Princesses in the park

I had the privilege of photographing my new friend Taylor and her family this weekend on the most beautiful, but hottest day of the year so far. After pushing back the shoot an hour to allow for more cool down, I met Taylor, her husband and her two delightful daughters in the park. While initially apprehensive about how her daughters would react (and act) during the shoot, it took all of 30 seconds for the girls to get comfortable and begin comically vying for the lens.

They were adorable, and we had so much fun. They played, they splashed, they twirled, they blew bubbles, they climbed fences, and then we sent their plastic Disney princesses softly tumbling down the brook leading into Sims Lake (don't worry, the princesses made it home safely). I even managed to get some quick family shots in between a few calls of "Miss Tracy, look at me!"

After delivering the photos (I try to be a quick editor because I know how anxious I get for new pics), Taylor left me the sweetest message of thanks. It made me smile and laugh out loud. I saved it. Thanks guys.

Sing it with me: "Sunday, in the park" or something like that

Today our Sunday School class - the Kennedy clan - no, not that one, held its Spring picnic at our neighborhood park. It was a picture perfect day in suburban Atlanta, and a great day for some fellowship. We're still relatively new to our church (just over 1 year), but in that short time we have made some wonderful friends and have been blessed many times over with their laughter (lots of that), support and spirit.

These dear people are engineers, teachers, lawyers, event planners, reporters, business owners, church leaders, devoted mommies and daddies, support systems for each other and amazing examples for their communities. No task too small, no favor too big for this group - something that continues to impress me.

Bill and I are thankful everyday that God has carried us back to Suwanee and that these wonderful people and their children are in our lives.

Boys and their toys

Boys and men love trucks, right? My guys are no different. Check out these two in their lucky Easter surprise.

Easter in the Northeast

I know I haven't written in a while, and there are a ton of reasons I could say have caused the drought: work, life, laundry, curtain fabric field trips. But, any way you slice it, I need to be better about posting and staying up to date. My portrait photography is starting to perk up again - including a booking with a local preschool - so I hope to have more session pics to show soon too.

The boys and I just returned from a six (should have been five) day trip to Philly/NY to visit my family for Easter. The extra day was courtesy of US Airways and some ridiculous cancellation system at Philly International. (Hooray! Five hours in the airport with two boys under 6 - sans biz tripping Bill - waiting to learn our flight's fate - fun times!)

For this trip I basically wore the boys (and myself) out starting with a 3:45 am wake up call for our 6:20 am Saturday flight (after a midnight bedtime for me following an amazing Sugarland concert). I don't think any of us really recovered the whole time we were home, and it didn't help that we spent a full day exploring NYC on foot (Jack's first time to the Big Apple). Nevertheless, we had a great time, rode the train and the touristy double-decker bus, braved the Spring Break crowds in NYC's ToysRUs and had an $86 (before tip) round of desserts at Max Brenner: Chocolate by the Bald Man. Sheesh! Below are some pics from the trip. (Sugarland fans - unfortunately no pics from that night. Show was incredible though.)
Coloring eggs turned into "let's see how many colors we can mix up in these bowls"
Hugs for Pop-Pop

Sam makes for a good head rest

Oh, he looks so sweet

Lots of "wow" moments for Sam on the train to NYC

"Hey, there's people on that train too!"

Littering at the Museum of Natural History - where the dioramas come to life at night ;)

Quick break and time for a long gaze into Central Park from the dinosaur room