thanksgiving for the new year

some of the best subjects for a photo EVER!

mom's homemade pumpkin pie and one of my favorite pass times, watching through the window.

if you want to print a thanksgiving roll basket wall size, let me know. I understand.

kitchen window. strange things seemed to appear....

baby wright was OBSESSED with being perched on the window, sink sprayer in hand...so close to figuring it out..

faith's adorable place cards. she is so creative. best party director hands down.

family prayer (staged!!!!...they loved waiting for that one)

the perfect bite. one of g's and I's favorite challenges.

faith got the whole family outside playing "shark". tag game with safe spots. I had a good time not trying very hard, but grant was sliding and sweating and tripping kids to get to safe spots.

have you ever seen sneakers that white?! I'm impressed dad. what is your secret?

saying goodbye can be hard. goodbye thanksgiving. goodbye christmas, BUT saying hello can be very fun. hello 2009. hello getting married. hello photo projects. so many things I am excited to say hello to. It's going to be a good year.

later 2008.

wanderlust

I have always been romanced by the idea of living on the road. being in a different place every night, covering miles of road, playing cards in bed to the sound of crickets. My obsession has been with buying an airstream for quite some time, but then I came across this little beauty on apartment therapy. LOVE! not sure where the bathroom is...minor detail! I WANT!

I am not really into "buy us gifts for our wedding", BUT if anyone wants to buy us this I will humbly accept.

countdown

when we were 90 days until the wedding, I had an idea....paper chain!!

neither of us could remember the last time we had made one, but kindergarten was ringing bells. so after the cutting and counting we each took 45 rings and wrote down the reasons why we are excited to marry the other person. I know you are thinking that is the number 1 most cheesy gaga thing to do, because it is....BUT taking turns tearing rings off every night and being reminded why we love each other and why we are choosing to be together has been an amazing exercise in being present and focusing on the most important part of wedding planning...each other.

huzzah!

merry christmas to you

I almost gave up on christmas this year, when my sponge cake didn't rise, my sweet potatoes just tasted "ok", I couldn't be with ALL my family and the traffic was bad.....but once grant started lip syncing mariah carey's "all I want for christmas is you", I took christmas back. I didn't even last an hour with christmas on the outs.

christmas story:

I was walking to my local trader joes a week or so before christmas and I saw a friendly middle aged women walking towards me with a long red poncho on. As we passed our eyes meet and just when I thought the usual "smile through the eyes" would suffice she greeted me with a bright "good morning and merry christmas!" I was slightly taken back and tried to return the greeting before it was too late. It really brightened my day. small, simple, barely any effort at all, still it made me feel part of something. I realized I often take the easy way out when it comes to showing extra effort and I continued the day trying to do more than just nod.

connect more. take chances. be friendly even if you feel you are the only one. forgive. try to stop "checking off the list" and take moments to see something, hear something, smell something. make eye contact. tell the people you love that you do... even if it's hard or awkward. don't wait. be the "man on wire". beauty doesn't always have to make sense or have a reason. start living everyday.

these are the things I wish for myself and everyone I love.

merry christmas! joy to the world!

xo.

balboa island wedding

I know this post isn't very christmasy, but I have been working on this wedding and was excited to final get some of my favorites online.

the ceremony was in an amazing church right on balboa island and the reception at the beautiful balboa bay club in newport beach.

happy christmas eve day!

(due to the request of the bride, I have posted only detail shots)