i absolutely cannot believe that 2009 has come to an end.  it seems like only yesterday justin and i were spending our very first christmas together as married people.  as i was getting out all my christmas gear to decorate our home i just  couldn't believe that it had been a whole year since the last time i had decked out our house in all this gear.  as fast as the year has gone, sooo much has happened.  i have flown to oregon and back.  to california and back.  to london and back.  to new york and back.  and countless road trips in between.  its been a year of ups and downs.  calm days and busy days.  happy days and sad days.  but most of all, it has been a year full of blessed days.  the lord has been really faithful to both justin and i this year.  he has really affirmed me in my pursuit to serve brides and provide them with photographs that hopefully they will treasure for a lifetime.  he is teaching me more and more everyday to embrase the gifts that he has given me.  to recognize my own true style and know that that makes me, me.   he has provided justin the opportunity to pursue an MBA and his journey with his band, The Dirty Guv'nahs.  justin and the band just actually got back from woodstock, ny from recording an album at levon helm studio.  we have no idea what is going to come of the band this next year, but i have a feeling that only bigger and better things await the dirty guv's and i couldn't be happier than to walk along side justin during this exciting journey.  

i ask for prayers this year as we embark on yet another year of pursuing our passions and dreams.  i feel so grateful that we have been blessed with this opportunity.  i feel extra grateful that i have the best job in the world with the most amazing clients i could ask for!

here's to 2010!!

here is a little recap of 2009

wednesday emery jenkins and i made the trip up to new york city.  we scored an amazing hotel in times square and spent two solid days doing nothing but shopping and eating.  it was amazing.  it really was pretty surreal to be in the city during christmas time.  i have been to nyc several different times, but this time was just different.  it really feels like you are in a different world.  the energy behind the whole city is just amazing.  every store that you walk in is decked out in the most beautiful decorations and packed with people.  but i will say as much fun as it was, it was definitely a nice change of pace to head to the city of woodstock.  as most of you know, my husband is in the band, the dirty guv'nahs and they have had the awesome opportunity to record up here at levon helm's studio.  emery and i arrived here on friday evening and headed straight to the studio where the boys were recording.  we got to hang out and watch them wrap up their long week of recording before heading back to their AWESOME house that they have been staying in.  i mean, it is seriously, amazing.

i have been dying to get this blog post up but have been so busy catching up on emails, weddings, meetings, going on fun trips, blah, blah, blah....i just haven't had time.  but man, do i love these people.  mandy is one of my best friends in the entire world.  we have been best friends for pretty much as long as i can remember....well.....except for when i first met her and i wouldn't invite her to my babysitter's club meetings.....i don't remember doing that, but she insists it's true.  i hope through the years i have made it up to her, because not only is she an amazing friend, she is also an amazing sister and mother.  last week, i got to do something that i hadn't gotten to do in a long long time and that was spend some good, quality, one on one time with mandy's oldest daughter analyn.  she had fall break so we got to hang out for a couple days.  we went out to lunch, watched hannah montana, colored, played with rex, went to the zoo, and of course played in our hammock.  she is, by far, one of the most intelligent, inquisitive, little girls i have ever met.  she has such a sweet heart and i love her so very much.  i have pretty much been obessessed with her since the moment i laid eyes on her.....and then her sister was born....oh boy.  this girl.  she is something else.  she is so freaking cute its sick.  she is stinkin' HILARIOUS and absolutely crazy.  you will definitely be able to see their personality differences in these pics.  its actually sort of unbelievable.  no matter what addy does, you can't help but love her.  her voice can melt my heart.  her sweet dimples are just to die for.  and she better be thankful, cause boy, she is a handful!  we had this session planned for quite some time, but don't worry, addy decided to give herself a nice little hair cut a week before our session.  she cut a cute mowhawky lookin' thing right down the center of her head, and you'll see in a minute her next fun little trick but before i tell you about that, i have one more little girl to talk about....well, she's not that little anymore.  mandy's little sister abby.  i have known abby since she was just a little girl, probably analyn's age.  abby has always been a little spit-fire and i love that about her.  she is  cute as can be and so much fun to be around.  i still do this day have a card that she made me for my sixteenth birthday.  on the front it said, "for your sixteenth birthday i am going to give you 16 dollars."  and then you open it up and she had drawn the 5 dollar bills and a 1 dollar bill.  and of course, signed it happy birthday, love abby.  it was so cute i have kept it all these years....

so one year ago today at this very moment i was getting ready for the greatest day of my life.  at this time i was probably crying, getting my hair done, and my heart was beating so hard, so fast, i could have sworn it was literally going to come out of my chest.  i had dreamed about my wedding since i was a little girl.  and i do have to say, it far outwayed all of my expectations.  as much as i had dreamed about all the details, the colors, the light, the location, i never could have imagined that i would be sooooo excited to spend the rest of my life with my very best friend.  i can't believe that it has been a year.  a crazy, fun, busy year and i can't wait for many many many more.  i just had to share a couple pics from my most favorite day.

so tuesday morning natalie watson (of watson-studios) and i woke up at the crack of dawn, and flew out to LA.  we arrived in la in the morning and had to drive to laguna beach, so we did what most girls would do, and rented a convertable.  we drove down the coast with the top down, wind blowing in our hair, and the smell of the ocean all around us.  it was pretty much awesome.  as soon as we arrived in laguna beach we went and got manicures and pedicures and then checked into our hotel.  we then went and stuffed our faces withe the BEST sushi i have EVER had.  i mean seriously, it was freaking amazing!  after dinner we were exhausted from our long day of traveling and took it straight to our hotel room.  i was so exhausted, but i couldn't sleep because i was soooo excited!  i know, i'm a huge dork, but the next day we were going to jessica claire's workshop!!  it really was just such a fun day.  jessica was so great, friendly, smart, and really just an open book to everyone who had come.  one of the things that we did during out workshop, was go out to a mock ceremony and reception.