4th of July part II

The sun went down the fireworks started and the sparklers came out.  

I just really like this shot of my dad watching the fireworks (even though it kind of looks like he can see me out of the corner of his eye).

sparkler light magic

I hope you all had a wonderful weekend!!!  

4th of July

Since the "ode to my brother Jeff" was a text only post I am going to bombard my blog with photos from this past weekend's 4th of July party.  

The birthday guy!

I know it's blurry but I just love her excitement over winning tug o' war

The girls win!!!

So many photogenic dogs at the party.  I was joking around that I should have brought my cats. 

In my family there are so many summer birthdays, but this group right here is just us July babies.  

more photos coming soon... sparklers and light magic!!!

Happy Birthday Jeff

I am ashamed to admit that it took me far to long to realize a simple fact:  My brother Jeff is amazing and despite the typical 'older brother teasing little sister' memories I have, my brother Jeff was amazing back then too.  On the surface of my childhood memories I can recall the names my brother bestowed upon me.  And there was also something said about me having "more rolls than a bakery".... Oh brothers can be so cruel.  He teased me constantly, never let me win at Nerf basketball, and would too often scare me with bugs (especially those huge locusts that came out in the summer).  There were many fun moments and a few inside jokes from old cartoons we watched together but I think the majority of my memories with Jeff consisted of all the teasing and brother like torture.  

However, this past year I came to this huge, HUGE realization- my brother has, in one way or another, always been there for me.  He took babysitting his sister (who is 9 years younger) to epic heights- taking me to see Follow that Bird, Care Bears, Rainbow Brite, etc, bringing me to the public pool or the beach during the summer and making me laugh with his impersonations of our parents.  I remember walking into our house on my birthday (I think it was my 9th) and my brother decorated the entire kitchen with hand-written birthday signs.  When I was in college he sent me a package with a video of me dancing to Paula Abdul and Sir Mix-a-lot (although I'm sure he meant to embarrass me more than make me smile).  At my wedding he wrote a speech that left my guests crying from laughing so hard and finished it off with one of our inside jokes.  

Jeff was there for me back then whether it was keeping me company or driving me around everywhere.  Even though I am sure he hated all my requests I don't think he ever said "no" to me once.  Now I have this older brother who respects me, is there to listen to me and give brotherly advice when needed and is just an all around awesome guy.  

So, today is my brother's birthday and I feel there is no better day to let him know that I appreciate the memories he has given me.  Happy Birthday Jeff!!! I love you and I just love cheese... really I do.  

A perfect Saturday morning...

for running through the grass, enjoying the sunshine, and family portraits!

James Family

I had such a fun time with the James Family at Valley Forge.  We found a great place to play in the grass, catch butterflies and ladybugs, explore log cabins and pose like George Washington.  

Joel captured this adorable moment...

while I was hanging out with this hysterical kid.  

Thank you guys for letting me spend the morning with you- Joel and I had a great time.  Next session you can wear all white and pose like the couple from Juno.  

My parents

I love my parents- it's absolutely no lie.  It's frightening how much I am like both of them.  I don't have my father's humor or my mother's sassiness but I find moments where I am saying something my father would say or dancing like my mother.  I don't like when too much time passes and I don't get to see them so I was really excited when they came down for a weekend- I almost didn't let them leave.  Before they headed back home I was able to grab some shots of the two them.  

it really doesn't take much for my dad to make my mom laugh

my mother is the most confident woman I know and I am so grateful 

I am so glad I got this shot since I was laughing so hard while taking it.  40 years of marriage and they still are having fun.  

happy mother's day

If I was a writer I would have written a book about my mother; or at least a poem.  There is just so much to say about this woman who let me sleep next to her when I was scared of the dark, who ran back and forth during my dance recitals for my numerous costume changes, who taught me to look in the mirror and say, "Hot damn!" no matter what, and who has the the prettiest blue eyes I've ever seen.  

My mother is in Florida right now visiting my grandmother so I won't be seeing her for Mother's Day, but I will be thinking of her and giving thanks for the most wonderful woman in my life.  I really wish I had a recent photo of my mom but the last time I was home *somebody* feign sickness and didn't allow any photos.  So here is a "semi" recent photograph of my mother taken by my Tio Eduardo. 

The photograph above has always been a favorite of mine and inspired me to do my own version.... an ode to my mom.  

Happy Mother's Day!  I love you mommy.  

It's on!

Do you know why it's dance party time??

because thatgirlphotography.com is live!!!  

Check it out!!!

Adair's Birthday

Adair's party was such a blast; everyone involved had an incredible time.  There is no denying that Adair knows how to throw a party.  

Surprise Party

I love love love surprise parties.  I love the phone call that one of the guest gets and the "shh shh shh they're coming" and the reactions, of course.  I LOVE the reactions.  Joel and I went up to Connecticut to help surprise Uncle Blaise and celebrate his birthday and his reaction didn't disappoint!  

Uncle Blaise,  I really couldn't help posting these photos.  I hope you had a fantastic birthday!

And ode to a dear friend

One of my greatest friends is celebrating her birthday today.  Although I am not with her giving her hugs every 5 seconds thanking her for being my friend all these years; I am celebrating in my own way.  Kate is one of those friends that you hold onto forever and EVER.  I don't think I could have made it through my years at Marist College if it weren't for Kate.  It's a continuing joke how our friendship even started seeing as we had absolutely NOTHING in common.  We spent a lot of time together though during college: talking for hours on end, her cooking- me eating, going to the movies, Kate singing along to any and every song she knew, heading into the city for concerts, spending time in the library her studying- me staring out the window, and me teasing her about pretty much everything.  I still wonder how and why she put up with me during that time but I am so grateful that she did.  I even got a wonderful and willing model out of her during my photography courses.  

I didn't finish school at Marist College but I will always be grateful for my time there.  It is where I met one of the most wonderful women I will ever know.  9 years later and we still don't have very much in common but a true understanding, respect and love for one another.  I couldn't ask for a better friend than Kate.  Happy  Birthday to my dearest friend!!!!

I love you girl and I can't wait to see you soon.