kachikphoto

Ocean City: Assateaque National Seashore

Anna's first family vacation has been wonderful so far.  When we go over the dune to get to the ocean, she applauds.  She knows beauty when she sees it!

The ocean looks so big from her vantage point!

In this image, Anna is holding a jellyfish in her left hand.  Don't worry, this jellyfish is the kind that doesn't sting.  She was fascinated.

Anna didn't like the sand at first, but it didn't take her long to adjust...

We're Home in MD!

Wow, what a trip!  We made it home--it's nice to go away but also nice to come home.  Life is back to normal (what ever "normal" is!)...we have a lot of summer left and plan to enjoy it as best we can.  

On the way out of Michigan, I had the privilege to hang out with a great photographer-friend of mine, Edda Pacifico.  Check out her website--I only wish I could shoot as well as her!  www.eddaphotography.com  Edda was nice enough to let me visit her studio and let me tell ya, I'm not ashamed to admit I'M JEALOUS.  Wow.  What a great set-up she has!  If you live in Michigan and need some images, check her out (she's based in Ann Arbor).  You won't be sorry!

Edda has two 6-year-old girls.  They are so cute and have wonderful personalities...they are a great help to their mom as well.  I can't wait untill Anna is old enough to hold the reflection panel, grab the props, etc...

Here are some images I took that day:

  

   

And here are some I was able to sneak in of Anna (she is growing like a weed!):

  

Bye-Bye

Well, our time in Michigan is coming to a close.  Today we leave Niles and head to Ann Arbor where an old college friend has been nice enough to put us up.  Anna has had a lot of new experiences and with each day became more comfortable around all her cousins, aunts, uncles, and grandparents.  When we get home she will be bored for sure!

Here is her first kiss (my high school buddy, Ron's son)--it looks like a wet one!  I think she is still traumatized... 

 

Our trip to the zoo was fun...Anna was captivated by all that she saw.  Here she is working up the nerve to pet a billy-goat.

She never did work up the nerve to get on the pony, but we did walk beside it and she did pet his nose. 

 

Little Georgia O'Keefe...

I'm sure this will be worth millions someday...

...and I just had to post her new "little piggies" slippers... 

Yes, we are alive!

I know, I know...I'm such a bad blogger these days...we've been so busy traveling and enjoying the summer I just haven't had time to update the blog!  Forgive me! 

We are in Michigan right now visiting my side of the family.  Michigan is wonderful in the summertime!  We have been to the lake, the pool, the fair, and are heading to the zoo later this week. 

I haven't taken many images (wow, is it hard being a mom and a photog at the same time!) but here are a few...I promise to post more soon!  (Remember though, I'm on "summer time" so "soon" may not mean "soon"!)

 

 

 

My brother has two lovable Pug-Bulldog mixes, here's Mattie: 

Don't you just love those eyes?  She is sooo sweet!  I want to take her home! 

Here is Mattie's brother, Max...isn't he handsome?

 

Here's some from the 4th:

 

 

 

 

 

  

 

Hangin' with some photogs!

Had a great time hanging out with fellow-photogs today and their kids...here are some of my images:

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Swim Lessons

Anna has been going to swim lessons.  She loves the water and is not afraid of it at all.  Remember how she feared and hated the bath?  Well, she has come a long way, baby!  She practically runs into the pool and shrieks with delight when the lesson begins.  Here are some shots I took before her lesson tonight.

Patriotism

What a beautiful Memorial Day weekend, huh?  We woke up Monday a.m. and Mom insisted we go to the Westminster Memorial Day Parade (no argument from me!).  So Anna has officially begun her formal training in patriotism...God Bless America!  Thank you to all the men and women who have served our country so that we can enjoy freedom.  Having gone to Communist China and back, we have an even deeper appreciation for democracy and freedom of speech.

Westminster's newest Patriot:

Two happy and thankful Americans:

New Life Everywhere...

There is new life popping up everywhere I look around our home... We watched the sparrows make their nest...then we saw 4 eggs...and today the miracle of life happened!  There are 3 hatched chicks...one more on the way.  The sparrow comes every spring and makes a nest in the same evergreen right outside our front door.  There is something just so magical about watching life unfold...

...and unfold it has at our house!  Here's our little ball of life--she is not too sure about her new 'crocks' sandals.  In fact, I'm thinking she doesn't like them at all, but she tolerates them just the same.  Today we did some gardening (never too soon to teach a child to garden!). 

We are anxiously waiting for the strawberries to ripen up.  Anna loves strawberries in her oatmeal for breakfast.  She eats just about everything we put in front of her which makes her officially "low maintenance."

Anna likes to smell flowers and even though these rhododendrons don't have any smell she was still sniffing around...

Lots of Boys being born!

Seems like there are lots of boys being born in the Westminster area lately!  Check out little Liam...he has the most beautiful blue eyes!  I work with his mom and had a wonderful time doing this shoot...thanks guys!  Here are a few sneak previews:

Can't Get Enough of Carson

What a sweet, sweet boy!  I've been having so much fun proofing his images...can you tell?

 

I have three more images to proof and then his parents will be able to see them all on my website.  Hope everyone is enjoying this wonderful weather!