This is how I found them. Blissfully unaware and uninterested in cameras or pictures of any kind.  

Unless it included being silly. She was all over that part.

And it wasn't long until they were all pros. :)

The crazy, hilarious, playful moments were abundant and easy to capture...

But moments of stillness and peace were there too.

Meet mom and dad: Together since childhood, and still best of friends.

Not to mention awesome dancers! (Woot! Score one for self-confidant dads!)

Meet baby Lucas: the most easy going, most loved, most snuggly one of the bunch and perfectly content to be passed around like the prized possession he is.

Those. Eyes. Are. Gorgeous. :)

Meet Lily the sweet monster: Sweet and innocent one moment, sullen and quiet the next, then hilariously playful and oh-my-goodness-I'm-exhausted-aren't-you-even-a-little-tired?? the next. :)

She stole my heart from the minute I walked in the door.

Meet Noah the tender: this kid is the sweetest, most emotional, most follow-my-older-brother-to-the-death little man you'll ever meet.

And I want my kids to have freckles just like him.

Meet Elijah the strong: Mr. I-hate-pictures took all of two seconds to break into laughter the instant I asked him if he'd ever heard mommy fart.

Strong. Gentle. Creative. Genius.

Books are abundant in their home... and I love the quiet moments they produce.

(Love that hand!)

Dad had to head back to work all too soon... so we ended with some cuddling.

Because let's face it - cuddling makes everything instantly better.

But with a family like theirs...

How could things get any better? :)

It's Valentine's Day. Cue the media's push for chocolates, flowers, expensive date nights, and mostly men-being-thankful-it-only-happens-once-a-year.  

I can't really have chocolate. Flowers... well... they die(unless they're fake; and that's no fun). And expensive dates make me uncomfortable sometimes. You see, I'm a quality time girl. You could wine and dine me all day, but what I really crave is time with those I love.

(Side note: The following photo is our attempt to show how much our husbands love each other, and how difficult it is to keep them separate. Sometimes they need to be reminded who they married. Ahem. End side note.)

Last weekend was just such a weekend. Our church had a leadership retreat at a gorgeously rustic, isolated cabin with acres of four-wheeling trails and a porch swing. (A porch swing!!)

The best part? You couldn't hear the highway. Not even a truck.

(Actually, I exaggerated. You could hear the occasional truck.)

But more valuable than the crazy fun four-wheeling, the porch swing (although it was heavenly), and the isolated rustic cabin... was the quality time spent with those I love.

Especially with this Indian.

He's my favorite. And today, he's my valentine. :)

(Happy 1st married Valentine's Day, love!)