their were four of us kids growing up in our house on elm street just outside of chicago.my older sister kate, me, my younger sister betsy + my younger brother josh.I don't remember everything about growing up, but I do remember a lot...looking back, I feel like maybe we were some of the few that experienced our childhood this way...our childhood had it's fair share of bumps and bruises...physically + emotionally,but for the most part...I look back at our growing up years almost like reading a Tasha Tudor book...our house would fill on new years or we'd end up at friends houses and we'd play card/board games in between sledding on the local sledding hills until we counted down to midnight...homemade valentines and my mom making heart shaped valentine meatloaves for dinner with pink milk to drink were in the winter...I think we're irish, or at least we liked celebrating it with corned beef and hash dinner and a few times we even went downtown chicago to see the dyed green chicago river!the summer would come and we'd be outside 90% of the time on bikes or building forts at neighbors houses underneath really old elm tree's...or in teenage summers, we'd take road trips to the indiana beaches listening to "my sharona" on her trucks radio with the windows rolled down on the back country long roads..after summer, fall would hit and we'd be back walking to school right after labor day, kicking leaves from the neighbors maple trees that lined the long pathway.fall holidays would come right after my birthday with homemade halloween costumes, carved pumpkins and thenall of our extended family or friends we considered extended family would come over for thanksgiving dinner and dessert at the end of november.christmas was filled with warm jackets as we braved the outside to chop down our christmas tree,or ice skating at the local pond...and we'd help my mom bake and bake and bake cookies for neighbors and family + friends...I swear my parents were the real life fezziwig's! ;)I told you...we had a crazy cool childhood straight out of a Tasha Tudor book.why am I telling you about all this?mostly because I wanted to take a trip down memory lane because I'm showing you some photographs from my older sisters family session...but also for you to get a glimpse into what I admire about my older sister.we both have busy lives that seem to pull us mostly in different directions now that we're grown...BUT, I honestly cannot remember one major holiday where I haven't spent it with her and her family.her house has become the house we all congregate at for family get togethers and I love it.based on the holiday, she always has holiday themed sugar cookies out for eating as soon as you walk in...she has a themed holiday candle burning so you feel welcomed as soon as her front door swings open...and as of late, she makes these incredible signs that go perfectly with her themed decor that make me smile - the perfect extension of her.music is always playing in the background or the latest football game is playing in their family room off the kitchen where everyone hangs out and loud conversation and laughter is always heard the more people show up...I love it.she is the perfect "mom 2.0" and has the perfect new tasha tudor house for our family as it has grown up.I love you, ke we...and I love getting to photograph you and your family that I love so much!