Goodbye to 2009, Welcome 2010!

So begins the time of year when I do a LOT of scribbling when it comes to dates. And this year is going to be particularly tough since we're changing two digits instead of just one!

As I sit back and contemplate the things I'd like to accomplish in the coming year, I also like be thankful for the year that's passed. 2009 has been an incredible year in so many ways...

Personally, I'm blessed with an incredible family... two children that amaze me and make me laugh every day, a husband who drives me places I can just as well drive myself just so we can spend the extra time together.

Professionally, I get to work with the most awesome couples on the planet. They make my job so much fun, and their smiles make me smile! You can check out those smiles in this little slideshow I put together...The Year in Wedding Photos!

Some fun facts about 2009 weddings:

Most popular bouquet color: A tie between red and white
Average number of attendants: 5
Average number of tiers in a wedding cake: 3
Wedding that took place the furthest from my home office: Brent and Leaha's wedding in Boynton Beach, Florida
Wedding that took place the closest to my home office: Heather and John's wedding right here in Grove City!

Thank you to all my '09 brides and grooms! May 2010 bring you much happiness! :)

A Very Claypool Christmas...

Yeah, my family may shoot me for this, but I couldn't resist.

Initially, I hadn't brought my camera to my family's Christmas Eve gathering. Initially, I thought "what did we ever do with all the pictures we took from Christmas last year"?

Then, as the kids and grownups alike were unwrapping gifts and hugging and laughing...I realized I wanted those smiles on camera! So here are just a few of the faces and smiles that make me so happy to have as my family...

Merry Christmas!

Stephanie and Brice...Married!

Every season has it's own beauty. And what could be more beautiful than a wedding set against the backdrop of Christmas? Stephanie and Brice's wedding was just that. With a wedding at the beautiful First Congregational Church in downtown Columbus and a reception at the Vault...their wedding was everything you would expect it to be. With accents of reds and greens, wreaths and trees...the only thing missing was snow! Here are a few favorites from their day...don't forget to check out the slideshow at the end!

The architecture at the church was breathtaking...

Courtney Mason second shot with me...here's a shot she got from the balcony during the ceremony...

After the ceremony...

..and a favorite from the first dance.

Congrats, Stephanie and Brice!

It's My Birthday, but YOU get the gifts!

I've been meaning to post this since Friday, but a busy weekend kept me from being able to do it until today. Yes, my birthday was Friday (and no, I'm not telling how old)! :) To celebrate, I'm announcing a special offer good through the end of the year... Book any package before 2010 and take advantage of a free upgrade! Choose from any optional upgrade and add it to your wedding package for nothing (zip, zilch, nada)...a $200 value!

Choose from Parent Books, Engagement or Day After Sessions, Slideshow DVD's...any upgrade option on the list!

But the offer's only good through the remainder of '09, so act fast! It's my birthday gift to you!

Kathy and Tom are Having a Baby!

I'll never forget Kathy and Tom's wedding! Married in July (at the same church, but the same Priest as Isaac and me) of 2007 with a reception at the ever-awesome COSI, it was one memorable day! Thanks to referrals from Kathy, I've run in to her and Tom at a couple weddings over the past couple years and it's been like running into an old friend. So needless to say, when she called me a couple months ago to tell me she and Tom were expecting a child in December, I nearly got chills!

Last weekend they invited me to their beautiful home to catch a few pics of the parents to be as they await the little one's arrival. Here are a few favorites!

Congratulations Tom and Kathy! Can't wait to meet the new little addition!

O, Christmas Tree!

Every year I find myself coveting. As in the "Thou Shalt Not" kind. I covet people's Christmas trees. My friends put up the most elaborate trees with matching ornaments. Some are blue and cream, some are gold and red, silver and gold, blue and silver...you get the idea. Some have themed trees. My sister in law once had an M&M tree that was so cool! My mom plans to do a "Blues" themed tree this year. One friend puts up a Penn State tree in one room, and a Disney tree in another. And all I have is this one tree, with ornaments that are a mishmash of years and Christmases gone by. And while I may covet the neatness of other's trees, the fact is that I do love my tree. Each Thanksgiving weekend, I look forward to putting on the Christmas music, rearranging the furniture and unpacking all the ornaments. Each ornament brings back memories, and each memory is something very special. I don't think I'd get that half as much if I suddenly invested in all matching ornaments.

Here is our tree...
And here's a closer look at the ornaments that make it so special.

This is a stuffed "Mountie" that my mother brought back after a trip to Canada. She was traveling quite a bit for work back then and had started picking up little bears for Eddie everywhere she went. We have bears now from Japan, Australia, Singapore, London and of course, Germany.


This isn't an ornament at all. It's Amy...from the Holly Hobby collection. It was mine when I was a little girl. My parents used to put it in their tree to take up some of the empty space toward the back...I kept the tradition...

A friend I used to work with made this ornament for me when I left the company to go to Nursing School full-time. Every year when I unpacked this particular ornament I would feel a little bit of a sting, given that I never finished. I changed gears in a major way, so last year I told my husband I wasn't going to put it up any more. He said I should put it up anyway. It's funny how life moves along and sometimes things come full-circle...more on that in a later post. :)

"Our First Christmas"...as a married couple, Christmas 2000

From another one of Mom's travels...this one from Holland (the windmill really moves)!

This one has been a little bit of a joke between my husband and me. We call it "Santa in the Avocodo". Why? Really, why is Santa in an Avocodo? And why do we keep putting it on the tree?

From Emma's First Christmas...

Another one that isn't really an ornament. Back when Isaac was taking flying lessons, I gave hime the gift of more flight time (Most flying schools and airports will give gift certificates...if you're looking for a gift for the pilot on your list). Rather than just giving him the gift certificate, I wrote it all out on a ribbon attached to this little plane...you know, like a banner... It became an ornament!

From Eddie's First Christmas...

This was from the tree we put up when I was still living at home. Mom and Dad gave my brother and me both a few ornaments from the "home" colection when we moved out.

This one, well...it really has no earthly business being on a tree. What is it anyway? A gypsy wagon? Oh well, it's ours and we like it!

Some people bronze their kids' baby shoes. Not us! Those too, have become ornaments for us!

Isaac made this one years and years ago! Well, he painted it anyway...I don't think he was using a router and saw at that age...

And this one commemorates Isaac's proud service in the US Air Force. Something that has shaped his life and one of the many, many reasons I adore him.

Thanks for sharing a little bit of my Christmas preparation with me! Stay tuned as I document my Christmas shopping adventures (just kidding)! :)

Caden Turns 1!

Remember baby Caden? Last year right around Christmas, I snapped a few photos of the newborn Caden and his parents. Naturally I was thrilled when his mom e-mailed me and asked me to do his One Year pics! We spent some time in the studio and let Caden kind of have his run of the place... Here are a few favorites...

Can you believe how he's grown???

This age is always so much fun to photograph. Their smiles are so natural and they are so playful...you kind of can't help but smile yourself!

I love this one...particularly the "Oooooh" expression on his face!

Check out those blue eyes...

And when we were done, Caden knew it...

Hapyy Birthday Caden!

Happy Thanksgiving!

My wish...is that no one is reading this post right now! Seriously, everyone should take a day away from the computer and all things "tech" today to take full advantage of the time they have to spend with their families. Go enjoy some great food, parades and football...and if you remember my post from last year, maybe even sing a few songs from The Sound of Music!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Little Miss Brenlynn...

Brenlynn and I met last year. I had the pleasure of watching her during the day for a few months last fall. She and Emma hit it off and she was an absolute delight to have around. She just celebrated her third birthday, so it was time to get some new pics! She came in last weekend with Mom and Dad for a session full of dress up and smiles, and a playdate with Eddie and Emma when it was all done! Here are a few favorites...




Tell us how old you are again, Brenlynn... :)

One of the cutest little Buckeyes ever!

And of course, Mom and Dad are Buckeyes too!

All giggles!

I tried to talk her into helping us string our Christmas lights this year, but this was about all the further we got...

When we were done, she was still in all her dress-up finery and wanted to play outside with Eddie and Emma. I'm a big fan of natural light, so I had to run out there with her and grab just one more shot...