Justin & Lindsey :: Wedding

Who doesn't love to have fun? I know I sure do. I love to laugh, and joke, and be silly, and be a dork. Sometimes when I laugh REALLY hard, I have this groggle in my throat that sounds like I've been smoking for years, even though I DO NOT smoke and can not stand the smell of smoke. When that laugh comes out, it makes me laugh even harder, which makes it sound even worse, but when my throat sounds like that... I know I'm having a blast!

A couple other people who LOVE to have fun is Justin & Lindsey. They were married last month over in Flint at St. Michael's Roman Catholic Church and the reception was over at the Warwick Hills Country Club, where the Buick Open is held. It was a beautiful day with great weather, great people around, and just great spirits all around, even despite the major traffic problem which caused them to start the wedding a lot later than expected. The priest came out telling stories to pass the time until most of the guests arrived... hilarious! Lindsey walked down to Damien Rice's The Blower's Daughter which is the song in the slideshow, what a beautiful song to walk down the aisle to. Their wedding was just beautiful and a ton of fun!

Congratulations to you guys! We had a great time!!!!

A couple of my favorites and the slideshow from their day!

Lindsey was so excited and so beautiful!



Justin was also excited, yet nervous... but he held it together very well... I had no idea!



Such a great couple...



Love this one...





Their bridal party was so fun!



Check out more of their day...

Emma :: 3 weeks old

One thing I have learned over the years about babies is that although they are cute and oh-so-adorable, when you add them to your family you no longer go by your schedule... you sing a different tune each day and you roll with it, try not to be frustrated or upset that they change your life's schedule so much that you may no longer be the person who is always 10 minutes early everywhere you go, but you gain patience and hopefully, a level head through it all. Not that I have ANY experience whatsoever with my own baby, but after taking many newborn baby's photos, you go by their music (not that kind of music - ha!)

Emma was playing a different song the day I came over. She did awesome when I got there, all cute and cuddly, peaceful and soundless. Once I got my camera out, she did not want to have any of that. She cried and cried, only happy in the arms of her mom & dad. She kept dozing in and out of sleep, like there was a huge party there that she didn't want to miss. I don't blame her, I hate falling asleep places where lots of people are especially if they want to take photos of me sleeping. Ha! But she ended up giving in and was out like a light. She became jello and reminded me just how dependent babies are on their parents. What a crazy thought! But Emma was gorgeous with TONS of hair and so petite.

Congratulations Jamie & Jen... she's beautiful!


Emma not being very cooperative at first... but she is still adorable!



Look at that hair...



Cute lil' toes...



Just precious...



She sleeps well on her dad...



Her parents are in awe of her...



Oh goodness... I love it!





Her lips are so cute all puckered up... (the outfit she has on was her mom's when she was that young, how cool!)



She sleeps so comfy!

Baby Jack :: 4 months

When I was young, I was a HUUUUGE hambone. I wanted to be in all the photos. I would sneak in them with my model-like posing or just plain ruin the photo with bunny ears or a weird facial expression. But as long as I was in them, I was happy! As the years went on, the fewer I would be in the photos and now look at me... never quite in them at all. Who would have thought, that little ol' hambone would be taking photos of other people and not of herself. Ha! Ironic!

Well, I think Baby Jack is going to be one of those kids. Hammin' it up whenever he sees a camera. As soon as I started clicking away, he was a such a happy baby. Smiling, flirting, being so calm and relaxed. This might not seem much to everyone, but we're talking about the kid who gave his parents a lot of trouble the first couple months of his life with lots and lots of crying! But what a cute little guy he is now. He's going to be breaking some major hearts when he gets older.

Congratulations Dave & Katie on the beautiful baby boy! He's a doll and I hope he wasn't an unhappy baby after I left!


Look at that smile... mmm, my heart just melts!



His GQ face



Not so sure about that hat yet...



A tired baby...



This photo CRACKS me up... look at that hair. It's the messy look!



He's also teething... not fun for him!



Sooo cute!



His feet are so small and cute!

Miss Lily :: 4 months

I love a good story... action, drama, emotion. When people get really into their story and paint the picture of exactly what happened, I get on the edge of my seat and can't wait to hear what happens next. I guess you could say I was one of "those" kids who loved story time back in elementary school. Middle school was a bit different when I had to do the reading... but back to my point. I love good stories!

Lily is one of those good stories. All babies are, but Lily has a way cool, special story. I'm talking like AMAZING! When doors closed for them, and then opened, and closed again and then opened again, this time they opened so big it allowed her parents, Cliff & Angela to adopt Miss Lily. There's a lot more to it, but basically, there is a VERY happy ending and Lily is their miracle baby, and Lily has got some excellent parents!!!!

Congratulations to the two of you... I'm so happy for you guys and am so glad I was able to document this sweet moment of joy! I love her and can't wait to see her grow!


Look at those cheeks!



Just about to tumble forward... but so stinkin' cute in that outfit!



She's already learning to pray, as her dad is a pastor at our church



Hellllooo blue eyes!



Even at four months, she's still so tiny...



What a beautiful baby!



As she got cranky, she fell asleep so quick... just like THIS...



HA...



A tutu... can she be any cuter?



I love it!

Bitter Sweet

Today is one of those days that you know will happen one day, but that day finally comes and you know the only thing best is to follow your heart and keep walking forward. It's bitter sweet!

So for those who don't know me too well, I have a HUGE love for health and fitness. I mean HUGE! I love reading health magazines, making healthy recipes (even though I'm not such a great cook), talking about health or fitness with people, I love it! I crave a good sweat and would so rather eat vegetables than greasy chips. Even when I was young, like younger than normal girls, we are talking like 5th grade young, I was working out on a regular basis. I had my 2, 3, & 5 lb dumbbells that I would lift with my Denise Austin VHS's. I had my pink and green step that I would do corny step choreography to, and also slide back and forth, with mesh booties on my shoes, on my ever so lovely glide slide (I loved that thing! Anyone else have one of those?). I also paid very close attention to what I was eating. I was not "dieting", but definitely watching closely at what went in my mouth, and still do to this day.

When looking into college, I either wanted to pursue something sports/nutrition related or interior designer/art related. Two very different extremes. I took a couple classes for the health and wellness program, but then dropped out of the program because my brain just does not do well when it comes to books AND of course, my new found love for photography grew to unbelief. Who knew that this love would become my career. Obviously now, I know I picked what I was designed for, but I have always had this crush on being a personal trainer, nutritionist, or something other in that field.

When I moved up to Michigan, I found a job working at a gym, while I got my feet planted and got the ball rolling with my photography. Fast forward four years to today. I've been teaching group fitness along with my photography a couple days a week. It has been enjoyable, dreadful, challenging, and extremely fun all in the same. But today was the day I taught my last group fitness class there. Although it's a bit sad, I am SO ready for this door to be closed and keep moving forward with my camera in hand!

Happy Wednesday... I hope your day is more sweet than the bitter part!

Miss Taylor :: 6 months

Oh how I miss college. The carefree days... living in dorms... playing soccer... staying up late... hanging out with friends by just walking through the student center... there are so many great memories I have of college, so many great friends I still keep in touch with and some that I may not talk to much, but have left a lasting impression in my heart. I miss college and miss so much about that part of my life.

One of those people that left a huge impression in my heart was my roommate my junior year. Renee was one of those girls who I just connected so well with. We had fun, laughed A LOT, did silly things like jump rope contests in the middle of Walmart, or shaved our arms before nationals along with about half of the team (ha!). Yet, we also had a deep friendship and were able to be there for each other when things weren't always that great! She was and IS a special friend to me and I will always remember the great memories and will cherish her friendship FOREVER!

Although I have not seen her in a few years, we had been in touch recently about doing some photos of her newest member of their family, Miss Taylor. It's funny that they named their little girl Taylor, as her husband Dan went to Taylor University, our rival school. I love it! We planned to meet up when we went over that way to visit some friends, and it was perfect! We got some beautiful beach photos of her lil' girl and were able to hang out for the afternoon... a win-win situation. It was just wonderful getting the chance to hang out like old times and be able to share in the joy of their little one. Congratulations you two! She's beautiful, sweet, so fun, and looks completely like BOTH of you combined!!!

She was so mezmorized by the waves of Lake Michigan... she was a huge fan!




What a gorgeous smile!



Mama loves her so much!



Her first time in the sand... so unsure of what it was... ha!



Downtown St. Joseph was so cute and they had these cute painted animals everywhere... this one was an elephant... adorable!



I love it!







My favorite of the day... her face is so cute and squishy!



Such proud parents...



One more beach spot... and she's spent!



It was soooo great to see you Renee! I miss you and love you, and am so glad things are going so great with you newest addition to your family! Mwaaa....

Guess Where I am???

5:15am comes around every morning... of course it does, but the last month I have been a regular 5:15 waker-upper (is that even a word?). At first, it was a huge task as of any new thing you do. But I have now got to the point where I wake up automatically without the alarm. I have always been a morning person, but definitely not that early! I am now learning to enjoy it... I am LOVIN' it! Even though the sun is not up yet, or not many people out on the road, or the fact that soon enough there will be frost on the jeep windshield... I look forward to my morning ashtanga yoga, which I wish I was introduced to it years ago. I have since turned in those running shoes, gym membership, and painful hours on that silly elliptical for something so much better.

This morning I woke up at my regular 5:15, but I not eager or excited... but more of disappointment knowing for one my husband and pooch was not sleeping next to me, but two my heated studio was hours away from me. I still planned to do some yoga of my own, but today someone had other plans. It was hard not to laugh while I was down doggin' it when a little 20 pounder climbed in the middle of my legs with a rubber ducky thinking my yoga mat was a playground area. I think she wanted to be in the middle of the action!

I am enjoying the sites of lil' Miss Izzy as she is now able to walk... talk more... laugh more... and is such a sweet little girl. It's amazing how time flies and kids just grow so fast!

Happy Friday!!!!



(Sorry about the small photo... it'll do until I get home to change it!)