I decided to enter a contest this week on I heart faces . This week’s theme is “Wedding Bells” and I just could not help but enter. I went through all of my wedding photos, but there was one image I kept coming back to. Not because it is a perfect image (by no means is it perfect), not because I think that Melissa (Bride) and Nicholas (her son) are absolutely adorable, or not even because the wedding took place at the beautiful Biltmore Estates.  I entered this image because it “just happened” and I happen to capture it. The groom was off to the side talking to some family. Melissa goes to kiss little Nicholas and he was like, “Mommmm…noooo” (just as any 6 year old boy may do). But, when I look at the image I hear Nicholas and his little voice. It wasn’t a “mom I am so embarrassed” voice. It was a “Mom, I love you and am so excited for you and us” voice.  Just look at their faces. There is a mother/son bond that any stranger can see in this image. This is why I chose to enter this photo into the contest. Wish me luck!

Chris and I had the best time this weekend. We really needed to get away to re-group.  Away from the everyday stresses, away from cell phones and computers, away from TV, and NOT away from each other. It was perfect and much needed.  We headed up to Cherokee, NC late Friday and spent a couple nights in a cabin there. I wish I could bottle up the smell of a cabin. I opened the cabin door and imediatly all of the smells and memories of attending summer camps (both as camper and counselor) came rushing through my head. Usually Chris and I opt for the tent…but not this time, and my back thanks me today! We fished, played with Little Bobby in the white capped river, hiked in the Great Smokey Mountains, drove to Cade’s Cove to see the wildlife, and finally, headed home!  Why is it that on your way home from a trip you dread it (yet are excited to get back to your home)? Life it too short to not work hard, but play harder! We all never know what may happen and change our lives forever, therefore always remember to make memories with the ones you love and make the best of each situation God throws your way…

Our family photo (Chris, Me, Little Bobby). I hate to use tripods and camera timers so this is as good as it gets!

Before and After! We caught 15 fish in total. Chris would mostly catch them and then have me reel them in (I know he was just trying to make me feel as if I had caught them)

The 2 cutest boys ever!

Here are some more images of baby Kail and mom! What a great family…the two of you are so very blessed! 

We finally got a smile out of the little guy!

I love this image! His little fingers are holding on sooo tight to mom’s finger.

I had the pleasure of photographing little Kail while I was in Illinois this past weekend. He is so adorable and was wide awake for the whole session!  I tried some new post-processing on this session and I absolutely LOVE it! More to come…happy Tuesday!

**If you only knew what we had to go through to get this image! Little Kail did not want to close his legs at all, so mamma had to help!

It was so great to have a long weekend get away in Illinois. I took some photos, saw family and friends, and did a whole lot of walking! There is never enough time to do it all. Every time I head back to IL, I feel like I am in High School again and want to share every memory I have of the area with Chris. We walked the trails I used to run in Cross Country and Track. We visited the parks where I used to hang out. We even went to my favorite Ice Cream shop!

Today has been mostly spent on the computer catching up (or at least tempting to..haha). I needed a break from it all and I went for a short walk around our land this evening. I had seen last night when we got in that we had blackberries on our bushes! (Is it really summer already?)!!  Every summer I pick all the blackberries I can and stuff my face with them.  It is like a “Where’s Waldo” when looking for the blackberries on the bushes. I get so easily distracted when I see a bigger berry that I miss most of the other ripe berries. This year I plan to make jelly, so I had better not stuff my face but save the berries! As I am typing, my hands sting from picking the berries and I worry that my purple stained hands will wear on the perfectly white keyboard I am typing on. But it is okay..I am refreshed and there is nothing more fulfilling that picking the food you put on your table. 

And of course my favorite little guy went blackberry picking with me as well!

Here are some more photos from Justin’s senior session in the Mountains of North Carolina! :) 

Well, we finally made it to IL  24 hours later (well, we did sleep during that time).  We hit a traffic jam with a mudslide on the interstate and 5 big storms! But we are here now! The highlight of the trip? I saw a BLACK BEAR for the first time in the mountains! It has been a goal of mine for sometime and Chris spotted the bear. I have no  pictures as my camera was packed away in the back, but I was like a little kid when I saw it!! Oh yes, and here are some more photos from the Bridal Session. Enjoy!

Here are just a couple of photos from the bridal session.  The weather was crazy…it had rained in the afternoon, then foggy, then sun/clouds/humidity all at once!! I think we were all drenched in sweat by the end of the session, but it was so worth it! Look at her beauty! I will post more from the session when I get back from IL!!

A lot had happened last week and when the weekend came, all we wanted to do was hang out around the house, in the comfort of our home, with each other (this is my perspective of course..haha).  It seems that sometimes we are so busy that we don’t get time to get caught up around the place.  And even though we might be working around the land/house separately, just knowing we are close by and working toward the same goal is such a great feeling in my heart. Our weekend in a nutshell…slept at the lake in our sleeping bags,mowed, mulched, planted new trees, washed decks, drove around to see the farms,I learned stick shift, hiked, ice cream (I mean we had to fill our bellies after the hike ) and finally late Sunday afternoon nap time!  Yes, it was a great time even though it was busy. Now off to pack for IL! 

Some images from the weekend with our little point and shoot camera!

Justin and his family were on vacation and while on vacation, Justin had the great idea to get his Senior Photos done in the Mountains!  Justin and his family are from Pittsburgh, PA!  I hope you all have a great vacation and enjoy the sneak peak! It was so nice to meet you all!