Johnson Family 2013

I already posted a few of my favorites from this session we did with the amazing Jared Medley, but here's the whole thing, without my app filters this time. Jared's wife, Lynn edited these - they turned out absolutely beautiful! My mom loves them so much I think she could cry. But seriously - if for any reason, ever, you need a photographer for anything, call Jared. You will not be disappointed.

We just can't seem to get enough of Jared and Lynn lately, because we hired them again for family photos! This time with our Johnson family. And ohmygosh. I cannot even begin to tell you how much I love this group of people. I am so lucky to call this bunch my family. We've grown a lot over the last two and a half years (the girls are finally outnumbered!) and we're going to get even bigger once little baby Morck comes along in a few months! I just can't even stand how amazing each one of these people are. Let me tell you about them:

My Dad | This man will forever be my hero. There are not enough good words. He has taught me so much, mostly just by his example. He has been such a light in my life, especially as a teenager and young adult, trying to figure it all out. He has more life experience than anyone I know, and he has grown and overcome so much. I don't think anyone will ever understand. I don't even think I will ever understand. I've said this before, but it is just so true: all growing up, everyone told me I would end up with someone just like my dad. I thought that was weird and outrageous, but it is so true. SO so true. In the best way. My Dad is the greatest man I know, so why wouldn't I want a husband just like him?! And that's what I got. They are two of a kind! It blows my mind. I have always been a daddy's girl, and that will never fade. On my hardest days, most of the time, all I can think about through the tears is how badly I wish my dad were there. He is such a softy and was always the one who stayed up really late with us kids, having important conversations about life and loss and growing up. He is just the greatest. I am so proud to be his daughter.

My Mom | I don't know if my mom has always been so funny, or maybe I was just too young to get her sense of humor, but man. This lady. She kills me. I love it when she tells a joke or a funny story, and she can't even finish her sentence without just bursting with laughter. She cracks herself up, and she knows it. And will tell you. The older I've gotten, the more I've realized how much I took for granted in this woman as a teenager and child. She is so, so selfless. Constantly shuffling 4 kids from place to place, going to all of our recitals and choir concerts, sitting through countless piano lessons, swim lessons, obnoxious grocery shopping companions who demand soft serve ice cream. This woman's patience is solid. She is incredible! The ultimate super mom. Some of my best memories were coming home from school and having a snack while we talked about the day. She is so willing to do absolutely anything for absolutely anyone, and never asks for anything back in return. I go to her with every tiny little problem. She is always there to fix it. And she does. My dad is the greatest listener, but my mom will fix it. She can fix anything. She's the greatest mom and has become one of my very best friends.

Sean | My brother in law Sean is the most entertaining person to be around. After the kind of crazy, reckless childhood this guy had, I don't know how he's still alive, but I could listen to his stories and adventures for days! We tease Kelli and Sean a lot, because they are total opposites, but it works so well. They make the greatest team. Sean is a drummer, and is so, so talented. He has so many hobbies and talents and it's really impressive. Sean is really humble, and has such a witty sense of humor. And let me just tell you how thankful I am that he adores my sister so much. He would do absolutely anything for Kelli, no doubt. Their relationship is so strong, and it's so great to have such an awesome couple around to look up to and learn with (we got married 2 weeks after they did!). Sean brought a lot of laid back-ness into our family. I think he's taught us all to not take things too seriously and to have fun no matter what. He has the greatest attitude.

Kelli | My big sister. I can't even tell you how much me and this girl didn't get along growing up. We were terrors. Constantly. Oh my gosh, we were the worst. I feel so bad, especially for my mom. Ha! I'm glad we grew out of it. Kelli and I grew up sharing almost everything Clothes, a room, toys. It didn't go over well with us. We are both stubborn and hard headed and both like to be right. Put that personality into two sisters and throw them in the same bedroom? It. Was. War. And then Kelli moved to Logan for college, and I fought it and fought it and finally broke down. I didn't want to admit that I would miss her. I didn't realize how lucky I was to have an older sister to fight with and share stuff with. And ever since then, we just keep getting closer. Kelli was the perfect person to get married right along side of. Shopping for wedding dresses together will always be one of my favorite memories. We are closer than ever and have almost grown out of all the fighting (we are sisters. it will never change!). We could talk for hours, and we have so much to learn from each other. Kelli is an awesome example of following through and accomplishing goals. Everything she has ever set out to do, she has succeeded in. She is a huge inspiration and is so, so smart. And I can't even tell you, this lady is so dang funny. I think she gets it from Mom. They are really similar that way. Kelli's humor is so quick. She is never one to really wallow and let things get her down. She gets right up and moves on, and it's awesome. I wish I was more like her.

Devin | Uh-duh. Not even gonna go here, or I may start crying. He is the greatest thing.

Zac | When Zac and Kayla got married, it felt like our family was practically complete (we've still gotta weed through all the girls to find a wife for Kyle after his mission, but I'm in denial about all that still). I was skeptical about Zac when he started dating McKayla and I was probably even a little rude to him when he first started coming around. Kayla had dated a lot of horrible guys, and at such a young age, I thought Zac was no different. And boy was I wrong! It started to become more and more obvious the longer he stuck around. You see, we all knew it would take someone really special to end up with Kayla, because she's got all these quirks, but Zac has stuck by her side through absolutely everything. You wouldn't believe what this kid has put up with to be with my sister! When they dated, Kayla always had at least one vase of flowers on the dining room table. He sat with her for days as she recovered from another skin graft surgery, and when she told him she was having a baby, it just brought them closer. And now they're married, waiting on their baby girl, and I couldn't be happier. Zac treats my sister like gold. Oh my goodness, does he adore her. It's so important to me. Kayla has a tendency to act really tough and independent, but that made it more important for her to end up with someone who would be there for her at the end of the day, and that's Zac. He's always there. He is the most reliable person I know.

McKayla | I don't even know where to begin with this girl. My favorite thing about Mckayla has been watching her go through all these phases and dealing with life and changing and morphing, and the end result, the person she is today, is pretty incredible. Kayla's been dealt a pretty rough lot in life, and she's handled it better than I think I could have. She has matured into this gorgeous, smart, hilarious woman, and it's just blowing my mind. It's a weird experience to watch your younger siblings grow up. She will always be 10 to me! It's crazy. And now she's about to be a mom, and I know i'm going to learn so much from her. Kayla has so quickly become a confidant to me. I know I can go to her and vent. I also know I can go to her when I want to have a good time. Everything with her is always an adventure, and she makes everything so fun. It's been so much fun to be adults together. I loved helping her plan a wedding, throwing her bridal shower, and now helping her get ready for her baby girl! Being sisters is so much more fun when you're adults, I've decided.

Kyle | My baby brother. Kyle has always been the sweetest boy. Even when he was a toddler, we just could never be mad at him when he popped the heads off our barbies, because he was just too dang cute. He had the funniest little personality, and he hasn't grown out of it! I feel like it was just yesterday that Kyle's spot at the table was in a high chair. Now all the sudden, he's hunting with dad, a star athlete, driving a big old truck, and dating girls! I don't know how it happened. Don't even bring up the fact that he'll be leaving on a mission soon because I just can't handle it! Kyle can truly do no wrong. He has a heart of pure gold - he gets it from my mom. He is so sweet, and it just kills me when he's upset. Kyle is always under a lot of pressure to be performing at his absolute best in sports, and in school and he takes it all so well. I would just crumble! He is an amazing example of strength and endurance. He is just the best. Kyle is the favorite child, even to all us sisters, and we don't even care, because he totally deserves it. I can't get enough of this kid! He is so fun to be around, and always so happy and I have no idea what we would ever do without him. He works his butt off day after day and still has energy to stay up and talk with you until 2am. Watching him get older is the most bittersweet of all. Heaven help the girl that tries to marry him, because we will put her through the ringer, I'm sure!