1-15-09 Bishop Alden Howe

1-15-09 I've been a little bit busy.

So I've not written in quite a while we have been so busy, the least of which is our new addition to our family. Bishop Alden Howe (Alden for his paternal great grandfather.)

In a nutshell we began having company starting on December 26th for the holidays and we have had company ever since. He had holiday guests for the first week + 1/2 then we have had baby guests ever since. My mother-in-law has ben here since baby came to help get us assimilated. Thank goodness we could not have mangaed without her, I have not done laundry or prepared a meal since she arrived. So we are well fed and taking care of our sweet little one. Starting next week we'll be all alone and I think we are ready.

Here are a couple shots of our little bundle, many more to come. 

enjoy

---mel

12-16-08 Christmas Tree Ornaments

12-16-08 My favorite things about the holidays, besides the obvious being able to spend time with friends and family, is decor and embellishments. I love the way a Christmas Tree looks when it's perfectly lit, and Steve did such an incredible job on our first tree ever, this year. It's hard not to tear up, every time I walk past. Did I mention I'm pregnant and emotional? 

Then when you decorate the tree with all of your beloved keepsakes and heirlooms, it just makes this time that much more special. This edition of my blog I thought I'd share 5 of my most cherished tree ornaments.

1. a bear my husband and I found while we were honeymooning at Lake George in upstate New York.

2. Also from the Lake George area, it's a hand crafted angel from recycled pieces.

3. Is similar to a bell in the way it's constructed. Steve and I found this one while we were in San Antonio awaiting a Spurs game while vacationing in Texas a few years ago.

4. Is a gift from my mother, for nearly a decade my mother would find an ornament she loved and give both my sister and myself one. That way, no matter where we were or who we celebrated with that year we would all have that kind of a connection.

5. Came from my mother-in-law. It was an embellishment to a gift she wrapped for me.

Which brings me to my other favorite holiday tradition. Gift Wrap. Sometimes it just doesn't matter what's inside. A great gift starts with a great wrapping job. It's just another way to show people how much you care for them. I LOVE gift wrap. Tomorrow, I'll put some images up of my favorite wrapped gifts from under our tree.

Thanks for looking.

---mel 

12-11-08 Wow's Birthday

12-11-08 This is my sister Hillarie's birthday today. I tried to ring her on 3 phone numbers and a text but she is not surfacing, good for her for taking a day away from it all.

I'm sure she couldn't possibly miss our dad's faithful Birthday good morning jingle "You Say it's your birthday." You just haven't lived, until you've heard that song, full back-up bad, live @ 7:30 in the morning, over the phone. He has been honoring us with this tradition for several years now. I usually listen then ask him to call back and leave me a message so I can keep it for a few months, it's so fun. Then he calls back with the same number for next year. It is something I look forward to every year.

In honor of Hill's Birthday I thought I'd post some pictures of her daughter, my niece, Reagan. She is growing up now, she'll be 2 in February and really starting to come into her own, in terms of personality and she is so much fun to play with. Over Thanksgiving she found herself a little Santa hat and hammed it up for the camera.

Thanks for looking.

Happy Birthday Wow (it's a pet name)

---mel

12-10-08 O'Brien Clan

12-10-08 O'Brien Kiddos

These images were shot for the families annual Christmas card. Meet James, Emily and Hannah. They look like a Merry bunch ;)

12-9-08 Abad Wedding

12-8-08 Steve and I shot this wedding a little over a month ago. Our couple was thrilled with the results. mainly they were renewing their vows after 14 years of marriage and trying to have photographs that best complimented their original photography. She email me images of their family posed together 14 years ago and I was able to best match those with their maturing daughters. They were quite the party crowd, everyone had a blast and the DJ was excellent. I hope you like the images.

---mel