Connor's Blog: Jason Angelini Photography

"We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give." --Winston Churchill

We're back! It was a great trip and the convention gave mom and dad some awesome new ideas. I definitely have lots to tell you and pictures of course, but right now we are all getting ready to go with mom to her doctor's appointment. Today we find out if the new baby will be a little brother or a little sister. We can't wait!!!

I can't wait to ride on the airplane today! Mom says that I'm excited about it now, but she hopes I'll stay happy about it while I'm on the plane. She's nervous about how I'll do being still that long.

I'm still only one year old (at least for another few weeks) and this will be the 6th state I've visited already! I'm a well-traveled toddler . When we get back, I'm sure I'll have stories to tell and pictures to share.

Dad is in Vegas getting some great ideas at the workshop he is attending before the convention begins. Mom and I can't wait to join him on Saturday!

Jennie and Ryan celebrated their wedding on St. Patrick's Day. Though the main color theme of the wedding was red, Jennie still wore her "something green" to follow the tradition of the day.

Her "something blue" was really cute too. It was her new name sewn into her dress.

Jennie and Ryan were married at the Lange Farm and had Jessica Meiczinger of Simply Divine Events as their wedding coordinator. The ceremony was on the South Lawn and they had decorated the big tree with hanging crystals.

The bride arrived at the ceremony in a vintage car, and it was also waiting for the couple at the end of the aisle as the ceremony ended.

At the reception, the couple set up a yummy candy buffet with all red candies to match their wedding theme. Dad said it was a huge hit! Have a wonderful honeymoon, Jennie and Ryan!

The next day dad was able to photograph the wedding of another fabulous couple. Kathie and Harry were married at the Sirata Beach Resort. Jamie and the staff there are always wonderful to work with.

Reverend Tom Greene (727-403-6308) was the officiant for the beach ceremony. Mom thought this picture of Kathie getting teary was so sweet.

Dad said the couple were great people and wonderful together. Shoes off, cuddling in for a kiss...Awwww .

The reception was quite a party! Once the glow necklaces came out things really got going! Dad wants to thank Kathie and Harry for an awesome time.

Dad is leaving EARLY tomorrow morning and mom and I are sad. We are going to miss him! He is heading to Vegas for the WPPI Convention, which is one of the biggest photography conventions in the country held every year in March. Mom and I will be joining him but we don't get there until late on Saturday.

We will be taking the next week off since dad will be out of town, but if you need to reach him just call him on his cell phone. You can also send an email because dad will hopefully have internet access (and if not, mom will check his email for him until Saturday when we leave).

The convention should be lots of fun, and there are so many great speakers and classes to learn from in addition to an awesome trade show to see all the latest products. We can't wait!

I will be sharing some pictures from the two weddings dad photographed this past weekend soon. Right now I have to finish helping dad pack and spend time with him before he leaves.

PLEASE be sure to check your dog and cat food to be sure it is not part of the national recall. Dogs and cats have had kidney issues and there have been deaths related to this. Here is the press release put out by the manufacturer:

and here is a link to find out which brands and products have been affected for dogs:

A while ago, we learned more about pet food and the by-products used in most brands and the impact that could have on pet health. We began to look into pet foods with fresh and healthy ingredients. We found a wonderful brand, Nature's Select, that is delivered to our house free of charge through a company called Paul's Pet Food. The price is about the same as the bags of Eukanuba we had been using, but we get a healthier product with free home delivery! Be sure to check them out at:

On their site, you can read more about the benefits of Nature's Select and about how to have your pet food delivered to you in many areas around the country. The wonderful couple that currently delivers the food in the Tampa area is currently transferring their business to a new owner so they are in a transition period, but we still highly recommend both the product and the service.

Okay, so he seems like a really nice guy with a good family, he's only 17 and has taken a lot of criticism and handled it well, and he does have some talent, but COME ON! Sanjaya is still in the competition?? Just in case you don't watch, I'm talking about American Idol. Because I cannot believe that so many people are sincerely voting for him, I have to believe the rumor that www.votefortheworst.com is really having an influence. Apparently, they've even been talked about on the Howard Stern show which might have given them more people to help their cause. It is sad for Sanjaya because either he has the false hope that he is actually better than the others being voted out, or he knows he isn't but stayed in instead of them anyways.

I feel a little bad talking about it because mom says she remembers in some past season of idol there was an unexpected elimination and in an interview the person that stayed said they were getting death threats. DEATH THREATS!!! That's so crazy! It is hard to imagine what Sanjaya must be dealing with through all of this.

The plus to it is that the show has been criticized for being boring this season, so without the Antonella and Sanjaya controversies, I'm sure ratings would be much lower.

Mom and I like Lakisha, Blake (love the beat boxing!), Melinda, sometimes Jordin (who seems so sweet and has such a pretty smile!) and sometimes Stephanie. Chris R. is decent when he isn't so Justin Timberlake-y, and Gina is okay because she stands out and knows her style (though that doesn't always work out, as Sundance singing "Jeremy" showed). Chris S. is funny, but mom and I aren't big fans of his performances. Haley and Phil are hard for us to remember, so they couldn't have been that great since they didn't stand out to us. Haley forgetting her words and crying about it might have been the best thing she could have done to be noticed and remembered! But all we remember about Phil is that he wears a hat all the time.

This is just a quick entry to "share the love." I really like having my blog and mom and I love to hear that people come visit my blog and enjoy reading it. Feel free to email us any time with blog comments or ideas!

There are many blogs out there that deserve some attention for one reason or another so I just wanted to post a few of them here.

Playful Pancakes is the blog of a 2nd grade girl who is working to earn money to help children in the Sudan. What an inspirational girl!

The Something Good blog suggests simple ways to do something good to better yourself or your world every day.

Denise and Brandon had such a great wedding! They had the kind of wedding they show in the movies, with happy tears and love and laughter. You could just see how much they enjoyed being with each other and how well they complimented each other. The ceremony was emotional for both of them and seeing their tears made some of their guests cry as well. Then the reception had a packed dance floor and all the guests just celebrated and had a blast. It was a wonderful day.

Their wedding was at the Grand Plaza in St. Pete Beach. Denise got ready in one of the penthouse suites and had the always fantastic Darla Stafford for her hair and makeup.

The beach ceremony had many cute details, including a "Shoes Optional" sign and little brushes decorated with shells for guests to brush the sand off of their feet. The couple also had a steel drummer and dad said he did a great job. His name was Shamel Proctor of Mello Vibes Entertainment (813-732-8826).

The reception was in the Presidential Ballroom on the Penthouse Level of the resort. The large windows have a great view overlooking the beach.

Denise and Brandon were laughing and enjoying themselves throughout the reception. The couple and their guests had fun on the dance floor all night.

Now there are two types of bridesmaids and groomsmen. There are those who go to the bride and groom's room and sprinkle flower petals on the bed, light candles, and create a romantic atmosphere for the newlywed's wedding night. Then there are those who go to the room with toilet paper and shaving cream and trash the place! Denise and Brandon got a good laugh from it when they went up to their room that night. They probably weren't laughing as much when they had to clean it up though .

Never underestimate Spring Break on the beaches in Florida! Dad had an engagement session with Sarah and Nick in Clearwater on Sunday. He was sitting in traffic for such a long time and could not figure out why! There were police officers directing traffic and it was taking forever just to go a couple blocks. He called mom who was with Aunt Lora and Aunt Lora told dad that the colleges were out for Spring Break. That explains it!

It was a great night on the beach that evening, and Sarah and Nick were such nice people. Sunset was a pretty background for their pictures.

After the beach closed for the night (with security guards there to be sure everyone left), dad went down Gulf Boulevard with Sarah and Nick and stopped for pictures near some shops. Mom thought this picture of the couple and their reflection was beautiful.

They also stopped outside an ice cream shop and the people working came out with springy flamingo headbands for the couple to wear. How Floridian!

Dad said it was a great weekend for him working with two sweet couples and he wants to thank both of them for a terrific time.

Today Nonna (what I call my great-grandma) has to go into the hospital. She should get to go home tomorrow evening but we just want to tell her that we are all praying for her. We love you Nonna!

Spring ahead tonight before you go to bed! With the new law that was passed, Daylight Saving Time begins at 2am on March 11th. I have always heard it called Daylight Savings Time, but the official spelling is Saving not Savings. Click HERE for a website with lots of information about it. This means it is going to be harder for me to wake up for church in the morning!

James and Allison welcomed their beautiful baby girl into the world just 2 and a half weeks ago and dad got to meet her on Friday. He said that James and Allison were just glowing with love. They were in great moods for new parents who aren't getting much sleep ! Dad says it has been an awesome experience to share so many special moments with James and Allison. He photographed their wedding, then Allison's maternity session, and now he was able to share in the excitement of their new baby. Here are a few pictures of the precious new arrival.

Thanks to James and Allison for including us in the important moments of your life, and dad is looking forward to photographing your family again in April for the Christening!

Dad found the girl scouts but they said they were sold out of Thin Mints. Oh well, he brought home PLENTY of Samoas! It is a good thing they freeze well!

I thought everyone might enjoy a laugh, so here are a few wedding and photography jokes to bring you a smile.

First is a quick cartoon that I love! A photographer doing a child's portrait session...gone wrong. It is so funny!

For a unique ceremony, what about wedding vows inspired by Dr. Suess (written by Marty Blase):

     Pastor: Will you answer me right now
     These questions, as your wedding vow?

     Groom: Yes, I will answer right now
     Your questions as my wedding vow.

     Pastor: Will you take her as your wife?
     Will you love her all your life?

     Groom: Yes, I take her as my wife,
     Yes, I'll love her all my life.

     Pastor: Will you have, and also hold
     Just as you have at this time told?

     Groom: Yes, I will have, and I will hold

And a joke gone wrong...A bride in the UK finds that the Registrar didn't have the best sense of humor:

"A bride who jokingly replied 'I don't' during her wedding found that her joke backfired slightly - as the registrar then refused to go ahead with the ceremony.

As a result, the entire wedding had to be cancelled, and the guests sent home.

Tina Albrecht, 27, was to marry fiancé Dietmar Koch, 29, at a castle in Steyr, Upper Austria. But the wedding had to be called off after Albrecht, a receptionist, tried to bring a bit of humour into the ceremony by saying 'I don't', before immediately correcting herself.

Under an Austrian law intended to prevent forced marriages if either party replies to the key question in the negative the wedding is cancelled and cannot be rescheduled for a further 10 weeks.

Ms Albrecht said: 'We had to send all our guests home and now we have to wait until March before we can try again.

She added: 'In retrospect it was probably not so funny.'

Frankly, we have to disagree on that point."

And lastly, here are a couple from the web site www.butlerwebs.com/jokes/marriage.htm:

The Secret to a Happy Marriage

A couple was celebrating their Golden wedding anniversary. Their domestic tranquility had long been the talk of the town. A local newspaper reporter was inquiring as to the secret of their long and happy marriage.

"Well, it dates back to our honeymoon, " explained the husband. "We visited the Grand Canyon and took a trip down to the bottom of the canyon by pack mule. We hadn't gone too far when my wife's mule stumbled.

My wife quietly said 'That's once.'

We proceeded a little further when the mule stumbled again. Once more my wife quietly said, 'That's twice.'

We hadn't gone a half-mile when the mule stumbled a third time. My wife promptly removed a revolver from her purse and shot the mule.

I started to protest over her treatment of the mule when she looked at me and quietly said, "That's once."

A woman awoke during the night to find that her husband was not in bed. She put on her robe and went downstairs. He was sitting at the kitchen table with a cup of coffee in front of him. He appeared to be in deep thought, just staring at the wall. She saw him wipe a tear from his eye and take a sip of his coffee. "What's the matter dear? Why are you down here at this time of night?" she asked.
"Do you remember twenty years ago when we were dating and you were only 16?" he asked.
"Yes, I do," she replied.
"Do you remember when your father caught us in the back seat of my car making out?"
"Yes, I remember."
"Do you remember when he shoved that shotgun in my face and said, 'Either you marry my daughter or spend twenty years in jail?"
"Yes, I do," she said.
He wiped another tear from his cheek and said, "You know...I would have gotten out today."

Where are those girl scouts with the Samoas and Thin Mints? Last year they were at the grocery store, Walmart, and even church selling their cookies. This year we can't find them any where! Mom had dad call Publix yesterday and they said the girl scouts were there, but by the time dad got over there they had already left. Mom says she better get some Samoas soon!

Mom has been feeling the baby moving around lately, which she just loves. Many pregnant women will tell you that feeling the baby is one of their favorite things about being pregnant. Dad on the other hand is jealous because it will be a few more weeks before the movements are strong enough that he will be able to put his hand on her belly and feel them as well.

Saturday was Adriana and Angel's wedding day. The bride's mom had the same name as my mom, though she pronounced it differently. I thought that was really neat! Mom and dad have been talking a lot about names lately as they are trying to decide on a baby name.

Adriana was a gorgeous bride. Here is a picture of her before the ceremony began.

Mom thought the rings matched really well together. The bride's wedding band is beautiful.

At the reception, the favors for the guest were little sacks of Columbian coffee beans. They were so cute and smelled good too! (We took most of the couple's last name off the favor tag, which is why you can see just one letter and a swirl at the end of the name).

During some down time at the reception, dad took the couple away for bride and groom pictures. Dad says they were a great couple to photograph. Here is his favorite picture of the night:

On St. Patrick's Day, Jennie and Ryan will be tying the knot. Dad met up with them on Sunday for their engagement session. They had a great time just walking through the streets and down alleyways.

Jennie and Ryan had great smiles and enjoyed themselves, which made the session fun.

As the session was winding down, dad realized that they had walked many blocks away from where they had parked. He was having so much fun that he didn't even notice how far they had gone! Dad can't wait until March 17th to see them again.

Who is voting for Antonella on American Idol? Mom and I don't understand it! She can't sing well at all, and she is rude! How has she made it through the past two eliminations?

I'm working on updating my blog to match dad's new site better. Did you notice the new picture in my title? Mom gave me two pictures to choose from and that was the one I picked out. Here is the other picture:

Aunt Lora's favorite picture of me is from December. It shows me with my tongue out.

It's kinda cute, but it doesn't show enough of my "toddlerness" to use for my blog. The title says "Confessions of a Toddler TERROR" after all! In August, mom says we might have to change my blog around again so my little sister or brother can be a part of it. We'll see. I've worked hard on it so maybe I don't want to share and the baby can think of their own way to help dad out. For now, I've got a few more ideas on ways to update my blog that I'll keep working on when I can.

A couple days ago mom, dad, and I met with Stefany from Touched By an Angel Childbirth Services. We have decided that she will be great to have around when mom goes into labor, so she is going to be our doula. In case you haven't heard of a doula, you can check out www.dona.org to read about what a doula does. Some of the benefits of using a doula include a 50% reduction in C-section rate and a 25% shorter labor.