A Summer Evening

A summer evening with my sons, Lee, jr., Julian and Tyus. We've only been on summer break for two weeks. I have to admit it feels like its been longer already... :-) I look at my boys and hardly believe how quickly they've grown...but i shouldn't be surprised considering how much they have eaten in the last two weeks...LOL!

Mardi Gras 2011

A christian holiday and popular cultural phenomenon, Mardi Gras dates back thousands of years to pagan spring and fertility rites. Also know as Carnival, it is celebrated in many countries around the world --- mainly those with large Roman Catholic populations -- on the day before the religious season of Lent begins. Brazil, Venice, New Orleans and Mobile, Alabama play host to some of the holiday's most famous pulic festivities, drawing thousands of tourists and revelers every year.

We enjoyed a wonderful celebration with friends this year.

Happy Belated Birthday to ME!

I've neglected my plans to post for much to long. My birthday was a few weeks ago and our dear friends Connie and Stacy brought these beautiful white tulips to me. I couldn't wait to snap a few pictures of them and figured it would be a great place to restart things here. I plan to replant the bulbs in the yard so i can continue enjoying them for seasons to come. I just love flowers so this is a much appreciated gift. These tulips also made me excited because i just love spring and what could be better than having a little of it inside, even in february.

Eating Healthy

Like most, i've started off the year wanting to take better care of myself, eating healthy, exercising, getting enough sleep, trying not to worry about things i can't change...etc. So, today i went for a 30 minute walk after the boys got on the bus, with my headphones and i felt great afterwards. I went to the grocery store this evening looking for some fruit, these tangerines were looking so BRIGHT i decided to bring them home. I hope they taste as good as they appear.

For those out there doing the same, stay the course, the benefits are worth the commitment.

Mommy, i need some "lipstuff"

Tyus came home from school today and asked for some "lipstuff". How could I resist.

I Remember the day we met.

1/4/96, Happy 15th Birthday LJ! (our oldest son) I remember the day we met like it was yesterday. Exciting, overwhelming, you changed our lives. Daddy and I are so proud of you. I was happy to bake these cupcakes for you today, and I couldn't wait to take a picture of them as well. Love you babe!

Back to the routine....

Its been a long couple of days, getting everyone ready to go back to school and work after a fun filled holiday break. The gift i gave myself was to NOT do laundry for a week! I appreciated the "time away" from the mountain of laundry i tackle each week, however, 11 loads were waiting for me this weekend..oh well...back to the routine. Towels are always what i do last, so here's a toast to ME for getting through it all! Now, i can focus more on my photog business during the day and I guess, i'll want to throw in some other housework too before it turns into another pile of something else...LOL!

Sunday Morning Breakfast

Doesn't that look yummy? Well, it was...Sunday morning breakfast is the only breakfast meal we all sit down and eat together. My husband usually does the cooking, its become a routine we all look forward to.

I always wanted to have a family full of traditions and Lee and I have managed to establish quite a few over the years.

I took this picture with my new canan 50 mm f1/4 lens that i got for christmas. I just love how crisp the pictures come out. I can't resist, i'll be taking pictures every day....YEAH!!

Happy New Year 2011!

Here we go....its 2011, Happy New Year! My husband Lee and I rang in the new year with our friends/neighbors Connie and Stacy. We don't usually do the new years celebration party scene, but this year we decided to start the year off differently. The day before the party my girlfriend Connie sent me a text asking us to bring our wedding champagne flutes to toast the new year. I thought this was a great idea, since its been years since we used them and what a great reason. I thought using these glasses would remind us of our beginning of our life together. Lee and I will be celebrating eighteen years of marriage this july...wow! Its truly been a roller coaster ride, new jobs, two new homes, three handsome sons, laughter, tears, but we've been truly blessed and I'm very grateful to be able to experience it all.
I'm also very excited to learn more about running a successful photography business and I look forward to sharing my portraits with all of you.
photographically yours, behind the lens.

Breeden Girls

Miss A is just adorable and I had a ball playing with her that afternoon.


Miss A and M are so cute and were a joy to work with. I look forward to doing a session with the whole family.

Holiday Portraits

What a beautiful family! Thank you, Lisa, Rich, Virginia and Jaxon for allowing me to take your holiday portrait this season.

Bath time

Ty loves to have his picture taken just as much as I love taking his picture. His smile really warms my heart.

Wordless Wednesday - Sunrise

Sunrise sunday morning at the Massanutten Resort on a girls getaway weekend. I just couldn't resist. "Canon" and I had a picture extravaganza up there! I took so many pictures I'm still editing :-)

Determination at its best!

Tyus just loves basketball. He works so hard to get the ball into the net. when he makes it, his expression is priceless!

Check out Elle Design

Hello fellow bloggers, check out my girlfriends site, Elle Design, www.elledesignsbyleslie.com and follow her blog www.elledesignsbyleslie.com/BLOG-ELLE.html.

Elle design has created wonderful thank you notecards for my sons, invitations for our girls getaway weekend and Elle Designs NEWEST CREATION: "Contact cards" that i'm passing out to the new parents i'm meeting this year since my youngest has started kindergarten, a handy business size card with all of our info. no more struggling for a pen and paper when you want to set up a playdate, a perfect solution. Elle Design creates original pieces and don't we just love having something designed just for us?!

Elle Desgin provides that personal service that you'll be willing to pay for.

Also add her as a friend on facebook The Real Party Girl. Oh yeah, tell her that Kelli sent you!

happy shopping!

Wordless Wednesday

Full of smiles and giggles!

Julian and Tyus are the best of buddies, most of the time and great models for me to practice my photography on. Between the smiles and giggles i got them to hold still long enough to capture these photos of them. thanks guys, mommy truly appreciates your patience.

12 things about me!

1. My camera is an appendage...LOL!

2. I have vivid dreams that come true....sometimes.

3. I thrive on being organized.

4. 80's music is my favorite.

5. I love stationery/paper + taking pictures makes me a major scrapbooking addict.

6. I cherish my old friends and i'm thrilled to have made new ones as an adult.

7. I love planning things.

8. My children and husband fill my heart and our home full of laughter.

9. I'm grateful to be alive! At the age of 39 i suffered a heart attack and had double by-pass surgery two weeks after i delivered my last baby in 2005.

10. I fill my desire of having a dog by looking at breeder and dog adoption sites...maybe one day.

11. I feel at peace when i'm at the beach.

12. I feel so much comfort behind the lens....I've found my passion!

Happy Sweet 16

Happy Sweet 16 Averi! I want to thank my spelman sister Paula for giving me the opportunity to photograph her daughter on her 16th birthday. I couldn't help to reflect on my own sweet 16 (hmmm, a few years ago :-) and what an exciting time full of memories.

Thank you Averi and Paula for allowing me to share in your special day.

First Shoot

I'm truly grateful for friends who have given me the opportunity to photograph their children and share the pictures with you all. Please be gentle with comments, its my first shoot!