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!






 

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.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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: