We hope everyone has a safe and fun Halloween and doesn’t eat candy so much that you get a tummy ache!
Monthly Archives: October 2008
Click on the title of the blog post to view the entire entry.
Mandy and Jim
October 31, 2008 – 2:26 am
On Friday dad joined Mandy and Jim as they celebrated their wedding day. Mom and dad both think it is wonderful that Mandy and Jim have a strong connection to their faith. It is sure to strengthen the bonds of their marriage!
The bride got ready at Saddlebrook Resort and dad loved Mandy’s dress, shoes, and her hair accessory. She looked unique and classic at the same time.
The ceremony took place at St. Leo Abbey. Dad loved this church and the whole area around it. He wants our family to go to Mass there one Sunday.
Lange Farm is one of dad’s very favorite locations and he was happy to be back there for the couple’s second ceremony and reception. The second ceremony, held after dark on the lawn,was for more friends and family to attend and witness the couple’s vows. Doug Decker from Grant Hemond was the couple’s DJ and did a great job as usual. Guests who wanted to enjoy the beautiful October weather were able to go outside to a bonfire to roast marshmallows and make smores while listening to a guitarist play music.
Congratulations Mandy and Jim! We wish you the very best!
Laura and Justin
October 30, 2008 – 1:46 pm
Last Thursday dad photographed an awesome wedding! When Laura and Justin first came to meet dad, we got to play with their adorable son who was a baby at the time. Dad thought they were a fantastic family and had been looking forward to their wedding. He was not disappointed!
The day began at the Grand Floridian where the bride got ready. Dad was amazed at how big the couple’s little boy was now! Mom thought his shoes were super cute. The bride was all smiles and looked so beautiful.
The ceremony took place at the Disney Wedding Pavilion. What a gorgeous location, outside and in! The love that Justin has for Laura was so apparent every time he looked at her.
Guests had a blast at the Coral Reef in The Living Seas restaurant where the couple had the reception. Dad said the bride, groom, and all their family and friends were wonderful people and he had such a terrific time sharing the day with them. Thanks so much to Laura and Justin! You are a fabulous couple!! Hope you enjoyed your Disney honeymoon!
Dad’s Cell Phone Drowned
October 29, 2008 – 2:50 pm
If anyone has been trying to contact dad, his cell phone was SOMEHOW put into the dog water a couple days ago and is no longer working. He is on his way out now to get a replacement phone and will then be able to get all his calls.
In the meantime, as he makes the switch you might not be able to get through at all and will hear a message that the number is not working. Have no fear! His number is still 813-240-6611 and will be working again very soon! Thanks!
Update: He has his new phone and it is working already!
Only 59 Shopping Days Left!
October 27, 2008 – 2:16 am
As October comes to an end, more people start to focus on the holidays to come. For many, that means starting the Christmas shopping! The catalog companies definitely know that and our mailbox has been full lately. Be sure you visit www.catalogchoice.org where you can help the environment by eliminated unwanted catalogs and mailings.
In our house, we’ve been checking the catalogs for the season’s new cool toys! Here are a few we’ve found:
Mom has a few issues with FAO Schwartz from the past, but their toys are really cute (all available on their website if there isn’t a store near you). All images of their toys are from their website.
Mom wants one of the Raggedy Ann Christmas Cloth Doll by Madame Alexander because she says it brings back memories.
They also have Raggedy Andy of course, as well as Strawberry Shortcake and Madeline.
Another cute doll is the Rubens Barn Original Anna Doll. How adorable is she with her freckles and glasses?!
We are of course more interested in their boy stuff. The Food Chain Friends is an awesome idea for a stuffed animal! You get 5 in one!
For people with a little more money to spend, the Make-My-Own Monster Custom Design Kit is the coolest toy in the catalog. The kid designs the monster, from what it looks like to its personality. It is then made into a plush monster with a hang-tag telling the monster’s story. How cool would it be to show off a monster that you designed!
Little Wonderlands has a toy that is going on our Christmas list! They have tons of wooden toys so it is fun to browse through their website. There we found the Barbarossa Pirate Ship and Pirate Crew and we told mom we loved it!
While you are on the website, be sure to check out the wooden treehouses too!
Kids loving having their names to decorate their stuff so Personal Creations has some good gift ideas too. We are into dinosaurs lately so we asked mom for the Dinosaur Big Belly Bank. It is almost 2 feet tall and eats your coins and stores them in its belly.
In our latest issue of Faith & Family magazine, they had an article with gift ideas. We were looking with mom and saw the Knights Castle and wanted it. It is offered by International Playthings and is a fold-out castle with a king, knights, and even a dragon! There is a hidden staircase and a drawbridge to play with too!
Those are some of the fun things we’ve seen as we flip through catalogs and visit toy store websites. I’m sure we’ll have more as the holidays get closer!
Growing Family
October 27, 2008 – 12:56 am
LaToya and her husband and son just welcomed a new baby boy into their growing family. Dad was able to go to their home to meet the baby and get take some newborn pictures. LaToya is a wonderful mother! After her first son was born in the car on the way to the hospital, she decided to have a home birth for her second baby. What an awesome experience! Mom and dad admire many of LaToya’s parenting choices. And dad wants LaToya to teach him more about cloth diapering!
Both her kids are very handsome little boys and dad had a great time with them at the session last week. Here are a few pictures of the latest arrival to this wonderful family.
Tiny baby parts are so cute!
Mom loves this picture!
Lauren and Ryan’s Engagement Session
October 25, 2008 – 2:10 am
Last Monday dad was at the University of Tampa with Lauren and Ryan for their engagement session. Ryan was only in town for a very short time and the couple had their Pre-Cana class scheduled so dad was happy that they were able to work out a time and have the session.
Mom looked at their pictures and noticed two things. First, Lauren and Ryan are a good looking couple and Lauren going to be a gorgeous bride. Second, they love each other so much! Throughout the session they were enjoying spending time together, laughing, smiling, and of course kissing.
Mom’s favorite:
Lauren is a 3rd generation Tampa native who will be moving to Michigan after the wedding so the Tampa sign is a perfect backdrop for the an engagement picture:
Lauren and Ryan’s reception will be at Mirror Lake Lyceum next June. We can’t wait!
Fall in Florida
October 24, 2008 – 4:20 pm
Every year to try to make it feel more like fall despite the heat, our family heads down to the Pumpkin Festival on a farm. The past couple years, grandma, grandpa, and Aunt Kellie have joined us too. It is always so much fun! Funnel cake, pony rides, live music, a corn maze, games, a petting zoo…with so much to do, the time there goes by fast!
The giant slide:
Pony rides (mom always feels super bad for the ponies and almost doesn’t let me ride):
Aunt Kellie on the giant jumping thing:
Aunt Kellie doing a flip:
Grammy, before you freak out, it said ages TWO to a hundred, so I was even older than the age limit!
WHHEEEEEEE!
SPOOKY face painting!
Now we know there are more pictures of one of us than the other, but you can only take so many pictures of a kid picking up straw, or wood chips, or dirt, and putting it in a wagon which is what amused the younger of us most of the day.
And because there aren’t many Pumpkin Festival pictures of the younger of the two of us, here is a cute face from another day:
Samantha and Tom at the Pumpkin Festival
October 24, 2008 – 2:46 pm
Finally dad got to photograph a session with a fall theme! While our family was at the Pumpkin Festival last Sunday, dad met up with Samantha and Tom for their engagement session there. Dad took them in the corn field and to the barn and all around the farm for pictures. He had a great time shooting there!
Samantha and Tom’s wedding is only one month away! See you two again very soon!
Kalyn and Daniel
October 24, 2008 – 10:48 am
Kalyn and Daniel were married at the Sirata last Saturday. Dad was excited to see them again after having lots of fun at their engagement session. When Dad arrived everyone was very upbeat and excited and dad knew it would be a great day. Darla Stafford did an amazing job on hair and make up (as usual) and it was great seeing Chad with Digital Wave Productions who was the couple’s videographer.
Kalyn’s beautiful smile:
Dad loved the detailing in Kalyn’s dress. The ceremony was on the deck and though there was a bit of a concern about rain, it luckily held off. Grace from A Wedding with Grace was the officiant and dad enjoyed working with her again!
After the ceremony the guests gathered on the beach for a big group shot. While Daniel held dad’s camera for him, he took a couple self-portraits. Daniel’s picture is actually one of mom’s favorites from the day!
Crazy family shots are always fun!
The reception music was by Dan from Sword Sounds. Believe it or not, this isn’t the first wedding dad has photographed where a hula hoop has made an appearance!
One of our favorite ring shots EVER!!!
Outside the Sirata at night:
Kalyn and Daniel were awesome! We hope they have a terrific time in Aruba!