Jackie.

Ohhhh Jackie Nichols. This girl and I go way back to 15 yrs ago where I met this little hellion lady in my classroom. She was one of the first students I quickly realized that I can either fight with her all day every day OR I can make her my little shadow and make our lives much better. She did all the things with me cause if I didn’t keep her busy, she was finding mischief!  Like daily, she cleaned the art room with me during nap cause she sure as shit wouldn’t go to sleep with all that energy.  🤣  And now look at herrrrr! Simply gorgeous!

That dimple that comes out with a big smile!

Still so easy to laugh together. 😍

She’s totally grown into this responsible type A personality which is mind-blowing to me. (I said to her that this gives me great hope for my wild boys!) But still inside, that crazy little girl resides, sneaking out without warning. 😆

Such beautiful cheeks!

I love the drama on the left!

😍😍😍

YOUR SKIN IS LIKE BUTTA!!! I hope you know how blessed you are to have that, especially as a teenager?!

She was goofing off with leaves but then legit acted scared when they would fall around her. I was dying. Like what did she think was going to happen if they landed on her!? 🤣🤣

You.Are.Stun.ning.

There are deer everywhere at parks right now. So domesticated they don’t even care if we are 25yds away?! Just hang out and watch us!

Gosh I love those curls!!

That sun fell perfectly into the trees!

When the light is magic like this, I have to be pulled away or else I won’t stop shooting!

I love those beautiful shadows dancing on her face!

I showed my boys this first image and asked if they could do this. It was hilarious watching them try to put their hands behind their back to form a heart, then they realized her hair just covered her face. 😆

I think she was 5 here, I still had this image on my camera roll as it was from the original iPhone! Continuously transferred it with each new phone cause it makes me happy seeing it! And naturally we recreated it.

I dressed up at least twice a week as an Art teacher. Jackie’s parents tried their best to keep up with me and have her also dress up for whatever my theme was that day. We had lots of fun over the years!

It’s funny how you don’t realize how much you’ve aged until you see a side by side. Sighhhhhhhh!

The left is one of my favorite memories. Water fights during the summer but only the teachers had guns! The kids could hardly protect themselves from our wrath. 😆 The right she was into middle school and they invited me to see her very talented older brother in a LaSalle musical! Hi Jacob!

The timing of this session couldn’t have been better for my soul. I didn’t even realize it when booking that it fell on my sister’s angelversary. I had off and on cried all day and the car ride to the session was especially hard for no other reason than grief is unpredictable. But being greeted with a big hug and seeing grown up Jackie really did turn my frown upside down! After Ali had just passed (and I had already stopped teaching), Jackie (8-9yo?) asked to come over and decorate my house for Christmas. I was so overcome with grief and largely pregnant with Nico, that I was planning on skipping that year. She found some joy inside me that I was certain at the time, I’d never find again. I love her for that. Reminiscing the 4 yrs (yr round) we spent together, was so comforting. I could go on for hours about the fun we had in those years! I’m so thankful for social media (feels gross saying that 🤮) that I’ve been able to watch you blossom into this vibrant and still full of life personality. I’m so glad you are unapologetically you, don’t ever stop. More thankful that you came into my life like a wrecking ball and stayed in it. 😆 Keep winning at life! You rock, Jackie Nichols! Heart, Miss Melanie.