Natural Light Photographer







*KINSHIP*

*Bundles of Joy*

*Vanishing Moments*

Tuesday, November 29, 2016

A Lovely Fall Day with I.

We've had an amazingly warm 'Indian Summer' this Fall and what better thing do do than enjoy it before all the leaves fall and winter hits!  I. is a kind, thoughtful and beautiful young lady, I was happy to take her Senior Photos last weekend.  Good luck with our senior year, I!






Friday, August 5, 2016

7-years Is Too Long to visit Home!

We have been traveling the world for some time, before being stationed in the UK for 5 years we lived in Florida.  Its been seven long years since we've been able to come home to Washington.  7 years is way too long.  It was sweet, ever so sweet.
Boehm's, mouth watering, hand created chocolate.
Views of Mt. Rainier from Point no Point Lighthouse.

 Kayaking on Liberty Bay with family.

 The harbor seals were so cute, especially the little new borns.
We took a ferry over to Victoria, Canada.

We hiked a trail that gave us spectacular views of Mt. Rainier.
Seeing edelweiss on the mountain side was beautiful.
From the top of our trail you could see Mt. Adams.
The party of 8 that hiked the moderately difficult trail.  I was proud of the kids for not giving up, it was up hill for nearly an hour.






A wee friend that would join us for breakfast each morning.
Snoqualimie Falls.


One of our favorite things to do in Seattle, walk around Pike's Market.
We took over a ferry to visit Nana and Papa.




Hopefully it won't take us another 7 years to return home.


Sunday, June 19, 2016

** A Magical Hogwarts BIRTHDAY Celebration **

It's been nearly a year since moving back from England.  Those years were an incredible adventure and highlight for our family.  To celebrate summer birthday's, additionally 11-year-old S. has read the Harry Potter book series 12 times, we celebrated with a magical birthday.  My friend Andrea was so clever and creative with her daughter's H.P. party last year, she was very generous in allowing us to borrow some of her amazing props & ideas.  Between those things and bits and bobs we found whilst living in England, the party was a success.  

I think my favorite part of the party was making their own wands.  It was magic, all you need is a chopstick, hot glue and paints.

The sorting hat sorted everyone into their houses.
We had Professor Snype's cousin teach the potions class, later we did spells and just had an amazing double-fun party for E. and S.

Everyone was given a book of potions and the Standard Book of Spells.


The day ended with 2 Witches and a Wizard happy as can be.

Grateful Sunday

Just to list a few of the things I am most thankful for today:

1.  Watching my boy fall asleep, hearing his heavy breath and wondering what magical dreams he is dreaming of.  

2.  Looking out to see deer jump into and out of our garden, so graceful and quick.  We are getting smarter, although they are fun to watch they are distructive to our garden, we are finally adding a fence to our veggie & strawberry garden in the back, no more snacks for you!

3.  The bright red cardinals continue to entertain our family, they are one of our very favorite things about living in St. Louis.

4.  Next month marks our year of living in St. Louis.  We hit the jack pot when it comes to neighbourhoods, schools & church congregations. 

5.  Fresh bread out of the oven on a Sunday afternoon.

6.  Ready or not, this one is going to Middle School.


Wednesday, May 25, 2016

An Amazing Adventurous R&R in Greece & Italy

My baby sister is currently deployed to Germany with the Army, she was granted R&R and I couldn't resist her invitation to taker her invitation and join her!  I created this *The Best of Italy & Greece* Itinerary that started in Athens, island hopping to Hydra, flight into Venice, cutting through Tuscany (Cinque Terre & Pisa) by train, Rome, Naples and ending in Pompeii. This was the start of an amazing 10 day adventure.
We packed minimally, and were able to fit everything in a backpack and one camera bag.

The Agora.
This little green eyed cat was wanting some of my lunch, quietly begging in Greek.  After I shared some of it he then took a nap right behind me, which made me feel like I couldn't move a muscle as he relaxed on the stones to the Acropolis.  My flight came in before Colleen's, so I was able to scout out by foot exactly what to do to make the most of the rest of our travel day.  I was so excited to be back in Greece and content to just soak up everything Greek.
The Acropolis ("high city") is a citadel of ancient ruins that date all the way back to the 5th century B.C.  It is amazing to see the Acropolis today, one can only imagine how striking it would have been 2,500 years ago.  The Parthenon, the finest temple in the ancient world.
The Porch of the Maidens, 6 ladies strong.


There is a little neighborhood behind the Acropolis next to the Plaka called AnaFiotica.  It was built by some Greek families who wanted to get away from the hustle and bustle of the big city, it reminds me of homes you'd see on Santorini.


The amazing view of the Acropolis.
We woke up and headed down to Piraeus, the big port and hopped on a ferry to a small island of Hydra.  There are no motorized vehicles, just donkeys that can get you around.  There are no motorized vehicles on this island, just donkey's that can get you around.  We took an early boat over and it felt like we had parts of the island all to ourselves.




We made way for the busy merchant and donkeys carrying heavy loads.
 It was so nice to see poppies, one of my favorite flowers that we'd see every Spring in England.
We just walked down random staircases to the water and would peak behind every building and just soaked in every minute we had.

 We took a cheap budget airline over to Venice and started our way through Italy.
 San Marco's Square, San Marco Basilica, a splash in the rain that luckily we just missed.



Red sky at night, sailors delight.






 A cute little visitor during lunch.

Scala Contarini del Bovolo, an external staircase that is literally translated "snail-shell stairway".

 The Leaning Tower of Pisa.
 The best of Tuscany, the Cinque Terre.  This by far is one of my favorite places to visit in Italy.








 ROMA, ROMA, ROMA!


 Trevi Fountain.

 The Colosseum.





Fresh water from a Roman water fountain.
 St. Peter's Basilica, Vatican City.