memorial weekend fun

Our family had a busy and fun time visiting grandparents and friends over Memorial Day weekend. Averhy had been itching to visit Grandma and Grandpa’s farm, and had a great time climbing all over the hayloft and shouting in the silo. Eden had some fun of her own, picking up rocks and playing in the dirt (I just love the bits flying off of her hands as she “cleans up”)! At Mema and Papa’s house, we were all excited to see Aunt Melanie (we haven’t seen her since she got back from her trip all over South America) and the girls all enjoyed a tea party while Daddy went golfing with Papa. Then on Monday, we visited our good friends the Eisenmann’s for their annual Memorial Day cookout on their farm - a gorgeous day and a great weekend. Here are a few of my favorites!

a magical opening...

My girls and I had a great time today at the grand opening of Bella Bambini. The afternoon was full of fun, thanks to magician Richard Landry (and his rabbit "Snowball") and cupcakes from Cakes on Walnut, not to mention load of gorgeous clothing and gifts to look at throughout the store! Here are a handful of the smiles, giggles, and looks of wonder supplied by kids of all ages... as well as some of the fun goodies you can find at Bella Bambini.









... and just a reminder that sign-ups are now OPEN for the Sweet Pea Photography limited edition sessions! Just email your full name, child's age, and Bella Bambini receipts total to allyson(at)sweet-pea-photography.com! (and yes, you can sign up if you've made several separate purchases that add up to $75...) It's going to be lots of fun -- I can't wait!

ahhh.... Allerton....

A few sneak peeks for some patient moms... I'll have the rest of your Allerton galleries up by the end of the week!

graduation!

Today my sister Amanda graduated from the University of Illinois - along with a great group of actors that I had the pleasure of photographing this year (both for headshots and senior showcase). So here are a few shots from today... first, my sister...


...a group of awesome actors (watch out Hollywood! here they come!)


...engagement rings, unite!...


and my soon-to-be brother-in-law Kevin, ever the comedian...


... and balloons to end the ceremony with a bang...



Congratulations graduates!

a good day

Tuesday was a good day around our house. Strawberries on cheerios... time to do my Bible study - outside with lemonade!!... silliness with Eden... yep, a good day all around...

hold on a sec...

... while I adjust my dress... After all, even the littlest girls want to look perfect for their pictures...



Gotta love one-year-olds!!

dandelion days

Eden and I took a walk yesterday to enjoy the breeze and the dandelions... She doesn't love the grass on her bare toes yet, and it's so cute watching her try to put her socks on by herself!

cake = fun

A few sneak peaks for KJO... I'm so glad that we decided to go ahead and give the birthday girl her cake after a fun session at Meadowbrook Park. I'm not sure who enjoyed the messy experience more - sweet A. or her mom and dad! I love birthday cake sessions...

little fingers and toes...

...just warm my heart! And I always love the chance to capture the little "ooo!" mouth that babies do... it fades away so quickly! Baby E. was such a sweetheart... now if she could just kick the colic habit, mom and dad would be so grateful...



... and one more thing - I'm now scheduling sessions for June and July, so check my calendar and send me an email to schedule a time!

Just around the corner...

Yep, I'm talking about summer. I know it barely feels like spring, although the little rainshower today was a good reminder, but I'm already looking ahead at the summer months and trying to plan our lives. My goodness, days and weeks fill up quickly! In between swimming lessons, visits to grandparents, vacation Bible school, and my sister's wedding, I might have a tricky time setting aside enough session times this summer... so make sure to check my calendar often to see what spots I have available.

And of course, summertime means lots of bare bellies like this one...

Bella Bambini Limited Edition Sessions

I am excited to partner up with Bella Bambini, a new children's clothing boutique in Champaign, to offer limited edition mini-sessions! Here's the scoop:

Session date is Saturday, June 7 from 9:30am - 3:00pm. Outdoor location TBA.

Bella Bambini is in Knollwood Plaza, off of Neil St. in south Champaign. Their Grand Opening will be Friday, May 16.

You may sign up for a Limited Edition session after a $75 qualifying purchase at Bella Bambini. Sign-up begins May 16 until session times are full! Simply email me, and have your Bella Bambini receipt handy. Session fee is $25 the day of the session, payable to Sweet Pea Photography.

Sessions will be for ONE child only, for 15 minute spans. (If you have 2 children, you may sign up for an additional session time with an additional $75 qualifying purchase at Bella Bambini.) One outfit only. Sessions will begin every 20 minutes.

This is my first foray into the boutique arena and I am very proud to partner up with Bella Bambini for this awesome opportunity for their customers and my own clients.

can't help bragging...

She's so cute, I can't help but to show her off... what a great model! And you'll be seeing more of her if you ever visit a great new children's clothing store coming to Champaign in May...

dizzy with knowledge

Well, I'm back from Photoshop World in Orlando, and my mind is just swimming with information and ideas. It was a lot of fun being bombarded with new techniques, workflow strategies, little fun photoshop tricks, and lots more... my mind really hasn't had a chance to slow down at all! (Which is why I actually took a nap this afternoon!! Gasp! For me, that is nearly unheard of!) So here are a few shots from the week - the convention center, the closing workshop, and a look into what will soon be all around us here in IL!




To all those of you who tried to contact me over the past week, I'll get back in touch with you in the next few days. Thanks!

off to learn something new

Tonight I'm headed off to learn a whole bunch of new and exciting things at Photoshop World! I'm looking forward to using lots of new tricks and fun skills when I return. I'll try to check my email a few times while I'm gone, but if you don't hear back from me right away, you know where I am. I'll be back next Monday... with my mind overflowing with new ideas I hope!

all fresh and new!

Welcome to the Sweet Pea Photography blog... and what better way to start a new blog than with a brand new baby! On Wednesday I got a call from my cousin, M. that it was time to go to the hospital for the culmination of almost two years' worth of planning, prayer, and excitement... it has been quite a journey as M. decided that she wanted to be a surrogate mom and help another couple be blessed with a child. Through an agency that facilitates this process, M. was matched up with V. and G. - a wonderful couple from the UK - and began the IVF process with great success last April. Since that time, V. and G. have developed a great relationship with my cousin M. and her husband R. -- as well as the rest of our extended family -- and so we have all been excitedly waiting for this day! Here's everyone at the hospital, getting lots of important info from Dr. K about all the possibilities for the birth...















As soon as the baby was born, V was so excited she could hardly think straight, saying "It's a... it's a... what is it??" and G laughed, "It's a girl!!" (can you tell from this shot that G was excited?)V. just couldn't stop staring at baby F... so beautiful...

... and here is beautiful baby F the next morning... so darling...


Thank you so much for the privilege of witnessing this miracle! I'm hoping to post the rest of the proofs (all 250 of them!!!!) on my website in the next week. Have a great flight back to the UK and I hope to see you again soon!!