I can’t believe that I almost missed posting these kids on my blog…I think their session happened right before my crazy summer traveling started, and it got buried in my "to-do" pile. Anyway, I have done a few sessions for this family and they always turn out to be great and have gorgeous images. The children are so photogenic and it’s always fun for me to see how they have changed since the last time. They are growing up so fast! Their parents are well aware of this, and it’s a real treat for me to walk into their home and see how they have decorated it with photos of their family. You just know as soon as you enter that family is the priority in their lives!

Allison is the sister of my  Punta Cana bride Katie – and she and Matt got engaged just a few weeks before we all left for Punta Cana. So naturally we took advantage of the beautiful setting to do Matt & Allison’s engagement pics. Hmmmm…I think I’m going to love shooting their wedding!

This dress got a little wet and sandy, but not "trashed"…rinsed it out in the shower & hung it up on the balcony, and it looked fine. And soooo worth it for these shots!

I visited Stacey & David & the kids on Memorial Day weekend. We went to a nearby farm to pick strawberries and let the kids play. I was able to get a few photos of them that I liked. It’s still like pulling teeth, but at least I get SOMETHING, now that they are a little older. I swear they make themselves get that slack look on their faces when I bring out my camera, on purpose!

Here are some shots from an extended family session that I did a few weeks ago for our friends & next-door neighbors here in SC…these are two of their adorable grandchildren. Rachael was an absolute dream – posed like a model – and Caleb did everything I asked, cheerfully and with the ubiquitous four-year-old smile (moms & photogs, you know the one I’m talking about, lol!).
The flower was Rachael’s idea:

The nights have been beautiful here because of the moon shining so, so brightly on the lake. Jim & I have been sitting on our deck enjoying it, and I tried to photograph it the other night. Since I was too lazy to get out the tripod, and since I really do not have this kind of photographic eye (give me a kid anytime!), this was the best I could do before I lost interest in photographing it & instead just enjoyed looking at it:

Headed to PA tomorrow for a wedding on Saturday, a few sessions on Sunday, then driving to Stacey & David’s on Sunday evening to spend Memorial Day with them & the kids…driving home on Tuesday…only1400 miles! I will be back at work on Wednesday morning – have a great weekend everyone!

…for the baby whose parents keep an ipod in their diaper bag:

And wouldn’t this make an adorable shower gift? Just so new parents don’t have any misunderstandings about whose turn it is to get up with baby -

Sassie Onesies

I thought these were such a good idea – pretty, fun to do, & inexpensive! Great way to recycle old drinking glasses, jars, & votives, and a trip to the dollar store should get you everything else you need. You can make them in any color combos – match whatever picnic tableware you have. Best of all, occupy your kids with a fun project!

Directions here: Easy Sand Candles

Now how fun would this be to have in some otherwise blah kitchen apartment …spring break forever! They come in very cool solid colors too, and "stainless-steel" if you just want some decorating pop without spending $$$ for new appliances.

FridgeFronts

I spent last weekend with Stacey & David and my granddolls who are just growing so fast that I can’t believe it. Gavin is now firmly talking in sentences, and Genevieve has gone from asking "what is that" to "why is that". The weather was pretty good, and we were able to get outside for them to play and for Nanna to get some pictures. Genevieve is getting a lot better at cooperating – briefly. Gavin is now where she was last year, which is not really into the whole picture-taking scene.

Isn’t his shirt a riot?

We went to a coffee shop, then tried to do some cool urban-looking shots with them. But Gavin wasn’t really into it and wouldn’t smile – instead of my vision of a cool edgy image, he looks more like a homeless waif:

But Genna hammed it up a little:

Of course we HAVE to try to get both of them:

The next day was cool, but I wanted to get something wit the blossoming trees:

And at the playground: