Summer Family Photos

So we are pretty late sharing our family photos from this past summer (Emerson's 8th month photo shoot combined with our family photos set in beautiful Colorado with our wedding photographer!) I was reminded to share them as tomorrow is yet another photo shoot (1 year!?) and also school picture day for Emerson.

I had decided for Kyle's Father's Day gift to schedule a family photo shoot without telling him. I booked our wedding photographer in Denver, Paige Eden Photography, by some miracle on a Saturday in June, and got our coordinated outfits packed without really giving anything away, thanks to needing "outfits" for my brother's and parent's celebrations that weekend.

The day was my brother's 2nd wedding reception, but we figured taking an hour or two away from the family for a short photo shoot would be ok. That was until the storm blew in. Golf ball size hail started falling from the sky and lightening and thunder warned us to cut our shoot short. Unfortunately, we waited until the sky opened up and started pouring down rain before we got into the cars. We may have gotten soaked, and may not have gotten the last few shots in, but we sure have the memory and we got plenty of adorable pictures out of it, anyway.

A beautiful park with many trees!

Our little poser!

Playing with daddy is so fun!

Humming to myself as we walk through the park!

I'm flying!

Mom! I just love being outside so much!

Not so sure about my crazy parents here...

Kisses from mom!

And "kisses" for dad...

Mom's favorite picture!

So happy with daddy!

I am always posing...

Mom's 2nd favorite picture! Look at that concentration!

I am thinking about eating this grass...

On this day in 2013...

Really hard to believe, but this day, last year, we were taking our maternity photos (and just in the nick of time, as Emerson came, very early, 10 days later.  I realized that we never had the time to share these beautiful photos taken by Sara Goodman Photography. I felt absolutely beautiful in them, even though I was so large. (Thank you goes out to Kelly Taylor for doing my hair for the shoot since I am clueless when it comes to styling). We found this little hiding spot in the middle of a Queen Creek neighborhood to take the pictures in. I insisted on the pumpkins. Oh, an even though we are decked out in fall clothing and accessories, it was still over 90 degrees out in Arizona! Luckily you can't tell in the pictures that we were melting. I know that maternity photo shoots are a splurge, but I don't regret doing one at all. Being pregnant IS a special "occasion" (that lasts 9 months) and the first time being pregnant was filled with so much wonder and awe that I am glad I captured some of it.

This is my favorite one! I dreamed of doing it from the moment I knew we were expecting in the fall!

We hadn't revealed his name upon taking these, but had it picked out already. How appropriate that we had this prop from our wedding to use in the photo shoot!

A trip down memory lane...

Today's post is in honor of the reason for Blueberry's existence, our marriage.

Happy 2nd Anniversary to my wonderful, fun, and forever young husband.

I know that this past year has been full of trials that have put our marriage to the test, but we continue to make it through the hard moments and I know for a FACT that I would not have without you!

Hard to think that these past two September 29ths were SO different than this current one!

September 29, 2012 I was at my skinniest!  I had no gray hairs, nearly flawless skin, and slept an average of 7-8 hours a night on a regular basis. We were in beautiful Colorado surrounded by fall color. I enjoyed peach bellinis and Colorado brews the entire day.

In Vail, Colorado

September 29, 2013 I was at my largest (with a good reason). I could barely enjoy a sip of champagne to celebrate with you in Sedona, but MAN did I enjoy the food! We had no idea that day what 17-days later would bring to us, and Blueberry was only a "plan".

In Sedona for our 1st Anniversary!

September 29, 2014. Here we are. Our son is nearly a year old, I have a lot of grays hairs, and my weight, well, lets just say that I am somewhere in the middle of the last 2 years. I hope we have many, many more fun memories to make and anniversaries to share. But for now, let's just stick with 1 Blueberry. :)

Emerson's First Father's Day!

I didn't forget that this past weekend marked yet one more important milestone for both Emerson and Kyle- the FIRST FATHER'S DAY!

We were already in Colorado, so really I didn't have to work hard to look for something fun to do.

First, I surprised Kyle by planning a family photo shoot with our wedding photographer, Paige Eden Photography! I really wanted some updated photos of Emerson, since the last professional photos we took were for Christmas when he was a month old. Also, I just wanted a cool landscape with trees!

Next, we had a Father's Day brunch in Denver with my dad, my family, and Kyle. Then we headed up the mountain and met up with our friends the Haneys for a drink by the lake at the Tiki Bar. Last, we celebrated with Kyle's dad at the Cala Inn for dinner, even though trivia was cancelled.

I also bought Emerson this adorable onesie to wear to document the special occasion from Zullily.

Emerson's funny face! Looks like he is wishing his dad a happy father's day verbally!

We also took some great shots with his dad on our own, but don't worry, I will share the professional ones once we have them!

Super happy!

And you can't beat this view at sunset!

Emerson's First Camping Experience!

Emerson finally had an opportunity to live up to his namesake and go to the woods. We headed out to Woods Canyon Lake for a night of camping. I had only been camping once while I was pregnant, and Kyle made sure that he provided as much comfort as possible. I knew that we'd be going back to our "old ways" now that I didn't have the pregnancy excuse. This means no cushy stuff. No air mattress. Only eating the minimum. No complaining.

Well, we set off with peanut butter and jelly sandwiches and Capriotti's, CLIF bars and chips and dip. Since part of Arizona was burning, we were not able to make food on the campfire like I traditionally do. That also meant no warmth in the evening hours.

And there was NO warmth. It was really cold. 65 doesn't seem that cold to most people, but there was only a little sunshine, and a slight breeze, and for us thin-blooded Arizonans, we kept the hoodies on during the day.

At night, it was beanie and winter-coat weather. Kyle didn't even bring socks. But, Emerson was well-prepared with a hat, mittens, and a sleep sack. With his fleece pjs, he was plenty warm.  We still only opted to stay the one night, but it was a good first attempt!

Overall, the weekend was full of good company, some card games, beautiful trees, and shivering.

Emerson in his adorable beanie, playing in the tent in the wee hours of the morning until it was warm enough to get out

No worries about the cold, mom, I am still happy!

Giggling in the tent- so many pretty colors to stare out.

The sun setting over camp.

Mom I like my camp chair!

Hanging out with mommy in the woods!

My First Mother's Day!

Emerson planned a really fun day for my first Mother's Day.  I was really hoping to start a memorable tradition for this special day as well, like I did for some of my other favorite days. Since this task wasn't exactly in my hands, then I didn't know how to make sure that this would happen.

First, I got my first home-made gift from daycare.

 

Of course, the gift contained a good story. First, it has an English teacher's nightmare of a grammatical error. Next, it was funny because we tried to make those Christmas ornaments I talked about in an earlier post, with his footprints, and then the daycare worker told me that he wouldn't cooperate with his left foot and kept curling his toes up.

Then, on the actual Mother's Day, daddy made reservations for brunch in the Compass Room at the downtown Hyatt. This was very fancy! Mimosas, a carving station, and the craziest "pancakes" you'll ever see! I was just happy to dress up and go someplace we never go!

Yep, pancakes... and a free flower and mimosa! (Ok, not free, with the cost of brunch!)

Waiting for brunch- Emerson wore anchors for his momma!

Getting hungry~

A room with a view!

Then we headed over to the neighboring Japanese Friendship Garden, but Emerson fell asleep so he missed most of it!

"Out" for a walk!

Mom loves waterfalls!

Last, we headed to another garden, the Desert Botanical Garden, so we could take in the Chihuly exhibit once more before it ends. Since we are members, we took advantage of the cooler weather to visit before the summer season. It was a perfect, relaxing day, during which I did no grading and got to spend plenty of times and take plenty of pictures of and with the family!

The star burst at the entrance

Another "momma" was celebrating her first Mother's Day! Found in a cactus in the wildflower garden section!

Emerson taking in the sights

"It is too bright, momma!"

This is much better!

Wish this was real! And permanent!

Taking in some shade in the mud hut.

What is that wet stuff? So neat!

The sun began to set as we watched all the people walking by on the path.

So happy!

This is the "mother's" sculpture- it was pink, white, and purple.

Sunset!

The most beautiful sun ever...

Saying goodbye to the garden!

Same sculpture, different lighting...

Last, we capped off the night at Caffe Boa downtown Tempe for a glass of wine and some bruschetta. It was the best way to spend a full, as usual, but unique and memorable Sunday. My first Mother's Day- the only "first" one I'll ever get!

I guess that made up for last year's last-minute card...