A Tahoe Wedding - on Film

The past two months have been filled with magical moments, love, tears and oh so much joy and promise. I have gotten to witness and capture five amazing wedding days. Each unique and special in their own way. I have had the honor of shooting with some fantastic local talent and I can't thank Jessi LeMay, Chris Werner and Corey Fox enough for trusting in my work.

On Saturday, the 28th of September, I joined up again with Corey Fox and Johnny B of Corey Fox Photography & Johnny B Films to capture a lovely wedding at Lake Tahoe.

I loaded up my new DSLR along side my Polaroid Land Camera as I prepared for the day. Shooting with the Mark ii is pretty amazing, but to be honest, I could hardly wait to snap with a few frames of film, too.

Little did I know that I was going take one of my all time film photos to date. Isn't Alex gorgeous?!

A huge congratulations to the newlyweds! 

Ten Years of Tripping With My Man

 

We started our relationship on a road trip. Well, more then a road trip- we flew to Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, fumbled around finding a bus (took the wrong bus, but had a great lunch) and then found the right bus and rode 2 hours south to a lazy beach town called La Manzanilla along the Costa Alegre. It was there that we met up with our group to learn, explore, paddle and hike.

That was (gulp) 12 years ago. One DOZEN years ago, my friends. So where am I going with this? Today, May 17th,  is our 10th anniversary. I am not really sure how to even process the fact that we have made it this long. I never thought I would get married. I wasn't a girl who dreamed about her wedding day, but here I am. Two kids, a dog and 12 years later- married, to a damn good man.

 

Over the past 12 years we have had many, many, many adventures. Some far away, some close to home. Some where we camped in a tent or out under the stars. Others included fancy hotel rooms and umbrellas in our drinks.Some adventures included friends and family, others were just the two of us (or the four of us, as of late).

 

Ten years ago today, I said yes. I let him slip a ring around my finger. We floated on the joy and the love from our family and friends all afternoon. We danced until we couldn't dance any more and then disappeared to Kauai for two weeks to sit in the sun and play in the waves.





He can be crabby, bossy and piss me off- what man can't do this to his partner? And what woman can't do the exact same thing back? But he can also be ridiculously romantic, silly, and supportive beyond words. I know I don't always let him into my head, don't let my guard down all the way, but I hope he knows that I love him. 

 

To celebrate our first decade, we drove over the summit and into the Bay for some time in San Francisco. No kids, our favorite bed and breakfast, lots of good food, drinks, a museum,a baseball game, and Chinatown. Phew, I am tired again just talking about it. It's good to sneak away every now and then. It helps a couple remember why they fell in love in the first place.

Happy 10th Anniversary, Andy. I love you.

 

September, September

I happened to glance out the bathroom window this morning as I was brushing my teeth and noticed the next door neighbor's tree (pictured above, a photo from last year) was starting to turn that fiery red color that I so love. As I was getting dressed I heard the 'shhhh-shhhhhhhh' of a hot air balloon. Looking out the bedroom window I spotted a blue and yellow orb bobbing it's way northwest from our neighborhood. I got a little teary eyed. If you were reading this blog when O was born you will know that I watched the balloons rise for two mornings while in the hospital in labor with him. The balloon races start next week, will this second baby also wait for the same view or will he/she get to see the amazing sky full of color with its own eyes?

I am ready for September, I love all the changes- not just in the season but in the rhythm of the world. Kids and college students head back to the classroom, days become shorter, mornings and evenings cooler. We are deep into birthday season, so there is cake almost.every.weekend from here until Christmas. I love watching the change in the trees and plants (actually this blog's title is from an Alburt Camus quote, Autumn is a second spring when every leaf is a flower. And it is true, the world is just as colorful in the coming months as it was in the ones we just finishing).

I am trying to quite my mind, send my energy downward-outward and enjoy these last few moments with just my two boys. Our Septembers won't be the same once Deuce enters the world. So much celebration to be had, so much love, so much newness.
It is wonderful.

7:52

I don't always realize the faces I make. How much I wear my heart on my sleeve, or really my heart in my expressions. Things have been good lately, (a little adjustment here and there with work and furlough days and the like) but there is still a bit of my gypsy self that longs to be else where. that never saw the life I have (that I do love) coming and wonders how the heck it all fell into place. I don't really know what I thought adulthood would bring- did any of us?
I often think I want to be on the go, hopping from place to place- but in reality I love a routine, the quite ease of knowing what my next step will be. When we are away from home I get a little antsy and flustered and don't even realize it until we are back home again and the regular rhythm sets back into place
- wake up when the boy walks into the room carrying all of his 'blankies' and maybe wearing his hat, snuggle for a few minutes, head downstairs, make coffee and milka, let Cloe girl out for her morning potty, get lunches going, get breakfast going, hear Daddy-O make his way to the master bath upstairs and then down the hall into the kitchen, sip coffee and eat with my guys, head upstairs to either dress the boy or hop in the shower....
I am sure a new rhythm would occur should we change the way we live, sell the house, make that jump to wander around and explore the country (a recent dream I have, but not sure how we would make it all work).
But would I still be looking, longingly out the window for something else? What am I looking for and can doing something 'unconventional' really bring to light what it is I am after?

5 of 52

The Lake Tahoe addition.
I am a little late with my week 5 selfie. The past week was a doozy with work related crazy and an entire day on the couch due to vertigo- the room was spinning in at least three different directions the other morning and it was all I could do to talk and let Daddy-O know I thought I was going to be okay.
The weekend rounded things out however, and we hung with visiting and local family

Watching the World Cup, USA match. We must not have cheered loudly enough ;(

                   photo by cousin lauren, thanks Lo!

Watching the "kids" play in the back yard water park.


~~
On Sunday we headed to Tahoe. That lake is amazing. I could kick myself for not insisting on getting up there more often. I think three years have passed since we put our feet in the sand and crystal blue water. A true shame since we are so close!

I got in an hour or so after I snapped the shot above- nothing like the thrill of a full body, late June, dunk- takes your breathe away in the best sort of way. Growing up around this lake, you know you just have to do it and that you will feel a million times better once you are under water- the cold is something that cleans the soul and reminds you that you are truly alive.
We finally got O to go into the water, it took a long time in the sand

and then a little paddle boat ride to warm him up to the idea.

As long as Daddy was nearby he was okay.
Exhausted and refreshed, I am looking forward to the week and the long weekend ahead (the 4th is my favorite holiday).

Lucky Seven

photo scanned from our wedding day pictures. I can't seem to find the guys card who did them...
~
Seven years ago, we made it official.
Still happy I kissed that kiss.
Continually surprised and entertained by him.
Amazed at the pair we have become, beyond my dreams.
Really, I had no expectations for a married life-
but if I had he would have blown them all away.

can you taste it?

Can you?
It's almost summer time.
I am ready
bring on the ice cream trucks
the splashing of water
the shorts and skirts and tank tops
bring on the flip flop or bare feet
the sunblock and the freckles
bring on the lazy afternoons with a good book
the grilling in the park or back yard
bring on the beer with a squeeze of lime (or fizzy water in my case)
the boccie ball and the horse shoes
bring on the smell of sage and pine trees
the fireworks and parades
all of it, I am ready.
are you?
~~~
I'm ready because I am feeling like I need that sunshine on my face and the time outside with my family and friends. I am ready because it will be the last summer I spend with just three of us in the family, a bitter sweet transition to a family of four. As I feel Deuce-baby kicking away and moving ever higher into my ribs I know that this summer, our 7th summer of marriage holds magic and transition- I was writing in my journal last night wondering if 7 is a magical number for things other than just life (you know how you go thru giant transitions every 7 years of your life) is marriage like that?

We celebrate our wedding anniversary on Monday (actually tomorrow afternoon/night so we can catch a movie and dinner date, maybe some bowling and a hop in the photo booth too). I am in awe of the family we have become. There is a rhythm about us that I enjoy and find wonderfully comfortable.

I guess this post is all over the place, but I have had these things on my mind. Being Friday I am spent from the week and need to get these thoughts into words on a page. As always, thanks for reading.

xo