The R Family...expanded

I have been photographing this family for quite a few years now, beginning with their wedding.  They were very good about keeping up with their family portraits every year.  Then one day when scheduling their family session, Vicki asked if we could do something a little different this time.  That's when she told me they were planning to adopt. And not just one child, but they were looking for a sibling group.  She needed a few pictures to put in their adoption book, so that's what we did.

 It was a really fun experience and I couldn't wait to see the outcome.  They are such a fun, loving family and I knew they would make some children very happy. 

Flash forward to October when I found out that they were in the process of adopting 3 young siblings :)  I was so excited and couldn't wait to do their new family pictures.  We got together for those and wow, what an adventure they were :)  Trying to get a family of 8 (3 of which are under the age of 3) to look at the same time was hilarious, to say the least.  But they turned out great and I couldn't wait until the adoption was finalized in a couple of weeks and I could officially share them.  Then the heartbreak came...

Unfortunately for this wonderful family, they would have to turn the youngest child back over to her father.  It's wonderful that he decided he wanted to have a relationship with his daughter, but it was so sad to think these sisters and brother were torn apart and of course, Vickie and David were devastated.  They are still coping with the reality of all this, but are still celebrating the other two and making them feel permanent and loved.  Please keep this family in your prayers and I look forward to watching these small children grow just as I have seen the older three grow...

This next picture was especially funny because I had this vision of the kids all standing lovingly in the background...that didn't happen.  2 of the 3 youngest kept trying to get away and the older 3 kept having to chase them down and hold on to them.  Especially the youngest, she wanted nothing to do with these pictures :)  We were all laughing and I know when Vicki and David look at this picture, they are probably going to crack up every time...

What a sweet family...