The Little Red Chair

Dance Nekkid.

2010-07-06T12:12:00.003-04:00

So...my sister was complaining that I never post on my blog. Well, Susan....this one is for you. :) And your son will officially hate me one day.....

Adyson Belle

2010-02-01T13:51:00.004-05:00

I was so excited about taking photos of Miss Adyson!! I have been trying to work out an in-hospital newborn session for awhile now, but it never seemed to work out. I was thrilled when everything fell into place so that I could go in and capture a few photos of this sweet baby girl before she and her parents left the hospital. Enjoy!

It has been awhile.....

2010-02-01T13:46:00.002-05:00

Time to get this blog rolling again!!! So many new and cool things happening at The Little Red Chair. Gotta make sure everyone is informed and up to date on everything!! Stay tuned for lots more posts!! Gonna blow the dust off this ol' blog and get it going again!!

Lassiter-Weller Wedding

2009-07-20T18:40:00.002-04:00

A few weeks ago I showed you Lindsey's bridal photos. Today I'm showing you her sweet wedding photos. Lindsey and Craig were married on June 6 and I'm so glad they chose me to do their wedding! I had so much fun!!! I was at the wedding for almost 12 hours and I enjoyed every single minute of it! Congratulations Lindsey and Craig!!

The Wommack Family

2009-07-20T18:29:00.003-04:00

-The Wommack Family-July 2, 2009-Colerain Beach, Colerain, North Carolina-

Monday....

2009-07-06T12:14:00.001-04:00

It is definitely a Monday around here!! Took a few days off for the holiday weekend and now I'm feeling it. SO much work to do!! I have photos stacked up everywhere that need to be packaged and delivered/mailed....photos to be ordered....photos to be uploaded....photos to be proofed. Not to mention the normal household things that come with working out of my home. But I've made my lists. I couldn't survive without lists!! And hopefully I will be caught up...or close to it...by the end of the day! Wish me luck!! :) Happy Monday, y'all!!

Happy 4th, Y'all!!

2009-07-04T13:30:00.002-04:00

Hope everyone is having a super-fun day today!! So many of our friends are having cookouts....going to the river....doing the fireworks thing....but I think we're going to take it easy! May go visit some friends, but if I don't it won't hurt my feelings. Sometimes it's nice to do NOTHING and just RELAX!! Hope you all enjoy your day....no matter what you do! Be safe!!

Happy Birthday, Courtney!

2009-07-01T15:23:00.005-04:00

Birthday parties are always fun, but birthday parties at the river are even MORE fun! For Courtney's 6th birthday her mom and dad planned a party for her at the river! I was so glad she called me to take pictures at the party because I just knew it would be fun!!

There were so many kids there....classmates, neighbors and friends of Courtney. And SO much splashing going on! Kinda made me wish I could have been right in there with them!! But I was happy and content standing at the water's edge with my toes in the water and my camera in hand! Will share more images soon, but this one is for the birthday girl! Happy birthday, Courtney!

It's Friday!!

2009-06-26T17:09:00.004-04:00

Normally I'm not this excited on a Friday....usually either G is working or I am working! But this weekend we are both off and have nothing on the schedule for a few days!!! I have a lot of proofing and photo ordering to do, but nothing that has to be done ASAP. It's so nice to be able to have fun....enjoy the fam....and do a few things that I WANT to do!! So let's celebrate FRIDAY!!!!

Party Time!!

2009-06-25T10:18:00.001-04:00

I mentioned in a previous post that hiring a photographer for parties must be a new trend. I have done SO many lately! This particular one was super-fun because it was for some friends of mine. You probably recognize the two girls from previous posts....I have done portraits for them several times! Eat cake!! :)

Local Bridal Session

2009-06-23T15:42:00.002-04:00

Now that she is officially a Mrs. I can share these photos. :)

I always look forward to doing photo sessions at the Jernigan House B&B, so I was very excited when L wanted to have her bridals done there. And oh. my. goodness. We had a blast!! We took pictures in almost every room of the house and all around the outside. The roses were blooming which made for AWESOME photos!! So much fun!! Can't wait to show you her wedding photos as well!! Coming soon!! :)

Class of 2009: Cap and Gown

2009-06-23T15:01:00.001-04:00

Congratulations to all of the 2009 graduates!! And thank you to those of you who allowed me to do your senior portraits!

Sweet, Sweet Baby!

2009-06-23T12:48:00.002-04:00

M is just the sweetest baby. At first we weren't sure if she was going to let us take her picture, but she would sneak in a smile or two! Kids are so unpredictable and so I try not to set a time limit on my sessions. Sometimes you have to take a break and ride around town for awhile and come back for another try. So Mom and Dad took M for a little ride and when they came back we started to work for more smiles. I call it 'work' because M's mom really outdid herself!! She totally gets the Parent Participation award! :) As you can see, it worked!! Thanks!!!

Duncan-Buffaloe Wedding (in B&W)

2009-06-23T12:36:00.002-04:00

Word of mouth travels fast. Since I'm just starting out that has been my only form of advertisement in town. Most people are surprised to find out I am a photographer and some still don't know this is what I do. But I was so glad when G came home from work one day and said that his co-workers daughter was getting married and needed a photographer!

C and K are so fun and their wedding was just as awesome as they are! Yes, everyone knew what we were there for, but C and K made sure this wedding was about the THREE of them instead of just the TWO of them. They invited God to their wedding and it was so evident that He was there. So amazing!!

Hope you enjoy these B&W images from their wedding. I have some favorites in color that I may share later. :)

The Slaughter Family

2009-06-23T11:27:00.002-04:00

I had a GREAT time working with this family!! J and I grew up in church together.....then I sang at he and E's wedding a few years ago....and then a few weeks ago I got a call to do their family portraits! So fun!

J's mom has INCREDIBLE gardening/landscaping skills, so we did most of these photos at her house. For a little fun...and to keep the kids happy....we did a few at J and E's house. I had SO many favorites!! Their kids are just ADORABLE!!! And I never thought I would take as many photos as I did, but how could I resist?!? :)

All good things....

2009-06-23T10:54:00.002-04:00

....must come to an end. This is the last week of baseball. I'm a little bit sad about it. It's been nice to have a reason to stop what I'm doing and ride out to the games.

T has it enjoyed it. Can't say he was some incredible player, but he had fun and that's all that matters. He's not very aggressive when it comes to playing the field. Last week his couch let him play beside the pitcher and when the ball was hit...T didn't move. The ball could be three feet away from him and he would just look at it. After the game I asked him why he just stood there and he says, "Moooooom....the couch said for us to wait for the ball to come to us and not run and pile up all over each other." So I guess he was listening....just didn't realize the same rules don't apply for infield as they do outfield. He should get major props for listening AND following directions, though....that doesn't happen often!! :)

So we have a game tonight and one Thursday night and then we'll have to find something else to occupy our time. :) Go Andy's! :)

Summer is here!!

2009-06-22T13:02:00.002-04:00

Yesterday was OFFICIALLY the first day of summer! Of course, for us...summer began a month ago! T has been out of school since May 21 and we have already been on our vacation to the beach. Now it's time to get back to work!!!

I try not to book as many appointments in the summer because I want to have more time to spend with T while he is home. With that said, I still have a busy schedule ahead!!

Saturday I spent the afternoon taking photos at a birthday party on the river. This seems to be the new trend. I am often hired to take photos during the party so the family can relax and enjoy the day without having to worry with a camera. The mom of the birthday girl this weekend came up to me and said, "Hiring you for this party was the smartest thing I did!" To top it off...I really enjoy these parties!!! You don't have to work for good smiles, because everyone is having a great time and they just come naturally! Yes, I was VERY hot and tired at the end of the day, but it was SO much fun!!

Planning a party? Send me an e-mail or give me a call!!! Pricing starts at only $25!!!

Rylie's Spring Photos

2009-05-15T11:15:00.004-04:00

I met Rylie for the first time last year in August. She was only a few weeks old! Now she's a lot older and full of personality. She loved playing peek-a-boo and watching Disney while we did her photos!

Batter UP!

2009-05-15T11:09:00.004-04:00

YAY! It's T's first year of baseball and so far I think he really likes it!! He's no A-Rod, but he has fun and that's all that matters! :) He can hit.....he can throw....but honestly.....he runs slower than my grandma. :) He and I have been having races in the afternoon....if someone is chasing him he runs a little faster.

Here are some photos from his first practice....you can see the whole batch on the website:

2009 HCHS Prom Photo Session

2009-05-03T13:14:00.004-04:00

A few photos from a recent prom session....

Madison's 5th Birthday

2009-04-29T12:33:00.010-04:00

Two weeks ago I took pictures at Madison's 5th birthday party. I knew it was going to be a tea party, but I had no idea how much fun we would have!!

Madison's mom called in these two ladies who have a shop in Suffolk, VA and do these birthday parties. They brought all the stuff needed for this super-girly day!!

The table was set with the cutest tea set....an impressive food set-up....and the prettiest little tablecloth ever! But before the girls started into the "tea" part of the party....they got to have their nails painted, their makeup done and then we did a little photo shoot with them individually! And finally...one of the ladies read the girls a little story about Madison's tea party!

The "tea" was actually unsweetened Kool-Aid and the ladies dropped a sugar cube into each cup so the girls could stir it in. Then they ate sandwiches...fruit....muffins....TWIZZLERS!!! Great stuff!!

It was a super-fun day and I'm so glad I was able to be there! If you want more info on the ladies from Suffolk, please feel free to e-mail me and I will get the information to you!!

All Work and No Play??

2009-04-28T15:18:00.004-04:00

NO WAY!!

Last weekend was a busy weekend in the photo world. Friday I met with a bridal client, Saturday I took pictures at a little guy's first birthday party and Sunday I took directory photos at a church. By 2:00 Sunday I was done with photos and ready for some FUN!!

After G finished up with some computer work the three of us packed up our beach towels and flip flops and went to the river!! The water was so clean and clear and the weather was FABULOUS!!

I have to admit...I barely got my knees wet. As soon as I started to walk out in the river, jumping mullet started popping out of the water RIGHT IN FRONT OF ME! Ok...I had had enough so I claimed a beach towel and planted myself for the rest of the afternoon while T and G had a blast! What a great way to spend a Sunday afternoon!! :)

Let's Go Outside!!

2009-04-21T19:21:00.003-04:00

T is forever begging to go outside. The last few days have been warm enough...and dry enough...that we've been able to play outside at least an hour everyday!

G and I have said that we're going to spend as much time as possible outside this summer. Last summer we were hermits and we felt horrible. So this year we're going to the river...the beach...and just hanging out in the backyard as much as we can!

In an effort to stick with this new resolution, I went and bought some outdoor toys for T. One of them was this badminton set. It was a little windy today so badminton wasn't exactly easy, but we played anyway! Enjoy!

Preview for Etsy Customer

2009-04-21T11:57:00.004-04:00

Meet Georgia Hope

2009-04-17T19:06:00.004-04:00

I'm getting a little ahead of myself. I haven't brought my blog up to date with my recent sessions, but this one I did yesterday and I couldn't WAIT to share it with you!

This is Georgia Hope...and she's too stinkin' cute. No offense to the other babies I've had the opportunity to photograph, but she was the easiest baby I've ever worked with! The hair...the eyes.....she's a beauty!!

The Little Red Chair on Facebook!!

2009-04-01T08:52:00.003-04:00

Just a reminder....

The Little Red Chair has a page on Facebook for those of you who hang out over there. You'll see lots of photos that never make it to the blog or the website and get sneak peeks of your own photos before they go online!

Become a fan! You know you want to! :)

Michaela's Birthday Tea Party

2009-03-30T17:14:00.007-04:00

I have done lots of fun things as a photographer, but I think this one ranks pretty high!

Michaela celebrated her 4th birthday at the Nicholson House Cafe and Tea Parlor. The Nicholson House is located in the middle of nowhere. Just kidding....it's in Belvidere, NC.....which is near Hertford. If I had to drive there alone I would certainly get lost, but luckily Michaela's mom knew where she was going! :)

The Nicholson House is the neatest place!! Downstairs is a cafe and gift shop....upstairs is just the coolest! They had a special room set up for the girls. First they got to dress up in all kinds of vintage hats, gloves, scarves and jewelry. Then we went to the little tea room where they had a yummy lunch of PB&J, french fries and of course....tea!! The little tables and chairs were too cute!! After lunch the hostess brought up cookies for the girls to decorate!! It was every little girl's dream!! It's definitely one of those birthdays that will be hard to forget!!! And I'm glad I was able to make preserving those memories a little easier by taking a few photos! ENJOY!

The Unger Family

2009-03-30T16:48:00.008-04:00

I love it when I get a call from the Unger family. I have been to their house many times and every time is SO much fun!! J and S have two kids...H and C. :) Kids are always unpredictable...I know....I have one. So some days H may be in a great mood and C may be sleepy....and sometimes C is fresh from a nap and H is just getting ready for one. This day happened to work in C's favor. H was sweet as usual....just really tired and ready for a nap! Still I think we got some fun shots! Check 'em out:

Sunday, March 15

2009-03-15T20:12:00.005-04:00

Wow! What a wet weekend!! It has been raining since Friday! But I'm not complaining...I love the rain!! I love it almost as much as the sunshine. Sometimes I love it more because it forces me to stay inside and get things done. :) This weekend I have been focusing on getting photos edited and cleaning house.

Spring cleaning is in full force! I have washed windows and curtains. I've mopped floors and wiped down cabinets. I've even cleaned those dreaded ceiling fan blades!! The whole house is getting some much-needed attention!!

Photos...good grief I have so many photos to work on!! So many sessions lately and I'm trying to finish up some directory photos for a local church. But here are some of my favorites from a recent session...finally finished these up today!!

Class of 2009

2009-03-13T17:45:00.002-04:00

Another year of senior photos has come and gone for this photographer. Photos have to be taken early for the yearbook deadlines, so by March I'm done. It's kind of sad, really....but I enjoy meeting these seniors before they head off on their new adventures.

This is a senior from ACS (GO Warriors!!). He came to me for cap and gown photos. It was a quick photo session, but it didn't take me long to realize that this guy is going to go far!! He's headed for the USAF and I know he'll make our country proud!! He definitely has one proud mama. :)

Getting back in the groove....

2009-03-13T17:07:00.002-04:00

Trying to get back into the scrapping.....photo-taking....blog-posting groove. :)

Just came across this new scrappy blog that really gets my mo-jo flowing!!!

Check it out:

http://www.gcdstudios.blogspot.com/

Hope to post some new creations and new photos soon!! The photo-business has been ROCKING, so I will have lots of fresh and new photos to share!! My scrappy mo-jo is coming back and I've done a few paper things that I'll post as well!!!

So let's wipe off the dust and get this blog ROLLING again!!! :)

Moved to a new location.

2009-01-06T10:38:00.002-05:00

No....I haven't moved. The business hasn't moved. (Both would make me extremely happy.)

My POTD photos are moving to a new location. From now on you'll need to check here for new photos:

http://www.shuttercal.com/calendar/clairbug/2009/1/

How cute is that? A little calendar for all my daily photos. :) And you won't have to scroll through my crazy posts to see them! (But that also means I'll have to find other things to post here.....)

POTD: Jan 6

2009-01-06T09:07:00.005-05:00

Several goals accomplished at once:

POTD: check

Make something out of paper: check

Begin restoring Etsy shop: check

It's a rainy day and the photo session I had scheduled has been postponed until Sunday. So other than some cleaning and some errands...I'm chillin'. I haven't touched my scrapbook supplies in FOREVER. I'm not sure if I lost the mo-jo or if it was because I just didn't have time. But now I have dried glue on my fingers and it feels so good! :)

Instead of making "year" resolutions, I'm making monthly goals. And one of my goals for January is to get my clairbug Etsy store up and running again (the LRC one will come later). This card will be one of the first things I list! I'm so excited to get some new things in my shop and hopefully draw in some new customers!

POTD: Jan 5

2009-01-05T13:54:00.004-05:00

Her favorite daytime spot....T's bed. T went back to school today, so S (Sadie) has the room all to herself. She doesn't go in there when T is here, but as soon as he leaves, she is in there sleeping and watching the birds and neighborhood kitties.

POTD: Jan 4

2009-01-04T13:48:00.002-05:00

This is how I will be spending the rest of my day. It's rainy/cloudy, G is at a funeral and T is playing with his toys. This book will not boost my intelligence or strenthen my spiritual life.....it's fluff. And on a day like today....fluff is in order. So fluff it is. :)

POTD: Jan 3

2009-01-03T18:52:00.003-05:00

A good ol' hunting pup. :) Full of fleas, but still pretty cute!

POTD: Jan 2

2009-01-03T18:43:00.003-05:00

T got a Nintendo DS for Christmas and he LOVES it!!! So far he hasn't played it too much....he doesn't have a long attention span, so I don't think I have to worry about that. :) I had to go get me one, too....so we could play together, of course! ;)

Oh...and I got a little point and shoot camera for Christmas...so I could be like all the normal people and not drag my big ol' DSLR everywhere. So this and probably the next few days' pics will be from my little PowerShot! I'm determined to prove to people that the camera doesn't make the picture. ;)

POTD: Jan 1

2009-01-02T11:18:00.003-05:00

Well, it's a new year! And one of my resolutions is NOT to keep this blog up to date. I know I won't stick with it and that will be another resolution down the drain. But I will try.

One thing I hope will help me to post more often is this: Picture of the Day. Several of my online friends participate and I thought it would be fun. It's simple (well, sort of)....you take a picture everyday and post it (that's the hard part!). You don't have to be a great photographer...just get out there and take pictures!!

With that said....here is January 1's photo:

T got a tattoo in a kids meal this week and when we put it on him....he turned into T-Man! :)

I told you....

2008-12-20T18:49:00.003-05:00

...no promises! :)

I have spent the whole day cleaning and catching up on my Christmas stuff. I still need to work on Christmas cards tonight. But only after T and I pop some popcorn and watch a Christmas movie! :)

Maybe tomorrow..... ;)

Peek-A-Boo

2008-12-20T09:40:00.002-05:00

Once again I have abandoned the blog. :) So sorry! Sometimes...well....life happens.

Since I last posted I have taken probably 5,000 photos. Ok...maybe not literally....I have no idea how many it was. I do know that I have done 14 photo shoots since Thanksgiving. INSANE!! Some were here, but most were on-site sessions. Factor in a couple of sicknesses that went through the house and a couple personal days and boy was it a busy month! I've had to turn down a few people because there just wasn't enough time to do it all....but I still have some fun photos to do Monday and a few more orders to get out! Never a dull moment. :)

But today is a "free" day. G is working, so it's just T and I. T is excited to be out of school for the next couple of weeks and is enjoying all this time he has to PLAY! I'm going to try and wrap our Christmas presents....finish up with Christmas cards so they can go out on Monday...and hopefully get a little cleaning done. And maybe somewhere in there I can sneak on the computer and give you guys a few update posts. No promises....but I'll try. :)

Honeymoon Day One

2008-11-06T16:27:00.013-05:00

The morning after our wedding was an early one for me. G's brother had to be back in NY that day, so since G isn't an early riser I got up with his family to see him off. Before I could head back to my room...there was Trent. :)

Before too long everyone was awake and ready to go. My dad was making coffee and my mom was making breakfast. Now do you see why I brought them along? KIDDING! :) Once someone was up and could watch Trent, I went to my room to shower. Our room was on the floor with the kitchen and living room....above all the other bedrooms. We thought it would give us a little privacy. But when I came out of the shower that morning and there were 3 adults and 5 children racing around the room and jumping on the bed...I knew we had been wrong. :)

So it's Monday... the sun was shining and we were able to take T to see the water for the first time since we arrived at the beach. We couldn't walk on the beach because the tide was still too high, but the sun was a welcome sight after all the clouds, wind and rain!

See how yucky the beach looks??? ICKY! So many places had suffered damage from the storm. When we watched the news we saw where several beach houses had collapsed. Scary stuff.

Monday was a low-key day for us. We spent most of the day hanging out at the house and cleaning up from the wedding. My aunt was able to arrange things at her job so that she could work on the Outer Banks that week. It was neat because she would come and hang out with us after work and stay until she was ready to check in for the night. On this particular day the girls went for a walk and looked at all the houses in the area while the men stayed at the house and played pool. We did so much talking and so much laughing! THIS is why we invited everyone on our honeymoon. :) THIS is the good stuff.

And speaking of good stuff.....this last photo is just awesome to me. By the Master Artist Himself. :)

Food, family and fun.

2008-11-05T16:56:00.005-05:00

Sounds like a wedding reception, huh? :)

Our reception was just what we wanted....simple, relaxed and fun. Me and G along with my parents bought and prepared most of the food.....saving us boo-koos of money on catering. We ended up with SO much food!! And we ate reception food all week. :)

We took more photos, cut the cake and before we knew it....the day was done.

The day went by SO FAST. One minute they were telling me it was time to walk down the aisle....the next minute we were hugging people as they walked out the door.

But the fun was only beginning. We still had our whole family....in one house....staying the week with us. Honeymoon....here we come. :)

So who's gonna take your pictures?

2008-11-05T16:28:00.003-05:00

I can't tell you how many people asked me that while we were planning the wedding. And until about a week before the wedding....I said "I dunno". We had asked some family members to help us out....thinking I could do the editing and end up with what we wanted....but then I decided that any good photographer would hire a great photographer. So that's what I did.

I did a search online for OBX photographers and went to every site....looking for someone who shared my same style. I found Ginger. Everyone loved her! She was so fun....she fit right in...and I barely knew she was there (unlike some photographers who stalk you and get all up in your face). She was awesome!! So many people have commented on how much they liked her!

You can check out her work here: http://www.gingersnapsphotos.com/

Isn't that just the CUTEST business name??

And here she is....in action. :) I can't wait to see the photos she took! I promised her I wouldn't aggravate her constantly about them, so I'm waiting patiently. And checking her site. Daily. :)

The Story of Us.

2008-11-05T11:11:00.013-05:00

Ok...so life happened again. :) Trying to pick up where we left off. Here are some photos G's brother-in-law took alongside our photographer. The wind was insane, but I REALLY wanted some pictures outside. Oh well....

But this is the story of me and G and how we met and ya da ya da ya da.

The story could begin in 1998 when a bunch of the 'locals' in town decided to convince me to ask G to my senior prom. Yes, normally the guy asks the girl....but if you know G....you know that ain't happenin'. But this story ends with me asking him and him saying 'no' and both of us going away to school and never seeing each other again for 7 years so we'll move along to the important stuff.

Fast forward about 7 years....January 2005. I was living with my parents when I re-met G. My first husband had passed away in November of '04, so T and I were staying with them until we were ready to go out on our own again.

If you've ever moved back home after being gone for awhile, you know it ain't easy. It wasn't bad...and it was definitely what we needed at the time....but this time around I was a mom and had a been a wife and was used to doing things differently than when I was only a daughter. However, my first marriage was very difficult and left me scarred. So by January I was really starting to become a hermit. I didn't watch TV....I only went out of the house when I had to....and I really didn't feel a connection with my own son who was quickly approaching his first birthday. A close friend of mine suggested that I pray for a friend to come along who could pull me from this dark side. The next day I met G.

The day I met G was cold....like 20 degrees cold. I had just finished doing door-to-door outreach with my church. I remember my hair was pulled back into the famous bun and I was wearing one of W's old hooded sweatshirts....one that I also wore when I was 9 months pregnant. I looked pretty scary. When I got home, G was standing on the doorstep. He had come to help my parents put together their first website. At least that's why he *thought* he was there. :)

Call it what you want, but my computer had alerted me a couple days before that I had a virus. How nice that this computer dude just happened to be there. So I asked him to come up to my room and check it out. The first thing I asked him was, "Do you remember when I asked you to the prom?". He laughed and that was the end of that. I remember G had poison ivy that day and that he joked me about the room I was staying in. Remember....I was being a hermit and hadn't bothered to add my own taste to this room....or to even bring up a TV. But that was it....small talk....and he made sure my computer was no longer infected.

But he would be back. Every week. It started with him just coming in to help my parents, but he was always helping me with something, too.....picking out a new scanner....buying Photoshop...helping me pick out my first REAL camera. I changed my room...bought new bedding and made it look "cool". G even brought my TV from my house and put it in my room...so I could rejoin the 'real world' and not the Amish world his brother thought I was living in. :) Then we started hanging out....shopping together....watching movies together. But it was totally on a friendship basis. He had a girlfriend and I was a weeping widow. :) But those few days here and there turned into weeks of us spending day after day together. He would come visit with me after I put T to bed and we would watch movies until the wee hours of the morning.

I don't remember us ever talking about dating very much. Any time our relationship would teeter in that direction a wall would go up and he would remind me that he had a girlfriend. Afterall, he was what I had prayed for, right? A friend.

Several months later he finally came to his senses. :) He asked me to be his girlfriend. But nothing really changed as far as our relationship went....but it meant we would have to make some changes. He had to break ties with his "ex" and I had to force myself to move on with my life.

G and I have never been this mushy-mushy couple. He doesn't bring me flowers, he doesn't sing me love songs....and I'm totally cool with that. Through the years we have perfected our friendship, so the rest really isn't a big deal. We've learned to be confident in our relationship with each other....not relying on romance or any of that silly mess. :) So it was MONTHS before we ever even admitted our true feelings toward each other and even longer before anyone ever uttered the "L" word.

Through the years, not a lot about our relationship has changed....but we have changed. G has become more responsible and has accepted and succeeded at the role of "Daddy" to T. I have had to learn to relax and not worry so much....two things I still work at.

After almost a year of living with my parents, I decided that I needed to step out and try life on my own. I thought I could go back to my original home...just me and T....but it didn't work. So G and I worked night and day on my house....trying to change it so it wouldn't constantly remind me of "before". Even then...the nightmares, visions and panic attacks would sneak in and I just couldn't do it. So G...once again....stepped in. And moved in.

It has always been a sensitive topic with some of my friends and family, but we had to do what was right for us. He was my Elijah....he moved in to take care of this widow woman and her son. Even when we became engaged and knew we would be married, our physical relationship didn't change. We remained pure and we are both so grateful for that.

So after over three years of being "me and G and T"....here we are. And G and I are still really good friends. We're working on the married stuff, but just as before.....not much has changed in our relationship....but we have changed. And we'll continue to grow and change. Together. The three of us.

When nothing else matters....

2008-10-27T20:56:00.003-04:00

I think there comes a point at every couple's wedding when you reach the point where nothing else matters but making it down that aisle. Everything that can be done is done and everything that isn't done will have to be omitted.

The septic issue and the delayed shower were minor. Not having a beach wedding and having to set up in the living room of the house was the last thing on my mind. When people started coming to my room telling me that there was smoke in the kitchen and the fire alarm was going off...I didn't flinch. I think I growled a little when my uncle started playing with our MP3 player that was set to play for the wedding and when we were ready to walk out and G's parents informed me that G's brother-in-law was still in the shower....but deep down I really didn't care. I would have gladly walked down with no music and I really didn't care who was there and who wasn't. All I wanted to do at that point was marry G.

Here are a few photos I took before the photographer arrived. You'll have to wait and see the ceremony photos she took. :)

Oh Glorious Sunday.

2008-10-27T11:35:00.007-04:00

Saturday night was a rough night. A nor'easter was hitting the coast and the wind blowing against the house was so loud. I was on the third floor with my sister's girls and could actually feel the house moving with the wind.

Early Sunday morning, G's mom went out on the porch...thinking someone had left their sweatshirt. What she was seeing was me hanging over the balcony taking photos of the sunrise.

Wouldn't you?

As beautiful as it was, it was troubling to see that the beach was underwater and the dunes were washing away. We would have to go to Plan B. Oh the best-laid plans...... :)

Slowly everyone started coming out of their rooms.

The groom doesn't look too nervous on his wedding day. :)

We had asked my dad to have a devotion with all of us Sunday morning. It was nice...but trying to keep all the kids still and quiet was interesting. :)

Remember I mentioned the septic system in an earlier post? Well, when everyone went to get showers we heard this loud alarm going off. The septic system was full and needed to be pumped. As people were arriving for the wedding, they were greeted by a sewage truck and a not-so-sweet aroma. YUCK! I was finally able to shower around 2:30....the photographer would arrive at 3:00....wedding at 4:00. And the tank was pumped just in time. As G always says, "It'll all work out".

Arrive. Unpack. Prepare.

2008-10-27T10:15:00.006-04:00

We pulled into the driveway, followed by my parents who also had my grandma with them. T was riding with G's parents so we had a few hours to unpack before he would arrive. My original PLAN was to check-in at 4:00, assign rooms and then my mom and I would do a grocery run. However, I didn't realize how long it would take to unpack and before we knew it it was getting late and we still hadn't been to the grocery store.

By 9:00 PM everyone who was staying that night had arrived. G went with his mom and dad to the grocery store...carrying my list of about 100 items. :) My mom and I spent most of the night unpacking and making food for the reception.

T was in heaven with all of his cousins....all 5 of them. Here are a few photos from our first night together.

The best-laid plans of mice and men....

2008-10-27T09:00:00.002-04:00

If you know the quote, then you'll probably guess how this story goes. But this is the beginning of our wedding story. I'm not sure how long it will take me to tell the story from beginning to end....there are 4 memory cards of photos to incorporate...but here we go:

In February of 2006 G swept me off to Charleston, SC where he proposed to me (you'll get the 'how we met' story later). The PLAN was to present the ring to me on the balcony of the hotel where we were staying. But in keeping with the title of this post, there happened to be two older women playing Scrabble on the balcony and I was in my room running a fever and feeling pretty darn close to death. So the next best thing he could do was plant the ring in my makeup bag....knowing that I almost always wear makeup when we go away. It worked...I cried....and forced myself out of bed and we had a wonderful day in Charleston. I'd share photos from this trip, but that was almost 2 years ago and we're talking about last week.....

So we started planning a wedding. At first it was to be a big wedding....150+ people....in the backyard of the Jernigan House Bed and Breakfast. We struggled through the planning process.....not really getting anywhere and not feeling very excited about the whole deal. During our vacation to Duck, NC this year we picked up a vacation home rental book. One day G came to me and proposed the idea of a beach wedding. It would be a private wedding....family-only...and we would rent an oceanfront home where we would have the wedding and then stay for our honeymoon. For the first time in the planning process, we were both excited.

Our original wedding date was Saturday, October 18, however due to check-ins being on Saturday, we would have to move the date to Sunday, October 19. My parents' preacher agreed to marry us and drive the distance after morning worship to do so.

We researched and toured several houses until we found the "perfect" house. In selecting a home, we quickly learned that only the larger homes were approved for special events due to septic capacities (a little foreshadowing here). So we decided that if we had to rent a 7+ bedroom for a week we could invite our family to honeymoon with us. Afterall, we already had T in the picture who we didn't want to leave behind for a week. What's another 16 people?

So on October 18, 2008 we checked in at the Beach House II in Duck, NC.

Hitched.

2008-10-25T20:12:00.002-04:00

Stay tuned for details.....

It's Blue!

2008-10-11T17:08:00.005-04:00

Same guy from yesterday....just not so sleepy. :)

This is Devin. You may remember him from the session we did in August. He is so much fun and I was thrilled when his mom said she wanted to have photos done of him in his Halloween costume! When she said that he was going to be Blue from Blue's Clues I knew I had to go in search of a Blues Clues chair! And can I just say....his mom MADE this costume!! I was so impressed....I can't even sew a straight line.

Enjoy!

And a couple of him as a fireman...

Done.

2008-10-10T19:43:00.003-04:00

I love it when I get the chance to take pictures of children. They are so fun to work with! You've seen this little guy before, but he came in again this week for some Halloween photos. We got some really cute photos, but once he was done...he was DONE! And like most kids...he let me know. :) Keep checking back for the cute photos. Until then, I couldn't resist these. They crack me up!! :)

The Cutest Of Them All.

2008-10-04T16:06:00.012-04:00

Can't share photos of a cute kid without sharing photos of the cutest kid. :) These were from last weekend. I really wanted to take more, but T had other ideas. :)

This weekend is a lazy weekend. Trying to take it easy before things get too crazy! In my mind it makes perfect sense for T to be in school all week and then come home for the weekend ready to play with his toys...something he doesn't get to do much of during the week. Once again, T has other ideas. :) Keeps me on my toes....literally.

I have officially started Christmas shopping. I bought a few things during the year for T, but I'm trying to get most things now. Once again...before things get too crazy! I don't like to start too late because I really like to think about what the person would want instead of grabbing the first thing I see (or the last thing on the shelf Christmas Eve). So the "most wonderful time of the year" officially starts......now! :)

Cute Kid Alert!

2008-10-04T12:14:00.006-04:00

This little guy was at JW and Julie's wedding and I thought he was just the cutest! His name is Dawson and he didn't seem to mind me taking a few photos of him. :) He's so adorable that I thought he deserved his own blog post. :)

LRC Goes to the Country

2008-10-03T09:39:00.021-04:00

A few months ago I got a call to do a "very simple, very country wedding". The bride (Julie) said it would be a very laid-back wedding at their home with just a few family and friends. As I crossed the state line into Virginia the road I was on basically turned into a one-lane road with no yellow or white lines. I wasn't real sure where I was going, but the ride was very scentic and pretty. I had no trouble finding their home and was amazed at how much work JW (the groom) and Julie had put into their landscaping.

I had a lot of fun at JW and Julie's wedding. They were so friendly and easy going. I never felt under pressure or stressed...I was just relaxed and comfortable! Julie's girls were so fun and we all just had a wonderful time!

A year in review...

2008-09-27T16:09:00.002-04:00

Today is my birthday. My 28th birthday. I've always been thankful that I was born in 1980 because I can always figure out how old I am. It's 2008 I'm 28....in 2009 I'll be 29. And in 2010 I'll be 20, right?!? :) Ha....kidding! But we'll cross that bridge when we get there.

Every year on my birthday I try to evaluate the events of the last year. This year there aren't too many things that really jump out at me. No major milestones that I really remember. The highlight of my year was getting T to the point that he was 100% potty trained. That's just sad, isn't it?!? :) Most of the year was spent taking pictures, planning a wedding and getting T in preschool. I've started reading a lot more...which has been kind of fun and something I've really missed. But overall I've really just been trying to enjoy life. I know that soon we'll be going through lots of changes and I'm really just trying to spend more time with T and G .

Next year at this time I'll be a married woman and T will be in Kindergarten. He'll start baseball in the summer and probably soccer in the fall. At some point I'll have to stop shopping in the Junior department and face the fact that I'm getting older. :) But that won't be any time soon, I'm sure. I look forward to more opportunities to take photos. I've met some really fun people this year...that's what I love most about photography!

Although I didn't get to spend my birthday at Chuck E Cheese :), I did get to spend it with some pretty cool people...some of my photo clients, T and later my parents will come over. I've had several people stop by today to pick up their photos...and a few more still to come. I love seeing their faces when they see the photos in real life! Just makes me happy! One of the ladies I've done photos for in the past actually remembered that today was my birthday and called me. I thought that was pretty cool! Getting to know the people I work for on a personal level is just so neat to me....especially when all I get with some of them is an hour or two. Fun stuff!

G gave me Wii Fit for my birthday. Guess it was a sign that I need to get in shape! :) Ha....no...I've been wanting it and I was surprised he had planned ahead for my birthday. Let's face it....remembering dates is NOT his strong point and I'm honestly never upset if he forgets. I usually try to make sure I give constant reminders....not because I expect anything, but I know he'll feel bad if he forgets. So that was a nice surprise this morning and T made me a few cards which were really cute.

And now I'm starting to ramble. Anyway, great day...looking forward to another year of fun! :) But for now....the boys need dinner, the dryer just buzzed and T has ripped the sheets off of his bed to make a tent. Lalalala life goes on. :)

Michaela's Three Year Portraits

2008-09-27T15:36:00.009-04:00

When her mom stopped by today to pick up her proofs, I realized I had not posted Michaela's photos on the blog. :) Last year we did some photos of Michaela at the Jernigan House Bed and Breakfast. This year I wanted to do something different. So after a few studio portraits we went to the park! I really wanted a place that would be fitting for a 3 year old and the park seemed like the best place! While Michaela ran from swings to slides to balancing beams, I was following her with the camera. I'm sure people thought we were a little weird, but it was fun! :) And the smiles Michaela gave me on the swings were just priceless! All I had to say was 'cheese nips'. Or was it cheese dips? Cheese lips? :)

Jamie and Melissa

2008-09-21T07:30:00.014-04:00

Two weeks ago I was able to go and shoot Jamie and Melissa's wedding. The night of their rehearsal was my first time meeting them, but I had met Jamie's parents and sister and had done some photos for them before. I knew if Jamie was anything like his family, we would get along great!! He was....and we all had a wonderful time!! Melissa was all smiles, all day and never once seemed nervous. Even with Hanna blowing through and dumping lots of rain on us, the day was a success!!

Taking a sick day....

2008-09-21T07:23:00.002-04:00

T and I are taking a sick day today. We've been sniffling and sneezing for a few days now, but today it's much worse. Of course, we spent almost the entire day yesterday playing outside. T coughed all night last night. Finally around 6:30 this morning he stopped, so I'm letting him get some much-needed rest. But when he stopped coughing, I started....so here I sit. I have lots of things to update you on, so until I start nodding off again, I'll try to catch you up on everything. :)

Hello Little Worm

2008-09-02T14:19:00.006-04:00

This little worm was outside the other day. T just thought he was the coolest! And yes...he kissed the worm. ICK!!!!

And he's off....

2008-09-02T09:13:00.003-04:00

We got the call yesterday that T could start K4 today. So I had less than 24 hours to get together the things he would need and try to prepare us for the big day.

I had to wake T up this morning....which he did NOT like. He took his precious time eating breakfast and wanted to argue over what he was going to wear. :)

We made it to the school on time and met his teacher. She seems very nice and I think T will benefit from being in her class. But when I got ready to leave, T....the child who normally runs off to new things without ever looking back....he started tearing up and said he didn't want me to leave. He held it together, but it was tough to see. I maintained my composure, assured him I was right down the road and would come if he needed me...then I got outta there. :) We have the option of doing half-days which we may do on Tues/Thu, but for today I want him to try and stay all day.

Here are a few photos I took on the way out the door:

Beacon, NY

2008-08-30T19:20:00.006-04:00

While in NY, we found this cool little park near our hotel. They were having a little farmer's market type festival and T got to feed the ducks. Hope you like birds, boys and boats.....because that's all I have for you. :)

Cadet in Training

2008-08-30T12:44:00.003-04:00

I think we've created a monster. :) This little boy is now OBSESSED with anything Army. G's parents bought him this get-up while we were in NY. Wanna guess what he has worn almost everyday since???

And for the record...the ride home was actually quite pleasant. T was an angel!!! Even when we got stuck in DC traffic....he was perfectly content. I did sit in the back with him most of the way and we colored, played with Legos, read books, played video games and watched movies. He finally fell asleep after dinner in Petersburg, VA and slept the rest of the way. Needless to say we were exhausted when we got home at 11:30 PM....but we were home and that in itself was a wonderful feeling!

West Point-USMA: Part 3

2008-08-30T12:27:00.005-04:00

Here are the last of my WP photos. Just a few random things I took pictures of after we dropped Corey off.

West Point-USMA: Part 2

2008-08-29T18:41:00.006-04:00

Well, it seemed like as soon as we got to see Corey, we had to send him back. We actually had most of Saturday and Sunday with him, but it didn't seem like that long. Sunday was his 18th birthday, so that was kind of fun. We celebrated with brownies and a big ol' NC watermelon. His mom gave him a boodle box full of goodies and T picked out some Legos....you know...so Corey could build them for T. Definitely not what we would have done at home, but not every Cadet gets to spend his/her birthday with their parents, so I guess it worked.

And you know....I really hated to see Corey go back to school. But you know what I hated even more??? The thoughts of driving home....the full trip in one day......

West Point-USMA: Part One

2008-08-26T22:21:00.022-04:00

First off....let me start by saying: If you're planning to get married and you want to know if your relationship can handle hard times.....take an 11-hour road trip with your future in-laws and if you survive that your odds of surviving the marriage should be pretty good. :) Throw in a 4-year old who has a 5-minute attention span and a tendancy to throw tantrums in the car and you are pretty much fighting for survival.

But we did it. And we made it to West Point, NY in two days. :) Had we not stopped off in Fredricksburg, VA for the night I think we would have been pitching people out of the van while going 70 MPH down I-95. We thought we were doing the "smart" thing by renting a van and driving....hoping to save the massive amount of money it would cost to fly all of us there. But just to have my sanity in tact when I crossed the NJ/NY border have been worth the $2500.

Don't get me wrong. The whole trip wasn't as bad as the first two days. Afterall, on Saturday we saw what we had driven through four states to see: Cadet Saunders. When that dude rounded the corner I was shaking so hard I couldn't even tell the fam that he was walking up. So I grabbed my camera....his mom asked what I was taking pictures of and I screamed, "COREY!". After our heart rates returned to normal we walked around and learned all kinds of knowledge. :) Something about a Thaddeus Kosciuszko....and spinning spurs on a statue....and giving high fives to a painted football dude.....it was almost more than my civilian brain could handle. I also learned that I can't tell the difference between a horse and a mule. :) Anyway...here are the photos from our first day at West Point.

Riley's 1-Month Portraits

2008-08-20T22:20:00.003-04:00

I couldn't call it quits for the night without sharing Riley's portrait preview. Riley came in with Devin and we went back and forth with the kids between feedings and play times. So fun! Riley was such a good baby. I don't remember her crying at all. We had a few minutes with her awake and then while she was sleeping we got several sweet shots! Next week I'll show you some photos of Riley and Devin together. So adorable!!

Devin's 2 year Portraits

2008-08-20T19:35:00.004-04:00

Well, he's not 2 yet but he will be in a few months. :)

Check out how cute this lil' guy is!! I had so much fun working with Devin. He came right in....made himself at home...and we just had a great time!! We were blowing bubbles, singing and coloring! I love all of his little expressions and offered for his mom to leave him here several times. :) He's just too cute!!! I'd say it's because we're related, but after counting it up....I'm not sure 4th cousins can claim good looks. :)

The Fun Stuff.

2008-08-19T22:15:00.003-04:00

This is the part I love. I love it when the people I work with have fun. I thought it was neat when the mommies decided they wanted to jump in some of the photos. This was just a super-fun photo shoot. Thank you, Peede family for letting me hang out with you!

Stephanie's Senior Preview: Casuals

2008-08-19T22:07:00.001-04:00

Jennifer's Senior Preview: Casuals

2008-08-19T21:58:00.003-04:00

Stephanie's Senior Preview: Formals

2008-08-19T15:20:00.004-04:00

Yesterday you saw Jennifer. Today you see her cousin, Stephanie. Stephanie is a unique girl. And I mean that in a good way. :) She's a lot of fun and has a lot of personality. Things that make her smile: my cat and.....what was that guy's name again? :) Her mom was hilarious and kept us laughing all afternoon.

Here are Stephanie's formal portraits:

Jennifer's Senior Preview: Formals

2008-08-18T14:55:00.001-04:00

Jennifer came to see me last weekend for her senior portraits. We started off with her formal portraits and ended with her casuals (will post soon). I've only known Jennifer for a couple of years, but when I compared these photos with some I took of her last fall I couldn't believe how much she had changed. And now she's graduating from high school!! Congratulations, Jennifer!!

Here are a few of my favorites from her formal portraits:

Lassiter-Shelton Family

2008-08-13T17:13:00.004-04:00

The day after the birthday party I got to meet with the Lassiters and the Sheltons again! We tried to get some photos of the "photo phobic" boy with his grandparents at the party, but I was having some technical difficulties and it was starting to get dark. We made plans to get together the next day for a "take 2". You have to understand that this little guy is serious when he says he doesn't want his picture taken. He doesn't laugh at my silliness...he can't be bribed with anything....he's all business. But he's so sweet when the camera is hiding that you can't help but love him! :)

Happy 60th Birthday!

2008-08-13T12:48:00.004-04:00

I met the Lassiter family last Decemeber when they asked me to take pictures at Mr. Lassiter's 65th birthday party. They are such a fun family and really know how to have a good time!! Some traveled from New York...some from DC....and they all were so excited to see each other! It has been so neat to work with them and to get to know them! The Lassiters' daughter has a super-adorable son who is as his mom puts it "photo phobic". :) They are expecting a new arrival at the end of September and I had the honor of doing a maternity session with their family before they left to go back to DC. I look forward to many more opportunities to work with this family!

A week of firsts.

2008-08-12T22:35:00.006-04:00

This week has been a week of firsts for me. First of all, it was the busiest week in the history of The Little Red Chair. I can't complain....this is what I prayed for recently and I'm so glad to see my business growing!! It is becoming more and more evident to me that this is what I was meant to do! I still have a lot to learn, but this is what I love!! And to love what you do is a great feeling!!

Another first: I got to shoot my first maternity session!! The mommy-to-be has asked that the images remain private so you'll have to take my word for it......beautiful photos!! I loved working with her and her family!! I met them last year and I totally wish she lived closer so I could be around to photograph the new little one!! But her parents live here, so I'm sure I'll be seeing more of her!

Today I photographed my first newborn. I have photographed a few "infants", but this was my first newborn at only 3 weeks. Oh. My. Goodness. Talk about precious!! To get to hold babies AND take pictures.....life doesn't get better than this!! I was also able to work with her 2 year old cousin, Devin! He is just adorable! I will post photos of him soon!

So with that....I leave you with two photos of sweet baby Riley! Stayed tuned for more photos from my week of firsts!! I have party photos to show you....senior portraits to reveal....and so much more!

Baseball.

2008-07-21T17:25:00.005-04:00

My uncle called me several times last year to take pictures at their baseball games. His daughter...my cousin, Ruthie...plays and he coaches. This year he didn't call me until their last game. But they were going into this game undefeated and finished undefeated. I took so many pictures at this game....such a fun thing to do!

If you're reading this and happen to have kids on the Movie Time team, feel free to contact me...I have so many more photos to show you!!

Blah, blah, blog.

2008-07-21T17:14:00.003-04:00

Ok...I confess. I haven't been a good and faithful blogger lately. I'm coming to terms with the fact that this is T's last summer before he becomes a "student" and I'm trying to make sure he does lots of fun stuff and gets to PLAY more than anything!

Unfortunately our "fun" turned "funky" on Saturday when a bunch of bees decided to gang up on me while I was cleaning out my flower beds. I was stung...oh...about 20 times. Some of the areas I can't exactly examine properly since they are in such unmentionable areas, but hey....if it hurts, I count it as a bee sting. And if you're reading this and have ever had issues with bee stings, extensive research has proven that BAKING SODA is the best thing for a BEE sting. Just sayin'. While I was swelling and stinging and hurting and trying not to lose my religion...I was also searching Google for remedies. All of which said BAKING SODA mixed with water was the best thing to treat it and to do it immediately. Once again...just sayin'. :)

So now, while my knees, arms, back and bottom are swollen and a nasty red/purple color....I will take advantage of this "rest" time and update my blog and finish up any outstanding photos I have in my "to edit" folder. Fun, fun!!

I Crown You....

2008-07-16T15:40:00.004-04:00

Most of the time when I'm taking pictures I am moving so fast that I rarely pay attention to things behind a person's head. I figure I can weed them out later. Well, these are just too priceless to weed out.

The crown (aka: glowing light). I thought it was hilarious that somehow I landed it right on their head.

Goin' to the Chapel: Part Six

2008-07-16T15:16:00.006-04:00

This is it. The end of the Matthews' wedding photos. I've had these done for over a week, so I guess it's about time I shared them. :) Once I see these in print, I'll upload them to the site and anyone who is interested in ordering prints can order at that time.

But these are a few of the reception photos. It was a very nice reception. The food looked delicious!! I typically don't eat if I'm working a wedding, but it looked amazing!! The cake was...well...Ford. :) The punch was...you guessed it...blue. :) Anyway, here are the photos:

Goin' to the Chapel: Part Six

2008-07-02T10:01:00.003-04:00

Introducing Mr. and Mrs. Jeffrey Matthews!!!

We Interrupt This Program...

2008-06-30T12:01:00.005-04:00

I know several of you are waiting anxiously for more of the Matthews' wedding story...or waiting on photo orders....or needing me to return your call. Truth is....I took a few days off from everything. You see, G's brother reported to The United States Military Academy (West Point) this morning. We have spent the last few days with him...hanging out, cooking his favorite foods, and crying our eyes out. We know that this is a great and wonderful opportunity, but it's still hard to see him go. We are making plans to visit him in August and are counting down the days! Once I get caught up on photo stuff I'll show you how we're entertaining ourselves while he is gone. :) Until then....GO ARMY!!! :) And now I will get back to work.....

Goin' to the Chapel: Part Five

2008-06-25T14:18:00.008-04:00

It's the moment we've all been waiting for. The ceremony.

I was so stinkin' excited about shooting this wedding. Heather and Jeff didn't want me to miss a thing and said it would be great for me to be up front with them during the ceremony. I tried to remain out of sight as much as possible, but being that close was INTENSE! Heather got a little choked up....that stuff always gets me. But then Jeff started telling her how beautiful she was and just whispering to her and all was well with the world. It was wonderful. Simply wonderful.

Goin' to the Chapel: Part Four

2008-06-25T10:51:00.006-04:00

Since I'm still working on editing the ceremony photos, I'll show you something special: the details.

Heather's family is one to be admired (I'd talk more about Jeff's family, but I really don't know them. No offense to them, of course...they all seem like lovely people. ). But what I know about Heather's family is that they know how to take what they have and make something totally remarkable out of it. Her mom is responsible for almost (if not all) of the wedding decorations and flowers! She told me that she has been working on them for the last six months!! Incredible!!

You'll also notice that the REAL RINGS are on the ring bearer's pillow!! I haven't seen that happen in a LONG time!!! I thought it was very impressive...and very brave. :) But I will say that the rings made it safely to the bride and groom...and you'll hear more about that later.

So here are....the details.

Sometimes this is the only way I can get in a photo. :)

Goin' to the Chapel: Part Three

2008-06-23T16:07:00.007-04:00

And here we are at Part Three. Cruising right along.

Heather is such an organized person. At her bridal session I asked her to make a list of the photos she would like taken at the wedding. A list really makes those family photos at the end of the ceremony go much quicker. Well, Heather went beyond the call of duty and had everything laid out for me. So organized. So prepared. And when the clock struck one....I knew it was on my agenda to get to work and take some photos of the wedding party.

Goin' to the Chapel: Part Two

2008-06-23T11:21:00.009-04:00

The hair and makeup are done. The only thing missing is the dress. So we make our way to the church....following Ford balloons along the way. Did I mention this was a Ford wedding? More about that later...

The guys and girls had about an hour to relax and have lunch before it would be time to get dressed and start taking pictures. This was probably the one part of the day that didn't go by lightening fast. However, it was still over before we knew it.

The girls helped Heather wiggle into her dress...a task we allowed 20 minutes for. The next 45 minutes became a blur of blue dresses, silver shoes, garters, Ford tie tacks, corsages and shiny black shoes. Three o'clock was quickly approaching.

Goin' to the Chapel: Part One

2008-06-22T20:49:00.007-04:00

Saturday I had the honor and priviledge of photographing the wedding of Heather and Jeff Matthews! I have known Heather for....well....ever. We went to church together as kids. She was a youngin' in my youth group when I was youth director. And as we grew older...we grew more and more alike.

It has often been said that Heather and I look alike. We used to both wear glasses, wear our hair in buns and often wear the same clothes. And as we were planning for this wedding, we found ourselves thinking with the same brain...suggesting photos the other was thinking.

So I couldn't have been happier when Heather and Jeff asked me to photograph their wedding!! It was an amazing day! The ceremony was as perfect as a wedding ceremony can be! You'll get to see more about that later. But because she IS such a great friend of mine, I want to walk you through our day together yesterday.

The day began at Kut-N-Up hair salon at 9:00. Not many brides want me to "stalk" them all day, but Heather didn't want me to miss a single detail of this special day. So I put on my hideous, but comfy black shoes and prepared myself for a long day of bride chasing. :)

Here are some photos of the girls getting their hair and makeup done. Stay tuned for Part Two.

No pictures.

2008-06-15T16:40:00.004-04:00

No pictures today. The camera is dead. And I do mean DEAD. I've tried everything to fix it, but to no avail.

The scary part is that I have to shoot a wedding Saturday....and have to do photos for the rehearsal Friday night. I've needed a back-up camera all along and now I'm paying for it...literally.

My camera has been by my side almost daily since the spring of '05. I have taken over 20,000 photos with it. Sounds unreal, doesn't it?!?

It is possible that the camera can be fixed, but most of you know that I live too far from a camera shop to have anything done by Friday.

So I have about 24 hours to find a camera and have it shipped overnight in order to have it by the weekend. Wish me luck! Pray for sales! :)

Made from scraps.

2008-06-14T15:37:00.002-04:00

A couple of cards made from the scraps of my last layout. I'm running a HUGE sale in my clairbug etsy shop (http://www.clairbug.etsy.com/). I'm trying to get all my handmade stuff in that shop and leave the LRC shop for photo cards, prints, etc. Anyway, these cards are now for SALE!

Another fun layout!

2008-06-11T19:00:00.002-04:00

I've been saving this robot paper for that "perfect" layout. When I came across this photo of Trent wearing his Transformer helmet, I knew it was time to use the paper!

I've been scrapping!

2008-06-10T20:40:00.001-04:00

I have been approved!

2008-06-10T11:03:00.002-04:00

I found out this morning that I have been approved as a photographer for NILMDTS (Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep). I submitted an application several months ago and just got the news this morning! NILMDTS is a non-profit organization....a group of photographers who volunteer to go in and capture the last precious moments between parent and child. I decided to apply as a way to honor a friend who gave birth to a stillborn almost 6 years ago. I wanted to be able to provide the families with something to help them grieve and remember.

From what I know so far, when I get a call...I have to go unless absolutely impossible. I am covering 60 miles, 3 hospitals. I will spend awhile with the family...giving their baby the photo shoot he/she deserves..and then I'll provide the family with a CD and DVD of those moments. I'll be going through training....but I'm not sure how much that training will do until I get in there and experience it.

I've seen the pain that my friend has gone through and while I don't know what it's like to be in her shoes...I want to do my part to make the process a little easier on others. I've learned through her that these mothers are very special people and these babies are incredibly special. I don't want babies to be forgotten. They deserve to be remembered.

So if any of you have been through the mourning process of losing a baby, my heart goes out to you. I know what it's like to miscarry, but I do not know what it's like to kiss a baby goodbye. But I'm trying to do my part to help and I hope I do it in a way that honors the family!

Beach Trip: Day Six

2008-06-08T18:41:00.007-04:00

Day Six: Friday. To say 'six days' sounds like a long time at the beach. But it really didn't feel that long....especially considering two of the days were our travel days. I took some of my work along with me and even shipped some photos off from the post office in Kill Devil Hills. Had to keep in touch with reality. :)

We didn't have to check out Friday. We had the cottage until Saturday, but Corey was graduating from high school and we felt we should be there. Don't think we didn't consider skipping it for another day at the beach. :) We even tried to talk Corey into ditching it and staying with us. I tell ya...the beach will make you crazy!

Leaving Friday, we didn't have to turn the key in until 6 PM. Well, Friday morning came and once we were up....we knew it was time to go. We took a quick walk on the beach. It was a little cloudy and crabs were everywhere....of course I didn't take my camera. We came back to the cottage and started packing/cleaning. By 12:00 we were pulling out of the driveway. While driving through Duck we *almost* turned around and went swimming for a few more hours....but we knew 6:00 would come quickly and we'd still be faced with the heartbreak of leaving.

I conclude our trip recap with what I call "Hulan photos". Hulan (I hope I spelled his name right) was a man who used to go to camp with us and was known for taking photos through the bus window. As we drove away, I started snapping crazy shots....trying to keep my mind off of the journey ahead.

So here you go.....

Trent saying goodbye to the pool. We could have stayed at the cottage and played in the pool and never go anywhere else and he would have been perfectly happy.

Trent waving goodbye in the car. He looks sad, doesn't he?!? :) By Friday he was missing his toys at home. He kept asking to play video games and even though the cottage had two systems...they had no games. So Trent was ready to play his Wii and get home to his Legos.

This is the Sunset Grille and Raw Bar. Of course you can see that on the sign. :) This was where we had dinner the first night. It's a Fishbones restaurant, but our favorite Fishbones was the small lunch stop in the shopping area we loved so much. You'll see a window shot of that, soon.

The Wee Winks Market. This is where you buy your groceries in Duck. If you can't find it here or the veggie market you have to drive to Southern Shores to get to the closest Food Lion.

And this is the veggie market. They have fruits, veggies and flowers. Very fresh and very affordable! If you need fresh fruits or veggies and you're in Duck...this is where you go. They also had a meat market for meats.

This is a crazy shot of Fishbones. They have THE BEST crabcake sandwiches! Their burgers aren't too shabby either! I recommend the 'Cheeseburger in Paradise' with smoked gouda.

Trent doing what he does best in the car. This VSmile Pocket has been a lifesaver on road trips!

This sign was very exciting to see when we arrived at the beach. It meant we were getting ready to pick up the key to our cottage. However, on Friday it took on a whole new meaning.

And this is G going to turn in our key. The saddest moment of our vacation. But we're making plans to go again. I've had a few inquiries about some beach weddings, so I'm hoping and praying they'll work out!

Objects in mirror are closer than they appear.

Ok...probably the worst picture of me in the history of pictures....but this is a series of our sad faces. Good thing I'm normally a happy person. This look doesn't do much for me. :)

Awwwww. Poor G. Work life is calling him back home. As a matter of fact, while I type this he is at work. He took off 2 days for his brother's graduation and now he has a few more left to work.

And this dude can't look sad no matter how hard he tries. This was actually the second attempt at a genuine frown. At least he's cute when he tries. :)

Day Six ends our beach trip. We stopped in Elizabeth City on the way home....just to prolong the trip. And then we stopped at G's parents house to pick up some things and slice a watermelon. When we got home our cat, Sadie was SO excited to see us. My parents and G's brother had been checking on her during the week, but I guess its not the same as having us home. The laundry is done...I did that before we left the cottage. So now we're just adjusting to being home.

And now I'd like to thank the US government and our Economic Stimulus check for making this vacation possible. :)

Beach Trip: Day Five

2008-06-08T17:32:00.005-04:00

Day Five: Thursday. G's brother, Corey is with us. I got up early....the boys slept in. Breakfast was ham on rolls, donuts, muffins, fruit....pretty much anything you could find in the cabinet/fridge.

Pretty much all we did Thursday was play on the beach and in the pool. We had lunch at our favorite lunch spot (Fishbones) and took Corey in search of a hat. Corey left Thursday after dinner at La Fogata (mexican place). Trent was sad to see him go. We were too...knowing that the next day would be the day we would leave the coast.

Before I start sobbing again....here are some photos from our day with Corey.

The end of Day Five. Our last full day at the beach. Sniff! Sniff!

Beach Trip: Day Four

2008-06-08T16:16:00.003-04:00

Day Four: Wednesday. Trent slept late on Wednesday, so we really didn't do much that morning. G called his family....his mom and brother were on their way to visit us and his dad would come as soon as he got off work. We decided to keep it a secret and not tell Trent.

G's mom and brother arrived around 1:00. We met them in Southern Shores. Trent was so surprised to see them drive up!

G's mom wanted to go shopping, so I took her to Tanger (outlet mall) while G took his brother and Trent to the cottage. They swam in the pool and played on the beach while his mom and I shopped.

After shopping we stopped by Food Lion and bought some groceries to make dinner. G's mom wanted to cook instead of eat out, so we had steaks. By the time we had dinner ready, G's dad had arrived. Dinner was delicious! After dinner we all took a walk on the beach. Here are some photos from the beach.

G's parents left around 10:00 that night and his brother stayed with us. Before they left we took them to our favorite shopping spots so they could get their OBX gear.

End of Day Four. Only one full day at the beach left. So very sad. ;)

Beach Trip: Day Three

2008-06-08T08:56:00.006-04:00

Day Three: Tuesday. Tuesday was a busy day for us. I started realizing how fast the week was going by and I wanted to DO something.

Trent pretty much played the entire time we were in the cottage. Here he is in his beach bum attire (the hat is mine, but he said he needed a matching hat). He's supposed to be eating breakfast, but we're on vacation....anything goes.

Putt-putt. We can't go to the beach and NOT play putt-putt. The last few times we have taken Trent have been pretty bad. He doesn't have the attention span for such a sport as this. He did MUCH better this year....at least through the first 8-10 holes. The last half of the course was pretty hectic. When he would take his time, he'd out-putt all of us!

The G-man...he thinks he's a pro-golfer. Puh-lease. You wish. :) He does pretty good on the PS2, but I've never seen him on a course bigger than this one.

Trent loved this digger toy and pushed it up and down the beach for the longest time. He didn't care much for building a sandcastle, but he was thrilled to play with this little toy.

Trent is my no-fear child. I'm so cautious with him in the ocean. If he could have it his way, he'd be out in the middle of the ocean. Nothing scares him. So as you can see, I ordered G to hold his hand at all times. Later in the week you'll see where I lightened up on him a bit.

My happy boy running back to me! He kept telling me over and over that he didn't want to go home. He kept saying how much he loved the beach...and "his" house at the beach.

But it all caught up with him and when we drove out to Corolla, he was so out of it. The beach makes him so tired! He hasn't slept on our shoulder since our trip last year. It's a very rare and treasured thing!

But you wake him up and mention go-karts and he's ready to go! You can't tell it in the photo, but they ended up with the slowest car. Next time they're getting a red one. :)

Another shopping/walking spot. We came here Sunday night, but I wanted to come back with my camera and catch the sunset. Unfortunately it was really cloudy and the sun was hiding.

But I still managed a few cute pictures.

I took a picture of this bathroom sign because I felt like we spent half of our vacation waiting outside the restrooms. I'm SO thankful Trent is potty trained, but he had to check out every bathroom at every stop.....and a few on the side of the road. :)

End of Day Three. At this point we're hoping G's family will join us on Day Four. We're having a great time, but keep thinking it would be even more fun with more people.

Beach Trip: Day Two

2008-06-07T15:08:00.007-04:00

Day Two: Monday. Our first full day at the beach. Thank goodness I took so many photos...the days are already runnng together.

Monday we went to Jockey's Ridge. That's one of those things you do on your first trip to the OBX. Once you've been you usually don't go back for awhile. It's a lot of sand. Pretty amazing...but a lot of sand. I hadn't been since I was really young, so we decided to take Trent and let him run.....as far as he could see.

We went back to the cottage....exhausted. However, we were not too tired for some pool fun! Trent had this cool Spiderman suit. The top is like a life preserver. So he could be in the pool and we didn't have to constantly hold him. But don't worry...there was always someone within arms reach. ;)

Popsicles! Yum! Trent picked these out before we left home. He said they were "beach snacks".

We had dinner at the Sunset Bar and Grille. It was voted the most scenic place to eat dinner on the water by the Travel Channel. The food was good....expensive....but good.

There's always time for ice cream at the beach. And there are ice cream shops on every corner in Duck.
We shopped here almost daily. A nice place to walk and shop and just be cool. :) I looked like the model tourist. I had my backpack on my back, camera around my neck...and I was always stopping to buy shirts and hats. However, we're close enough to the beach that they gave us the "local" discount.

They had a toy store. Trent was thrilled. He went Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday. Lots of neat things to play with.

The hammock is great for people who like them. I always feel like I'm going to be dumped, so I just stayed out and took photos. :)
Last year we went looking for crabs every night after dark. Trent had so much fun that we decided to do it again this year.

However, after we caught this big boy....he was done! He was so scared that they were going to bite him or he was going to step on one. Oh well...

Day two is over. At this point we were already dreading Friday, but looking forward to lots more fun!

Beach Trip: Day One

2008-06-07T13:50:00.005-04:00

Ok...before you look at these photos and start talking about how we must have so much money....or won the lottery....or something crazy like that.....let me just say that the price of gas has really made a difference in vacationing!

G negotiated with a realtor almost all day Saturday while I was at the wedding. They like to push the mansions first....since they'd really like to make several thousand off a rental. But when G was about to give up and book the Hilton again (that's what we did last year)....the realtor offered us our first pick at an unbelievable rate! We couldn't stay at the Hilton for 3 days this cheap....and we got the cottage for a week!! We weren't able to take advantage of the entire week since I had a wedding last weekend and G's brother graduated from high school today, but we did get to have a nice get-away and at an incredible price.

We arrived in Duck, NC Sunday afternoon. We scoped out the area, walked the beach, and Trent had to try out the pool. It thrills me to take him to the beach. I went to the beach almost every summer of my childhood and while I'm not big on swimming in the ocean, I LOVE the atmosphere, the sounds, the smells....the FOOD! :)

Here are some photos of the cottage. I actually took these while we were packing up to leave, but since I didn't take any pictures on Sunday I thought I would share these.

We stayed in an area called Gull's Flight. The town of Duck doesn't have public beach access, so you have to be a renter or an owner to access the beach. At the end of Flight Drive was a private entrance to the beach. We were only a few cottages from it! It was so nice to walk on the beach and only see a few people. We only saw 7 the first day!

This was our cottage. I think I actually gasped when I pulled up in the driveway.

The cottage had 4 bedrooms. Plenty of room for everyone! Later in the week you'll see where G's family came to visit. His parents went back home, but his brother stayed with us.

There were several porches on this cottage. This one was outside Trent's room. Trent and G would hang out here everyday while I took my shower and got ready.

This isn't the greatest view, but this was Trent's room. I can't tell you how excited he was to have bunk beds!!! He slept on the top bunk every night and we usually had to wake him in the morning because he would sleep so late! We were relieved to learn that there was a TV/DVD combo in the closet!!!

The kitchen. For those of you who wouldn't think I would cook on vacation will be surprised to learn that this kitchen did get used! :) After paying $70 for the three of us to eat dinner one night, we decided to stop at the little market on the way home. We ate every breakfast and several lunches at the cottage. When G's family came to visit we bought some steaks and cooked.

This was Trent's little play area. The cottage was a split level and had six levels. This was one of them....at the very top. It was right off the living/dining/kitchen area, so it was like he could be with us and separate at the same time.

This is the living area...looking down from Trent's play nook. Very cozy...very open....very comfy! Dining area. We didn't eat here....ok...maybe once. This is where we set up the laptop. We ate on the porch off the living room. Who wants to eat inside at the beach??

And the main attraction: the pool and hot tub! We had it all to ourselves! It was so nice to be able to cool off here in the afternoons and not have some crazy youngin's splashing all around. Trent did his share of splashing, but it was nothing like the wild kids we dealt with last year at the hotel.

So those are the hot spots. There were 3 bathrooms, an outdoor shower, a washer/dryer, and tons of closet space. If you're looking for an affordable vacation spot, let me know and I'll hook you up with a realtor! :)

Danielle + Scott

2008-06-06T19:56:00.005-04:00

First things first. While I upload my beach photos....I'll post a few photos from a wedding I did on Saturday. I don't normally post my clients' photos on the blog....simply because you can look at them on the website. But just for fun I'll show you some of my favorites from Saturday.

Heaven on Earth.

2008-06-02T15:52:00.002-04:00

Outer Banks. Duck to be exact. Heaven on Earth. I'll be back to reality on Friday! See ya then with lots of fun photos!

Peace.

2008-05-28T19:34:00.002-04:00

Another plant brag. Seriously....I can't believe this plant is still living. It was sent to G when his grandma died...in December!! I just knew I was going to kill it, so it's still in the tacky, green florist paper. I keep thinking I would like to move it to a nicer pot, but them I'm scared that really will kill it. G has told me several times that I needed to toss it out. He can't stand to see it droop. But when he saw four pretty blooms on it yesterday I think he changed his mind and the plant is here to stay! WAHOO!