this one’s been years in the making

Words can't describe the love I have for this family.
I met Alexis more than seven years ago at just the right time. We had just moved to a new city. A new state. A new world. I was feeling completely lost and afraid when she showed up at my door. It wasn't by chance that she came into my home and my life at that time. She didn't waste time with the usual get-to-know-you small talk. She went straight to the punch. "How are you really doing?" she asked sincerely. I was inclined to just say fine. But I could tell that wasn't going to cut it with her. I talked. She listened. And a friendship began…one of those friendships that changes you forever.
And boy, have we have changed since then.
I've had three children. She's had three children.
They've moved twice. We've moved twice.
With the way I communicate (i.e., lousy), you might think our friendship wouldn't weather the distance. But she's good that way. She still calls at just the right time to say, "How are you really doing?" I love her for that.

We've talked about family photos for years, but the timing has never seemed to work out. Last week, the stars aligned and all was magical. It worked something like this:

In California on a Saturday
1:00 pm – We are sitting in her kitchen talking while she is cooking up a delicious pot of potato soup. Everyone is getting excited because we are going to the pumpkin patch in a little bit.
1:15 pm – I ask if she wants to attempt family photos before we head back to Arizona. It seems way too complicated but I can see her wheels turning.
1:30 pm – She asks Adam (husband) if he thinks they could make it work. I could see his wheels turning too but in the other direction. 🙂
1:45 pm – A decision has been made. Skip the pumpkin patch. We are going to make it happen! (But we only have 2 hours to do it)
2:00 pm – Alexis and I are on a mission to see what clothes we can pull together.
2:30 pm – Still throwing stuff together. Outfitting 8 people is tricky!
2:45 pm – Now where do we take the pictures? We are driving back to their house when we both glance over at a spot of evergreen trees and fields right by their home. We both let out an audible gasp! That's it!
3:00 pm – Kids dressed. Hair combed. Barely. Faces still a little sticky but that's ok.
3:10 pm – Her family piles out of their van while my family waits behind in ours. No need to have an extra 4 hoodlums running around.
3:10-4:00 pm – Pure heaven. This is why I love doing this. I can think of few things better than being with one of my favorite families in the whole world, documenting their family relationships and love for each other. I get all emotional just thinking about it. I love them. And it doesn't hurt that Jeff was behind me making them laugh and smile like he always does. I will just let you guess what kind of noises he was making. 🙂

Mission accomplished. And here are the treasures! By the way, I think it was more than serendipitous that Kate (cutie with the heart sweater on) ended up in the middle. That heart ties it all together perfectly.