So hard to actually say this…. but my little girl turns FOUR today (April 8th)! Time really does fly by. I had planned to take her four year photos late this afternoon (read: Daddy home to help and Nicholas would be napping.) We went and picked out the perfect dress for her photos and I had her bathed and ready to go. My darling husband went outside to do some yardwork to get ready for Madalyn’s birthday party this weekend and she joined him with a promise that she would “stay clean for her photoshoot Mommy!”

I should have known better. While trying to settled Nicholas down for a nap I heard her come inside and go back outside and didn’t pay much attention. Once the baby was asleep I grabbed my camera and went to find her to change her into her new dress….. and look what I found.

Heck, if you can’t beat them, then why not join them. She had come inside to change into her bathing suit (thank goodness for small favors since I could toss her right in the shower!) The umbrella, if you must know, was keeping the water off of her while she played in the mud.

These photos are so much more Madalyn then any posed, dressed up photo would be. I don’t have enough photos of my kids at play.

And just in case you didn’t know…. she is turning FOUR.

And what better way to relax after an afternoon of mudpies and sprinkler running? Laying in the hammock.

Madalyn Jean, thank you for all of the love and laughter that you have brought to my life. This world is a much better place with you in it. Happy fourth birthday sweet baby girl.

I woke up this morning with the Tim MCGraw sing in my head- “My Next Thirty Years.”  At 7:56 this morning I officially entered my third decade of life.  Hard to believe!  I celebrated this momentous occasion by taking a trip to Cape Coral in beautiful Southwest Florida with Shawn and Madalyn, dogs in tow.  Friday we spend on Sanibel and Captiva Island and of course made a pit stop at the beach where Madalyn couldn’t help but take her “wading” a bit far into the freezing cold water.  Here’s a few snaps from our mini vacation.

Of course by the time we left “wading” had become “splashing” had become practically swimming. We had a blast! I am so blessed to have been able to spend this birthday with those who matter most to me : my family. Thanks to all of my family, friends, and wonderful clients for making this birthday so special!

Well, since Family Fridays was a bust (as in I didn’t have enough time to post enough!) I decided that for 2010 it would be called Swanson Sundays and hopefully would motivate me a little more to take- and share- some photos of my OWN family.

Since today was cold (well cold to this Florida girl!) I set up the studio in our home for this session with Madalyn. The set up and take down took double the amount of time it took for these pics because in true two year old fashion I had about 5 minutes of cooperation. I thought that getting to wear her ballet outfit might entice her a little bit….

The “pretty princess walk” as Madalyn’s ballet instructor Miss Erin likes to call it. Madalyn takes ballet at the Cameron Dance Center and I HIGHLY recommend it for any moms looking to put their little ones into classes. She started just before she turned two and a half and they have been wonderful!

Got to LOVE the look on her face! I caught her mid-pirouette here.

Madalyn quickly tired of the ballet outfit and so I added the pettiskirt…

And then she spotted the feather boas in my prop closet….

All the dancing must have worn her out…

LOVE….

Isn’t she beautiful? This is my newest neice Ella Alena, and her parents were nice enough to let me give them a photo shoot as part of their baby gift. She is just 5 days old here… and what a little wonder she is!