I grew up 10 minutes from where I live now.  I have been in the Kansas City Metro area my entire life (with the exception of college; one semester in Chicago and 2 years in Warrensburg, Missouri). Growing up in the 80's and 90's was so much fun.  We had tv and video games, but they were not in our pockets and I think we enjoyed the outdoors more than kids do today.  You remember back when you wanted to meet someone you had to have a plan . . . . let's meet at the slide in the park Tuesday at noon.  None of this call/text me when you get there stuff.  Ha Ha!

DeAnn and I both grew up in Grandview and both attended Meadowmere Elementary.  We were a few grades apart, she was 4 grades ahead of me in my brother's grade.  I've been taking her and her family's pictures for a few years now, we even did a bridal session, she was GORGEOUS!  In the winter I also did a headshot session for her business Dragon Fly Health and Wellness.  Their color scheme was PINK!  MY FAVE!!!

DeAnn contacted me recently to get some updated family portraits and asked for location ideas.  I immediately thought of Meadowmere Park off Byars Road in Grandview.  The park had a remodel years back.  So it looks quite a bit different than it did when we were kids.  The original park had metal tube slides that we in the ground.  There was a big hill you would go up to go down the slide and the slide was incased in the hill.  Actually there were two of these if I remember correctly.  As a kid I thought that was so cool.  But now . . . the park is actually even cooler.  It has a big tree house that has a tall two story winding tube slide, swings, another slide you have to climb a big hill to get to and even sand boxes with diggers.  I have taken my kids to this park several times over the years as it's not far from our current home in Lee's Summit.  And I have always thought the trees outlining the playground were so pretty.  So when DeAnn was game for her family pictures there I was so excited for my first photo shoot at Meadowmere Park!  I love the way they turned out.  And I especially love that she use to live close to the park and would use the bridge in the pictures to walk there as a kid.