Sweet Dreams

Sleep soundly, my little one

Glorious Spring

Snow Fun

 

Tim & Rachel :: family

Three weeks ago friends of ours came to spend the weekend with us.  Last year when they came to visit, Rachel was hoping we could do family pictures while they were here (as was I, of course!), but the weather turned rainy and frigid the day we were planning to take them.  We holed up at Queen City Creamery eating ice cream instead.  Incongruous?  Yes, until you counter in the warming butternut squash soup that waited for us when we arrived home.

This year we made plans for pictures again, but held them loosely.  After all, what can you expect in November?  It was a little pretty chilly but not too cold as long as we were sheltered from the wind.  And just like last time, there were little rain drops threatening, then sprinkling, then threatening….  We drove to Cumberland anyway and the rain stopped!  Just delightful.

I love these pictures of their happy little family!

Happiness is siblings to love on, music, and pretty leaves to play in …

Photography does so many things.  It documents the stages of our lives … the soft, pudgy cheeks of a toddler, the sparkly brown eyes of a little girl who loves to play princess … but at the same time, it encapsulates so many emotions and feelings that can’t be described.  Do you ever look back at a picture and go right back to that moment in time?  That moment when being a mom of little ones was truly the best gift you could have ever dreamed about?

I love beautiful, reflective light that showcases details in pictures so well we feel as though we can almost touch the people in them.  But a side of me is also falling in love with photography that is more emotive … a bit organic and earthy.  These sun-drenched pictures speak to me of the laughter of children, the wind in their hair, the happiness that exudes from their faces when they are free to explore and run and play.  Every parent and grandparent will treasure portraiture, but in the decades from now, I think these pictures will be the ones that make me close my eyes and remember how much joy and love and closeness we had in our family.  I love watching Rachel mother her children.  She is so gentle and patient with them, but most of all, I love watching her delight in her children.  Sunday afternoon we all piled into Tim’s suburban and headed into the back country bumping down gravel roads, up and down hills and fording a creek to reach this lovely field of tall, soft grass (after we got through the briery entrance, that is!).  The children ran and tumbled and laughed and ran again as the sun spilled a few last rays of light across the mountain ridge.

And these?  These spell moments of happiness to me.

…. because together is the nicest place to be.

A trio of cuteness

These three munchkins and their mama and I spent an afternoon walking around downtown Cumberland just as the leaves were turning vibrant shades of yellow and red.

I love the way you can tell these cuties are siblings, yet they each have a look of their own.  Aleah’s chocolate eyes compared to Ava and Riley’s blue ones.  Brown hair and blonde hair.  But they’ve all three got a smile that lights up the world.

 

Brothers

Having two boys of my own I realize I’m a bit prejudiced, but seriously, is there anything cuter than watching two little brothers interact?  They run and jump and play and tussle and at a moment’s notice they turn around and go into gales of laughter or fiercely protect each other.   Even if they were fighting minutes prior.  Although these little guys didn’t fight.  They just had fun exploring the fun, new territory!

Metri and Xander are full of life and energy, just like little boys should be, and we had a merry time chasing after their cute little selves with the impish grins and twinkly eyes.

Metri is so grown up and in love with first grade.

Xander just turned two and has an adorable habit of being overcome with feelings of shyness which cause him to cover his eyes with both hands when you talk to him.  Silly boy!

Brother Love ~

Sheldon & Veronica

Sheldon & Veronica grew up and fell in love in beautiful Lancaster county, Pennsylvania.  It was a pleasure to meet them and share their day of celebration.  A day that held mixed emotions since Veronica said goodbye to her mom and dad as they ended their individual fights with cancer in the year prior.  It was an honor to meet their family, to see the strength of their love for each other and they way they hold each other up as they continue to live life well.

Veronica chose a beautiful cobalt blue color for her bridesmaids dresses and coupled it with charcoal accents and sweet wild flowers at the reception.  The effect was stunning.

I loved her calm demeanor and the way she chose fun foods (grilled hamburgers, anyone?) for the menu because it’s one of their favorite foods.

And what’s not to love about the sparkle happening in their eyes?!

Sheldon and Veronica, may you always choose to love each other so well!

Jevon & Abigail

Jevon & Abigail met when their families were both missionaries in Kenya, Africa.  Their love goes way, way back.  So far back that, in Jevon’s words, it might be embarrassing.

Sort of the equivalent of high school sweethearts (ok, maybe longer), these two clearly have a relationship based on a strong friendship couple with so much romantic love it was inspiring just being around them!  The “can this be true? She’s finally mine” was almost palpable!

Ohio was just beautiful at the end of May ……….. green and glorious if a little chilly in the morning.  Abigail picked a beautiful spot not so far from her home for their portraits in the morning.  The sun peeked over the hill warming the earth and reflecting off the dew drops clinging to the grass.

Their ceremony was a lovely, emotion-packed service under huge shade trees Abigail’s grandmother tended years and years ago.

The reception was on the same grounds making it so easy for guests to mingle, enjoying the food and the company of each other as ushers easily formed circles with the chairs that were previously set in straight lines for the ceremony.

It was so obvious that Jevon & Abigail are close to both their families, both immediate and extended and that their life is rich with friends who love them dearly.

The day was punctuated by laughter and joyous celebration by many, but most of all, by the happy couple themselves.

Wishing you all the best, Jevon & Abbi!  May you always be so in love!

Summer Eve

Few things are so delightful as a warm, summer eve

Shannon & Janelle

Shannon & Janelle said, “I do” on a day that was bursting with love, sunshine, and the beauty of Spring. Weeks of rain delayed the arrival of Spring and now, here it was, vibrantly blooming at it’s peak on the very day they’d chosen to get married. There was so much love and happiness happening between those two, I don’t know if they even noticed, but coming from a still-shrouded-in-winter Maryland, you can bet I did!

Janelle’s dress was simply elegant, a glimpse of the elegance that was to follow in their ceremony and reception.

The handsome groom from Pennsylvania.

The contrast of red in their bridal party was so striking against the blacks and whites and surrounded by the vibrance of the green outdoors.

The charming beauty of Abbeville’s historic square was not lost on any of us; but the love between these two outshone it all.

Congratulations, Shannon & Janelle!  May you celebrate your dreams together for years and years to come.