JP's Birthday Party

On Sunday Ella and I headed over to John Patrick's first birthday party. Boy Boy had just gone down for a nap, so he and daddy stayed behind.

I like this picture of JP and Rachel's dad, he loves his Pappy.








Ella and her new friend Angela.

I don't think he was digging what was going on...

Until his mom gave him the good stuff!


He LOVED his cake and was shoveling it in as fast as he could. I personally think his mom took it away from him too soon, but don't worry, I feel it my duty as Godmother to sneak stuff to him every once in a while.


ps. For some reason I was in a black & white/sepia type mood today. Must be the rain.

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Young Scientist

Uncle Mike gave Ella this kit for Christmas because he knows how much she enjoys experiences. I am also proud to say that she enjoys watching the Science Channel.

Notice the beautiful array of crystals.

The box does say that, "results may vary."



Ok, you're right... let's be fair and take them out of their containers so that they can stand on their own merit.

Or something.

My budding scientist was as proud as she could be of her crystals. She even suggested that we put them on a plate and use them as a centerpiece on the dinette table. I think that's a wonderful idea.

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Talent Show

I was shocked last year when my very shy 5 year old asked if she could be in the talent show with her friends. I wasn't as surprised this year, they seem to have a lot of fun choreographing routines to their favorite songs.

Isn't she starting to look grown up? Craziness, I tell you!

Proof that she is a rock star.


Her and Savannah sang and danced to "Like Whoa" by Aly and AJ. And now I walk around the house constantly singing... like... whoa.


My sweet girl did so well, I was beaming with pride.


I think that the responsible thing to do is stay for the entire talent show to support all of the kids, even if your child is early in the line up. This year, however, because the elementary schools are combined (College Square is being renovated) there were twice as many acts and I just couldn't hang that long as it started to become painful.

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Congratulations Sasha & Denise!

Oh my goodness, we had the best time at their wedding this past Saturday!! Sasha is my cousin on my dad's side of the family, and he's an all around great guy. I should note that it was very difficult for me to behave when it came to taking pictures, I wanted to ask the photographer so badly if I could tag along while they were shooting between the ceremony and reception. But I didn't and it took amazing restraint!

Anyway, I found this really pretty clip for Ella's hair.


Brothers: Albert, Ben, Sasha. Aunt Lucille adopted Albert from Uzbekistan when he was just four years old. I'll never forget the first time we went out to dinner... we ordered wings and were just chatting (as was Albert except no one could understand him, LOL) and we looked over and he had cleaned his plate. I mean, he ate the bones, EVERYTHING. Poor kid was accustomed to being deprived of food, so whenever he got anything, he made sure not to waste.

Seeing his bride for the first time.



I really did behave myself during the ceremony, didn't move from my seat at all (though I was tempted), but that didn't stop me from pulling out my 70-200 to grab this detail shot.


Ring exchange.






My girl and I. (My brother Mike was apparently experimenting with a slow shutter speed to get motion blur, what a creative guy).

First dance.






I love this shot of them holding hands because you can see his new ring!


Introducing Beth! Mike's new "friend."

The must be really good "friends."

My dad was the designated drive for the evening, and in an effort to entertain himself, he picked up my camera. Of course he didn't have any idea of the power he was holding. He was sporting my brand new 5D Mark II, with the phenomenal 50 f/1.2.

Anyway, he got a few nice shots (even a blind squirrel finds a nut once in a while). Ella and I were doing the electric slide.

UM was telling us that he, "has moves." Mom was rocking the house as well.

Not sure what song was playing, but I was singing!

Again with the singing. I had so much fun with Beth! I hope that they stay "friends" for a while.


Sweet little girl had the best time, she loved all the dancing!



Oh yes, even the chicken.

And just to prove that the above shots were indeed luck, this is what most of dad's images looked like.

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Christmas Tree

We went to Hozak Farms the day after Thanksgiving on our annual tree excursion. Every year, we look at the tractor and say... one of these years we'll take a ride out to the field to cut our own tree. But every year it's too cold so we just pick one that has already been cut. Maybe when boy boy is older we'll get adventuresome.

Big girl leads the way.



Boy boy didn't recognize me with my sunglasses and hat on, and I'm not sure why girl girl was giving herself a double chin. But, I always say that a bad picture is better than no picture at all!

Sissy always gets to cut the rope to open up the tree.

Teamwork.

Of course he loves the tree, loves to play with ornaments and has even figured out how to get a candy cane down AND open it.

Ella is always warm and insists on wearing summer clothes it the house.


He had bed head after his nap and I thought it was cute.


We only put non-breakable ornaments at the bottom of the tree... for obvious reasons.

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