the z's!

i had a really, really cool experience this past december.
i got to fly down to california and spend some time with the z's.

the z's are some of my favoritest people in all the land. i've known momma z way before she was a mom or even a wife- we were inseparable in college where we met about a decade ago and she remains a very dear friend. due to schedules and travel and international land divides, :) this was the first time i was able to meet all three of their beautiful children. for those couple of days we got to take the kiddos to the park, cut down a christmas tree, and simply enjoy each other's company. i loved every minute and i still adore and miss those cutie pies with the irresistible grins. :)

z family, i can't wait to see you guys again! sending much love from far away to you all. :)

cheeks to build a dream on.

i am a sucker for small people. this is no secret. but do you know what's even more kryptonite-like in melting my heart? chubby, smoochable cheeks on those tiny boys and girls. when little henry's mom and dad booked me for a newborn session, it was before he was even on the scene... when i arrived to meet the little guy i couldn't believe the cuteness! check out a few images from this fun shoot.

henry, i can't wait to see the kind of little fella you will become! you've got a great start. :)

brad + michelle (part two!)

l-o-n-g overdue.

i know, i know. for shame! how could i leave you hanging? this beautiful, amazing, astounding, destination wedding and i only show you HALF!!!??? and then proceed to drop off the edge of the blogosphere for a few months instead of telling you the rest of the story? lo siento, mi amor(s). lo siento. mucho.

ahem. moving right along.

michelle and brad, they are just stunning. and their wedding? oh my gosh, so ridiculously fun. zihuatanejo? i'd go again IN A HEARTBEAT. a freaking heartbeat.
without further ado, here's a small sampling of the rest of that fabulous party.

                                         

 

m+b, you guys are the best! :) thanks for having us along to capture your fantastic day.

where i've been and where i be.

i've had a rather eventful couple of months.



first, my nieces. oh my heart. i miss those girls and my sister every day and i do not take for granted the time i got to spend with all of them. everytime my phone receives a photo with their chubby cheeks included i'm sure i could light up a room with my smile. that was one of the most wonderful things and also the hardest things i've experienced, hands down. no one (including myself!) will ever be able to gripe about being a new parent and the resulting sleep deprivation to my sister, who has more than managed not just one but TWO babies, and two that are not on the same feeding schedule- so the amount of downtime she gets (round the clock) is oh, about 40 minutes every three hours... if one of them's not fussing. she. is. a. champ.



secondly, i've been cooking. and when i say "cooking" i mean COOKING. in the kitchen. yes, there have been shoots and they've been wonderful, yes i know this blog still exists and that a few folks might come here from time to time to see if i'm still alive and taking pictures, and yes i've got plenty of weddings on the books and they're just around the corner. but you know those seasons where you just have to batten down the hatches and ride out the storms?

in those seasons, i'm in the kitchen.



i make lemon-pistachio chicken. aunt robin's famous chocolate cream pie. flourless peanut butter cookies. homemade chicken soup with rice. apple crisp. etc., etc., etc.

something about the chopping and the mixing and the delicious finished products seem to make everything better, even if only for an hour or two. and you know what, even though "things aren't really THAT bad" (they could be a lot worse...!) i've come to relish the therapy.



so that's where i be. i'll find my way here from time to time, and i haven't forgotten about this lil' old blog nor am i forgetting about my busiest season which is right around the corner. looking forward to what comes next, on a lot of levels.