blogging late at night is a bad idea for several reasons. a, your clients are waiting to see their blog post up and who wants to stay up until 3am to view their photographs, no matter how lovely and. b. your clients happened to have also housed you when you photographed them in and around their redondo beach, california home, and you want to say something about them that properly illustrates how they made you want to dissolve into their sunkissed beach life forever.....but its sooo late, and you're so tired.

and you labored over this blog post until it was just right.

but in the end, no matter the hour, you decide you can't give up until you say the right words to accompany the just right blog post.

so....

. the mom you see in the images below is about as bright and warm as the california sun. of course i am aware of how cheesy that sounds --but if you met tory for even a second, you would know immediately its true. she is the easiest person to be around, the funnest person to work side by side with late at night on a couch with our matching laptops ('cept hers is bigger). tory is incredible at so many things which include but are not limited to:

being a freaking rad mom

being a freaking rad photographer

and being one of the freaking rad co head hanchos over at the best new (kinda old now, i guess) blog on the block, let the kids.

on my photo extravaganza in california, i stayed with tory for 2, or was it 3 nights? and let me tell you when i left, i cried a little, and would like to blame my crying on the fact that her precious little leighton and pierce fussed first. gah, i miss them.

also, just so he doesn't feel neglected you should know that tory's husband sean spoiled us with ice cream (rocky road!), on not one, but two evenings, served to us on the afore mentioned couch where we worked and laughed together.

sigh. in short, the o'leary's made being so far away from my own little ones way way way more bearable. let me take you through their photos...

we started early by sneaking in to wake up sean...there was many a morning snuggle to be hadquick change of clothes into that dress i regret not sneaking into my suit case...and we lounge on the bed in the pretty light for some more lovin. i'm sorry did i say we? i meant them, i was a mere observer and clicker of their awesomeness. pit stop at the sink for a drink of water before we head out to the back yard---and the moment was so real, i just couldn't help myself...

and then bam, this blue guy. which is actually theirs! and it actually runs!!! and it was a photo dream come true...

after a brief intermission, we head to the beach, which you can literally see from the o'leary's home and although a red dress isn't necessarily beach wear, tory and i agreed that it was just too stinking cute on leighton to leave out of the photos.

i finished the shoot with my feet in the ocean and the happiest feeling in my heart. thank you so so so much tory for letting me come and do this. you know i love you and all of your crazies.

i miss you guys so much already.