Need a little sunshine?

Snowed in?
 Here is some sunny happiness to warm up your day.
I can't stop smiling when I see each one of these pictures.
I can't express what a gift and blessing Drew gave our family.
They are a million billion times better than I could have ever hoped or imagined.

Her words, her heart, her talents amaze me.
Please click over to Drew's blog and see the rest.
Don't feel bad if the slideshow makes you cry.
Because happy tears are the best tears.
I have cried so many myself.

I love my family.
I love that Drew gets us so perfectly.
I love that I will always be able to vividly remember this very special day.

The Carson's love you Drew!!!

(All of the details from the shoot coming tomorrow.)


Posted in ,

64 Comments

  1. CandaceFebruary 2, 2011 at 5:04 PM

    beautiful! so lively and bright!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Jennifer DawnFebruary 2, 2011 at 5:06 PM

    Gorgeous pictures!

    ReplyDelete
  3. LFebruary 2, 2011 at 5:07 PM

    Gorgeous and love their little headbands.

    ReplyDelete
  4. The Gambrel FamilyFebruary 2, 2011 at 5:13 PM

    So beautiful! I love absolutely love the colors! You amaze me at how you put things together and the colors are perfect! What wonderful photos!

    ReplyDelete
  5. Leslie @ top of the pageFebruary 2, 2011 at 5:22 PM

    it's not JUST drew. you are a master at bringing out the beauty of those little ladies in more ways than one. one way is your sweet mothering. and, of course, headbands.

    ReplyDelete
  6. ShellyFebruary 2, 2011 at 5:27 PM

    Thanks for the Brilliant Sunshine in our cold part of the USA. Beautiful smiles and love all around.

    ReplyDelete
  7. BaileyFebruary 2, 2011 at 5:30 PM

    OH! Bald Baby and that dress! Is it okay to still call her that, she's getting so much hair!? Fabulous photos - thanks for sharing!

    ReplyDelete
  8. JenniFebruary 2, 2011 at 5:32 PM

    wow! those pictures are beautiful!!!

    ReplyDelete
  9. BlancaFebruary 2, 2011 at 5:39 PM

    This comment has been removed by the author.

    ReplyDelete
  10. Ingrid @ thesunnyside.meFebruary 2, 2011 at 5:40 PM

    julie...these pictures are amazing! somehow the sunshine seems so fitting on joy's birthday! a JOY filled day captured on film! what happy pictures!

    ReplyDelete
  11. KristinFebruary 2, 2011 at 5:46 PM

    Amazing photos! Super cute girls. :)

    ReplyDelete
  12. Jen~ Lipstick and LaundryFebruary 2, 2011 at 5:46 PM

    Julie your photo shoot turned out AMAZING... Love all the COLORS and the Converse kicks...

    ReplyDelete
  13. Heather @ Life Made LovelyFebruary 2, 2011 at 6:18 PM

    so i bust into tears at the very first shot. i'm so glad the hoop got to you in time. i was praying it would. no doubt about it...joy and samuel were having a crazy good time on her day. celebrating with all of you. i believe that all the way down into my soul. xoxo!!

    ReplyDelete
  14. AmberFebruary 2, 2011 at 6:24 PM

    Ekkkk these are sooo beautiful! I love all the bright colors and how happy the pictures look! What a great memorial! I LOVE the flower rosettes!

    ReplyDelete
  15. Amy @ Lucky Number 13February 2, 2011 at 6:25 PM

    whaaaaat? are you kidding me right now with Bald Baby's shirt? i need one...like, for me.

    ReplyDelete
  16. ShelbyFebruary 2, 2011 at 6:31 PM

    I miss summer SO much! Those pictures are adorable! :)

    ReplyDelete
  17. tiffFebruary 2, 2011 at 6:38 PM

    Your kids need to be kiddo-models!

    GORGEOUS!

    ReplyDelete
  18. ragamuffinbeautiesFebruary 2, 2011 at 6:40 PM

    perfect.

    ReplyDelete
  19. Laura aka Mama HamFebruary 2, 2011 at 6:48 PM

    Love Love Love!

    ReplyDelete
  20. The Farmers NestFebruary 2, 2011 at 6:58 PM

    OH.MY.WORD. Those are all fabulous and you my friend are stunning. I feel like they all need to be printed into wallpaper so you can fill an entire room with the JOY that shines through.

    ReplyDelete
  21. MelodyFebruary 2, 2011 at 7:02 PM

    What great pictures, and such a special way to celebrate Joy! I recently ordered Drew's photography manual and am excited to start using my SLR as more than just an expensive point and shoot camera. :)

    ReplyDelete
  22. Allikaye's MamaFebruary 2, 2011 at 7:23 PM

    Here are my top five comments for ya:
    1. We are snowed in.
    2. Those are AMAZING!!!!
    3. I showed them to my hubby and we were both so jealous of the beach and sun and sand in toes!
    4. Seriously, seriously beautiful pictures! Ah!
    5. Made me sigh and smile and have chills!

    ReplyDelete
  23. Laurie JFebruary 2, 2011 at 7:29 PM

    please, oh please send some of that beautiful weather my way! love the bright flowers on all the girls of the fam :)

    ReplyDelete
  24. Kimberlee JostFebruary 2, 2011 at 7:36 PM

    Looking at these again and tearing up again. Your girls are beautiful...just like their mom. :)

    ReplyDelete
  25. Kim | It's All ReitzFebruary 2, 2011 at 7:41 PM

    Gorgeous! Please please please tell me where I can buy those headbands...

    ReplyDelete
  26. LaceyFebruary 2, 2011 at 7:44 PM

    Amazing pictures!!! I wish Drew could take my family portraits! And you could come me and my daughter's stylist for the shoot!!!

    ReplyDelete
  27. HeatherFebruary 2, 2011 at 7:50 PM

    The one with all 5 of you sitting in the sand is amazing! They're all amazing actually, but that ones my favorite. I couldn't help but giggle when my mac started "thinking" and gave me the spinning rainbow wheel and my four year old said, "look, their headbands match the wheel!" :)

    ReplyDelete
  28. KimberlyFebruary 2, 2011 at 7:51 PM

    Simply amazing...everything about these photos...The outfits, the color schemes, the celebration & the photos themselves..just beautiful! =) Love Drew's work. I wish I lived on the West Coast just to have her take pics! Thanks for sharing!

    ReplyDelete
  29. HollieFebruary 2, 2011 at 8:04 PM

    Your family, your girls, and these pictures...GORGEOUS! :)

    ReplyDelete
  30. AnonymousFebruary 2, 2011 at 8:07 PM

    You are beautiful, beautiful, beautiful!

    ReplyDelete
  31. AmyFebruary 2, 2011 at 8:11 PM

    Julie!! These are gorgeous!! I LOVE the bright happy colors!! So perfect for your family! :)

    ReplyDelete
  32. MelissaFebruary 2, 2011 at 8:26 PM

    Love them all! I love the headbands!. Are they made out of t-shirt material? I have the worst time trying to find a headband to work for my daughter!

    ReplyDelete
  33. Charla LiedahlFebruary 2, 2011 at 8:35 PM

    Janey KILLS me! She could not be any cuter! I wanna stick her in my pocket and borrow her for awhile. Your family is precious and the photos are perfect!

    ReplyDelete
  34. Jessica JohnsonFebruary 2, 2011 at 8:36 PM

    "a million, billion times better..." ;) Just like heaven will be so amazing for a million, billion reasons. I love them. Perfect. Gorgeous and brilliant. Really. And your hair! Can we get details on the hair tomorrow? ;)

    ReplyDelete
  35. DinaFebruary 2, 2011 at 8:56 PM

    These are INCREDIBLE! I so wish I knew you irl. I'm sure the beautiful colors match your inside wonderful-ness:-) Amazing...

    ReplyDelete
  36. ErynFebruary 2, 2011 at 8:58 PM

    This comment has been removed by the author.

    ReplyDelete
  37. ErynFebruary 2, 2011 at 9:01 PM

    Your family is the cutest! I am super crazy jealous of your gorgeous long hair & I love how special a day you make Joy's birthday.

    Ps, I hope when I have a family, we can be as rad as yours and rock crazy colored Converse in our fam photos!! ;)

    ReplyDelete
  38. JuliaVPFebruary 2, 2011 at 9:04 PM

    I cried... I'm still crying. It's so precious to know that Jesus is keeping our little ones safe and happy with Him til it's our turn to be there too.

    ReplyDelete
  39. KaylaFebruary 2, 2011 at 10:14 PM

    Be still my heart! Drew is amazing and so is your sweet family. What a special way to remember Joy. xoxo

    ReplyDelete
  40. KristinFebruary 2, 2011 at 11:08 PM

    Simply beautiful!

    ReplyDelete
  41. Vicky @ Pearl DistrictFebruary 3, 2011 at 12:27 AM

    Your blog makes my heart melt! What a beautiful family your have! The photos are soooo gorgeous!!! I just came across your blog and I'm in love! I will follow!!! Thank you for bringing so much inspiration to so many! May God richly bless you and your beautiful family!

    Vicky

    ReplyDelete
  42. x JenFebruary 3, 2011 at 2:49 AM

    I adore your pics! They are all so beautiful. What a gorgeous splash of colour and happiness that bought to my day. x

    ReplyDelete
  43. And So I WhisperFebruary 3, 2011 at 5:19 AM

    Beautiful colors! Lovely blog.

    ReplyDelete
  44. HeatherFebruary 3, 2011 at 6:09 AM

    I already commented on Drew's post, but these pictures left me pretty much speechless. Like, I think they are perfect. PERFECT. It was a divine photo shoot, and I mean that in the realest sense possible. What a blessing!

    ReplyDelete
  45. JenniferFebruary 3, 2011 at 6:31 AM

    What a beautiful photo session! I admit I welled up. :)

    ReplyDelete
  46. Mari Bryant- MarksFebruary 3, 2011 at 7:00 AM

    Your girls' eyes made me gasp! Awesome job on their outfits, they are gorgeous! Thank you for sharing your sunshine. I am snowed in. Its been a hard week, so thanks for the smile.

    ReplyDelete
  47. KelliFebruary 3, 2011 at 7:28 AM

    Those are WONDERFUL shots. Makes me want to fly out to CA right now. I have a picture from our vacation to FL on my phone as the background to get me through this nasty weather. Thanks for sharing.

    ReplyDelete
  48. Misty SmithFebruary 3, 2011 at 7:51 AM

    I love every session you have with Drew because you're family is beautiful and you two style the shoot amazingly!

    ReplyDelete
  49. RachelleFebruary 3, 2011 at 8:11 AM

    Julie, your family is so freaking cute I could EATCHA UP. :)

    I'm also coveting your shoes.. But that's neither here nor there.

    xo

    ReplyDelete
  50. JanFebruary 3, 2011 at 8:24 AM

    You have the most beautiful family! I can't believe how big your girls have grown! I love the colors used in your clothing. So vibrant and fun!

    ReplyDelete
  51. AnonymousFebruary 3, 2011 at 8:43 AM

    I love all that color!

    ReplyDelete
  52. TLFFebruary 3, 2011 at 9:51 AM

    Oh my goodness, those pictures are fantastic!!

    ReplyDelete
  53. EllenFebruary 3, 2011 at 9:53 AM

    What a great team...you and Drew B. I love the colors and the setting.

    ReplyDelete
  54. JamieFebruary 3, 2011 at 9:58 AM

    Your kids are adorable!!! Your pictures turned out bright, fun & beautiful, just like your family!

    ReplyDelete
  55. TonyFebruary 3, 2011 at 10:54 AM

    Where did you find that shirt for the baby?? Oh my I LOVE it!!

    ReplyDelete
  56. amy jupinFebruary 3, 2011 at 11:03 AM

    julie, how in the world are you going to choose?? these are magical.

    ReplyDelete
  57. nrperry529February 3, 2011 at 11:41 AM

    what a BEAUTIFUL family!! those pictures are pretty much amazing! i'm a loyal reader of yours! :)

    ReplyDelete
  58. at the end of the alphabetFebruary 3, 2011 at 12:22 PM

    You have a beautiful family and a beautiful outlook on life. I am a new reader but I've spent so much time reading back through your blog...amazing. You've been a huge encouragement to me and have the perfect blog for nap-time reading :) Very beautiful family. Beautiful birthday party.

    ReplyDelete
  59. CourtneyFebruary 3, 2011 at 12:55 PM

    obsessed! best.pictures.ever!!

    ReplyDelete
  60. Marta @ Haus of GirlsFebruary 3, 2011 at 12:58 PM

    um, I agree with Courtney.
    OBESSED!!!
    can I hire you to dress my kids for the rest of my life?
    You are amazing!
    And your family is PERFECT!!!
    love!

    ReplyDelete
  61. DrewBFebruary 3, 2011 at 2:51 PM

    And Drew loves the Carsons! Thanks for always going above and beyond on our shoots. Makes it even more fun!

    ReplyDelete
  62. MaggieFebruary 3, 2011 at 5:42 PM

    Oh, so in love with these pictures! And I totally dig that each one of you have a different color converse shoe, so rad!
    XOXO,
    Mags

    ReplyDelete
  63. chinamommyFebruary 3, 2011 at 6:00 PM

    the outfits???????? SHUT UP!!!!! I'm in LOVE!!
    xoxo

    ReplyDelete
  64. LeannaFebruary 3, 2011 at 7:32 PM

    What beautiful memories! LOVE THE SHOES (in the post above) and how is Bald Baby so big??

    ReplyDelete