HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!

THE DOG ATE MY PUMPKIN

I'm not kidding. We just finished carving our little pumpkin guy. Hannah was very articulate in the exact placement of all the little teeth that I so intricately carved, tooth by tooth. An hour later, we noticed that our little pumpkin guy suddenly looked like a grandpa who forgot to put in his dentures. Yep, the dogs ate the teeth right out of poor little pumpkin guy's mouth. See all the teeth marks? Sigh..... and Happy Halloween from the O'Steen Family (and especially Bailey and

Brody).

SIMPLE PLEASURES

Isn't it funny how kids can take something as simple as a Target bag and a windy day and discover the wonders of childhood?

They really got those bags to fly!!

Check out the tongues - all three of them!!! Two girls and even the dog!

It's so hard to keep up with the big girls....

FABULOUS FALL FUN!!

You can see the pictures from this fun family shoot by entering the code "Jamie" HERE.

A SNEAK PEEK

I had a session last night with a very fun family!! We were at Jerusalem Mill again - it is so pretty right now with the changing leaves. Here are just a few images from the session - this has got to be the happiest baby on the planet!! He was full of belly laughs and big boy happy squeals, he was a dream to photograph!!

TUESDAY MORNING TUBBY TIME

FIRST FROST

I think winter is just around the corner!! We already had our first frost last night. It seems to be a few weeks earlier than normal. The girls get so excited about the first frost - they are already planning what they will do in the snow. Maryland is known for it's crazy and unpredictable weather. Last week we had the air conditioner on, and this morning Dad turned on the heater!

THE COPE FAMILY

Last night I had the pleasure of doing a session with one of my favorite families!! They are great friends of ours. I was all bundled up in my coat and they were so brave wearing their short sleeve shirts!! You can see more of their session by clicking on the client section of my site HERE and entering the code "cope".

A BEAUTIFUL DAY AT THE PUMPKIN PATCH

Today was a perfect day to visit the pumpkin patch - sunny and cold - a perfect Maryland autumn day. We started our traditional pumpkin picking day with pumpkin bread for breakfast. We have visited this place every fall since we left Florida. This year marked our 10th anniversary of visiting Lohr's Orchard. It's so hard to believe!! Usually we pick apples as well as pumpkins, but the apple season is pretty much over now. We think it's going to be a cold winter since the apples were ripe a little earlier than usual. Instead we bought some apples and plan on making caramel/chocolate/candy covered apples tonight while staying warm in front of the fireplace - it's such a chilly day!!

Emily enjoyed finding the most perfect "punkin". She decided on two. I guess because she is two.

Hannah always takes the most time picking out her pumpkin. She is my very careful shopper. She will look at EVERY available option before she makes her decision. This makes for quite a while spent in the pumpkin patch. Look at the shape of this one she considered - so unique!

Waiting for Hannah....... and making up songs about our little Punkin' (her nickname since she was a baby) pickin a punkin in the punkin patch. She always names her pumpkin "Patches", at least she did when she was five, six and seven years old. So now, she continues the tradition just because. So, meet Patches version 2008.

And we all know what happens when the photographer gets caught in front of the lens instead of behind it.....

Boys will be boys. We were laughing remembering the year that we were pumpkin picking and I was very pregnant with Emily. We had gone with about three or four other families, and all the ladies in the group decided to put a pumpkin under their shirts and all stand beside my pregnant belly. I think my belly was still the biggest. I'll have to find that picture sometime.....

Decision made!!

Kirsten and Hannah riding on the hayride - I love the very wind blown look!!

HAPPY FALL Y'ALL!!!