The Grubb Family

Well, hello, Fall. It is nice of you to have arrived. Your early evening light and vibrant colors make my photo subjects look so beautiful.

Case in point: the Grubb Family. Tracy, Kevin, and their three boys, Adam, Alex, and Noah.

Here's what you need to know: these boys are like my little brothers. A long time ago, when I was old enough to stay at home by myself and no longer needed daycare, my mom decided I should spend my summer vacations being the daycare provider. Except that she gave it a nicer name: Mother's Helper. I started helping at the Grubb house the summer that Noah was born. And in two years, he will be as old as I was when he was born. Crazy how time flies. But I have watched all of them grow up into fun, outgoing, respectful, strapping boys. And I couldn't be more proud of anyone.

So Tracy was the mom I got to help out. And the funny thing about it, is that I think over the years, she has given me more help than I could ever possibly give her. Through the tumultuous years of my teenagerhood, she was such a good source of advice and always had a listening ear, especially for those things that I couldn't tell my mom (don't worry, mom, it wasn't anything bad - just teenage girl woes). In addition to letting me come on vacations with them, they opened their house to my family, inviting us over for dinner at least one night a week, and hosted my graduation party. When it came time for me learn how to drive, Kevin was willing to take his life in his hands, hop into the passenger seat, and show me how to navigate the open road (and to this day, I still yell at people who brake on the highway...one of the lessons I learned from him early on :o). And then, when I had to buy my first car, Kevin helped me pick out exactly the right one, learn to drive it - stick shift - and has helped resurrect it a time or two since.

Needless to say, I am honored to be able to document this family for their holiday-card-picture this year. In fact, I might have to photoshop them into my holiday family photo...because they are the type of friends who have most certainly become part of my family.

Btdubs, this is my new favorite photo. I know, I know, I have a new one every week...

A sweet Mom & Dad shot.

Tracy specifically requested this picture. Because it is exactly how she sees her family.

And just because this is totally typical of 11-year-olds...

Happy Wednesday!

Wedding Snapshots: Celebrations at the Bay

I know everyone has been waiting with baited breath for these...and now they are finally here, snapshots from last weeks wedding.

The bride is a good friend of mine from high school - we had every math class together, and swam under our high school mascot together. She is ambitious and practical and loves to laugh and have a good time. I happen to know that we also share a love of Taylor Swift ;o).

These two are good for each other - they have a lot of commonalities, but as the bride's sister (also a very good friend of mine) said in her toast, he (the groom) is the one person who can get her (the bride) to try new things...and she seems to like them more when doing them with him.

Thanks to the bride and her family for allowing me to be a part of this celebration. They are some of the most kind, caring, generous people I know, and that's saying something. Not having a lot of family living close by, I have adopted several of my friends' families as my own, and this is one of those cases. I am lucky to be a part of their lives, and I know that my life has been better because they are a part of mine.

Stay tuned, there's more photo fun to come!

Graduation: Part Two

The thing that gets me about life's big events - graduations, engagements, weddings, births - is that they are just as much an ending as they are a beginning. And we try to capture them because they remind us of who we were and from where we have come.

My sister left college last weekend with a degree. But she also left with knowledge that will support her, friendships that will sustain her, and a future full of uncertainty, excitement, and endless possibilities.

Of all of the people she met during the past four years, Jason is the most special. He has been her friend, boyfriend, and now, fiancee. Graduating from college is just one of the many new beginnings they will experience together.

But enough sentimentalness. Amy was pretty excited that Lance Armstrong was speaking at her graduation. So excited, in fact, that when she heard that he would be stopping by the campus rec center to sign a spinning bike for the school, she stayed almost an hour after her workout to see if she could meet him. He didn't show; it turns out it's not easy that easy to get Lance Armstrong's signature. However, the next day, after the ceremony was over, we proceeded to the rec center to get Amy's real diploma (they give you a fake one when you walk across the stage), and they had the signed bike sitting in the gym. There were actually two, so we got a picture of Amy and the bikes.

Who knows, maybe there's a cycling championship in her future???