Tuesday, November 5, 2013

Sara and Andrew + 1

My friends Sara and Andrew are expecting their first baby and it's a girl!  Last summer two of my other friends had baby boys so now we'll have a girl to add to the mix! I hope they all grow up to be friends like we are. 

Anyway, last Sunday I ventured up to Harrisburg, PA to visit and do a few photos.  It was a nice day and it was great to see my friends! 

Here are a few photos from the afternoon:


 
 
 
Congrats, guys!  I can't wait to meet your little bundle.
 


Tuesday, October 1, 2013

Susquehanna State Park

We recently spent the afternoon walking around Susquehanna State Park on a random Sunday.  It was a spontaneous decision to go there and it was such a great day!  I love being outdoors and the weather was perfect.  Sometimes it is easy to forget that you don't need to spend money to go do something fun.  Especially when it's enjoying God's beautiful creations outside!

Here are a couple of photos I took that day:

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Wednesday, July 10, 2013

Sammy's 1st birthday

Coincidentally I am blogging Sammy's birthday party on his mom's birthday so I gotta give a shout out to one of my best friends ever.  Happy # 36, Mandee!  We get better with age, like a fine wine. 
Here's to the next 36!

Last weekend we celebrated Sammy's first birthday, complete with delicious cake made by his Aunt Grace who we call "Grace of Cakes". 

Here are some photos from the day:

Sammy's artwork for each person to take home


Birthday Boy


Pint sized beach chairs and hats


Presents


Starting him early.  Just kidding.


Monster cakes by the talented Grace


Sammy's first cake experience ever


I think he likes it


Mateo chillin'


Grandpa and Sammy


Pals


Mama and Sammy


Aunt Grace, hungry Sammy


The Roberts Trio


Happy Birthday to Sammy!  I can't wait to see you grow up, just don't do it too fast :)


Friday, June 28, 2013

Mateo's 1st Birthday

This time last year (well, a week ago last year), my dear friend Suzana gave birth to a baby boy named Mateo.  Last weekend we celebrated his first birthday.  I'm not sure how the year went by so quickly, because I feel like I was just at her house feeling him kick from the other side.

A few weeks after Suzana had Mateo, my other dear friend Mandee had her baby named Sammy.  Now they are growing up together and I am most thankful that I get to see it happen! 

Seeing new life come into the world, has made me think about the circle of life and how each day is to be cherished.  Since my uncle died at the beginning of the year I've had time to reflect and there is a lyric to my favorite Bonnie Raitt song that sums it all up perfectly:
"Life gets mighty precious when there's less of it to waste".

If you want to hear the song you can click here

Live each day fully, love with your whole being, and appreciate every moment!  We are all going through this crazy life together. 

On that note, I'd just like to say that I'm thankful for my friends and being a part of celebrating Mateo's life!

Here are some photos from the afternoon:


The birthday boy


Sammy


Birthday seat


Suzana and Mateo


Best buds


Cake


Happy little family





Happy 1st birthday, Mateo!






 








Wednesday, June 19, 2013

Hank and Laika

Hank is the puppy and Laika is the big girl.
They belong to my sister Sara and her boyfriend Scott. 
I just met Hank last weekend for the first time and he is super adorable. 

Absorb the cuteness:

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Photographing dogs is the best.  Expect to see a lot more of it.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 


Sunday, June 16, 2013

Dog days of summer

In the last 3 weeks, Lila has slowly been let off her leash while being outside and has been doing so well!  I do not let her off the leash at my place since I live in such a well traveled area.  Only at Breandan's since his place is far enough off the road and there is plenty of room to let Lila and Bentley run around together.  I am excited to take more photos of the two of them playing outside because I love the action shots! 

Bentley is definitely faster than Lila so a lot of times he gets to the toy quicker when it's thrown, but Lila can hold her own and is perfectly content just to be able to have the freedom to run and play.  A couple of times she has run over to the neighbor's porch and we've had to call for her.  But she comes back, and usually has a toy she's stolen from their dog.  It's pretty amusing.  Last weekend I thought she had run off into the woods or something, and for a moment I freaked out.  Really she was just at the neighbor's house scavenging for a new toy to steal.  She's a mess.

On a side note, blogging is back!  I've missed it and frankly just haven't made the time.  But now that we have warm weather back, and Lila has more "off leash" freedom, I think that is helping me get back into the groove.  It is already shaping up as a pretty busy summer...per the usual I guess!  I just need to make sure that my camera is with me.  Lots of great things on the horizon!

Here are a couple shots I recently took of the pups:

 
 
 
 

Wednesday, January 2, 2013

find happiness where you can

yesterday morning i received a phone call from my dad.  i thought he was calling to say happy new year.  instead, he was delivering some unexpected and grim news. 

my uncle vince suddenly passed away on new year's eve. 

i don't even like typing it. 
i will not elaborate on it at the moment, it is too new and just so terrible. all i can think about is my aunt sue and my cousins who are left behind trying to process this.   

i took some time today and looked at some photos from a handful of years ago, looking for any photos with uncle vince in them.  i found some very treasurable images.  my first thought is, oh this is a great one...i'm so glad i took this.  my next thought is, this is wrong and this is so unfair. 
he should still be here.  there are more memories to be had and more photos to capture them. 

i find it ironic how photographs can be so difficult to look at in a time of grief, yet after time passes along, you might look at those same photos and feel happy.  i know that we all have photographs in our memories.  but for me personally, photos are just so important to me.  i love being able to look back and feel the emotions that the image puts forth. 

tonight while looking at photos from christmas of 2011, i decided that i should share a photo that made me smile through the tears.  one of my dad and my cousin nic.  it's very difficult to look at some of the other images from that christmas.  but while difficult, i can't help but feel thankful to have taken the photos.  so that we can look back and remember happy memories together.
 
today i am finding happiness in this photo:

 
.....every day may not be good, but there is something good in every day.