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...

Baby Levi

I got to meet Baby Levi on his 5 month birthday! It's always an honor for me to be invited back to photograph the child(ren) of a couple who's wedding I shot, and this was no exception! Patricia and Michael are amazing parents to this little bundle of joy!

Sometimes, little ones play shy for the camera, but not this little guy... He had his eye on me the whole time...

See what I mean??? Amazing parents!

He's a very focused little boy...

And FULL of personality!

Grandma was there and helped to hang his Christening gown for a couple shots...

This series features the baby ring that Patricia's father once wore...

And because Christmas is just around the corner...

This is one little boy who is very loved and adored!

Patricia, Michael, and Grandma... I can't thank you enough for having me back to photograph you little miracle! You truly have a beautiful family! Congrats!

Family Session at Battelle Darby Park!

Fall is the perfect time for family portraits! A couple weekends ago, I met up with Do, Bob and their four girls at Battelle Darby Park for a fun session! Here are a couple favorites!

I loved the colors they picked to wear...

Dad's going to have his hands full with 4 beautiful daughters...

And what better way to finish up a fall session than with some old-fashioned leaf jumping/throwing??

Thank you Do, Bob and girls for a great afternoon!

What's Going On?

Forgive me Blogger... it's been two weeks since my last post.

I've had some great family and baby sessions in the last couple weeks that I can't wait to post! I've also been working on album designs for all my amazing couples! It's a fun, creative process, but one that requires a lot of my undivided attention..Especially with a holiday deadline coming up! I hope to be back to my regularly scheduled blogging in a week or so, but in the meantime here are a few pics from a couple albums I'm working on...

From Steven and Amanda's wedding...

From Sara and Chuck's wedding...

From Katie and Eric's wedding...

And from Celeste and Adam's wedding...

Stay tuned for more!