This Is Life

Warning: Adorable Family + My Best Friend=Loooong post.

So, if you don’t already know, this is my oldest, dearest friend in the world, Julie.  We grew up dancing together and though we’ve never lived in the same city and/or state since High School, we manage to (easily)  keep in touch.  At the end of April, I had to opportunity to fly out to Texas, where she and her family call home. I had almost 4 days to visit with Jula, her hubby, Beau and 4 (yep, one, two, three, four!) delightful boys, Brody, Lucas, Eli and baby Coen.  We also took the (random) opportunity to do a little family photo sesh while I was there.  Oh! That giant aircraft? Yeah, that’s the plane that Beau flies, he’s a Navy pilot.

Not too many with a family photo like that one, eh?

(One) of my faves.

These boys, oh my these boys. They are each full of their own unique personality and each full of kindness, politeness and sweetness. I LOVED getting to play with them during my visit (silly puddy and all).

 

Okay, so Julie and I were thinking of sneaking in a little shoot while I was there. But the problem is, is that she HAS 5 MALES at her house!  If you’re married or just know A man, you know what I mean.  Family photos are torturous for the men folk…they have to smile! and look nice!  and heaven forbid they have to wear a nice shirt!  Just when Julie and I had just about given up, Biggest Brother Brody (below) comes downstairs all dressed in a shirt with a collar and kahkis!  Before you know it, Beau is dusting off  his  Navy Whites and the rest of the boys soon followed.  Sha-zam! Photo session!

Lucas.

No-longer-the-baby-Eli.

Coen.

Words can’t explain how much I treasure my friendship with Julie.  I admire her so much and have always looked to her for direction, advice, anything really.  It’s a little funny really because if you know me, you know that I don’t excatly “take direction” very well.I tend not to like or do something just because somebody else (anybody else!) already likes or does it. And I almost never like anything right away.

Take for example The Dave Mathews Band. Can’t stand him, and not because I think the music is bad.  Really, its because in college, everyone was all, “Dude! Dave Mathews is the MOST AMAZING BAND EEEEVER!!!” Jaime out. This is also the phenomenon that makes Pinterest both infuriate and intrigue me.  Yes, I like to pin all of the cool junk I find, but UH!  Why do I want the same crap that everyone I know has?!! I don’t!!  Oh my, anyway, so Julie.  Julie is a person (one of a very few) that I “take direction” from. I think her ideas are always good ones, she is an amazing mom, she runs her house with organization and with a great deal of grace.  So, when I got back from my trip I totally implemented many of the things she does in her house in my own.  I also have come to the realization that I could maybe kinda sorta work on my stubbornness…

Julie and Beau will celebrate 10 years of marriage in June. They are the real deal.  The love each other unconditionally, they work as a team, they work at marriage (and I mean that in a really good way) and they are fantastic parents.

Thank you from the bottom of my heart, sweet friends, for hosting me and letting me peek into your real life. I feel so honored and blessed to have gotten to capture my best friend in love, content and so very happy.  I love you all so very much.  xo