...as i see it

boo...

hope your halloween was happy and spooky and filled with full size candy bars.

a peak @ our halloween:

we carved the night before the big day. this year, they went old school (forgoing the store bought stencils). i think they look great, don't you?

milo was @ the door all day long. i told him the kids don't come until it gets dark, but he wasn't buying it.

girl primping. the two of them were in full prep mode ALL DAY LONG!!!

ella hangs out on the back porch w/ her big brother. if there was an award for most excited about a holiday, she would be the winner. 

my very favorite kids in all the land + their dog milo.

me and my boys. i am wearing my highest heeled boots here, people. the little werewolf is gaining on me. and what's up w/ the giant boy to my right? 

my little vampire queen, waiting patiently to start the trick or treating portion of the evening. notice the flat pillowcase. she will bring that baby home full if she has to walk her poor dad 100 miles to do it. do you remember the tireless pursuit of halloween candy? 

happy halloween to you!..

backyard project update

so...

the mister has been busy in the backyard.

you can see for yourself all the craziness happening around here.

right now, he is in the fence building portion of the show. he is really working hard (our neighbors have come over to check on him several times). i'll show you more as it all comes together. but for now, here's the scoop:

after much digging and cementing and ripping up our backyard, this giant truck pulled up (there were actually two giant trucks) and filled said hole:

here is the spiffy pool cover + neato sucking device that keeps it clean:

here are my two favorite ever fence builders. i married one and am the mom of the other. although i am pretty used to looking @ my 13 year old son, it still gets me sometimes that he is so grown up. notice milo (ball in mouth) trying in vain to get SOMEONE TO THROW THIS THING...

so there is your peek @ our crazy backyard project. please feel free to come on over next summer and play with us. i'll keep you posted as my handyman/landscaper/cabana boy husband moves forward w/ this project.

big foot

mr. milo napping on the red sofa today. (notice the why do you INSIST on waking me with that camera face i'm getting...)

i love his big, goofy paws hanging off the end of the sofa. and i love how he naps with his head up like that.

check back tomorrow because i am going to show you what's happening in the backyard. crazy hilton project!!!!

where to begin?...

we (all three kiddos) have been down with the F L U for a while now.

hopefully, we are fully on the mend. if you saw my kitchen island right now, you would think we were in full germ lock down. our house smells like a perfect mix of clorox wipes and lysol spray. 

delightful.

now, onto the season @ hand...

you know when you get dressed up to go somewhere special and you know you really look great? well, i was looking at these ladies and wondering if they just know this is their day. because i think they look nothing short of spectacular. and i wanted them to know that i noticed.

even the bushes got involved:

this one was really fantastic two days prior to the picture taking. she was in a big hurry. peaked a little early. bald by picture taking day...

milo would prefer to eat his trick or treat pumpkin.

this is our spooky family room. ella loves to turn on the lights and curl up under the big blanket w/ me for DANCING WITH THE STARS!!! hope you all have a happy monday evening. and... stay well

sick kiddos...

sorry about the blog neglect.

ignore me until monday. 

hopefully, by then we will all be feeling great!

until then: chicken soup + naps + couch potatoes (doesn't sound too bed, eh??)

xo

k

fall makes me happy...

because you can buy things like this:

and walk your dog in the woods while eating costco trail mix with extra m&m's.

another beautiful family...

believe it or not, this image was taken about six weeks ago in (then) sunny, warm pittsburgh:

two things i have to say:

#1. i LOVE the lovey, family vibe captured here. love that big brother is holding two hands and looking @ little brother that way. (also love mom's hands holding on to her boys)

and,

#2. it is SNOWING here this morning! not lay on the ground, snowman snow - but still! flakes hit me in the face this morning. FLAKES!!!!

sisters + puppy love...

i'm loving these images of 2 sisters + 2 puppies.

a new 20x10 collage of all 4 of them:

more dog love...

since i have been giving clients proof books, (vs. online galleries) i haven't posted very many client shoots.

BUT, i just can't resist this one...

i was so happy to photograph this beautiful family for the second time. last year, there was only one sweet dog in the family. this year... THREE. 

this is gino and his best girl. aren't they something?

my favorite ever ER doctor...

2 ER visits to discuss...

both ended happily. i will summarize:

ben hurt his arm playing football. 

final verdict = no fracture, just a deep muscle bruise.

the doctors, nurses and xray technicians that looked after ben were great. professional, kind, and bearers of good news. they are not, however, my favorite ever ER doctors. 

BECAUSE:

the very next day, we had a tragedy occur right here in our home!

we are not exactly sure how this happened, but we have a suspect in custody.

baby duck on the gurney in the ER. notice the goggles doc placed on her head so her eyes would not be damaged by the xray machine. this doc thinks of everything...

as you probably guessed, THIS is my favorite ever ER doctor.

she wasted no time in getting the magic healing potion into the injured duckling.

 duckling was ordered to take her medicine and drink plenty of tea.

her mother was concerned, and stayed by her side the entire time.

he has not yet been convicted, but there is plenty of evidence mounting...