Every June we look forward to the Ballwin Days festivities that happen just a half-mile from our house. A parade, fireworks for two nights, and of course the carnival. This year, I brought my big camera to grab photos of us enjoying the colorful, funnel-cake scented, kitschy, overpriced, nostalgic vibes of the Ballwin Days carnival. Thankfully, my family tolerated me, and I love these images.

So for once, I'm going to "talk less", and let the photos tell the story. Happy summer, friends! Love and funnel cakes. ♥

(Yeah-- if only carnivals weren't always when it's so HOT outside. I was crabby by the end, too, Larkin. Home to baths and beds. I'm glad we go to these things, but also glad when we run out of tickets and can trek back home and peel off the sweaty clothes and get cozy in jammies again.)

She Turns Five Today, My LuluBell, My Love

{I cannot believe I've never made one of these for Lucy before. What fun to go through five years and compile her photos from month one til now (give or take a few months)... She really is a #luluface, and my goodness, I'm biased, but she's gorgeous, inside and out.}

From April 12, 2011 to today, five years later, she has been my love, my muse, and my joy (most of the time.)She is complex, emotional, and has a rich inner world that she's just now able to really express to me. She makes up her own songs and sings them with unself-conscious abandon (until I pull out a camera). She giggles *so* much more than she cries (finally!). She loves critters and animals far more than dolls, and adores dress ups and costume personas. (See above, her last photo-- that is HER. My bunny, my sweet smiling costumed girl.) 

She is a recent new devotee of drawing, and I LOVE to see how she is able to make her vision a reality so far-- simple but clever line drawings of dinosaurs and storm clouds and  happy girls... I like to hope that there will be pages and pages of her drawings in the future, and that she'll continue to find joy in expressing herself that way. She's getting better and better at being in a group of peers, and I really think she's going to be ready for kindergarten next fall. As shocking as it seems to me that it's nearly time for that, I am almost ready to believe she'll be great when the time comes. 

She's so excited to have a sister coming (did you see me announce that on FB/IG? We're having another GIRL!! *squee!*) and talks about her all the time... always thinking about the actual logistics of bringing our baby girl into our life.... "Mommy-- we need a new car!" or "where will she sleep?", etc. etc. It's so neat to see her so excited and invested in this baby girl. 

I am so lucky to be Lucy's mama. I love her so very much. She is complicated and intense and deep and still so mysterious to me in so many ways... But I trust her. And I trust God that He knew what he was doing when he placed her in my stewardship. I trust that she will teach me FAR more than I could ever teach her. And I am so grateful for her light and her joy and her own way of living life---she is a perfect part of our family and I cannot wait to see how much more she will grow in the next 12 months. My sweet Lucy girl. 

♥

Five For Friday: Emily Southerland Photography

This new idea of a manageable little five-photo post is SO easy, I even went and found five favorites from my last several months of shooting, and have a pro photography post for you, too! This "Five for Friday" could be revolutionary for my blog-lag! 

Enjoy Griffin, Claire, Claire, Emilie, and Elliot. Try not to swoon.

I seriously love my job. What an honor it is to spend time with little ones and create images that will become cherished family heirlooms for years to come. ♥  

Plan on more of these "FFF" posts for my business work. This is incredibly fun for me to do!