The 11th Annual Wing Off | Our Super Bowl Sunday Tradition

I can't speak for everyone watching The Super Bowl on Sunday, but I can tell you that everyone at our house was unanimous in the fact that Super Bowl 53 will go down in history as the most boring game yet. Ha! We were all on the edge of our seats two weeks prior, when the Chiefs played the Patriots hoping that the Chiefs would defeat the dreaded New England team. Sadly, when that didn't happen, all of our hearts sank that night and we knew that this year's Super Bowl wasn't going to be what we all hoped for. However, even though the Chiefs didn't make it to the big game there is a silver lining. What's that? If it's Super Bowl Sunday at The Layne House that means that it's time for our annual Wing Off! One of my favorite days of the year! I start looking forward to Wing Off months in advance knowing that everyone will be participating with delicious wings and creative displays to serve them. As always, it was another great year and successful competition. I'm always so impressed with the unique flavors of wings that everyone creates year after year. Not only the wings, but their presentations as well. This year was very exciting because not only did we have TWO winners for Best Presentation, but it was also one of the winners first time competing. Mr. Colin Henley has been coming to Wing Off for years, however, this year he came up with his own flavor of wings and display for his presentation. He did an awesome job! His display was very creative and if your not a fan of the Patriots you will definitely get a kick out of it. Also winning Best Presentation was Justan Layne with a great display of his Chipotle Lime Wings at "Wing Field". Well done gentlemen, well done!  

As Super Bowl 53 was coming to an end so was our party. The wings had been eaten, the votes had been tallied, and the results were in. Everyone’s hard work had not been in vain. Congratulations to all of the winners!

                                          First Place: Sabrina Garton – Brown Sugar Dijon

                                          Second Place: Justan Layne – Chipotle  Lime

                                          Third Place:  Jared Henley – Jamaican Jerk

                                          Best Presentation: Colin Henley & Justan Layne

Here are a few of my favorite images from a very memorable evening. I’m already counting down the days until next year and we will hopefully be cheering on our Kansas City Chiefs! Enjoy and Happy Tuesday!

First Place: Sabrina Garton - Brown Sugar Dijon

Second Place: Justan Layne - Chipotle Lime

Third Place: Jared Henley - Jamaican Jerk

Best Presentation: Colin Henley & Justan Layne (2nd Place Winner)

The Winners!

Two Winners - One Trophy! Ha

Best Presentation Winners!

Brooks | Nine Months

The last time we saw Brooks he was just a few days old. It's hard to believe that he had grown so fast and it was time for his Nine Month Session already. He started off this session a little more on the shy side; however, the more pictures we took, the more energetic he became. Within no time he had all of us laughing at all of his adorable expressions! Everyone did such a wonderful job that afternoon. I loved watching Brooks interact with his Mom and Dad. You could tell how much he loves them both. Samantha and Tyler would light up with the biggest smiles as they reminisced about Brooks and the things he had been learning over the last nine months. They are a precious little family and it's been truly an honor to photograph them for these special moments in their lives.

Without further ado I give you a few of my favorite images from Brooks’ Nine Month Session. I know that you will enjoy them as much as I do. Happy Friday Everyone! 

My Family Mix

I always do a Fall Session with Caylee and Cash, my niece and nephew. I can usually talk my sister, Sabrina, into jumping in for a few shots with them as well. Every couple of years I will do a session with my Mom and Dad and a session of us girls which includes myself, my Mom, Sabrina and Caylee. This year Mother Nature had a mind of her own and we had to reschedule a few sessions, so I ended up doing all of the sessions that we had planned on the same day. It was an afternoon where I got to be the photographer and the client all at the same time. Ha! 

Everyone did such an amazing job that day. The kids are pros at being photographed. They know exactly when to smile, laugh, when to be serious and when to ham it up. They have it down and knock it out of the park every time. It was a lot of fun because we were able to get so many different combinations of everyone in one setting. I think that it is safe to say that my Mom and Sister have plenty of options for their next scrapbooking weekend. 

I cherish each session that I get to do with my family! With both of my brothers, their wives, and my niece and nephews on the east coast, our Missouri Sessions aren't the same without them. I'm looking forward to the day when we are all together again for the ultimate family session! Until then, I'm so excited to share a few of my favorite images from this years fall session. Enjoy and Happy Tuesday! 

The Whitney Family

The Whitney Family is a family that will always be very near and dear to my heart. Mikey and Stacey are dear friends of my husband and I. Their little ones, Jacob and Elise, will bring a smile to your face instantly. They truly are such a beautiful family inside and out! 

They are always so much fun to work with. I can’t even begin to tell you what images are my top picks because they all make me so happy. When putting this blog post together I couldn’t stop smiling and laughing thinking back on our time together. I love the way Elise giggled throughout the whole session and how animated Jacob got when telling a funny story about a recent day at school. It was so sweet the way the four of them interacted together. You can feel the love and how much they adore one another. These sessions that we do together become more and more special as the kids get older. To look back over the years and see how much they have grown, makes me feel so honored to have been able to capture such wonderful memories for them to enjoy forever. I can’t wait for our next session together! 

I narrowed it down to my favorite of favorites for their blog post today. So without further ado I give you The Whitney Family and their Fall Family Session. Enjoy and Happy Wednesday! 

The Knapp Family

I say it over and over, however, that’s because I mean it with all of my heart. Oh how I adore The Knapp Family! The last time we saw The Knapp’s was last fall and there were only three of them. Miss Kynlee was making her debut within a few weeks. It’s hard to believe that she is already a year old now. Where oh where has the time gone? 

As always, The Knapp’s knocked it out of the park that afternoon. Everyone did an amazing job and I don’t think I stopped laughing the entire time I was with them. Between the little ones being adorable and silly or Brandi and Wade teasing each other, it was definitely another fun and memorable session with these four. I always look forward to each session I get to do with them, and I’m already counting down until next time. 

I’m so excited to share a few of my favorite images from their Fall Family Session with everyone today. Enjoy and Happy Wednesday Friends!

The House Family

I've had the wonderful privilege of photographing The House Family for several years. It's been such an honor to watch their family grow. It doesn't matter where we are or if it's warm or cold outside, I know that when I am with the five of them we are going to have a great time together. Our sessions always go so quick because we are having so much fun. Not only do the little ones keep me laughing, but so do Ed and Jenna. I love their chemistry and dynamic together. They are such a beautiful and happy couple! You can almost hear the giggles in each of the images. You can feel how much Jude and Leighton love their big brother, Jacob. Also, you can instantly tell how much Ed and Jenna adore each other because of the huge smiles on their faces. This session makes me so happy and I know that everyone reading this will feel the exact same way. 

Without further ado, I give you a few of my favorite images of the incredible House Family from their fall family session.  Enjoy and Happy Tuesday Friends! 

The Schrock Family

I will start off today's blog post by saying how much I love these images of The Schrock Family. They are such a beautiful family inside and out and these images make me smile bigger and bigger every time I look at them. You can feel the love between the four of them. This session was done at their home, which made it so personable and unique. If I could sum up their session in one word it would be: joyful. From the moment I arrived at their house, the smiles and laughs were non stop. Not only can you see the laughter in these images, you can feel it too. It truly warms my heart being able to photograph my clients and know that I am capturing such sweet moments between them. 

My only complaint is that the sun set far too quickly that evening. :-) I wish I could have stayed even longer to photograph them. Everyone did such an amazing job that day! I'm so excited to share a few of my favorite images from their fall family session. I know that you will love them as much as I do. Until next time, enjoy and Happy Thursday Friends! 

Maddi | Senior 2019

     From the moment I met Maddi, I knew we were going to have a lot of fun during her Senior Session. Within minutes, it felt like I had known her for years. She was so smiley and easy to work with. I always encourage my clients to bring some things that have a special meaning to them and this will personalize their session even more. Maddi brought her adorable pups, Spanki and Tank. They were absolutely precious. Not only are the dogs adorable, but I love the huge smile on Maddi's face in each and every image. You can tell these two hold a very special place in her heart. She also brought along her favorite childhood stuffed animal. She smiled fondly as she told stories about how she would keep it with her at all times. No doubt this little stuffed monkey will always be close to her for years to come. 

     I loved chatting with Maddi that evening about her senior schedule and her plans for after graduation. You can tell that she has a great head on her shoulders. Not only is she a beautiful young girl, but also smart and capable. I know that she will go on to do great and amazing things.

     Maddi, I wish you the very best as you embark upon this next chapter in your life. I hope you enjoy every moment of your Senior Year. It was a pleasure working with you and I hope that our paths cross again soon. Without further ado, I give you just a few of my favorite images from Maddi's Senior Session. They will definitely put a smile on your face. Enjoy and Happy Wednesday Friends!