oh canada......

in honor of the olympics, here is my little maple leaf.

(so this makes sense, that is a Canadian toque on his noggin......just to be clear :)

Hey Jude!

These are two (and now three!) of my favorite people. Whenever I see them, no matter how long it's been, or how uncool I've become, I still always feel that, for whatever reason, they still love me. They just exude happiness. They laugh easily and love each other completely. It is a JOY to be around.

Kim and Lebeau, thanks for always being so kind and accepting of me and so completely selfless and giving. I love you guys oodles.

(and thanks for making my life soooo much easier ;)

Here is one beautiful little family......

and introducing the next generation......

and, yes, I AM jealous that straight from heaven he already has a better tan than I do. Ah, long gone are the days of non-pasty-gangsta-legs. Wo is me...

i love her

that is all.

lovey dovey

here's what my little gentleman did for me this year.....

they surprised me by decorating our sweet ride with all sorts of party decor. so cute. they also got me some self-help books (what are you suggesting sweets?) and Miles took a much needed picture of my Schmoopy and me. i'm super impressed! and now i'm looking over my shoulder cause i'm not quite ready to pass the family business on just yet! i do have some critique however. maybe next time let's not shoot from the double-chin angle, and let your poor mother change out of her jammies and put her makeup on. we don't need any more documenting of my sleep face. oh well, what can you expect from a 4 year old?

nothing like love paired with swashbuckling :)

observe the sweet duds on the Chancho (aka Miles). choose your battles right?

a little Alfalfa action

my handsome little devils

LOVE YOU BOYS!!!

sneak peek....

the cool kids

The Lakes have been intertwined with my life for as long as I can remember. Jessica was my babysitter and would make up dances to Cyndi Lauper songs in our living room. She also comforted me as I lay in her lap as a 5th grader crying because I was sure no one liked me. Margaret took me to an Ani Difranco concert when I was 12 with her much older friends and thought it was awesome that I wore tights covered in fruit. John built an ice rink in their back yard and loved to fart on me while I slept. But to his credit, he also hugged me in the halls of East High as a Freshman when he was the much cooler Senior. Meredith and I bonded in the "No-Boyfriend Club" and ooogled over the very delicious Polys at school like Jason Kafusi (secret's out, sorry). She giggled infectiously and loved to call me Kops. Stuart and I were the closest of little buddies until boys got cooties and girls got crazy. We bought matching Airwalks and spent a summer sitting in trees singing Eternal Flame by the Bangles. And another summer amazed that we barely escaped our attic clubhouse before the crazy neighbor set it on fire.

With the Lakes I attended my first Guinea Pig wedding, complete with real wedding invitations and formal attire. Susan's perfect pink frosted cookies and fragile little hors d'oeuvres were served on silver platters. Their dad Randall taught me about the beauty of art and acceptance. I spent time outside of his studio examining Stauzie (sp?) the dogs' teeth and fighting hard against the urge to eat the sugar cubes from his still life set up.

Their mom Susan introduced me to German pancakes and wheat toast with tomatoes and minced onion. She was my beloved English teacher in High School and allowed our class to have a treat bucket my senior year, and we dined on things like pizza and candy necklaces every Friday.

Now, we are all grown. Some of us with kids of our own. Some of us still in Utah, some in Chicago, some in the Lake's second home of Balboa. But one thing stays the same. No matter how far we go, or how much time passes, with the Lakes I always feel at home. I always feel 100% loved and I always feel way cooler than I really am. Because the Lakes are the kind of people you want to be around. They are beautiful and natural and hilarious and eternally young. Like the cool group you wish you could hate but secretly kill to be a part of. And through all the ups and downs that life has thrown at them they still love (and fight :) and laugh fiercely and you get the sense that there's no one they would rather be with than each other. It's inspiring.

I am one lucky girl to know them.

I wanted to include some pictures of Randall's studio where we did the session. The entire place is like a piece of art. It really shows what an amazing artist he is.

I could stay there all day.

for some more Lake fun go here.

the fight....

on days like today

when my computer takes on

an obstinate and

rebellious

attitude

i sit.

quietly idle.

my insides

digging

their way to china.

*

Dear Technology,

may i ask,

why it is

you hate me?

-Amy

at least there's always this......

in the bleak mid-winter......

This beautiful couple was referred to me my mom's hair dresser Lisa who apparently knows more about me than I do. (on a side note: anyone else agree that hairdressers really should be paid more seeing as how they do the same work as Psychiatrists, they just do it in heels with a blowdryer). The bride's mom Rochelle goes to Lisa also and she mentioned that her daughter was looking for a photographer. Lisa so kindly gave them my name (thank you thank you Lisa!) and they looked me up.

I was beyond thrilled.

After talking to the two of them on the phone, I knew right away that I wanted them to be on my Christmas card list. They were charming and sweet and totally giddy about their upcoming wedding. Miriam was a professional ballerina, which blows my mind because the closest I got to a tu-tu was Mrs. Stott's school of dance which mostly consisted of doing somesaults over a stick and doing kick-ball-change to the “Big Ship Lollipop” for candy. Let's just say these stocky legs of mine resembled Miriam's in NO way. She currently works for Amazon in the book team where I am sure they love her because to meet Miriam is to love her. She has such a magnetic personality and is so full of joie de vivre (yes I did have to look that up and yes, i'm still not sure if it is spelled right.) I was immediately in love with her and knew that we were a perfect match. Ok maybe Daniel takes that title, but I call for number 2 :). They really are a perfect match.

Daniel is a Radiologic Oncologist and let's just say that the closest I came to being a radiologist was participating in my chest x-ray last year. I held very still. Basically the same thing right? Anyone? Now, I have however, worked for a fair share of doctors in my time. Many amazing ones (CCP love ya-Dodds what up?), and some, maybe not quite as amazing. So, I'm embarassed to say that I may have had some preconceived ideas of what his personality might be like. I am pleased to report, however that I was totally wrong and I am tucking my tail between my legs (when you “assume.....etc.”). He was adorable. He was relaxed and calm and genuinely friendly to me and my crew. He was patient and sweet and smiled so effortlessly.

Especially if Miriam was anywhere near.

I absolutely loved being near them. Their love is infectious and made for an utterly amazing day.

Now, living in Utah, let's just say that Jewish weddings are not the norm for me, so when they explained that they were coming here to Utah because Miriam's dad Rabbi Frederick Wenger, who retired from the Congregation Kol Ami, was going to perfom the marriage cermony for his daugher in his synagouge, I was ecstatic to experience something a little different. It was so fun for me to learn about their traditions and beliefs (Thanks Daniel for teaching me about the menorah :). I felt loved and accepted from the second I opened the door and Miriam's mother and father greeted me with such kind hugs. I felt their genuineness and it immediately put me at ease.

I feel so lucky that I have a job that allows me to be surrounded by so much happiness and love. It really is such a blessing to be able to a part of it all.

So, to Daniel and Miriam thank you for allowing me to be there and for trusing me. I am moved by the two of you and I know that life holds only but the best for you.

All my best.....hope you enjoy.......

-Amy

The ceremony and reception were all coordinated by Kim Albers at Every Last Detail. I was blown away at what she was able to do. Absolutely beautiful.

I also need to say a HUGE thank you for the unbelievable kindness of my two helpers. Kristen for being a totally unflappable assistant. She was running everywhere and never batted an eye at any of my crazy requests. You kept us level headed and grounded. I love you oodles.

And also to Morgan my second photographer. I absolutely adore her style and her eye. When my original second shooter fell through, she graciously agreed to fill in. And oh, how glad I am that she said yes! I will forever adore her for being willing to take a chance on me, and the fact that she is TOTALLY groovy was a wicked awesome bonus. Thank you thank you Morgan. I NEVER could have done it without you. (plus I'm so happy to have a new sister-in-arms :)

I love these close-ups of the rings that Morgan took .

The rings were engraved in Hebrew and said "I am my beloved and my beloved is mine." I ADORE that. It's so perfect.

Another of Morgan's shots: