The Power of Wedding Vows When You're Already a Family
When was the last time you thought about your wedding vows? Did you write or own? If you didn't, what would you say now? What's changed?
Heidi & Ryan exchanged highly personal vows in front of 70 guests at Crockett's Run in Hocking Hills OH. They made me think: As families, we struggle, we triumph. We race through our days, and give thanks with our inside voices, but probably not as often with our outside voices. Let's all be sure to thank the person we've created a family with. We've weathered the "bad" and created so much "good". They deserve to hear all the NEW ways you appreciate them. Let's make some promises that REALLY hit home - like when Ryan promised Heidi that he'd look in more than one place for the thing he wanted before asking her where it is. All the wives, I think, shed a tear. =)
If you're like me and my husband, on anniversary night, you'll clink a fast toast of "Love you Babe", while reveling in the calm quiet that happens when the kids are not around. Our 9th anniversary is this week, and I think I'll tell him what my own inside voice is thinking when my outside voice is asking why the trash is still sitting in there. I'll write some new mind-blowing promises of my own, like actually having bread in the house when he's looking to make himself as sandwich. I'll make him look me in the eye as read them.
In my mind he'll swell with tears and gush with emotion. But in reality, he'll giggle and ask "So when do those start?". And I'll burst out laughing and reply, "I don't know, eventually." And that will be "us". But he'll know that I know, I notice and that I care.
Then happily onward to another year of life, love and family memories. xo
Big Brothers Make it Messy Painting Mommy's Baby Belly
In the hectic minutes of daily life, slowing down to focus on the arrival of a baby can get lost in the shuffle. Jill made sure to make space in her time with Tommy and Luke to celebrate their changing family -- and give their baby brother a preview of what's to come: messy, joyful, unscripted, roll with it, family love. When baby Henry grows up, he'll be able to see his unborn self in front of the playset where he rode a big boy swing for the first time. They will look at the street they lived on as Jill and TJ help them reminisce about memories they created in that neighborhood, at that time in their lives. And they'll see how cool their mom was, as long ago as and early as "way back then". As a lifestyle photojournalist, the most important stories I cover, are yours. xo
Maggie, Luke & Brennan make Three for our "Twice as Nice" sweet Family
Big Sister Maggie loves her twin baby boy brothers, Luke & Brennan. Everyone is getting on track and Kelly & Mark make an extraordinary team. Congratulations to these sweet treats - you are over a month old already!
The Best of Between the "Cheese!"
Did you know that a 12-person group is the perfect "small" amount of "a lot of family" for a group photo? The Ganor/LoBue clan weathered the drizzle at Edgewater Park and we all had a great time. Did we get the coveted "everyone looking and smiling shots"? Yup! But my favorite shots of the day were between the "Cheese!".
1. Little Anthony was our camera-shy-guy ... and, like in the books "Pete the Cat" ... did it foil our chances at great pictures? Heck no! The shyer he got, the more the family shouted, "Everyone stare at Anthony!!!" - and it's my favorite shot of the week.
2. We told the kids to race to the bench and as Dominic's mom uttered the words, "I guarantee his shoes will fall off" - it went flying in the air.
3. When we told them to wait for the signal before racing back - how do you get running kids to stop? The family's reaction cracks me up!
4. When Brad and the boys jumped in for a father-sons picture, I said, "Now mush your cheeks!" And Luke did just that!
Do you have a large extended family but think getting a group picture would be too hard? If so, come spend an hour with this crazy camera lady and I guarantee we'll get the shot and have a ball. Do you have kids who are camera-shy or unpredictable? It'll be the best shot of the day. xoxo
She Met me in St Louis but Married me in CLE
When I told my colleague, Frank Caruso, that I could cover a Monday afternoon wedding on Huntington Beach my first thought was - gotta get the perfect spot. The sultry summer day drew a lively speckling of sunbathers - so - when I saw that the perfect spot on the perfect rock, under the perfect tree, with the skyline perfectly in the distance - was empty - what did I do? Ran wildly through the sand, clumsily jangling my photo gear everywhere so I could seat-save Natasha & Tyrone's wedding spot for over an hour like Elaine on Seinfeld in the movie theater.
I'm so glad I did because Natasha Baker and Tyrone Hunt had chosen to drive all the way from St. Louis to exchange their wedding vows in our very own Cleveland. The Plain Dealer and WKYC thought it was pretty cool too because they came too, filming the ceremony as follow up coverage from 2 days before! Alone with the their Minister up on the rock, their tearful joy had everyone choking up. Such a gift!
Then, out of the blue, a lady who lives near the beach ran up to us and told the couple how touched she was that they picked Cleveland for their wedding and made a point of finding them on the beach to give them a small gift to say congratulations. C'mon - if that's not a great example of "We Are CLE" that what is?!
Below is a sneak peak of their wedding day photos, plus, this WKYC segment and Cleveland.com article with a 10-photo gallery by Gus Chan. Yours truly managed to photo bomb photo 2 & 5. #sweetstory #huhsothat'swhatIlooklikewhenishootpictureshmmm
And for all of you out there - I would seat-save just as crazily for you. xo
