For Avery

When we showed Avery the super boy picture he was unimpressed. "Why does Daddy have his hands down? He should have his hands up." So for Avery...and Ben... we need to show that Daddy did indeed catch Avery!

Super Boy!!. . . . and Girl

After two days of photographing families in this beautiful park, I knew exactly where and when I wanted to photograph Ashley and Ben and family. The light was perfect... as were the subjects. Had to share!

Michigan's Tuscany (sorry I don't think this is a song)

Okay, here's my post trying to capture a wedding. There are way too many competitors in this family though! Last weekend, we headed up to the Traverse City area for a short 2-day trip for a wedding. Luke and Sabrina were both in nursing school with me. They had an absoultely gorgeous, idyllic northern Michigan October wedding on a vineyard in Leelanau peninsula. Yeah, beautiful. The ceremony was outside on a hilltop that overlooked the changing colors of the trees, the rolling vineyards, and the Grand Traverse Bay. As Reuben said, "This is Michigan's Tuscany." But almost better in my opinion with the water in the whole mix of the landscape. The reception was in a barn that has been made nice for receptions. So I could have posted more pictures of course, but I suppose this is enough.













The next day (Saturday) we had a wonderful day with our friends Matt& Brittany who also went to the wedding. We went to 3 different wineries with them on Leelanau peninsula and did some wine tasting.


After eating lunch in Traverse City at a grea brewery, Matt & Brittany headed home and Reuben & I headed up Old Mission peninsula to one more winery that I've heard a lot about, Chanteau Chantal, which was absoultely beautiful also. The pictures below are of that. The drives all weekend along the coast was breathtaking with the changing colors. We also had a lot of fun just milling around along the cute streets of Traverse City. We had a great time and were reminded once again that Michigan has many hidden treasures!

In God's Country

We spent some time in Estes Park this past weekend with the Ridderhoffs, Barnharts, and Grandpa and Marcella. It was fun to have Grandpa see Evelyn while she was still so young. He seems to be doing really well.
Grandpa took the time when we had cell reception to call Uncle Bob and wish him a happy birthday. Bob made sure to tell me that I am now drving a minivan and that real men drive trucks. I feel that I need to point out that the CX-9 was SUV of the year. SUVs are not minivans.

mild excitement

It seems pretty rare that I do anything that I deem post-worthy, but I decided that regardless of your political stance, this was at least somewhat exciting. Neither my roommate nor I had class or work this moning, so we decided to wake up extra early to stand in line downtown on a chilly october morning to see a piece of history. It was my first political rally and really interesting people watching! And Obama walked on stage to a U2 song, so Anna and I were happy. Here are some pics I took with my little camera (the threat of rain and inability to change views convinced me to keep the good one at home) as well as a couple that a photo/videostaff person from GV who had a press pass took...