Yay! It's Friday!!! Enjoy your weekend!

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I'm an only child.

My mom is an only child. My dad didn't really talk to his sister... so he's basically an only child. And, only my maternal grandfather was really beloved and involved throughout my youth. So... my family, prior to the creation of my own, was truly nuclear-- my mom, my dad, and me. That's not really true though. You see, my family also consisted of family friends, those people who I came to call "Aunt" and "Uncle;" whether they had any lineage or direct relationship to me was inconsequential and wholly unimportant to me. These people were my family because they were important people in my life who loved me and whom I loved in return. They helped to weave the tapestry of my familial blanket and helped to show me that family is what you make of it-- sometimes created from (or connected by) paperwork, blood, or relationship; but always interwoven by the love given, returned, and held in one's heart.

These thoughts came up today because I had the pleasure of photographing two of my "family" members. Meet my Aunt Maggie and Uncle Gene. I have known them for... well, let's just say that Uncle Gene helped my dad learn how to change my diaper (or so I heard during our shoot)... so I've known them for basically my whole life. ;)

They've been there since the beginning and I love them. I remember family dinners, drop-ins, help in Uncle Gene's garage on my 8th grade science project (if you're interested... it was a dam and an experiment on hydroelectric power... it won first place. Thanks Uncle Gene!), dance shows, hanging out with their fabulous son, Jeff, our wedding, and so on... It's a long history.

They have been through a lot together... a lot since Matt and I were married in 2004, actually; but they are still going strong and are totally in love. It was such a pleasure to witness them together-- older, wiser (perhaps), but still there for and with one another—a pleasure to photograph.

We don't see nearly enough of one another now... but family works that way sometimes. Still, when I do connect with those people that I call family, like my Aunt Maggie and Uncle Gene, I am reminded of both how quickly time passes and how that tightly woven blanket (while sometimes tattered by wear and/or time) is still quite warm and lovely.

I have many more pictures to share but I wanted to at least get this one out there today. Cheers to my Aunt Maggie and Uncle Gene, to friends that are family, and to love that knows no age or barriers, but only that it is still there to warm us.

I am an "only child." But, I'm lucky... I have a large family.

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Here's a sneak peek from the Tran family portrait session. Little people are so fabulous and unpredictable and the families that they inhabit are nothing less than spectacular. So much fun.

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Father's Day is just around the corner. Ethan and Riley are gearing up to celebrate Daddy this coming Sunday. He doesn't want anything special, just some time with the family (well, that's not entirely true... he did send Ethan in on a mission to tell me that "Daddy wants a 1975 red Ford Bronco." Yes, thanks for that Ethan. ;))

Still, I'm looking forward to a day where we can take a minute as a family to acknowledge the guy who often gets so little acknowledgement for all of those seemingly trivial things (e.g. taking out the trash, killing a spider, drilling a hole, fixing a squeaky door, cleaning (yep... Matt kills that one, while I fall dreadfully short), making all of us laugh, playing funny games with the kids, teaching them how to ride their bikes, and so, so much more... it hardly seems right to list so few things here.

I've been very honored to photograph LOTS of families lately, as well, as a whole lot of new dads with their new little people. It's so cool to see these men comfortable in their role of "dad" and, for those who are new to the role, beginning to wear it in like a pair of crisp new jeans... slowly getting more and more comfortable, loosening and softening up. After all, when a little person is placed in our lives, one of the surest things that happens is a little softening and, well, letting go... not to mention giving in to loving somebody unconditionally and more than you ever thought you could. It's pretty awesome to witness that in progress (with my clients, friends, and, of course, with my Matt). ;) For that, I'm honored.

I'm looking forward to celebrating Father's Day with my own Dad, too, whom I'm so fortunate to still have here with me. He provided such a great example for me on how a dad should love his baby, whether big or small. I'd like to think that that example helped lead me to be with the other guy that I'll be celebrating this weekend. (Thanks for that, Dad).

How will you be celebrating your dad, husband, partner this weekend?

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Here's a little jump start to your morning... ;) Don't forget to smile.

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