CharlesAnna & Jonathan

Friday night was a blast with CharlesAnna & Jonathan at their engagement party down on the farm! Their families did some real magic with a tractor shelter..everything was gorgeous! The food was delicious, the band was awesome & all their loved ones danced the night away. They had a "western theme" so everyone came in their boots and CharlesAnna & Jonathan gave away pink & brown bandannas to all their guests. They were such a fun couple and so photogenic..we got some really cute shots! CharlesAnna is also a photographer so I am very grateful that she asked me to shoot the party (and thanks to Brittany for referring her) and the possibility to work together on some things in the future! I'm posting a couple of the "detail" shots and then some of my favorites from Friday night..

..they had markers & cards for their guests to write them sweet messages..




..they made a poster of the invitations they sent out..how cute!

..all the bridesmaids..

..CharlesAnna & Jonathan..

..everyone was in boots & cowboy hats..

..I love CharlesAnna's expression in this one..


..towards the end of the night Jonathan got up a sang!..


..his number one fan..haha..so precious!..

Thank you CharlesAnna & Jonathan..I wish you both all the happiness in the world!

I would like to introduce you to...

..my sweetheart. I don't normally post personal things on here, but I figured since it's mostly just friends & family that are reading this thing right now anyways, I could "gush" a little about this man that I think is so amazing. Let me tell you a little about him...

Imagine getting up in the morning just in time to get a quick shower and food, then heading to your job where you'll be for the next 8-10 hours. You'll be in the hot sun..hitting, throwing, running and sliding..and maybe you'll get out by 11 that night. You'll come home tired & sore..grab some food & watch an episode of "Mythbusters" or two and head to bed. Wake up & repeat...for 150 days straight...on top of travel days where you're riding on a busload of guys overnight for 8-14 hours, losing track of days and what state you're currently in. Don't forget the weeks of spring training before your 150 games even begin. And forget about summer vacation..no beach trips for you.

All this being said, you have to understand how much respect I have for him...I mean, I couldn't do it...no way. This lifestyle isn't the most conducive to a relationship either..there really is no time for "date night" and the majority of the time that i'm with him, i'm not actually with him.. just watching him (which I wouldn't trade for anything). And the stuff I mentioned is really only skimming the surface of what all he has to deal with. I know the emotional highs and lows of this game are much more than he ever lets me know. I admire so many things about him..his "hard-work" mindset, his kind heart, the fact that he never wants anything just given to him, how important his family is to him, how he recognizes that our faith is central to everything about us, how excited he gets over the smallest things, & the way he makes me feel.

He's currently in Arizona for 7 weeks (I don't like saying 2 months) and in a few days i'm flying out there for a long weekend...and I can't wait. I got my new equipment the day after his last home game so I will definately be taking some shots of him while i'm out there..so look for a future post with some of him doing what he does best. Last night on the phone I asked him how we could make these next 10 days go by any faster. He answered, "You keep taking pictures & I'll keep playing ball." He made me laugh but it is so true..I am so thankful to have had the opportunity to do as many shoots as I have since he's been gone because it really does help take my mind off of how much I am missing him. I'm so happy to have found something that makes me (almost) as happy as he does and I pray that it will continue.

My goodness, I really did not intend to write this much when I sat down..I have never claimed to be good with words, but this is what was on my heart at the moment and maybe he'll read this and it will make him smile. Oh, and I just couldn't post without a picture, so here is a really old one of us but I think it's still my favorite...and oh yeah, his name is john..

"Cotton" Candy

This afternoon around sunset Cathryn, her mom, & Lily (the dog) came to my house. Cathryn was one of the three girls I had done a session with together a couple weeks ago, but today was a day all her own! It was a quick session but we got some great shots...here are just a few, i'll try to post more of her and Mary Michael (my sweet potato girl) later this week. I also had a chance to get some pictures of my brother & his girlfriend while they were here for the weekend..so look for those within the next few days also!

I absolutely LOVE this one..

..Cathryn let me get up close & personal..
..sweet lily..

Thanks Cathryn! : )

*Sweet Potato Girl*

It doesn't get much better for a little girl than to spend the day with her daddy at work! This morning Mary Michael & I got down and dirty in the sweet potato fields near Roseboro..and let me tell you, this girl knows how to have a good time. I think this daddy would do just about anything for his girl!

I just had to post this shot..Mary Michael's red fire truck tattoo! How cute!

Just look at those eyes..I think someone's going to be a heartbreaker when she grows up!Thanks Mary Michael for a fun day! : )