The Frugal Mom's kiddos

If you are into couponing...you just might recognize this name of this momma.

I had the great privilege of meeting The Frugal Mom today.  We spent some time this afternoon playing with her three amazing kids

Because really...that's my job!  I get to play around with kids.  It's pretty great.

Meet Logan.

He is the big brother.  Age 7.  Pretty cool guy.  He's all boy.  They never want to have their pictures taken, but I think he hung in there like a trooper and looks super handsome.

This is Ava.  

I love her name!  Ava is 4 and is just as sweet as they come.  She and I could have hung out all day, played dress up and rocked it out in front of the camera. She is so beautiful.

Hello Blake.

Baby brother Blake is two.  He knows his manners and even though he was sleepy when they arrived he popped his head right up and started talking to me.  So sweet.

Mom...I hope you love their pictures.  Thank you for allowing me to spend some time with you this afternoon.  You are so blessed... three times over.

Much love

Brooke

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www.maddiepiecreations.com

817-564-3068

Inspiration Through Art {Emma}

Inspiration Through Art is a group that I am affiliated with.  Here is the quick rundown on this group:

Inspiration Through Art was founded in January 2008 by Felicia Reinhard, made up of professional photographers, artists, children, and other volunteers nationwide that provide free programs and services to our nations heroes. Through the power of photography and the gift of art we are giving back and taking a stand for these children who sometimes feel forgotten because of their illnesses. We are here to let them know that they are heroes to many, and to share their inspirational stories and photos with the world.

I have been blessed with two amazing families over the last couple of years and was recently contacted by two more.  There are so many great photographers that are a part of this group - that I am truly amazed when families choose me.  I have one scheduled for a little later in the year...when it cools off - since it feels like we all might melt like a box of crayons left in the back seat of a car.

However, I have been working with Emma's mommy over the last couple of weeks to get their session scheduled as soon as possible.  The email that I received truly broke my heart.  It is so sad to me that these sweet little children struggle with so much.  They truly are little hero's for being brave and strong and still keeping a smile on their face in the midst of such enormous battles.

Emma's mommy wrote:

"Our Emma was diagnosed with A chromoshomal disorder, Trachesostomy, malformation of the brain, multicystic diaplastic kidney and several other issues. She was born on 5-14-11 and she was in the NICU for 9 weeks. She has only been home 3 weeks and will go back to the hospital for another month on 9-9-11 for open heart surgery."

I seriously wanted to rush straight over and just hug this family and love on them. 

A few days later, i received another email telling me that little Emma had been Care-flighted to the hospital because her little heart rate was too fast and they couldn't get it to come down. She was starting to show signs of congestive heart failure.  It was early in the morning when I received this email and I was driving to Dallas for a big day filled full of 6 photo shoots.  They were going to schedule heart surgery in about 6 weeks and she wanted to get the session done prior to that surgery. 

I immediately called Emma's mom and talked to her for a few minutes and told her that I was sending lots of good thoughts and prayers her way.  Again, I would have given anything to rush to the hospital and envelope them in love and prayers.  They were waiting for the cardio dr to come back and talk with them about how to move forward.

I received an update this past Saturday letting me know that Emma was going to have her heart surgery this Tuesday (tomorrow).  I am so sad that we will not get to meet before her pictures.  However, I am so thankful that she is in the best place possible to receive the care that she needs.  I am so very excited to meet this brave little girl and the family that has held hands together and prayed over her.

It is families like Emma's that remind me why I love photography.  With something so simple, I can give them capture this moment in time for them. I am so blessed because of the families that I am lucky enough to meet through Inspiration Through Art.

Until I have the amazing honor to meet Emma face to face and hug her sweet little self...please stop for a moment today and tomorrow and say a prayer with me that God will watch over this beautiful little girl and bring her thru her surgery stronger and ready to conquer the next battle she must face. 

Much Love to you Emma and your Family

Brooke

In the midst of the craziness

In the midst of the craziness of our lives, sometimes it is important to do something just because it's fun.  It isn't often that I get to shoot just for fun.  I had an image of a little girl in a pretty white dress spinning round and round, an image of innocence. 

Free from the stress of the real world.

Little Kirsten was just what I needed.

She is beautiful.

She is carefree.

Thank you to Kirsten and her momma for hiking thru the field with me.  Love you both!

Much love

 Brooke

Valentine Mini Sessions {KIDS}

Seriously!  What could be better than having your own personalized mini valentine cards? 

Great ideas for Valetine gifts for the family as well!!

All sessions must be booked no later than January 22nd

maddiepiecreations@yahoo.com

Much Love!

Tammy & Daniel {Burleson Family Photographer}

Tammy is one of my favorite people.  She has an amazing heart and you can see her compassion in everything she does.  She has two amazing kids that are beautiful...I mean REALLY beautiful.  Tammy was blessed when Daniel came into her life...and he fits in perfectly to the family!

 Nick is all boy!  ALL boy...

Jessica is stunning!  I mean really - could she be any prettier?

Tammy & Daniel are now engaged and will get married in 2011.  Daniel, you are wonderful for Tammy and it makes so happy to see how she lights up when you are around.  I can't wait for you two to get married and begin the next chapter in your life.

Much love to you Tammy and your family that will soon be complete!

Sometimes...boys are my favorite

I mean really...can't you just see how much they love each other?



It's time to make silly faces!!  When the little ones start getting bored, nothing is better than letting them goof off and have a little bit of fun :)

I can almost hear the growl in this one

Poor baby busted his lip just a couple of days before the shoot...but i think it is awesome!  What's better than a beautiful little boy with great bright blue stitches?

Beautiful Family!

Much love to your Family!  

We love these freckles {Fort Worth family photographer}

I mean really...can these freckles be any better?  This brother and sister got a long remarkably well...but I remembered as I was editing these images...they got out of doing the chicken dance!  DANG!

Typically, when kids are having a hard time loosening up I will have them do the chicken dance.  Silly you say...yes, but I bet you can't do it without cracking up!

Sweet sister had such a sweet smile...but after a while, her smile got stuck.  It was the same smile over and over and not a real one.  Her mom had the code word to get her laughing..."spaghetti".  Every time her smile got stuck she would say "SPAGHETTI" and she would get the giggles.  Love it!

Sweet Tatum {Burleson Family Photographer}

She is definately one of my main MaddiePie models! I love this little one. She makes my heart smile every time I see her.

P Girls {Arlington Family Photographer}

I had the pleasure of meeting a couple of beautiful girls.  12 and 2 these sisters will forever have a relationship that no one will ever be able to change.  They will share secrets and laughs...and fights and turmoil...and heartache and love.  They are several years apart but they are sisters...first and foremost.

Mom, I so enjoyed meeting you and the girls.  Thank you for allowing me take a small look into your world.

"A" Family...again! {Burleson Family Photographer}

I love this family! They are one of my biggest supporters.  We have been "family" for 9 years now.  Our kids are roughly the same age, we have so much in common.  Life often gets in the way and we don't get to spend too much time together...but when we do, it's comfortable...and wonderful. 

Mom is full of creative ideas and one day when I become the next big photographer, I'm going to have her be my creative designer. 

This session was no different.  She actually scoped out a friends house and furniture for this shoot.

Just beautiful...inside and out.

Love you all!

C Family { Tulsa Family Photographer}

I have known the Dad since high school.  He was the guy everyone wanted to be friends with.  He had a funny personality, good looks, and everyone wanted to be around him. 

I met Mom a few years after high school.  She was just what he needed.  She was just what he needed and she has been wonderful for him.

Two kids later they are now a complete family.  They are beautiful and I am sad we live so far apart!

He was soooo not interested in playing along!  I love this image though - it shows the moodiness and my guess is that it also shows just how ornery he can be.

My gosh, she stole my heart.  She was full of energy and a beautiful little spirit!

All my love to you C Family!

Catching Up

I'm so sorry I have not been updating the blog. It seems like when things get a little busy in one area they get insane in others. I have been super busy and that is a great thing, but it doesn't leave much room for time to update the blog. Hey...I'm still working on becoming Super Woman...It's a work in progress.

I have been blessed over the last several weeks to be a part of some amazing lives....check out what a lucky girl I am below.

Little Ms. Brooke

I had so much fun with this little girl. I was blessed to spend some time with her...and her mommy and daddy last week taking family pictures. It was miserably hot and humid, but we still had so much fun.

This family is currently in the process of trying to adopt another child. Little Ms. Brooke was quite insistent that it was going to be a "baby sister". I hope they can move through this process as quickly as possible and welcome in a sweet sister...or brother for Brooke.

I will get some of the family shots from the session posted later this week, but for now...please meet my new friend, Brooke.







I mean really...besides the fact that she has an AWESOME name...how could you not love a girl like that? :)


~All My Love
Brooke
www.maddiepiecreations.com

Spring Pictures

This year I was incredible blessed to have the opportunity to do the school pictures for a local private school. Fall didn't go so well due to some technial issues and a crazy printing company - but Spring...well Spring Pictures have been a completely different story. As I cycled through 200 students I fell more in love with these sweet little kids.

I got home, exhausted and wind blown...because Texas has some crazy wind right now...and downloaded all of the images. Some of the pictures were great, some were not...but mainly because kids around 5th or 6th grade just aren't really sure of how they should look in pictures. Boy's don't want to smile...no matter WHAT you say or do. Girls are afraid their braces make them look ugly. But the majority of the pictures were amazing...I knew the parents would love them.

I made some minor adjustments to all the images and sent them off to have the proofs printed. Fast forward a week and I just picked up the first batch of orders. As I ran thru the orders this morning, I was reminded how sweet these little ones are.

Since no post is complete without a picture...here are two of my favorites that make my heart melt.






Bluebonnets are here!! Now I just need to get some mini-sessions booked for next week.

Coolest mom ever??

I'm thinking I am DEFINATELY on the road to that title...Ms. Maddie turned 9 and we had a sleepover. We started with 11 girls and by the time we woke up the next morning we were down to 8. Don't worry...I didn't technically lose any along the way, apparently some little ones still just can't hang all night long.








I thought it would be fun if we had a little photo shoot...OMGosh they had so much fun. We cranked up Taylor Swift and Miley Cyrus and rocked it out. They had so much fun. Some were really shy and some REALLY were not. It was great.

All in all, they had a blast and I think I am just a couple of steps away from being the coolest mom.

Woo HoO