Back in July, my good friend Tanya Webster met up with us in Pacific Beach to take family photos. (The first time we'd ever had family photos taken.)
I tried bribing Tanya and her girls to stay the night with us that night, but she had work awaiting her at home. I even tried to sweeten up the deal with a promise of a vodka/sprite/lime with a splash of cranberry and late night dancing in the living room, but she wasn't falling for it. She sent me this email the next day though:
- I love LOVE LOVE your family.
- I am SO happy that we did pictures yesterday.
- I am super sad I couldn’t stay the night…..SUPER sad. I almost turned around and stayed.
- I am glad I didn’t stay when I saw how much work I came home to…..but I am still sad I didn’t stay.
- I need a drink like yours right this second.
- I cant wait to eat tomatos, mozzarella cheese, and fresh basil again J
- did I mention I LOVE your family.
- I love that we are friends. You are SO good for me.
- you and Josh made my heart hurt yesterday so many times.
- I love you.
I love you right back Tanya Webster.
And if you're reading this Josh Downs...we've got a whole lot of kissing to make up for when you get home.
love these so much!! so so so much
Posted by: Amanda | October 06, 2011 at 02:31 PM
Your family makes my heart swell with happiness:) Such joy shown through all these shots. Love em ALL!! My heart aches though for how much you must be missing Josh. Sending prayers your way and his. God Bless you all!XX
Posted by: Patricia | October 06, 2011 at 02:35 PM
Beautiful! So natural!
Posted by: Kelli | October 06, 2011 at 02:43 PM
BEAUTIFUL PICTURES!!!! you make my heart hurt too :( Hurry home Josh Downs!
Posted by: Desiree Chandler | October 06, 2011 at 03:13 PM
The 2nd one and the one with Annie playing with your hair slayed me!!! Beautiful photos!!! Now - blow some up big and get them on your walls!!!!!!
Posted by: Michelle Adams | October 06, 2011 at 03:24 PM
Karen, your family is absolutely beautiful! I LOVE these shots! Thank you SO much for sharing these! You are in my prayers!
Posted by: Brianne N. | October 06, 2011 at 03:25 PM
She did a wonderful job capturing your beautiful family!!
Posted by: Kristi | October 06, 2011 at 03:29 PM
She did a wonderful job capturing beautiful family!!
Posted by: Kristi | October 06, 2011 at 03:29 PM
Love these! She did a great job!
Posted by: Addie | October 06, 2011 at 03:42 PM
Lovely, precious photos.
Posted by: Laura | October 06, 2011 at 04:23 PM
Stunning! The third one, with your head on Josh's shoulder, is exquisite.
Posted by: DebZorn | October 06, 2011 at 04:24 PM
Love these!! Hugs from Conroe, TX
Posted by: Nancy Wyatt | October 06, 2011 at 04:37 PM
Fantastic photos! Absolutely beautiful.
Posted by: Sam F | October 06, 2011 at 04:45 PM
Just beautiful--the photos and your family. LOVE that you had photos taken alone with each kid.
Posted by: Cyndi | October 06, 2011 at 05:05 PM
so beautiful!
Posted by: Theresa S. | October 06, 2011 at 05:09 PM
These photos are so beautiful! I especially love the ones of you and Josh Downs.
Posted by: Stacy | October 06, 2011 at 05:15 PM
These are gorgeous!!! You have a beautiful family!
Posted by: Melanie | October 06, 2011 at 05:15 PM
Wow ... your family is beautiful!! I know you have a blended family, but HOLY COW the kids look alike.
Posted by: jen | October 06, 2011 at 05:53 PM
Karen...your family photos are just beautiful!! I love them all!!
Posted by: Tracy | October 06, 2011 at 05:55 PM
beautiful pictures of a beautiful family
Posted by: Nina | October 06, 2011 at 06:04 PM
wow! these are gorgeous. love them.
Posted by: cheryl o | October 06, 2011 at 06:11 PM
Absolutely gorgeous! I'm over the moon for you guys!
Posted by: Stephanie @ La Dolce Vita | October 06, 2011 at 06:27 PM
I am going to have to stop reading your blog! I cry every time...Okay, let me be honest...nothing could keep me from reading it. Love these so much. She is an amazing photographer. You can tell from what she wrote you that she shoots from the heart. What a gift she gave you, and what a gift she has.
Posted by: Monica | October 06, 2011 at 06:55 PM
Each of these put a huge smile on my face... such treasures!
Posted by: Lacey | October 06, 2011 at 07:14 PM
Absolutely beautiful! Love the casualness of them all. Each one is better then the next, and such killer lighting to top it off. Just perfect..
Posted by: Kelly C | October 06, 2011 at 07:40 PM
Beautiful pictures!!!
Posted by: Terri | October 06, 2011 at 07:50 PM
What a great friend to have! Love these so much.
Posted by: Marilou | October 06, 2011 at 08:27 PM
Karen, you are truly beautiful. No need for lots of makeup or a flashy hairdo (although I do love how you did your hair), just your gleaming smile! I love all the pictures. How lucky you are to have those and your gorgeous family!
Posted by: Patty Hetrick | October 06, 2011 at 08:32 PM
All I can say is the famous quote: "A picture is worth a thousand words." Love radiates in, from and surrounds each and every member of your family!
Posted by: Connie | October 06, 2011 at 08:39 PM
Oh Karen, these are glorious!! You and your family are so beautiful...... and the love you share shines in these images!!
Posted by: ♥ Debbie | October 06, 2011 at 09:06 PM
Wow these are all great -- each and every one. But I lovelovelove the ones of you and your hubby. How proud you must be to have these!
Posted by: lauren | October 06, 2011 at 10:49 PM
I love your pictures and I also Love Tanya Webster!
Posted by: Stacy AUstin | October 06, 2011 at 11:51 PM
You have a beautiful family.
Posted by: anne leglise | October 06, 2011 at 11:54 PM
Gorgeous!
Posted by: Edith | October 07, 2011 at 12:24 AM
What absolutely super cute adorable photos!
Posted by: Linda | October 07, 2011 at 02:10 AM
So glad that you finally did let someone capture you, as a family. The photos are exquisite and do your family justice. I know you will enjoy them for years to come. Thank you for sharing these.
Posted by: MSS | October 07, 2011 at 04:41 AM
these photos just made my heart melt. they're so wonderful... so happy. i hope they put a huge smile on your face for years to come!
Posted by: Kaytie Yost | October 07, 2011 at 05:33 AM
What gorgeous photos. Your family is lovely; you look radiant in them, and your cheekbones are amazing. :-) You have a real treausre in your family and in your friend.
Posted by: Sarah K | October 07, 2011 at 06:27 AM
These pictures are stunning! The love your family shares is even more stunning! I hope Josh gets home super quick so you can all be complete again and get on with the business of being the amazing family that you are. Karen, thanks so much for sharing!
Posted by: Corrine A. | October 07, 2011 at 06:30 AM
Those are the most beautiful family photos Ive ever seen. You and Josh look like you were created for each other. Ive been reading your blog since the very beginning- back in the days of twopeas-and I still love to come see whats new with you and how your family has changed and grown. I remember when Ross was 13, and now my oldest is 13. I remember when Annie was just born, and look how big she is now! She looks just like you. So weird to feel like you know someone so well, when you really dont "know" them. Thank you for sharing your life so openly with all of us (strangers) out here!
Posted by: Melinda | October 07, 2011 at 07:24 AM
Stunning. Beautiful. What words shall I choose...keep it simple...how about these...I see love, I see a lot of love.
Thats all...
Posted by: Julie in Aust. | October 07, 2011 at 07:25 AM
These are so great! Could you please post a hair-do tutorial? I think your hair is gorgeous and I would like to know how you do it :)
seriously.
Thanks for your service Josh Downs!
Posted by: Cori Barney | October 07, 2011 at 07:47 AM
Love. Love. Love these photo! You and your family are beautiful
Posted by: jane | October 07, 2011 at 08:05 AM
beautiful family - but i don't think we needed to see pictures to know that. :)
Posted by: allison | October 07, 2011 at 08:24 AM
Beautiful pictures!
Posted by: Melissa | October 07, 2011 at 08:42 AM
Fabulous family photos! Was Josh wearing Beavers socks? I don't think I've ever seen him wear a non-Beavers shirt before in your photos. Thanks for sharing these with us :)
Posted by: Kelley | October 07, 2011 at 08:49 AM
What beautiful photos. I love how you did individual pictures with each of your kids and then one with you and Josh with each child too. Have a great weekend!
Posted by: Gina f. | October 07, 2011 at 08:55 AM
These are absolutely beautiful! We love your family too!
Please tell your wonderful hubby thanks for his service to our country!
Posted by: Donna Carter | October 07, 2011 at 09:03 AM
What beautiful photos! Love that you had individual ones taken with all the kids!
Posted by: MichelleGB | October 07, 2011 at 10:01 AM
again....my eyes are filled with tears!!!! You are beautiful.....your family is beautiful!!!!!! LOVE each and every one of your pictures!!!!!!!
Posted by: Nicole Ellisn | October 07, 2011 at 11:13 AM
Great pictures!
Posted by: Jennifer O. | October 07, 2011 at 12:49 PM
Awwwhhh!! TEARS!!! Again!! Tanya Webster did a fantastic job!! Such a beautiful family Karen!!
Posted by: teresa b | October 07, 2011 at 12:50 PM
What a great job, Tanya! I think she really captured your family. Simple, fresh, beautiful!
Posted by: R. Chaney | October 07, 2011 at 01:41 PM
love the one of you and Josh against the fence with the sunlight!! happiness just spills from all of you!
Posted by: Kim S. | October 07, 2011 at 02:01 PM
Stunning photos...stunning family :) So much love and joy captured here!!!
Posted by: diane | October 07, 2011 at 03:07 PM
Tanya Webster has taken our family pictures a couple of times - thanks to you Karen! I met Tanya at Small Town Memories in St. Helens while we were at one of your classes! She is a the sweetest person, and so easy to work with! I couldn't wait to see these memories she captured for you - I knew that would be FANTASTIC!! And they are. Lucky Tanya for working with your family and lucky you for working with Tanya!
Posted by: Elizabeth | October 07, 2011 at 03:21 PM
You must be thrilled with these photos. And what's even more lovely is the email you were sent to confirm that it wasn't JUST a moment in time captured - you guys obviously live and show this love in your lives. And as per usual, just sending my regular thought from across the seas that I hope you're going ok.
Posted by: renee | October 07, 2011 at 09:32 PM
Karen, these photos are precious! You all look gorgeous! Love them.
Posted by: Sue | October 08, 2011 at 03:24 AM
Beautiful. Just beautiful.
Posted by: Jenny Schimak | October 08, 2011 at 05:33 AM
so beautiful Karen & family! Great job Tanya!!! I feel it fits your style perfectly. That is something hard for a photographer to do of another photographer! (make sense?) Well done!
Posted by: kristi | October 08, 2011 at 11:14 AM
I love these! Especially the ones of you and Josh.
Posted by: Ashley S. | October 08, 2011 at 10:21 PM
I am not sure why these family photos made me cry but they did! LOL! You can see how genuinely happy and real you are through the photos. Never mind the fact you are all gorgeous!
BTW, I hope by now you have received my little gift and that Josh has received his first box of cards as well! Tell him there will be more coming soon!
Posted by: Pam | October 09, 2011 at 05:12 AM
beautiful, beautiful, beautiful family!! so nice to see your pretty face!! you and Josh make an awefully loverly couple!! and just fun to see you all hugging and loving on each other!! thank you for sharing!! just beautimous!!
Posted by: karlalala | October 10, 2011 at 08:36 AM
I adore the pictures of your family. My eyes got all watery as I was scrolling through them. Thank you all for what you have sacrificed for our country.
Posted by: Kim Rankin | October 12, 2011 at 07:21 AM
Love, love, love the family photos...you guys are truly amazing!!!! Thanks so much for being an inspiration to all of us!
Posted by: Julie | October 14, 2011 at 10:43 PM