November Sunshine

(photo from Haylie and Ross's wedding)

Happy birthday month to me! Only 2 weeks until I reunite with my beloved Kauai.

Halloween weekend was pretty basic this year...some trick or treating with the wee ones, spaghetti and meatballs with bunker, lazy Sunday afternoon movie at the in laws....

..and then November happened with sunshine. I exercised this morning and it felt good. I felt grateful for my body that moves and my mind that wonders. I always feel the wind of "change" this month. I just know things are changing and that makes me feel like gripping and letting go all at once.

Oh, November. What do you have in store for me this year?

Marisa

I had to post this shoot from yesterday first thing today as it is this lovely's birthday.

How fun to celebrate your birthday on the brink of becoming a parent....and whatever normal doubts you may have, motherhood will be second nature for you. Look at yourself?! You were made to spread that gene pool around.

Loved having an afternoon shooting and discussing our changing lives as newlyweds and soon to be parents. When we have another spare afternoon lets picnic at the park with that new baby girl. xxxxoooo. Happy birthday!!!

The Original String Cheese

While in Utah, my family and I grabbed a bite to eat at La Cocina (a friendly neighborhood Mexican restaurant, laden with memories of ex boyfriends and overeating).

This is an Iphone picture of my sister showing how far the cheese could be stretched....well just as far as she could reach really. I seriously wouldn't have been surprised if we could have stretched that cheese around the entire restaurant.

Not the best Mexican food around, but I am kind of obsessed with their simple tomato salsa and they do have free non-alcoholic margaritas tuesdays, thursdays and saturdays. Just saying..

Anna

I have been in Utah since Friday helping to send my sister off on a mission to Milan Italy.

It was a whirlwind weekend packed full of shopping, eating, talks in church, family time, a shower for my other sister who is getting married, engagement photos for getting married sister, late night movies, sleepovers....

...and then today we are driving our little Annbanan down to the MTC to drop her off.

Emotional? Yes. 18 months is a long time to not see or talk to each other! But, I can say with confidence she is ready and prepared and is going to be an amazing missionary spreading a message of love and happiness.

Plus, will she not be the hottest missionary? She might have to ugly it up so the Elders can concentrate.

Ann, I started missing you weeks ago. I love you more than ke'e beach, fresh squeezed OJ and papayas. Grant and I will be praying for you and sending you all of our positive energy. xxxxxxxxxxoooooooooo.

Portland

Some reasons why we really like Portland:

-bikes
-bridges
-streetcar
-aerial tram
-old architecture
-new architecture
-sustainable fish and amazing organic foods
-river
-trees
-haylie and ross are super cool and easy to photograph
-and the rental cars are not off site at the airport! major bonus.

Featured on Ruffled

Haylie and Ross's wedding was featured on Ruffled today! How nice. Thank you Ruffled for the shout out.

Check out Ruffled's blog, beautiful wedding inspiration.

Besaws

While in Portland we ate at this great restaurant, Besaws, in the Nob Hill neighborhood.

Basically it was lunch time, but we had to order breakfast. I could really eat breakfast items for every meal. I ordered a salmon scramble and Grant ordered some hamburger, cholesterol laden egg thing that was super good. Oh, I almost forgot! We ordered mac n' cheese too....only a half order, but still...

We were very happy, especially since our server use to be a sailor. I like to think of him as a pirate though.

After belly's full we took a walk around the neighborhood. Big trees, colored leaves, warm sunshine. Good job Portland.

Haylie + Ross

I don't know about everyone else, but when I look at this bride and groom I just feel kind of good inside. Her smile is happiness, isn't it? She looks joyful. She must be. I don't really think it's very easy to fake joyful.

Their wedding took place in the Portland Oregon Temple and the Dinner at the Ecotrust Building in downtown Portland. We also had some general romping about...which was super fun for me because I had never been to Portland before. I ate great food and fell in love with the public transit. AND everybody in the city rides a bike. Nice.

I am so happy everything fell together and I was able to join you for the festivities. It was an honor spending so much time with you on your wedding day. Thank you for the intimate look at your family and your relationship with each other. Your Paris themed dinner party was amazing, and I'm guessing your Paris themed honeymoon was pretty great too? Can't wait to see all the romantic hand held kissing pictures you snapped by the Siene. XO-Rachel