THE PLANT A BILLION TREES CAMPAIGN:  UPDATE

On Earth Day, we joined the Nature Conservancy's Plant a Billion Trees Campaign with a goal of raising $500 to plant 500 trees in one of the world's most endangered tropical forests.  These forests are essential in regulating oxygen and carbon dioxide in the atmosphere and stabilizing the global climate.  They are also a source of clean water, hydro power, and home to a wide variety of wildlife. 

We are so proud to announce that with the donations from our auction...

WE HAVE MET OUR GOAL!!!!

Thank you so much to everyone who donated and participated in the auction.  500 trees in less than a month...WOW.  You are all amazing.  Thank you for helping to protect and restore the forests so we can make a difference now and for the next generation!

On Tuesday dad told me he was going to the beach for Sara and Justin's engagement session.  I asked mom if we could all go so my brother and I could play while dad took pictures and after I explained to her how much I wanted to go she said okay.

We got there and I got to meet Sara, Justin, and their doggy Ellie.  Their dog is cute and fluffy and lots smaller than either of our two dogs!  Dad went off with Sara, Justin, and Ellie for pictures as the sun began to fall, giving some amazing warm light.

While dad was taking pictures, me and my brother were playing with mom in the sand.

Yes, my brother's hair is really that long again already.

After my brother played for about two minutes, he went straight toward the water and crawled right in!  Mom didn't even get a chance to put his swimsuit on because she was still deciding whether she was going to let him go in the water or not.  He decided for her.  This was only his second time at the beach and he had lots of fun splashing and trying to eat shells.

And I had fun too of course!  I played with my bucket for a while and then I decided to take on the adventure of climbing the rock wall.

Dad, Sara, Justin, and Ellie made their way over to where we were playing and at the end of the session I got to watch dad take pictures.  I told Sara and Justin that I forgot my camera so I couldn't take pictures of them as well, but I know dad did a good job himself. 

It was fun getting to meet Sara and Justin, and I can't wait to see pictures from their wedding at the Crosley Estate next spring!

The South Seas Island Resort on Captiva Island was hit hard by Hurricane Charlie in 2004.  It was closed for almost two years for renovations but it is now open and once again a beautiful Florida beach resort.  It is where Amy and Justin were married on Sunday.

The wedding had a beach theme with lots of starfish and bright pink and green as the colors.  The ceremony chairs, set up on the beach, had pink sashes dressing them up with starfish in green ribbon decorating the aisle.  On every chair there were fans with pink or green ribbon.  Nearby was a table set up with refreshments for the guests, including pink lemonade with lime slices.  The bridesmaids wore pink and green tropical dresses and carried white bouquets while the bride, wearing a gown with a green ribbon, carried a bouquet of pink flowers and green orchids.

A sweet moment as the ceremony ended:

The newlyweds on the beach as a boat sails by in the background:

For the reception, Amy changed her green ribbon for a pink one.  Mom thought that was pretty cool!  And check out the starfish pin decorating the bow.

Amy and Justin are so gorgeous!  Dad had fun taking pictures of them in the ice cream shop.

AMC Video Productions was the videographer and dad gets to work with them again tomorrow.  Dad also got to work with the Danny Morgan Band at the reception.

Congratulations newlyweds!  You did a great job putting together your tropical beach wedding!

All the way from California, Erin and Bill came to get married at the Crosley in Sarasota on Saturday.  Poor Erin had a cold but she ignored it as much as she could to enjoy her day.  Actually, Erin called dad yesterday and in her message she sounded even worse!  Good thing they aren't going on their honeymoon right away.  Rest and get better, Erin!  And thanks SO much for the wonderful message you left for dad.  He listened to it and even played it for mom because he appreciated all the great things you said.

Erin and Bill saw each other before the ceremony and took some of their pictures then.  This is mom's favorite:

The ceremony was in the grass by the water.  Erin's brother was the musician for the ceremony.

Erin's brother also did the lighting for the outdoor reception that evening.  Here is the couple's pretty cake:

During the reception, Erin's dad sang a song that he wrote for her.  Dad said it was very sweet.  He also said that I would have enjoyed the song that Erin and her dad sang together, There's a Hole in My Bucket.

The wedding was so much fun some of the guests got tuckered out.

Mom loved all the flowers that decorated the wedding.  It really dressed everything up and the flowers were gorgeous!  The bride's mom is a potter and helped with the flowers and she gave dad some to take home which mom had as a centerpiece on our kitchen table.  The florist for the wedding was Cheryl with Skip's Florist in New Port Richey (727-938-2274).

Erin and Bill, you are a great couple and you planned a beautiful wedding with attention to the details!  Thanks for having us there to capture it for you.

Last month dad photographed Allison and Jonathon's engagement session and he was happy to join them again on Friday as they were married at the Rusty Pelican in Tampa. 

The Rusty Pelican was set up with a black and white theme.  The centerpieces were created by Arlene Floral Designer.

Dad said when the ring bearer came down the aisle he went straight to Jonathon.  It was cute to see Jonathon crouch down to encourage him.

The ceremony was sweet, and as Allison and Jonathon looked at each other you could see how connected they were.

Dad took advantage of the beautiful clouds in the sky as a backdrop for the bride and groom's pictures.

Doug Decker from Grant Hemond was the DJ and did a great job.  Dad said the bride's sister rocked the dance floor!  Mom liked this picture of the paparazzi during the cake cutting.

Congratulations Allison and Jonathon!  Dad was happy to share in your day.

A few days after photographing their newborn session, dad met up with Alicia and her new son for a generations mini session.  Alicia brought her sister, mom, and grandma for pictures with her little boy.  What great memories for their family!

Four generations:

Thanks for having dad meet your wonderful family, Alicia! 

Danielle and Brandon came from New York to say their vows in a romantic and intimate ceremony on the beach.  Dad first talked to Danielle over a year ago as she shared her ideas for a secluded elopement on the beaches of Florida.  Dad said she was enthusiastic and cheerful through all their emails and he was happy to see she was the same in person. 

From A Charmed Event, Mark was the officiant and Charity was the planner, and dad was happy to see them again.  Mark, Charity, dad, the musicians, and Tim Taylor (the videographer, not Tim Allen's character from Home Improvement ) were there to witness Danielle and Brandon become husband and wife.  There was a bit of light rain, but it helped set the quiet, romantic mood even more. 

Thank you so much for including us in something so intimate and special.  Congratulations, and have a wonderful time celebrating with family and friends in New York!

After photographing Alison's maternity session, dad got to meet Alicia and Ozzy's new son and take pictures of him.  Dad did a session with Alicia and Ozzy when my brother was just a newborn.  Now their own son is one month old!  Mom got to meet him as well and said that he looked so tiny compared to my brother!  They grow too quickly.  Mom thinks the baby looks like his dad but has Alicia's eyes.  Here are some pictures of Alicia and Ozzy with their baby boy:

His expression here made mom laugh.

They are such a pretty family!

Dad was with Alicia again yesterday for a mini session with more of her family so I will be sharing pictures from that very soon.  Congratulations to Alicia and Ozzy on your beautiful new blessing! 

On Sunday dad met Alison and Richard for a maternity session.  They are parents to a baby girl who will be arriving soon.  Actually, after their first ultrasound they thought they'd be having a boy but a later ultrasound showed them their baby girl and they had to repaint their nursery! 

A woman who is growing and nurturing life inside of her body has a beauty that permeates her whole being, and the love and amazement of a soon-to-be dad radiates from him every time he looks at his wife.  Pregnancy really is such a special time, and dad was happy to photograph Alison and Richard.  Here are a few of the pictures:

This one was mom's favorite:

We can't wait to meet your daughter when she arrives!  It is obvious that she is already very loved.

My brother's fever went up over 103 today.  It is weird because he has no other symptoms other than the fever so the pediatrician doesn't know what is wrong.  If he still has a fever tomorrow, it will be 4 days of him having a fever and taking lots of medicine to keep it down (per the instructions of his pediatrician of course).  He is a trooper and still finds the energy to crawl to the dog water to try to splash, but he is mostly just grumpy and wants to be held.  Mom, dad, and I all feel bad for him.  Dad will be gone at weddings tomorrow, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday and since mom will be busy with my brother it might take a bit longer for us to respond to emails for the next few days.  But we will get back to you as soon as we can!

I've been so excited to tell you about Casey and Nate getting married on Saturday but my brother has been sick with a fever so I haven't had a chance to blog.  Even though my brother is still sick, mom and dad are both staying up late tonight to catch up a little and I had to share some pictures of the wedding.

Dad loved this couple when he met them for their engagement session a year ago and couldn't wait for their wedding day.  They are wonderful people and when you see them together you know that they are going to be one of those old couples who shuffle around holding hands and giving each other wrinkly kisses.  There were so many tender and loving moments throughout their wedding, and there were just as many laughs!

The day started bright and early at the Renaissance Vinoy.  Casey looked gorgeous, and mom loved the feather accent she wore in her hair.  The flower girl had something similar in her hair, and Casey also put a bit of feathery accents on her shoes.

As Casey was getting ready, dad took her dress out of the room to photograph it.  A bridesmaid let dad know that Nate was trying to get his attention.  Dad looked and Nate was hiding around the corner, barely peeking enough to see dad.  He had to give dad a few things to photograph but he didn't want to risk seeing the dress because Casey had asked him not to.  Dad thought it was sweet of him. 

Without knowing it, Casey and Nate both chose watches as their wedding gifts to one another.  Dad loved Nate's new Kenneth Cole watch. 

The ceremony was at the Vinoy's Tea Garden.  Mom LOVED the flowers and greenery that decorated the fountain, the chairs, and even the wagon the flower girl entered on.  Casey, be sure to let us know who your florist was so we can share with everyone!  (Update:  We should have guessed her florist was the talented Dana Dineen!)

As the processional for the ceremony began, it started sprinkling a little.  The coordinator at the Vinoy signaled to Nate to ask him if he wanted to move the ceremony inside.  Like a good husband, Nate told her to find Casey and ask her.  Casey kept the ceremony outside and the rain stopped before it even really started.

Aren't they a beautiful couple?!

Mom thought it was adorable when she saw this picture!  Casey's bridesmaids were having trouble with her bustle and Nate jumped right in to help, even offering pins from his boutonniere.

The Sunset Ballroom:

A romantic moment as dinner began:

At the end of the night, all the guests surrounded Casey and Nate for a big group hug.

The last dance:

After the reception dad took a few pictures of the newlyweds with the Corvette they had rented.

Casey and Nate are so much fun to be around.  They have pure hearts and a pure love for one another.  It was an honor for dad to photograph their absolutely beautiful wedding.  Casey and Nate, be sure to stay in touch!

Today dad met with Cindy and Damien.  Everett was not feeling well and mom was trying to get him to rest so I came out to help dad with the meeting.  I took a couple pictures as they were talking with dad and I think they liked my photography skills!  They decided to have dad photograph their wedding in July.  How exciting!

Check my blog again soon for pictures dad took at a couple sessions on Sunday!

Hi!  This is Connor's little brother.  I'm helping him on his blog to tell you about a 3 month session dad just did.  Mommy and I got to hang out at the session and see the baby and her family.  They were all great people!  The baby was showing off her great tummy time skills and was even trying to sit up on her own already!  Her aunt came too and she didn't mind when I kept waving at her over and over to make her wave back.  The baby's mommy and daddy made silly faces sometimes and were lots of fun.  The mommy even said that I could come play at a play group she goes to!  That would be awesome!  We don't want you to move out of state, but if you do daddy says you better come down to visit FL lots so we can see the baby grow.  Here are some pictures that daddy took:

This is one of mommy's favorites:

The baby had a lovey that helped her calm down.  Doesn't she look so comfy and ready for a nap!

Mommy, daddy, and I think you are such a wonderful family and I'm happy that I got to meet you!  We hope to see all of you again soon!

Here is a picture daddy took of me when the baby was taking a break.

With my baby brother helping me out on my blog, I had more time for fun!  For the past week we've been going swimming almost every day.  Aunt Kellie and her friend came over a few days to swim with us.  Mom took a few pictures of them under the water.

My brother went into the pool for the first time last week too.  I think the water is a little too cold for him still but he enjoys it.  Dad got him a baby raft thing to sit in and he loves kicking his feet in that.

Dad got me some floaties.  At first, I still wanted people to hold me, even with the floaties on.  Soon mom showed me how to kick my feet and swim so that I didn't need to be held!  Of course, an adult has to be right next to me every second that I am in the pool, but I am so proud that I am learning how to swim!!!

I have more to share so check my blog again soon for more pictures and updates!

The same day that Jenna Bush and Henry Hager were married in Crawford, Texas...

photo by White House photographer Shealah Craighead

...Debbie and Jeremy were married at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, with their reception following at the Doubletree Hotel in Tampa.  

The morning of the wedding, Debbie had a gift for Jeremy.  He opened engraved cufflinks that held a picture of his grandparents inside.  It was obvious that his grandparents meant a lot to him and he really appreciated the gift.

Debbie had the talented Darla Stafford for hair and makeup that morning. 

Sacred Heart is a beautiful church!

Guests were greeted with a program handed out by two adorable little girls.  They wore dresses with purple to match the wedding color and held the programs in a basket with purple gingham.

During the ceremony:

For pictures, dad went outside the church with the wedding party.  There were some of the best jumpers dad had seen in a while in this group!

The newlyweds:

Rob Sword rocked as the DJ and dad had fun working with him.  The guests obviously had a lot of fun too and kept the dance floor packed!  Dad liked seeing images from the engagement session he did with the couple used at the reception.  The guest book was an album with the pictures, and the card box also featured the engagement pictures.

Thanks for having us as a part of your day, Debbie and Jeremy.  You had an awesome wedding!

Mom asked me if I would show off her mother's day gifts on my blog because she loved them so much.  It was her first mother's day with two boys so I got her a card from me and my brother:

If you can't read the inside of the card, it says, "Happy Mother's Day from me and my brother."  She thought it was so funny!  She also loved that I was able to make the "C" and the "O" in the card because I am learning to write my name.

Everett got mom a card too and inside he drew his very first picture ever which mom thought was awesome.

We have a rule for Mother's Day that gifts have to be home made or memory making (which is open to interpretation, but for the most part means pictures, home movies, or going out together as a family).  I've given mom some framed art work of mine and a handprint and footprint for past mother's days.  This year I combined both of those ideas.  Dad got me a giant roll of paper and helped me trace how big I am.  Then I colored it and mom got a poster showing how big I am now with my art on it.  Mom loves those kinds of keepsakes and had been hinting that she wanted something like that so she was really excited when she saw it hanging on the wall.  I felt very proud.

Dad gave mom her gift early and she loves showing it off!   It is a charm bracelet with a picture of me, Everett, and our family together.

He also left mom the message on my blog.  It was funny because mom didn't notice right away and dad couldn't figure out a way to get her to check the blog.  She didn't really have any reason to check it since she is the one that usually helps me with it.  So dad had it opened and started saying how he would have added more pictures to the Mother's Day entry if he did it, which got mom irritated.  She said something snippy about how maybe he should have done it himself because it would have been nice for him to say something from me to her on there.  Dad didn't say anything and a few minutes later mom saw my blog still open and then saw the message dad had already left for her!

I wanted to share a picture of us enjoying the home made cookies Grammy sent for Mother's Day, but we ate them all before it was even Mother's Day. 

After meeting up with Julie and Michael for a family session last Wednesday, dad went back down to Fort Myers on Friday for the couple's wedding at the Pink Shell Beach Resort.  Julie and Michael, as well as many of their guests, live up north so it was wonderful that the day was so beautiful!  The sky was blue with fluffy clouds and there was a nice breeze.

The day had a beach theme with decorative starfish stakes marking the aisle at the ceremony, seashells and starfish in sand with the reception place cards, white chocolate seashell favors, and starfish with seashells decorating the base of the centerpieces which held candles placed in sand.

The reception was outside by the pool and the couple had a band from Danny Morgan Musical Services.  Dad loves the atmosphere a live band creates.  Mom thought it was great that there were lots of kids at the wedding enjoying the party and helping to celebrate Julie and Michael.

The newlyweds had a terrific time and didn't take anything too seriously.  They are a friendly and fun couple and we wish them a happy life together!  Here are a few pictures from their day:

The flower girl was adorable!

Julie coming down the aisle:

Sunset:

Lucia...I love you so much. You are an awesome mom and an amazing wife!!! I am so blessed that you are in my life and am so happy to have two fabulous Kids. Connor and Everett have the best mom ever!!

Love Jason

To Alison, Carolina, Stacy, Amber, Bronwyn, Andrea, Elizabeth, Rachel, Shannon, and other moms-to-be...

And to Erin, Allison, Kristy, Lauren, Weslie, Erica, Jodi, Teresa, Heather, Emily, Sarah, Terra, Riley, Kendra, Rachelle, Alicia...

To ALL moms...

Happy Mother's Day!!!  Enjoy this day celebrating the miracle of motherhood. 

"The moment a child is born, the mother is also born.  She never existed before.  The woman existed, but the mother, never.  A mother is something absolutely new."  -Rajneesh

"I remember my mother's prayers and they have always followed me.  They have clung to me all my life."  -Abraham Lincoln

On Thursday, Caitie and Ian celebrated their wedding at the Bilmar Beach Resort.  Poor Caitie was not feeling well and her doctor had told her to get lots of rest, which of course is difficult to do on your wedding day!  Despite feeling ill, she made sure to enjoy herself and even got out onto the dance floor a couple times during the reception.

The Mayor of Treasure Island was the officiant which made the ceremony special.  Rob Sword of Sword Sounds had the guests dancing all through the reception.

A few pictures of their day:

Caitie changed clothes for the reception so she could feel more comfortable.  She looked beautiful no matter what she wore!

At the end of the night, Caitie put her gown back on for a few more pictures.

Congratulations Caitie and Ian!  Have fun on your honeymoon!!

The top bidders for all five items have been contacted so check your email to see if you have won the bid on an item!  Thanks to everyone who participated!

Weddings are one of the few events that brings together family from all over the country, or even internationally!  Julie (who is getting married TODAY!!) asked dad to come down to Fort Myers on Wednesday to take some pictures of her family on the beach.  Her family is in town for her wedding, which made it a perfect time for a family session!  Here are a couple pictures:

Michael was excited about his wedding just 2 days later!

I'm sure today is going to be wonderful!  I'll share pictures on the blog soon!

The top 3 bidders for each item have now been contacted.  If you did not receive an email, unfortunately you were not one of the top three bidders for that item.  Those of you who did receive an email have until midnight tonight to submit your final bid.  The winners of each item will be contacted tomorrow.  Remember, all the money raised goes right to the Plant a Billion Trees campaign so it is all tax deductible! 

Dad had an awesome time this weekend on a cruise to the Bahamas!  Jennifer and Julie planned a fun-filled weekend aboard Royal Caribbean's Sovereign of the Seas for their family and friends.  The ship had a casino, spa, basketball court, rock climbing wall, night club, theater, many restaurants...but dad said most people stayed at the bars or the pool.

(For those of you new to my blog, the red border, like the one on the picture of whole ship above, shows that the image came from dad's point and shoot camera.)

Saturday was Jennifer and Julie's ceremony.  Julie's dress was made by the mom of one of our former brides, Laura, who was in the wedding party.  Dad enjoyed catching up with Laura and Andy.  And after seeing Laura's dress a couple years ago and now Julie's dress, mom is convinced that Laura's mom needs to start a bridal gown shop.   

Both Jennifer and Julie looked absolutely beautiful in their gowns!  And the flowers in their hair made them look even more bridal.

Mom liked this picture because she thought it was a fun contrast to see the colorful lights behind the white vase of white wedding flowers.

The ceremony:

When the boat docked at Nassau, Jennifer and Julie had a catamaran for their guests.  Dad said it was one of the best parts of the weekend!  It gave everyone a chance to be together off of the big ship and enjoy themselves dancing, swimming, and snorkeling.

The next day the ship went to CocoCay, Royal Caribbean's private island.

Jennifer and Julie put their gowns back on for more pictures in front of the water...

...and in the water!

Dad had a blast hanging out with them taking pictures.  Then he spent the rest of the afternoon snorkeling.  Mom thought it was funny when he came home 1/2 tanned and 1/2 burned from laying on his belly snorkeling for hours.

Sunset from the ship's deck:

The last night the ship had a scavenger hunt that turned into Boys Gone Wild!  Dad thought he had seen the group's wild side at Senor Frog the day before, but he got to see more than he bargained for during the scavenger hunt .  It was all in good fun and everyone had an awesome time.

Julie and Jennifer, dad says to thank you lots and lots for having him celebrate with you.  You two are so wonderful and the entire weekend was a blast.  Have a great time in St. Lucia for your honeymoon!!

Thanks to everyone who sent in bids for the items in our auction!  The top 5 bidders for each item have now been contacted.  If you did not receive an email, unfortunately you were not one of the top five bidders for that item.  Those of you who did receive an email have until midnight tonight to submit your revised bid.

We are going to be planting a lot of trees!  How exciting!

Also THANKS to all of you who continue to contribute to the Plant a Billion Trees campaign and help us reach our goal!!!

Dad is back from the Bahamas and had a fabulous time, all thanks to Julie and Jennifer who planned an amazing wedding weekend!  I'll have pictures on my blog very soon but in the meantime click the picture for a short video:

To bring us closer to our goal of 500 trees, we are having an auction!  People can email in their bid and the highest bid for each item will have to donate that amount to the Plant a Billion Trees Campaign using the link at the top of our blog.  For those who prefer not to pay by credit card, a check can be mailed to us and we will then donate the amount.

Here is our auction list:

Item 1:  11x14 Print on Matboard (starting bid $15)

Item 2:  16x20 Print on Matboard (starting bid $25)

Item 3:  Engagement or Portrait Session, open to everyone! (starting bid $50)

Item 4:  11x14 Art Gallery Wrap (starting bid $75)

Item 5:  Coupon for 25% Off a Wedding Album (starting bid $195)

To bid, send an email to jasonangeliniphotographyorders@yahoo.com with the item number and bid amount in the subject line.  In your email, please include the item number and bid amount again, along with your name and a phone number where we can reach you if you win. 

The auction starts now and will continue until May 8th.  To make the auction more fun and competitive, we have some auction rules.  Everyone is open to bid on one or more items on May 3-6.  You may only bid one time per item. 

At midnight on May 6th, bidding will be closed.  If you are one of the top 5 bidders on one or more of the items, you will be contacted.  At this time, you may choose to keep your bid the same or to raise it.  You have until the end of the day (midnight) on May 7th to enter your new bid.

On May 8th, you will be contacted if you are still in the top 3 for that item.  Again, you will have the option of raising your bid or keeping it the same and you will have until midnight on May 8th to do so.  The auction ends at midnight on May 8th.

On May 9th the winners for each item will be contacted.  They will have until May 11th to contribute their bid amount to the Plant a Billion Tress Campaign and must forward us their confirmation email to show payment once they do so.  If they do not, the item will then go to the next highest bidder.

Winners will receive a gift certificate for their item, so even if you haven't had your wedding, engagement, or portrait session yet you can still bid!

Remember, all the money from the auction will go to the Plant a Billion Trees Campaign where every dollar plants a tree.  And as a bonus, all your contributions are tax deductible!

In April's blog I shared pictures of Jessica in labor, ready to welcome her new baby into the world.  Jessica and Josh had decided to wait until they delivered their baby to find out whether they were having a boy or a girl.  When the baby was born, Jessica's doula made the much awaited announcement, "It's a boy!" and the new parents cuddled their beautiful son...until about an hour later when Jessica discovered there were no boy parts down there!  The doula had been mistaken and Jessica and Josh had been blessed with a second baby GIRL!  Dad couldn't wait to meet her and went to their home for a newborn session on Tuesday with the baby just 3 days old.  Here are some pictures of the new arrival:

This one is mom's favorite.  She looks so pensive, yet content.

Isn't she so precious?!  And as a new big brother myself, I wanted to be sure to congratulate the new big sister!  You are going to have so much fun, trust me.  Just be sure to have toys you don't like around at all times so when your little sister starts taking yours, you can just hand her the stuff you don't want to keep her happy.  And start practicing Peek-a-Boo because that's a real hit with babies.  It is fun to make them laugh and parents like it when you entertain younger siblings for them too.

Vanessa and Brad came all the way from Canada to have their Florida wedding at the Don Cesar.  They were married on Wednesday and had an intimate wedding with a beach ceremony and a dinner following.  Dad said Vanessa and Brad had been planning their day for a while and they were so happy it was finally here.  They were relaxed and enjoying themselves the whole time. 

Stacy of Meant to Be Wed was their wedding coordinator and is ready to have her baby any time now!  How exciting!

Here are a few pictures from the wedding day:

It was a beautiful day at the beach!  This is what the couple came from Canada for!

Lots of other people were out enjoying the beach too, and everyone loves a wedding.  I know it was an intimate wedding, but this is a bit too intimate...

You can't go wrong with a chocolate covered strawberries cake!

Dad was SO excited that Vanessa and Brad gave him lots and lots of time for pictures with the two of them.  Dad said it was like having an engagement session on the wedding day!  Dad had fun taking the pictures, and I'm sure the newlyweds didn't mind all the kissing they had to do for the pictures...

You two are wonderful people.  Thank you for including us in your wedding, and enjoy Disney World!  Be sure to ride Buzz Lightyear's ride because that's my favorite!

Dad left yesterday for a wedding in the Bahamas and we already miss him lots and lots.  It is hard to have him gone, but we know he's going to have so much fun and we can't wait to hear all about it.  And next month we all get to take a vacation together!

Mom found an article on AOL from www.womenshealthmag.com about preexisting factors that can lower your chances of divorce.  She thought it was interesting and wanted to share some of those factors.

*If you are a college graduate, the risk of divorce or separation is 13% lower.

*Getting married when you are over 25 years old reduces the chance of divorce by 24%.

*Having a religious affiliation decreases the odds by up to 19%.

*Waiting until you are married at least 7 months before getting pregnant lowers the risk by 24%. 

Some of them have reasons behind them, but really they just depend on the individual couple.  So, maybe it is time for a poll?