.  She stopped my husband as he was walking away and asked him to also tell me that Emerson had been diagnosed with cancer earlier that day.

Since then I have stayed in contact with Emerson via her Caring Bridge site.  Reading about her journey has been nothing short of awe-inspiring.  Emerson is truly one of the bravest little girls I will ever know.  All the spunk I saw on the day we met has definitely carried her through this ordeal…she is one tough cookie to say the very least!

Luckily, Emerson’s family serves as an amazing support team.  Her little brother, Owen, has been such a trooper throughout this process.  Something tells me he will grow up and be a little protective of his big sister.  I simply cannot wrap my brain around what it has been like for Emerson’s parents to have a child diagnosed with cancer with a newborn at home.  Watching them carry their kids through this with such grace is amazing.  It was an honor when they invited me out to take family photos this summer.

When I arrived Emerson didn’t skip a beat.  Just like before she wanted to head straight to the toys and play…and play we did!

She started out by calling her imaginary friend and ordering a batch of grape cupcakes for her play date with me:

While we were waiting for her friend to arrive with cupcakes we set up a pizzeria and had one big pizza party.  The pizza party was followed by “story time” where I sat with Emerson’s animals while she read us all a story.  I love that we both use the same page-turning technique:

And then there’s her sweet little brother.  Oh, how he loves his big sister!

He wanted to read a book, too.   What a performer this little guy is!

A sweet moment caught during some down time on the day of the shoot:

We wrapped up the day with a trip to a nearby park.

Emerson sent me an e-mail after our session…it’s one I will treasure forever!

“Dear Jamie,
I love your butterfly friend and I’m glad you came over to see me. I want you to come over again sometime so I can see your butterfly friend at the park. I love you. And I love the color pink. “

(Emerson showing me her muscles)

I told you she was a tough cookie!

Until next time, Emerson.  See you soon!  Your friend, Jamie

I love that every year on this little man’s birthday his mom interviews him…asking him the same number of questions as the age he is turning.  This year she had 9 questions for him on his 9th birthday.  We started including this list on the first page of his album every year and I love that by the time he graduates they will all be able to look back and reminisce about this fun tradition.  Happy Birthday, Henry…see you next year!

Clint, a 2011 Stillwater High School senior, was such a trooper throughout his session.  It was one of the hottest days of the summer and he didn’t complain once!  About half way through the session I found out that he and his family have a cabin in Hayward not far from our place.  It was one of those “small world” moments and I think chatting about life on the lake helped distract both of us from the near unbearable heat we were dealing with.  Clint, best wishes as you head into your senior year.  I’ll keep my fingers crossed that you get into your first choice of colleges!

Girls like Kate remind me of just how much I loved my career working as a high school history teacher.  Hearing her talk about her plans for the future and how excited she is headed into her senior year at Visitation High School really struck a cord with me.  She is exactly the type of student I loved having in my class!  Kate is so well-rounded with a passion not only for academics but she is an incredible runner as well.  She has her sights set on Notre Dame and I have no doubt she’ll have an incredible experience there starting next fall!  Best wishes to you, Kate!