It's a Beautiful Day...Don't Let it Slip Away!

It's pretty rare that I think about being on the other side of the lens, but as I was driving to this shoot, U2's "It's a Beautiful Day", was on the radio and it was completely fitting!  I seriously cannot recall a more beautiful day in recent memory.  It was an astounding 75 degree October day, the autumn sun cast a beautiful gold light over everything in sight and the leaves....oh my word, the leaves were SO colorful!  I LOVE fall and I would have loved for my little family be on the other side of the lens on the most beautiful day of the year, but if I was going to give the day away, at least it was to some special people!  Meet the Edwards, my little cousin Amanda, her husband Brian and their kids Taylor, Cassidy and Ben.  I say little cousin, but she's actually only a few months younger than me and she was like my third sister growing up.  Many of my favorite childhood memories involved Amanda and my sisters...making Barbie cities, playing scarves (don't ask), running through the hose and putting on concerts for our Grandma with our band "Midnight Illusions"  (please don't ask!).  Unfortunately, we don't see each other very often; she became the country mouse, and I the city mouse (as evidenced this day by my disdain and surprise at giant country bugs, and neighbors riding up on their tractors to "see what's going on"), so it's always fun to see her and the kids and catch up.  The girls were perfect angels and I see so much of their mama in them, and Ben, well...we managed to get a few shots of him with a "real" smile!  Haha! We even snuck in a few shots with Nana and Amanda and Brian on their Harley. They definitely made the best of this beautiful day and I hope they cherish these photos forever!