More Apples and Happy Fall

It's official. Today is the first day of autumn. I must admit I'm a little sad to see summer go but also excited for a little more crispness in the air and color in the trees. How about you?

Dinner Party

I have been wanting to have a dinner party on our screened porch since we moved in and it finally happened over the weekend. I've decided September is a nice month for this type of get-together because it is still warm enough to dine comfortably outside but without the horrible humidity that looms mid-summer. We had a great evening chatting with friends and getting to know some new friends. I decorated with white lanterns above the table and the centerpiece was a store bought bouquet, scattered among Mason jars and bud vases I picked up awhile back at the thrift store. I think it came together nicely. Hooray for outdoor dinner parties!

New Pictures

I have some new pictures up on my photo blog. A wedding from the summer and a beautiful family I shot here in Marietta. Go check 'em out!

Apple Picking

I went apple picking with the boys at a local orchard today. I think Spencer ate an apple that was roughly half the size of his head. No joke. But I can't blame him. Fresh picked apples are absolutely delicious and, as I discovered today, very pretty to look at as well.

Thank You Postcards

These are the thank you cards Mitch sent out after his birthday. Although I don't do it nearly often enough, thank you note writing is important to me so I've tried to encourage it since Mitchell was just a little guy. Before he could talk, I would write the note and then let him scribble on it. Although he still can't write, he is now old enough to formulate a really cute and sincere sentiment of gratitude which I simply write down for him. Also, I still let him decorate the notes which makes it all the more charming.

Birthday Boy

Yep. Mitchell had a birthday and there were four candles on his cake!

Nobody Puts Baby in a Corner

Patrick Swayze died yesterday. I'm thinking I should rent Ghost in his memory (can you believe I've never seen that movie?) But for now, here's a little Dirty Dancing for your viewing enjoyment.

Virginia is for Lovers...

or in our case: Virginia is for a car full of cranky people who, for the sake of family unity, decided to cut their vacation short. Seriously. I think my exact words to Jared were: "Let's just go home and forget any of this ever happened." (Lesson learned: small children + long hours in the car + boring sight seeing and shopping upon arriving at desired destination = unhappy children. Unhappy children = unhappy parents.) However, before we pulled the plug on our little getaway, we did manage to see some cool stuff including a very quaint outdoor pedestrian mall, Monticello (the home of Thomas Jefferson), gorgeous views of the Blue Ridge mountains from Skyline Drive in Shenandoah National Park and Luray Caverns:

Long Time, No See

Two weeks without a post. I think that's definitely a record for me. The past month has been hectic with a funeral, family reunions, a mini vacation, photographing weddings and families, sick kids, birthdays and my mom visiting from out of town. This week is the first week I don't have something on the calendar so I'm hoping to take a few breaths and catch up a little. Phew!